11943/Sorcerer's World - The Latverian Incursion

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Sorcerer's World - The Latverian Incursion
Date of Scene: 10 July 2022
Location: The Borders of Latveria
Synopsis: While the Latverian scouting mission might have run into some unexpected trouble, Felix Faust once again sabotaged himself and inadvertantly revealed his plans.
Cast of Characters: Hal Jordan, Hyperion, Natasha Romanoff, Zatanna Zatara, Wanda Maximoff




Hal Jordan has posed:
The border with Latveria has been both quiet and stable for the past week, ever since the brief expansion was halted by the SHIELD agents on site. Along with the help of a couple of Avengers of course. And the assisting hand of Victor von Doom remarkably enough. Apparently losing his kingdom to Felix Faust has made the Latverian monarch a lottle more open to working with others and tolerating outsider presence in his one-time nation.

Just a little.

While the threat of the expanding borders might have been temporarily halted what is undeniable is that so long as Faust remains in charge on the otherside of the shimmering, magical wall of light that has surrounded the otherwise small European nation, his threat cannot be discounted. The possibility of those borders starting to expand once more, to envelop its neighbors remains a threat.

The reality is also that they do not know enough about what is going on the other side of that mystical barrier. The refugees that have escaped and those SHIELD agents who returned from fighting off that incursion have all made it plain that technology and science fails once on the far side, once in Latveria proper. Modern weaponry reverts back to what would have been available a thousand years earlier. Guns become bows or swords. Cars become horse drawn carts. Mordern medicines are reduced to pouches or herbs or a bottle of leeches.

Beyond that barrier magic rules and it's rules are absolute, overwriting even the universal laws of nature.

Of course, that is not the only threat, given that those same refugees have carried stories of impossible, fantastic creatures of all sorts. Goblins and ogres, gargoyles and dragons. All seem to exist on the otherside of that shimmering wall. And all seem to answer to Faust.

Which is why it's past time that a little recon was done to find out just what awaits them. Just what forces Felix Faust has at his disposal, waiting to be marched forth. And, if possible, what can be done to stop him.

Seeking out some signs of Latveria's former monarch may be no bad thing either. The enemy of my enemy and all of that.

Once of those that has gathered is a member of the JUstice League. Few have more experience in dealing with the mad mage then them. Especially as of late. The Green Lantern soars out of that blue sky above, landing in that field that lays before the shimmering wall of light that reaches towards the heavens. He eyes it, giving a small shake of his head and his eyes dart down to the ring that encircles one of his fingers before glancing back over to his shoulder towards that backpack he carries there. Call it an insurance policy, if the magics of Faust are enough to snuff out the power of a Green Lantern Power Ring.

Looking around at the others assembled, Hal arches a brow. "So. Are we doing this?"

Hyperion has posed:
    Fellow League member, Hyperion flies in at Hal's side. He's one of the newer members of the League, and is always seeking ways to help and prove himself trustworthy. Today however, he has ditched his golden cape, belt, and boots. So he is clad in only the black bodysuit with some black utility boots to go with it.

    He is hoping that as his power comes from his Eternal physiology, he will not be rendered useless. But being that the enemy is using magic... his most common weakness, he has no idea.

    But he has a lot of experience in the field.. back in his home universe at least. The most useful ability he has for recon are his Hyper-Senses. Senses that he is putting to good use even as he lands to try to peer beyond the barrier. Eyes that can see for miles as if he was right there, that can see the entire Electro-Magnetic spectrum. Ears that can hear the footsteps of a squirrel from half a mile off if he focuses. But most days, he wears the glasses Reed Richards invented to dampen his senses so he is not overloaded. Not today however.

    Silently, he looms near Hal like a sentinel statue... staring in the direction of the barrier.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff is here because it was her mission. Her assignment. And one that she would see through. Because between the demon you know and the devil on your back.. Best to go with the known one. Doom was a known quantity and profile. Faust was an entirely different thing. And whatever had been -done- to Latveria was a threat to the planet i fleft unchecked. Natasha never left any job unfinished.

So here hse was with the other group going along here to try and make another strike in at dealing with the threat. "We can't fight our way past eveyrthing no matter the amount of power at our disposal. We'll need to hopefully find a weak point where we can break through and go after the energy source itself." Fortunately, they have plenty of firepower with them. Whether or not they can even the odds.. They have enough to cheat.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
A violet line shimmers in the air; it widens and lengthens into a doorway filled with light until a dark shape emerges. First a neatly booted foot, then a dark-suited leg. Zatanna seldom wears stage clothes to a fight and never to one that threatens the existence of Europe, and, in turn, the world.

The magician was one of the few to have fought alongside von Doom in the last engagement, she no more willing than he was. Nevertheless, the threat outweighs her well-placed distrust. For now.

No novice with magical creatures or the topsy turvy feel of magic straining tight against the fabric of existence, Zatanna points to the barrier, looks at the others, and gives Hal a deep nod. "Let's do this!"

