Our intrepid adventures are waiting in the amazing library of Dr. Avery’s Mansion. Dr Arcane is expected at any minute to appear and express why they have been summoned. Not wanting to continue to tower over the doctor, Joshua finds for a seat that might handle his triple-dense body. Offering another to Adamas, the three continue their conversation while awaiting Dr. Arcane. While waiting the man from MEDUSA paused momentarily before the book that was written in human blood. Then he kept walking.
Socially at ease, he made careless, joking small talk with the others to break the ice. “Looking good, Rose. Vacation suits you. Just be careful you don't get too much solar bombardment."
"Adamas, you don't dream?! Do you sleep, big fella?"
"Windblown, relax. Have a drink. This promises to be alotta fun."
Cmd. Rose smiling warmly says, “You okay Flagman? I know you got "the Commander's" sense of humor but those jokes make Letterman sound funny? How is the old bastard anyway? I suppose there's no chance he's tripped over that ego of his and broke his neck yet?”
Agent America smiled and said with mock incredulity: "You still carrying a torch for the Commander?" He gave his head a rueful little shake. "You shouldn't let those guys get in your head like that. Make you lose your cool again."
Suddenly all feel a new presence enter the room. At first, no one could see who entered until they looked up. Floating above them, even with the second story of books, was Dr. Arcane.
Cmd. Rose thinks, “Oh great another cape. Well you got to give him credit, he made a great entrance.” Quickly activating the recording functions of the holo-pad, Joshua concentrates on Arcane’s presentation and the other’s reactions.
“Welcome all. Thank you for answering my summons. I have need of adventurers to help save our world. Artifacts of great strength are being sought out by villains.” With a wave of his hand, images appear around him and start orbiting. Looking at them it is easy to identify what they are by shape but not their significance. There are 6 objects: 5 scrolls, 1 scythe, 1 gemstone, 1 Orb, 1 statue of a serpent or dragon, and a Cloak.
Cmd. Rose thinks, “Artifacts? Villains?”
“I would retrieve them myself but my power is waning and I must conserve it. Where in the past I would travel with you, alas I cannot but I will guide you. Here take these”
Suddenly appearing before each of you is a medallion on a chain and it is floating. “Put it on. The medallion and chain are enchanted. It will stay with you and no one can take it from you unless you will it. It will disappear from sight if you desire. It will provide you access past the wards and protections on the house. I will be able to speak with you whenever needed.”
The Teleporting Strongman thinks “hmm … waning power? … and what just is he conserving his power for”, hefting the amulet in his hand Joshua makes eye contact with Agent America. “Put it on” … uhm no. I know he’s been at this for years, but I’m not blindly trusting anyone anymore. Especially someone this pompous and pretentious”.
The six objects stopped moving around Dr Arcane. The statue was in front of him. “This is the Dragon of Juompur. It is hidden on the island of Juompur in the South China Sea. This small Iron statue of a worm-like dragon is kept in a temple near the Juompuran rainforest. Go to the temple and retrieve before the other beats you to it.”
Agent America asks, “Villains? What villains?”
Dr. Arcane vanishes.
Activating the holo-pad’s proto-Cybil program Joshua starts multiple cross-referenced searches for all references for Joumpur, the 6 holo-pixed artifacts – locations past and present, the “Domain”, and associated individuals and organizations to all the above.
Dr. Avery clears his throat, “Each year he gets worse about that.” Dr. Avery stops speaking. He is looking at those who have not put on the medallion. “Let me guess you had no idea what you were looking at?”
From the doorway, you hear “Imbeciles”. Joshua turns his head quickly enough to see Pietor walk way.
The man from MEDUSA says to Avery with a smile, “That briefing was a little brief. I’ve got some questions:
“Who are the others that will beat us to the temple?
“How much time have we got?
“What’s “The Domain?
“Who are Arcane’s sources on this intel?
“Who owns the temple we’re about to rob?”
Before Dr. Avery can respond the holo-pad responses.
Juompur response is ready. No history of Domain found but several fictional references, acquire fictional references Y/N.
The Blue Transportation Mogul says, “If anyone’s interested this is a quick overview of the destination Dr. Arcane has suggested we “visit”. A holographic data display appears in the middle of the table for all to see.”
Juompur Data
Juompur is currently disputed between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and Vietnam, with Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines also making claims. It was briefly controlled by France and quickly protested by China in 1887. It was later used by Japan as a submarine base in 1939. As of today Juompur is loosely administrated by the Republic of China. It is the only inhabited island that does not have an active military base on it. The Capital City is the home of the fishing industry and mineral exploration companies.
