========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/1 Posted Author Caped Catfights Thu Jun 30 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (From what can only be charitably termed a gossip column ...) The Italian-born battle-seer known as the Visionist - a public Power known to be museum curator Eva Vitalis - was just removed from active duty, apparently under extreme protest, after an unfortunate battle left her with a severe head-injury and a shattered left leg. Some have taken this opportunity to try and debunk one of Europe's strongest seers, pointing out that the real thing would have seen it coming. In response, the Visionist made this remark, "I have never claimed to be a hundred percent infallible. I've never even claimed to be ninety percent infallible. All I can offer is that the law of averages is in my favor. Anyone who believes precognition is always accurate has no conception of how it works." She is visited in her convalescence by brother Aurelian Vitalis and his three children; the elder Vitalis has apparently offered to pay for plastic surgery to repair the damage to her face. Apparently, not all defending Powers are focused on fighting the enemy: some of them appear to take pleasure in beating up each other. A fighting troop out of Portugal was witness to a tooth-and-nail scrap between the wind-controller Celena Mylonas and former Allergy Attack speedster Adam Trip, finally broken up by Mylonas matriarch Katarin. The Mylonas family, formerly a quiet group of Grecian mystics, leapt into public knowledge after former head of household Lysandra Mylonas was unmasked as the Keeper of Wards, a longstanding adversary of Allergy Attack - but apparently, old antagonisms cannot be stopped by death. "It's disgraceful," Katarin Mylonas sniffed, "that some people have nothing better to do than provoke their presumptive allies." "Provoked? I didn't provoke anyone," was Trip's reply. "At least, I hope I haven't become so thoroughly hideous that the mere sight of my face sends people reaching for a shotgun - hand me that flask, would you?" When challenged about an apparent encounter with former Allergy Attack teammates, he elaborated, "if we did cross paths, I was a bit busy at the time to go hollering for the authorities, and in any case, under the circumstances it would have been counterproductive. Really, use your heads on this. Bunch of eco-enthusiasts, and what are the enemy ranks positively infested with? Bloody machines." On this side of the ocean, a showdown between villainous mercenaries occurred when experienced hitman Last Word and break-in specialist Shadowline were hired to rough up an unidentified villainess in an attempt to recruit her for the final movement. The victim, however, had retainers of her own, and the two veterans suffered through the embarrassing experience of a sound defeat at the hands of a virtual unknown by the name of Scales - a gravity controller reputed to be barely past the age of eighteen. While Scales was assisted by older "black stage" alchemist Nigredo, the responsibility lies predominantly on his shoulders. Nor is the young villain taking pains to downplay his victory. He is reported to have said to others with underworld connections, "if it's better to be lucky than good, I'll take the lesser of two triumphs. I am just that good. It's that simple." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/2 Posted Author Letter to the Editor Fri Jul 01 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Editor, I would like to begin this letter by saying that, not only have I lived in Crucible City for the majority of my life, but that, as is likely the case with a great many people, I have seen, first hand, this city's powers putting thier own lives on the line to keep us from harm. For thier efforts and for their bravery, I thank them. However, in the months following the Earth-N invasion, I have noticed a trend that I find more then troubling. Somewhere along the way, many of the powers on the rise have turned their attentions away from letting thier deeds speak for them in favor of hubristic chest-pounding self-aggrandisement. Gone, it seems, are the days when we could look to these men and women as examples of Selflessness and the Heroic Ideal. While it pains me to say it, I cannot help but wonder how long it will be before those protecting us from the likes of Count Urizen decide that they are deserving of the same mindless obedience that he demands from humanity. Gone, it seems, are the days when Heroes would act out of a sense of honor and grace. I find myself looking back and longing for the days when one would be met with the gracious, humble mannerisms of Heroes like Quintessence, the hyper, youthful cheer exhibited by Tempest, or even the gruff, there and gone appearances of the Shanghai Knights. What happened to Heroes like Nightbane, Gail Windsor and the ever mysterious Hecate? Oh, there are a few still out there, providing examples for our youth, both powered and not, Unknown Soldier, The Ultimate, Delirium. We have some, still, providing examples for us all, rarely seen, but still worthy of both our notice and our thanks. Titan and Freebird, both commendable examples of the fact that 'Even those who lose their way can find the path to true heroism'. To them, I say, you are sorely missed. You kept us safe and never demanded more then our silent gratitude, freely and honestly given. You gave, and in most cases, still give, of yourselves to see us and our way of life safe and secure. Do not think that you are forgotten. Do not think that there are not those of us who rememeber, those of us who still, at the risk of sounding trite, 'Look to the Skies'. Much like the men and women lost to the Event, always know that, We Remember. Thank you, thank you for your grace and your humility and your selflessness. You are and always will be, my heroes. Sincerely, Kennedy Marie Anders President-Elect - Unknown Soldier Fanclub ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/3 Posted Author Warden and Singularity captured on Sat Jul 02 Reporter (Jack Phantom) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City -- The Pound In part of what is being revealed as a multi-pronged assault on Ultima Thule and Count Urizen the Powers Martix, Dawn Patroller Skip, Artemis, Tamin, Lone Star and Captain Crucible of the Guardians were dispatched to Ultima Thule with the goal of striking down Tyrannical Ten member Albert Bellevue, also known as The Warden. Bellevue developed many of the power-containment technologies in use today, and his mad genius behind Urizen lent current-day technological impetus to the already-mighty robot hordes commandeered by the madman and his Thulian helm. The Warden had dug himself out a cliffside fortress within ultima Thule and apparently also harbored Ten members Primordius and Singularity within its walls at the time of the assault. Primordius emerged from the fortress to menace the heroes as they were on approach and seeking entry and the heroes were able to use his entrance tunnel to bypass the traps predicted in the main portion of the fortress, given the Warden's well known proclivity for such. Primordius himself was dispatched after Matrix was able to freeze enough of the sea to let the others land below and Skip managed some form of hostile teleportion that sent him to unknown coordinates. Authorities are still seeking traces. Once within the fortress, The Warden was discovered re-applying a nerve collar to Singularity who was last sighted in Titan City over the Gantry, heading into space. It seems likely that the Ten had re-acquired her by force and were seeking to regain her loyalty. The collar graft was successful, and Singularity and the Warden turned on the heroes. Here, regretfully, there was a casualty. The young Texas heroine Lone Star fired a burst of blinding bright light into the room in the hopes of disabling the villains early and while she succeeded in dampening the Warden for a time, Singularity was unaffected and snapped the young woman's neck before the others could react. From there a pitched melee followed, with arrows from Artemis, freezing shots and energy blades from Matrix, powerful blows of concrete fists from Captain Crucible, Ultra-fast kicks and strikes from Tamin and teleported objects Skip. Eventually the heroes were successful in knocking out the Warden with sustained fire, then snaring Singularity repeatedly until they could inflict sufficient damage to bring her down as well. Both were successfully transported to the Pound aboard Matrix's ship known as the Vertigo. Several explosions were reported within the fortress itself as the heroes departed, and subsequent investigation has discovered that all vital data and equipment were devastated by the Warden's departure. With only one loss, these Powers were able to secure two of the most dangerous supercriminals in the world, including one of this and the previous century's great geniuses. Bellevue is under special security as his brilliance and capacity with machines is quite well known. Singularity is slated for extended therapy to help cope with her disorder that required the use of a nerve-collar for so many years. Our thanks go out to these brave defenders of this nation and world! <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/4 Posted Author Count Urizen Defeated! Sat Jul 02 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Unknown Soldier Dies Stopping Madman July 1, 2005 AP Wire The near-constant attacks of Thulian robots commanded by the notorious Count Urizen came to a sudden halt early this evening. Accounts are garbled at this moment, but it seems that the Power known as 'The Ultimate' discovered a way in which to freeze the mechanical menace in their tracks. Utilizing the window provided by The Ultimate, a massive assault force of Powers assembled and took the fight to Count Urizen's island fortress of Ultima Thule. Here the Powers spread out, searching for Count Urizen and his Tyrannical Ten in order to put an end to the crisis. There are numerous reports of assorted squads of Powers doing battle with the forces of Thule in numerous locations across the island. The details of these encounters are still being verified. However one thing appears certain; one of the many squads of Powers managed to confront and defeat Count Urizen himself. Preliminary reports indicate that the Powers involved included The Unknown Soldier, The Whisper, Scion, Sunstorm, Flashbang, Monolith, and Obsidian. It seems that these heroes were only barely able to stand before the power of Count Urizen and his companion Couronne until a valiant sacrifice by the Unknown Soldier drew urizen's full attention, leaving him open to a concerted attack by the rest of the Powers that finally brought the tyrant down. For reasons not yet understood, the armored helm of Count Urizen then exploded in a cataclysmic burst that destroyed much of the citadel and ended the lives of Urizen and Couronne. Sadly, reports indicate that the Unknown Soldier soon succombed to injuries suffered at the hands of Count Urizen. The Kingfisher estate was unable to be reached for comment or confirmation at this time. NATO/UN forces still re-equipping in northern Scotland are mobilizing at this hour, preparing to once again begin occupation of the island of Ultima Thule following the apparent end of the crisis. General Cumberland of the eight division said... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/5 Posted Author Reactionary Captured! Sat Jul 02 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ultima Thule, AP -- A team of superpowered heroes have captured Reactionary and most of his band of outlaw mercenaries in a daring assault on the late Count Urizen's Citadel. Heroes Torius, Manitou, The Brass Monkey, Euryale, Fury, Keane, Hise, and Havoc Lad entered the fortress in an attempt to arrest Count Urizen himself. In his place, they were met by supervillains Reactionary, The Shapesmith, Bufoboreas, Loudmouth, Slick, Mud, and Gestalt, along with a squad of Mutant Marines. An apparent ambush, hidden explosive charges quickly confined the heroic octet between a pair of supersteel portcullises. Once the lights were cut and Loudmouth was brought to the scene, most of the team was rendered both blind and deaf! Marines quickly opened fire on the potentially helpless group, who had to act fast. Manitou (aka Jessica Firestone) reportedly smashed a hole through the walls of the fortress to reach the criminals behind the tactical ambush. A desperate struggle ensued as the heroes poured through the passage to meet the cowardly crew. Though the battle nearly claimed the lives of The Brass Monkey and Manitou (in serious, but stable condition), heroes won the day with an amazing capture of all attending mercenaries but Bufoboreas. Although Reactionary's ambush allowed Count Urizen time to eluded them, they successfully recovered the Re-Integrator, a powerfully potent technological artifact believed to be instrumental to the creation and proliferation of Count Urizen's army. Bufoboreas, The Worm, Cold Snap, and The Hustler are still at large and are considered highly dangerous. If you have any information as to their whereabouts, please contact your nearest law enforcement center or dial the Olympic Mons hotline. -----OOC----- Special thanks to all my players for gracefully handling a large scene which ended up much different than they expected and to Oracle for setting up this orchestra of madness. +Request inquiries, as always, to Plot. Tick! ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/6 Posted Author Bank Heist Foiled! Sat Jul 02 Reporter (Secret) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buried back around page eight, given the heavy coverage of the aftermath of the war: Crucible City, AP: A group of 15 armed men raided Crucible City Mutual today, intent on robbery; according to police statements and the report of eye-witnesses on the scene, they believed that in the aftermath of the fighting, the city's hero population would still be recovering from the cataclysmic battles against the forces of Ultima Thule. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the city, they were wrong: The Secret, the paper-controlling heroine known as the Lignin, and Sparkle C orange drink spokeswoman Sparkle C were on hand to foil their attempt. The Secret, in keeping with that hero's usual policy, was not on hand for comment, but a long time bank employee noted that this was the second robbery in as many years the Secret had foiled in the same bank. "We're thinking of putting him in our advertising." The Lignin advised children against running up credit card debt, which could lead to such desperate acts. Sparkle C had this to say: "I'm Sparkle C and I'm just glad to be here in Crucible City now! I'm on guard for you, citizens!" The article is accompanied by several pictures of Sparkle C, showing her in various stages of helping clean up the bank. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/7 Posted Author Genetic Lab Break-ins Baffle Cops Sun Jul 03 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City, AP -- A recent string of laboratory thefts have left Crucible City law enforcement agencies baffled. In the last month alone, four science lab robberies have been reported, and police are expecting more. "This doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon and it certainly doesn't appear to be the work of amateurs." said Detective John Gauss of the CCPD Commercial Crimes Division, "These companies have sophisticated top end security systems. We haven't ruled out a string of inside jobs, but clandestine ninja operations are just as likely as a team of professional high tech cat burglars, at this point." Detective Gauss refers to the intrusion of Cultured Dynamics on March 18th of this year, where an apparent team of ninjitsu practitioners gained illegal access to the in-silico based research laboratory and made off with years worth of genetics research data. Though most of the infiltrators were captured and placed behind bars, they offered little information about their employers. Many suspect involvement by the infamous Otaku Clan, the so-called armageddon cult that has sewn seeds of chaos for three years and has focused on Crucible City in the last six months, but no hard evidence has ever tied them together. Official representatives from victimized companies Genetic Solutions Limited, Zero Corporation, The Sigma Group, and Chromodyne Enterprises refused to comment. One affiliate who wished to remain anonymous said, "What we're dealing with is a tech savvy crew of professionals who can negotiate a 21st century security system worth millions of dollars as if it were a child's toy. I still don't know how they did it. I didn't find any indication that someone had been here. It's all very, very troubling." (Direct questions, as always, to +request Plot) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/8 Posted Author Competition for Sparkle C's Yates? Mon Jul 04 Reporter (Shannon) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An article buried in the Entertainment section: COMPETITION FOR SPARKLE C'S YATES? 'A promotional give-away of free samples of Sparkle C orange drink went awry on Sunday when an unidentified youth threw a wad of gum at the Sparkle C spokeshero, also named Sparkle C. The youth was promptly assaulted by a woman in red robes. This woman sliced his mohawk off and shouted, "Begone, or face the wrath of the Protector!" She then produced a bottle of Sparkle C and started chugging it down, only to have it removed from her by Sparkle C herself. After chastizing the security guards, the 'Protector' fled the scene. "This woman was not affiliated with Sparkle C," says Jerry Alston, a PR executive for Sparkle Ltd who was overseeing the event. "She is not an employee and we are unaware of her identity. She does not endorse our product." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/9 Posted Author A VELOS RETURNS! Tue Jul 05 Reporter (Event Horizon ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City, AP -- Headline: VELOS RETURNS AFTER MISSING FOR THIRTEEN YEARS! Split Picture: One picture of a little girl, tired and worn out as if she had been crying all day. The second, a young woman getting out limo downtown. After rumors of her return, it is confirmed that Selina Velos is in fact alive and has returned to Crucible City. The daughter of Bruce and Ariana Velos, the founders of the business rock, 'Velos Industries'. Bruce and Ariana were murdered 13 years ago. The only living heir to the business moguls disappeared shortly after their murder. When asked of her whereabouts she smiled, and said no comment. Will the daughter take over the company now that she has returned? Will the daughter use her money to party and get all the boys attention? Can she live up to the Velos name? Only one can tell in time. Will she have the guts to sit down and talk to the media and explain her whereabouts? We shall see...we shall see! ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/10 Posted Author GeneTech Bandit Strikes Again! Tue Jul 05 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Page 3, Crucible City Tribune) Crucible City, AP -- Cryolock Technologies became the latest genetic research company to be victimized by the stealthy supercrook(s) who have now pilfered their fifth company this month alone. Fast becoming a big name in the biotech field, Cryolock's stock price skyrocketed within weeks of becoming publicly traded as expectations of their improved cryogenic sleep technology grew strong. Now that research is gone, apparently stolen out of the blue, and police have no apparent suspects. Detective John Gauss of the CCPD Commercial Crimes Division has been following the case carefully while the city's eyes were on Ultima Thule, "Never in all my years as a police detective have I seen burglaries executed like these. The perpetrators leave no fingerprints, no DNA, no signs of forced entry, and they don't even disturb dust particles. Whoever's behind this has serious training or serious technology. Probably both." Cryolock Technologies CEO Dr. Ted Ledowski expressed dismay at the thefts, which have captured the attention of both the FBI and the CDC, neither of which could be reached for comment, "Somebody is trying to get something, or make something, and they don't care about money, morals, or the law. I can't blame the CDC for being scared. We're all a little nervous." Dr. Ledowski, a former professor from Stanford, admits Cryolock's research could have uses in genetic warfare, "You only need to use your imagination. And I'm sure they have, since they've gone after some very expensive properties. The sooner somebody catches these guys, the better." (Direct questions, as always, to +request Plot) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/11-21 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/11 Posted Author Big Badaboom Wed Jul 06 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Yesterday at approximately 2:00pm, a shattering explosion rocked Indefinia Inc headquarters, apparently the result of an unidentified weaponblast shot off in the struggle between three psionic Powers and one of the resident scientists. Indefinia Powered employees Flashbang, Thaumaturge and the Statistic were on hand to come to his aid, as was one by the name of Blind Justice and a figure rumored to bear a remarkable resemblance to the hero from The Matrix. It is known that the three villains were roundly subdued and the scientist rescued, but no other details have been released as to cause or sequence of events. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/12 Posted Author Coffee Goes Bad! Thu Jul 07 Reporter (Sunshine Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Last night the Uncommon Grounds Cafe came under attack from a strange creature that manifested from freshly brewed coffee and began destroying vessels and attacking customers. Fortunately the demonic brew was stopped with the heroic efforts of three local Powers. Following the coffee explosion of the monster's defeat, several patrons were treated for minor burns and caffeine poisoning. (Along with the article is a photo that _might_ be Alchemist, Regan, and Havoc Lad. Apparently the photographer was rather jittery at the moment) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/13 Posted Author Fireworks and Firefights Sat Jul 09 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) While families set off the last of their Fourth of July leftover fireworks last night in Lincoln Park, a scuffle between villains went almost unnoticed. By the time the heroes Tempest, Matrix, Miracle Girl, Crimson Angel and the valiant figure of the Unknown Soldier reached the scene, one side had prevailed, overpowering former Hand swordswoman Foresight (Rachel Guerre) four to one. Her assailants - Retrofit right-hand Apparatus (Elaine Devereaux), Cathmor mentalist Mindset (Gosheven Waters), Temporist Catalyst (presumed Marcus Palmer) and former Hand speedster Fast-Forward (Valerie Kelly) - had her cuffed in presumably stolen Pound devices and were on the verge of executing her with her own weapon when the five Powers burst onto the scene. The Farrelas Rapier changed hands several times during the struggle, but was in the end kept from villainous hands - though not before being used by the Crimson Angel to deliver a ringing blow to Mindset, who was then prevented from reaching a teleport device by Miracle Hound's jaws. Mindset is currently in Pound custody, though he has not shed any light on the reasons for the attack. The only connection the police are certain of is the bad blood between Guerre and Kelly, last culminating in a vicious attack on the latter by the former just before Kelly's voluntary return to the Pound last year. However, the speedster spent most of her time engaged - verbally if not physically - with her Dawn Patrol counterpart, Tempest, who also removed Foresight from the cuffs before the rest of the still bloodthirsty villains could complete their mission. Save for the luckless Mindset, the villains made a clean sweep of their escape, including the former captive. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/14 Posted Author The Latest From Europe ... Mon Jul 11 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) After almost three years of meticulous investigation and determined pursuit, international authorities - with the cooperation of the Swiss government - have tracked the elusive supervillain known as the Patrician to an underground manse twenty miles outside of Geneva. Unfortunately, the raid discovered the manor abandoned and empty, so recently no dust had fallen on the glaringly blank floorboards, and only eleven of his infamous statues left behind. "He couldn't have been more than minutes ahead of us, but it was enough," one official stated with some irony. "He didn't seem to be in a hurry, either - left us a nice note." At present, the contents of that note are classified. Though best known for his collection of statues - women of exceptional beauty and talent imprisoned in stone against their will, a gallery of unknown size - the Patrician has also been known to bankroll other villainous endeavors, twitching strings and using his connections on behalf of his allies. Authorities observe that he seems to have no overarching plan, and the artistry and finesse of an endeavor carries undue weight in what is known of his projects. "The Patrician has been intermittently active for centuries," said a junior officer, "seven or eight year periods after which he vanishes for decades. Frankly, I think we should settle for talking him into going back to sleep already - I'm not on the record, am I?" The eleven women rescued in the raid have been returned to their normal state by a veteran Swiss Power. All went missing sometime over the last two years; all report full consciousness in their stone state, but do not seem to know anything suggestive of the Patrician's true identity or his forwarding address. "We were never certain before now as to the consciousness of the gallery," said one of the chief investigators on the case. "When you consider the fact that some of these captives have been with him for centuries, the prospect becomes somewhat alarming." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/15 Posted Author More Locally ... Mon Jul 11 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The leader of the central circle of the Goddess-Givers, elderly Hui Chae, was released early this morning after extensive questioning in regards to the participation of the circle member representing Cerridwen in the Literalis Federation-directed theft of the original United States Constitution. It has been almost a week since federal authorities detained the woman; now reportedly satisfied that nothing further can be divined at this time, she returns home. "We have no grounds to hold Hui Chae on charges, but she has been advised that continual, allegedly unilateral action by her disciples will not be tolerated," said one of the subordinate agents. "There are issues of negligence on which we can press suit ..." A major merger is on the winds in midwestern markets: June Technologies Incorporated and Calvin National have announced their intentions to combine forces and to buy out traditional rival Shalehurst Industries. The research and development interests invested in the merger will require the presence of JTI heir Wallace June (II), presently serving a - some would say excessively - light sentence for his role as Timewriter ally Remake. The Pound plans to allow his attendance in cuffs and under guard; rumors that Wallace June Sr. has flatly refused to be present with his son are unconfirmed. "The elder June has tried very hard to distance his reputation from that of his heir without undermining his efficacy, and it hasn't worked," an independent image consultant observed, "but it creates just this sort of tension in what should be a clean business deal." (Inquiries? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/16 Posted Author Super Scoops Scuffle Wed Jul 13 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The popular ice-cream parlor Super Scoops in Oak Park is temporarily closed for light repairs after it became the site of Powered conflict yesterday afternoon. Literalis Federation members Poetic License and Point of View, directed by the Narrator, attempted to abduct a young girl from a social outing with King Academy classmates. The girl, Simone Roslin, was adopted daughter of Federation member Lady Genre (Claudette Roslin) and biological daughter of alleged righthand the Sequel (Natasha Brody); due to legal proceedings, she has been under the guardianship of CCPCU Officer Pete Kazanski, who joined the students at the parlor, and was the first to discover the illusory bait and switch pulled by Poetic License and Point of View. He promptly surged to the offensive with the recognized powers of the blaster Lifefire. From within the restaurant, another Power surged to her feet to aid the villains, displaying attributes that have been connected with the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. The heroes, however, had on their side King Academy students Keane Crisilian and Selina Velos, as well as local figures Zenobia Petalas, Shadowstrike, and Piper. Amateur photographers swear they have pictures of these last two in transition between mundane and Powered identity, but this fact has not yet been confirmed by any reliable source. A nasty fight ensued, including a chaotic game of keep-away with the young victim, but ended when Shadowstrike vanished with the girl and the Narrator pulled Poetic License and the unidentified Aztec through a dimensional rift - or as one wit on the scene described, "a plot hole." The young Crisilian managed to fell Point of View before she could make her own escape. Cornered after the conflict for explanations, an exhausted officer Kazanski nonetheless was outspoken in his resolve, claiming, "The Literalis Foundation continues to cause problems within the community; their disregard for the laws of this nation is an insult to those who wish to live up to the ideals that our forefathers set." However, he politely declined to answer general questioning on his Powered persona, and further denied access to the young Simone. For her part, Omega Tech Laboratories supervisor Doctor Zenobia Petalas (of Jovian assault fame) expressed apologies and regret that more of the villains could not be captured, and offered to help the city pay for incidental collateral damages done to the area. The junior member of the Literalis Federation captured in the assault, Point of View, has been identifed as Wisconsin pediatrician Consuela Beltran. Beltran subsists on a trust fund established by a prestigious and influential Maine family who apparently threw her out of the house upon discovering her development of Powers, and set up the fund to keep her quiet. "It seems to have backfired," quipped an anonymous junior officer. "Given the briefer length of time she has worked with the villain team, and the seriousness of outstanding offenses, Beltran's wisest move would be to cut a deal and talk," his superior observed. "She could earn herself a relatively light sentence." Despite shattered windows and inactive lava vents in the marble floor, Super Scoops promises to re-open by the weekend, and entices new customers with its two week limited series of menu items based on the players in the fight. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/17 Posted Author Westfall Recognized Sat Jul 16 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The United States has officially recognized the small country of Westfall, a two hundred mile stretch of formerly Canadian land that formed during the war when its citizens were defended by five beings of energy. Now these alien overseers have established a monarchial system of governance over the region, at the supposedly unanimous behest of the populace. Canada has approved the secession, apparently without the wherewithal to fight its own people. While refusing to appear on television or be photographed, the new leaders have been otherwise forthcoming, willing to put forth any gesture to strengthen their position in the eyes of the world community. "This situation is completely unprecedented," a diplomatic official said, "but Westfall is a virtually insignificant section of the global community, and its existence need not rouse the outrage of traditionalists." (Inquiries? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/18 Posted Author Schiller Park Alien Incident! Sat Jul 16 Reporter (Jack Phantom) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Schiller Park, Crucible City Thursday evening saw a confrontation with potentially serious diplomatic implications between the US and Canada, as well as Canada and an unspecified extrasolar nation. Local Powers including the sword-wielding Havoc Lad, Keane Crisillian of King Academy, the mysterious masked hero known as Nightblade and Miracle Girl along with her canine companion were on hand as the entity known as 'Crucible' (of no relation to, or endorsement by the City; merely a literal translation of the native word) attempted to excavate a Seraph robot that had fallen into the muck of half-dried Schiller Lake, thus eluding previous sweeps or leftover Thulian technology in the wake of Urizen's invasion. Crucible is an exile to Earth from his own people, and specifically restricted to the Toronto area of Canada and prohibited from possessing or using weaponry of any kind during his stay on the planet. He was in flagrant violation of this in trying to dig up the Thulian war-engine of course, and in the use of a Powered staff apparently of his own making. Assisting in this endeavor were two largely unknown powers: Gravitas, who apparently did not own a dictionary but did have a pair of gauntlets that gave him power over gravity, and Amplitude, a villain either inspired by or a direct legacy of a villain from the 1980's going by the same name and with the same sonic attack theme. These two are currently in custody awaiting processing and arraignment. Verification of their true countries of origin are required before they can be unmasked, doubt arising from their association with the Canadian Exile. All three individuals were brought into custody, and the Seraph has been reclaimed and impounded along with all the rest of the reclaimed Thulian war equipment retrieved. <> ((Sorry for the lateness of the post, folks, and thanks to all who participated. Any questions, +request to plot! --Jack Phantom)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/19 Posted Author More ... Internal Squabbles? Mon Jul 18 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A Powered dust-up occurred last night in the parking garage of the Crucible City branch of Calvin National as a light guard escorted Wallace June (formerly Remake) to a transport van for return to the Pound. June had been released for the day to close negotiations for a business deal, but was intercepted in the lot by Contrivance (Nicholas Gaunt), who had been unmasked by the convicted shapeshifter, along with the Temporist known as Incandescence, Surplus and June's former teammate Fast-Forward (Valerie Kelly). Only a few words were exchanged between the group and the cornered June before five heroes arrived on the scene: teleporting wisecracker Sidestep, the Shanghai Knight's Junkyard Dragon, the Indestructible Corporate, classic heroine Miracle Girl, and the young Tiger Kitten. While first volleys on either side were inconclusive, the fight exploded when Corporate swept in defend June. The villains' response left two heroes unconscious and one blinded, but they rallied to turn the tide even as Miracle Girl swept the caught-in-the-crossfire convict away. Left with no target, the villains swiftly dispersed. Contrivance altered a setting on his morphic armor and vanished, while Fast-Forward outpaced even Sidestep's hounding. The remaining two women were pinned by the force of gravity in the hands of Tiger Kitten, and side-swiped by the Junkyard Dragon - a resounding hit that prevented Surplus from crawling to her companion before Incandescence activated a teleport cube. A subdued Surplus - identified as former Cathmor Biotech test subject Taima Peterson - was turned over to Pound custody, where she has remained obdurately silent. Thus, the reason for the attack remains suspected but not confirmed. June himself expressed doubt on the prevailing theory, "if they had wanted to kill me, one shot before the cuffs came off would have done it. Nicholas might have taken aim at me, but he was shooting for the shoulder, not the heart - a move which Val averted, but I really think they wanted something they didn't have time to express before the fine folks showed up." Authorities have observed that Retrofit seems to be pursuing loose ends with his former teammates, and has put Fast-Forward - as the only one besides himself to have had extensive contact with them - into the fray for the endeavor. They have stepped up investigations as to the location of the other inner circle member currently at large, Truth (Gretchen April) in the hopes of catching two birds with one stone. Whatever the case, thanks to the efforts of five local Powers, Surplus is out of the action and behind bars, and June has been safely returned to custody. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/20 Posted Author Mysterious Mystical Shortfall Wed Jul 20 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) These past few days have been a time of divine supplication and outright fear amongst several South American tribes after the inexplicable failure of local mystical remedies and artifacts, while others have turned to more modern forces to vent their frustration. A Chilean delegation asked to examine the problem has posited the depletion of one leyline and a definite, albiet minor, realignment of a second - an answer scoffed at by the mystic community. "They're not pieces of string to be played with like a giant game of cat's cradle. They don't move," said a visiting American expert. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/21 Posted Author News From Mississippi Fri Jul 22 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Disaster relief efforts in Meridian, Mississippi, were interrupted yesterday evening by what a few local mystics describe as a sudden plummet in mystical energies. Though brief - apparently a pulse related to a ritual in error - the incident led heroes at work on the project to a ring of three women believed to be associated with the Goddess-Givers, and bearing the attributes of three deities: Chinese dragon-goddess Nu Kua, British Sulis (also associated with Roman Minerva) and Native American Gyhldeptis. While the dialogue that ensued between the women and their challengers - individuals particularly familiar to Crucible City, specifically Scion, the Statistic, Dr. Zenobia Petalas and the recently unmasked Lifefire (Pete Kazanski) - is rumored to have started peacefully, confirmation that they intended to tamper with the leyline provoked a fight. The presence of the Power Sunstorm is also indicated, but not confirmed. Details on the fight are sketchy, but all combatants emerged battered and wearied, the opponent identified with Sulis knocked into submission by excessive force before she was turned over to the authorities. A Meridian mystic pointed out that three women, however powerful, could not have stirred so much, and are likely to have had help somewhere else along the line of force, potentially a hundred miles away, but had neither leads nor suggestions to offer. The captive, once out of attribute, was identified as Goddess-Giver legal counsel Lethe Inachus - who has already cited several legal statutes and previous rulings and appears to have a strong case. Inachus, 38, is a Greek immigrant and long-time Crucible City resident; her fifteen year old son is alleged to be a Power as well. Meridian officials extend their heartfelt thanks to the Powered heroes, not only for their intervention, but for their assistance in the relief efforts. ============================================================================== +bbread 12/22-31 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/22 Posted Author Convention notice Sun Jul 24 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer - Community Pages) The yearly Floraform Convention - an association of botanists, teachers and the occasional amateur aficionado - is being held in Crucible City this year, July 28th through 31st at the Marriott Hickory Ridge Conference Hotel. Scientists with the Hyperblossom Project, a corporate-sponsored research endeavor out of California, have promised particularly exciting discoveries in the areas of hydroponics and seed dispersion, but most seminars are geared towards more academic questions. Some of the most respected minds in the field have agreed to offer a few seminars geared for the general public; for a schedule, contact ... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/23 Posted Author 'Chocolate Madness' at Mall Sun Jul 24 Reporter (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday, July 24, 2005 CRUCIBLE CITY: Yesterday a strange event occured at Water Tower Place mall as a dozen boxes of chocolate creams in a candy store burst suddenly to life. The mysterious confections then turned into small scorpionlike creatures that attacked and attempted to suffocate several shoppers. Fortunately a team of Powers were on scene investigating a reportedly unrelated crime. According to witnesses the Brass Monkey, Havoc Lad, and Serrin(pictured below) engaged the agressive chocolates directly while Regan and Keane Crisilian provided fire support. Young Power Tamiko O'Rourke was also spotted on scene bringing victims to safety. After a brief combat all affected civilians were rescued, and the heroes reportedly took one of the creatures from the scene for further investigation. Following the situation Nathaniel Pitney, spokesman from Godiva Chocolatier, Inc., denied that there is any contamination in the company's candies. "Our chocolates are hand-crafted from the highest quality ingredients, and are specially handled throughout the process of creation to sale. We are investigating this isolated incident and cooperating with local authorities, but I can assure you this was caused by some outside agency," Pitney said. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/24 Posted Author Powers versus Power Plant Mon Jul 25 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City, AP -- A group of powered villains attempted to destroy a Crucible City powerplant this week, but local heroes rushed to its aid. Described as a burning woman and two large men dressed as ninjas, the three were backed up by eight members of the Otaku Clan, the so-called End of the World cult believed responsible for over eighty seperate attacks throughout the globe in the past three years. Athorities believe the attack to be a worrying landmark in the already worrisome history of the Otaku clan, "This is the first time we've ever seen a power accompanying them who wasn't some sort of ninja or sorcerer. They may be recruiting, and that means they're growing." The attack occured late in the evening, when the group attacked the plant and set up explosive charges throughout the building. Police response was fierce, but proved to be ineffective. Local heroes Angel of Mercy and Psychopomp arrived to the scene just in the nick of time. They removed the explosives while fighting those who placed them. The CC Power Authority believes the death toll may have been serious, "This is a nuclear facility. We have failsafes, but it was never meant to gracefully deal with something like this." The criminal powers involved are still at large and considered very dangerous. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/25 Posted Author HEROINE KIDNAPPED AT PROMETHEUS CO Mon Jul 25 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City, AP -- Dr. Albert Teller and powered heroine Fury were kidnapped out of the 22nd story of a downtown Chicago skyscraper. The group...four men, two women, entered Prometheus Corporation's corporate headquarters on the 22nd floor of the Hammermand Building. Witnesses saw three sorcerers, two men dressed in ninja garb, and a woman made of burning flame. After ignoring protects from the reception desk, the group walked towards the facility's high security wing and planted explosives around the door. Security specialists were powerless against the entourage. The explosion summoned the attention of the CCPD, but the road actually twisted back upon itself, effectively stopping all vehicular progress near or about the building. The Brass Monkey, Sergeant Quinn, American Pride, Fury, Miracle Girl, and Serrin arrived while the police department could not. Upon entry, the six found the diabolic crew had taken Dr. Teller and Dr. Daryl Larson hostage. The heroes sprung into action to fight the formidable six with mixed results. While two of the sorcerers were dispatched, Dr. Teller was spirited away to an unknown location, as was Fury herself. Dr. Teller, a respected biologist, was expected to announce Prometheus Corporation's breakthrough cryogenics technology later this week. American Pride, Miracle Hound, and three security guards are listed as being in serious, but stable condition. Otaku involvement in his kidnapping is strongly suspected and all six remain at large. If you have any information as to Fury or Dr. Albert Teller's whereabouts, please contact your nearest law enforcement agency. (Send concerns/questions/investigations to +request Plot, as always.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/26 Posted Author Bank Robbery Foiled! Wed Jul 27 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On page 8, of a local news paper's local news section, the following short article can be found. At Crucible City Savings and Loan an attempted bank robbery, by known criminal Jacob Stonecypher was foiled today, by a young heroine. Names aren't forthcoming at this moment as to the identity of the Heroine, who witness's describe as being roughly five foot two inches tall, light complected with red hair. When questioned, bank manager John Montford had this to say. "While yes, the person that helped protect the bank is a customer, I feel it important for my banking establishment to respect the rights of privacy for our customer, weather they be powered or not. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/27 Posted Author Trouble Blossoms Wed Jul 27 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Yesterday evening, four previously unknown Powers attempted to abduct three visiting botanists from the Hyperblossom Project, early arrivals for the conference this weekend. Doctors Lynn Farrell, Adrian Castiglioni, and Bernard Morris were at dinner with Fragile Planet co-founder Edwina Eckhart at Mariana's Slice of Italy in Oak Brook when the villain tentatively identified as Black Locust nearly succeeded in drawing Farrell into the ground. The commotion drew the attention of the Indestructible Corporate, crutch-wielding Spade - who has had previous run-ins with such ecological mayhem - a youth known as Havoc Lad, an unnamed young woman who dove into the ground after Black Locust's successful second attempt, ravenlike Karasu, and another newcomer referred to as Lockdown. The fight swiftly split three ways, between Black Locust and his opposite presumed to be somewhere in the sewers below, the villains dubbed Selenium and Iridin on the roof with Corporate and Havoc Lad, and their apparent leader, one Wolfsbane, cornered by Spade and Karasu, while Lockdown shifted his attention between the two surface levels. Despite fierce resistance and furious blows, the heroes managed to protect the victims and stave off the four villains, who vanished - three through the stone wall of the restaurant, and Iridin from the flower-shop across the street after he was barreled there by Corporate. Confused rumors that one propositioned the other persist but are unconfirmed. Though the victims have been released on their own recognizance after extensive questioning, the authorities are not discussing potential motives for the would-be abduction. Detective John Thera did offer the following observation, "I believe we're dealing with a more organic iteration of the hit-team known as the Prowlers. It's not certain, but everything is highly suggestive: their modus operandi, their powers, even the names - wolfsbane is a common label for aconite, the appelation taken by the last team's leader." On this basis, the department also detained another Fragile Planet founder: Genevieve Ritterman, better known as the host to the storm-spirit collective Vila. Though a Crucible City jury found her not guilty by reason of possession, her extensive knowledge of that organization was considered relevant - and apparently turned up dry. "Ritterman would seem to be as clueless as the rest of us, and while I take that with a certain grain of salt, investigations continue," Thera said. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/28 Posted Author 95th Street Bridge Attacked! Sun Jul 31 Reporter (Jack Phantom) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City, Eastside Friday evening during rush hour saw a disturbance on one of the city's important traffic bridges. The 95th street bridge is a historic marker on the East Side and has been featured in the movie "The Blues Brothers." The evening saw it also as the site of a powered battle as a force of unknown persons clad in various mismatched medieval-style armor appeared atop a semi trailer stuck at roughly the center of the bridge in rush hour traffic. The figures did not identify themselves as a group, but their leader, bearing a helmet marked with a white cross, named himself as Weiss Kreutz, and an apprentice, apparently there to test his abilities, as True North. The goal of their appearance is at least partially unclear, though it seems to have been a test for their juniormost member as the young True North attempted to collapse the bridge through control of magnetic energies, with all traffic still upon it. Several local powers were on-scene to intervene, however, including local metal simian Brass Monkey, the young teleporter Sidestep, Lockdown, a mystic of recent reputation, the young Sunshine Girl and a mentalist currently unknown to reporters. These five heroes were able to halt the villains and drive them to flee, capturing True North (unmasked as a French citizen, Gerard D'Achille) and two of what appear to be a mutant breed of German Shepherds occasionally used in underground powered fighting rings. Authorities are still debating on D'Achille's detention, as he is also wanted in France for similar Powered infractions. The 95th street bridge will be closed for repairs and inspections for the immediate future, with no ETA yet on completion and no estimate of the damages. The bridge was not destroyed, but its structure was seriously tested, very likely requiring extensive maintenance to restore it to serviceability. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/29 Posted Author Another Day, Another Theft Sun Jul 31 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An asteroid remnant known as the Keffer Jewel - known for properties of both mystic and scientific nature - is under doubled security after an attack on the Field Museum's Grainger Gallery last night from not one group of villains but two. When nearby Powers Henry White, Dr. Zenobia Petalas, someone previously known as Zombiegirl but currently identified as Euryale, Peacekeeper, CCPCU's Serendipity, and The Statistic burst onto the scene, they found a stand-off already in progress along generational lines: Retrofit associates Apparatus (Elaine Devereaux), Scintilla and Mercurcial challenged Literalis Federation seer Enchiridion and a woman identified with the goddess Iamanja. While the villains turned to face the new threat, they could not entirely abandon their mission, and divided their attention between the heroes and the jewel in question. With bolts of electricity and gunshots afly - and both of Iamanja's summoned elementals quickly dashed into watery puddles, the first by White and the second by Serendipity's wild firing - the tight situation prompted Enchiridion to call for aid, which arrived in the form of sorcerous ally Gualichu. Though Apparatus seemed ready to assault the reinforcement, clear recognition passed between the two, and they lapsed into a cautiously amicable exchange even as the Statistic grabbed the Keffer Jewel and threatened to disintegrate it. Bystanders swear that the heroine was serious and even followed through with the threat when attacked, but the magics of Euryale apparently restored it later. The heroes also wasted no time in hounding the new arrival. With no time to get her feet under her, the sorceress was stunned by a shot from the Z.E.N.O.-3, pinned to the wall by telekinetic force and bloodied by a gun-blast. Apparently worried by the situation, Enchiridion called out to their former adversary, and Apparatus responded by removing both herself and Gualichu from the field. It was a manuever briefly misinterpreted as an abduction, a situation dismissed by the reactions of the other villains involved. However, with the target seemingly disintegrated past recovery, the other four wasted little time in beating a retreat. Peacekeeper's second telekinetic grab narrowly missed Enchiridion only to smash into the display cases behind him and cause a major toppling of displays, and it was to the sound of crashing glass and metal that the four villains disappeared: the older generation through a whirlpool, and the younger through the familiar use of a teleport cube. After the fight, Euryale emphatically reaffirmed her identity and the inaccuracy of the Zombiegirl label, that she was a magician, not a mere cold manipulator, and that she was very much alive. The Statistic's only comment was an inordinately profanity-laden grumble that concluded, "I need a drink. Err, that was off the record." Powered insurance covers all damage to museum property; the gallery should be re-opened by the end of next week. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/30 Posted Author Dawn Patrol Press Release Sun Jul 31 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Press Release July 31, 2005 -- The Dawn Patrol, the famous team founded by members of Crucible City's superpowered community in the wake of the disaster known only as "The Event" has steadfastly protected the people of the planet for close to two years. Since it's creation, the team has seen a wide array of heroes from all walks of life join their ranks and follow their charter mandate to "protect the earth, its people, and its resources from threats terrestial or otherwise, from any threat which may or prove to be beyond the capability of conventional forces. The Dawn Patrol is created and dedicated to the preservation of peace, liberty, equality and justice under the law for all people and places." As of today, the Dawn Patrol is closing its doors to future membership and turning its resources, including the orbital spacestation known as Lighthouse Eos, over to the United States government. The team has come to a unanimous consensus, in the wake of Count Urizen's assault on the Earth and the loss of former Chairman Connor Kingfisher, to retire its charter and integrate itself fully back into the superhero community. The reasoning is simple in light of how effective the collective whole of the superhuman population was against the Tyrannical Ten, proving the point that the tightly knit unit of superpowers was not better at protecting against the threats conventional means could not handle, but rather, weakening the community of superpowers by ostracizing itself from the population. With the dissolving of the Dawn Patrol, the former members of the team hope that they will be strengthening the superpowered community and thereby better upholding their original mandate to protect and serve this world as one heroic, unstoppable, force of good. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/31 Posted Author Kingfisher Press Release Sun Jul 31 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Press Release July 31, 2005 -- Shortly after the Dawn Patrol press release, Stockwell Kingfisher's office released a notice to press. The notice declared that the previously believed son of the Senator, former chairman of the Dawn Patrol, and former Unknown Soldier Connor Kingfisher was not, as previously reported, dead. Kingfisher had somehow survived the brutal attack by Count Urizen that left the world paralyzed and has since been held in an undisclosed location in a deep comatose state. The cause of the coma is uncertain, but for reasons of personal security to the Kingfisher family and Connor especially the news of his survival was kept hidden from the public. But now, with it clear that the Tyrannical Ten and the remnants of those loyal to Count Urizen in prison, the news of Connor's survival can be made public. In a quote, Stockwell Kingfisher apologized to the public for misleading them but for a time they honestly did believe Connor wouldn't survive. And while in stable condition now, he hasn't shown any signs of waking from the comatose state. With Stockwell's parental approval however, experimental methods of telepathically reaching out to comatose victims was tested on Connor. Contact was successful and Stockwell says that, "Connor is still there and we got to talk to him, in a manner of speaking. He wanted me to tell everyone to know that he's now fighting his own body the same way he fought Urizen and all those other punks who've tried to make people too scared to sleep at night. He knows about the Patrol's plans to disband and said that he supports the idea to integrate the superheroed population into one powerful body fully... Why? Well... Because they were damn impressive when it came time to show Urizen who really was boss. And he also told me to tell you all that anyone whose feeling sorry for him? He promises that he'll track down each and every last one of you and pound some sense into you with his bare hands once he's back on his feet." Kingfisher's office also confirms the presence of a new Unknown Soldier who is filling the role. While the identity of the new person to carry the Gallant Rampart remains a secret at the bearers personal request, Senator Kingfisher has given the new bearer his full and honorable blessing to uphold the mantle for as long as he wishes. Said of the new Soldier by the Senator: "I know the man personally and short of Connor and myself, there is nobody finer to carry that shield and I know he's doing his best to make a difference. It isn't ego of anybody but myself to ask someone new to carry that shield but I know, speaking for myself, I sleep better knowning that there is an Unknown Soldier out there watching my back. I hope the rest of the population feels the same way too." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/32-41 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/32 Posted Author Alice's Adventures in Heroism Mon Aug 01 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday, August 1, 2005 CRUCIBLE CITY: The Lewis Carroll exhibition at the Harold Washington Library Center was interrupted yesterday by a trio of superpowered thieves, apparently intending to steal the first edition copies of _Alice's Adventures in Wonderland_, _Through the Looking Glass_, and other classic literary works by the celebrated author. These villains, identified as Wunderkind, Negaman, and Incendios, were luckily not the only Powers in the area at the time. Also in the library were the heroes Skip, Havoc Lad, Obsidian, Angel of Mercy, and an unidentified African-American woman with violet hair. (The latter had left before the authorities arrived, and her identity was kept private by the other Powers on the scene.) Wunderkind was seriously injured in the ensuing combat, while Incendios and Negaman were rendered unconscious. All three criminals are now in custody. No civilians were harmed in the battle, as Skip managed to transport the non-powered library patrons to safety. Leona Velasquez, 34, said that she would be "forever grateful to the heroes who protected her daughter". Any motivations for the attempted crime, beyond simple theft, are as yet unknown. (( There is a photograph with the article, displaying Obsidian, Havoc Lad, and Skip standing in the disordered library. A librarian in the background is worriedly looking over the Lewis Carroll collection. )) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/33 Posted Author Talking to the Hand Tue Aug 02 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer - interior pages) Anne-May Taylor, current leader of the sect known as the Hand, has released a statement denouncing Martin August and denying any affiliation with the Powered villain and his cohorts. She has furthermore demanded that Retrofit come up with a decent title for his organization to prevent references to the Hand for convenience's sake. The sect has remained a small and retiring presence in the city since the unmasking and fall of former prophet Calandre March (Timewriter); they believe the essential philosophy to be a valid one despite its source, though they have removed its dependence upon intermediaries between members and the divine. "We're scarcely the first group with a questionable origin whose teachings can and have been misused," Taylor claims. "But we've been persistently harassed by the general public, and it's gotten worse since January. It must be emphasized that March's inner circle, and only the inner circle, had knowledge of wrongdoing - the rest of us were in ignorance or simply denial. And it seems somewhat telling to me that of all who espoused the philosophy, only the Powered villains have foresworn it." "What some people fail to realize," says psychologist Althea Burkhard, "is that the beliefs the Hand follow are a dangerous enabler. If anything, downplaying the role of specific prophets makes it more unstable. One can justify anything with the claim of a duty to fate and no more proof of validity than a convenient gut instinct." Taylor counters with the opinion that any system of belief can be similarly warped, and that those with ulterior motives will find their own justification. In her favor is certainly that August himself does not appear to hold with his old philosophy, to judge by dialogue with captured subordinates, but casting doubt on the matter is the Hand's own bloodstained past. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/34 Posted Author A Challenge? Tue Aug 02 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LONGBOW We duel. Same place, friday the 5th, midnight. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/35 Posted Author A few discreetly placed advertisem Thu Aug 04 Reporter (Anne) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have the shiny. I repeat: I HAVE THE SHINY. Yes, I, the Statistic, bluffed all you Goddess Givers and Literalis people and I currently possess the Keffer Jewel. You do not. Nor will you! Ha, HA, HA. PS: The one in the museum is a fake. Just test it! Once more for posterity: HA. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/36 Posted Author Water Warfare Sun Aug 07 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Last night, a broad EMP pulse briefly knocked out power in a south lakeshore district, centering about one of Crucible City's water treatment plants. In an impressive combination of triangulation, luck and swift exhaustion of other possibilities, a group of local heroes - Tempest, the Brass Monkey, Outlaw, Corporate and Sunshine Girl - arrived just in time to interfere with a quartet of villains bent on planting an as-yet unidentified substance in the filtration pools. The first was readily identifiable as de facto Temporist leader Parallel. She was accompanied by two shapeshifters and an apparently perfect clone of former inner circle firestarter Armageddon, who later pinpointed the fluid pair as Split Infinity and Subjectivity. Though there were no outside witness to the conflict, the fight was said to be a gruelling one, a punishing affair for both sides. While both vials were confiscated and the villains overpowered, success did not come before the entire heroic roster was either knocked flat or debilitated. The villain identified as Split Infinity managed to teleport away her fellow shapeshifter and Parallel at the last possible second - both thoroughly unconscious, as was the abandoned clone. Though authorities presently have no idea what the villains were attempting to introduce into the water system, previous experience with Retrofit's workings have them focusing their efforts in this area. "I just want to assure everyone the filtration systems are water-tight - pun not intended," said plant official Jean Simmons, "whatever the answers here, no one is in any danger." The police department is also dealing with the Armageddon clone - now the second one in custody. "Apparently, Martin August found it easier to make a stable clone than a degenerating one, and since they know absolutely nothing of operations, he apparently didn't bother with a failsafe," said Jerry Paff of the CCPCU, "so we're left with these individual with blank-slate memories and technically no rights. My instinct says it would be cruel to keep them indefinitely, but I'm not sure what other choice we have." The original Armageddon, Lucas Armstrong, has no such qualms. "These things are illegal copies of me. Get the **** rid of them already." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/37 Posted Author Assault on Courthouse Wed Aug 10 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Tuesday afternoon, the Cook County Courthouse was attacked by the Narrator, Copyright and Lady Genre (Claudette Roslin) of the Literalis Federation, with the aid of the presumed Goddess-Giver associated with Inanna. Their target was Consuela Beltran, former teammate Point of View, yet their goal seemed to be not rescue but assassination. However, before they could make good their intentions, local heroes responded to the courthouse alarm and swooped in on the scene. The heroine known as Shadowdancer, the Statistic, Dr. Zenobia Petalas, flashy Illustration (well-known as Luc Malateux) and Lifefire (CCPCU's Pete Kazanski) braced the villains even as a young girl by the name of Tamara MacGregor enacted powers of teleportation to pull Beltran out of the fray. Bystanders - including both attorneys, a phlegmatic judge Reinhart, bailiff and court reporter - confirm that as many insults flew as proper blows, and that the villains departed swiftly when the prisoner was removed from their reach entirely. Copyright - blinded and thoroughly debilitated - had already been teleported off the scene by the Narrator, but the Federation and cohort otherwise weathered the assault well, although Illustration earns marks for being the first to injure the current leader in a fight. Doctor Petalas offered an apology to Judge Reinhart for "barging in," and also made this statement: "This isn't the first time something like this has happened. In a vulnerable setting like this, criminals such as Ms. Beltran are easy targets. Powered bailiffs and/or equipment to inhibit the use of super-powers - such as the dampening fields utilized at the Pound - would help maximize safety and security, and prevent scenes such as this. It's pure luck that so many Powered volunteers were on hand to help, but you can't always get lucky. Er ... you know what I mean." The district attorney's office admits that Beltran had been prepared to divulge detailed information in exchange for leniency, a deal they were attempting to keep quiet. "There should not have been a leak, and we're pursuing the matter avidly," assistant attorney Tina Carmichael assures. For now, however, the Federation attack appears to have at least part of its desired effect: Beltran has reneged on her bargain, apparently too unnerved by her close call. "We're hoping some time to let the day's events cool off, and perhaps some additional security measures, may draw her out," Carmichael adds. Judge Reinhart remains more irritated than anything. "This is second time this has happened in my courtroom," she says, "Powered miscreants out there had better be advised that the third time will not be the charm." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/38 Posted Author Teen People - Sparkle/Septimus Wed Aug 10 Reporter (Shannon) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A blurb buried somewhere in Teen People: SPARKLE'S NEW BEAU SHINES Shannon Yates, also known as the spokeshero Sparkle C, was caught attending a Charity Dinner for Cancer with a tall red-haired hottie! Sources say they were caught afterward in a noodle shop in Crucible City and they looked like they were pretty cozy. Is love in the future for the princess of citrus? (Accompanying the blurb is a picture of Septimus and Shannon in the Big Noodle dressed in formal wear and laughing as they eat. The blurb section goes on to talk about Katie Holmes's latest pimple with more speculation that Tom Cruise is insane. Fluff.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/39 Posted Author Old Glory? Thu Aug 11 Reporter (do) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Old Glory? Last night, a power dressed in the red, white and blue costume of Captain Valor, a power who was active during the Second World War, was spotted by several witnesses. He is reported to have stopped at least two muggings as well as preventing a liquor store robbery. "He just showed up," said Juanita Vasquez, one of the mugging victims. "This guy was screaming at me and pulling on my purse, and then this big guy dropped down behind the guy and knocked him cold. Handed me my purse and asked me if I was okay... he was really polite. Then he jumped off, I think right over some buildings." The wartime Valor first became active in 1941, and established himself as one of the prominent Allied Powers of the day throughout the war. He was active in both Europe and on the home-front, and was noted for being both an eloquent spokesman for America as well as being a formidable hand-to-hand fighter. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the final days of the war in 1945. At least two other individuals have worn the uniform since then. The first to take up the mantle was revealed to be Matthew Johnson, once known as the Brigadier during the war. Known to have been a friend of the original Valor, he took on the uniform to carry on his legacy. He ceased activity in 1950. The second, whose identity is still unrevealed, was apparently empowered in a manner similar to the original Captain and was intended to fight Communist subversives on behalf of the U.S. Government, starting in 1951. However, this third Valor became increasingly recless in the use of his powers as time went on, and eventually he began to attack people on even vague suspicions that they were Communists. This third Valor was killed in 1953 by U.S. soldiers. What connection this current Valor has to any of the previous incarnations, if any, remains to be discovered. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/40 Posted Author South Side Scuffle Fri Aug 12 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Powered violence on the South Side yesterday interrupted a volunteer charity drive delivering fans to the hot and sweltering. Disguised under illusion, Literalis Federation members Poetic License, the Plagiarist (Dante Leonardo) and Lady Genre (Claudette Roslin) managed to draw the Statistic onto the sidelines with grim intentions, but speedster Supersonic, teleporter Flashbang and the alien swordswoman Serrin Arina Xuha swiftly interfered. It was a down and dirty fight, ending in a villainous retreat ... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/41 Posted Author Captain Aegis Interred Sat Aug 13 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ < The article leads off with a picture of Captain Aegis' funeral procession. Captain Aegis, Titan City's foremost Powered hero, was one of the world's most well-known and recognized super-beings and one of the few active heroes left behind after the Event. His casket is closed, and he is being carried to the site of his funeral, presumably, by a procession of some of Titan City's best and brightest. The Black Phantom, Captain Aegis's long-time partner in the war on evil, leads the profession from a wheelchair. > Titan City is in mourning today as Captain Aegis, its brightest shining star, is laid to rest in a quiet ceremony today near the Shield Hall, where he lived and operating from for over twenty years. Captain Aegis was slain in action in Crucible City during a pitched battle underneath one of the city's "L" train stations, a battle which resulted in the destruction of the entire terminal. Captain Aegis's funeral, today, has drawn hundreds of Titan City's mightiest champions, who have gathered today to mourn the passing of the man they knew as friend, colleague, and protector. As Captain Aegis is laid to rest, questions surrounding the unusual circumstances of his death continue to swirl in the wake of the as-yet unexplained explosion that rocked our fair city. Sources report that wealthy millionaire-turned-crimfighter, Charles Blaise, better known to the public as the Black Phantom, was also present at the battle. The explosion completely disintegrated the train station, leaving behind minimal debris. Local Crucible City heroes Sidestep, The Secret, Miracle Girl, the Crimson Angel, Intercessor, Murphy, and, thankfully, the Indestructible Corporate were on-site within moments of the blast to recover trapped citizens. Both the Black Phantom and Captain Aegis were pulled from the wreckage, the former in critical condition and the latter, as the world knows, beyond the power of modern medicine. According to sources, both would have been lost if not for the quick actions of Crucible's own. The Black Phantom has remained silent regarding the nature of what he referred to, when asked before the funeral, as an "ongoing investigation." It was learned in the hours following the battle that, through the brave work of Crucible City's heroes, that one of the perpetrators was captured after the battle and is currently being held at the Pound. Several of the as-yet unidentified suspects remained on-site to do battles with the heroes after the explosion, and reportedly used some sort of advanced powered armor. The captured suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public, awaits interrogation at the Pound. The most bizarre aspect of the case -- and one which has sparked the most controversy -- is the passing of Captain Aegis itself. Aegis, who was known for being 'wholly invulnerable' and was not only nigh invulnerable but capable of commanding virtually impenetrable forcefields, is believed to be all but untouchable except by the most powerful of super-beings. Information regarding the nature or weaknesses of his powers has been a closely-kept secret since Captain Aegis made his debut in the mid-80s. Questions, no doubt, that we all want answers for. Captain Aegis, whose true identity has remained undisclosed, is reportedly survived by a family. Wherever they are, and whoever they are, the condolences of the Crucible City Tribune are with them. (Thanks to all who came out! Any inquiries or follow-ups can be directed to the Plot queue, or Blue Beetle.) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/41-52 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/41 Posted Author Captain Aegis Interred Sat Aug 13 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ < The article leads off with a picture of Captain Aegis' funeral procession. Captain Aegis, Titan City's foremost Powered hero, was one of the world's most well-known and recognized super-beings and one of the few active heroes left behind after the Event. His casket is closed, and he is being carried to the site of his funeral, presumably, by a procession of some of Titan City's best and brightest. The Black Phantom, Captain Aegis's long-time partner in the war on evil, leads the profession from a wheelchair. > Titan City is in mourning today as Captain Aegis, its brightest shining star, is laid to rest in a quiet ceremony today near the Shield Hall, where he lived and operating from for over twenty years. Captain Aegis was slain in action in Crucible City during a pitched battle underneath one of the city's "L" train stations, a battle which resulted in the destruction of the entire terminal. Captain Aegis's funeral, today, has drawn hundreds of Titan City's mightiest champions, who have gathered today to mourn the passing of the man they knew as friend, colleague, and protector. As Captain Aegis is laid to rest, questions surrounding the unusual circumstances of his death continue to swirl in the wake of the as-yet unexplained explosion that rocked our fair city. Sources report that wealthy millionaire-turned-crimfighter, Charles Blaise, better known to the public as the Black Phantom, was also present at the battle. The explosion completely disintegrated the train station, leaving behind minimal debris. Local Crucible City heroes Sidestep, The Secret, Miracle Girl, the Crimson Angel, Intercessor, Murphy, and, thankfully, the Indestructible Corporate were on-site within moments of the blast to recover trapped citizens. Both the Black Phantom and Captain Aegis were pulled from the wreckage, the former in critical condition and the latter, as the world knows, beyond the power of modern medicine. According to sources, both would have been lost if not for the quick actions of Crucible's own. The Black Phantom has remained silent regarding the nature of what he referred to, when asked before the funeral, as an "ongoing investigation." It was learned in the hours following the battle that, through the brave work of Crucible City's heroes, that one of the perpetrators was captured after the battle and is currently being held at the Pound. Several of the as-yet unidentified suspects remained on-site to do battles with the heroes after the explosion, and reportedly used some sort of advanced powered armor. The captured suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public, awaits interrogation at the Pound. The most bizarre aspect of the case -- and one which has sparked the most controversy -- is the passing of Captain Aegis itself. Aegis, who was known for being 'wholly invulnerable' and was not only nigh invulnerable but capable of commanding virtually impenetrable forcefields, is believed to be all but untouchable except by the most powerful of super-beings. Information regarding the nature or weaknesses of his powers has been a closely-kept secret since Captain Aegis made his debut in the mid-80s. Questions, no doubt, that we all want answers for. Captain Aegis, whose true identity has remained undisclosed, is reportedly survived by a family. Wherever they are, and whoever they are, the condolences of the Crucible City Tribune are with them. (Thanks to all who came out! Any inquiries or follow-ups can be directed to the Plot queue, or Blue Beetle.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/42 Posted Author Soldier Awake Sat Aug 13 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AP -- Photographs were taken at the southern Virginia Plantation home of Virginia Senator Stockwell Kingfisher today which showed the former Unknown Soldier, Connor Kingfisher, alive and well. Seeking comment from the Senator's camp an ambivalent Stockwell told reporters that Connor suddenly awakened from his coma early in the evening of August 11th. He was held under further medical supervision for 24 hours before Doctor's deemed him having a clean bill of health and discharged him. Seeking questions with Connor himself, reporters were told that "Connor has survived a near death encounter with one of the most evil people to have ever been born. He's taking a much needed vacation and requires time to deal with the trauma he endured. At this time we do not know if Connor intends to continue his career as a superhero, restart the Dawn Patrol, or do anything more than relish being alive with his family." Rumors continue to float through the superpowered community as to the identity of the new man carrying the Gallant Rampart, previously blessed by the original Soldier, Senator Kingfisher. Rumors have been abound that the controversial vigilante known as The Whisper, also on scene within the inner sanctum of Count Urizen during his final defeat, shared some sort of personal connection to Connor Kingfisher when he showed considerable anguish at Connor's seeming loss at the hands of the super-tyrant. Also reported to have been the last man to hold the Gallant Rampart, while speculation as to the identity of the man beneath The Whisper's mask has always been highly debated, most agree that he is the most likely candidate for the man who is currently holding the mantle of the Unknown Soldier. As to what, if any, his connection to Connor and Senator Kingfisher is remains to be seen. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/43 Posted Author Washington Raid Sun Aug 14 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Prison authorities on Alcatraz Island were startled yesterday evening by the whirlwind deposit of a half-drugged individual with a lengthy note pinned to his front. Explanation was later provided to the press by renowned speedstress Tempest, who had the following to say: "I learned that Martin August, AKA Retrofit, was going to be performing an experiment to heighten the abilities of three minor Powers because, well, we've sorta depleted his supply of mindless cattle and he needed more. I invited Obsidian, Keane Crisillian, Titan, and Miracle Girl on a little head-cracking expedition. We busted up the operation pretty well, and though Martin and his toadies got away along with one of the volunteers, we were able to rescue one Robert Kelly. Mr. Kelly just happens to be the brother of one Valerie Kelly, AKA Fast-Forward, and has been held hostage by Retrofit since his disappearance last December. I feel it fairly obvious that Retrofit, spineless little weasel that he is, has been blackmailing Valerie into working for him by threatening her brother. Now if you'll excuse me, I've pretty much used up my quota of standing still for the week and I've got investigating to do ..." After this report, Tempest vanished in a blustering vortex of displaced air. Authorities have since confirmed at least the identity of the individual and have no reason to doubt the nature and circumstances of the raid, although several questions still remain. Mr. Kelly is being transferred through secure means to Crucible City; though the department apparently has an extensive list of questions, it has been emphasized he is not being held on charges. His family - wife Patrice and infant daughter Felicity - are being flown in. Also detained were two of the three aforementioned minor Powers: Deirdre Creehan, apparently with a small knack with plant control, and Christian Brannock, known for heightened perceptions. Creehan is still in consultation with her lawyer; Brannock has limited his remarks to repeated claims of innocence of any deal with Retrofit. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/44 Posted Author Breakin at Crosswinds Bank! Wed Aug 17 Reporter (Jack Phantom) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crosswinds Bank is a respected name in Crucible City depository institutions, known for tight security and careful bookkeeping. Monday afternoon they were robbed for the first time in decades. Not since the grandly planned (and some say stylish) assaults of the Three Banditos has Crosswinds lost any of its deposits and storage to Powered Theft, and this is quite an accomplishment given that they specialize in storage for wealthy collectors of rare objects. Last Monday afternoon the peace and quiet of financial security was shattered by an explosion that rocked the building and reportedly injured three people in the street outside. One of these turned out to be Pete Kazanski, the Power known as Lifefire, who was then able to respond on the scene after reportedly regenerating considerable damage. Other powers acted swiftly to the sound of the explosion as well, including Skip, formerly of the Sidewinders, a new power to the Crucible scene known as Aegis (no relation to the Captain Aegis lately deceased in Titan City), young speedster Supersonic, old glory of the Republic Captain Valor, and the apparently rehabilitated Mistress Misfortune, acting under the new codename of Jinx. The heroes were unable to prevent the villains from stealing an undisclosed object from a vault belonging to one Graham Treddian, owner of Dark Forest Publications, though they were able to capture the two human villains involved in the escapade, individuals reportedly known as the Knight Sophistus and the Phaestian Secundus, who had been accompanied by more of the mutant German Shepherds used previously, as well as some manner of burrowing golems used to gain entry into the Vault area to start with. Authorities are still establishing identity, citizenship and possible extradition for the two men and as a result details remain sketchy. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/45 Posted Author The Sun Doesn't Shine ... Fri Aug 19 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) After over twenty-four hours in what authorities are describing as a temporal bubble, the residents of a small Oak Lawn neighborhood around the notoriously misnamed Sunshine Boulevard are trying to make up for lost time - literally. The time freeze apparently came to a halt shortly after an aborted attempt by Temporist Incandescence to control it. The villainness, along with companions Mercurial and Distention, encountered a heroic party consisting of the robotic Tamin, Chinatown's Brass Monkey, familiar fixture the Statistic, and a heroine calling herself Shooting Star. Confused reports seem to indicate that the three villains welcomed the disruption, and that Incandescence spent much of the fight monitoring a device whose purpose was at the time unclear, but clearly connected with manipulating the field. Despite continued and chaotic changes that frequently left one hero or the other too slow or too fast for comfort, the villains soon came to rue their initial confidence. After a pavement-pulverizing burst of disintegration from the Statistic destroyed Incandescence's device and her armor, the Temporist called for a retreat. She was knocked unconscious by Shooting Star even before the elongating Distention reached her, but the villain managed to activate a teleport cube to remove both of them from the scene. On this subject, an irritated Statistic remarked, "Public Service announcement: If you see a villain, or anyone else, with a weird cube-shaped object ... destroy it immediately! Get a shovel, a hammer, a brick, whatever's handy and break that $#$!er into pieces! Gah! It's how they get away /every/ time!" However, Mercurial, harried by Tamin and the Brass Monkey, was dropped before he could reach his compatriots. New heroine Shooting Star also remained to speak with the press, with the comment, "I'm just glad to have been in the right place at the right time, even if it was purely by luck... and help people who needed it!" Indeed, with the crowd around and inside the grocery store where the conflict took place simply frozen in place, things could easily have turned ugly - and nearly did, with a threat from Distention. Authorities believe that the device worn by Incandescence was meant to calibrate the local time field to an unknown standard for the purposes of freely manipulating the effect. "This incident, along with other evidence, highly suggests that Retrofit is deeply involved if not directly responsible for recent temporal disturbances," said Jerry Paff of the CCPCU. The captured Mercurial, a young man known as Burian Tesler, has apparently faced his arrest with equanimity. "He's too calm," Paff complains. "I don't like it. I really don't like it." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/46 Posted Author Elmhurst Anomaly Sun Aug 21 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Another bizarre temporal disturbance in a local Elmhurst mall yesterday evening highlighted a reversal of circumstances. When heroes Seaman, Havoc Lad, Keane Crisilian, Fury and Stygia arrived on the scene, spectators swear they made contact with the temporal rift itself, but were swiftly interrupted by the villains Apparatus, Scintilla, and Subjectivity - an elusive shapeshifter described quite differently by every person on the scene - who were bent on reversing the temporal effect. They nearly succeeded, battering the heroes hard in the process, but when the device in use was disabled and Subjectivity knocked out, they quickly vanished from the scene. Keane Crisilian, who remained with Havoc Lad to speak to authorities, recommended that a close watch be kept on the apparently stable and diminished anomaly, but that individuals steer clear of its immediate vicinity just in case. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/47 Posted Author Does your child have what it takes Fri Aug 26 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <> Does your child have what it takes to be Corporate's new sidekick? If you think so, please contact Fox Studios to enter the contest! Winners will not only get to meet Corporate, but will also have a spot on TV with the hero! Cal 1-423-246-3560 to enter, or email CorporateSidekick@fox.com to enter today! ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/48 Posted Author King Congo arrested in deadly shoo Fri Aug 26 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terror was the ingredient of the day on the stage of the popular television program "Iron Chef: American Edition" as "Rhesus Monkey Cuisine Battle" was interrupted by what witnesses described as "an army of monkeys with guns and knives," led by the infamous King Congo. King Congo will of course be remembered as the individual responsible for six deaths and twenty-three injuries at the Atlanta Center for Disease Control last year when he and a team of human commandos claiming allegiance to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals assaulted the primate laboratory, where research was ongoing on projects ranging from understanding how alzheimers is caused, to a potential cure for sickle cell anemia. Four were killed and thirteen wounded, including Takeshi Kaga, "Chairman Kaga," who was shot in the kneecaps by King Congo during the first moments of the brutal attack. Police and Fire representatives opined that casualties could have been much worse, if not for the quick action of a previously-unknown hero working under the name of "Silver," the heroic "Grease Monkey" who is known as a folk hero to victims of auto accidents and breakdowns, the Indestructible Corporate, the plucky Havoc Lad, and an unknown woman wielding an assault rifle. After being extracted from beneath over six tons of rubble, King Congo was given medical attention and transferred to police custody to await official charges. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/49 Posted Author Another Challenge? Mon Aug 29 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LONGBOW We duel. Same place, wednesday the 31st, midnight. Don't disappoint me, twinkle toes. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/50 Posted Author Retroactive Victory Mon Aug 29 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (A variety of news outlets run some version of this story in varying degrees of detail. The Crucible City Enquirer has this to say: ) For Crucible City, for a very brief moment, time stood still. On Sunday, August 28th, at precisely 6:39pm, the temporal flux around the city stabilized and closed Crucible in a long moment of silence. It broke mere minutes later, so quickly that few noticed the loss of only a handful of time, but correlation with the outside world showed tiny but consistent discrepancies. And in a temporal-enhanced stronghold, while Crucible City held its breath, two groups of heroes fought to restore normalcy to a time-tossed city. The strike force also sought renowned speedster Tempest, rumored abducted by electrical controller Apparatus (Elaine Devereaux) a few days ago. One group, consisting of Miracle Girl and Hound, Titan, Obsidian and the chill Stygia, broke into the central observation chamber to find Retrofit timing the final temporal flux, accompanied by Temporists Parallel (Annaliese "Liza" Laszlo) and Incandescence (Helli Jokinen) and shapeshifter Split Infinity (Renata Ian). He had also opened an impassable portal to a pocket dimension where an irate Tempest was confined. The remote for the portal quickly snatched by the daring canine, the fight began in earnest. The fight initially looked grim for the heroic invaders: harried, knocked from their feet and bloodied, while none of the villains yielded easily to direct blows - an effect partly sustained by an acceleration field from the temporal generators. Much of the technological infrastructure was disabled during the fray - largely from a massive dissassembling effort by Tempest, although collateral damage from the fighting took considerable toll - but the main temporal battery and relay were safely out of reach. The tables turned with Parallel's fall. Retrofit, furious at the widespread destruction, was reduced to a bleeding and debilitated condition shortly after he apparently ordered Split Infinity to finish the fallen Tempest. It was an order she never fulfilled: Stygia swept the speedster out of reach, and with Incandescence shortly knocked senseless, the shapeshifter surrendered. Meanwhile, the second group, composed of speedster Supersonic, the Indestructible Corporate, Havoc Lad, Keane Crisilian, the Statistic and the Angel of Mercy entered through a temporal anomaly and ended up in the room directly above the battery - not a what but a who: Celeste March, sister to Calandre March (Timewriter) and missing for nearly a year. They were swiftly confronted by four villains, headed by lieutenants Apparatus and Contrivance (Nicholas Gaunt) and supported by shapeshifter Subjectivity (Julian Safford) and Cathmor test subject Scintilla (Esther Pahlavi). The heroes took initiative early: Corporate swiftly removed Subjectivity from consideration, and the group closed the noose around the others. Yet when the stronghold's defenses turned to the heroes' aid, Apparatus diverted power directly into March's resting place and threatened to kill her - a blow that would have released a temporal catastrophe capable of blowing up not only the building and most of the surrounding neighborhood but potentially beyond. It was a threat circumvented when the Angel of Mercy reputedly channeled the temporal output through a portal at unknown cost to herself. While the other five closed in on Contrivance and Scintilla, Supersonic dropped out of sight and apparently restored March to full health, sweeping her back up to the scene with him. A furious Celeste March was more than willing to focus the powers that had been used as battery for months on Apparatus, but unfortunately, the temporal force accidentally accelerated what can only be described as an electrical short, with apparently fatal results. The shaken heroes returned to the surface with the surviving villains in custody. (CONT'D NEXT) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/51 Posted Author Retroactive Victory (#2) Mon Aug 29 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Assorted recap/loose end information: not required reading ;-)) Appearing to follow a former modus operandi of brainwashing through the water supply, Retrofit and his crew have spent the last several months implanting temporal markers through the city and apparently refining calculations, while distracting the attention of heroes and authorities alike in pursuit of chemicals, water department officials and treatment plants. A series of earthquakes used as part of an ultimatum to free then-imprisoned Apparatus is believed to have somehow concealed the shunt of their headquarters from a location in Canada to the focal point under River West. Celeste March, enhanced and amplified, was used as a temporal battery not only to protect the location, but to power the entire field of effect over the city. Celeste March is currently installed in the Pound's psychiatric ward. As the manipulations performed by Retrofit have left her unable to contain or control continuous temporal projections, she has been placed in neutralizing cuffs lest she cause considerable harm to her surroundings and herself. "It's very probable she may spend the rest of her life under such restraint," claims Dr. Franklin Sotheby, "she's had physical and psychological conduits blasted open that should never have been touched. That said, a full psychological profile is pending, but Ms. March is in the best of hands." Speedster Fast-Forward (Valerie Kelly) turned herself over to the authorities shortly after the struggle, with Distention (Theodore Ridge), the final member of the temporal outfit, in tow. She claims she meant to try her own hand at shutting down the effect, but she ran into the shapeshifter - literally - and after the altercation, the heroes had things well in hand. Kelly, already convicted of charges related to the Hand and Timewriter's inner circle, was removed from the chambers of judge Hillary Reinhart nine months ago by Retrofit and Apparatus. Evidence seems to indicate that the speedster was blackmailed by her erstwhile teammate through threats to her brother Robert Kelly - rescued in a raid in Washington two weeks ago - and an induced mutation in her own system. That this could pass without a further black mark on her record may be crucial: after her disappearance, prosecutors had expressed intentions of seeking life without parole for further crimes. While Retrofit occasionally used formulas to induce temporary Powers in hired individuals, and also indulged in cloning both of the Dawn Patrol's Chance and his own former teammate Armageddon (Lucas Armstrong), his principle manpower has come from three sources: a group of test subjects from Cathmor Biotech, taken in by the superscientist and provided a serum to counteract what were otherwise fatal mutations, the Temporists, believed to be enhanced from Celeste March's DNA, and a more recent trio of shapeshifters, apparently derived from Wallace June (Remake) DNA. Claims that the Armageddon clones were designed to survive as individuals specifically to aggravate Armstrong are unconfirmed. Detectives have also noted a distinct and continuous focus on the time 6:39 throughout Retrofit's activity - an apparent reference to the exact moment of Timewriter's demise. The superscientist has apparently claimed this is not an obsessive homage, but the use of a genuine temporal resonance - the scientific jury is still out on that count. A few of the Cathmor Powers have expressed intentions of claiming duress; this is complicated by the testimony of Temporist Catalyst (Marcus Palmer), who has turned state's evidence and is currently in witness protection. The terms of his cooperation are still being negotiated, but it seems likely Palmer will not serve time. Jokinen (Incandescence) - a criminal defense lawyer from New Hampshire - has already indicated that she will provide her own defense. On the other hand, once recuperated, Celeste March faces manslaughter charges in the death of Apparatus, although given exentuating circumstances and her mental state, it seems highly probable a jury will uphold a not guilty plea. Whatever the future months bring as to the fate of the villains involved in this timely near-disaster, Crucible City returns to normal ... for now. (Huge thanks go out to Anne, Corporate, Havoc Lad, Keane, Miko, Miracle Girl, Obsidian, Stygia, Supersonic, Tempest, Titan (look, alphabetical!) and everyone else who was involved in all aspects of this plot over the past several months, from scenes to requests to recent temporal turmoil. Could not have done it without you! ... or at least, not without taking over the city. Blast you heroes! ;-)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/52 Posted Author Suburban Cemetery attacked! Mon Aug 29 Reporter (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The peace was disrupted in a quiet suburb west of Crucible City Sunday night when Powered criminals reportedly attempted to desecrate graves in the Green Hill Cemetery, then attacked local Powered heroes who responded on the scene before being driven off. Local residents saw little of the battle, but police describe the damage to the cemetery grounds as "significant but localized." Occultist hero Shadowdancer summarized, "There was a paranormal event here earlier tonight, one involving malevolent spirits. Luckily, there were Powers near the cemetery at the time. I will be personally investigating the cause of this incident and doing everything in my power to prevent any repeat performances." Miracle Girl, Shooting Star, and advertising spokeshero Sparkle C were also on the scene, and the mysterious Secret was reportedly seen as well. According to the Powers on scene the attackers were paranormal entities aided by animated human remains from the older section of the cemetery. One of these was later identified as being the metallic bones of the Iron Soldier, a Chicago Power killed in World War I. Local residents saw little of the battle, but police describe the damage to the cemetery grounds as "significant but localized." Sparkle C said to reporters, "Whatever nefarious deeds these sickos were taking part in, they were stopped for tonight at least. The cemetery isn't a good place to hang out for reasons just like this. Please be careful out there and stay in well-lit areas." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/53-61 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/53 Posted Author Terror In Lincoln Park! Sat Sep 03 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mythical Beasts Run Amock September 3, 2005 Crucible City What had been shaping up to be a beautiful evening in Lincoln Park was disrupted by the sudden appearance of two large super-predators within park grounds. The large wolf-like creatures harried parkgoers but fortunately several of Crucible City's native Powers were able to intercept them before there were any serious injuries. Among the Powers confirmed on-site of the incident were Signature and Thaumaturge, often seen together leading to rumours of a relationship. Also on hand were the unusual shapeshifter Karasu, the shining young heroine who calls herself Sunshine Girl, and the dark gunman who claims to be The Secret, though it has long been confirmed that The Secret disappeared in the event. Thaumaturge identified the creatures as the 'Beast of Gevaudan' and its mate, a pair of cryptozoological creatures who terrorized the Gevaudan region of France in the eighteenth century. Momentarily possessing one of the creatures, the beast's counter-attack left Thaumaturge out of the combat, leaving the heroes struggling to overcome the beasts' incredible regenerative abilities. Through an impressive display of cooperation, and judicious help from the distracting Karasu, the heroes managed to keep the beasts switching targets, insuring that none of their fellow heroes became overwhelmed, until Signature finally uncovered the manner in which the beasts could be brought down. Three quick attacks by Signature, Sunshine Girl, and The Secret ended the threat just as abruptly as it began. The CCPD Power Crimes Unit was on-scene within minutes to take the disabled creatures into custody, using Power-animal restraints originally designed to contain the mutant poodle 'Fluff-Fluff' and her progeny. However Gibbons Power Containment Facility officials report that less than an hour after they were caged, the two creatures vanished in a wash of unknown energy. "We're guarded against any sort of teleportation," said Charles Green, spokesman for the Pound. "We cannot say for certain what caused the creatures to vanish, but we can say with one hundred percent certainty that it was no outside agency. We are currently investigating what sort of energies could have manifested in this way while inside our Power-containment fields." The Beast of Gevaudan was reputedly responsible for over a hundred deaths in France between 1764 and 1767 when it was finally killed by a peasent hunter named Jean Chastel. The Beast is most popularly remembered for its role in 2001's 'Brotherhood of the Wolf', a movie loosely based upon the historical incident that became the highest grossing French film ever made. What the Beast of Gevaudan was doing in 2005 Crucible City is a question that has yet to be answered. OOC: Questions and investigations should be +requested to Plot. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/54 Posted Author Pound Puzzlement Sat Sep 03 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Uproar in the Pound this morning after a near break-in by the Literalis Federation, in a presumed but unconfirmed attempt to stage a rescue. Prison personnel in the vicinity report a massive spatial rift that almost split a section of the west wall and pinpoint the Federation's leader, the Narrator, as the direct culprit, though as one CCPCU official commented, "unless we have vastly underestimated the strength of the Narrator Device, it is not capable of altering reality on that level against a facility as shielded as the Pound. It may be some kind of amplification, or there might be another force at work ..." While confused descriptions indicate there were five individuals involved in the altercation, personnel were only able to identify four in the departure: the Narrator himself, the elusive Enchiridion, Poetic License, and the suspected Goddess-Giver connected with Coatlicue. The skirmish was brief, even suspiciously so. "They had an advantage initially, but they didn't pursue it," said a guard on duty, "we all suspect there was something else going on, but what is another question." It is a question that cannot be answered by video record: the surveillance equipment in that sector defaulted mere seconds after the alarm sounded. With this being the second breach within a matter of hours - the first being the mysterious disappearance of the Beast of Gevaudan - the Pound is under heavy scrutiny, but continues to reassure the public that its security is fully intact. This incident with the Literalis Federation also comes directly on the heels of the judge's ruling in the matter of Simone Roslin. For several months, twelve-year-old Simone has been at the center of a bizarre custody battle between Claudette Roslin (Lady Genre) and Natasha Brody (allegedly The Sequel), the girl's adopted mother and biological mother, respectively. (Neither woman was able to produce a father for the child, blood or otherwise) The vitriolic court case swung in Brody's favor upon Roslin's flight from the authorities, but evidence that might not hold up in a criminal court led the judge to transfer temporary custody of Simone to Peter Michael Kazanski (Lifefire), pending a more permanent placement with a foster family. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/55 Posted Author Indefinite Disappearance Thu Sep 08 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Local company Indefinia Inc is in disarray after public confirmation that its young CEO, Aurelia Regina ("Reggi") Paine has simply vanished. Paine has been out of contact for four days, but public relations officials have until this morning downplayed the disappearance as an unscheduled vacation by a young woman whose previous studies included wilderness survival. "As yet, we are not ruling out the fact that there may be a perfectly normal explanation," said a representative. "As yet, we are not ruling out anything at all. There's no cause for undue alarm ..." On rumors that the company has had persistent problems with a rogue band of psionic Powers, he declined comment and repeated that no foul play has yet been ascertained. (Inquiries, investigations, +request to Plot) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/56 Posted Author Harbor Mystery Sun Sep 11 Reporter (Ink) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dark Cloud Over Harbor September 11, 2005 Crucible City At around 10:00 PM on Saturday, a distress call was sent in by a large shipping vessel three miles off the Crucible Harbor. The vessel was sunk however the crew was rescued by the Coast Guard. The exact malfunction of the vessel is unknown at this point in time, aside from it mysteriously capsizing. The ship was carrying canned tuna and the environmental damage is considered very minimal, the estimated costs range in the low millions. Further events that evening lead authorities to believe that the capsizing of the boat was connected to the appearance of three strange water-born powers. A battle took place between the unknown powers at the Navy pier at 11:12 PM. The exact conflict seemed to be two sided, with one of the tentacle beings, which looked female, squaring off against the other tentacle being which looked male, and the other power which was described as a living body of water. Armed personal responded and attempted to contain the three powers, which at first only aggravated the situation. The three powers were driven further inland toward the forested area containing the Crucible Children's Museum. After the initial mass hysteria from the battle, local authorities managed to organize and contain the battle before it reached the Children's Museum. The three powers were forced back into the harbor and vanished at 11:42 PM. Damage was minimal aside from major flooding resulting from a large wave and broken fire hydrants. No fatalities took place, but a dozen law enforcement and military personal were injured in the spontaneous powered scuffle. Concerning further oddities, there was a constant presence of darkness over the general area, described as a thick cloud that smelled of oil, limiting visibility and foiling any attempts at anything more then a few eye-witness reports. No surveillance equipment is expected to have picked up the exact fight. Currently the Coast Guard is carrying out routine patrol missions around the harbor in case of any further instances. Local authorities request that anyone with further information or evidence please drop it off at the nearest Police Zone. (More investigations are underway. For further information or your own investigation, send a @mail to Ink.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/57 Posted Author South Side Incident Tue Sep 13 Reporter (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Saturday afternoon, a South Side neighborhood was the target of the recent wave of attacks by animated foodstuffs. According to witnesses the chocolate within a vending machine at the Industry Street Laundromat and assorted beverages at the Circle K convenience store across the street came to life and began menacing shoppers. They were quickly confronted by local Powers Shooting Star and Stygia, TV personality the Tenacious Tradewind, Psychopomp, and an unknown woman with sonic powers. After a brief battle, the heroes were able to convince the creatures to cease their attack, and Psychopomp was seen guiding them into the back of a delivery van after speaking with police.There were no injuries reported. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/58 Posted Author Abduction Thwarted Tue Sep 13 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An altercation in Schiller Park yesterday evening began when the Literalis Federation - in the persons of the Sequel (Natasha Brody), Poetic License and Copyright - cornered Pete Kazanski (Lifefire) and young Simone, Brody's biological daughter and temporary ward of the CCPCU officer. Upon his refusal to surrender the child, the trio moved in with apparent intent to kill, but were swiftly interrupted by local heroes Sidestep, Shooting Star, and the Statistic. Their combined efforts harried the villains and kept them away from Simone until the Federation three seemed to decide that there was no hope of completing their mission. Already much bruised by Sidestep, Poetic License used her illusory abilities to disguise their retreat. It would have been successful save for a last minute, blind burst from Shooting Star that knocked Copyright unconscious before she could follow. The unmasked villainness, identified as English heiress Odessa Edenfield, is believed now to be the Federation's primary connection in the British Isles, and thus potentially key in the theft of the Rosetta Stone earlier this year. The British government has already demanded her extradition, but authorities on both sides of the ocean intend to approach the matter with utmost caution. "The Edenfield legal team is renowned for its expertise and attention to detail," explained one official. "We are not about to lose this individual on a technicality." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/59 Posted Author Super Scoops Takeover! Wed Sep 21 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (OOC: This would probably be in most local CC newspapers, including of course P! magazine, though nowhere near front page stuff.) P! Entertainment Network today announced the purchase of Oak Park located Super Scoops. The ice cream store has become a Crucible City favorite after it first opened in 2003. It is one of only a few locals to still be around after both the N-World invasion as well as the Urizen war. The store is currently closed for remodelling, though the details remain vague. A P! Entertainment Network source who wished to remain anonymous stated, "The menu will be updated, the store itself repainted and given a fresher feel, and we are discussing a name change. Nothing too far from the original, however." (OOC: Comments? Questions? Contact Melissa!) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/60 Posted Author Expressway Pileup Thu Sep 22 Reporter (Grease Monkey) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) At approximately 10:00 Wednesday night the northbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway near Chicago Avenue were blocked following a collision between two trucks, one of which carried 8000 gallons of kerosene, an undetermined amount of which was spilled onto the highway. Twelve other vehicles were involved in the bizarre pileup, including two trucks from the Harrison-West Circus - one lion and one elephant were briefly released following the collision. Several Powers assisted on the scene, Titan capturing the elephant and securing the kerosene truck, while Sidestep cleaned up most of the spilled fuel - a small amount caught fire but did not spread. Havoc Lad and Grease Monkey assisted with evacuating trapped and injured drivers from their vehicles, and a shapeshifting Power who introduced himself as "Mr. Elastic" trapped the lion. As of Thursday morning there was an ongoing police investigation into the cause of the crash, but witnesses reported a vehicle moving at high speed leaving some sort of slippery patch on the highway. Two drivers were hospitalized with serious injuries, and three others were treated and released. Also on Thursday morning Nelson Corbell, a spokesman for the Environmental Justice Federation, asked, "The question here is just what happened to that spilled kerosene? There must have been three thousand gallons unaccounted for, and if these Powers just swept it under the rug somewhere the impact could be severe to say the least." Sidestep was not immediately available for comment. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/61 Posted Author Power Scoops Grand Opening! Mon Sep 26 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (OOC: This would be posted in most newspaper, though most likely as a smaller article rather than any front page stuff.) The ice cream store formerly known as Super Scoops is having it's grand re-opening in the evening of September 28th. Powers, children and senior citizens get discounts, and all earnings from the evening will go to charity. P! Entertainment Network - the company that owns Power Scoops - has released a statement saying that there will also be drawings of secret prizes for those who buy ice cream. (OOC: Come one, come all! The fun will start at 8CST on Wednesday September 28th, @tel #581.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/62 Posted Author Wall Street Journal Tue Sep 27 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, September 27, 2005 Stackable Crate & Exploding Barrel (NYSE: SCEB), subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X), has posted record profits this quarter from its involvement in the International Quantum Tunnel Mapping Project. The IQTMP facility, located in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, is nearing completion and has requested over 24,000 high-grade units from SCEB. U.S. Steel, Inc., CEO Sadie St. John-Smythe, is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, and has a worldwide annual raw steel capability of 26.8 million net tons. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/63 Posted Author Power Ball Thu Oct 06 Reporter (Ink) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oriana Juliano believed to be connected with Power Ball drug. October 6, 2005. Crucible City Oriana Juliano, believed to be well connected to the Sicilian Mafia, was released on a $250,000 dollar bond today. Oriana was arrested on the first of October, found at the scene of an altercation between two gangs. Several people were killed in the shoot out, and sixteen were arrested. The nature of the conflict as reported by Police believe to have been spurred by the historically independent Chicago mafia resisting attempts by a combined effort of the New York cartels and the Sicilian Mafia to move in and push a new tailored super-drug called "Power Ball." This new drug has just recently been introduced to the streets of Crucible City, and although it is just starting to flood the streets, the impacts have already been felt. The drug is highly volatile and seems to be the catalyst behind the irrational violent crimes as of late, instilling in it's user near superhuman strength, stamina, immunity to pain, and an intense psychological state boarding on rage and fear. Police caution citizens in dealing with an individual suspected under the influence of Power Ball, requesting citizens to contact a law enforcement agent as quick as possible and to not do anything that would startle the suspected drug abuser. (Send Inquires to Ink) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/64 Posted Author Little Carnival of Horrors Thu Oct 06 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City's Navy Pier has begun a ten day long Autumn Carnival event. In its second day of operation, however, the carnival's fun was broken by the attack of a 'Horrible Plant Monster'. According to eye-witnesses, the living plant had taken over a portion of the Crystal Gardens, from which it assaulted persons who went into the gardens themselves. According to reports, it achieved mental control of its victims by wrapping its vines about them -- and even managed to effect its mental control upon one of the city's powered citizens. Other powered citizens of Crucible City, including the renowned Captain Crucible, were on the scene to save the day. The plant-beast was apparently slain in the combat, leaving only a dried-up husk behind that crumbled to dust at the slightest touch. (Scene run by Faith with a villain created by Yatima.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/65 Posted Author Southern Shake, Rattle and Roll Fri Oct 07 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Without warning or explanation, a massive explosion rocked several miles of South American jungle this morning. The accompanying seismic shocks registered 6.7 on the Richter Scale and were pinpointed as "mystic aftershocks" by a sorcerer studying the region. Preliminary flyover has identified that the local village of the "lost tribe" known as the Pelorain miraculously suffered only minor structural damage, but the base camp and research facilities claimed by a team of American scientists in the nearby valley was completely demolished. The cross-disciplinary team, orginating from Crucible City, numbers eighteen men and women, including four college students interning with the project. A group of Chilean Powers have offered their manpower in clearing out the site. Authorities emphasize that, despite the widespread destruction of the facility, there is no evidence that anyone was killed in the collapse ... (Inquiries? Request to Plot, as usual.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/66 Posted Author ELVEN MENACE THREATENS FISH! FISH Sat Oct 08 Reporter (Brass Monkey) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (AP) The scene was allegedly a routine smuggling operation by the Lucky Dragon Triad, transhipping black freshwater pearls overseas, where they are highly valued in certain pharmacological treatments of dubious value but great expense. The triad wasn't expecting two 'heroes' out of modern pop myth to try to foil their scheme. The so-called heroes, a seemingly human with a flaming sword dressed in archaic plate armor, and his companion, a non-human being identified as an "Elf" by those on the scene, who fired his bow as fast as the alleged triad forces could counter attack with automatic weapons, employed deadly force, and opened fire on police units that moved in. Powered forces soon arrived on scene, including two representatives of Zero Hour, Corporate and his sidekick Havoc Lad, the light-powered heroine Faith, the icy Lady Stygia, an enigmatic armored hero who stated that a press release regarding his identity would be forthcoming, the Amazonian Alien Serrin, and a mysterious "Octopus Lass", possibly related to the one who appeared on the Team Zero Hour tryouts, if not one and the same. The battle was furious but short, with the mighty Corporate rendering the elf unconsious after Havoc Lad was shot through the chest by an elven arrow. The leader of Team Zero Hour was assisted by the Octo-girl, who by all reports rendered the elf reeling with a blow from an irritable Sea bass. The armored man was put down through a combined effort of several heroes. The heroes had the following to say: The Indestructible Corporate pauses in clearing rubble away from a large heap of crumbled cinderblocks, to address the press. A green leather-bootied foot sticks out of it, and EMTs are busy extracting what looks like an elf from the heap and loading him into a Pound wagon in the background. "Well, what you had here was your basic dimensional crossover, so far as I could tell. People from an alternate time, maybe acting appropriately for where they came from, but when they get in here they start running amok and killing folks. That's where we come in. We took down this elf here after he shot an arrow into my sidekick, would've killed a lesser boy, but Havoc Lad's tougher stuff than that. Let this be a lesson: elves are not nice, and bows are not toys. Elves are dangerous. Please report any elf sightings to your nearest authority figure, or call 911." Havoc Lad translated Faith's statement from ASL for us, earning a kiss on the cheek from the grateful heroine, who reported that she had been flying over the area when she saw the trouble. Meanwhile, we await word on the press release mentioned by the armored figure. The two dimensional travellers are being held at the Pound to await trial, as is their apparently magical equipment until an expert can be found to identify the manufacturer or world of origin. Anyone with information on these two mysterious beings are asked to contact the CCPD or your newspaper. (OOC: Thanks to Malique, Lady Stygia, Faith, Corporate, Ink, and Serrin for participating in my first ST'd scene since I've been back. If you've got questions, @mail Brass Monkey.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/67 Posted Author Small Classified Advert Mon Oct 10 Reporter (IC: Kirkpatrick Res ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Are you holding out for a Hero? Do you need the kind of help only a Power can provide? No job is too big or too small, whether it be saving the world from alien invasion, investigating a mysterious disappearance, guarding a VIP or appearing at your kid's Birthday Party. Powers By The Hour can cater for your needs and budget. Call Powers By The Hour TODAY! (Pro Bono work accepted; subject to approval of Managing Director and Just Cause Clause.) OOC: If you're actually interested in hiring Powers By The Hour, please feel free to contact Paul/Mr. Elastic by page or @mail. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/68 Posted Author Alien Threat Neutralized Mon Oct 10 Reporter (Vincent Zehn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ by Andrea Doria. Earlier this evening, an assault on our world by a lone alien machine called 'The Harvestman' was stopped in its tracks by the heroic efforts of several members of Crucible City's stable of do-gooders! Speaking to one 'Geir Aegirson' one of the heroes of the event, we discovered the machine had come to earth to harvest souls for some unknown purpose, until it was defeated by the aforementioned Geir, a stout shield maiden named Gunnhild Ransdottir, the furious Fury, an unknown warrior, and Norm the Bartender. The robot was taken into custody by Pound officials for investigation, and eventual interrogation if able to be reactivated. The remnants of the creature's ship, as well as a group of its alien victims, since de-animated, have been sent to the government for study. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/69 Posted Author Southern "Quake" Update Tue Oct 11 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Search and rescue operations in the wake of the inexplicable mystical explosion in deep South America last Friday have successfully excavated the remains of the archaeological research facility there. Ten of the Crucible-based team were trapped in the living quarters and suffered only minor bruises and abrasions. Those in the lab facilities at the time of the quake were killed by massive but not impact-related trauma. The only survivor of the four, Carol Winchester, is in critical but stable condition, and was rush-transported by the heroes on site to a Crucible City hospital at the project's insistence. Four additional members of the team are still at large. Authorities have urged the families of those missing not to rush to conclusions, and offer their sincere condolences to the families of the fallen. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/70 Posted Author Hospital Staff Caught Napping Fri Oct 14 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A disturbance last night at Westbank Memorial Hospital in Crucible occurred when the sorceress Gualichu, along with aid from two suspected Goddess-Givers - one connected with Maya, the other with Ix Chel - broke into the fourth floor to confront Carol Winchester, recently rescued from the ruined Pelorain expedition. The entire wing of the hospital was bespelled into quiet sleep, leaving it to canny heroes to barge in. Lifefire (Pete Kazanski, CCPCU), Sidestep, Geir, the Statistic, a newcomer by the name of Eidolon, and Sunshine Girl interrupted the dialogue before the trio could complete their task. While the heroes struck the first blow, the sorceress and the Goddess-Givers retaliated fiercely. At one point, Maya's weaving completely ensnared half their opponents, momentarily bringing the tiny room to a halt - almost. But the response knocked her unconscious not once, but twice, and a badly battered Gualichu vanished with the veiled woman in tow. Ix Chel teleported out under her own power. Carol Winchester is shaken but otherwise unharmed ... indeed, one of the heroes on the scene largely repaired her injuries. Winchester has suggested she may personally know the woman behind Gualichu's mask; authorities are pursuing this lead. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/71 Posted Author Collateral Damage Sat Oct 15 Reporter (Ink) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (An article found in the collateral damage section, a whole entire section (when applicable) just under the obituary section devoted to significant collateral damage in Crucible City.) Dave's Drunken Drinkery suffered massive damage as of late, resulting in a clash between an unnamed mad scientist and her creation aptly named "Franky" with local powers Strife, Faith, Havoc Lad, and Grease Monkey. The power Faith was ambushed while trying to rescue a drowning girl who turned out to be a super-powered patchwork zombie girl. During the scuffle, Faith apparently had her powers drained. Other Heroes jumped in, namely Strife, whose actions resulted in considerable collateral damage to a car, a barrier wall, and the Drinkery. Strife commented; "My apologies to the owners, employees and clients of Dave's Drunken Drinkery for damages and possible trauma caused by myself and Ms. Frankie. Rest assured that she and the Doctor will be brought to justice." Luckily, no one was injured in the destruction, aside from an unconscious Strife and Franky. It is not sure what the motivation of the female Doctor and her female minion exactly is, as also explained by Grease Monkey, "I don't know what that crazy woman's up to, or what she's trying to do with that creation of hers, but if she's trying to pattern her life after an old horror story she'd better remember how they always end." Finally Havoc Lad had words as well for the escaped duo; "If you happen to find unattached body parts, it is -not- okay to just keep them. Someone might -really need- that arm or that spleen back. Corpses are people, or anyway, at least they were people, once, and ...it's just not cool to mess with them and if I find this person again, and I'm not naming names or anything but they know who they are, they're going to be in huge trouble." Dave's Drunken Eatery was luckily covered by Power insurance and will be rebuilt without suffering major financial losses. Dave was contacted but unable to give his opinion at the time, as he was inebriated beyond coherency. ============================================================================== +bbread 12/72-81 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/72 Posted Author Enquiring Minds (Various Articles) Wed Oct 19 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) ... French officials have confirmed sightings of former Hand teleporter Foresight (Rachel Guerre) in the northmost regions of the country. For the past five weeks, the Power has covertly responded to criminal activities in the area, aiding authorities with a piercing perception of the near future - including deft evasion of any attempt to detain her. It is unofficially suspected that French law enforcement, after two or three vital tips, are looking the other way ... ... The Crucible City court has officially cleared Celeste March of the manslaughter of Apparatus (Elaine Devereaux), citing extenuating circumstances and psychological trauma. "There was one even more fundamental flaw in the case," her attorney explained. "Without a body or sufficient identifiable remains, it cannot be a hundred percent proved that Devereaux is even dead." March has been remanded into the care of a local psychiatric hospital until she is deemed stable in the wake of her ordeal ... ... In related news, the courts have also handed down convictions for Cathmor Biotech Powers Mindset (Gosheven Waters), Scintilla (Esther Pahlavi), Whiplash (Leonard Marinos), Surplus (Taima Peterson) and Mercurial (Burian Tesler), as well as Temporist Parallel (Annaliese "Liza" Lazlo). The attempt of the Cathmor five to plead duress was made a moot point by the testimony of former Temporist Catalyst (Marcus Palmer), who made a deal and will serve no time. On recent indications of a closer connection between Retrofit (Martin August) and the spirit known as Gualichu, Palmer has been advised to remain in protective custody on concerns of retribution ... ... proceedings have just begun in the matter of Literalis Federation junior member Point of View (Consuela Beltran). While Beltran had made a deal with the district attorney's office, she reneged after her former teammates attacked the courthouse and apparently tried to kill her. Even though it seems clear Beltran's primary motive for silence is fear, opposing counsel remains unmoved. "It must be remembered that the Literalis Federation still, to this date, have in their possession no less than the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Rosetta Stone and other key artifacts," said Karl Court with the District Attorney's Office. "The enormity of this crime, however minimal Beltran's personal involvement, cannot be overestimated." ... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/73 Posted Author Sears-Top Ritual Halted Sat Oct 22 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An altercation occurred atop the Sears Tower last night when a group of local heroes tracked a mystic disturbance and found three members of the Goddess-Giver sect - representing Aztec Coatlicue, Tlingit Gyhldeptis and Judaeo-Christian Sophia - in the midst of a sacrificial ritual meant to influence the local ley-lines. Standing sentry with them was the Plagiarist (Dante Leonardo) of the Literalis Federation. The intended victim, a Blythe Mitchell, claims to have been a volunteer; however, the offer was made in light of a terminal health condition, reputedly cured by one of the heroes on the scene. The first to notice the disturbance were the sorceress known as Lady Stygia and former Dawn Patrol member Chance, rumored back in town after a long absence. Rising to the pinnacle of the Sears Tower to answer the threat with them were Lifefire, Shooting Star, the Indestructible Corporate and Menagerie, another old face perhaps returned to the city streets - this one from the Knights Vigilant. The Goddess-Givers attempted to persuade the heroes to depart, citing the free will of the victim, but they refused to allow such a miscarriage of human rights to transpire. After a brief but intense struggle, the three women and their literary cohort fled. Mystics with the CCPCU have examined the scene in detail for remnant forces, and concluded that the uncompleted ritual was meant to link to a nexus of ley lines. "Crucible City is the centerpoint of several ley lines in much the same way it is the focal point of other forces," one such individual explained. "And frankly, if anyone were crazy enough to try to perform this kind of ritual inside city limits, you'd expect a goal commensurate with that potential." A few of the heroes remained to speak with authorities, including Shooting Star, who expressed relief that senseless death was averted, and the Indestructible Corporate, who among other things had this to say, "The public ... should be on the lookout for three wierd sister types. They are armed with snakes and pollen and should be considered armed and highly dangerous. A caucasian male who juggles skulls may be accompanying them. If you see any of these individuals, do not attempt to chastise, apprehend, or deliver heroic quips to them. ... If you should happen to be mind-controlled and forced to work wickedness on those close to you, ask a friend or loved one to bind you tightly at the wrists and ankles so that you cannot hurt yourself or others." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/74 Posted Author Unknown Villain Assaults Pound! Sun Oct 23 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Authorities Baffled By Mysterious Phenomena October 23, 2005 Crucible City A quartet of unknown Powers appeared suddenly atop the roof of the Gibbons Power Containment Compound early last night. The staff of the Gibbons Compound, colloquially known as 'The Pound' detected the intrusion immediately and the facility went into full lockdown. The four intruders were unusual in appearance and assortment, even for Powered villains. One appeared to be an armored medieval knight on horseback, another a 'wild west' gunslinger, while a third was a literal giant clad in Bronze Age armor. The fourth, wearing advanced ceramic armor and identifying himself as 'Ubiq the Ubiquitous', appeared to be the leader of the group. The Pound guards were unable to overcome the intruders, though the quartet showed no signs moving beyond the rooftop. Ubiq began erecting some manner of machine while the other three kept the guards at bay. It was then that assistance arrived from Crucible City's Power-heroes. Responding to The Pound's alarm klaxons were the massive Titan, Sargeant Quinn, Dr. Zenobia Petalas, the young speedster Supersonic, Dr. Catherine Wright, and the eccentric Signature. There appeared to be a bit of discussion between the assembled heroes and the intruders, though that discussion was quickly ended when Ubiq ordered his men to take to the attack. The battle upon the rooftop was fierce with Sargeant Quinn literally jousting with the 'knight', Titan squaring off with the giant who seemed to possess size-changing abilities of his own, and a general melee amongst the rest with the gunslinger harassing Supersonic with deadly accurate fire while Signature along with Dr's Wright and Petalas repeatedly fired bolts of matter-destroying energy at Ubiq. At first the battle seemed to go against the heroes, the knight easily defeating Quinn at their joust, the giant appearing to send Titan staggering with a devestating series of earth-shaking blows, and Ubiq and the gunslinger simply proving difficult enemies all around. Finally, however, the heroes managed to take the upper hand as Titan rallied to defeat his foe, sending him crashing into Ubiq's device and destroying it even as Quinn rallied to stagger the knight with blasts of her own. Signature managed to destroy one of the gunslinger's firearms at great cost to herself while also stealing the data from Ubiq's machine before it was destroyed. With Supersonic and Dr. Wright harrying him at every turn, Ubiq seemed to erupt in a blast of energy that wiped the roof of The Pound clean of hero and villain alike. What Ubiq's powers did is not yet understood. All evidence of the battle has disappeared, as have the villains themselves. Pound staff report suddenly finding themselves back where they were before the alarms sounded, and those wounded in the battle found themselves suddenly healed. Even the heroes that responded found themselves taken back to where they were before the battle, all injuries completely gone. What is more interesting is that all clocks inside The Pound now seem to be several minutes behind those elsewhere in the city. Pound officials are unwilling to speculate on the cause of these phenomena at the time this story went to press. OOC: Questions and Investigations should be +requested to the Plot queue. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/75 Posted Author Hostage Situation On South Side Mon Oct 24 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) At approximately 3:52 Sunday afternoon, the Crucible City Police Department received an aborted request for backup from Officer Charles Cameron, who was involved in an unscheduled survey of a South Side bar known to be a no-fault meeting place for the seedier side of society. Cameron spotted a meeting of villainous Powers, including one individual in expert disguise - a woman luck and a sharp eye allowed him to identify as the Scarlet Thorn (Shenita Clovis), a former member of the team known as the Pack. The Thorn escaped from the Pound earlier this year by stabbing a guard in the throat. Cameron stepped out of sight to call for backup, when, as he described it, "The fourth member of their meeting - the one I really hadn't paid much attention to, honestly - came out of nowhere and jumped me from behind. Next I know, Clovis has a thorn on me ..." That individual has been identified from reliable description - or rather, the complete lack of anything resembling it - as Fade, a founding member of the puzzling villain association known as the Liminal. Also present were Allergy Attack speedster Dust-Devil (Allegra Wesson) and a new face referred to as Shapedancer, raising questions of what arrangement or alliance was being discussed before Cameron interrupted. What was initially a scouting mission on the part of the officer, however, quickly became a hostage situation when Cameron was discovered. Swift to arrive on the scene was FBI Special Projects Agent Deacon Shade, who took charge of the police cordon, and several local heroes: the heroine known as Eclipse, Keane Crisilian, Lockdown and an unseen companion, Zero Hour's Tradewind, and an unidentified woman with flashing white eyes. While three of the heroes attempted to creep into the bar by back ways, Agent Shade went in ostensibly to negotiate, perhaps to provide a distraction. Unfortunately, Dust-Devil sighted one of the lurkers, and conflict broke out in earnest. Scarlet Thorn would have cut Cameron's throat, but a telekinetic grapple stopped the organic weapon and allowed him to slip free. Caught in the crossfire and turned into a cat by the perpetually morphing Shapedancer, Agent Shade promptly clung yowling to his tabby opposite until freed by a burst of psionic force from Lockdown. He then returned to sorcerous assault as the conflict raged, the unknown woman brought down and bloodied by Dust-Devil and at one point the entire bar ensnared in the Thorn's vines. Tradewind rose quickly to a reminder of Dust-Devil's previously-crippling weakness to water, but her ferocious rainstorm passed through the speedster without effect. Nothing daunted, she continued to pursue the woman the entire fight. Yet her watery assault had another effect: it allowed Keane to unleash a widespread electrical burst across the villainous field that zotted Shapedancer into temporary paralysis - long enough for Eclipse to fell the shapeshifter. A final painful mental assault, apparently from the white-eyed heroine, brought down Dust-Devil, but the villains had a ready escape route. As bystanders report, a furious wail of winds concentrated on the scene and literally swept them away in a thousand tiny particles, the tightly packed buildings functioning as an impromptu wind tunnel as the focused storm howled into the distance. However, neutralizing interference from two of the heroes prevented it from removing Shapedancer. A few of the heroes remained behind to speak with the press. Among them, Tradewind remarked, "We don't know what the motive behind this was just yet, but Zero Hour will be helping with the investigation as best we can. If any of you see the Scarlet Thorn, be *extremely* cautious ... she's a known killer. And remember, keep watching the skies!" Lockdown's invisible companion, apparently an intelligent lynx, materialized long enough to promise, "Cats everyone can sleep well, for Kater the Bold is here!" Shapedancer has been identified as Ann-Marie Wellons, sister to Tyrone Wellons - better known as the Beastmaster, the individual once in charge of the Pack. "She refuses to answer any questions, but just knowing who she is throws uncomfortable revenge undertones into the entire meeting," observed an anonymous officer. Authorities are, however, equally concerned with both the villains' wind-wrought escape route and the removal of Dust-Devil's weak spot. "Both are highly indicative of outside help. Dust-Devil's transformation isn't just a matter of flipping a switch: it's the nature of dust to lose its staying power when damped down. So we're looking at a delicate tweak of natural properties," explained CCPCU Detective Madison Stankowsky. "We're hoping Miss Wellons may feel moved to shed some light on the subject." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/76 Posted Author LIBERTY WATCH Roll Call Mon Oct 24 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A press conference within Olympus Mons is called by none other than Connor Kingfisher, formerly known as the Unknown Soldier. Connor stands behind a podium at the foot of the large gymnasium that once served as the jury-rigged beachhead for the fight back against Count Urizen and the Tyrannical Ten. A slew of microphones cover the podium as Connor, sporting an atypical half-grown blond beard and no costume, addresses the crowd. "This Press Conference has been called for a very specific purpose. I know many of you out there have been wondering what has happened to me since the events on Ultima Thule. Today, I'm here to share it with you. As you all know the formerly great team of the Dawn Patrol, after Urizen's attack on the world, decided it was best to disassemble. There are a huge list of reasons for why this was done, the least of which was myself being missing in action and considered dead. In truth, I was lost in a comatose state that the injuries I suffered from caused and my father believed it was better to hide this fact from the public for my own safety. As you all can see today, I am /fully/ recovered from that ordeal. But nevertheless, this is all the past. The days of the Dawn Patrol are over. That chapter is finished, and I'm here to talk about a new horizon." "While many of the members of the team have decided to continue their careers as heroes independantly or have retired their capes, cowls, and masks to try and better make a difference in the post-Urizen world without their costumes -- I do thank Urizen for one thing. When it came time for the heroes of this world to take him down, we didn't do it as the Dawn Patrol, the Teen Machine, and the Knight's Vigilante or anything like that... We did it as one collective body. A unit. And it was wonderful to see happen." "One of the quintessential problems I felt with the Dawn Patrol was that it was a small group of the Powered Community doing what it could to protect to the planet. But it was just a small group. Sure, we gained experience, grew closer as a team and more effective even as some members cycled in and out, but we were only bettering ourselves and while we had honorable intent we weren't doing everything we could to protect the world. And if the Event taught us anything, it is that we never know how long we have. There were legions of new heroes and new villains being born every day since the Event, and a very, very, few of us capable of teaching them the path of a real hero. This has bothered me for a long time and my near-death experience has taught me that I need to more than just try my personal best to protect this planet. I need to also be teaching this new age of heroes, this Platinum Age, how to carry on if, god forbid, another Event took another four of of every five heroes from the world. Luckily, I'm not alone in these thoughts and together with two of my closest friends, this press conference is here to announce the formation of a new group of likeminded superhumans who I hold in the utmost respect. We are going to call ourselves the Liberty Watch, and our mission statement is very simple." "We will do everything in our power to improve the health and safety of every living being on this planet. That's it. We will use our experience not to hole up in a satellite in the sky, only coming down when the world needs saving, but to teach this new generation of heroes the lessons many of us had to learn the hard way so that they, in turn, will be able to teach the generation after them and then the generation after them... All for the betterment and safety of our world. This is an age of people who can fly, of people who can turn invisible and lift mountains... And not all of us are going to decide it is best to use these unique talents for the betterment of mankind. It is because of this that Titan, Tempest, and myself felt it necessary to create the Liberty Watch so that we can do everything in our power to see that the future is always safe. And before you ask, I leave it to the other initial founding members to decide if they wish to make their involvement publicly known or not but I will say that our roster attempts to embody every generation and facet of the superhero community so that the world is never left without its heroes again. Thank you." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/77 Posted Author Nanomechanoid Species Discovered Tue Oct 25 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CRUCIBLE CITY, Illinois (Reuters) - A small spacecraft carrying what appears to be a payload of nanomachines crashed in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, deploying several killer robots, but was contained by four heroes on the scene: The Indestructible Corporate and sidekick Havoc Lad, Shooting Star, and an unknown female hero. The spacecraft, which arrived through a portal just before 11 a.m. (1600 GMT), crashed violently to the ground, unapproachable at first due to its superheated hull, onlookers said. The crash did not appear to damage the payload of nanites, which were deployed when the four heroes approached the craft. The nanites duplicated the heroes in form and power, and declared that the Earth would be purged of life and terraformed, said Shooting Star. "I can't believe they called us non-sentient!" she said. In response, Corporate said, the heroes attacked their robot doubles to prevent them from escaping the scene while Corporate tore apart the spacecraft. After a brief battle, the spaceship and all of the robot doubles were destroyed, although the heroes were wounded in the fighting. Corporate was badly injured when rammed at high speed by his double, but quick action by Havoc Lad healed the wound. "I wasn't able to recover any of the alien technology because it dissolved into nanites once it was destroyed," Corporate said, "but I haven't seen anything quite like them before. I think what we're looking at here is discovery of and by a previously-unknown machine culture. They don't seem to be able or willing to recognize organic life as intelligent enough to warrant their consideration. I have serious doubts that we've seen the last of this species. I suggest that the public keep watching the skies and report all sightings of alien ships to the Extraplanetary Defense Agency, or to their local licensed power-heroes." Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives reinforced the need for vigilance. "If even one landing of nanomechanoids goes unreported and uncontained," said Martin Park, of FEMA's Powered Disaster Response Team, "they could potentially duplicate themselves at a geometric rate, and consume the entire mass of the Earth in a matter of days." The remains of the invaders and their craft have been collected by a PDRT hazmat team and are currently being analyzed for any remaining threat or possible weaknesses. Lincoln Park has been pronounced safe for civilian use, according to a FEMA press release. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/78 Posted Author CARE Convention Crisis Counteracte Thu Oct 27 Reporter (IC: The 13th Floor ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The third day of the fifty-fourth annual Crucible Amateur Relic Enthusiast (CARE) convention was cut short yesterday when the Kyoto room of the Mikamo building where the CARE members were meeting came under attack by a yet unidentified arachnoid assailant. The attack occured shortly after the artifact known as Akito's Puzzle Box was unveiled by Professor Reginald Hibbins, historian and one of the foremost members of CARE. Witnesses to the event report spotting a strange blur moving on the ceiling of the Kyoto room, followed by many of the CARE members suddenly becoming engulfed in a sticky white substance somewhat akin to spider webbing. "It was a nasty scene. We knew that there were people trapped inside the building, but we had no idea what was in there," reports Sergeant Al Hitchings of the CCPD. "Fortunately, Powered response in the area was swift and decisive." Arriving on the scene were Grease Monkey, Arachnid-Girl, a black-winged man, APEX, a blonde white-clad Power wielding an exotic dual-bladed sword, and an unidentified man in a business suit. A few minutes after the Powers arrived on the scene and the sounds of battle had died down, police officers entered the building to find a sixteen-foot-tall white spider bound in spiderwebbing, with Arachnid-Girl nowhere to be seen. Seconds later, the creature vanished in what one reporter described as 'a plume of fire and smoke.' "The creature that attacked appears to be some sort of Spider Demon," reported APEX, "we are currently working to confirm or deny this fact. There are have been no casualties and thanks to the speedy action of the heroes present, no major injuries either. The creature has now been completely neutralised and poses no further threat to the civilian population. The Ishikawa Corporation is proud to do its part to support the Powered Heroes of Crucible City and to combat the Forces of Evil in whatever shape they may take." There were no casualties reported after the incident, although Professor Hibbins and the Puzzle Box were missing afterward. Professor Hibbins was later found covered in the same material as the others in the convention in his apartment. However, he claims not to have been present at the third day of the convention at all, and that he had been stuck in his apartment all day after waking up covered in webbing. Police are continuing to investigate this and the disappearance of Akito's Puzzle Box. (Questions? Comments? Follow-ups? @mail or page Strife.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/79 Posted Author Ubiq The Ubiquitous Captured! Sun Oct 30 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pitched Battle on UCC Campus Ends In Capture Ubiq the Ubiquitous, the temporal-manipulating Power-villain who appeared so dramatically in a battle at The Pound last week, was apprehended last night following a pitched battle on the Campus of the University of Crucible City. Ubiq appeared in the middle of the quad, much as he did last week, surrounded with anachronistic figures who apparently serve him. The individuals present have been tentatively identified as claiming to be; Sir Launcelot of the King Arthur legends, Billy the Kid, the notorious Wild West outlaw, Wong Fei-Hung, a turn of the century Chinese patriot who's story is a favorite of Hong Kong cinema, and Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the infamous Red Baron of World War 1. The true identitied of these individuals has not been discerned, but given the time-manipulation powered evinced by Ubiq it is not beyond the realms of possibility that some of them might be who they claim to be while others, such as Sir Launcelot, are believed to have existed only in fiction. The villains' agenda seemed the same this time, preventing citizens and Powers from drawing near while they purportedly collected data towards some unknown end. They were engaged, however, by an assortment of local Crucible City Power heroes. Confirmed on-scene were Sgt. Quinn, Dr. Zenobia Petallas, the alien warrior Serrin, the angelic Psychopomp, the feral Wolfsong, the young speedster Supersonic, and the crimson avenger known as Strife. Reports of the battle are confused with conflicting reports from numerous eyewitnesses. Citizens watching from the edges of the battle report that the specific details of such are difficult to remember. This effect can be attributed to Ubiq's use of his time-manipulation abilities, several times causing things to 'un-happen' and leaving onlookers with conflicting sets of memories. The battle appeared to go against the heroes at first, with the villains displaying a prowess in battle that would be fitting to those they claim to be. Eventually, however, the heroes managed to get the upper hand. Dr. Petallas blinded Ubiq early in the engagement, preventing the full use of his staggering abilities. Serrin and Psychopomp moved to engage, but found their way barred by Sir Launcelot whom they fought instead leaving Supersonic to face Billy the Kid and Ubiq by himself. The arrival of the Red Baron moments after the fight began left the heroes struggling to make headway against the tide of villainy. Though Serrin leapt up onto his plane and began carving large portions of the Fokker tri-plane away with her sword. Psychopomp, after disabling Launcelot's horse, somehow managed to calm the knight into ceasing hostilities. Wong Fei-Hung struck telling blows that sent Dr. Petallas seeking escape into the air and knocked Sgt. Quinn briefly out of the fight. Dr. Petallas returned the favor by blasting the martial artist into unconsciousness, and when Ubiq used his powers to reverse time and thus heal the Fei-Hung, Strife made his shocking entrance, dropping from atop a nearby building and dropping the Chinese patriot with a devestating series of attacks. Meanwhile in a battle that pit superspeed against the deadly reflexes of a Wild West Gunslinger, Supersonic managed to finally drop Billy the Kid, though sustained several injuries in the battle. With the tide turned, Supersonic acted quickly and defeated Ubiq with a punch that shattered windows across the quad with the force of the blow before he could utilize the power he did previously to escape the fight at The Pound. Mysteriously Ubiq's followers, dubbed 'Displaced-Men', vanished as soon as the battle had ended. Their fate is unknown at this time. Ubiq the Ubiquitous, real identity as yet unknown, has been taken to The Pound where he remains in custody while charges are filed. OOC: Questions and comments should be +requested to Plot. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/80 Posted Author Toy Attack at Riverview Mall Sun Oct 30 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An otherwise busy and enjoyable sunday was violently interrupted when, seemingly all by themselves, three action figures in the Electronics Boutique came to life and grew to human size. The attack came without warning, and only one person suffered serious injury. Laslo Jennings, head of security at Riverview mall had this to say: "Had it not been for that Grease Monkey fella, and Lady Stygia, along with a flute-playing woman and some kind of invisible sniper, we'd have at least a dozen or so deaths on our hands. They're always welcome here at Riverview Mall." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/81 Posted Author Another Ritual Halted Mon Oct 31 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) For the second time, a group of Goddess-Givers has been interrupted in an attempt to tap a nearby conjunction of Crucible City leylines through sacrifice and ritual. This time, the four individuals associated with the goddesses Cerridwen, Ix Chel, Sedna (otherwise known as Malia Alameda) and Inanna tried to disguise their ritual not far from the hullabulloo and minor mystic interference of a Halloween bash in Lincoln Park yesterday evening. Occult experts on the CCPCU have gauged that the women came much closer to completion before they were interrupted. But interrupted they were, first by a confused UCC sophomore who had no luck convincing most bystanders it was more than a prank, and then by the heroes Lifefire, Chance, Euryale, Shooting Star, Quintessence and the Statistic. This time, no negotiations: a field of silence was dropped over the ritual, and conflict immediately erupted as the women strove to resume their rite and the heroes attempted to halt it - and them - for good. In this, they were largely successful, managing to trap Inanna and lay Sedna low, though before the battle reached this turning point, the Goddess-Givers had shattered the field of silence and almost substituted their original sacrifice for one of the heroes. Cerridwen and Ix Chel vanished in moonlight, ceding the field. The captured pair are currently in Pound custody; Inanna has not yet been identified. A few of the heroes stayed behind to speak to the press. Shooting Star stumbled over this quote, read off a postcard, "It's fortunate that we were able to stop these villains before too many people could be hurt! Just remember to call the proper authorities if you find trouble!" Or as the Statistic chimed in, presumably tongue in cheek, "Remember, kids! Neopaganism kills." CCPCU specialists have as yet been unable to divine the full intent of the rite. The victim - again willing, though his family has requested that his name be suppressed - appeared less grateful as surly, but has no new information. As heroine Euryale commented, "Human sacrifice is not just a bad idea, it's less effective than you think. Avoid it." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/82-91 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/82 Posted Author Mind-Controlled Kidnapping and The Sat Nov 05 Reporter (Jack Phantom) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mind-Controlled Custody Kidnapping and Theft Thwarted Cooke County General Hospital was the site of a Powered battle yesterday evening, which was fortunately carried on outside of the hospital proper but which still left three dead and twenty injured in an explosion of power from a San Francisco based power known as Prism (Sheila Waters). The battle erupted when Prism burst from the maternity ward of County General with an infant in her arms, reportedly the child of one Stephanie Reyes. Waters is rumored to be in an extended custody battle with Reyes but both parties declined to comment. Crucible City Powers were immediately on the scene to thwart the attempt, thankfully, and the Indestructible Corporate, the young hero known as Sidestep, new addition to Zero Hour Tradewind, the enigmatic Karasu, as well as reportedly "a lot of ravens and some gorillas and an elephant" were on the scene to halt Prism's frantic flight from the building. Normally a heroine, Prism possesses very high levels of light control and generation, demonstrating as well heretofore unknown darkness control. A burst of light temporarily blinded many of the witnesses as well as some of the heroes, and a burst of blistering cold entropic darkness damaged many more. Several traffic-related injuries were reported from this, as well as numerous cases of frostbite. Despite the energies being released, the heroes were able to disable Prism swiftly, Corporate and 'the gorillas' being able to restrain and batter her unconscious while Sidestep returned the child to hospital authorities. At this point, a second villain group revealed itself in the form of low-key powered criminals Barricade, Rabbitfoot and Psight. While the three had been loosely associated in the past, they had never appeared in public together previously. They attempted to escape from the hospital bearing what police and Cooke representatives reveal as "experimental equipment in cancer reduction technology" away from the hospital in one of Barricade's force bubbles. Prism's irrational criminal behavior seems to have been a mind-controlled diversion brought about by the mentalist Psight, unmasked as Melinda Waters, Sheila's sister. The escape of the villains was thwarted both by the efforts of the heroes and by the weight of the equipment they sought to steal. Barricade was unable to carry it at a decent speed and they were overtaken despite their diversion. Barricade was briefly stunned for long enough to knock her forcefield down, dropping the group and the goods. She was carried off by teammate Rabbitfoot, apparent speedster, and both escaped custody. Psight was not so lucky, however, as while she was able to bring down Corporate with a well-timed mental assault, his gauntlets damaged her armor sufficiently that she was immediately brought down by attacks from what were reported to be wolves. Last but not least, young hero Tradewind was able to bring down the equipment to a safe landing. Authorities are refusing to comment on the full nature of what was stolen, and Rabbitfoot and Barricade are still at large. Prism is cooperating with authorities fully in the investigation and claims that her sister's mental abilities compelled her to attempt the kidnapping. Considering the damage done, one hopes that claim holds up in court, as the heroine is already facing the possibility of several civil suits. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/83 Posted Author Pound Shielding Upgraded Sun Nov 06 Reporter (Bobby) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Associated Press Title: Gibbons Power Containment Facility Shielding Upgraded (AP) In the wake of the recent temporal incident in the Gibbons Power Containment Facility colloquially known as 'The Pound' there has a been a flurry of activity to see to it that no such similar occurence happens again. Located on an artificial island in Lake Michigan, 'The Pound' is one of the three US Based super-max facilities designed for containment of Powers; the others being Alcatraz near San Francisco, California and Ryker's Island located near New York city, New York. Teams of technicians worked under the guidance of former Dawn Patrol member Quintessence (Doctor Robert Berens). When queried, Pound officials stated that Dr. Berens had volunteered his time and expertise in designing and implementing an augmentation to the existing teleportational shields already in place to allow them to similarly block any form of Temporal breach. The newly upgraded shielding has been put in place, and tested succesfully, with the field fully live as of Sunday, 6 November at midnight. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/84 Posted Author Stalker Arrested, Invisible Sniper Mon Nov 07 Reporter (Amber) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Simon Says, a member of the notorious Power gang known as The One. A telepath who has a history of abusing his powers, Simon Says has been sought for several weeks on stalking charges. On Sunday night, he attempted to grab the girl he was stalking, whose name is being withheld as she is a minor. The Invisible Sniper who assisted against the Video Game Villain last week is believed to have been responsible for stopping Simon Says, who was taken to University Community Hospital under heavy guard to be treated for gunshot wounds. Michael Milton and Gunnhilde Ransdottir got the young girl to safety, and later restrained the Powered Criminal until police arrived. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/85 Posted Author Harbor Fire Extinguished Tue Nov 08 Reporter (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A cargo ship caught fire in Chicago Harbor this afternoon, killing one crew member, sending chemical fumes over Lake Michigan, and prompting the evacuation of the Navy Pier due to fear of further chemical fires. The danger was brief, however, when a small group of Powers arrived to assist fire crews already on site. According to witnesses on scene, the Brass Monkey rescued the trapped crew while the flames were battled by two previously unknown Powers, a woman seemingly made of ice who identified herself as Winter, and a large flying shrimp who declined to identify itself to reporters before it departed into the lake accompanied by a man with a spear. The one victim, whose name was not released at the time of printing, was reportedly attacked by a large boar covered in flames, before the animal was stopped by the assembled Powers and extinguished in the lake, After the fire was under control it was taken into custody by the CCPD Power Crimes unit. A spokesman for the fire department refused to immediately speculate on whether the animal was the cause of the fire, while Brass Monkey told reporters, "You people. Trying to make your own self-roasting pork always end in tears, see?" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/86 Posted Author Ubiq Raids Campus! Sun Nov 13 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Villain Gets Away On Second Attempt November 13, 2005 Crucible City Infamous time-travelling villain Ubiq the Ubiquitous made a second attempt at raiding the campus of the University of Crucible City early last evening. His prior attempt exactly two weeks ago resulted in his defeat and capture, and then in mass confusion as the villain was apparently assassinated by himself. Ubiq's goals are as yet unknown. He appears to simply show up with an assortment of followers seemingly plucked from history, and then set up some sort of machine of unknown purpose while his 'Displaced Men' attempt to hold off the inevitable Powered reprisals. Yesterday evening was no different. Witnesses report that Ubiq and his men just 'appeared' in their normal fashion and were quickly engaged by a host of Crucible City's Powered heroes. Confirmed on location at this time were the high-flying Corsair, the duo of Signature and Thaumaturge who are often seen operating together, the mysterious Secret, the unstoppable Scion, the irrepressable Shooting Star, and the comedic Royal Jester who was recently released on parole and claims to have turned over a new leaf. The heroes quickly leapt into action with Corsair taking the offensive against the Red Baron and engaging the World War 1 ace in a stunning aerial duel. Sir Launcelot and Scion exchanged words before the latter knocked the former from his saddle, though Wong Fei Hung leapt forward to prevent Scion's weapon from returning to him and kept it throughout the battle. Shooting Star and Signature kept continuous fire upon Ubiq, scarcely giving him a chance to work on his machine, while the Secret engaged Billy the Kid in a furious gunfight and Thaumaturge faced off against a rival mystic tentatively identified as Rasputin, the so-called 'mad monk' of Russia. The battle seemed to flow back and forth with casualties on both sides. Though Scion dehorsed Launcelot, he found his way blocked by Fei Hung, and the knight was back on his feet soon after, destroying several of Thaumaturge's elemental creatures. The blazing gun battle between Billy and Secret was fiercely fought with both men wounding each other several times and Secret destroying one of Billy's guns before the outlaw, down to his last bullet, managed to put Secret down. Billy's victory was short-lived, however, as he was quickly incapacitated with laughter by the Jester. Thaumaturge engaged Rasputin in a brief magical duel that left the hero gasping and the villain apparently turned to stone. With the loss of Billy, the Red Baron shot down in flames by Corsair, and himself under constant assault by Signature and Shooting Star, Ubiq let loose with his powers. As previously when he attacked the Pound, Ubiq's powers appear to have 'rewound' local time by about a minute and a half. All evidence of the battle's occurance has vanished, as did all wounds suffered by the heroes. In the wake of this wave Ubiq and his men had vanished, as had Signature. As of press time this morning there has been no word as to the whereabouts of the heroine. Her companion, Thaumaturge, disappeared almost immediately after the battle. Witnesses say that he appeared distressed. Referring to Ubiq and his unknown objectives, Shooting Star had this to say: "It may have been Ubiq... or someone else. He claimed to be trying to save the present, but how can that excuse be trusted when he won't explain his reasons? If he's going to mess with time, we'll make sure there's time enough for justice too!" OOC: Questions and Investigations should be +requested to Plot. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/87 Posted Author Dog bites man Sun Nov 13 Reporter (Jester) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Attack of the Giant Furry Woodland Animals November 13, 2005. Crucible City Several animals Sunday night wrecked havoc at Hyde Park, in an unusual escapade of giant proportions. Two animals, an asian tiger and a brown bear, compounded with a regular bichon were infected by some unknown agent. Reported to look like quicksilver, it made them very hostile and very big in a very small amount of time. The bear, according to some eyewitnesses, was literally "the size of a house." Luckily, fatalities were nonexistent. Several powers were immediately on the scene to protect a screaming crowd. The Speedy Sparkle C, the Incessant Intercessor, the Muscled Brass Monkey, and the Jovial Royal Jester. Some collateral damage resulted from the fight, but surprisingly, not very much, just watch out for potholes if you're driving around the area for the next couple of days. The heroes themselves were injured slightly, except for Sparkle C, whom the monstrous animals were unable to land a single paw upon. As of interesting note, the Intercessor apparently was eaten totally by the bear, then somehow managed to cut her way out. The Intercessor didn't stay on the scene too long, as it was expected she left for the quickest bath possible. The Zoo notes that this is a freak accident, and that mutated animal attacks -rarely- happen. The heroes also had a few words to say to this reporter on the scene, "I don't know. I figure they were just trying to mimic the glory that is me, but fell a little short. They got a lot of that kind of thing in my dad's day. Tiger demons and bear demons and stuff. Beats me." After that, the Brass Monkey flew away. The electric Sparkle C had a frank statement after the fiasco, "Always be careful around animals... Sometimes a situation isn't how it appears. Or it is, in which case, you should run." Whereas the Royal Jester simply remarked that people, "...shouldn't feed the animals" then quickly departed. OOC: Questions and Investigations should be +requested to Plot. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/88 Posted Author Italian Invasion Tue Nov 15 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Various Society Pages ...) Long based in Turin, Italy, casual billionaire Aurelian Vitalis recently announced an intention to move to Crucible City, for reasons undisclosed. Both connoisseur and businessman of the arts, Vitalis' inherited fortune has increased several-fold by shrewd salesmanship and a number of well-timed historical finds. Persistent rumors, however, that he intended to move his villa stone by stone to the new location appear to have been highly exaggerated: while certain capstones and cornerstones with proported mystic resonance have been carefully excavated, the Vitalis Italian estate remains otherwise intact. Aurelian Vitalis is accompanied by his three children: Cariole, fifteen, and twins Gemma and Isaac, thirteen. All three are Powers, adopted by Vitalis several years ago; he remains unmarried, or as one anonymous socialite complained, "evasively single." He is also joined in Crucible City by his sister, former museum curator Eva Vitalis - far better known as the Visionist, a heroic Power believed to be one of the strongest seers in Europe and one of Italy's highest-profile public Powers. The Visionist was badly injured in the last war, and claims she needs the perspective of a long vacation. Her brother has his own view of the situation. "Vacation indeed," he told reporters. "No Power goes to Crucible City for a vacation - they tend to run wildly away from it in an attempt to get some rest, I'm told. Eva's only fooling herself." Whatever the case, the Vitalis family seems to have put leisure before business for now, and the new arrivals have already made a stir among the upper echelons of Crucible City society. (Questions, request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/89 Posted Author Not-So-Secret Santa Fri Nov 18 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Appearing on Page 1 of the Local Section) "Saint" Nick Howler knows how to help a charity. Whether it's his fight against urban poverty, his Save The Children concerts in Bangladesh, or enviromentally concious fashions on the go, he can bring attention to any issue. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/90 Posted Author Volcanic Eruption! ... in WI? Sun Nov 20 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Locals are stunned after the inexplicable emergence and eruption of a small volcano in the forests of Wisconsin, approximately sixty miles north of Madison. Expert geologists have been summoned from all corners and are already frantically examining the scene. "There is, of course," said triple-doctorate Sara Manheim, "always the very remote possibility that this could have occurred naturally in some way, or be an accidental result of drilling activities in the vicinity, but the general consensus is that something big has been here." More details in this perplexing event as they occur. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/91 Posted Author Airport Antics Tue Nov 22 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Surfacing after a long period of apparent hibernation - while, it is rumored, their Goddess-Giver allies completed the next phase of their plan - the Literalis Federation attempted yesterday evening to abduct English visitor Lady Grace Tartleton, Marchioness of Ailsa. The Marchioness, a frequent world-traveler, was delayed at O'Hare by the persistent ash-residue blown south across the Wisconsin border. She was waylaid on her way out of the airport, with the intent of staying the night in the city, by three members of the Federation: the Narrator, Lady Genre (Claudette Roslin) and the Plagiarist (Dante Leonardo). However, among the press of airline travelers and others with airport business were five heroes: weather controller Windstorm, cold manipulatrix Icicle, the elusive Secret, CCPCU's Lifefire, and perpetual punk about town the Statistic. They quickly rose to Tartleton's defense, Icicle harrying the Plagiarist throughout the fight while the Secret moved in to rescue the woman. Yet he was pinpointed by the Plagiarist's temporary mystical abilities - apparently borrowed from captured Goddess-Giver Sedna - and set up for a resounding blow by Lady Genre, who had shifted from a duplicating mystery form to the bruising robot familiar to many. With the opening left, the Narrator took a physical hold on Lady Tartleton. It was a move that turned out to be a mistake: it allowed Lifefire to pummel him with blasts, their striking force hard enough to stun him and allow Windstorm to sweep the would-be captive to safety. At this point, the Statistic, with an equally familiar tendency for property damage, took out a portion of the floor, a manuever that caused the Plagiarist to drop out of range when the Narrator removed their presence. The Plagiarist is presently in custody and looks to be no less surly than the last time. As for Grace Tartleton, she has declined to speak to the press, although the authorities have divulged that she claims to be the sister of the original Narrator - and equally swears she is innocent of any role as accomplice. She has offered her deepest thanks to her rescuers, and somewhat snide condolences to the Federation member left behind. ============================================================================== +bbread 12/92-101 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/92 Posted Author Shootout at downtown Dunkin' Donut Wed Nov 23 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [8:45 PM - Downtown Crucible] A lone gunman started a hostage situation at a downtown Dunkin Donuts this evening, taking a dozen people hostage, and wounding one. Although unwilling to negotiate, the suspect Jeffery Perrotta, age 27, claimed to have a bomb and demanded control of the city. Fortunately, several powers arrived on the scene and were able to subdue Perrotta without further injury to the hostages. Despite the reported rantings of the suspect on the scene of the incident, Perrota himself claims to have been unaware of what he was doing at the time. Many of his close friends believe it wasn't like him. James Clairborne, Perrota's supervisor at his workplace, "Prime Cuts Deli", was quoted as saying, "He's a good kid, you know? A little quiet, but.. er, not in the creepy quiet way? He wouldn't hurt a fly. I didn't even know he had a gun!" Even his girlfriend Marsha Kimball, when questioned by CCPD, went on record to state, "He isn't the sort of guy to cause trouble. Sure, I met him on the internet, but he's never been anything but a perfect gentlemen!" It's the internet that's being the focus of this investigation. "We do know the suspect was an avid player of "Worlds of Violence(r)", one of those... MMORPG games, and used several terms and paraphenalia from it at the scene of the crime. We doubt it's related, but we're pursuing all the leads we have." World of Violence(r) is a game played by tens of thousands of people domestically and abroad. Operated by Snowstorm Productions, it allows people to live out fantasy warfare, playing multiple make-belive species and roles, from Dragonbrood(r) Templars(tm) to Bloodgoblin(r) Gankassassins(tm). The company has yet to release an official statement, but community manager Danny Croteau postied on the official game forum, "We have done everything possible to ensure Worlds of Violence(r) is safe and harmless entertainment, from parental controls to the planned and patented 'snooze alarm(tm)', that warns players to get some rest after twenty hours of consecutive hours of gameplayer. We plan to fully cooperate with state and federal authorities to ensure we aren't held responsible." Although injured before the powers arrived, Leonard Crandall is currently in stable condition at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Jeffery Perrota remains to be brung up on charges. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/93 Posted Author Disappearing Heir Wed Nov 23 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) As schools close for the Thanksgiving holiday, in one Virginia private school, teachers are staying over-time and students are subjected to the most exacting of quizzes on the whereabouts, routines and actions of recent transfer Lissa Lydell, who disappeared early Monday afternoon. Lydell, 10, is the daughter of Allergy Attack members Elena Lydell (Silver Manx), deceased, and Casimir Stanislav (Pollen Count), currently at large. She is the ward of Dr. Cornelia Avernus, who had only recently received formal custody of the child. "There are too many people in Canterbury who remember the worst in the Manx, and I thought it best to bring Lissa somewhere she could have a fresh start," Avernus said. "I have old friends in the area, and I thought it would be ideal. Evidently, the universe enjoys mocking such misconceptions." While the girl's father remains a primary suspect, authorities are not ruling out any possibility, though kidnapping remains the likely scenario, whether familial, motivated by an old grudge, or even for ransom. Lissa Lydell is heir to her family's holdings, and Dr. Avernus herself has several million in assets. "Nor," the officer in charge admitted, "can we dismiss the chance that she might have simply run away. Lydell is young, but she shows every sign of having inherited abilities from both her parents, and she would be almost impossible to hold against her will without powered assistance." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/94 Posted Author Prehistoric peril prevented! Thu Nov 24 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [11-24-05, Field Museum, Crucible City] A group of heroes stopped what was apparently an attempt at animating the new dinosaur bone exhibit on loan from Sidney Museum, in Australia. During a fundraising dinner, reports indicate that silvery liquid flowed up through a crack in the floor, awakening several fossils, including near-complete Brontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons. The group, consiting of Grease Monkey, Matrix, Signature, Ink, and Shooting Star managed to subdue the artifacts, although several heroes were injured during the confrontation. [Insert unflattering, if thankfully grainy, security-camera footage of Shooting Star ten feet off the ground in a Tyrannosaur's jaw, as well as a seperate shot of said skeleton in mid-tumble due to an expertly-placed ink slick.] The dinosaur hall suffered extensive structural damage, although ceiling collapse was avoided due to quick thinking by Matrix, who provided an ice pillar to replace the damaged support. Field Museum's press release has stated that the exhibit will remain open while repairs are underway. No bystanders were hurt during the dinosaur rampage, and there are currently no reports of foul play at the fundraising dinner itself. Officer Justin Bonnell sated to press at the scene that the motives are unclear, but that it is likely related to an earlier attack, where zoo animals were similarly controlled by a silvery substance. "We can't rule out the possibility of malevolent nanotechnology at this point." A somewhat defiant Ink stated, "Ink now understands the advantages toward species extinction." And jokingly, Signature quipped, "The real tragedy of the situation is that the dinosaurs didn't see fit to eat the party-goers - that was off the record!" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/95 Posted Author Explosion In Mall Sat Nov 26 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Chaos in the River North Memorial Strip Mall this morning in the wake of a Powered battle and a massive explosion. Four previously unknown Powers, going by the names of the Fashion Plate, Revolution, the Bargain Hunter and Holy Terror, raided a local Bed, Bath and Beyond with vociferous critique of the service and quality of goods. They promptly tore towards the entrance with packed carts full of china, silverware, assorted knick-knacks and two hapless employees. They were stopped at the door by five heroes: Tempest, an unidentified but agile bruiser, the mouthy Karasu, Septimus Prince and Tradewind. While there were a few touch-and-go moments, particularly from the childlike Holy Terror's lightborne bindings, the heroes triumphed - whereupon the girl triggered some kind of self-destruct mechanism. The explosion ripped a hole through the Bed, Bath and Beyond and destroyed much of the main thoroughfare. Caught in the blast, the avian Karasu was badly injured and was hastened into hospital care. The four villains were apparently killed - but even a cursory inspection of their remains showed that there was nothing human or even biological underneath the skin. "We think they were some sort of animated entities, like golems or dolls," Tradewind explained. "That's the best theory we have so far." According to reports, Tempest approached a senior officer on the scene and remarked, "Dude remember when I saved you from that octopus?" in an apparent attempt to gain his cooperation on an undisclosed matter. "I've heard that you have to be aggressive to get the good deals, but this is ridiculous," one bystander complained. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/96 Posted Author Whitaker Building Destroyed Mon Nov 28 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City Tribune, AP -- A vehicular accident set off a dramatic chain of events leading to the Whitiker Building's destruction late last night. A Roland Oil truck crashed into the office building at 3:27 AM. But before police and paramedic units could respond, a group of eight robots, apparently led by a larger machine, descended upon a scene that bystanders later described as "Horrific." Addressing themselves as members of a group called the Ferroship, local heroes Fury, The Shooting Star, and Velocity arrived on scene just as the robots approached the disabled oil truck. The Shooting Star rescued disabled bystanders while Fury and Velocity attempted to move the oil tank to safety, but the combined assaults of the mechanical proved too much for the assembled guardians. The robots hurled the oil tank into the office building, destroying it and dealing secondary damage to nearby structures and vehicles. Although city engineers suspect the building will need to be torn down, Velocity and Fury were successful in extinguishing the blaze before it could spread to neighboring buildings. The attack leaves police baffled. Earlier this year, the Ferroship entered the public's eye in a series of attacks mostly centered on Crucible City and in association with the infamous Otaku Clan. They were also the subject of a Zero Hour episode that addressed the menace. And yet, there are no known motives for this seemingly senseless attack. The Whitiker Building served as offices for Crucible Life Insurance and the national headquarters for Biodeal Pharmaceuticals, both of which are presently seeking to relocate. Shooting Star had this to say, "I didn't do it!" (As usual, +request is your friend.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/97 Posted Author Chinatown Incident Thu Dec 01 Reporter (IC: Illinois - Bure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Details are in scant supply concerning a powered assault and death that occured late last night in Chinatown. Eyewitnesses are scarce and the few that are around are not very forthcoming in details. The police report filed indicated that some sort of Powered Brawl occurred at the Four Winds Dojo at about 8 p.m. The heroic hockey player "Blackhawk" was the only Power who made himself availible for comment. "I was just walking by when I spotted several armored figures appear both on and in the Four Winds Dojo." Apparently, Blackhawk and the owner of the Four Winds Dojo, a Mr. Jonathan Tsang, were assaulted by a team of technologically armored assailents, one of whom lost his life in the course of the fight. Police declined a statement, citing an ongoing investigation. Mr. Tsang was not availible for comment prior to going to press. (OOC Note: Follow-ups to this investigation should go to Gunnhilde.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/98 Posted Author Hero Falls In Ritual Thu Dec 01 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Shock reverberates through the Crucible City Powered community in the wake of a fatal blow sustained by young Zero Hour hero Havoc Lad, also known as the sidekick of the Indestructible Corporate. Havoc Lad was one of six heroes who responded to a hostage situation in the Glick Supermall, a threat made by the spirit Gualichu to give three Goddess-Givers time to complete their leyline ritual. Also on hand were Matrix, Corporate, Shooting Star, Libertine, and the Secret. The heroes arrived on the scene in the nick of time, just as the last incantation was spoken, and dove in to prevent the willing sacrifice. Gualichu halted them with an explosive blast over the hostages and the warning that the second would kill. Havoc Lad laid down his sword, stepped forward, and offered himself in exchange. The sorceress accepted on the condition he would stand in for the sacrifice. This idea drew horror from the heroes and muttered dissent from the Goddess-Givers, but Havoc Lad stood firm - and took the first blow from the shadow knife without apparent harm before collapsing under the second. Bystanders report a searing flash of light seen throughout the mall and in a half-mile radius, a wail of eldritch voices, and a shudder in the earth. "We're looking at some kind of massive surge of mystical energy activated by the spark of life-force," explained CCPCU mystic researcher Mary Messer, "but it was quickly subliminated into the leylines, and we have no idea what it did." The enraged heroes pounded the sorceress, overcoming her supernatural regenerative properties to critically injure her not once but twice. The Goddess-Giver known as Sophia remained on the sidelines protecting hostages and refusing to interfere, swayed by the words of the Secret. Iamanja and circle leader Nu Kua, however, rallied to Gualichu's defense. The dragoness Goddess-Giver vanished with the battered sorceress; Iamanja was subdued seconds later. No sooner had the last blow been delivered than the Indestructible Corporate, with Libertine close behind, rushed Havoc Lad to the hospital in the faint hope that something could be done. "The hero has shown remarkable powers of recovery in the past - but no one could have survived that," said a medic on the scene who wished to remain unidentified. As yet, there has been no official news. Unsurprisingly, none of the heroes were available for comment. The two captured Goddess-Givers have been transferred to Pound custody. Sophia, a junior archaeologist named Dacia Petri, turned hysterical in custody and has said little coherent except for scattered apologies. Iamanja, a marine biologist named Oriel Lyle, has proved more sensible and less forthcoming. "In this conflict, we saw Gualichu both at her worst and her weakest," Messer said. "With this heinous action, she's brought things to another level, and we still don't fully understand the consequences. Something has to give, and soon." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/99 Posted Author Just Resting Fri Dec 02 Reporter (Malique) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Due to so many rumours to the contrary, a press release from FOX has finally confirmed that Havoc Lad is alive. Gravely wounded in a mystic-related incident, he was taken to the Swedish Covenant hospital for treatment. Initial care was interrupted by a super-powered battle that started somewhere in the lower levels of the hospital but was quickly carried outside, where there was some collateral damage to nearby buildings. Concerned for the waning health of the young hero, he was immediately taken to an undisclosed hospital out of the country, to receive the necessary urgent care. Now that his condition is stable, he has been returned to the Swedish Covenant hospital for recuperation. ((Photo: Havoc Lad laying in a hospital bed next to a bank of machines, with a myriad tubes stuck into his arms and up his nose, his eyes covered by a gauze blindfold. He is smiling wanly and managing a thumbs-up gesture.)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/100 Posted Author Clowns make Fools Fri Dec 02 Reporter (Cupid Valentino) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Several papers carry the story, though not on the front pages: Ichabod Charlemaine Smalls (White Face) and Augustus Louis Goodman (Auguste) escaped Custody while in transit to be incarcerated. Police attribute the escape to being surprised by Goodman's preternatural strength and devices in Smalls' shoes that allowed to two to break free and flee from the moving vehicle. White Face and Auguste were captured in the recent event at Grant Park. There are a few pictures of the scene, though most are just of clowns, including one of a exceptionally tall female clown dressed as a nurse. The article alludes that the Nurse and Auguste might have been an item as they were both shown being quite intimate in their contact during the earliest portion of the events at the park. Police warn that if scene to call the proper authorities as the pair are considered armed, powered, and dangerous, and apprehension should not be attempted by inexperienced civilians. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/101 Posted Author Magic Mastered, Artifacts Returned Sun Dec 04 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Priceless artifacts stolen by the Literalis Federation are back in honest hands and a major mystical crisis has been averted after a heroic assault on Gualichu's astral demesne. The raiding party consisted of Scion, the Secret, Dr. Zenobia Petalas, the Statistic, Lifefire, Dr. Catherine Wright, Quintessence, Serendipity, Shooting Star and Chance, who faced a formidable array from the Federation and the central circle of the Goddess-Givers as well as the sorceress herself. The gruelling battle was won only at high cost, and left few unscathed. Among the items recovered are several artifacts of major historical significance: the United States Constitution, the Hope Diamond and the Rosetta Stone, as well as original copies of the Magna Carta, a significant portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls and a collection of early Shakespeare mauscripts. Most of these priceless objects were stolen during the conflict with Urizen, and appear to have served as anchors for a portion of Gualichu's spell. According to officers on the case, the matter began with the Literalis theft of the original nine tomes in a Renaissance-era mystic dissertation known Malchius' Planar Theorum. Brought together, the books provided a theoretical basis for the creation of an alternate world - but without an immense amount of power, it remained simply theory. This brought the Goddess-Givers into the mix, with their influence over lifeforce and their skill with leylines. Had they succeeded, several of the world's leylines would have been permanently depleted. One of the Goddess-Givers, Lethe Inachus, who identifies herself with the British goddess Sulis, claimed that this was not an unintended consequence. "This world uses magic too freely and for the wrong purposes," she insisted. When pressed about the association of the usually passive group with the sorceress Gualichu, she went on, "Our intention was always the path of least resistance. If she wanted another world - so be it. It would keep her from this one, while furthering the expansion of life." Apparently, the stolen historical artifacts were meant to ensure that the created world was an alternate earth rather than something further afield. The heroes' original information led them to the island of the Literalis Federation. They found it deserted with only one occupant, a disgruntled Narrator, deprived of the Device that gave him his power, chained to the desk. He insisted that teammate Poetic License had taken the dire prophetic predictions of a few Goddess-Givers to heart and broken faith with the others, absconding with the Narrator Device to parts unknown. The unmasked villain, identified as Graham Treddian of Dark Forest Publishers, was transferred to police custody, and the heroes advanced through a portal on the island to the "astral pocket" that housed the burgeoning spell. Upon stepping through the portal, the heroes found themselves confronted with Goddess-Givers Cerridwen (Tania McRae), Maya (Rohana Takeri) and Gyhldeptis (Peta Silver) and Literalis Federation members the Sequel (Natasha Brody), Enchiridion (Konstantin Septimus) and Lady Genre (Claudette Roslin). Gualichu remained in the center of ritual, weaving the massive influx from the leylines - a stream catalyzed by the lifeforce of the brutally injured Havoc Lad. Scion swiftly squared off against Goddess-Giver right-hand Cerridwen, who responded with equal fury. The hero unable to keep the shapeshifter down despite a series of crushing blows that laid her flat, she unable to subdue him despite swallowing him whole once and harrying him with other assaults, they remained locked until the last moments. As heroes and villains clashed, the task made more difficult by an illusory blur from Maya, Quintessence fired a snare of a modern plastics composite that apparently caused trouble for Gualichu's ancient Pelorain sorcery. The surging streams of mystical force, temporarily knocked out of alignment, seared and scorched - damage that repaired itself when Gyhldeptis removed the snare and she reasserted her control. Concentrated fire on Maya, sending her into a bloodied spin, was answered by a mental assault on the Statistic - a crushing blast echoed by the Sequel to drive the heroine to death's door. Yet the Statistic's remarkable regenerative properties brought her back to her feet even as a hail of shots from the mysterious Secret stilled Maya's renewed glow. The Z.E.N.O.-3 suit sustained several heavy blows from Lady Genre, and retaliated by firing a paralysis bolt that held the villain for the rest of the fight. Lifefire brought a hail of storms upon Gyhldeptis, triggering a mythological weakness and wearing her down to acute exhaustion. She held on long enough to return the favor, though she was knocked unconscious by both Dr. Wright and the Secret. (Continued Next Post ...) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/102-111 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/102 Posted Author Continued From Previous (Ahem) Sun Dec 04 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The battle turned again as Quintessence thoroughly enmeshed Gualichu in plastic again, and Chance wrested the streams of power from the sorceress. Unable to immediately channel them, she took massive damage from the mystic force. With Enchiridion dropped by Shooting Star and the Sequel left virtually alone on the field, the sorceress tried to blast her way free of the snares with a percussive blaze of golden light that ripped through the heroic roster, knocking Dr. Wright, Dr. Petalas and the Secret unconscious, beating Serendipity bloody, and leaving Chance at a threshold from which she recovered only through the graces of a regeneration device and a mysterious force said to be a donation of fate itself. Prudence would have told Serendipity to lie still, but she instead fired wildly at Gualichu, disabling the sorceress within her snare - even as the heroine collapsed from fatal injuries. As Chance redirected the forces back into the leylines from whence they had come, as the weakened heroes rallied, the Sequel fled to the portal out ... then made the mistake of stopping to survey the scene. She was swiftly subdued, leaving the field to the battered victors. The Statistic, it is said, rushed to the side of Serendipity, where her powers affected a miraculous recovery. Later, from her hospital bed and still in critical condition, the CCPCU officer is said to have offered the following comment about the conflict: "Easier than I thought it'd be." The Statistic was somewhat more ebullient. "Holy sh*t," she exclaimed, "I am Jesus! ... err, uh. Can I start over? Here, have your priceless artifacts back. The morons and the stupids will no longer be working together to the detriment of the city and the world. The day is SAVED!" The day is saved, perhaps, but some loose ends still remain. One such is Poetic License, still at large with the powerful Narrator Device. Another is the remaining three Goddess-Givers: their leader, Nu Kua, Ix Chel and Coatlicue. According to a bleary Maya, "Cerridwen and Nu Kua had both foreseen that if certain things came to pass, we would never succeed. We parted ways over that. Nu Kua said she couldn't support Gualichu's methods. Cerridwen refused to back down now, said life could only be paved in blood. I don't agree with that, but I just couldn't come this far and not see it through." Shooting Star has her own opinion, however rehearsed. "We've stopped these people from doing horrible things ... but not all their motives were evil. It's easy to get lost in things, to the point where you have lose track of what's right and wrong. Sometimes.. step back, and think about what you're doing, and who you're doing it with. There's no need to bring things this far!" Gualichu, turned over to Pound custody, has been positively identified - as the authorities have recently come to suspect - as Angeline August-McIntyre, a recently widowed archaeologist and older sister to Martin August (Retrofit). "There is a complicated web of connections between these two, as far as Powered activities are concerned, that goes back to the days of the Hand and the inner circle," said CCPCU officer Belle Murray. "We're still trying to decipher the implications and make sure there isn't a timebomb lying in wait. The one thing we do know is that the pair had a deal that, had Retrofit succeeded in a temporal lock on Crucible City, would have made the leyline ritual that the Goddess-Givers fought to complete a matter of routine. I don't think we'd be here talking about victories now." Authorities also suspect that the Literalis assault on the Pound can be attributed to a rescue attempt. Mrs. August-McIntyre faces an immense list of charges, but one major barrier lies between her and the justice system: a legal requirement that spirit and woman be separated to stand trial independently. She refuses to submit to the proceedure and has indicated her intentions to block the attempt by every legal recourse. "I've never met someone who actually enjoys having something else in their head," quipped an anonymous prosecutor. "But considering the kind of open channel she is, it might be just handy insurance that nothing else gets in." Those artifacts stolen by the Federation are on their way home. The Malchius tomes, roadmap to this entire scheme, have also been split up again, returned to their original owners or - in the case of those purchased legally by the Literalis Federation - donated to appropriate museums. "As a theory, the Malchius work is an invaluable contribution to the arcane underpinnings of the universe," said CCPCU mystic researcher Mary Messer, "but as something that can be practiced, it's incalcuably dangerous. No one should have the ability to form worlds." Because of ten brave heroes, and the efforts of many more over the past several months, a mystical crisis has been averted and key pieces of archaeological and national history returned to their rightful places. One more threat has been laid to rest. (Holy moly! Thanks to everyone who's followed this plot, poked, prodded, and generally put up with the continuing saga. As always, could not have done it without you.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/103 Posted Author Shopping Tree Spoiled Sun Dec 04 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Published on the bottom of Page 1, Crucible Today. It features two pictures; one of Toshi dodging a gorilla's attack, which someone off panel; the other is Makon controlling a living fountain to attack a flaming woman.) GLICK SUPERMALL: Around 1pm this afternoon, shoppers were startled by a powered group of shoplifters. Officials at the CCPD called them the "Shopping-Spree Seven". This was their first caper, was announced by the groups leader, Syren. Frusterated by holiday hustle-and-bustle, she called together the rest of the gang, who awakened from the mall. The source of their powers is not yet known. Heroes came quickly onto the scene, among them Rawk Hawk, Matthew, Makon, ex-con Jenny Steel, the wily Toshi and a power identified as Smith. The heroes sprung to action and capably defeated the villains. Bystanders were alternately scared and amused; highlights of the fight involve Toshi tricking one villain into knocking a speedster unconcious, and a mentallist being trapped under a canoe by a suited team nicknamed "The Squad." (Another Picture, the group carrying a canoe) The villains were taken to the Pound pending trial. For More info, See page A6. (Near the article is a small one on Howler and Mercury appearing at the Public Library. "Concert, Exhibition Raise Cash" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/104 Posted Author Grave Disturbance Mon Dec 05 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Grounds keepers at the Deerfield Cemetery are unnerved after a morning patrol found five graves ripped up, the coffins broken open and the bodies missing. The night watchmen reported no disturbances and claim to have heard nothing. "This is the same part of the cemetery that was used as a summoning point for zombies during the Dimensional War," said one of the keepers who came upon the scene, "Call me superstitious, but I don't like it at all." (Questions? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/105 Posted Author Pound Statement Wed Dec 07 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) After several hours of denial in an attempt to "gather more information," Pound officials have released a brief statement on the condition of Martin August (Retrofit). "Sometime late yesterday evening, the medic was called in for Mr. August, who had sunk into something like a coma. The scan that followed confirmed he had no upper brain activity. Right now, we have no definite theories how this happened or what triggered it, whether it was some kind of fit or a deliberate action. Mr. August is clinically brain-dead, but given the nature of this criminal, we're asking the coroner to hold on a formal pronouncement while we investigate the circumstances." One man theorizes this as an escape attempt gone wrong. "If you consider that the astral protocol necessary to get that kind of thing past Pound defenses needs a certain degree of arcane knowledge," said tabloid journalist Thomas Flaherty, "it makes sense that Mr. August may have had some sort of arrangement with his sister - and was acting now before the authorities deciphered that part of her infrastructure." Others state their opinion more bluntly. "If Flaherty were more of a conspiracy theorist, he'd be afraid to take off the tinfoil hat," said fellow reporter Alan Lamont. "For all we know, we're looking at a suicide attempt, or an unexpected side effect of power-neutralizing cells on a physiology that's been genetically turned inside out." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/106 Posted Author Police Blotter, page 32 Wed Dec 07 Reporter (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Buried in the local news is the following brief report: Police were called last night to investigate a disturbance at an abandoned house in the Wabash Avenue district, and on arrival were met by famed archer Mercury, who reported that the house had been the site of a brief battle between local Powers and supernatural entities. Described as "several minor demons," they were subdued with minimal property damage and were apparently departed or dissipated when police arrived. A man and woman, both reportedly homeless and taking shelter in the house, were taken from the scene for examination at Swedish Covenant Hospital and transport to a local shelter. Also reportedly at the scene were private investigator Ulysses Jones and an unnamed Power with cold-related abilities. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/107 Posted Author Busy Day At The Mall Fri Dec 09 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) ... when an aircraft carrying heroes Knight Exemplar and Osiu swooped down on the scene. Their arrival proved to be very well-timed, as a deep cloud of impenetrable shadow heralded the start of another Powered incident halfway across the self-same mall at the Kaye Jewelers. Thaumaturge joined the fray, a burst of magic dispelling the shadows to reveal three villainous mercenaries: Shadowline, the Lexicon and Half-Life, known to hire their skills out to the highest bidder. The two men set out to brace the heroes while the Lexicon rifled through the in-house safe in search of a specific piece. The heroes swiftly overcame the opposition, despite the continuous fissioning of radiation controller Half-Life. Tamin snatched the ring from the Lexicon's hand just before she disappeared with the unconscious Shadowline - whose abrupt collapse neither the authorities nor the bystanders can explain. The prime Half-Life exploded on a battering final blow; it is believed that his consciousness jumped to another duplicate in reserve elsewhere, as they captured individuals melted away into thankfully uncontaminated sludge. The ring is an heirloom of the Ilario family, a line of minor mystics who have resided in Crucible City for two generations now. "The ring is broken both in the arcane and the physical sense," explained Serafina Ilario. "None of us are jewelers, you see. The setting had to be repaired. Some have said it would be simpler to create a new ring, and we've had many wishing to purchase it, but its value to our history ... no. Not for any price." Because of heroic intervention, the ring will return to its rightful owners. As to who was behind the three mercenaries, that remains an unanswered question. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/108 Posted Author Ubiq the Ubiquitous Captured! Sat Dec 10 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Again! December 10, 2005 Crucible City The time-travelling villain known as Ubiq the Ubiquitous was captured yesterday evening after a pitched battle with local Power heroes. The self-styled savior of alternate timelines appeared in his usual manner in the Sunshine Blvd area of Oak Lawn. With him were several members of his so-called 'Displaced Men', notable figures from historical eras supposedly plucked from the past. Identified on the scene were Goliath, Sir Launcelot, Wong Fei Hung, and Rasputin. On hand to oppose these villains were Dr. Zenobia Petalas in her Z.E.N.O. powered armor, the garrulous Signature, the amazonian warrior Serrin, the mysterious vigilante known as The Secret, the armored warrior Matrix, and the plant-controlling Lantana. The battle raged back and forth with casualties on both sides, though the heroes managed to take the upper-hand in the end despite their setbacks as they aided one another against their chosen foes. While Serrin and Launcelot fought a furious battle which neither could seem to win, Lantana managed to wrap Rasputin up in her plants, thereby preventing him from accessing his magic. The Secret and Fei Hung fought with words, rather than blows, and Matrix ranged across the battlefield, striking where needed. Dr. Petalas and Signature concentrated their own efforts on Ubiq himself, and along with Matrix eventually forced him into retreat. His retreat seemed to go as usual at first. Witnesses to the event say that they suddenly found themselves back where they were three minutes ago, and that all trace of the battle was gone. Indeed Ubiq had rewound the local time as he had in the past, but this time it seems the heroes managed to avoid being sent back along with everyone else. A few minutes after the battle ended/began, a portal in the air opened in the street and the heroes strode forth, the unconscious Ubiq in tow. It is not known at this time how Ubiq was defeated, nor of the circumstances surrounding the heroes' disappearance and subsequent reappearance. However Ubiq has been turned over to the Gibbons Power Containment Compound where he is being held under constant armed surveillance. Such vigilance is in place to prevent a repeat of what happened the last time Ubiq was captured, when another Ubiq appeared and seemed to assassinate the prior Ubiq. The Pound has since had temporal screens put in place to prevent such time-travelling invasions, but security forces in the facility are taking no chances. OOC: Questions and Investigations should be +requested to Plot. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/109 Posted Author OTAKU SLAY HEROINE Sun Dec 11 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) OTAKU SLAY HEROINE The infamous Otaku Clan are responsible for the temporary slaying of local heroine The Statistic in what was anything but a routine bank robbery. A 4:45 PM call to the police led to a rapid CCPD response at the First National Bank of Crucible City in South Loop yesterday. Police units arrived on scene amidst the hefty snowstorm, but soon requested powered backup as it became apparent the thieves were more than common bank robbers. [Photographs of two men. One with a goatee and a blue/red caped costume with a lightning bolt. Another of a large African American man in black spandex. The caption reads: "Thrillkill" and "Armstrong".] Powered crooks Thrillkill and Armstrong assaulted two police officers while their cronies held bank employees and clients hostage at gunpoint in what seemed like a losing battle for the police from the very start. Local heroes Corporate, The Statistic, The Shooting Star, Gunnhilde Ransdottir, and an unidentified woman arrived to help the overburdened police force. Corporate tended to the wounded officers while the others descended on the building. A hostage situation threatened to get ugly as one criminal suggested he might kill a hostage, but fate had other things in store. Witnesses describe the sound as 'a deafening pop'. Stated one man, a River West schoolteacher who wished to be unnamed, "It sounded like big trouble, pure and simple." Otaku had teleported into the bank vault, along with allies such as twin sorcerers who have been previously associated with the end of the world cult, and interrupted Armstrong's robbery with force of their own. Hostages saw a violently shaking and vibrating speedster among the newcomers, and describe a massive fight in which The Statistic was ambushed and assaulted by these second challengers, and ultimately engulfed in flame, apparently burnt to death in Corporate's grasp while trying to shield her from the blast. In spite of (or spurred on by) their fallen comrade, the others fought on while Corporate rushed her to Tender Mercies Hospital. Now severely outnumbered, the Otaku managed to overpower the heroes, escaping through a portal with the contents of an undisclosed number of security deposit boxes. Authorities find it puzzling and somewhat troubling that no money was stolen in the attack. Thrillkill and Armstrong later fled the scene, though two of their lackeys were taken into custody by the CCPD. The two would-be bank robbers remain at large and are considered dangerous powered criminals. The Statistic was evacuated by Corporate to a medical center, but doctors state she appears to have made a full recovery while in transit. She is being monitored overnight to ensure there are no complications. Few heroes cared to comment on the evening's events, but The Shooting Star had these encouraging words: "We'll find out what they were doing, and make sure to stop them. Don't worry!" (As always, +Request Is Your Friend) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/110 Posted Author Various Articles Sun Dec 11 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer - Assorted Articles) ... Among the Powers lending a hand with additional Pound security is the Italian seer known as the Visionist (Eva Vitalis). Though a non-combatant, the Visionist has proved very helpful in pinpointing problems before they occur and supporting personnel with precognitive-based resistance. "If the time streams were as reliable as Ms. Vitalis," one official wryly noted, "we'd be in a lot better shape." When asked about her recent declaration of retirement, the Visionist only shrugged a shoulder. "There are moments that require one to set aside personal goals - this is one of them," she said. "I also knew before I arrived that something in Crucible would need my attention for a brief period. I took that into account in my decision, and I really don't see where I'm going back on it." ... ... In the recent tide of missing reports, Pound officials have included one more, changing the status of Martin August (Retrofit) from presumed dead to presumed missing. The investigation of the matter has been truncated, but though they are not discussing details, those involved are relatively certain that the villain somehow dislocated his mind and projected it to points unknown. ... ... The bodies of two young people - Ericka Sondag, 15, and Darren Bence, 16 - were found in the prosperous Gold Coast neighborhood Sunday morning without clear sign as to cause of death. Though there were signs of a struggle, the minor injuries appeared unrelated. Both individuals were in full health, and autospy showed no signs of abnormality except the chemical markers for extreme exhaustion. Sondag and Bence are believed to have been on their way back from a date when they were accosted. "The modus operandi doesn't fit any of the known escapees," remarked the investigator on the case, "but I wouldn't yet leap to the conclusion we're dealing with someone - or something - new. My sympathies are with the families, and we will get to the bottom of this." ... (Questions? +Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/111 Posted Author Another confirmed Pound escape Sun Dec 11 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Among the powers confirmed missing from the Pound is Doctor Randolf Rinne. Originally known as 'Doctor Galaxy' during the late 50's and early 60's, before his identity became publicly revealed. Although his crime sprees stopped during the mid-80's, Dr. Rinne was renowned innate talent at creating unique machinery, from the subterranean borer used in an unsuccessful assault on Fort Knox in 1967, to an aborted moon rocket attempt in 1974. He was best known, however, for always being accompanyied by one or more unique but unintelligent bodyguard automata during his capers. (Photograph inset here, taken in 2000; a grey-haired man in his late 70's, grey-haired and with a closely-cropped beard.) Having left a low-paying professorship to begin his career in burglary and grand theft, Dr. Rinne's motives were summed up in his own words in an interview in 1964, given in mid-heist during his first robbery while his cadre of 'robodrones' tore a bank vault from its hinges during a police standoff. "Why? Because it's there, and because I can! If I'm a few million dollars richer, and I'm talked about for a few months, that's more of a life than many people will ever have, isn't it?" Although unapologetic about his crime sprees, 'Doctor Galaxy' had a small fan following, as he was reported to be quite jovial, and avoided harming bystanders during his crime sprees. Some considered it an odd respite from the sometimes tense atmosphere of the Cold War era. "Of course, just because he was a nice guy doesn't mean he was straight-up," a Pound official was quoted. "He voluntarily surrendered himself in 2002, claiming that he wanted to leave a better example for the modern generation. Still, most of the money never did turn up, and he jokingly confided to me that he was happy to have free medical care at the state's expense." Exactly how Doctor Rinne made his escape is unclear, but he is believed to have simply exited his cell, his power over machines more than adept at opening the locks to his cell during the brief lapse in the power suppression systems, then making use of other machinery in the cell block to make the final escape. (Questions? Inquiries? Page or @mail Regan!) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/112 Posted Author The Mercurial Security Guard Mon Dec 12 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <> Following the explosion at The Pound, the Mercurial Archer quickly offered his services to the facility, which the Pound gracefully and gladly accepted. Sources say that the Archer has already been effective in quickly subduing a number of lower-profile villains from springing their allies from the prison, although Mercury only had this to say: "Red Death has escaped this facility. I will see to it that he returns, but until that time, I will focus my efforts on containing and re-instituting the inmates of the Pound. That is all." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/113 Posted Author One escapee back behind bars Mon Dec 12 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) At least one of the Pound's escaped prisoners is back in custody today, along with two of his apparent accomplices. Doctor Randolf Rinne was tracked down by local power Thaumaturge with the aid of Pound authorities, and he, along with Signature, Statistic, and Havoc Lad, managed to uncover the escaped power's hideout, an underground lair dating back to the 70's. Although the exact details are unclear, a brief but violent conflict broke out, ending with the willing surrender of Doctor Rinne, and the two advanced androids accompanying him incapacitated. Several automata in the underground hangar were activated during the encounter, but all were left inactive afterwards, and the It is believed that the androids aided Rinne's escape during the chaos of last week's explosion, although it is currently suspected that it was unrelated to whatever caused the momentary lapse in the prison's security. "It's more than likely just an opportunistic escape, although it likely wasn't the only one," a Pound official commented. "He wasn't the only one to take advantage of it, but he also won't be the only one to be put back where he belongs." Thaumaturge had a similar sentiment, stating to the press, "In response to the mass prison break in the Pound, I and Signature have been tracing various villains and bringing them back to justice. This was merely one of many who got their /asses kicked/." Adding afterwards, "You get the idea." Despite the escape, the exact circumstances remain unclear. Both Doctor Rinne and the pair of androids deny he had a hand in their creation, although at least one of the machines is based off one of the doctor's old design and the other claimed he was an inspiration for his design. While Rinne was cooperative with police investigation, his accomplices have been less forthcoming; it is believed they were in league with several other individuals, and tried to bring Rinne into their confidence. CCPD are promising an investigation if more information is revealed, and in the meanwhile, the androids await prosecution for aggravated assault, grand theft, and conspiracy. The subterranean fortress is currently being filled in for saftey reasons, and should be sealed off by the middle of next month. While Doctor Rinne refused to discuss what happened, he did state to the press, "Heroes these days sure are rude, but this sure brings me back. More fun than skydiving! Also, tell the kid he makes some damn good cookies." (Direct further inquiries to Regan! And thanks to the participants for being patient with a quick setup.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/114 Posted Author Seedy Business Tue Dec 13 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A group of ecological villains were thwarted yesterday in an attempted theft from the greenhouse of Stephen Lorraine by a temporary alliance of Major Momentum, Chaplin, Fury, Menagerie, Tradewind and Blackhawk. Zero Hour's Babel is also believed to have coordinating on the scene. The target, nothing more fancy than a container of seeds kept in a phase-proof vault, is suspected but not confirmed to be of enhanced scientific origins - Dr. Lorraine has so far refused to comment. The vault-cracker, Prowler Iridin, had the support of a partly reconstituted Allergy Attack, including leader Pollen Count (Casimir Stanislav), ex-deceased former member Dust-Storm (Adam Trip) and a newcomer by the name of Surfeit. "I don't know why a man like Adam Trip would throw off a perfectly respectable life to go back to crime," said one of the investigators on the case, Carl Randall, "but his personal assets long ago redistributed, he has very little to lose in that respect." The hero Blackhawk remained to give his statement to the authorities, as did Major Momentum, accompanied by Chaplin. The Major remarked, "Allergy Attack has long been an irritant to the law-abiding citizens of Crucible City, an irritant that will never be filtered out until the Pollen Count is down for the count once more. Ow! What, babe, too many puns ... ?" Reports of the fight indicate a small curiosity in a disagreement between Dust-Storm and the Count over the matter of an explosive device which the speedster insisted on setting off - apparently at someone else's behest. Whatever peculiarities can be found in the chain of command, however, may yet be illuminated by Surfeit, captured in the fracas and sent to Alcatraz during the refit of the Pound. Though unknown as a Power, Surfeit proved familiar to the authorities who had previously worked on Allergy Attack cases as the Count's mundane sister-in-law, Saraid Caolan-Stanislav. Married to younger Stanislav brother Rurik, though in the fourteenth month of reputedly ugly divorce proceedings, Dublin-born Saraid is also an award-winning pastry chef. Her son Kierry, 11, is heir to the Stanislav estate, barring the unforeseen appearance of a Pollen Count son. Ms. Caolan, as she prefers, has declined to answer questions until after a full consultation with her lawyer. "We have no reason to believe she has knowledge of Allergy Attack extending beyond this incident - even given her remarkable personal presence, all her prior statements of ignorance check as facts," said Randall, "but even that would shed some light on the situation." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/115 Posted Author Explosion at Omega Tech Thu Dec 15 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ KUCC News@11: "An explosion rocked the Omega Tech laboratories this evening. The exact cause of this is unknown. Now to Jessica Alvien on scene at Omega Tech..." "There were no casualties, and mainly cosmetic damage in addition to the destruction of some laboratory equipment. I have no comment on the cause other than to say it's an accident. If you'll excuse me, I, er, have a suit to hunt." "Eyewitness reports say that an object sped through a hole in the Omega Tech roof, and disappeared into the heavens. Investigations are said to be under way. Now onto weather..." (Questions? +request to Plot) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/116 Posted Author Prowlers Hit Sat Dec 17 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A young Power is dead this evening in the wake of an assault by the plant-based hit-team known as the Prowlers. The victim, Penelope Mylonas, better known as Lucky Penny of Allergy Attack, once served with the predecessors of these villains, but elected to share information about her former colleagues while in prison, and had her sentence commuted due to exemplary service during the Jovian attacks on the Pound last winter. Mylonas is believed to have been staying with heroines Spade and Lantana while seeking gainful employment in theatre. The four new Prowlers - Wolfsbane, Iridin, Selenium and Black Locust - swept onto the scene equipped with a teleport suppression device and electrical amplifiers, keyed to hit a fatal weakness in Lucky Penny's defenses. Though initially caught by surprise, heroes Tamin, the Knight Exemplar, Serendipity and a mysterious martial artist, along with the two heroines previously mentioned, reacted with overwhelming force ... although not before Iridin managed to fire the shot that killed Mylonas. A further blast from Selenium obliterated the remains, presumably to prevent radical Powered intervention. Iridin was quickly taken down by a hail of bullets from Serendipity, left in a state near dead in recompense. Wolfsbane shouted for Black Locust to remove him, but the martial artist hindered him until the murderous villain was removed by Lantana, via an enormous tree. His present location is unknown. Wolfsbane and Selenium almost succeeded in dropping the officer to the same level as their fallen comrade, but were quickly driven back as the Knight Exemplar hounded the Prowlers' leader. Black Locust did succeed in removing Selenium at the last second, even as Wolfsbane made a call for help that bystanders swear was answered by a sudden blizzard - one that seemed more than capable of sweeping him away before Tamin rushed him off the scene. Though the modus operandi is familiar, officials are leaping to no conclusions at the moment. When approached by the press, the Knight Exemplar made the simple vow that, "The rest will be brought to justice." A more detailed statement comes from Tamin. "It's unforgivable any time a person is just murdered in the street like this, and it's even more terrible that we weren't able to stop it even when we were right there. The best I can promise is that the rest of these assassins will be brought to justice." Spade adds, "The Prowlers have always been weak and marginal and eager to stoop to killing to try and achieve their ends. It won't make them special or win them any prizes, but now we're all going to be gunning for them. I'm sorry Penny, and Lysandra. I failed." Lysandra is an apparent reference to Lysandra Mylonas, the late mystic heroine known as the Keeper of Wards and Penelope Mylonas' mother. The Mylonas clan, well-known in Greece in both mundane and Powered guises, has been in limited contact with its young daughter since Lysandra's death. "It's hard to forget that Penny turned her back on the family for no reason better than a little youthful rebellion," Katarin Mylonas explained their position. "My aunt was, of course, infinitely forgiving of her only child, but reputations can't afford that kind of leeway. Of course we're devestated, but there's no reason one can't be devestated quietly." Captured Prowler leader Wolfsbane has been unmasked as Benjamin Eckhart, a New Orleans graduate student and heir to the not inconsiderable fortune of his aunt Edwina Eckhart. Eckhart, a philanthropist and an expert in environmental law, is better known as a founding member of the ecological group Fragile Planet. When asked about the revelation, she was livid. "I'm going to take that boy's spine out through his brain cavity, as there's clearly nothing else up there," she said in a calmer moment. "Oh, believe me, he's disinherited. They can try to kill me if they like - I've been there, done that, got the bloodsoaked t-shirt." Edwina was nearly killed last year by Pack member Scarlet Thorn (Shenita Clovis), an attempt narrowly averted by a group of heroes. Benjamin's fiancee, Tuesday Simmons, has not yet been reached for comment but is reported to be hysterical. Lantana also had withering remarks, though hers took a somewhat surprising direction. "Yeah, I have something to say to someone listening at home. Pollen Count? How could you let this happen to your own daughter? Your teammate and your own flesh and blood. If you cannot look after your children, I will do so, as I promised you I would. The days of The Prowlers are well and truly numbered, but don't think I will forget this. Your days of freedom will be just as few." This particular claim has not yet been investigated. The Mylonas family has roundly denied any such possibility. Whatever the true circumstances, a number of questions remain in the wake of this untimely death. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/117 Posted Author Dimensional Disturbance in Iowa! Sat Dec 17 Reporter (Quinn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The small town of Rosenburg, Iowa was the site of the sort of disruption one usually associates with Crucible City yesterday evening. Residents have been wary of the research facility located at the edges of town since it arrived, but for the past five years the Rosenburg Labs have been quietly simmering away on some top secret sort of project. Tonight, that project was disrupted when one of the scientists, Jeremy Randall, a self-described 'loose cannon of quantum physics', was involved in an accident that seemed to 'disrupt his connection with normal space' in the words of another lab employee. Randall adjusted quickly from his transformation and broke into another section of the lab facility which contained some decommissioned Thulian war robots, managing to reactivate them with his own energies and some control mechanisms that had been under research, modifying them with equipment of his own that he had been working on. Randall, now calling himself Rift, proceeded to rampage out of the facility on the back of a Mastodon robot, trampling through the small city and eventually situating himself in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart, over which he opened a 'tear in the sky' according to observers. Rosenburg is too small to have attracted a local Power in the wake of the Event, and so calls were made for relief-- but another squad of heroes apparently teleported in very shortly after the occurrence: Septimus Prince, Serrin Xuha, Doctor Zenobia Petalas, Sparkle C of the Sparkle C corporation and a Power with animal transformative capabilities calling herself the Menagerie. This group of heroes was swiftly able to crush the force of Locusts that Rift had managed to energize and followed this up by slicing the newly-minted villain into submission. This move seemed to make both the dimensional tear and the Mastodon robot go haywire, but quick thinking on the part of the heroes was able to halt both of those phenomena with relatively few injuries. The people of Rosenburg are shocked by this intrusion of Powered violence into their lives, and plan to ensure that the Mastodon is rendered completely immobile and unableto activate, then open it as a disaster memorial. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/118 Posted Author Christmas Carol Crash Sun Dec 18 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A Hinsdale Theatre in the Park performance of A Christmas Carol was interrupted by the abrupt appearance of a Power claiming to be Timewriter's heir, accompanied by former juvenile villain Adrenaline (Lance Sirmans) - now twenty-one. With great ado, she rousted current Hand leader Anne-May Taylor out of the crowd ... and also attracted the attention of the Statistic, Karasu, the Secret and Shooting Star. When taunted and challenged by the heroes, the pair attacked - and despite temporal resonance that paralyzed and then rapid-fire aged actors and spectators both, were quickly subdued, Adrenaline knocked unconscious by Karasu, and the temporal copycat surrendering soon after. "It's not an uncommon phenomena," CCPCU officer Belle Murray remarked. "For every five heroes that have a following, you'll find a villain with a fanclub. Calandre March did have an eye-catching history, if nothing else: the claim that she spoke for the divine, the loyalty of the Hand sect, a circle of Powers that did her bidding ... and she publically issued death-threats against six of the most prominent heroes of the day. Add in an attempt to brainwash the entire city and the abduction of the mayor, and you have a portfolio worth some kind of twisted admiration." The would-be heiress, one Jessamine Harcourt, is the daughter of multi-millionaire toothpaste magnate Sebastian Harcourt. A college dropout, Harcourt has had a cushy job in her father's company for almost two years now - two years during which she has shown up for work approximately nine times, preferring to pursue partying, extreme sports and borderline illegalities. "We're not sure how the delusion that she followed in Timewriter's footsteps developed," Murray added, "but we do know that, though their recorded abilities show a remarkable convergence, there are key differences. March came to believe she saw the dictates of fate due to a physiological side effect of her powers. There is no such innate flaw in Harcourt's powers. In other words, there is no ominous coincidence that bears further investigation. We also have no reason to believe that this has anything to do with the recent disappearance of Timewriter's former significant other, Retrofit." Anne-May Taylor professed disgust about the entire situation. "It's been almost two years. We've rejected the prophet, but there is still validity to the underlying message. For us, what was created to satisfy Timewriter's hunger for acclaim has outlived the messenger - but apparently, so have other repurcussions." She paused and added, "If you want to publish my address, feel free. I heat my home on the hate mail and I'm running a bit low." One of the heroes on the scene, Karasu, could not help remarking, "If you just ask nicely instead of appearing on stage and making demands and paralyzing people and aging them and destroying stuff, maybe the person you're trying to kidnap will agree to go." When questioned, Shooting Star said, "I'm glad we were in time; there wasn't any major injury or damage, aside from the interruption of the play. Don't worry, though: Tiny Tim gets saved in the end!" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/119 Posted Author Madman defeated! Mon Dec 19 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lunch hour traffic was brought to a complete halt when a man started barracading off the interstate. Using cars that were either quickly abandoned or he removed the people from, he created a wall across both sides of traffic. He never touched the vehichles with his hands. He then started demanding heroes show to fight him. He wouldn't have to wait long for Apogee, Jade Phoenix, Gunnhilde, Skip and even Sidestep showed to fight him. Some witnesses claim that there was another hero there, an invisible one but this is speculation especially as it seems Skip's powers were not easily seen to take affect. The villain was detained completely and after attempting to cause an incredible explosion, he was knocked out and then taken to the pound via a portal created by Sidestep. Damage done was minimal and no innocents were harmed in the explosive battle. Speaking of explosive battles...a chile contest was held today... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/120 Posted Author Illustration Returns! Tue Dec 20 Reporter (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (As reported in the Crucible City Enquirer) Yesterday afternoon, a downtown branch of Barnes and Noble was beseiged by fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Luc Malateux, a.k.a. Illustration, formerly of the now-defunct Dawn Patrol. The young hero has just returned to Crucible after concluding an international tour organized to promote his autobiography, "Picture This," and rumour had it that he would be signing copies of his book at the store in question. Over two hundred people lined up outside, some of them braving the cold for hours and all of them clutching copies of Malateux's book. "I just love him!" one young woman gushed enthusiastically. Two nearby men brandished a home-made action figure, complete with kicky wardrobe and Illustration's ubiquitous book of fairytales and other stories. Unfortunately, the rumours of Malateux's appearance had been erroneously reported by several fan websites, and employees at the Barnes and Noble eventually dispersed the disappointed crowd. "Trust me, if Illustration was going to be here, we would've had banners, balloons, the works," the store's manager told the crowd. "But he's not scheduled for a signing here." Sales of Malateux's book have been strong, in spite of criticism from several reviewers. Josephine Wynters at the New York Times said of the autobiography, "It reads like a cross between Victorian sentimental fiction, something by Deepak Chopra, and a particularly inane issue of Vogue. Don't waste your money." When asked to comment on Wynters' comments while in London last month, Malateux reportedly smiled and said, "I'm not bothered by it, actually. I think Jo's still a little miffed that I dissed her outfit at a literary benefit three years ago. I mean, seriously...shoulder pads? Mauve ruffled silk? /Sequins/? For God's sake, something had to be said." When asked about his European tour after returning to Crucible, Malateux responded, "It was great. The fans were awesome, and so were the Powers I met over there. Oh, and the shopping. /Look/ at these shoes. Aren't they fabulous?" As for his plans now that he's back in Crucible, the young hero added, "I'm going to ease myself back into the scene here. There's always something that needs doing in Crucible, and I'll be glad to help out. Heck, maybe I'll start up my own team. We could have cute little matching outfits and a team handshake and maybe a mascot or something. And when we're not fighting crime we could do community service things....like, surprise make-overs and decorating tips. Kind of like 'Queer Eye' meets 'Cops'. Though obviously with less focus on prostitutes and junkies and waxing the back hair of burly New Jersey guys." One can but hope. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/121 Posted Author Young villains violate justice. Wed Dec 21 Reporter (Ink) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ December 19, 2005. Crucible City A disturbance at the UCC Greenhouse resulted in heavy damage on Monday night. Three young powers, believed to be in their teens, animated a series of giant plants that gathered any persons nearby as well as a few plants. Two of the villains had names; Tourmaline, a girl dressed as a masked cheerleader with some high-energy powers, Trail Blazer, a red and orange costumed speedster, and an unknown green skinned boy. Three powers arrived on the scene, Velocity, Stygia, and an unidentified hero. No causalities occurred, and the young villains were captured and placed in a paddy wagon. Unfortunately, this wagon was beset by a second group of villains believed to be connected with the first, allowing the initial attackers to escape, it is believed. The drivers were mostly unharmed, accounting their attack happening "very quickly" as the police transport van's front was totally smashed by some unusually strong masked girl with wild hair, and the drivers were subdued by what they claim was "moving shadows." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/122-131 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/122 Posted Author TV Guide, December 2005 Wed Dec 21 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Very Justice Christmas December 24th 8:00 PM :: Channel 32 WFLD TV Guide Rating: ** 88 mins. In this occasionally heartwarming rendition of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," the principals of Justice For All: Team Zero Hour (in syndication on the FOX Network) stretch their legs outside their usual true-powered-crime material. The attempt is well-meaning but uneven, especially during the second half, which is bogged down by the requisite world-domination subplot. FOX's hyperkinetic editing style is jarring, and insertion of pop anthems by Gwen Stefani, among other licensed music (with the exception of an inspired remix of the main theme by DJ Activator), does not improve the piece. "A Very Justice Christmas" is at is best when the well-known team members are able to play off of eachother with wit and warmth which rarely shows through the editing in their regular program. Look for the crackling dialogue between Capitalist, who makes a game attempt at the main role as Eliza Scrooge, and Babel, whose role as Mrs. Cratchet was greatly inflated for this version. The warmth of feeling between Corporate (Bob Cratchet) and Havoc Lad (Tiny Tim) is clearly genuine, and the chemistry between Corporate and Babel is undeniable. Finally, the choice to cast professional actors to portray the various supervillains was a wise one, haunted as the production was by last year's misguided attempt at a film involving genuine powered criminals on special work permits. Sir Christopher Lee turns in a delightful performance as the famous Baron Von Deathstroke, and Bob Hoskins breathes new life into the Renovator. Unfortunately, for viewers not already fans of the Justice For All faces, "A Very Justice Christmas" has little to offer besides a confusing montage of ninja attacks, explosions, frozen-turkey-themed car chases and Dickensian moralizing. Cast: The Indestructible Corporate, Havoc Lad, The Crafty Capitalist, Bob Hoskins, Babel, Kristen Wilson, Tradewind, Grease Monkey, William Hurt, Sir Christopher Lee Category: Drama Release Year: 2005 For information on TV ratings, visit www.fcc.gov/parents or www.controlyourtv.com. For information on movie ratings, visit www.mpaa.org/movieratings/. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/123 Posted Author Times Change Thu Dec 22 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Christmas festivities at the Crucible City estate of Aurelian Vitalis took an unexpected turn last night as high society patrons, famous heroes such as Tempest and the Indestructible Corporate, and other figures of note found themselves elbow to elbow with a ghost in the flesh - Calandre March, formerly known as Timewriter. Made infamous by her actions as the false prophet of the Hand, March and her inner circle engaged in acts of theft, brainwashing - at one point on city-wide level - kidnapping and even, in one case, murder. During her crusade, she issued death-threats against Powers Quintessence, Outlaw, Nightbane, Tempest, the Knight Exemplar and Eclipse - some of the most prominent names of the day. Half a year after her capture, she died of a misdose of sedatives in the Pound. Her reappearance is inexplicable; her current freedom less so. On the books from approximately a year ago is a posthumous pardon, clearing her name of all charges. March, declared incompetent to stand trial, is expected to be asked to undergo both a psychiatric evaluation and a medical examination, but there the obligation of the law halts. When asked about his guest, Vitalis showed nothing but sympathy. "Miss March has gone through the most complete and jarring ordeal a human being can imagine. This pardon is not a spurious matter. It is a new start for a young woman who has more than earned it." As to his own involvement in her reappearance, "Of course I took her in. The woman has nothing. She wanted to keep her status quiet while she recuperated, which I don't see as terribly unreasonable." Unreasonable or not, some are wondering what kind of a start March is intending to make. Rumors fly that she grabbed and kissed former rival and target Quintessence, sparking questions about a new interplay between the two. The same onlookers, however, report that March also danced with Dr. Zenobia Petalas, a situation that, "Just defies rational explanation," as one said. Dr. Petalas was not available for comment. Nor, at this moment, is Calandre March herself. Authorities are also anxious to speak with her on matters related to her former significant other, Martin August (Retrofit), but those questions must wait with the others. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/124 Posted Author Escape(s) in Transit Fri Dec 23 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) As operations at the Pound return to normal and villains are transitioned back into their accustomed accomodations, a few snags and altercations have occurred along the way. One such happened late Wednesday evening a mere half mile from the ferry to the Pound. The crew moving Enchiridion (Konstantin Septimus) of the Literalis Federation was ambushed by three freelance mercenary villains: veteran hitman Last Word, moon-phase maiden Luna, and young gravity controller Scales. Heroic powers Matrix, Shadowdancer, Eclipse, Psychopomp and the Statistic interrupted the assault, and though they ultimately failed to prevent the villains from vanishing with their prize, they managed to capture Luna in the chaos. "If they hadn't shown up when they did," reports transport guard Stanley Myrtle, "we'd have no chance for answers, and one more felon for hire would still be loose." Luna, one Selena Marie Andretti, is part of a sizable but much diminished clan of Powers, many lycanthropes - and she is no maiden, the divorced mother of eleven year old Pandora Andretti. "I don't know what drives a parent to pursue Powered villainy," said CCPCU officer Aaron Shepherd. "It pays well, in this case, but it's the worst kind of child endangerment." Andretti has so far remained unforthcoming in the face of questions, even as authorities press hard for answers. "Last Word suffered an embarassing defeat courtesy of Scales - beginner's luck, as far as we can discern - during the conflict with Urizen, and the pair have been snarling at each other since," Shepherd continued. "The guts - and the cash - it would take to put these two on the same mission is enough to raise eyebrows. Add in Luna, who in waning phase as she was Wednesday is notoriously foul-tempered, and you have to assume that whoever put these three on the job had other interests besides efficiency." Enchiridion is not the only villain at large from that night. The transport bringing Surfeit (Saraid Caolan-Stanislav) from Alcatraz ran into a freak blizzard in Arizona whose chill caused even enhanced metals to blister, crack and shatter. The shaken guards report the storm attacked them before sweeping away the prisoner. Even though the particular nature of the attack is all too familiar, those involved call it a different animal entirely. They report being subdued by some kind of psychic attack, a storm in the mind that laid them low for the duration. "With the massive amount of logistics involved in returning the Pound to normal, something had to give," Shepherd comments. "I'm just glad it wasn't worse - oh, God, am I on the record?" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/125 Posted Author Of Oil and Explosions Sat Dec 24 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A hostage situation at the local Wal*Mart in Northbrook was handled today by local Powers Intercessor, Serendipity, Shooting Star, as well as a mysterious party termed 'a ninja' by some of the hostages, though not before coating Serendipity with oil by one of the Powers involved. Apparent members from the religious cult known as the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics were holding the innocents within the store hostage, while demanding the release of Travis Dane, recently arrested and being tried for the murder of seven people. The kidnappers' names are Oswald Gervaise, Angus Dionisio, Francis Darcy, Zeph Owens, Harvey Blaiz, Frederick Tucker, Benjamin Ramsey, Darby Cosim, Warren Ulbert, Hector Alexander, Everette Louis, and Jacob Menashe. The Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics have disavowed their actions and has said they left the religious organization two months ago due to religious differences. (Request to Plot for more information.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/126 Posted Author Gollyluiah Sat Dec 24 Reporter (Malique) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ December 24, 2005 Crucible City, Illinois -- It will be an unexpectedly happy holiday for certain families in and around Crucible City. Area hospitals, including but not limited to the Children's Memorial Hospital, Ingalls Memorial Hospital and Swedish Covenant Hospital are discharging nearly all of their young patients as they recover from injuries, operations and complications that would have otherwise kept them bedbound until the new year. Over the course of the last week, unconfirmed rumors were emerging about the quick and sometimes miraculous recoveries of the patients being kept for observation and treatment in the children's wards across the city. The Powers responsible confessed to the hospital staff early on, but were given an agreement to keep the philanthropic project as quiet as possible in order to cut back on interruptions and distractions. Exhausted but nearly finished with their work, which started and ended at Swedish Covenant Hospital, the responsible triumverate paused briefly to speak with the press. Former Knights Vigilant member and current pre-med student at UCC, Eclipse is a regular visitor and a familiar face to hospitalized children. "This was by way of a Christmas present for the children of the hospital, inspired by the spirit of the season. Havoc Lad came up with the idea after we ran into one another visiting the kids." Bright, magical teen heroine Sunshine Girl of team Liberty Watch, who is becoming increasingly popular with children, spent some time confined to a hospital bed a few months previous. "We can't fix everything in the world, but we wanted to do -something-. And Havoc Lad and I both know how awful it is to be stuck in the hospital, especially when it's this time of year." Havoc Lad of team Zero Hour, teenaged television hero and sidekick to the Indestructable Corporate. "Well, I was stuck in the hospital for a while not long ago, uh. It's unpleasant and even more so during the holidays. I couldn't have done this alone, and I'm glad I didn't have to. This wasn't a promotion by FOX or anything, it was just something we wanted to do, like Eclipse said, it's a gift. I'm sorry we couldn't help everyone, there's just some stuff that's too much for our powers to handle. I'm sorry." All but the most gravely ill patients were able to be tended to. Not long after the interview, the heroes finished their work and went home, leaving behind nearly empty children's wards across the city for a peaceful and silent night. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/127 Posted Author Arctic Rescue Tue Dec 27 Reporter (Sunshine Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Three passengers were killed at 8PM CST when transpolar flight from Shanghai, China to Detroit came down in an emergency landing on remote Banks Island in northern Canada. While blizzard conditions made rescue teams unable to immediately reach the downed aircraft, the Crucible City Powered team Liberty Watch was able to safely retrieve the 124 survivors, taking them to Watchtower Island, their base of operations in Crucible City, for observation and treatment. The initial Powered response, however, discovered something far stranger than a simple rescue operation. According to The Doctor of Liberty Watch, she arrived on the scene along with Scion, former Dawn Patrollers Tempest and Connor Kingfisher, and the speedster Supersonic to discover the aircraft abandoned but for the bodies of those killed in the crash. While Kingfisher investigated the flight recorder and Tempest and Supersonic searched the area, Scion was able to follow the trail to an apparent alien spacecraft buried in the tundra. While the others held off the automated security systems, Dr. Wright was able to secure entrance to the ship and retrieve the pas,sengers, whose injuries were being treated by medical robots. While The Doctor said that she was still investigating the details, it appeared the ship had crashed on Earth centuries ago with its crew in suspended animation,and ony recently reactivated when it was partially uncovered from the ice, with the ship's computer unable to repair damaged cryogenics systems to revive the crew and repair the ship. When the vessel's scanners disrupted the aircraft's electrical systems and caused it to crash, the computer sent its drones to capture the passengers then bring them aboard to serve as host bodies for the minds of the frozen aliens. Fortunately, no one was harmed before the procedure was stopped. All of the surviving passengers and crew were evacuated safely, and Liberty Watch is assisting Canadian authorities in securing and investigating the alien craft. (Send all inquiries to Kim) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/128 Posted Author Mysterious Death Wed Dec 28 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) After thirty-six hours in a coma, fourteen-year-old Mark Spencer died of causes unknown - his body was unmarked and showed no signs of toxins. Spencer passed out and slipped into the coma abruptly at the end of a teen Christmas party. His friend Zachary Banks describes his behavior before he suddenly crashed to the floor as, "Totally out there. I mean he was so tired his eyelids were on the floor. He kept knocking things over." None of the other partygoers saw anything unusual, though Banks also swears, "He was making out with this really hot older chick. I mean, like, sixteen maybe." Unfortunately, neither Banks nor any of the other guests were able to accurately describe this witness. "With the coroner's report inconclusive, we're checking every avenue for answers," said the investigator on the case. (Inquiries? Request to Plot, as usual.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/129 Posted Author Violence Involves Church! Thu Dec 29 Reporter (Norelle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tragedy struck at the Glick Supermall today; a hero of our city, Verdant, is dead as a result of a ritual performed by Necrosis (insert photo of the undead villain), 2-D and store owner James McAllister. Necrosis and 2-D are known to be a part of a violent sect of the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics, the church that assisted in rebuilding in the wake of the Event; their current connection to the Church is unclear, but as of tonight, the city is one hero short, and one villain up, for the same ritual that killed Verdant transferred his powers to McAllister and lit fires that were tinted green with the hero's life, and quickly spread through the mall. Arriving on scene, drawn by the explosion and the flames, were several of the city's Powers: Apogee, Intercessor, Shooting Star and a newcomer, Lady Paramount. Apogee supported the crumbling ceiling while Intercessor and Lady Paramount worked together to clear the civilians, and Shooting Star protected a group trapped in a burning shop while they made their escape. The heroes of the scene did not allow a single civilian to be hurt in this fight, ensuring that they were clear before the first warnings were issued and shots fired. The first villain to fall was the newly-empowered McAllister, in spite of his acquisition of Verdant's powers, under a cooperative assault by Lady Paramount and Intercessor that left him unconscious for the remainder of the fight. Necrosis retaliated with an attack that left the archeress retching, while his companion in crime, 2-D, fled the scene soon after being pummelled by Shooting Star and Intercessor. Necrosis tried to flee the scene only to be stopped by a stunning blow from a grieving Apogee, but then retaliated with an attack that left the heroes trembling, and, in one case, unable to move for a few moments. Apogee overcame this disability to tackle the undead villain to the ground, pinning him and enabling the other two to take him down swiftly after that, in spite of his ability to regenerate. As the police arrived, they were greeted by Apogee, carrying Verdant's body, shoulders bowed. When asked, he had this to say in regards to the association between the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics and the encounter today, "I would like to stress that these men are -not- members of the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics, but rather a deluded and dangerous splinter sect - bringing to mind comparisons such as Waco or Jonestown. This crime will not be forgotten, and nor will the hero who lost his life - and more - this day. The stealing of a hero's gifts in such a murderous manner is nothing short of blasphemous - and I /will/ see these criminals brought to justice, one and all." All the heroes remained on site until the cleanup was complete, and each expressed their sorrow and grief at Verdant's death. Intercessor spoke only briefly, saying, "This will not stand. Those who twist pure belief into murder will be hunted from all sides." Shooting Star's comment was equally brief: "Cults are... cults are bad! Don't follow them!" Lady Paramount declined comment at that time, though she was heard to say to EMS members, "A man /died/ there today. If I can hunt the ones who did this down..." Services for Verdant will be held next Wednesday at ----- Cemetary. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/130 Posted Author Northbrook Alien Attack Sun Jan 01 Reporter (Zenobia) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible Express, Late City Final: At approximately 8:00 pm on December 30th the Chicago suburb of Northbrook experienced a small-scale "invasion" of predatorial arachnid monstrosities, residents claim. A 12-year-old native of the quiet town (name witheld due to minor status) was present to witness the attack. Shaken and pale-faced, holding his younger cousin who reportedly fainted right on the street, the pre-teen gave a description of the creatures, saying that they were "Big! Like my father!" and "...kind of a cross between a Doom-imp, a scorpion, and a bee[.]" Three of the aliens, cloaked for stealth, apparently came from a portal that had opened in the sky. Their focus seems to have been on one Doctor Camille Anderly, a pharmacist and volunteer at the Caring Hands Clinic in Northbrook. Fortunately for her, four good Samaritans were there to help her out: West Coast native Sidestep, an unidentified archeress, and former Dawn Patrollers Skip (Tate Martin) and Spade. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that the alien "bugs" seemed to be swift and rather tough, weathering several blows from Sidestep and Spade alike, one of them even managing to shrug off the latter's aerial tackle-and-grab. An invisibly hovering bug was revealed when Skip brought it down with a single devastating attack. The remaining pair attempted hit-and-fly tactics once the lacerated Dr. Anderly had been removed -- presumably teleported away -- but one was brought down by rapid-fire attacks from the lady archer, nearly crushed under its own weight as it was knocked from the sky and crash-landed. The strangeness of the event continued when the two injured bugs abruptly burst into flame, killed off by an unknown attacker; the remaining creature fled through the portal. The heroines were puzzled but quickly demanded to know what was going on, and a uniformed man on a flying platform device revealed himself. He exchanged some words with the heroes, apparently mainly consisting of a warning not to "get in [his] way again." He then went through the portal, himself; it closed behind him. In the aftermath, the archeress slipped away, while Sidestep expressed her displeasure and then left. Spade was not available for comment. Skip excused herself to retrieve Dr. Anderly and brought her to a nearby hospital for treatment, then returned to say, "This attack was narrowly averted, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions." Anderly was treated for severe wounds and blood loss, and is currently under quarantine, as the aliens who attacked her represent a potential biological threat in regards to venom and foreign pathogens. Local police are baffled by the entire affair, and have requested the aid of Power Crime Units to continue the investigation, given the potential alien, magical, and/or extra-dimensional nature of the infiltration. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/131 Posted Author Psych Ward Abduction Mon Jan 02 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A Powered assault on the psychiatric ward of Crucible Lakeshore Hospital last night, drawing the heroic response of Reflex, Karasu, Megiddo, Lady Stygia and a man-creature identified as Lamprey, proved to be at the hands of two if not three historical figures, going by the names of Teuta, Julie d'Aubigny or La Maupin (among others), and Chiyome. None of the three were masked or showed any concern about concealing their names. Teuta and the various named La Maupin faced the heroes down while Chiyome darted into shadow and grabbed their target, a telepath by the name of Benjamin Satler who had been diagnosed as suffering from MPD, or "Multiple Personality Disorder." Though Karasu called attention to the attempted abduction, resulting in a flare of light from Megiddo that momentarily revealed the black-clad Chiyome, the two swordswomen kept the heroes occupied until she and her victim had disappeared ... at which point, variously drained, retching and overcome, they surrendered. On the scene, Karasu proved unusually serious, commenting, "I know obvious distractions when I see them. A cross-dressing woman musketeer, a miniature female Schwarzenegger with a big-ass sword, and a lock-picking patient-kidnapping ninja in a kimono. One of these things is not like the others. Maybe next time folks will fight smart." When the two Powers were first cuffed, the identical gold necklaces they were wearing promptly disintegrated - an action that sent both into debilitating spasms. "If we hadn't been literally right in a hospital, we might have lost them," reported the officer on duty. No trace of the devices was left for study, nor has the precise reaction they triggered been identified. Teuta bears the name and apparently the attributes of a third century B.C.E. Illyrian pirate queen, known for continuous assault on Roman shores and citizens. According to a local historian, her facts, gaps in knowledge, and grasp of the period languages all check out, and there are no indications she is not who she claims to be. The situation is somewhat more complex with La Maupin, a seventeenth century opera singer and swordswoman whose exploits, while more well-documented, have been surrounded by speculation. "But again, everything seems to be in order. If this is a façade, these women are both superlative liars and possess a shocking degree of historical knowledge at their fingertips," the historian emphasized. "I haven't pinpointed the name Chiyome, but I believe the same story is at hand." Neither woman appears to remember anything about the attack, the reason they were there, or even how they got from their historical era to the present. "We suspect some kind of outside control was involved," remarks the detective on the case, "however, it must be remembered that, if these ladies are who they claim to be, they have extensive and questionable histories that bear suspicion on their own. While we can't prosecute crimes that are literally milennia out of date, we cannot forget them." The officer has also indicated that there is no connection between this incident and Ubiq's Displaced Men - the modus operandi is completely different, and the figures involved entirely unconnected. The authorities promise that Satler will be found. "We don't believe he is in any real danger," said the officer on the case, "if they wanted to harm him, they would have done so. He's not lucid enough to be of any help as a telepath - honestly, we're at a loss to understand the motives behind the attack, but there is no reason to jump to any conclusions." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/132-141 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/132 Posted Author Seedy Side of Town Thu Jan 05 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An assault on a government-sponsored botanical project by members of the villain team known as the Liminal was thwarted by heroes Shadowdancer, Tamin, Keane Crisilian, Spade and Lantana - the last of whom was reportedly on the scene and sounded the alarm when Dawnfire, Distortion and a third individual not clearly identified broke into the facility. Reports of the incident are unclear, but it would seem that the three villains were trying to steal the result of a biogenetic botanical experiment. And while Distortion swept her compatriot off the field under the cover of a silver metal dome, Dawnfire was roundly subdued and turned over to policy custody. The metal manipulator proved to be surprisingly forthcoming, identifying herself as Spanish-born Adriana Kemen and stating she had limited contact with the other villains, a claim that cannot be disproven due to the fluid nature of the Liminal. Given Spain's robust extradition policies towards Powers and a previous incident on their books, it is expected she will be moved within the month and tried in a Spanish court. Authorities have expressed some nebulous unease at the neatness of her story, but as the one officer observed, "All the facts check out. We can only wait to see what happens when the case reaches Alicante." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/133 Posted Author Tabloid Tapdances Thu Jan 05 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (From one of the Power-centric tabloids ...) A mysterious rendezvous at none other than exclusive Zenn-La this Monday brought together restaurant chef Duncan Kirkpatrick and Calandre March, otherwise known as pardoned villainness Timewriter. The pair, ensconsed at a secluded table, remained deep in conversation until something appeared to set March off. She stormed away, leaving the question - lovers' quarrel, a shady contact gone wrong, or something more innocent? Whatever the case, it would seem the cleaning staff thoroughly sterilized the area that evening. "Best not to take any chances with contamination," said the woman on duty. With a clean bill of mental and physical health, March has made herself at home in the city again with a generous allowance from her benefactor, Aurelian Vitalis - and also has apparently taken eldest Vitalis daughter Cariole under her wing. A touchingly domestic scene, marred only by inside opinion from Aurelian's sister Eva, well-regarded as Italian seer the Visionist: "If this goes on, we'll be lucky if she doesn't grow up to be a serial killer." Sour grapes - or a prediction? Though authorities deny any official investigation, unidentified sources have confirmed that, in the matter of the abduction of Lissa Lydell, a reputable finger has pointed directly to the girl's guardian, Cornelia Avernus. A wealthy foreign socialite with multiple doctorates in varying fields related to her studies in botany, Avernus has kept herself artificially young through the use of redwood DNA. She took charge of Lydell shortly after the incarceration of the girl's father, Casimir Stanislav (Pollen Count). What Avernus would stand to gain by staging an abduction remains unclear, but certain mystics see an ominous pattern. "First Lissa Lydell vanishes, then the Count's older daughter is murdered. Lissa is ten; Penelope Mylonas was twenty," illuminates a renowned mystic who wished to remain anonymous, "there's an obvious progression in threes in these matters. If we look, I don't doubt we will find a third such Stanislav daughter around the age of thirty. "And what significance does this have? It must be remembered that the great storm of last autumn and the Vila collective both had a mystical heart. Such a ritual of three, a sacrifice of daughters, could prove a very potent catalyst in another attempt ..." Detractors have pointed out that the Count would have been too young to father a child thirty years ago. "A normal human, certainly," the mystic admits, "but the man *is* half plant. Or it could be an infant, but when has he had time to knock someone up?" A grouping of ceremonial stones on a Navajo burial site have just been cleaned of the dirt and debris of centuries, with shocking results. Five of the stones appeared to be statues of young women, perfectly detailed and unnervingly lifelike. When examined by a native mystic, the reason become clear: they were, in fact, transformed into stone centuries ago. All five women exemplify the cultural standards of beauty, and remember with vivid and chilling accuracy each moment of their captivity. Though the women were unable to name their captor, the local authorities identify him with the Powered villain known as the Patrician. "And we don't think this is the last of these stone circles," continued cop Terrence Tortall, between beers, "I mean, there could be dozens of them! Possibly even pre-dating the European discovery." (As usual, questions, request to Plot, but consider the source. ;-)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/134 Posted Author Plane Crash Thu Jan 05 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In an unfortunate turn of events, radio contact was lost with flight 384 today at noon. The plane was reporting no troubles when flying into a small storm just outside of Illinois. The plane was flying into Crucible City Airport from Atlanta and is now known to have crashed soon after loss of radio contact. As of now, no knowledge is known as to why the plane failed but electrical troubles are suspected. None of the 47 passengers are said to have survived, our condolences go out to the families of the passengers. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/135 Posted Author Gibbons Compound Reopens Thu Jan 05 Reporter (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Inmates Returning to Repaired Facility January 5, 2006 Crucible City The Gibbons Power Containment Compound reopened yesterday after nearly a month of extensive repairs. The Gibbons Compound, locally known as 'The Pound' was damaged on the evening of December 10th by a massive explosive device believed to have been planted in the past by the time-travelling villain 'Ubiq the Ubiquitous'. In the weeks since the attack, the Pound has undergone extensive repairs both to structure and security systems which were heavily damaged in the blast. While these repairs were being carried out, the Pound's inmates were transferred to temporary holding facilities on Alcatraz and Ryker's island, the country's other two primary Power containment facilities. A foot-by-foot comprehensive scan of the Pound was also undertaken while the repairs were being done. Using the most sophisticated equipment available, Pound officials exhaustively searched for more devices like the first. Though the result was expected, all involved were relieved when the scans came back negative. Said the Director of Power Containment for the facility: "We have opened Schroedinger's prison, and have found no bombs inside. Hopefully this will provide enough causality to prevent this trick from working again." The Pound inmates are being returned as quickly as they can be, the first having arrived last week but the total return of inmates is expected to last some months. "We were in a rush when we sent them out," said one federal law enforcement official, "Getting them back, we can take our time." OOC: Questions and Investigations to Plot Staff via +request. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/136 Posted Author Doctor Abduction Denied Sun Jan 08 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) On the claim that broad daylight and public environs did not increase the likelihood of Powered intervention in a city where every malevolent scene drew attention, three previously unknown villains materialized in Schaumburg Saturday afternoon and accosted Dr. Zenobia Petalas, insisting she come with them. When the scientist seemed disinclined to respond to the underlying threat, the trio - given the names of Chirality, Alternacy and Titra - attacked. Nearby Powers Jester, Hellbender, Jinx, and presumedly, the invisible Aqua, quickly leapt to Dr. Petalas' support. Though Titra grappled their target while Alternacy laid down supporting fire, the villains were swiftly driven back by heroic counter-attacks. The pair fled the scene, and Chirality attempted to follow - whereupon she was drawn down, bizarrely, by a hawk in flight, and then subdued by the very woman she had come to harass. Bystanders swear that Chirality's powers changed completely in the middle of the fight, from mirror-reflection to cold controller. The villains claimed to have been sent by Mr. August, a probable reference to superscientist Retrofit. This seems supported by Titra's indications that they sought to kidnap the scientist for access to Dr. Petalas' work with Omega Tech Laboratories. "We have a few reports of ... villainous contracting work that we had some suspicion might be connected to Retrofit," explained CCPCU officer Aaron Shepherd. "But even given that and the assumption that he must have had some kind of bolt-hole to shift his consciousness to, he has to be straining for resources, technology and just plain cash. Kidnapping Dr. Petalas? Potential access to all three. And despite the observations of certain wits in this precinct, we have no basis for believing jealousy is involved." On the scene, Jinx - herself a supposedly reformed villain once known as Mistress Misfortune - faced reporters with a grim air. "This was an act of unwarranted aggression devoid of class or subtlety. Frankly, these people were thugs, dressed up in pretty outfits and with some flashy tricks up their sleeves. They have yet to grasp the delicate art of true villainy - though I suppose it's just as well." Chirality, unmasked as twenty-four year old Felicia Prentice, a ballet dancer from New York, has refused to answer further questions pending discussion with her lawyer. Depending on the extent of her knowledge, however, Prentice stands to cut a favorable deal. Dr. Petalas left reporters on the scene with this comment: "You want my services, you hire my services! Er ... wait." She also expressed sincere gratitude to the others who had come to her defense, and pledged her support should they call on her in time of need. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/137 Posted Author Footnote Thu Jan 12 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer - interior pages) A footnote in Powered criminal affairs: surveillance cameras at a private residence in the Gold Coast recorded an encounter between Calandre March (Timewriter) - who was attending a function there as the guest of Aurelian Vitalis - and Martin August (Retrofit). During the villainous actions of the Hand's inner circle, the pair were lovers. The owner of the house, who requested anonymity, turned the tape over to the authorities when the outdoor footage was uncovered in review the next morning. The CCPCU is not releasing the tape itself, but describe it as a falling out between the pair, initiated by a furious Calandre March. After a four-hour interrogation session with March, they have stated that they unequivocally believe the incident was not staged for their benefit and that in fact, neither knew they were being recorded. "Frankly, that's one worry off our plates," said an anonymous source in the department, "much as some of us would have loved an excuse - any excuse - to detain Miss March ..." More practical heads remind that this simple surveillance recording appears to be confirmation that Retrofit successfully shifted his consciousness to another location, and that he built himself a physical body that at least by appearance is identical. "If he wanted to go straight, he could have easily changed his appearance beyond recognition and vanished," said CCPCU detective Belle Murray. "If we needed more confirmation after the attack on Dr. Petalas that this villain doesn't intend to slow down, this is it." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/138 Posted Author A Press Release from "The Babelogu Sat Jan 14 Reporter (Babel) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Readers, I want to thank each and every one of you for your years of support and contribution to this online periodical project. We have put countless villains behind bars with your help, and the streets are safer for it. Recently, I have been able to work closely with Corporate and Team Zero Hour in taking the fight that much more seriously. From the mail I have received, I know that many of you are watching me on FOX, and for that you have my gratitude. I never sought fame, but to know that people support me is the most important thing I can think of. Due to my personal lack of superpowers, I have until now chosen to keep my name and identity a secret, so as to avoid threats and the like from the criminal element. I have decided that it is time to drop the veil. My name is Salome Marie Davis. I have been honoured to know each and every one of you, in whatever small way, and I will be honoured to continue serving this city. Godspeed to you all, and be ever vigilant. We must keep our eyes and ears open. Again, my fondest thanks. With Gratitude, Babel ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/139 Posted Author Police Station Attacked Sun Jan 15 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Police affairs are in an uproar, uptown, after an attack on the precinct station housing evidence related to the assault of a greenhouse approximately a month ago. The original blast, of an organic-based acid, caused massive structural damage and decay, and was followed by the swift entrance of three villains: Prowlers Selenium and Black Locust, and the Scarlet Thorn, completely undisguised in defiance of her usual modus operandi. The presence of a fourth villain has been confirmed, but the individual appeared to possess advanced blending techniques and was not identified. In the station at the time was the Indestructible Corporate, reputedly delivering a young ninja who escaped the scene in the confusion; in the vicinity were Lantana, Lockdown, a new hero by the name of Frostfire, and an invisible ally presumed to be a swordsperson. While the other villains traded blows with the heroes, the Thorn darted to the evidence chamber and swallowed the villains' target, an innocuous-looking handful of seeds. They proved more than they seemed, however, when plant-controller Lantana spurred them to grow, whereupon the growing seeds ripped out from inside the Scarlet Thorn and promptly sprouted into four near-perfect replicas of the mercenary. As the original Thorn escaped with one of her sprouted duplicates, the villains tried to make good their retreat behind the cover of the remaining three - an act complicated by Corporate and Frostfire's devestating assaults on Selenium. Yet the heroes found themselves battered and bloodied for their efforts, and the villains would have vanished without a trace save for grave blows delivered by the invisible ally to Black Locust. The still-incorporeal villain was removed unconscious from the pavement and taken into Powered confinement. On the scene, Lantana had this to say, "What was uncovered here today only highlights what I fear will become a major threat to this city, especially as one of the villains has escaped with a substance capable of creating some pretty disasterous results. I'd like to apologise to the heroes who arrived at the scene today and to the police department for any damage my actions have caused but I have to say I'm not sorry for putting a hole in Scarlet Thorn because she was being very silly at the time. But anyway, as I was saying, I would like to send out a call to the Powers of Crucible City to lend some assistance to we few who are already attempting to combat this escalating situation. If you can't find my contact details, considering how much I don't hide them, well, then I probably don't want your help anyway." The implications and the nature of this spontaneous seed growth are not fully understood, however, and the authorities emphasize that there is no reason to believe such an incident could be repeated. "We have no evidence that these seeds are capable of replicating other Powers on a consistent or threatening scale," reassures CCPCU detective Madison Stankowsky. "It must be remembered that the Scarlet Thorn is a unique combination of innate potential and genetic tampering. The chances that this is a repeatable experiment are almost nil." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/140 Posted Author Attempted sacrifice at mall! Mon Jan 16 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City, 01-16-2006) Late this evening, an attempted ritual homicide was prevented at the Glick Supermall, believed to be related to a splinter sect of SCAM. Not long before the mall was closed, four assailants currently identified as Steel and Stone, Balladae, Thespian, and a non-powered accomplice named Derrick Duncan attacked a man later revealed to be the retired power Victory in the Verizon Wireless outlet of the mall. On hand were Sunshine Girl, Intercessor, and Shooting Star; unconfirmed reports state that the Secret was on-hand as well. Derrick Duncan was taking central part in what appeared to be a ritual sacrifice of Victory, but he was disarmed somehow before the murder could be carried through. Shooting Star was briefly pinned by Steel and Stone, but managed to slam him through a wall, rendering him unconscious and causing minor damage to the store; Sunshine Girl then blinded Balladae, who was defeated by Intercessor with a sword-strike in turn. While Thespian escaped, apparently by adopting a different shape and vanishing in a literal flash, the other three suspects were apprehended on the scene. None have volunteered information to the CCPD, and Derrick was briefly admitted to the psychiatic wing of Swedish Covernant Hospital. While several of the heroes suffered minor wounds, and Victory was rended unconscious before the fight began, no serious injuries have been reported. CCPD Sergeant Hugh Minner said to reporters on scene, "While we believe this to be related to at least two other earlier incidents of attempted power-sacrifice, we're still unsure of the exact motivation, and who's calling the shots. We ask that any person with additional knowledge of the events step forward and inform the authorities." While Intercessor left the scene, and Secret's presence unconfirmed entirely, Sunshine Girl added, "Human sacrifice is the darkest sort of magic! It's unthinkable that someone would want to be a Power so badly that they would kill such a hero." Shooting Star herself also commented, "It's just wrong to kill someone, just to try and get a little power! Is that really worth giving up someone's life for? And if some bystander found an unattended shopping bag on the scene, please please let me know?" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/141 Posted Author Transport Hijacked Tue Jan 17 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A fortified prison transport en route from the Pound to Ryker's Island was ambushed Tuesday evening, all five guards and the prisoner, Valerie Kelly (Fast-Forward), killed by an unknown entity or group. The authorities are withholding the names of the transport guards on the request of the families, but indicate that the five were killed by some kind of mental trauma. Neither are they releasing the details of Kelly's death; the coroner's office has refused to allow even family to see the body. No precise time for the incident has been determined, preliminary autopsies indicating it was somewhere between the hours of eight and nine in the evening. "We never stopped receiving periodic all-clear signals; we have no idea when they actually lost communication," said one of the officers on the case. And with a crime scene devoid of identifying marks, authorities are looking to Kelly as the presumed primary victim for suspects. It's not a long search: Kelly was initially arrested in 2004 as part of Timewriter's inner circle, but she's also known to have an extremely contentious association with Retrofit (Martin August) and a deep mutual emnity with fellow inner circle member Foresight (Rachel Guerre), who is believed to have tried to kill her before. "Five good men died for no other reason than being in the wrong place in the wrong time - and doing their jobs," the officer continued. "Our deepest condolences are with the families, and we will get to the bottom of this." ============================================================================== +bbread 12/142-151 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/142 Posted Author Billionaire Finds Rampart! Fri Jan 20 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (AP) -- The Gallant Rampart, the famous shield carried by various bearers of the title The Unknown Soldier for close to sixty years, has been found by billionaire tycoon Doctor Tycho Lazarus. The famous shield has been missing since the assault on the world last summer by Count Urizen and the Tyrannical Ten. At one point it was rumored to have been carried by a new bearer of the Unknown Soldier's mantle, later identified by police as one Richard Lopez, an escaped mental patient who was found killed at the scene of a turf battle between two rival Crucible City street gangs. After his death, the shield Lopez carried was revealed to a simple iron knock-off. Doctor Lazarus achieved his fortune in 1996 when he was involved in several corporate buyouts of major pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Having retired in 2002 to pursue his life's passion of, as he puts it, "treasure hunting" his team was performing deep sea excavations in the area around the island of Ultima Thule in the hope of finding long forgotten Thulian artifacts. Instead, they found the famous shield buried amongst the wreckage of a cluster of Thulian war machines that had previously been animated by the late Urizen in his bid for power. While the shield is considered priceless, a miracle of modern science that has yet to be duplicated, Lazarus laughs at such things and fully intends to return it to its rightful owner in due time. A fan of the legacy, Lazarus says that he has invited the entire Kingfisher family to his estate to properly return the Rampart. Neither Connor Kingfisher, his father Stockwell, nor the Liberty Watch were available for comment when asked. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/143 Posted Author Duplicitous Drama Fri Jan 20 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Confusion reigned in Oak Park after a trio of mercenary villains attempted to abduct a psychiatric patient named Avery Carmichael and created a diversion by duplicating him six times over. It took the heroes who arrived on the scene - Tempest, Sidestep, Captain Crucible and Shooting Star - most of the fight to sort the decoys out from the original, but they did so in time to prevent the opposing Powers from escaping with him. The mercenaries involved were veteran Last Word, gadgeteer Lexicon, and the radioactive Half-Life. The latter two were seen in a previous incident at an Oak Park shopping mall; Last Word was involved in the successful escape of Literalis Federation seer Enchiridion about a month ago. "There's nothing to suggest the three incidents are connected," observed CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd. "Every one of these mercenaries will take on anything if the money's good enough. Last Word used to work alone more or less exclusively, but when you're a washed-up ... woah, hold it, my address is publically available, don't print that. Sure, he's one of the best crack shots money can buy, but I'm just saying retire before your career downswings, eh?" The Lexicon was responsible for the device that duplicated and scrambled Carmichael, sending him into scattered flight; however, Shooting Star singlehandedly contained the runaways and helped prevent the villains from completing their mission. Sidestep dropped the Lexicon early in the encounter, but was badly injured by Half-Life, while the gadgeteer was revived by a painful electric burst from Last Word. Even while blinded, Captain Crucible ripped into the duplicating Half-Life, finally subduing him - an action which caused the villain to explode. A grim Tempest spent most of the fight moving at a pace so rapid she vanished from human perceptions, yet Last Word still managed to land a pair of expertly aimed shots on the speedster, the second of which appeared to have severely debilitated her. Tempest recovered with a sudden burst of strength to knock the Lexicon out a second time - though the gadgeteer's inset contraptions spirited her unconscious form away. Last Word made a final attempt to grab Carmichael and then beat an expeditious retreat. It is believed Half-Life's consciousness transferred to a duplicate in reserve upon his dissolution, as is his usual method of escape. Similiarly, once Carmichael was sedated, his six duplicates vanished. In response to the incident, Shooting Star bemoaned, "I never want to play whack-a-mole again." Carmichael's psychiatrist, Beverly Pinsi, adamantly insists that there is no plausible reason to pursue her charge. According to her, the intended victim has no known enemies and is no longer a functioning tracker. The question of the villains' goals - and their employer - remains an open one. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/144 Posted Author Local Hero does good! Sat Jan 21 Reporter (Employees Only ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Local Hero raises 690,000 dollars! *A picture of Seida next to a HUGE sea turtle* Last night this wonderful, and playful gala was hosted by Seida Nerthusrottir. The young hero goes by the name Aqua. The turn out was not as expected, however there were some high rollers who donated. One of the bigger donations were give by Elizabeth Darcy, who so generously said, "It's a great cause." The hero turnout was not as expected either, yet one who came for the cause was the world famous Scion. The girls were enjoying his presence getting pictures, and autographs. There were a number of items up for bid donated to the cause, as well as a light show, and the ability to swim with the dolphins. *A picture of Ruth and Heraklea in a large tank swimming with the dolphins." "Tonight is to help raise money to avoid a future problem for the lake that helps supply so much life to those around it. Lake Michigan. I decided to raise money to avoid any future problems that may arise with the lake, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Water Department to improve their equipment even more, and make even cleaner water then we all ready have." explains Seida in a speech to the crowd. *picture of Seida presenting the check to the chief of the Water Department* ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/145 Posted Author Giant mutant animals attack Crucib Sat Jan 21 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City - The Loop, 01-21-2006) Late this evening, chaos broke out downtown, when two large and seemingly mutated animals broke through the sewer system onto the street above, causing severe but localized property damage, although no injuries were reported. Luckily, Lady Stygia, Liberty Watch's Supersonic, and Dr. Zenobia Petalas, piloting the Z.E.N.O.-5 armored suit quickly arrived on scene, and prevented the spread of the chaos. The first beast to appear was, according to bystanders, a giant albino crocodile nearly sixty feet in length from nose to tail-tip; it was joined midway through the encounter by an acid and mucus-spraying mutated Salamander of roughly half the size. Supersonic first saved a trapped child in an automobile, and then joined the fray directly alongside Lady Stygia, both managing to beat the crocodile into unconsciousness with the help of Dr. Petalas, who kept the beast stunned and unbalanced. While the salamander attempted to ambush the trio by burrowing through solid rock, both Lady Stygia and Dr. Petalas were able to detect the attack, and escape unharmed. Supersonic was entangled by the salamander's adhesive spit, but thanks to Dr. Petalas, was able to get free and disable the animal, even if it required throwing two automobiles to hit it, as it had climbed halfway up a nearby building. Investigations are currently underway as to the origins of the animals, and the cause for their mutations; a thorough sweep of the sewers found no other mutants. Power and water service was restored in the area several hours later, although the street will remain closed until next Thursday while repairs to it and nearby buildings are completed. A triumphant but somewhat disgusted Supersonic went on record, noting simply, "So. Gross." And bystander Kurt Milazzo stated, "I'm so very, very glad I have power insurance. If I lose another car though, my premiums are going to go through the roof!" (Direct any questions/followups to Regan!) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/146 Posted Author SPACE WASPS ATTACK! Sun Jan 22 Reporter (Ink) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Front Page, under the bold print title of, "SPACE WASPS ATTACK!" for the day of January 22, 2006 Photograph; the Sears Tower. (http://edp.org/Travel/Chicago/SearsTower.jpg) (Damaged, smoking, and with a giant primordial honeycombed hive diamond with two flagellum attached upon either end. Lovecraftian, and teetering on the edge of the tower. The camera shot is a little blurry, as there seems to be an incredible amount of giant flying wasp/spider creatures between the photographer and the actual top of the Sears Tower, including humanoid figures, and the contrail of a passing by super fast blur. An F-16 fighter plane. That must have been interesting.) Saturday Night, the Sears Tower was ground zero for exterrestrial activity. Beings from another world, somewhere in space as is supposed, wrecked havoc upon the area around the Sears Tower. Giant insectioid wasp creatures descended from the extremely cloudy skies last night. They dived bombed into the city, picking up a few civilians, while others engaged a group of Powers fighting them off, and even more proceeded to make a kind of cocoon around the twin Sear spires. This cocoon was expected to soften the landing of a giant organic U.F.O., but this was cut short due to some interference, on part believed to be a dispatch of F-16 fighter planes that intercepted and severely damaged the U.F.O. during the fight. One fighter plane was brought down during the scuffle, but the pilot managed to eject, and the actual plane itself didn't actually impact the ground. It's suspected it either snagged upon one of the cocoon lines, but some other eyewitnesses confess to a "glowing net" that kept it in the air, possibly by power interference. At the moment cleanup crews are still working early into the morning hunting down as many of the fleeing giant wasp creatures as they can, while cleaning up the many that were either killed or damaged during the fight. A gigantic beetle standing at least thirty feet tall was also parachuted upon the Sears Tower. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_beetle) The Beetle was dealt with, and believed to still be alive, but its location and whereabouts is unknown at the moment. Authorities are not releasing the information of where these alien creatures have been taken off to, as well as the remains of the Hive. Due to the hectic nature of this large-scaled attack, more information is constantly coming in, and it's expected this fiasco will be better understood in time. The Sears Towers upper levels are currently closed at the moment due to damage, and construction is currently underway on the east side of the building, which suffered minor damage from the flailing flagellum of the hive as it crashed to the ground. (Flipping through the pages, you come across a few other articles. These are stuffed to the inner side of the page, and consist of just a few sentences in minor print. "Families of Chapel Heights neighborhood pressing charges against two powered teenagers who raided empty houses on Christmas Eve, and took off with goods." As well as, "Giant naked woman reported in Boutique Shop. Knocked down wall and ran off with dresses. Employees puzzled.") (Send requests to Ink!) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/147 Posted Author Enquirer Etc Mon Jan 23 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer - various articles) ... Unknown parties, presumed to be Powers, broke into the James Soldansky Research Facility out of Confusion, California Saturday night and stole equipment with worth estimated in the several millions of dollars. While facility representatives have refused to discuss the matter with the press, rumors circulate that a few scientists were working on technologies far above the standards of current medical science. Local officials deny these rumors and insist that they expect a quick resolution. "An operation like this doesn't go off without leaving some remnant ," said an area detective. "The clues are there for the trained eye to find." ... ... Physicians are baffled by the illness of Timothy Rafferty, 12, who ran away from home last Monday evening and was discovered in the Glick Supermall curled up under a food court table. The security guards who found him report they scared someone else off the scene, but could not provide a coherent description beyond, "Small." Rafferty was barely conscious when discovered and slipped into an exhausted sleep that lasted thirty hours uninterrupted before he awakened. He shows no symptoms of disease or trauma other than persistent, chronic fatigue. Though doctors have gently questioned him about his experiences, his story currently has no corroboration. ... ... Time served, debt to society paid, Bryant October (Inevitable), formerly of the Hand's inner circle, was released today at the conclusion of a two year sentence - the result of an immunity deal made during the tail end of the circle's assault on the city. October expressed his shock and regret at the death of former teammate Valerie Kelly (Fast-Forward). He has also indicated a desire to try and resolve matters with Calandre March (formerly Timewriter) - "To make some kind of peace of it," as he puts it. As to longer term plans, "I'm going home. I'm spending my time outdoors and looking for some answers. The right ones, this time." ... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/148 Posted Author Vigilante Runs Rampant Tue Jan 24 Reporter (Jester) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yesterday afternoon, Bridget Bailey was found dead in a dumpster, having suffered a bullet wound to the head. Bridget Bailey was forty two, a villainess who served twelve years for the manslaughter of Simon Gardner. Bridget Bailey spent most of her time in various mental asylums, being diagnosed with various disorders, as part of her court ordered recovery. Bridget was released a week ago, having been deemed fit for society again after extensive medication and therapy. The killing was thought to be done by the vigilante David Morrell, better known as "Bullet." This isn't the first revenge killing done by Bullet, as several others in the past five years have sprung up, all with the same signs of the murder. A gun for the murder weapon, and a clown's nose placed upon the corpse. Diamanta d'Aubigny, who was attacked by Bullet in a large firefight that brought down a hobby-shop, set aflame several vehicles, and riddled the streets with bullets, had this to say about the vigilante; "David, or Bullet, or whatever he calls himself, is plainly just another psychopathic serial killer. I was attacked not just a few weeks ago, and only managed to survive by the help of a few Powers willing to engage this maniac before he escaped. Vigilante my foot. He's a maniac murderer..." (Send Inquires to Ink) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/149 Posted Author Watch Breaks up SIN Cell Wed Jan 25 Reporter (Connor) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (AP) -- The relatively newly formed superteam, The Liberty Watch, was responsible for breaking up a cell of the well-known terrorist sect S.I.N. (The Society for the Inquisition of superNormals). Drawn to a mansion in upstate New Hampshire belonging to one Doctor Tycho Lazarus for the erstwhile, self-acclaimed, treasure hunter to turn over the Unknown Soldier's shield, the Gallant Rampart, the dinner ceremony was invaded by agents of SIN. The Watch successfully repelled the invaders whereupon is was revealed to them, as Connor Kingfisher himself was quoted as saying, "Lazarus was a fraud. Just like the shield he claimed to have found. He apparently is, in fact, one of the top agents within the SIN collective." Investigators believe that Tycho Lazarus was an assumed identity, planted by agents of SIN years ago. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/150 Posted Author Heroines Vanish Fri Feb 03 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Confusion reigns in Addison after a near-devestating attack on the Farriner and Mitchell Industrial Plant by Allergy Attack speedsters Dust-Storm (Adam Trip) and Dust-Devil (Allegra Wesson), Liminal junior member Distortion and battle-seer Augur (Jasper Cuvier) - an attack that turned out to be a feint as the villains turned on the arriving heroes and attempted to make off with half of the opposing Powers. Those numbered Lantana, Connor Kingfisher, Spade, Lady Paramount, and newcomers on the scene rumored to go by Gravitas and Frigid. While the speedsters went largely unopposed due to both their swiftness and their existence out of phase, Distortion was heavily battered, and the invisible Augur was knocked into view by tentacled Gravitas and then briefly encased in ice by Frigid. These setbacks, however, did not prevent the weary Distortion from grabbing Spade, or Dust-Storm from dropping a stunned Frigid into the seer's hands. Dust-Devil, who lingered to see them out, had the bad fortune to be stunned on Lantana's field of thorns, whereupon she was paralyzed and brought down by a swing from Kingfisher. At present, authorities are urgently seeking clues as to where the two missing heroines might have been taken - and are obtaining no useful information from Allegra Wesson. "Unless you count, 'I like a man with meat on his bones,'" quipped an anonymous officer, "which considering she's notorious for hitting on anything male and breathing is not actually news ..." Investigations continue. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/151 Posted Author Mafia Hit a Miss Sat Feb 04 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) Police apprehended two key figures in the Russo Italian Crime Family this week due to quick thinking and heroics on the part of Crucible City's powered community. Local heroes Apogee, Havoc Lad, Secret, Shard, and Tradewind were present on what seemed to be a normal day at the Citicorp Center, but the eagle-eyed guardians spied a man falling from the top of the vast building, whom they promptly moved to intercept. Police state Albert "Deuce" Vincenzo and his partner, Josephine "Spade" Bilatuchi, members of the Russo Italian Crime Family, were found atop the building and are believed to be directly responsible for the attempted murder of the falling man who's identity police refused to release. Eyewitnesses state that upon seeing the midair rescue by Secret and Apogee, Mr. Vincenzo apparently leaped from the roof of the Citicorp center and attempted to send all four men to their death while mafia thugs opened fire from above with assault rifles. No match for Crucible City's valiant defenders, Mr. Vincenzo and Ms. Bilatuchi are now in police custody. (As always, +Request Is Your Friend) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/152-161 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/152 Posted Author News Of The Weird Sat Feb 11 Reporter (Dominic) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the 'weird news' section of the Tribune today appeared the following article: MARS, GOD OF... CATTLE? This past Thursday marked the opening of a pagan church in Kendall County, an outlying county of Crucible City, a church dedicated to the God Mars - a 'mythological' figure who has made appearances in Crucible City before, as well as in Europe during the Reichwar. Curiously, however, this church was not dedicated to the God of War - but to an older aspect of the deity, that of a god of fertility and cattle. This is the third such church that's cropped up in the United States in recent days, all of them funded by an unknown benefactor. Weird indeed! ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/153 Posted Author THROUGHOUT THE NEWS Mon Feb 13 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ... Noted young hero 'Kid Mystic', also known as Brandon Taylor, disappeared from his Evanston home late last night. Kid Mystic, a noted teen hero who rose to the public scene in the wake of the Urizen War. The youth's parents, Mark and Lisa Taylor have revealed little about the situation other than his disappearance, though an inside source says that a small black card with a depiction of a silver arrow was found on-scene. Police say inquiries are proceeding ... ... Rumors persist that the hero Impetuous has disappeared, though no hard evidence has been found to support these claims. Impetuous, an ironically reclusive hero in contrast to his namesake, is known as one of the world's fastest men and was last seen speaking to a man wearing black and silver in Budapest, Hungary two weeks ago. Witnesses reported that the pair were arguing, but no violence ensued. However, Impetuous has not been seen since ... ** Interested? +request to Plot if curious. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/154 Posted Author Funeral Interrupted Thu Feb 16 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The funeral of Adam Bellmonte was rudely interrupted Wednesday evening by a villainness known as Tarantella - a figure unknown to authorities. To create a distraction, she threw down a bauble that forced several of the dead from their graves and the deceased from his coffin, and with the aid of invisible Darktouch, attempted to abduct one of the funeral party: fourteen year old Daniel Roland. Luckily, the heroes Feral, Mister Marvelous, Illustration and Shard were not far from the scene. When young Roland was teleported away, the villains quickly initiated a backup plan: Darktouch went for his younger sister Emily while Tarantella distracted matters by ordering the risen corpses to attack the funeral party. Yet the heroes managed to neutralize the distraction and hinder the invisible villainness, and the two fled through a portal in a nearby mausoleum without either prize. The reasons for the attempted abduction are unknown. Though Roland has minor precognitive abilities, he is not believed to have seen anything that might be cause for retaliation, a fact which has been confirmed in general terms by his psychiatrist. As Illustration put it to the press, "To disrupt a funeral, desecrate the remains of the dead, and try to kidnap a little girl ... well, that's pretty low. To say nothing of their hideous costume jewelry and general lack of taste. Whatever dank hole they're hiding in, I hope they stay there for a while." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/155 Posted Author Historical Havoc Hits Heroes! Thu Feb 16 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEBRUARY 14--The South Loop was interrupted early yesterday by the abrupt appearance of time travelers from another dimension with hostile plans for the residents of Crucible City -- each of them major American historical figures. The disciplined team of super-beings reportedly included super-powered versions of former US Presidents Andrew Jackson, William Howard Taft, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, as well as the presence of none other than Thomas Edison, who reportedly operated the so-called "time platform" that conveyed the travelers to our time, dimension, and city. The allegedly deceased denizens of American history were quickly confonted by a group of heroes that included the Shadowdancer, the bizarre Jester, Liberty Watch's mace-wielding Scion, Icicle, Lady Paramount, and an unidentified teenager with agility-based powers. A brief attempt at diplomacy by Lady Paramount was thwarted, reportedly, when Thomas Edison reported that the Earth was ripe for some sort of unidentified plunder. In the ensuing melee, the heroes barely triumphed only after Scion was able to free himself from being digested by a super-powered Taft and quick work by the Shadowdancer disabled not only Jackson, who reportedly possessed some sort of regenerative healing factor, but Lincoln, whose abilities included flight, super-strength, and heat vision. However, as the tide turned against his allies, the telepathic incarnation of Roosevelt -- left immobile after his wheelchair was destroyed -- was able to activate some sort of quantum escape device, which transported the defeated historical figures out of our timeline. The specific motives of the attacking Presidents is unclear at this time, and the heroes involved are well underway in investigating the bizarre occurence. "And this," said Shadowdancer, before leaving the scene, "Is why it's important for children to learn their American History. So they know how to kick Presidential asses when something like this happens." ( Thanks to everyone who came out -- including Simon, the unidentified warrior who took on Andrew Jackson head to head. Follow-ups ought to be directed to Plot. ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/156 Posted Author Enquirer Articles Fri Feb 17 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ... Pound officials are caught flatfooted by the escape of Dust-Devil (Allegra Wesson), who seduced a prison guard and then slipped his rather distracted custody. The guard in question has been fired without compensation or recommendation. "Shameful," observed CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd, "but given a choice, I'd rather have Dust-Devil escape from me than the Scarlet Thorn - you're not going to print that, are you?" ... ... The bodies of private school teacher Stephanie Goodman and her fourteen year old daughter Andrea were found today in the parking lot of an Oak Park shopping mall. Though formal autopsy reports are still pending, Mrs. Goodman was badly burned, whereas her daughter shows no signs of injury except for restraint marks on her wrists. "They were truly good people," said a neighbor. "I can't imagine who would want to do this to them." ... ... Local teen heroine Moonstar (Amanda Morris) stumbled, battered and disoriented, into a Hinsdale police station late Friday evening, approximately three days after she mysteriously vanished while on patrol. Morris has declined to speak to the press on the circumstances of her disappearance, though authorities are treating it as an abduction incident. ... ... A portion of the villain hit-team known as the Prowlers struck at the offices of the Hunt Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Distinguished zoologist Harris Westerson (46) was killed in the attack, local heroes unable to prevent the villains from escaping. The battered defenders confirmed the presence of original Prowler and former team leader Aconite (Leigh Corrina) ... (Inquiries on anything? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/157 Posted Author Neoraptor Attack! Sat Feb 18 Reporter (Bobby) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <> Neoraptor Attack Rocks River West! In a stunning development the shopping in the River West area of Crucible City was rocked by a shocking assault. No less than a half dozen Neoraptors were spotted as they attacked an armored car. Neoraptors were agents of the alternate Earth where the Nazis won the second World War, and entually tried to conquer our world. Remarkable about the assault was that each of the raptors was using tools, and at least one according to eye witnesses was capable of speaking in both English, and German. Two powers were on the scene to foil the robbery attempt, and thankfully there were no casualties, though one of the Brinks drivers took minor injuries when the armored car was somehow shunted some distance away from the unusual raptors. One of the powers appears to have been the former Dawn Patroller Chance, the other the warrior woman Intercessor, though neither was available for comment. No details were available concerning what the raptors were after, though in the aftermath apparently one of the Brinks drivers vanished, teleported out by an unknown agency. <> +request to plot, attention MM if you wish to follow up or investigate. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/158 Posted Author Crucible City Museum... Attacked! Sat Feb 25 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FEBRUARY 23rd -- Crucible City Museum endured an attempt theft late last night, as a villainess reportedly wielding power over dreams made a play for an unidentified artifact that was due to put on display today as part of the Museum's latest exhibit, 'Mysteries Of The Past'. The exhibit, featuring unidentified items, including several objects of considerable archaeological debate, including the so-called 'Cro-Magnon Fork' and the fabled 'Girdle of Mary'. The centerpiece of the exhibit, which has been shrouded in mystery both for security reasons and to fuel public interest, arrived at the museum late last night. Several local heroes were asked to stand guard over the preparations, including Sergeant Quinn and Zenobia Petalas, the increasingly prominent Shooting Star, Shadowstrike, Conall, The Lignin, and a new face in the city -- the super-tough K'joa. The heroes were definitely welcome, as late into the evening a strange sleeping spell overtook the workers and archaeologists present. According to reports, the heroes were able to remain conscious, and were then capable of fending off a villainess identified only as "Lullaby", who reportedly had power over dreams, including some form of mind control and illusory powers. Lullaby was reportedly able to escape, fleeing after a brief engagement with Conall. Due to the quick thinking of Shadowstrike, the attempted theft was foiled. "It is most disheartening to have your foe flee the field once you draw first blood," said Conall, "The least of the Sidhe would be shamed to act so craven." Security around the exhibit has been heightened and the unveiling delayed for the duration of one week while investigations are underway. Specific details regarding what the artifact even /is/ have remained tightly under wraps, but museum curators have assured authorities that it is reportedly "not of a supernatural, mystical, or alien origin", in response to the unfortunate tendency of Crucible City Museum pieces to accidentally serve as the keys to global armageddons.Any citizens with information regarding "Lullaby" are asked to contact 1-800-NOCRIME. All calls are anonymous. ( Thanks to all those who came out! For more information, contact Quinn, Yasha, Conall, K'Joa, Regan, Zenobia, Shadowstrike, or +request Plot, ATTN: Blue Beetle! ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/159 Posted Author Raptors Attack Area 51! Sun Feb 26 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The infamous Area 51 of such repute as a base of operations for UFO research was attacked late last night by what witnesses describe as 'a team of neo-raptors acting like a military unit'. In the N-War the Neo-Raptors were used as elite shock troops and trackers but were only of animal intelligence, requiring the instruction of a 'handler'. Not so with the second attack by these 'X-Raptors' in as many weeks, the first being in Crucible City, Illinois with the attack foiled by local Power Heroes Chance and Intercessor. Sources within the Pentagon declined to comment on the details of the attack, stating only that 'steps were being taken to ensure no similar strikes could succeed in the future'. All that is confirmed is that a team of six X-Raptors appeared within the base grounds via a dimensional portal of some sort and setting off alarms keyed to just such an eventuality. Troops responded but the reptilian strike team stayed one step ahead of them and attacked one of the warehouses in the maximum security section of the base before making their escape via a second portal they apparently summoned remotely. NASA scientists have confirmed that the 'resonance' between N-Earth and ours is still too out of phase for any sort of invasion, but there is speculation that N-Earth scientists might have managed to create a single safe portal to resume their invasion with a new beach head. Famed dimensional physicist Doctor Erin Westwood of Cal Tech however disagrees, stating that 'no possibility of dimensional congress between N-Earth is possible due to dimensional phase-variance induced by the violent collapse of the gate network the invaders were using'. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/160 Posted Author Mystic Mayhem at the Mall Sun Feb 26 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TILL DEATH DO US PART Crucible City Sun-Times February 26th, 2006 An antique show at the Glick Supermall was disrupted earlier today when a pair of teenagers accidentally summoned up malevolent ghosts from a trio of cursed objects. The unidentified teens, who fled after being struck by an axe-wielding spirit in a wedding dress, called forth the murderous creatures with some sort of nursery rhyme or chant; specifics are unavailable at this time. Luckily, concerned citizens leapt into action, performing amazing feats of heroism. Also, there were monkeys. Witnesses of questionable reliability said that one teenage boy was slain repeatedly by the bloodsoaked bride, only to continually return from the dead and fight back once more. "I swear, she put an axe right through his chest and he got up," reported Hot Topic customer Meredith Barnes. Darque Apothecarie Mystick Shoppe customer Sally Martin proclaimed, "It was so awesome. He kept bleeding all over the place. He was so dreamy." The youth could not be reached for comment. The owner of the antiques kiosk, Donald Stein, said he had no idea the objects (a mirror, a statue, and a fountain) had been cursed. The female creatures have been identified by UCC Folklore Professor Melanie Ross as Bloody Mary Worth, Black Annis, and La Llorona, a trio of very similar urban legends from various parts of the world. The former was apparently dispatched through entrapment in a mirror, which was then broken. The latter two vanished, dissolving into a pool of water, and have not yet reappeared. The simian heroes who arrived on the scene had little positive to say on the subject. "While antiquing can be profitable," the Brass Monkey noted, "getting disemboweled by urban legends is *bleep*ing dangerous. Please, if you're not sure of the provenance of your *bleep*ing antiques, keep them away from strong magical fields." Readers may recall that the Glick Supermall was the site of a dark magical ritual some months ago, performed by the Goddess-Giver cult. "Kids oughta be careful with these silly games," said Grease Monkey of TV's Team Zero Hour. "In this town you never know if it'll be a cursed mirror or not." ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/161 Posted Author Treeman? Sun Feb 26 Reporter (Joe) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the Times and Tribune, floating somewhere in the obscurity of the fourth or fifth page: New Power? Or New Threat? Late last night on the University of Crucible campus, Amanda Hoffman, a sophomore at the University, reported to police an attempted mugging. Hoffman said that the mugging was prevented by the timely appearance of a nearly 14-foot tall, humanoid creature. "He just came around the corner, and pointed at the mugger. The guy ran, but then, so did I." Since the creature - which Hoffman described as 'treelike' - hasn't been seen before, and has yet to be identified as a rising hero or new threat, police are advising caution to the people who live in and around the university. ============================================================================== +bbread 12/162-171 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/162 Posted Author Cat-6: The NEW Crack Sun Feb 26 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As if the Power drug Cat-5 so widely in distribution wasn't bad enough there's a new menace, Cat-6. Cat-6 was recently found in limited distribution in the worst parts of LA, but confirmed reports of it have it also in New York, Miami, Salt Lake City, Toronto, and Michigan City. Cat-5 is a drug that criminal cartels such as the Mafia, the Yakuza, the Russian Mafia and even Jamaican Posses have been distributing world wide, and is considered one of the most dangerous drugs in existance. An international task force backed by the UN and Interpol has been trying to deal with the Power drug and has met with fair success. Cat-5 induces a euphoric state in non-Powers, and triggers metahuman abilities of a random nature in them for a short duration. The drug also has nearly a fifty percent mortality rate after every dose taken as the strain of supporting the temporary powers literally burns them out like a fuse. The new drug of choice? Cat-6, thus far the source of which is unknown, though distribution is obviously widespread and the DEA baffled. This drug is to Cat-5 what Crack is to Cocaine. A more powerful high, relatively low cost, and even more addictive than the previous version. Cat-6 induces lethal euphoria in Powers, a high that literally kills almost every time, preliminary data suggesting eighty percent or more. In a non-Power it hyper stimulates both the Pineal gland, the Adrenal gland, and the pleasure centers of the brain. The subject will enter a fantasy state in which all is bliss while they rampage with significant levels of metahuman power often equivalent to and sometimes exceeding the levels of heroes of mythic might. The high from Cat-6 lasts for several hours, and has half the mortality rate. Further, tests have shown that once a 'powerset' forms, from then on either Cat-6 or Cat-5 will trigger that set of abilities from that point on. DEA representive Special Agent Michael Michaelson had this to say. "I am personally heading up a special multinational task force aimed at finding and eliminating this heinous drug. Once we find the source rest assured that the sternest possible action will be taken. Thank you." <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/163 Posted Author Central Asian Oddity Tue Feb 28 Reporter (Sunshine Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan Strange lights and a minor earthquake were reported late Monday night near the banks of the Aral Sea in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. While there are conflicting reports whether the earthquake happened near a city or an inhabited area, there are no present reports of injuries; however, noted unconventional Chinese mystic Tsung Huang released a statement on his web journal Tuesday morning that seems to refer to the subject. "Fire and light danced over the unknown city in the west in the night. Only fools will seek what is hidden there, but they're never in short supply." (Send plot inquiries to Kim) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/164 Posted Author Borrowing Heroes? Tue Feb 28 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Confusion reigns after an attack in Oak Park by a mammoth mutant plant turned into an ambush on the heroes who responded. Shooting Star and Illustration of Liberty Watch closed in to answer the threat even as the villain team known as the Prowlers waited in hiding. The illusionist spotted and called out Selenium, who summoned the other two: Iridin, until recently believed to have been detained by parties unknown, and an invisible third believed to be Aconite (Leigh Corrina), leader of the team in its original incarnation. Though they put up a determined fight, the heroes were outnumbered. They were subdued, then swiftly teleported away by Iridin. Inexplicably, they were released less than half an hour later from whatever villainous stronghold held them. An angry Illustration observed, "While I'm glad to be in one piece, I think it's safe to say that I plan to track these people down and do awful, nasty things to them. In fact, I'm kind of looking forward to it." More dazed, Shooting Star said, "I'm just, uh, glad nobody was harmed! Even if the pansies may never make a full recovery." Neither hero was able to provide a definite motive for either the abduction or the release. Investigations continue. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/165 Posted Author Medium At Large Wed Mar 01 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A lecture at the Field Museum by renowned medium Melisande Lyons turned disastrous Tuesday evening when three female villains let themselves into the lecture hall. Though one of the women fled with Lyons via teleportation, the timely intervention of four heroes prevented the others from escaping. On the scene were Supersonic, Shadowdancer, new hero Wind-Caller, and the Knight Exemplar. In concert, they subdued the winged sorceress and attempted to talk down her companion, who reputedly went into spasms when a necklace was torn from her. The captured pair have been tentatively identified as a seventeenth century German Power named the Speyer Witch, renowned for leading a small-scale revolt against witch-hunters in that region, and a reclusive Japanese mistress of assassins named Chiyome dating a century before. The third member of the confederacy is believed to be one Seraphina Cagliostro (among other aliases), wife of an infamous eighteenth century Italian magician. "We were reluctant to believe it at first," said the officer on the case, "but everything checks out. They know things they couldn't possibly know otherwise." But not how they came to be in the twenty-first century, in Crucible City, or in the middle of an abduction attempt. There is a presumed but not certain connection between this and an earlier incident at Crucible Lakeshore Hospital; as then, authorities have emphasized that they believe the women were under outside control. "They don't appear to remember anything," the officer emphasized, "but they may yet know something they don't realize is invaluable." Melisande Lyons, the victim, is a forty-four year old widow whose professional reputation has been troubled of late by announcements that she experiences extreme hallucinations. "Ms. Lyons only speaks to the spirit world in an auditory capacity, and she only hallucinates visually," her agent said reluctantly, when pressed. "What messages she receives from the beyond are authentic and real, and have never been muddied by other factors." On the scene, the Knight Exemplar offered his thanks to his fellow heroes. Damage to the Field Museum lecture hall was minimal, and no bystanders were hurt in the fray. "The main casualty of this encounter," another officer observed, "was the truth. And we will unearth that, in the end." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/166 Posted Author More From The Enquirer Thu Mar 02 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ... The Clouded Knight, an English hero visiting from Oxford on unspecified private business, continues to deny reports that he was assaulted and carried off by the pair of the Scarlet Thorn and Shapedancer (Ann-Marie Wellons). The Knight insists that though the two surprised him, the scene bystanders in Northbrook saw was only the first round. "He seems quite insistent that no American Power could possibly overcome him," remarked a rookie officer. ... ... Parents at one of Crucible City's most prestigious private high schools are troubled by a recent fashion trend amongst its more popular girls. Jewelry, mostly earrings and necklaces, has showed up with a symbol many are calling satanic. "We're not a Christian academy," said a school official, "and we have no reason to believe that this any more than a fad. Even we don't get paid enough to police religion." ... ... A government facility in southern Oregon played host this Wednesday to faces more familiar to Crucible City: Retrofit associates Lateral and Alternacy, who attempted to steal data from - bizarrely enough - a social psychology lab. They were confronted by none other than Calandre March (formerly Timewriter), who sent them packing and met the authorities with furious vitriol against their presumptive employer. Observers swear that March used powers not formerly in her repertoire. "As to how she found out this incident was going to happen," remarked an Oregon detective, "that's an open question. As of now, she has our profound thanks." ... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/167 Posted Author X-raptors strike again! Sat Mar 04 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the third raid attempted in the last couple of weeks, a team of six of the so-called 'X-raptors' made off with several force field generators from California based Omnitech Engineering Enterprises. The field generators were designed by Doctor Matthias M Walters, considered by many to be one of the foremost experts in quantum mechanics on Earth, on par with such giants as Stephen Hawking, and Einstein. Doctor Walters was not available for comment, but Marjorie Hew of their Public Relations team had this to say. "Thankfully there were no casualties, and only minimal damage to our facilities. Every effort is being excercised to discover where these X-Raptors have taken the generators, and towards what purpose. We're working closely with state, local and federal authorities to see that this is resolved quickly. Thank you." <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/168 Posted Author Cat-6 claims seven lives Sat Mar 04 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cat-6 Claims Seven Lives in Cage Brawl in Seattle! In a tragic turn of events seven bystanders were slain late last night in a Cat-6 related incident in Seattle, Washington. In an illegally sponsored 'Cage Brawl' located in a warehouse near Seattle International Airport. 'Reaper' Blake, a streetfighter of some small skill upped the ante and entered the highly lucrative, and very dangerous 'Power Brawlers' arena via Cat-6. Gaining superhuman power in the form of a sheath of high molarity acid about his form, as well as an ability to create 'acidic claws', he was able to easily best three opponents, leaving one critically injured, and two dead. Tragedy struck when his powers went rogue and he started to dissolve himself as whatever personal immunity granted initially by his powers failed. Insane with pain, he rushed into the crowd of onlookers and injured sixteen, four of which later died from their injuries at St John's Medical center. Slain also was Morgan 'Reaper' Blake, as he literally melted before the horrified eyes of onlookers. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/169 Posted Author Museum Exhibit Assaulted By Undead Sun Mar 05 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MID-AFTERNOON OF THE LIVING DEAD Crucible City Sun-Times March 4th, 2006 The critically acclaimed new exhibit at the Field Museum, "Island of Magic: An Exploration of the Culture and History of Haiti," was disrupted earlier today by a necromantic vodou sorceress and her zombi horde. Luckily there were Powers on the scene, and the evildoer and her accomplice have been apprehended. The villainess, who calls herself Vodou, has been identified as Yvette LaCroix, a Haitian expatriate and proficient mambo with a minor criminal record. Her accomplice, the super-strong Jeyan ( Etienne Sylvain ), has been unable to speak coherently as yet, after a psychic attack by one of the crimefighting Powers, but authorities believe he will make a full recovery. The duo and their zombi cohorts apparently sought to steal the Heart of Erzulie, a famous ruby necklace said to have potent mystical properties, especially for use in love spells and charms. The Indestructible Corporate of Team Zero Hour, who helped to save the day with his sidekick, Havoc Lad, was disappointed in the museum's choice of exhibit. "Although no one was seriously injured this time, the museum sustained some damage and, obviously, there's a serious risk of injury or brain consumption associated with zombie hordes. In light of today's unfortunate events I don't think I'm going to be able to give my thumbs-up to the museum's planned exhibit for next month, 'Death Rays and Killdroids Through The Ages.' In fact, I advise everyone listening, work and school schedules permitting, to maintain a minimum safe distance of three point five miles from the museum for the duration of the upcoming exhibit." The heroine Sidestep presented a similar opinion. "Could you please, -please- consider some artifacts for the museum that don't eat people or consume their souls. That would be a nice change of pace." "Seriously, we mean it, do your damn homework, kids," said the Lignin. "We're not fooling around about this." Also on the scene was Wind-Caller, a power new to the public eye, and a shadowy creature whose name is as yet unknown. "Sorry about the surprise thunder storm," Wind-Caller sheepishly noted to the press. "I try not to do that very much but had to this time, and I cleared it up when the fight was over." Museum representatives could not be reached for comment. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/170 Posted Author New cookbook Sat Mar 11 Reporter (Amber) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With her 15th birthday not until later this month, Crucible City's own cooking wunderkind Amber Thibodeaux Drake has just released her second cookbook "French Family Cooking". Book signings are scheduled for weekends throughout the next several months, to avoid interfering with her planned High School graduation in May. The daughter of French chef Michael Thibodeaux and Chinese-American chef HuaJin Sun, and was orphaned by the Earth-N war. "I wanted my first books to be a reflection of my origins, and the origins of the food I grew up loving," she said in an interview. (continued CHEF 8D) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/171 Posted Author Power Brawl Broken Up In LA! Sun Mar 12 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Power Brawl broken up in LA by Crucible Natives Dusk Investigations Held in the ruins of Neal Armstrong High in Southern Los Angeles was another of the underground fighting events known as a Power Brawl. In it powers fight in cage matches that are generally bloody, and often lead to fatalities. Ruined in the N-War, the school was never rebuilt due to lack of funding. Last night's brawl was broken up by several heroes of the newly formed Power Team 'Dusk Investigations', native to Crucible City and lead by Signature, though she herself was not on the scene. Present were the mystical Thaumaturge, the android heroine Shooting Star, the regenerating Statistic, and the mentalist Panorama. Casualties were minor, relatively speaking, though there were two deaths in the ring, one from wounds received in a match, the second from an intense allergic reaction to Cat-6. Though the heroes did not stay to make comments, we did get to speak with Special Agent John Smith of the newly formed Cat-6 Multinational Taskforce who had this to say. "Thanks to the heroic efforts of these stalwart Powers we've made terrific inroads into finding an effective means to combat this heinous and potentially globally destabilzing drug." Agent Smith then personally supervised the removal of several prisoners from the arena fight. <> ============================================================================== +bbread 12/172-181 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/172 Posted Author Cat-6 Now Global Sun Mar 12 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cat-6 Officially a Global Problem Cat-6 has now become a globally recognized issue with both the formation of the Cat-6 Multinational Taskforce and confirmed Cat-6 related incdents in London, Versaille, Vancouver, Rome, and Sydney. A statement released to the press by the C6MT confirms that there have been numerous issues with Cat-6 on an expanding basis the world over that would indicate that the mysterious producers of this horrific drug are ramping up their distribution. Cat-6 is a deadly drug that induces euphoria in Powers and Non-Powers alike, but also grants non-Powers superhuman abilities, in at least two cases the powers gained were permanent. It has a high mortality rate, though half that of its predecessor drug, Cat-5. <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/173 Posted Author X-Raptors Strike Again! Sun Mar 12 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ X-Raptors attack Fujiyama Enterprises in Okinawa, Six Killed High tech manufacturer Fujiyama Enterprises based out of Okinawa, Japan was the site of the fourth X-Raptor attack in as many weeks. The toll in lives was heavy this time with six slain, and dozens injured in a chemical fire set by the raptors to cover their escape. A representative of Fujiyama Enterprises, mister Hayao Mishikawa had this to say. "The raptors appeared out of a silver portal, and fanned out immediately, there were ten of them. I am not at liberty to discuss what was taken, but they were most aggressive in their actions, killing anyone that got in their way. When they had what they wanted, they each produced incendiary devices and used them to trigger a chemical fire that ravaged our main plant injuring many." <> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/174 Posted Author Street Gang Gains Steam Sun Mar 12 Reporter (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) By staff Writer Michael Williams You may have noticed them by their throwback, hybridized, neon zoot suits. Or perhaps you know them from their stream of violence supporting graffiti that has begun to pollute our city's streets. Or you may, even, recognize them by their heavy use of the wildly lethal drug CAT-5. Whatever the source, the newest youth movement for inner-city teens seems inspired by the criminal, and growing pop culture figure, who called himself Homicide. The Homicidal Maniacz, as they like to call themselves, triumph the choatic anti-establishment beliefs of their enigmatic inspiration, a man who was linked to the multiple police killings that occurred last summer. The Maniacz, a gang of generally disenfranchised youth, have a loose structure and no devote leadership. CCPD estimate that there are up to two hundred members of various levels that claim to be involved with the gang. Members generally congregate together, attracted by their flashy neon colored suits that are generally stitched together from various mismatching fabrics. While, for the most part, the Maniacz are only associated with petty crimes like small theft, vandalism, and assault their increasing numbers and penchant for CAT-5 use has CCPD alarmed about the potential for their activites to escalate. Detective Thurgood Smith spoke to the Associated Press on the topic and claimed, "If the Maniacz ever became an organized movement their actions could be very subversive to our city's infrastructure. Luckily, the very idea of order and structure appears to be counterproductive to the Maniac ideaology." The Crucible City Public Schools superintendent has been in talks with administrators on possible programs to keep students from falling into this gang, and others like it, and the dangerous and lethal lifestyle that it entails. During the mid-90's many residents will remember a similar gang of teens, inspired by the then-rap-artist Prince Primeval (under the alias MC Prime), who formed an off-shoot of the much more subversion cult-like Prime Nation, known as the Primadonnas... ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/175 Posted Author Murder at Local Hotel Mon Mar 13 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City Sun-Times March 13th, 2006 A visiting businessman was found dead this morning in his room at the Crucible Hilton, in what experts believe may have been a Power crime. Gerald Binghamton, 47, was a prominent entertainment lawyer and a frequent guest at the hotel. "He was a real classy, nice guy," said concierge Melanie Saunders. "Never gave the staff any trouble, always tipped real well. It's a shame." While details are scant at this printing, Mr. Binghamton's body was found at 3 am, nude and wrapped in his bedsheets. A series of brochures for 'escort services' were present in the room. The victim was identified by a co-worker, as at first glance it was impossible to discern whether or not the body was, in fact, Mr. Binghamton's; the corpse was withered and shrunken, and only barely recognizable. Police have no suspects at this time, but believe the murder was committed by some sort of draining Power. Mr. Binghamton is survived by his sister, Irene, and three nephews. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/176 Posted Author Artifact Shipment Rescued! Tue Mar 14 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARCH 14 -- A second attempt on the as-yet unidentified artifact which survived a previous theft attempt in late February was foiled by some of Crucible City's finest heroes while in transit from the Field Museum to a safe holding facility at an undisclosed location. The artifact, which, while identified has been the subject of two theft attempts, has been deemed a high-security risk. Its display at the 'Mysteries Of The Past' exhibit, which has begun without its star piece, has been canceled due to the security risk. According to a press release provided by the FBI, which has handled the protection of and investigation the artifact, several local heroes were brought in to safeguard the artifact during its risky transportation out of Crucible City. The Unknown Soldier, champion of American security, was on site to foil the assault of a group of highly trained mercenaries. Though not included in the FBI press report, sources identify the would-be thieves as members of the mysterious organization known as the "Seven Vipers", a cabal of highly trained, non-powered villains who were believed to be little more than a myth until one of their number was captured after assassinating the Titan City speedster, Bluestreak. Lady Stygia, Flicker Flash (Formerly known as Sparkle C), and newcomers K'Joa and Wind-Caller were also on site to assist in foiling the plot. An unidentified teleporter was also seen in the area. The report, issued several days after the fact, also states that the artifact is safely under lock and key at an unidentified facility. It is believed that all Vipers present escaped unharmed, despite the best efforts of the heroes. The remaining Viper, still unidentified and codenamed 'Six', is currently serving a sentence for the murder of Bluestreak several months prior. The artifact in question was allegedly recovered by an undersea diving team in the North Atlantic several months prior, and was to be placed on display as part of an exhibit highlighting mysteries of history unsolved even by modern archaeology. ( Questions and Follow-Ups to Plot! ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/177 Posted Author Copied Confusion Mon Mar 20 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Chaos shook the Tinderwood Mall in Oak Park when the skylight shattered to admit five identical individuals resembling the teen heroine Moonstar (Amanda Morris). They shot indiscriminately into the mall crowds, blowing up property and even aiming at civilians. As heroines Tamin, Shooting Star, Spade, Chaplin and Shard turned to face the threat and defend the mallgoers, however, villains Pollen Count (Casimir Stanislav) and Shapedancer (Ann-Marie Wellons) materialized through a flowerbed with the stated intention of containing the situation. They claimed the five duplicates had escaped from them. Once the fight seemed to be in hand, most of the Moonstars subdued without casualties, the two villains attempted to beat a retreat. They were soundly halted, Shapedancer knocked unconscious and Pollen Count forced to surrender. Preliminary medical reports suggest that the Moonstars were some kind of organic clone gone haywire. Morris herself, at a peer's birthday party on the other side of town, claimed supreme embarrassment and reportedly offered her college funds for the damages. With the number of incidents in transit, the Pound authorities intend to hold onto Pollen Count until his former cohorts have been arrested, at which point he will be returned to British custody. Stanislav remains uncommunicative about the activities of his allies. In related news, the courts in Alicante, Spain, have just cleared Adriana Kemen (Dawnfire) in a decision many suspect to be motivated more by greased palms than the paucity of facts. Kemen was not available for comment and indeed appears to have left neither forwarding address nor personal ties. "There's something very fishy about the whole thing," observed Bernard Sawyer, an American private investigator who followed the case while on holiday, "and it's doubly suspicious that the defendant seemed in such a hurry to get out of town." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/178 Posted Author Clown terror at restaurant! Sat Mar 25 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Crucible City Tribune, March 24] Earlier tonight, havoc broke out at the Tang Yean Chinese Restaurant when a man dressed as a clown arrived, and according to witnesses, handed out egg rolls to patrons. At this point, several became 'clowns' as well, under his control, although the exact method how is currently unknown. Luckily, the powers Signature, Starfall, and Shooting Star were on-hand to help with the encounter. "It was weird, man," commented Allan Stingley, who was there on the scene. "Just looking at the guy made you feel... sad, you know? Shooting Star there was bawling the whole time." After discerning the nature of this apparently mental effect, Signature was able to devise a quick countermeasure, allowing Starfall to knock the clown out, ending his influence over the patrons. Although uncommunicative during and after the encounter with the exception of written placards, the villain Mournful Hilarity, currently identified by CCPD as Parker Duncan, remains in police custody. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/179 Posted Author Scientist Attacked! Sun Mar 26 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) Local police have revealed in recent news that an unknown man calling himself 'Doc Terror' attacked the Seaside Harbor Restaurant this evening, accompanied by six invisible men who allegedly melted to ... a protoplasmic blue goo when the doctor was defeated. Witnesses state that the man was attempting to kidnap a patron of the restaurant, Dr. James Falcon, also known in heroic circles as 'Dr. Falcon', a well-known super scientist who has aided authorities in the past with various scientific dilemmas. Dr. Falcon is known to be a constant target by various supervillains, having been kidnapped by both Count Urizen and Prince Primeval within the past two decades. Dr. Falcon released a statement today, thanking the heroes Ignition, Jade Dragon, and Shock for aiding him, adding a special thanks to the local reporter Estelle Laredo Lee for her considerable help at risk as well. In a shocking statement by police, the police have revealed that Doc Terror's face is a near-match for recently-slain heroic scientist 'Doc Courage', who was found in his home in Crucible City in late January, stabbed through the heart. Inquiries are being made. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/180 Posted Author Pool Hall Brawl! Mon Mar 27 Reporter (Dominic) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRAWL AT LOCAL POOL HALL CRUCIBLE TRIBUNE, Monday March 27th A brawl between a number of Powers and the gang known as the Billiard Balls broke out at the Orange Monkey Pool Hall last night, when the enforcer known only as 'Cue Ball' allegedly attempted to rough someone up in what was either an attempt at extortion or to retrieve an illegal gambling debt, and was met by a number of powered individuals already on the premises, at which time a number of the gang's thugs poured into the establishment to smash things up and take on the heroes. While the identities of these men and women are not known, witnesses report a wind-controller, a 'woman in fishnets', a 'giant bear', 'Raggedy Anne with a sledgehammer', and 'some foul-mouthed woman with a sword' as those who rose to the defense of the man under attack, whose name has not yet been released. The damage to the premises was only peripheral, fortunately, and the hall will be re-opened tomorrow after replacement of some of the glasses and a chair or two. While most of the witnesses seemed grateful for the rescue, a few suggested that it wouldn't have escalated so much if the heroes had, quote, "Let the guy collect the debt - I mean, you deal with these people you expect to get burnt, right? It was his own fault." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/181 Posted Author Arms Control Today Mon Mar 27 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ U.S. Investigating Seismic Event Near Russian Power-Containment Facility Eli Keir ON JANUARY 21, several seismological monitoring stations in northern Europe detected a seismic event in the vicinity of the Russian "Archangel Scientific Reeducation Center" at Konosha. The Washington Times reported on March 19 that some U.S. officials suspect the event may have been caused by a low yield nuclear explosion. Russia, which instituted a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing in 1991 and signed the Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) Treaty in 1996, has officially stated that the seismic event was a small earthquake. It is unclear what impact, if any, the seismic event will have on international relations with Russia. The American administration has called in the past for Russian officials to permit international assistance in managing powered criminals, but the Kremlin has historically been unwilling to admit the existence of Russian powered crime as a significant problem. ============================================================================== +bbread 12/182-191 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/182 Posted Author Rafaela's Rumble Mon Mar 27 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Rafaela's Bar and Grille is closed for repairs after a powered incident Sunday afternoon involving the attempted abduction of Enquirer reporter Allison Lamont by mercenary villains the Lexicon, Scales and Nigredo. Luckily, this particular watering hole was also playing host to four heroes: Brass Monkey, Moonlight, Feral and K'Joa. After certain shennanigans with fortifying mugs of beer, the conflict began in earnest. While alchemist-sorcerer Nigredo transformed Lamont into a pebble and briefly confounded the heroes, they stole back the reporter-turned-rock and forced the villains to flee without their prize. Lamont admits to the long-held rumor that she is a clairaudient, capable of hearing sounds at a distance, but claims that the Lexicon, with whom she is on speaking terms, "Could create something with more range than I have with a snap of her fingers." Off long-term medical leave after having used her sick days through 2010, Lamont swears she hasn't uncovered anything worth abducting her in a long time. The Brass Monkey also remained to speak with the press. "Well, at least they were polite and let the civilians get out of the way," he said. "I appreciate that, even if they were deranged would-be kidnappers." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/183 Posted Author Horrific Scene at Daycare Center Tue Mar 28 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crucible City Sun-Times March 28th, 2006 A grisly scene unfolded this morning at the Anita Hamilton Daycare Center, as the brutal slaying of two employees and several children was discovered by local authorities. Melissa Packer, 23, and Sandra Anton, 27, were described by friends as "caring, bright and happiest when working with children." Both were stabbed multiple times in the stomach and chest, and had apparently been struggling to defend their young charges. The bodies of six young children, ages ranging from 4 to 10, were found in the next room. Out of respect for the families in mourning, their names have not yet been disclosed by police. While details are still forthcoming, it appears that the young victims were drained and withered somehow, as if the life had simply been siphoned from their forms. The Crucible City Power Crimes Unit has urged that anyone with information about the murders please contact police headquarters immediately. Anonymity will be preserved, if requested. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/184 Posted Author DEAD PHILANTHROPIST TURNED LIVE CR Thu Mar 30 Reporter (Dominic) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DOMINIC VAUGHN ALIVE? The Brilliant Star, This Country's First Source Of Celebrity Gossip! March 29th, 2006 (Two pages down from 'Bethany Starr in love triangle with The Ultimate and Bigfoot?') --Insert blurry picture of dark-haired man in Vegas casino, facing away from the camera, talking with some dark-suited men and expensively-dressed women - all with their faces 'fuzzed' out by editing - at a craps table-- One of our roving field reporters has spotted none other than Dominic Vaughn in the Luxor hotel and casino; the famed philanthropist, reported dead of natural causes in 2003, was keeping company with some rather shady and well-connected sorts that this paper hesitates to name for fear of reprisal. Scuttlebutt has it that he may have faked his own death to hide from tax concerns or some other crime, until the heat was down, casting a suspicious shadow over his earlier charitable works in the eyes of this writer! As seen above, gambling and womenizing was always a hobby of the incredibly rich playboy, and death doesn't seem to have slowed him down one bit. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/185 Posted Author Refinery Destroyed! Sat Apr 01 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) Earlier this evening, the abandoned 'Arkos Metals' refinery was destroyed by a cataclysmic bomb. Authorities revealed today that the bomb was targeting the heroes Apogee and Intercessor for their investigations revolving around the Harbingers, a splinter-sect of the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics. The heroes Shooting Star and Supersonic joined the scene not long after the explosion and aided the other two heroes until the authorities arrived. While details remain unclear, scientists have had the refinery area cordoned off due to the dangerous radiation detected within the area. Perhaps luckily, no civillians were hurt in the blast, though much of the block near the refinery was heavily damaged by the resultant shockwave and numerous minor injuries were reported. Both Apogee and Intercessor were also reported to be in good condition. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/186 Posted Author Heritage Jewelry Opens Sun Apr 02 Reporter (Bess) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heritage Jewelry opens this Monday on the Magnificent Mile. Featuring a selection of new and antique Jewelry for sale, the store also displays works of Historical interest that might otherwise go unseen. Through the end of April, Heritage Jewelry will be displaying ten creations of the Russian House of Faberge, including one of the famous Easter Eggs. The Lily of the Valley egg was presented to Tsarina Alexandra Fedorovna for Easter 1898. Insert Picture Formerly part of the Forbes collection, this is its first showing in the United States since the collection was sold in 2004. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/187 Posted Author Snow in Lincoln Park? Mon Apr 03 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Local Power groupies are celebrating what appears to have been a victory late Saturday night when six Crucible City heroes followed rogue snowfall and spiraling winds to confront no less than the elusive Vila. Heroes Jade Shadow, Lady Paramount and Burnout of Zero Hour, Shooting Star, Lockdown and an unidentified shapeshifter arrived on the scene to find the spirit collective's new host involved in a mystic ritual with fellow mystics Augur (Jasper Cuvier) and Dawnfire (Adriana Kemen) consulting and Vitiate for support. In the fierce battle that ensued, both sides were badly battered and the heroes deprived of key technological support by Vitiate's powers of decay, but mirror-seer Augur took the worst of it early on, perhaps evening the odds. In the end, the Vila fled the scene with an already unconscious Dawnfire, leaving the other two behind; in the eyes of many, an unmitigated success. Others are not so sure. They point to the Vila's last words before she or they departed the scene: "All is done. We are ready." After examining the scene, CCPCU mystic expert Belle Murray states that she believes the Vila was attuning herself to the wind patterns of the city. "That explains the need for her physical presence, and the mystic markers that remain support the theory," Murray says, "but not why. This is in no way strong enough to provide an anchor for a repeat of 2004's Great Storm." Whatever the case, Augur and Vitiate are both securely in Pound custody. The latter has been unmasked as Claire Albion (38), a medical examiner from southern Connecticut. With the number of states and countries in which she has committed crimes, the issue of jurisdiction promises to be a thorny one. Residents in her district express shock over the revelation. "I can't believe Claire would do this sort of thing," said local librarian Fanny Morane, "Certainly, she was a bit creepy ... and it would give you the willies if she snuck up behind you ... but really!" ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/188 Posted Author Bank Robbery Foiled! Mon Apr 03 Reporter (Dominic) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BANK ROBBERY FOILED BY HEROES! The Bank of American was struck by a pair of supervillainous Powers the other day, an unusual team-up of Moe Mentum and the Eunuch; they barricaded the windows, taking the bank workers and customers hostage, and began working on breaching the vault in what was apparently a simple robbery. A number of heroes responded to the situation, including Corporate and Lady Paramount, as well as some manner of 'werewolf' that may be named 'Rush' or 'Crush' or something similar, and an attractive woman who did not identify herself who took charge of the bullhorn to distract the criminals before the initial strike. Lady Paramount told the press: "We're merely thankful that no-one was hurt, and that everyone's savings are intact!" When asked for a comment by the media, Corporate performed a humorous puppet-show back and forth with the unconscious form of Moe Mentum, that will be broadcast on the news this evening. Scuttlebutt has it that a lawsuit for 'public humiliation' has already been filed. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/189 Posted Author FOX Exclusive Interview Tue Apr 04 Reporter (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ True to form, after their coverage of the Bank of America robbery and hostage situation, FOX extends the segment with a brief question-and-answer with their man on the scene, the Indestructible Corporate (syndicated on the FOX Network in the popular and long-running true-powered-crime reality show Justice For All: Zero Hour). The interview follows: Corporate, in front of partially-smashed Bank of America and several weary but cheering ex-hostages: "Although, for a supervillain, the traditional bank job might seem almost trivially easy, and sure, often it is, they should keep in mind that there is still a significant risk of superheroic beatdown." He steps briefly out of frame and returns with an unconscious villain, the blue-collar speedster Moe Mentum, and holds him up by the scruff of the neck for the camera to see him. Moe looks bruised, scuffed, black-eyed, gap-toothed and otherwise like he has been hit by a truck. "To any supervillains who might be watching this, I'd like to introduce you to Moe." Corporate shakes Moe by the back of the neck and says, out of the side of his mouth, "Hi folks! I'm Moe! Boy, am I dumb." "That's for sure, Moe. Can you tell the folks out there what happened today?" "Of course, Corporate!" Corporate ventriloquizes. "Me and my big meaty squeaky-voiced compatriot The Eunuch teamed up to take down a bank together, probably on the behalf of a third party yet-unknown!" Corporate nods attentively. "And then what happened?" "It was going fine," Corporate says for Moe, wiggling his jaw with his free hand to make him 'talk,' "Until the Indestructible Corporate blasted up out of the ground and used his superatomic hitting power on my groin! Boy, did that ever hurt. I think I ruptured my balls!" "Sorry, Moe, it's just your crotch got in the way of the hitting. We'll have a doctor see to that groin of yours. Have you got any advice for other supervillains who might be thinking about robbing a bank today?" "Yeah, stay home and take up knitting or something, or Corporate might rupture your nuts!" "That's good advice, Moe." Corporate sets Moe back down limply on the trunk of a police car and gives the camera a big grin and a thumbs-up. The interview is followed by an advertisement for AXE Unstoppable and a toy commercial. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/190 Posted Author Villainous Re-Abduction Foiled Fri Apr 07 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An altercation in Greek Town early Thursday evening pitted local heroes Tamin, Jade Shadow, Major Momentum and Spade against the villainous hit-team known as the Prowlers, assisted by Allergy Attack member Dust-Storm (Adam Trip), who according to some tried to defuse the situation before it started. The showdown was centered over Lissa Lydell, who apparently escaped from the villains by pretending to side with them for a mission. She then slipped away from the scene and arrived in Greek Town. Lydell, formerly ten years old but artificially aged, is the daughter of Pollen Count (Casimir Stanislav) and the late Silver Manx (Elena Lydell), and has been missing since November. Lydell was aided in this endeavor by Surfeit (Saraid Caolan-Stanislav, the girl's aunt) who she claims provided a distraction elsewhere. Still, whatever aid the other woman might have provided ran out, prompting the arrival of the four villains on the scene. When the heroes refused to surrender Lydell, they moved in to attack. Tamin spent most of the fight by her side, successfully staving off several attacks. When Iridin moved to teleport the target away, he was pummeled on all four sides, grappled by Spade and finally knocked out by Jade Shadow. This seemed to signal the turning of the tide, but the Prowlers were not quite finished. Tamin was severely debilitated by Selenium's final attack, even as Aconite (Leigh Corrina) dodged around the defenders to grab Lydell and retreat towards the other villains. Major Momentum, however, cut her off and laid her flat. Though Spade managed to fatigue Selenium with what bystanders swear was bug-spray, Dust-Storm literally hefted his companion in his arms and vanished from the scene faster than any of the heroes could follow. Iridin has been unmasked as former special forces soldier Soren Ansgar, honorably discharged six years ago. There is an eighteen month intersect between the first years of his service and the final years served by Corrina, wherein the senior Prowler was his commanding officer. "It would suggest a connection to the remaining Prowler, but we don't have the slightest idea where to start," admits CCPCU detective John Thera. "Even so, as a united team? The Prowlers are finished." Lissa Lydell is currently in police custody for her own protection, though her present state produces a tangle of legal complications. She claims her legal guardian, Cornelia Avernus, is involved in her abduction and the eco-villain scheme, but police psychologists have made the preliminary observation that Lydell is simply too traumatized and too loaded with repressed anger to offer a sound judgement. She may simply be projecting the blame. Biologically nineteen but chronically ten, not even considering emotional or mental state, she may not need a guardian - but those involved are openly questioning the wisdom of such a move. "We do have to look very closely at Avernus," Thera commented, "but on the other hand, it seems cruel to both of them to put her under such scrutiny if Lissa is only confused." On the scene, Spade had a more definite point of view. "One of the persons most directly responsible for Penelope Mylonas' murder has been brought to justice, and hopefully young Lissa's life can be brought back to a sense of civilized order, away from unstable guardians." Another, less formal comment was also left behind: a bottle of wine tucked under Aconite's arm with a note reading, "Even fights are so much fun." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/191 Posted Author A Planet Where BIRDS Evolved From Sun Apr 09 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PLANET OF THE RATITES Crucible City Sun-Times April 9th, 2006 Chaos erupted in Lincoln Park yesterday afternoon when the peaceful picnic spot was assailed by an army of sentient cassowaries from another dimension. The cassowary, a large flightless bird native to Australia, is considered extremely dangerous due to its size, speed, talons, and prominent bone crest, which it uses to headbutt its foes. Due to the combined efforts of local Powers (Dr. Zenobia Petalas, the Royal Jester, a strange shadowy creature, an angelic being, and a woman in traditional Indian sari,) and their duplicates from Earth-Cassowary, the threat was routed. The cassowaries were led by Birdbrain, an extradimensional sorceress who styles herself Queen of the Ratites. The heroes on the scene were unsure of what to make of the incident. "What?" said the Royal Jester. "... What? What? What? ... What?" Dr. Cassiopeia Petalas, an ambassador from Earth-Cassowary, maintains that the so-called Cassowary Queen will be tried for her numerous crimes in the bird-people's native dimension. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah, if you are insane. ) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/192-201 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/192 Posted Author X-Raptors Assault Naval Shipyard! Sun Apr 09 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Headline: X-Raptors Assault the Mare Island Naval Shipyards, three killed, prototype fighter stolen! After weeks of inactivity, the mysterious X-Raptors once again carried off a daring raid, this time against the newly renovated Mare Island Naval Shipyards in California. Once the primary repair yard for the Pacific Fleet prior to Pearl Harbor, the shipyards have been retooled extensively to be not only a Naval facility, but also the chief manufacturing and research facility for Starfleet America. Several soldiers were killed in a daring midnight raid carried out by the X-Raptors in which they stole a new class of fighter, the 'Raptor' in secret development and under Ultra Top Secret security. Somehow, they still knew about it, and made off with the only prototype of the experimental space fighter. Commodore Victor Rand, in charge of the facility had no comment for the press, and was unavailable for interview. Dead were Marine Sergeant Blake Ward, father of three, and corporals Chesery White, and Monique LaCrosse. Our condolences to all their families. OOC: inquiries to Plot, attention Miracleman. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/193 Posted Author Frankenstein's Monster Free Tue Apr 11 Reporter (Franky) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a story right out of grisly fiction book, a well intending mad scientist took the brain of the recently deceased along with various dug up body parts to meld them all together, bringing them to life in a singular monstrous creation. This is what happened to seventeen year old Crucible City resident Sunny Sunshine, a victim who was suspected of being killed in the Powered clashes during the N-Wars. The resurrection, apparently, caused severe brain damage and brought on amnesia. Due to extraordinary circumstances during the time of the N-War, Sunny was easily brainwashed by her savior. This led to a series of odd crimes over several years, which mostly involved theft of money, medical equipment, and bodies, with occasional collateral destruction on the side. Their crime spree came to an end after several bouts with Zero Hour, in which the team managed to subdue Sunny, who at that time was going by the ironic surname of "Franky." Two other members of the Doctor's gang also were captured, but apparently they managed to escape during a Powered break out. The Doctor is also still at large. Due to the rogue elements of the original criminal team still at large, Sunny is now under heavy surveillance by authorities, with mandatory check-ins for continued therapy. Sunny's father, Abbie, has taken custody of her daughter and has insisted upon her clean record before the crime sprees as an excellent student, a vocal member of the community, and a young activist who routinely worked with other youth toward such projects as food banks and environmental awareness and beautification projects. Abbie is currently the employer of Sunshine Foods, an all natural health food store. A few damaged by the crime sprees of the dubbed "Doc Malpractice" gang, or "Doc Mal" have insisted that Sunny's father pay for damages, but a Judge ruling has thrown out their cases. This reporter has been told by Sunny herself that she just wants things back to normal, and apologizes to everyone she indirectly damaged while under the influence of Doc Mal. And many, we are told, have already forgiven her. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/194 Posted Author Assassination Altercation! Thu Apr 13 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ APRIL 11 - Crucible City's South Side was again consumed with violence between a group of heroic Powers and a group of alleged assassins in the midsts of an attempt on the life of an unidentified man this Tuesday, according to sources. Details remain sparse regarding the nature of the situation, and the CCPD is withholding all information regarding the identity of the victim. What is known is that at roughly 10:30 PM, a group of local Powers, including the Indestructible Corporate, the Infinite Man, the Ineffable Shadowdancer, the Inimitable Shout, the Ionospheric Wind-Caller, and the Incomprehending Jester intercepting the group of assassins in the middle of their attempts and bravely managed to fend off the group. Some sources within the Police Department report that one of the assassins was even captured by the Indestructible Corporate during the course of the battle. Other sources allege that the group in question is the same reportedly involved in a string of high-profile crimes over the past few months, including the tragic assassination of Captain Aegis and the attempted theft of a priceless artifact from the Field Museum, which is currently being held under high security. One other member of this group, allegedly known in the underworld as the Seven Vipers, is being held in the Pound. It is believed that the current total of imprisoned 'Vipers' is now two, with the latest capture. This most recent outbreak of violence comes at an unfortunate time. Gang-related violence have, according to a report released by the CCPD, reached their highest rate since the late 70s. Petty crime is also climbing at a remarkable rate, prompting a heightened presence by both the CCPD and the City's Powered Protectors, an effort which, hopefully, will quell the storm brewing on the South Side. (( Questions? Comments? +request Plot, ATTN: Blue Beetle! )) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/195 Posted Author Volcano Halted In Millgate Wed Apr 19 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) An alarming new development in the advance of the botanical invaders was narrowly averted yesterday evening, and the lives of four captive police officers saved. The metal manipulator Dawnfire, protected by replicas of Supersonic, Lantana and Illustration, revealed new thorns as she summoned a volcano that, if it had erupted, would have wiped out most of Millgate and done untold damage to surrounding regions. Yet four heroes confronted the group, Major Momentum leading the charge with a massive ping-pong from opponent to opponent, and Capitalist, the Indestructible Corporate and Meeba swift to enter the fray. Harried by the clones and a threat to the fallen officers, the heroes were unable to interfere with Dawnfire before she completed her invocation, though Capitalist proved capable of zapping past her secondary defense shield. But as she prepared to leave the scene, Corporate tunneled down into the earth beneath the volcano in a valiant attempt to vent the magma. His efforts might have been for nothing had not Meeba created an aura of extreme cold over the surface; instead, combined efforts allowed them to drain away the critical pressure. Thwarted, and losing footsoldiers fast, Dawnfire teleported away. The mayor intends to make a public statement later in the week thanking the four heroes for their part in averting the disaster and rescuing the four officers. Authorities warn civilians to be vigilant and to watch the skies for gathering ash; they are not convinced this will be an isolated attempt. "The nature of this particular attempt, however," said CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd, "does drive home the point that this is an attempt to take over the city, not destroy it. If they had wanted pure destruction, they would have gone for a residential area or city central." Detective Shepherd also remarked, "Witness the laws of physics curling up and whimpering." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/196 Posted Author Eighth Wonder Heroes Save School! Wed Apr 19 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Headline: Eighth Wonder Heroes Save King Academy from Clone Marauders! Late last night a group of Clone Marauders gathered in obvious preparation to attack the famed King Academy, most likely for the advanced technology used in its day to day routine. Their attempt however never actually reached the grounds of the school as several heroes from the upcoming reality TV show 'Eighth Wonder' were on hand to foil the foul machinations of the ecological aberrations in their bid to take over our beloved Crucible City. In the fight Mentalist Neuronik, Gadget Girl Razorwing, and Eco Hero and team leader Hammerfist faced off against a clone of The Indestructible Corporate, as well as a trine of Supersonic clones, clearly the vanguard of a larger force, a precision strike team intended no doubt to smash through the school's defenses and allow a larger strike team to enter in force. The battle was vicious, and short, the Heroic Eighth Wonders taking out the clones in short order, and preventing the summons of any reinforcements with incredible efficiency. When asked about the fight, Hammerfist had this to say. "Well, THIS Corporate was quite destructible. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to base. Remember kids, Heroing is dangerous business. If you think you're in trouble, get an adult!" The Headmaster of the King Academy was not available for comment. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/197 Posted Author Watchtower Island Attacked! Mon Apr 24 Reporter (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) Late last night, sources indicate that an attack was staged on Watchtower Island by the forces of the Vila. Information is sketchy, though amazed observers indicated that they saw the Titan grappling with a creature that was his size or greater, resembling a creature of myth. Reports continue to file in that some members of Liberty Watch were injured, though none were slain. Not long after the attack, an explosion erupted high in space over Watchtower Island, visible throughout the city and much of the Northeastern United States. A more detailed report is said to be expected from the Liberty Watch. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/198 Posted Author Abductions In Crucible Mon Apr 24 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) After the heroes of Crucible City reclaimed the Crucible City Native News station headquarters for its rightful owners Saturday evening, authorities expecting a counter-attack called for reinforcements and formed an armed perimeter around the site. They were left completely unprepared for the actual response of the ecological invaders. Last night, even as the attack on Watchtower Island lit up the skies, small, quiet strike-teams broke into the homes of the police commissioner, the owner of the Crucible City Tribune, and the lavish hotel suite of the junior Illinois senator, trapped in town by the wind-wall. The officials were spirited away without explanation or any sign of where they might have been taken. A note of explanation showed up this morning, in a position no less alarming: it was left on the mayor's bedside table. The text as released to the press reads: "You have reclaimed your pulpit; now we will deprive you of voices to speak from it. We will not harm them until you give us reason to do so. "Pass this on to Mr. Malateux, also - he should remember that thus far, he has contributed more to our cause than he has damaged it." Among the frantic members of the police force attempting to get to the bottom of the abductions is CCPCU detective John Thera. "This is not blackmail or ransom - this is a message, pure and simple," he said. "They're trying to tell us they can reach anyone, at any time." Even as these occurrences darken the city, evidence arises to indicate that the Vila's forces are taking a firmer hold. The botanical clones appear to be seeding in secured areas. These seeds grow to fruition and "blossom" into new individuals on an accelerated timetable. In a footnote, the invaders have also completely covered the Harold Washington Library Center in phosphorescent moss, of which CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd has this to say, "I'm sorry, but the whole idea is irritating to the point of insult." (Scenes may now involve small maturing "fields" of clones, to your tastes, folks. Note that a scene is already in planning that will (unless they blow themselves up) lead to rescue, so keep that in mind if filing legwork.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/199 Posted Author Counterfeiter Foiled Sat Apr 29 Reporter (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Attempting to take advantage of chaos ensuing recent crises in the city, one Nathan Sadako, calling himself "The Paper Crane", attempted to illegally procure supplies for the even more illegal activity of counterfeiting, using a series of animated folded paper constructs shaped like tigers to steal the inks, paper, and other equipment neccessary for his scheme. The manager of a local branch of "Rasa Stationery" himself, he was unwilling to use his own company's products for fear that they would be traced back to him. However, he made the mistake of using their paper to make his tigers, which when defeated by Princess Electron and an unidentified female individual during a robbery attempt, were traced via watermark back to Rasa. Attempting to cast suspicion on another party, Sadako claimed in an investigation that a large amount of paper had been stolen from a break-in at the local company warehouse. When the two heroines (as the unidentified individual is suspected to be as such) investigated the warehouse, they discovered that the evidence of the so-called break-in was highly suspect, whereupon they were assaulted by The Crane who had apparently followed them in paranoia over their getting suspicious. There ensued a short scuffle before the would-be counterfeiter fled. Rasa Stationery denies all knowledge of the now-former employee's activities, his receptionist (newly appointed manager in his place) claiming: "He always seemed like such a serious, clean-cut, hard working man, with the most amazing faculty for origami." The current whereabouts of the Paper Crane are unknown. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/200 Posted Author Clouds Begin To Clear Sat Apr 29 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Details are sketchy at this point in time, but what is known is that ten heroes of Crucible City, divided into two strike teams, somehow gained access to what has been informally dubbed a "cloudbank headquarters," a power nexus and retreat for the villains following the Vila. Heroes Supersonic, Shooting Star, Major Momentum, Shard and Illustration went after the holding cells and the three individuals held there: the recently abducted police commissioner, owner of the Crucible City Tribune, and junior senator. After what is rumored to be a rough battle, the five returned triumphant. The former captives are badly shaken but unharmed. Meanwhile, Havoc Lad, Capitalist, Corporate, Jade Shadow and Spade went after the quasi-machines controlling the cloudbank's various facets. After lighting hard into the physical components, they found themselves locked in combat with a small but impressive cadre of villains. Though almost entirely stripped of their own equipment at the last moment, they took the upper hand. Though clone reinforcements were apparently on their way, with their secrecy compromised, captives free and systems crippled, the Vila stopped the perpetual whirlwind at the center of the power core and called off the remaining villains. In addition to Dust-Storm (Adam Trip), it can be assumed that Scarlet Thorn (Shenita Clovis) and Distortion also fled the scene. The heroes retreated only seconds ahead of the complete dissolution of the cloudbank as guiding winds failed and the entire headquarters broke apart. Yet several individuals were dragged off by the heroes and turned over to the authorities: Dawnfire, Dust-Devil (Allegra Wesson), Fade, Selenium and Surfeit (Saraid Caolan). Fade has yet to be identified, a process not made easier by the fact that most of his records seem to have gone missing. "It's not our fault," claimed CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd in touchy defense. Selenium has revealed another link, unmasked as Tuesday Simmons - affianced to former Prowler leader Wolfsbane (Benjamin Eckhart). Surfeit proved to have a small thorn-based implant in the back of her head feeding a mind control chemical, believed to have been inserted shortly after Lissa Lydell's escape. Authorities have declined to release further information as regards Dawnfire at this time, though they observe that Adriana Kemen was, in fact, a front identity. "We are looking at a villain with the foresight to realize that capture was a possibility, who created a second self to protect the freedom and reputation of her true identity," Shepherd explained. "Also an advanced mystic who was able to disguise herself by a small but significant change of true form - a disguise we couldn't neutralize because once taken, it had no unnatural component. Now that we know about it ... no, no more questions." The rescued VIPs have been secured in protective custody, to the relief of family, constituents and employees. In the wake of the cloudbank's disappearance, there has been a sharp drop in the number of new clone groups entering Crucible City, and their coordination has decreased. The wind-wall remains, still supported by the Vila's power - but surely the end is in sight. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/201 Posted Author Museum Mayhem Sat Apr 29 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MAYHEM AT THE MUSEUM Crucible City Sun-Times April 29th, 2006 Chaos erupted at the Field Museum earlier today when a quartet of Powered criminals attempted to break into the museum's artifact vault. The villainesses, each of whom bears a flower-inspired pseudonym, were thwarted by the Psychopomp, Karasu, Chance, and a new hero with a Mexican wrestling motif, as of yet known only as the "Iron Cat". Of the four would-be looters, three were captured. Orchid (LaToya King), Wild Rose (Gina LoPriore) and Daylily (Unknown) were apparently seeking to take advantage of the current crisis to steal priceless artifacts from the museum. Orchid and Wild Rose refuse to make statements at this time, while Daylily is apparently mute. King and LoPriore were identified due to prior criminal records; Daylily's identity remains a mystery. Their leader, a woman called Lotus, escaped the scene and is still at large. Witnesses describe her as a stately Chinese woman with long raven hair. Due to the failure of their scheme, precisely which artifacts they sought to steal (and for what purpose) remains unknown as of this printing. The CCPCU had no official statements at this time, but urges caution in this time of trial. Museum representatives could not be reached for comment. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/202-211 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/202 Posted Author Stolen Prison Car Found Mon May 01 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VILLAINESSES ESCAPE Crucible City Sun-Times May 1st, 2006 Two prison employees are dead this morning, found inside an abandoned transport car. The armored vehicle, en route from temporary holding cells to the Pound proper, was reported missing early yesterday evening. Jason Rourke, 45, and Wilson Bayers, 34, were discovered with their throats slit, stuffed inside the trunk of the hijacked vehicle. The transport was carrying four charges en route to the Pound for internment: LaToya King (known as "Orchid"), Gina LoPriore ("Wild Rose"), "Daylily", and Anne Milford ("Mrs. Robinson"). The former three were to be stored at the Pound pending trial for their attempted burglary of the Field Museum earlier this week, while the latter was headed back to her cell block following the finalization of her divorce. All four are still at large, whereabouts unknown. The CCPCU urges any with information to call the station, anonymously or otherwise. Representatives for the Pound could not be reached for comment at this time. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/203 Posted Author Paragon Returns Wed May 03 Reporter (Brandon) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) In response to an increasing number of heretofore unconfirmed 'Paragon Sightings' around the world, Paragon himself met with a small group of Crucible City reporters in an informal and impromptu conference early Tuesday morning to simply say that he had returned to Earth and would continue doing what he could to help those in need. A brief question and answer period followed. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/204 Posted Author Wind-wall Falls Thu May 04 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A tightly focused storm, a potent mystical disturbance, and finally an immense rush of displaced air causing a sonic boom over the city - these events last night were all directly related to the efforts of mystic heroines Chovexani, Moonlight and Sunshine Girl, whose ritual attempt to dispell the Vila's wind-wall was met with resistance not only by the collective, but by the original Scarlet Thorn (Shenita Clovis) and Distortion. They were accompanied by a clone of Jade Shadow and a small aerial fleet of Tradewinds. Luckily, the sorceresses had alien Serrin on hand as a guard; equally fortunate, heroes Burnout and Lockdown were in the vicinity. It was a bitter struggle to the finish, only increasing in intensity after the slumbering nature spirits of Crucible City, summoned by the sorceresses, heeded their requests to break the wind-wall. The Vila collective, having physically manifested within the swirling snow of a focused blizzard, marshaled their strength for what might have been a devestating blow ... but were attacked by the native spirits. The collective apparently scattered and vanished for the horizon as the heroes brought down the opposition. While the associated weather phenomena caught some in the city by surprise, broadcasts out of the Watchtower mere moments after the ritual began provided avenue for warning. Young Liminal member Distortion has been unmasked as Ariel Mieras, a Washington area professional chef involved in the disasterous ritual approximately two years ago that powered Catastrophe, Demise and Devolution. Mieras had, until this time, been presumed deceased in that event. Shenita Clovis, already sentenced for previous offenses, will find herself on trial again for her current actions and the murder of Pound guard Brian Heyman. CCPCU mystic expert Mary Messer noted to the press that the manifestation of the collective suggests they separated from host Irune Armando. "Whether it was meant to be temporary is immaterial here," she said. "The way the collective was driven away suggests there will be no reunification, or not an easy one. However, unlike Ritterman, Armando as Anaphylaxis has the resources and will to make trouble if she's still of a mind." On the scene, the sorceresses behind the ritual were outspoken in their views. "It's the responsibility of humans to work with the good of the world around them rather than against it," Sunshine Girl declared, "but it's their natures to grow and learn and build. Denying either is a crime, and the Vila learned that tonight." The long-absent Chovexani confirmed her return and added, "This is a message to all would-be trespassers. Nature will not allow itself to be abused." Serrin proved equally indomitable. "So, the mighty fall! Such is the price of villainy. You had better stay in prison if you know what's good for you," she said. And even Moonlight was caught voicing her own opinion: "Hah. Serves the bitch right, anyway. ... Wait, is that thing on?" With the wind-wall down, travel in and out of Crucible City resumes. A great deal of weeding will be necessary before O'Hare will be open to airline travel, but with the recent decrease in coordination and reinforcements from outside the city, these renovations are only a matter of time. Patches of clones remain in Crucible, frequently fortified in tight clusters; their responses, while less numerous, have taken on an air of desperation. Most reinforcements come from "fields" inside the city, but their number is also dwindling due to heroic intervention. "Clear? Not yet," said CCPCU detective John Thera. "But if we win, we're well on our way back to normalcy." "This city is ever normal?" wondered his partner, Aaron Shepherd. (*For those who didn't read the whole report: wind-wall is down. Attacks are dwindling. Normal city affairs are increasing. Clones are still runnable if desired.*) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/205 Posted Author Flower Girls Strike Again Sun May 07 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LIBRARY IN DISARRAY Crucible City Sun-Times May 7th, 2006 In the wake of the Vila's invasion of our fair city, businesses all over have been pitching in to help with recovery. The public library had offered a daycare day, so that parents could see to their places of business as shops reopened all over town. It was a peace that was not to last, as storytime was assaulted by the as-yet-unnamed girl gang responsible for the recent attack on the Field Museum. Luckily, heroes answered the cries for help. Detective Cleopatra Fox of the CCPD, Supersonic of the Liberty Watch, Team Zero Hour's Lady Paramount, the bold Brass Monkey, and the inimitable Jester were on the scene. The nefarious group was led by Orchid (LaToya King), recently escaped from the Pound in the hijacking last week. With her were an Arabic swordswoman called Magnolia, a fair-skinned, dark-haired woman called Azalea, and an unidentified shapeshifter. Heeding their orders were approximately thirty women in violet robes, each carrying a ceremonial dagger of some sort. These 'cultists' were captured, though their leaders escaped through the teleportation abilities of compatriot Daylily. Library employees and patrons who witnessed the attack report that the main skirmish was in fact a diversion. The woman called Lotus, ostensibly the leader of this group of femmes fatales, was spotted exiting through a window, carrying an aged, leather-bound book. It is not yet clear which book was stolen, or what purpose it could serve to these mysterious women. The thirty robed minions are in the custody of the CCPD, pending interrogation. Detective Fox has sworn to see to this matter "personally". ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/206 Posted Author Nazi Power & Cohort Captured! Tue May 09 Reporter (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This post was lost in the shuffle after I moved last week, I apologize for not posting it sooner. Headline: Nazi Power Villain and Cloned Son Captured in Lab of Horrors! Renowned Nazi war criminal Sturm, alias Doktor Amelia Angstrom and her genetically engineered son, Drang (Dieter Angstrom) were captured in heroic action by the heroes of the recently formed Power Hero Team 'Dusk Investigations' while rescuing one of their own. What they found was a nightmarish lab of evil in which Doktor Angstrom apparently had been performing illegal experiments on human test subjects involving both genetic manipulation and eugenics, the funds for the experiments believed to be revenues from Cat-5 licensing to various crime cartels as well as Cat-6 production and sales. The labs contained nearly a dozen women who had been repeatedly impregnated against their wills in the Doktor's mad experiments to create a genetically perfect Adam & Eve to supplant homo sapiens. Essentially 'Herr Doktor' has embraced a wider philosophy for a master race than that espoused by her former compatriots the Nazis. None of the victim's names have been released to the press, they are currently undergoing therapy for the long term abuse they suffered. Also in the lab were dozens of what can only be described as genetic horrors, mostly non-sentient, they are the mutated and deformed offspring created by Doktor Angstrom's studies. Rescued from the labs by her team mates was Power and Vice Cop Corrine Abbott, though details of what she suffered in the labs were not forthcoming. Participating in the resuce were Power Heroes Signature, the leader of the team, The Statistic, Shooting Star, and Thaumaturge." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/207 Posted Author Chalice of Ishtar Stolen Wed May 10 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRICELESS ANTIQUE STOLEN Crucible City Sun-Times May 10th, 2006 The Daughters of the Lamia, a flower-themed cult, struck again yesterday afternoon, attacking Heritage Jewelry in an attempt to steal a priceless jeweled cup. While hostages were taken, including Detective Cleopatra Fox of the CCPD, they were rescued following the intervention of Team Zero Hour's Corporate, Havoc Lad, and Grease Monkey. Witnesses also report the heroic assistance of a bizarre, humanoid mass of talking insects. The villainous Orchid (LaToya King) was again at the scene, this time accompanied by three unidentified women (including a psychic of some kind) and two known to police - the identical twin mercenaries Wild Rose (Regina LoPriore) and Camellia (Rosalie LoPriore). The latter two are currently in custody, while the rest escaped via some sort of teleportation. The Chalice of Ishtar, an antique golden cup inlaid with rubies and diamonds, was to be the centerpiece of a new display at the jewelry store. Representatives for Heritage Jewelry had no comment at this time, and it is unclear as yet why the cultists would steal said item. The Indestructible Corporate urged caution, imploring civilians to aid in finding the women who escaped. "Also keep an eye out for a chalice of some kind, which may be an ancient artifact of unknowable power, or possibly just very valuable," Corporate said. "If you find the Chalice of Ishtar, you should call local law enforcement or the Zero Hour helpline (1-800-0000) immediately. Do not under any circumstances use it as a 'pimp cup,' no matter how you may be tempted. Who knows what dire powers that could unleash right in your face!" At this time, the chalice is not known to possess any sort of magical power. In Crucible City, however, it is only a matter of time before something explodes. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/208 Posted Author Natural Selection Fails Wed May 10 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Authorities are officially declaring the recent crisis concluded after a pair of occurrences recently came to light. First, the wide but anonymous distribution of an otherwise harmless chemical has halted the ability of current botanical clones to re-seed, signaling the end of any effective resurgence. In addition, many of the present population seem listless, worn out, as if affected by a bad cold. Certain groups have tried to flee the city, but have been cut off from escape. Second, late Tuesday evening, Dust-Storm (Adam Trip) unexpectedly showed up at the Pound with the apparently former host of the Vila collective, Irune Armando (in other guises known as Anaphylaxis). Severed from the spirits during the ritual that dispelled the wind-wall, Armando had a relapse of the terminal superscience illness that originally retired her from Allergy Attack. Rumors run that the surrender was part of a deal made between Dust-Storm and a small group of heroes. This has not been confirmed. In any case, controversy is expected surrounding Armando's condition and the desirability of sustaining her. "You can't knock Crucible City off its feet," CCPCU detective Aaron Shepherd observed. "You might say we've evolved past that." ((OOCly: Thanks to everyone who participated in this plot in all its stages! Crucible City is now officially clear of these natural nuisances. Rebuilding or cleaning up is left to your discretion. I've left it up to those responsible for this last bit if they want to step up and take the blame/credit. For those who may have noticed the presence of a certain villainous botanist in the loose ends, rest assured I will handle that after I've had a long break somewhere sunny. ;-)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/209 Posted Author Harvey Street Battle Mon May 15 Reporter (Cleopatra Fox) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HEAVILY-ARMED GUNMEN TARGET CRUCIBLE COP Were Mercenaries After Murder Evidence? A routine evidence collection assignment for a CCPD detective turned into a spectacular running gun battle that covered over a mile of Harvey streets yesterday. Detective Cleopatra Fox, one of several Major Crimes officers assigned to the Stallard murder-for-hire investigation, was returning to the station with a trunk full of documents and computer records when she was attacked by a team of heavily armed mercenaries. Fortunately, the Statistic, Topaz, Havoc Lad, Shadowdancer, and the Shooting Star were in the area and could respond, some at super-speed, hearing the high-caliber gunfire. Over 20 arrests were made and $10,000 in weaponry was recovered from the scene, including assault rifles and laser-guided rocket launchers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the origin of the weapons, and sources say that the group, well-trained and well-organized, must have cost an enormous amount to field. Civilian injuries were minimal, despite a running gun battle that took place through a busy industrial neighborhood at the height of evening rush hour. Eyewitnesses say that the assailants included several on motorcycles with submachine guns, a truck full of heavy artillery and an ambush set up by several men with assault rifles. "This only goes to show that the Stallard investigation goes higher and farther than we previously realized." said a CCPD spokesman. The evidence was not harmed in the fight and it is currently being analyzed at a secure location. "The Department is grateful to the heroes of Crucible City for their outstanding work in protecting its officers, the evidence she collected, and the citizens of the city." said the spokesman. Fox herself could not be reached for comment. Among those arrested were at least two highly wanted criminals who had evaded the FBI for some time, indicating further organized crime involvement. They will be arraigned in federal court on Wednesday. (( Questions to Cleo. Thanks to all who participated. )) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/210 Posted Author Etc Etc Enquirer Mon May 15 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) ... Crucible City Enquirer reporter Allison Lamont, vigorously active during the recent crisis, has officially been declared missing after a forty-eight hour absence. While there is presently no evidence to suggest that Lamont was removed against her will, authorities suspect the involvement of mercenaries Scales, Nigredo and the Lexicon, who attempted to kidnap the woman in late March - or rather, the involvement of whomever bankrolled the trio. "Alternately," cracked a reporter from a rival paper in a stunning display of pettiness, "she needed more sick days." ... ... Young multi-millionaire Wallace June (Remake), released from the Pound last month, has been making up for lost time: able once more to work hands on with his holdings, he has started a radical restructure of company policy. June controls the Crucible-City-based research and development division of June Technologies Incorporated, the lucrative company controlled by his father, Wallace June (senior). Though Remake was part of Timewriter's inner circle, his lawyers made a compelling case for the cult's undue influence and earned him a light sentence. June has been public with his intentions of avoiding Calandre March; on one occasion, he rather sharply declared, "I have absolutely no interest in whatever ridiculous sideshow she's peddling now. March laughed off the remark. "The poor man had to plead feeble-mindedness," she said. "I wouldn't dream of troubling him." ... ... A detailed autopsy report in the death of fourteen year old Tara Simpson raises more questions than it answered. Quietly determined by police on the scene to be a suicide, Simpson's death was assumed to be the result of a five-story fall from her family's apartment building. Autopsy indicates, however, that the damage of the fall was post-mortem, and that furthermore, her neck was not broken in the impact - someone or something snapped it by hand, also after death. "So we have an individual trying to cover up the actual cause of Tara Simpson's death," remarked the coroner, "which is - so far as our lab has been able to tell - absolutely nothing. There is no sign of the fatal injury." ... (Feel free to request if you're like, and I may well answer, but I'm not back - just updating. ;-)) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/211 Posted Author Grave Robbery Thwarted Tue May 16 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A GRAVE SITUATION Crucible City Sun-Times May 16th, 2006 The latest bizarre heist orchestrated by the Daughters of the Lamia reached a new level of depravity yesterday, as the villainesses and their strange minions attempted to dig up a grave in the Deerfield Cemetery. Thanks to the timely arrival of Team Zero Hour's Corporate, Havoc Lad, and Grease Monkey, along with Detective Cleopatra Fox of the CCPD and the heroine called Shout, the graverobbers were routed. Though damage was done to the surrounding area in the conflict, cemetery authorities assure us that no bodies were disturbed and the damage to various mausoleums and headstones will be repaired swiftly. "There are a lot of freaky, disrespectful things people can do in this town," Grease Monkey remarked, "but man, grave-robbing is right up there." Four of the superpowered cult leaders were on the scene, including the now-infamous Orchid (LaToya King), who was stunned by a direct hit from Team Zero Hour's vehicle, the Hypermobile. She was accompanied by the shapeshifter called Iris, the toxicologist Azalea, and a teenage girl called Gardenia, apparently the youngest of the group. Twenty of their mute, robed female followers were also present. Orchid and Iris escaped through the intervention of team teleporter Daylily, but Azalea and Gardenia, along with the twenty lesser cultists, are now in custody. Azalea has been identified as Rachel Goldberg, 20, the daughter of a prominent Crucible City banker and a medical student at UCC. Representatives for the Goldberg family had no comment at this time, though sources close to the parents say they will likely aim for a defense of brainwashing. Gardenia, a knife-fighter with the ability to render herself invisible, has been identified as Joy Stahl, 16, an orphan who vanished from her foster home in 2005. Stahl has a record of drug possession and solicitation for prostitution - she will be put on trial following psychiatric evaluation. The grave targeted belonged to an "Eve Norea". Curiously, no body is interred there, and there is no record of an Eve Norea ever living in Chicago. A jeweled crucifix was in fact buried at the site, and it has been handed over to the police department pending investigation. The Daughters of the Lamia have become a top priority case for the CCPD, and officials urge vigilance among the general populace. A spokesman for the department also noted, "This pernicious cult is more a gang of organized criminals than a legitimate religion and the outrageous claims of religious persecution made by the ACLU are absolutely false." Heroes on the scene were quite incensed by the nature of the crime. "I don't know how much more clearly I can put this," said the Indestructible Corporate. "When you are a supervillain, there are a few things that it is not okay to mess with; namely: children, cops, firefighters and churches. Graveyards fall under the church category. I strongly advise that supervillains stick to giant lasers and mutated lizard monsters - the results will be less distressing for the civilian population, you will gain more respect from the better sort of evil genius, and the beatings will be less severe when I catch you." Sidekick Havoc Lad seemed more concerned with the state of undress presented by the cultists, who wore nothing but an amulet beneath their silk robes. "I recommend that anyone who is gonna practice villainy should seriously consider wearing underwear - preferably clean ones - before committing crimes against man and nature. Because, seriously, it's super awkward dealing with naked foes." ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/212-221 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/212 Posted Author Explosion at Crucible Blastworks Sun May 21 Reporter (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Tribune) Fireworks lit up the sky in the late evening yesterday at the Crucible Blastworks warehouse in a fire allegedly started by superpowered criminals. CCFD units were on the scene within moments, but were not prepared to meet the criminal elements that police believe were responsible. While most of the firemen were able to escape without incident, the three powers managed to take a hostage each. A brief shootout between police and the henchmen employed by the arsonists was only broken up by the arrival of local powers Atom Lass, Jester, Lars, Princess Electron, Solar, and Sparkle C. The six did battle with the firestarters within, protecting the city from what the CCFD described as 'a very bad situation'. The fight consumed most of the warehouse and virtually all of the fireworks, many of which were apparently destroyed as a safety measure by the heroes. Due to their actions, authorities were able to take all twelve henchmen into custody. With the 4th of July coming up soon, this couldn't have come at a worse time. "We had half our stock in that warehouse. We'll recover, but the sheer maliciousness of this just makes me crazy." said a Blastworks employee who wished to remain anonymous. Crucible City Blastworks declined to make an official comment. (As always, +Request Is Your Friend) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/213 Posted Author Kidnapping Averted Wed May 31 Reporter (Cleopatra Fox) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A group of Powers assisted the CCPD in stopping the abduction of a boy of seven last night by a previously unknown psychic, who used powers of illusion and telekinesis to carry the boy to an abandoned house, where his followers attempted to stymie the raid. Famed legacy heroine Miracle Girl and newcomer Wind-Caller were on the scene, as well as CCPD's Detective Cleopatra Fox, who was en route to the kidnapping scene when she spotted the boy being taken away from the neighborhood. Other Powers were also involved, but could not be reached for comment. The police took several strangely mutated suspects into custody and the Department of Works confirmed that it removed the carcass of an unknown creature from the burned-out attic with hazardous materials containment protocols. "It had tentacles and giant eye-stalks and there was radioactive goo leaking from it." said one insider at the department. The purpose of the kidnapping remains a mystery, but it seems clear that the boy was to be forcibly recruited into the malformed organization. A police department spokesman said "We will stop at nothing to bring the mastermind behind this crime to justice." (( Questions to Cleo. Thanks to the Revenant, Genie, Miracle Girl, Wind-Caller and Keane. )) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/214 Posted Author LW Helps in Harbor Horror! Thu Jun 01 Reporter (Sunshine Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Tuesday evening, the harbor came under assault as a number of ships were attacked by what appeared to be giant masses of water animated from the lake itself, injuring six crewmen. According to witnesses, the water creatures were primarily attacking two cargo ships owned by the Michigan Steamship Company but a number of smaller craft were in harm's way. Fortunately the damage was minimized when Liberty Watch members Titan, Supersonic, Illustration, and Moonlight intervened. Titan lifted the ships clear of the aquatic assault while he and Illustration fought the creatures, and Supersonic rescued smaller craft before joining Moonlight in apprehending the mystic who allegedly summoned the elementals. As the suspect was taken away, Titan had the following to say: "Not really a lot to say here about this one, folks. From the looks of it a crazed elementalist who probably thought that the recent events involving the weather made Crucible City easy prey for his tricks. But our newest member, Moonlight, really took it to him while the rest of us did damage control on the docks and I'm glad to have her aboard." Illustration was more personal: "This was obviously a sad, sad cry for attention. So, let this be a lesson for all you socially-inept losers out there: you can make waves without, uh, actually making waves. Just relax. Get out more. And don't wear cheap, tacky suits while trying to sink gigantic ships, because that's just tragic." The summoner was later revealed to be Nelson Volkmann, formerly legal staff for the Michigan Steamship Company. He has no recorded past as a Power, and according to a statement given by his lawyer, he has no memory of what had transpired and is "clearly a victim of mind control or some other cruel circumstance." Volkmann is being held in the Pound pending further examination and a preliminary hearing. (Send all followup requests to Kim) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/215 Posted Author Club Attacked Under Cover of Darkn Mon Jun 05 Reporter (Protofire) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last night the popular nightspot The Bright Quark was attacked by a gang of vicious oriental thugs, led by a woman who could reportedly control shadows and darkness. Witness reports are hazy, but it is believed to have been the work of the Yakuza. However, due to the prompt and quick action of two unnamed heroes, there were no casualties and property damage- whilst extensive- was kept to a minimum. Police are urging anyone who has further information to contact them as soon as possible, and are currently investigating the matter with as much thoroughness as they can. (Possible followups? For more information talk to Jim) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/216 Posted Author English Angst Sat Jun 10 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Lissa Lydell, daughter of Allergy Attack members Pollen Count (Casimir Stanislav) and the late Silver Manx (Elena Lydell) and artificially aged forward by the ecovillains who recently attacked Crucible City, has just been declared a legal adult by the British courts. This decision makes her eligible to inherit the bulk of the Lydell holdings and removes her from the guardianship of Dr. Cornelia Avernus. Avernus has been under suspicion of involvement with the eco-villains, but with most of the evidence evaporated into hearsay, it seems likely the case will be dismissed. "Lissa is one of the prosecution's strongest witnesses," observed Richard Firth, Avernus' attorney, "yet the mental and emotional state of a ten year old thrown at circumstances adults would have trouble dealing with is absolutely not reliable. This individual who has been tenuously tied to my client is known to have an indefinite appearance. It's not at all impossible that the young lady simply placed a familiar - and false - face on her abductor." His point has been helped by the fact that the court ruling insisted Lydell have regular psychiatric counseling. Lydell was offered a position with a UK-based hero group, which she turned down. "I've met some good people in the past few months, when I honestly thought there weren't any left," she explained her decision, "but I have no faith in the heroic community's ability to do the right thing. I don't even think I have faith that it wants to. I'm genuinely relieved that I no longer have to be ruled by someone who thinks they have my best interest at heart, and I mean to keep it that way." Despite the sidelong jab at her former guardian, Lydell declined to comment further on her testimony. Lissa has made clear her intentions of staying in contact with Casimir Stanislav. "We have a lot of issues to work out, but he's still my father. If nothing else, we have mum in common." Dr. Avernus recently resigned her position as part of a cross-disciplinary team out of the Hunt Institute in Philadelphia. "I'm moving back to Greece as soon as this nonsense is over," she said. One of Avernus' estates is in the city of Larissa; she has already made extensive arrangements for her return. (Legwork? Research? "HEY!"s? +request to Plot) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/217 Posted Author Attempted Hijacking Foiled Mon Jun 12 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HIGHWAY HAVOC HALTED Crucible City Sun-Times June 12th, 2006 While the city reels from the current crisis, the Pound has belatedly released a statement on the attempted hijacking of an armored transport earlier this month. On June 2nd, the Daughters of the Lamia made a bold attempt to recover Joy Stahl, 16, the imprisoned cult figure known as Gardenia. Stahl, an orphan with a history of substance abuse and prostitution, has renounced the group and agreed to work with the authorities following the intervention of Team Zero Hour's Havoc Lad. "He really talked some sense into me," the teen told reporters. "I didn't realize just how careless I was being with my life, and just how easily I let these women convince me they were looking out for me." The super-strong Orchid (LaToya King) was again at the scene, though the assault was notably directed by the leader of the cult, an Asian woman referred to by the others only as "Lotus". Assisting in the attempted kidnapping were the cultists Black Violet, Daylily, and Iris. The women were foiled by the heroic efforts of Team Zero Hour, who had been following the Pound vehicle in case of just such an occurrance. The shapeshifting Iris was apprehended, and has been identified through DNA testing as Sophia Adler, a former CIA agent. "While prisoner transfers are traditionally considered the weakest link in the security chain," said the Indestrucible Corporate, "I feel confident that our new system of following the prisoner in the Hypermobile and beating any interlopers into a thin, viscous paste is working well thus far. Not only did we retain the prisoner - who, I might add, seems to thoroughly regret her earlier sacrificial devil-worship behavior and is showing signs of eventually becoming a model citizen - but we also captured one of the cultists who were trying to kidnap her back into their sleazy sorority. This was a definite win for the good guys." ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/218 Posted Author Retrofit On Campus Fri Jun 16 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) As Crucible City undergoes its traditional wake-of-disaster recovery, authorities are more on edge than usual over a sighting of superscientist Retrofit (Martin August) on the University of Crucible City campus early last night. Security guard Ben Muller called in, attracting the attention of local heroes Lifefire, the Secret, Chance and a mysterious Genie. About to pursue, they were interrupted by villains Phonon, Alternacy and Lateral, who declared their intentions to keep the four off their leader. They succeeded, doing serious damage to the heroes, but not without cost: though Lateral, using borrowed chakra grounding powers, sunk into the earth out of sight, Alternacy and Phonon were handily subdued. Retrofit disappeared as soon as the heroes closed into sight, taking with him a UCC sophomore - whose recruiting is his only known reason for showing his face. While the villains were in transit to the Pound, the transport was hit by electrical controller Apparatus, who managed to snag Phonon's arm before teleporting out again. Alternacy has been unmasked as Ivan Kiros. Badly injured in the Nazi War, significant damage to his nerve system was repaired by a group of minor superscientists, including the installation of a mechanical golden eye. Kiros has so far clammed up and refused to speak to anyone, so it is unknown how he and Retrofit crossed paths, though it is suspected the connection goes back to the War. Information regarding the vanished student has been surpressed at her family's request, as she is a minor. "This was a risk for August, one whose full reasons we haven't come close to deciphering," observed CCPCU detective Belle Murray. "With Kiros in custody, at least, we have a shot at finding out what is going on." (Questions? Investigations? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/219 Posted Author Mysterious Sinkings! Mon Jun 19 Reporter (Miracle Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mysterious "Monster" Sinkings Plague Great Lakes Crucible City Sun-Times Ohio (AP) - When Brett Stevenson fishes in his family boat - passed down for 35 years - it's not just a living, it's a lifestyle. "I lived aboard that boat.", said Stevenson. "You get out there on the lake, and all the crazy stuff that happens in the cities, like that Starkiller freak, you don't think it can ever touch you." But Brett was wrong. "I was just out there, when my whole net gets snagged, and suddenly the whole body li... it tilts, and I'm stuck trying to free the net. Then I'm in the water, and by the time I came up, the whole ship'd flipped right onto its deck! And there were tear marks, like I'd run aground, but everybody knows that water's clear of things for a miles!" Stevenson isn't the only one to run aground in the middle of the lake. Another two mysterious sinkings also occurred in Lake Ontario, far from any shore, sandbar, or island. "As I was trying to free the net, I saw a large black shadow moving under the ship. I don't much believe in lake monsters, but something sunk my ship!" With those sinkings, sailors and fishermen are convinced there might be something in the water. Authorities, however, aren't convinced. "Our boats are out there, with sonar and radar... if there's something down there, we'll find it.", said a Coast Guard representative. "From our experience, lakes are a lousy place for monsters to hide, even the Great Lake. There's just no place for them to go, frankly." Aquatic Canadian power Holy Mackerel has also been on the investigation, putting in plenty of nautical miles to solve the mystery. "I can talk to fish, I can see underwater, I emit sonar from my fin, look, there is no way something like that can sneak about down there. It may look all mysterious from the surface, but when you can see for miles down there, it's like something trying to hide in Kansas." Still, concern remains. For the people affected by these sinkings, however, there's no mystery about it. "Look, that boat was my life.", Stevenson said. "There's not many superheroes to protect us out there from these crazy things, and somebody's gotta do something, before whatever's down there does some real damage." (Queries? Clarifications? @mail Miracle Girl) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/220 Posted Author In other news... Mon Jun 19 Reporter (Regan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Android kidnappers escape from prison Crucible City Tribune June 10th, 2006 During the chaos and confusion of the initial flooding in Crucible City, two prisoners escaped from police custody. Self-proclaimed 'Symphony' and 'Gigas', the two androids were in the middle of a transfer to a government research facility for study, as part of a plea bargain for a commuted sentence. Both took part in a daring raid on the Pound late last year, kidnapping Doctor Randolf Rinne from his cellblock. They were stopped before they could leave Illinois, and they had no criminal record prior to this even. "We were ambushed, see, and just by one person. Didn't even get to see what happened... the vehicle was armored, yes, but the prisoners were fitted with suppression restraints, and we didn't figure on an outside attack," stated Rodney Byrnes, CCPD. "It's a miracle nobody was hurt, beyond a few scrapes." The suspects are considered armed and dangerous due to their artificial construction. If spotted, contact your local police department. [The article includes photos of the escapees, as well as grainy security camera footage of the alleged accomplice. One is a tall and slender man, vaguely reminiscent of a steampunk marionette with a faceless mask. 'Gigas' being a sleek broad-shouldered machine with a single slit for an eye, looking straight out of a bad 1950's sci-fi magazine cover. The accomplice visible only in silhouette, faintly female in outline.] ===== New comet discovered by Japanese astronomers Crucible City Sun-Times June 16th, 2006 The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan today announced the discovery of a previously-unknown comet. Currently unnamed, Comet P/2006 R3 is belived to be an exceptionally-long period comet, with an orbit taking over fourty thousand years. "Unfortunately, it's hard to predict its exact orbit, as it's almost certainly been gravitationally purturbed by Jupiter before, and will be so again this orbit," said Scott Mcculley, NASA researcher. "We currently think this will be the last time this comet is visible to earth, as its current orbit is likely to send it out into deep space. The closest approach with earth is also in excess of two hundred million miles, so it's no risk of an impact." Sadly for avid starwatchers, between P/2006 R3's apparent dimness and its expected distance, it likely won't be visible to the naked eye, but should be detectable by high-powered binoculars or hobbyist telescopes. ===== (Obviously, both articles are accurate and related, but there's quite a bit of hidden detail. @mail inquiries to Regan, if curious.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/221 Posted Author Fortean Times Mon Jun 19 Reporter (Nautica) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A FORTEAN TIMES EXCLUSIVE!!! One of our anonymous sources has supplied us with this fascinating and disturbing information. It appears to be a section of a handbook or informational guide written by parties unknown, about a terrifying alien foe. WHY is the Shadow Government keeping this secret? What could they have to gain from our helpless ignorance? Is it simply that they fear the natural panic of a people under siege? Or is it... something MORE SINISTER?? We here at Fortean Times believe that the Truth must be known, and we are making this information available to you, our Loyal Readers. Learn from it, and when the time comes, you may be ready for the invasion... or the One World Government's takeover via mind-controlling thought-devouring extraterrestrial monsters! But perhaps I've said TOO MUCH!! Read it yourself and decide! -- David Sutton, Editor Faceless Gropers: What Do We Know? Appearance and Behavior Faceless Gropers are strange extradimensional entities which come from the Hungering Void, a parauniverse of darkness. They occupy the Void but seem to reproduce and grow outside their own dimension. A Groper is a roughly humanoid shape, having two arms and two digitigrade legs and black rubbery skin. Each limb terminates in a four-fingered hand. Gropers' joints are all ball-and-socket, and they can reconfigure and stretch or squeeze their bodies radically. They can walk on any pair of limbs, all of which are prehensile. They have a prehensile tail used for gripping, swinging and balance, and a pair of folding membranous wings. Faceless Gropers have only a vague suggestion of facial features, hence the name. They prefer darkness to light and cold to heat. Upon dissection, Gropers appear to lack any meaningful internal structure apart from their skeleton. All of their organs are either liquid-filled sacs or fibrous masses of a uniform oily texture, lacking differentiation. Gropers have no discernable neurological, circulatory, digestive or respiratory systems. Their bodies lack any orifices. They do not appear to hear, see, smell, eat or excrete in any conventional way. It is possible that these processes are carried out on another plane of existence, or that the Gropers are simply a form of life that we, being singly-dimensioned life, can not fully comprehend. Lifecycle The lifecycle of the Groper is not fully known. Larval Gropers are small creatures found in the Hungering Void, standing about four feet tall and weighing approximately seventy pounds. If they should escape into realspace through a rent or gate between our dimension and the Void, they can pupate. First a larval Groper will capture a living human being, subduing him by "groping," which relaxes and lulls the victim. It will then force itself inside the human through one of his orifices, typically the mouth. Although Gropers are themselves man-sized, they seem to be able to reduce their own mass, or occupy unreal spaces. Their pandimensional nature may allow them to accomplish this. The possessed victim will then seek out a cold, dark place, such as a refrigerator, to hibernate. They sleep there in a comatose fashion while the Groper changes the victim's body into Voidstuff, wherein the Groper changes form. When its pupal stage is complete, the Groper sheds its human body, now just an empty skin, and assumes its mature form. Mature Gropers are roughly one and a half times the size and weight of their larval form, and grow further as they age. Their physical strength is significantly increased, and they display hypnotic patterns on the interior surfaces of their wings which they can use to paralyze prey. They are better able to stand sunlight, although they still prefer to operate at night, possibly due to their dark coloring. They seem to be somniovores, feeding on dreams which they gather at night from sleeping creatures. They prefer the dreams of more intelligent animals, such as humans, to those of lesser animals such as dogs or pigs. The process of dream-drinking does serious harm to the physical and mental health of their victims, with results identical to sleep deprivation, but exaggerated. Control Methods After an outbreak of Gropers into our dimension, it is important to follow up patterns of mass behavior which suggest the presence of Faceless Gropers and exterminate them. Some common examples are a rise in traffic and industrial accidents due to microsleep sessions, an increase in missed work days, and in violent crime and domestic disturbances, especially where the perpetrator is judged to be suffering from a psychotic break. See "Sleep Deprivation, Psychosis and Mental Efficiency" (Stanley Coren, Ph.D., Psychiatric Times) for more detailed changes in behavior. Gropers will range widely across the countryside, but eventually nest close together, in one or two buildings near or inside the city where they find their prey. Gropers are flammable, but take some time to burn down to immobility, during which they can cause significant property damage by bumping into other flammable objects. They are not bulletproof, although their ability to absorb physical damage increases as they mature. They can fit their bodies through extremely small spaces, and can strike from great distances by extending their limbs. Do not underestimate their ability to escape a trap. Groper extermination teams should never allow themselves to be split up -- adult Gropers are intelligent beings and are easily able to understand flanking and decoy maneuvers. If one member of the team should be isolated, they could easily be hypnotized and abducted by Gropers while their teammates are distracted. Always watch your teammate's back, and be ready to take action if they become hypnotized. Surround a Groper from opposite sides so that at least one team member is not able to see their wings. If you are alone, close your eyes! You may be able to find and hit the Groper with your weapons by using your other senses. Do not let them touch your face! A Groper will attempt to pull your eyelids open so that you see its wing patterns. And above all, BE CAREFUL. With good sense and deliberate caution, a nest of Gropers is no match for trained para-exterminators or power-heroes. Requests go to Kendrick! ============================================================================== +bbread 12/222-231 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/222 Posted Author Music Review: "Spring Morning" Mon Jun 19 Reporter (Sunshine Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer, Sunday music reviews) It's easy to be cynical when a celebrity of some other stripe tries to branch out into a musical career, and Powers are no exception. While Prince Primeval's foray into hip-hop showed that even such an ancient and infamous man can still find the beat of today's culture, and while a few rock and pop stars have later been revealed as Powers, most more heroic forays into the music scene have been surprisingly tepid. Even those few who showed some talent never kept long enough at it to develop into solid musicians, as demonstrated by the brief singing career of Rocket Lad before leaving the public scene entirely. Couple this with the demographics clearly targeted by an album by a thirteen year old self-proclaimed magical girl, and it should be no surprise that I among many greeted Sunshine Girl's "Spring Morning" album with a healthy dose of skepticism. I'll give the verdict quick and simple: it's not that bad. This isn't to say that fans of musical depth and developed vocal talent should rush out and buy this, as it's young girl pop from the upbeat title track right through the adolescent sadness of "Empty Promise." The lyrics are simple and sweet and the accompaniment unadventurously capable, but both serve well enough to showcase Sunshine Girl's admittedly developing singing talents. She's young, and anything but a seasoned vocalist, but she shows a little promise. While a couple of tracks exposed the amateur she still is, others including the fanciful "Light and Destiny" give some hint of the musician the young heroine might develop into. If music ends up more than one line on Sunshine Girl's checklist of celebrity tasks she could be a talent to look out for in the next few years, but only time, tours, and future releases will say for sure. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/223 Posted Author Witchhunt in Crucible Tue Jun 20 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) A mysterious altercation in Lincoln Park Monday evening leaves more questions than answers after mercenary villains Lexicon, Scales and Nigredo, working for an unknown individual, accosted the Speyer Witch (Ghislaine Hamlin) - a displaced seventeenth century Power arrested for her part in the abduction of Melisande Lyons and since believed to have been controlled by outside forces. The Witch fled from the Pound last week. On the scene were four local Powers: Supersonic, the Shadowdancer, Shooting Star and once villainous Franky Stein. Some of them recognizing the Witch, they confronted the mercenaries, and the scene soon devolved into a fight. While Supersonic and Shadowdancer quickly double-teamed and subdued the sorcerous Nigredo before he could loop some kind of chain around the pinned Witch's neck, an invisible Lexicon slipped in and did it for him. Once so adorned, the Speyer Witch burst out of the force dome formed over her by Shooting Star and turned to her former attackers for help. With their goal apparently accomplished, the remaining two mercenaries moved to retreat. Only Franky managed to land a solid blow on Scales, but even with that, the heroes were unable to prevent him from reaching the women, whereupon the trio teleported out. Nigredo was left, pinned under another force bubble. Unmasked as thirty-five year old Corrado Pietro, Nigredo has been working as a villain for hire for several years, and long ago gave up any vestige of mundane life or employment. He seems philosophical about his current incarceration, and has showed no inclination to discuss his employer. "It isn't done - and it is dangerous," he commented. "I don't think you understand how far some people can reach." Thus, why the mercenaries were sent after the Speyer Witch and by whom remains unclear; it would seem, however, that the winged sorceress can be firmly considered a dangerous figure. The Shadowdancer, caught by one of the Enquirer's reporters, put it this way. "So, uh. If you see any crazy winged German chicks, please contact the authorities. They are probably not Valkyries." (In other news) Angeline August-McIntyre, better known as the sorceress Gualichu, lost her final appeal to remain joined with her possessing spirit this Monday, a battle which has been in continuous legal wrangling since December. The spirit will be removed at the Pound later this week; both will be arraigned shortly thereafter. "This is a case of massive proportions, involving nothing less than tampering with the thread of reality," commented one of the district attorneys. "Now that this shennanigan is over, the work can begin." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/224 Posted Author Monkeys Amok! Wed Jun 21 Reporter (Meeba) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monkeys Go "Ape" At Crucible Zoo Crucible City Enquirer By Michael Radison Crucible City crisis writer CRUCIBLE CITY - Things were supposed to be a enjoyable night out for the employees of PodCo, a local shipping business. Having arranged a dinner-and-show at the Lincoln Park Zoo at some expense, people were enjoying the unusual treat. And then, the monkeys came. Simians of all sorts - gorillas, gibbons, chimps, monkeys, and more - broke loose from the monkey house, attacking the visitors and employees alike. "It was like nothing I'd seen.", said Joel Mitchell, a worker in the monkey house. "They worked together better than monkeys ever do - hell, better than humans do. Before I knew it, I had a chimp beating my head in with a feeding bowl. I don't know if I can go back to work after that. I just can't." Other employees are unnerved by the incident, which seems to run counter to every known fact in biological science. Reports of them manning vehicles, operating tranquilizer rifles, and even 'hunting' some of the fellow exhibits are alarming indeed. Thankfully, however, local heroes Brass Monkey and the Revenant were on the situation, rescuing both polices and the injured from the rampage. Actual damage to the zoo seems light, with some fire damage to the Park Place Cafe, and a number of damaged exhibits. Zookeeper Leonard Maxwell commented on the incident, "I think it was a one-time incident - there were some sightings of a white-furred chimpanzee I didn't recognize, so maybe some super-ape is behind it all. To be honest, this whole thing reminds me of the so-called 'Hundreth Monkey Phenomenon'. That book was thoroughly debunked, but I definitely think there was some kind of group learning effect going on. These monkeys and apes were learning at an abnormally fast rate, and thankfully whatever trigger event caused it seemed to pass. We're going to have to close the monkey house for awhile, though, until we and local authorities can be certain this won't be a repeated incident. I apologize for the people hurt by this, and we will be providing free year-round passes to those present for the company picnic." Meanwhile, authorities are still on the lookout for the the few escaped specimens, and urge anybody who sees one of these escaped apes to report it immediately. Furthermore, they warn not to try and feed or befriend the animals, as even normally they can be prone to unexpected aggression. (@mail Meeba with any questions!) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/225 Posted Author Chemical Plant Fire, Robbery Thu Jun 22 Reporter (Captain Marvel) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) Police, firefighters, and Powered heroes responded to a fire at the VRC Industries chemical plant Tuesday, preventing a potential toxic catastrophe in the wake of a multimillion dollar robbery. According to witnesses, a dozen armed robbers dosed the plant staff with a disabling gas before making off with forty cakes of a valuable industrial catalyst. With the staff incapacitated by the gas, several equipment safeties failed, leading to a small fire and minor releases of chemicals. While police arrived on the scene too late to catch the attackers, local powers the Royal Jester, the Infinite Man, Liberty Watch sorceress Moonlight, and the mysterious Genie were able to arrive in time to rescue the staff and stop the fire and overloading equipment. According to VRC researcher Dr. Nelson Zane, the catalyst stolen was worth several million dollars and was the product of a months-long project. He added that the gas used appeared to be an unusual psychoreactive but was not yet identified. As of Wednesday morning, EPA and CSB crews were investigating the incident, but initial reports showed no significant releases of dangerous substances into the city. There is presently no information on the identity or whereabouts of the criminals. According to police, they were last seen last in four white vans departing plant grounds and headed toward the center of the city. (Send questions or investigations to Plot.) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/226 Posted Author Armored Car Robbery Foiled! Thu Jun 22 Reporter (Reggie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Sun Times, page 10; Tribune, p 8; Daily Herald, p 3; USA Today, p 22) HEADLINE: Armored Car Robbery Foiled, One Dead Just after the dinner rush the northern outskirts of Chinatown in the restored Fairvale area of Crucible City was the site of a bold robbery attempt by wanted felon Shiver, the Bad Vibe. Diversey Security had contracted to parties undisclosed to move a special delivery to Madsen & Sons Jewelers using state of the art security measures deemed to be 'nigh unbreakable'. All was going well until the time came to actually make the good transfer from the armored car to the Jewelry store, at which point vibration powered Shiver made her presence known by brutally slaying one of the guards from Diversey Security, and demanding the surrender of the shipment. On hand to intervene were Power Heroes Shooting Star, the Android heroine, Starfall, said to have gravity powers and great strength, the Mysterious Thaumaturge, Master Blaster and wisecracking hero all under the leadership of Signature, the rather unique lady leader and ultimate chatty Cathy in charge of Dusk Investigations which all of the above. On hand also was an unknown woman wielding a powerful handgun. In the fray that ensued Starfall was critically injured, though he later recovered and helped with clean up. The villainess had allies disguised by means unknown that immediately took hostages. Fortunately the heroes and heroines of Dusk Investigations and their allied heroine took swift action to prevent not only the robbery, but any further loss of life. Though Shiver did escape, she did so empty handed. The slain security guard, Anthony Marcus was survived by his daughter Rachel, and his son Cesar. OOC: Requests to Reggie OOC: My thanks to Regan (Shooting Star), Bess (Enigma), Sigourney (Signature), and Damien (Thaumaturge) for a very fun scene. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/227 Posted Author American Heritage in Gems Thu Jun 22 Reporter (Bess) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Buried somewhere in the middle of the Living section of the local papers) Heritage Jewelry lives up to its name with its latest display, 'First Ladies, First Gems'. Part jewelry store, part museum, Heritage Jewelry opened in January with the promise of visiting displays that would change throughout the year. The first display 'From the House of Faberge' closed last week after an extended run. The new display features jewelry on loan from a wide range of musuems, bringing together in one place jewelry owned by Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mary Todd Lincoln, Edith Wilson, and Mamie Eisenhower. The exhibit is expected to run for three months. ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/228 Posted Author Heroes in Cuffs and on TV Mon Jun 26 Reporter (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Crucible City Enquirer) The Crucible City Police Department is buzzing after a bewildering incident Sunday afternoon ended with renowned hero Quintessence turning himself in for an attack on fifteen year old Cariole Vitalis. Authorities on the scene were stunned, even incoherent. "Putting cuffs on Quintessence? My career would be over," young officer Perry Erlander said. According to a few bystanding teenagers shopping in the ritzy Gold Coast commercial district where the incident occurred, the scene started off no less ambiguous. Quintessence, with heroes Shadowdancer, the Swarm and Dr. Zenobia Petalas, interrupted a confrontation between the Vitalis trio of Cariole and Gemma and Isaac, thirteen year old twins, and Retrofit associates Phonon and Chirality (Felicia Prentice), both loudly protesting that the other side had initiated the attack. Yet upon questioning, the heroes seemed to have sincere doubts about the claims of the Vitalis three. Cariole grew insistent, trying to push them into attacking the obvious villains even as she refused to answer ever more pressing questions. Finally, the girl spun to lead the small family away, with a vicious and emotionally loaded remark that apparently prompted the trio of shots from Quintessence. "Didn't even hit her," one of the bystanders reported, "but then - I don't know what happened." That statement seems to sum up the rest of the incident, as Cariole struck back with a blast of fire, her siblings leapt to her aid, and both sides seemed absolutely confident they were acting in self-defense. In the confusion, Phonon and Chirality teleported away. During the brief encounter, Isaac Vitalis hit the Swarm with a beam that temporarily reverted the insectoid mass into a human woman that one bystander swore up and down was Dr. Zaidah Khedoma, co-host of "The Hidden World." These rumors are unconfirmed, awaiting a response from the studio, but officials stress that the reliability of such heat of the moment reports are extremely low. "For all we know, they just have the same hairdo," Erlander observed. After a thorough questioning of those involved, the authorities decided to excuse the matter and released all parties. Aurelian Vitalis, adoptive father of the three children and affluent billionaire, had the following to say. "Family is deeply important to all of us. My children would protect each other come what may, and I am confident this was nothing more than a terrible mix-up. I am, however, frankly disturbed and alarmed at the trigger-happy nature of Crucible's defenders ..." The Shadowdancer's comments, however, cast a potentially more ominous light on the situation. "I worry about the state of our city when kids are dabblin' in infernal magic," she said to reporters. "Now I ain't sayin' there was any serious hoodoo goin' on, but trust me ... it's my job t'know the smell of hellfire, and those kids were messin' with some dangerous, dangerous sorcery. I urge their parents, whoever they are, t'take a look at whatever grimoires are on those bookshelves." "Oh, I'm absolutely sure any foul grimoires of sadistic, unholy magic are safely locked up in my study," Vitalis responded drily when told of the claim. "I need some light reading now and again between ritual sacrifices." When approached about the allegation that she and the other heroes present were in fact assaulting minors, Dr. Petalas replied, "*Someone* needed to spank them. They probably enjoyed it. Frankly, so did I. And I recorded the entire engagement." After shocked silence, she continued, "What? Wha-- NOT LIKE THAT! I just meant ... children need and appreciate having boundaries!" Eva Vitalis, better known as the famous European seer the Visionist and the children's aunt, refused to speak to reporters. There is no word whether the Vitalis family intends to pursue civil charges. "What we are looking at is a matter of misconceptions gone terribly wrong," said CCPCU detective Madison Stanowksy. "Quintessence, to his credit, was willing to take the burden of those mistakes, and the heroines involved in this incident acted with swift assurance towards what they saw as a threat. We can't ask anything more from them than that." "Well, we could," said the bystander who claimed to have seen Dr. Khedoma. "We could have more tarantulas." ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/229 Posted Author Advertisement Tue Jun 27 Reporter (Duncan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WE ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THE GRAND OPENING OF: THE FOUR COLORS RESTAURANT AND DANCE FLOOR! Friday, June 30th, 5pm-Midnight The first one hundred customers get half off their dinner! Semiformal attire is required; no jeans and t-shirts, please! We are located in Arlington Heights at Route 14 and Vail, across from the Cineplex-Odeon Cinemas; parking is available to the rear of the building, as well as at the nearby Scalia Parking Garage. OOC: Friday, 6pm EST until the cows go home! No villains or evil unless staff gets bored and decides to crash the party. Food, drinks, music, dancing. All ages welcome; youthful looking characters will get carded at the bar. ;) ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/230 Posted Author Supers Stop Science Show Scare! Tue Jun 27 Reporter (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CRUCIBLE CITY TRIBUNE -- Wednesday, June 28th Alec Parsus, super-scientist and showman extraordinaire, recently unveiled his latest invention -- the 10th Dimensional Doorway, a device that he says "links all locations, times, and dimensions" -- at a flashy Lincoln Park demonstration. Parsus, a super-scientist known for his showmanship and trend-setting fashion sense, is a major celebrity in Europe and Japan, especially after unveiling the NaYes, the nanotech-based development that Parsus claims can bridge the gap between science and magic and render the two indistinguishable in Tokyo late last year. The great showman drew a massive crowd to the unveiling of the doorway, which he promptly used to open a door to a temperate world in a parallel dimension ostensibly uninhabited by intelligent life. Parsus chose the subject of his demonstration for its most remarkable landmark, a tree as thick as Manhattan Island and many miles tall which Parsus believes is somehow connected to early human myths of the Great Tree, Yggdrasil. Parsus has reportedly not compared his findings with the various Norse deities inhabiting the city, who have differing claims as to the identity of the Great Tree. The demonstration went off the rails, however, when countless similar doorways opened up on the other side of the door. A brave volunteer from the audience, one Jonni August, was stranded on the other side but was freed with timely help from local heroes Major Momentum and Chaplin. A young man pictured here (Synapse) also reportedly helped Parsus "stabilize the time dilation field" in order to secure the heroes' return from the other side of the portal, which was closed before any of the visitors from other doorways could enter our dimension. All of the other doorways reportedly carryed different versions of Miss August from other dimensions, numbering in the thousands. "It's rather remarkable," Parsus was later quoted as saying. "The odds of so many other dimensions visiting simultaneously are miniscule. Almost unimaginable! A googleplex to one! But it happened. Perhaps it wasn't coincidence, but at the same time, perhaps it was. It's amazing. I must look into the phenomenon, excuse me." When asked what the purpose of the doorway was, Parsus responded, "I want to prove to all the world that we are, all of us -- regardless of who we are, where we live, or when we live, in any time and any dimension or galaxy -- all of us are neighbors. And perhaps tonight's oddity proves it." << Follow-ups? Curiousities? Questions! +request to Plot, Attn: Blue Beetle! >> ============================================================================== ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/231 Posted Author Bookstore Bedlam Wed Jun 28 Reporter (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CULT STRIKES AGAIN Crucible City Sun-Times June 27th, 2006 The Daughters of the Lamia launched an attack on a secondhand bookstore yesterday, in a successful attempt to steal an apparently worthless volume. Cult figures Orchid (LaToya King) and Black Violet led the assault, with forty robed minions in tow. They were later joined by the enigmatic Lotus, leader of the cult, and the teleporter Daylily. Opposing the machinations of the sinister squadron were Sunshine Girl, Matrix, Sidestep, Genie, The Psychopomp, Team Zero Hour's Capitalist, and an unidentified disguise artist who somehow infiltrated the group of cultist minions as they entered the store "Sorry about breaking your city again," said The Psychopomp, after using a cement truck as a bludgeon to knock the invulnerable Orchid out of the battle. There was some superficial damage to the surrounding area, but authorities are confident it will be quickly repaired. Ms. King's unconscious form was quickly shunted by the hero into a dimensional portal, and from there to the Pound, where she remains in custody. All forty of the robed minions were apprehended by the other heroes, while Lotus and Black Violet were spirited away by their comrade Daylily. The object stolen was, apparently, a first edition copy of "Lamia", a poem by John Keats. This particular copy was worthless due to its shoddy condition, but occult experts say it may hold significant symbolic value to the cult. "Keats brought Lamia back to prominence as a figure," said UCC Women's Studies Professor Rebecca Stein. "He made her a household name again, and really brought home the connection between Lamia and Lilith, which is clearly something these women have been focusing on, if you look at their past crimes." Thanks to the cooperation of former cultist Joy Stahl, positive identification of the remaining cult leaders has been made possible. Lotus herself has been identified as Mara Li Zhao, 31, a Chinese expatriate and professional assassin. Black Violet has been identified as Delilah Adams, 23, a New York resident missing since October 2003. Daylily has been identified as Chastity Mason, 19, a teenage runaway missing since August 2004. ( @mail requests, legwork and inquiries to Naamah ) ============================================================================== +bbread 12/232-241 ========================== IC: Crucible Periodicals ========================== Message: 12/232 Posted Author Monkeys Attempt Hijacking! Wed Jun 28 Reporter (Meeba) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monkeys Attempt Hijacking Crucible City Enquirer By Michael Rad