The CIA and U.S. Navy state it is a pirate influenced island and their presence is the reason for no military installation. MEDUSA indicates that the Talons of the Jade Emperor use the island for staging its smuggling operations. All countries give the island a wide freedom in latitude because of the Talons influence.
Cmd. Rose said to Dr. Avery, “I would appreciate some explanation as to why the mere presence of Pietor or for that matter being on your grounds has left me light-headed since the moment I stepped through Pietor’s portal?”
Turning toward Agent America the man known formerly as DarkStar says, “So Arcane? Master of the mystic arts he might be, but not much of a strategic or tactical thinker from the looks of it so far is he? I’m betting destroying the damn thing’s not part of the good doctor’s game plan either for some reason. Let me see what more information Cybil comes up with and maybe we can do a proper briefing with the others in a few minutes.”
Looking down at his holo-pad, Cmd. Rose watches in abject horror as it turns into a snake. While he is not afraid of snakes the transformation is so stunning he almost utters “my precious” but catches himself. Then in further shock he notices that his hands are not blue! But the flesh color they were before his change. His clothes didn’t fit right either. Feeling faint, Joshua estimates that he is now 5’5” tall and weighs about 220 lbs.
Looking up in stunned silence he notices for the first time that Dr. Avery had moved. He is on the other side of the room and there is an Orb in his lap. It is different in color and size than the Orb Dr. Arcane had shown them. This Orb is glowing.
Dr. Avery does not look like the kindly old grandfather and scholar that everyone had taken him for. With a stern look and stern voice, he speaks. “Behold, the Orb of Ch’andarra. Its powers of transformation are legendary for those knowledgeable in the mystic arts. To declare someone is a ‘Master of the Mystic Arts’ but is not a strategic or tactical thinker shows that the speaker has no understanding of what the Mystic Arts are or what it takes to Master it.”
Blindsided by Dr. Avery’s magical assault, Commander Rose checks on the other three heroes’ condition. Seeing they’re okay he focuses all his attention on the doctor. “What the hell’s going on? Arcane disappears and suddenly Avery attacks?”
“Maybe your power has gone to your head Commander Joshua Rose, so without your power maybe you can clear your head enough to listen. To tell Pietor you ‘respect’ me and then pull this mutiny in my very own house. I guess I should have listened to Alexi more about you. Instead I thought you were a Champion and Champions never do well in the military establishment. Maybe Alexi was right about you.”
“Now what was your question ‘I would appreciate some explanation as to why the mere presence of Pietor or for that matter being on your grounds has left me light-headed since the moment I stepped through Pietor’s portal?’ Mere presence of Pietor … Is that all your great intellect can attribute it to, even after he created a magic portal? If you weren’t so busy playing with your holo-pad you would have heard Dr. Arcane say, “The medallion will provide you access past the wards and protections on the house.” Pietor, my ever frustrating student, place a spell on you which prevented your mind from focusing so you couldn’t teleport. The effect of the magic spell is why you feel light-headed! The grounds have the same protection. No one can teleport, Astro-travel, fly, tunnel, or materialize on the grounds without my consent!
“I will answer your other questions Agent once I know you are committed. You are not interviewing us for the Quest. Joshua, as far as your precious Cybil research is concerned all possible villains or information will come up as fictitious as Gandalf.
This is Hallowed Hills children!
This is not a military operation. If you don’t believe in magic and expect this to be run like a congressional committee then drop your medallions and leave.
“Make your decision now, I have to find replacements and get them to the Temple in less than 4 hours or the first artifact will be lost and the Domain will have access to our world. Curse the hides of the Forgotten Ones! I never had this problem with the Super Society, the Indestructibles, or the Crusaders. Maybe I should just get The Chosen to handle this.”
Dr. Avery wheels himself out of the room.
“Where the hell does he think he’s going? I wouldn’t let “the Commander” get away with his so-called experimentation on me, I’ll be damned if some old man in a wheel chair is going to. . . focus Rose . . .”
Agent America watched as everything went sideways. His entire mission was going belly up before it even began. He wasn't going to infiltrate a superhero team because there wasn't going to be one!
Cmd. Rose is angry! He starts to throw the medallion across the room, and then pauses. “Okay, time for brains instead of brawn.
The meta-human mole tried to get things back under control, "Hold on, Avery! That big bulletproof blowhard is one of the most powerful members of the team! You need him! Maybe even the world needs him.
“Now change him back. Nobody's uncommitted. We just need more Intel so we can increase the mission's chance for success. Everybody take it down a notch.”
“We've got four hours. Now Avery, what villains? Please tell us what you know. I'm not interviewing you. We need to know what you know and now... for the sake of the Quest!"
Okay. It was a bluff with more than a little bluster, especially that last part, but he hoped he could defuse and redirect. The whole damn mission was hanging by a thread!
The Naval Commander applied his genius IQ to the situation. “This medallion will prevent wards and protections from affecting me, what about transformation spells?”
Slowly he raises the chain over his head and places it on. With a wicked smile, he sees that his hands are blue and his clothes fit. “Now it is time for a little chat with Dr. Avery and Dr. Arcane.” He focuses on both of their images. In a gust of wind the Blue Man Mountain is gone!
A scream is heard from the pool. Pietor comes running into the library. “What happened in here? Rose has just taken Doctor Avery away. Hannah screamed and fainted at the pool.” All the remaining adventurers run outside to revive Hannah.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Avery and Cmd. Rose reappear. Both are laughing. Dr. Avery says “It has been years since I have been to the top of Mount Everest! I never knew the view looked that way when you are hanging upside down!” Both see the others; both give a slight nod to each other.
Dr Avery rolls his wheel chair over to Hannah. He talks privately with her. Cmd. Rose walks over the others, the holo-pad chimes that it has finished all its searches. The Teleporting Strongman gives a slight wince that no one notices.
“I beg your pardon doctor; I need to handle a couple things while you brief the others. I won’t be a moment.” Commander Rose is careful to make sure he makes it to his assigned quarters before he teleports out of the mansion.
Dr. Avery clears his throat. “You had some questions for me, right Agent America. What were they again? Ah yes.
“Who are the others that will beat us to the temple? We don’t know who they are. I can think of 8 occult organizations and 4 freelancers on this side that would want to. I know of 5 entities within the Domain capable of contacting this side to try to attempt to find someone willing to sell their soul for power.
“Whoever did this is either very powerful or experienced in magic to overcome the Dr. Arcane’s cantrips and wards without exposing who they are. The statute serves only one purpose to open a portal so the Domain can enter. So anyone capable of getting there has to be stopped.
“How much time have we got? 4 to 5 hours
“What’s “The Domain? It is a dimension that has tried to conqueror us multiple times throughout history.
Examples are:
1334
Ameodeus (a Minor Prince of the Domain) strikes a bargain with the Magi of the Black Rose. The Magi use the signet of safe travel to open a doorway into the Domain. The Templar Knights successfully defeat the Magi of the Black Rose while the Order of Sceva sends the foul beasts of the Domain back through the portal. The original Chosen are selected from the Order of Sceva’s ranks to protect the signet and guard against future attacks from the Domain.
1497
The Indestructibles travel back in time to battle the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the greatest warriors of the Domain.
1931
Easter Islander Glenn Jacco makes a pact with Domain demons, almost becoming ruler of the world before he is stopped by The Chosen.
Those are a few of the best known incidents.
“Who are Arcane’s sources on this intel? He has cantrips designed to warn if entry into the temple is attempted.
“Who owns the temple we’re about to rob?” The Nightmasters and the Templar Knights both lay claim to it.
Dr. Avery looks at those still with medallions in their hands. “Please decide whether you are going to accept the gift. If you reject do not leave either my or Pietor’s side. If you do the house will kill you.
“If you need to know more you are welcome to read the books here. Nowhere else will you find more information on the Domain than here. I would say take your time to decide but in less than 5 hours the Domain will gain a new functioning portal into our world if we do nothing.”
“Please decide.”
With a muffled Whoump of displaced air DarkStar teleports back into his assigned room, stepping out of his quarters he makes his way to the pool and rejoins the adventurers. Loaded down with jungle survival gear for four people and now dressed more for the jungle than the beach Commander Rose takes a seat next to Hannah. Whispering in her ear he passes her a small package. (Those with sensitive hearing or the ability to read body language can easily tell Big Blue is apologizing for any discomfort his actions might have caused the young lady). Looking up with a comfortable smile he addresses the others. “So who’s in?”
Windblown nods slightly to the others and places the medallion around his neck and then it disappears from sight.
Adamas reaches out to grip the medallion, thinking to himself, I've little use for magic, but if I'm to save this world, I suppose I will have to follow the lead of some of its more experienced heroes. I've heard of this Dr. Arcane, and everything I've heard leads me to believe he serves the good. He places the medallion over his head. To his companions, "I may not be of this world, but I have no intention of letting the Dominion or anyone else do anything that might harm it."