Hal Jordan has posed:
What the designated scouting party might lack in sheer numbers is more than made up for by the potential power gathered in front of that shimmering wall of mystical energy. At least if Green Lantern and Hyperion remain unaffected, their power far more than Earthly. Zatanna at least should have no issues. Indeed, she might even find her powers enhanced on the far side of that barrier. And Natasha? Well, she doesn't rely on her tech so much as her skill. And of all of them she is the only one to have a taste of just what they might encounter. Experience counts for a lot at any time.

That shimmering barrier has thwarted the best technology that SHIELD has at it's disposal. Sensors, satellites or mechanized drones, none have been able to provide them the slightest bit of intel of what's going on in Latveria. Those supersenses of Hyperion are another matter. The distortion from that wall of light makes seeing anything difficult, regardless of the spectrum, but those ears will hear the dozens of heartbeats of creatures spread out across the far side of that barrier, the sentries in place to give warning if any should cross.

That is enough to guide them to a spot that might let them slip past those guardians without being spotted. Not that it is likely that there is anything on the far side that can stop them, not one on one certainly. But they are more likely to gain information if they can avoid a fight. At least at first.

"Well, here goes nothing then," Green Lantern says, flashing a brief, cocky grin towards the rest of the team. And then in oh so fearless fashion he strides into that rainbow light, the energy washing over him as he disappears from view...

...and emerges on the far side. The bright blue skies and sunlight of the other side of the border has been banished, washed away. Instead the sky overhead is dark, iron grey clouds blotting out any trace of the sun. Ripples of lightning rolling through those clouds and ominous thunder sounds. Ahead, no more than a dozen or so yards the ruins of a forest stand, burnt trees blanketing the ground. The remains of the SHIELD team's encounter with a dragon. But beyond that there is cover enough.

It's all very diverting, to take a few steps and find the weather completely changed. But Green Lantern finally drops his gaze back to himself... and finds himself very much without his customary uniform or ring. He's just plain old Hal Jordan -- except that instead of the jeans and t-shirt he had been wearing he is now in a homespun tunic and pants of muddy brown, and some rather ill-fitting boots in pretty good disrepair. "Ugh, this is embarassing," he comments, immediately unslinging that pack -- the modern backpack replaced by a much cruder hide version -- which he immediately begins to rifle through.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff goes through with the others. This time she has a long sword on her back, one of Clint's bows (minus the trick arrows), some daggers laced with poison.. She moves to take out a small telescope from her pocket, going to scan along and up into the air. This time looking for monsters ahead if she can get a solid sweep of the area.

"The last time we went through here we came through an engagement of armies. Be alert for anything passing by." She would look to Zatanna, "And if you think you can give us some defenses against whatever nature is -innate- to here, it would be excellent." She offers to the normally fishnet clad magicienne. Now.. Now is the time to get their bearings and then move on their target, to try and get as much informationas possible. She's deferring to Hal on leading for now.

Hyperion has posed:
    Tilting his head to the left, Hyperion murmurs softly, "Sentries. From the sound of it, I would estimate between thirty and forty defenders standing guard. I highly doubt that we can breach the barrier without being detected. But... if someone were to play beater, they might be able to distract the defenders while others slip in.

    But then Hal just walks through the barrier. "Or we could do that." he suggests as he moves to follow. His cells have absorbed a plethora of cosmic energy. Once inside, there is less... down to almost what it was back in his home universe. Weird... so as time goes on, use of his powers will slowly drain away the energy levels he possesses. But he walks on through fearlessly.

    Once inside, he stops and tries again with those augmented eyes of his.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Without complete trust in her comrades Zatanna would have bowed out of the fight. It was enough teaming with von Doom. She exchanges glances with Natasha and Hyperion again before crossing the rainbow barrier. If only there were gamboling ponies and faeries spreading sparkles under the bright moon on the other side.

It is worse than memory served. Wrongness roils in the dark overhead and in the mutter of thunder. Prepared against the coming change, at least in theory. Her fine boots and black suit are no longer. In their stead are soft hand sewn boots and a roughly spun skirt past her knees, topped with a loose blouse, over all of it, to her chagrin, a stained apron.Well, it's not a see through shift. She can live with looking like an old witch.

Grasping the rough fabric in her fists, she raises an eyebrow at Natasha but makes no protest, and smiles, "Of course. I'll be ready. If I throw a spell now, it could set off any wards set to catch intruders. Count on me."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Latveria's bleeding borders and Faust's machinations are an open debt that keeps Wanda Maximoff far from the plush comforts of the Avengers Tower. Under a simple disguise, she is just another SHIELD agent tasked to fetch supplies, process dislocated refugees for the UNHCR, and administer aid and a friendly smile to tired, frightened people. She is not Wanda Maximoff or the Scarlet Witch most days.

Today--they need a witch. Today she cannot be Cinzia Fienili when a group of people risk their lives at arm's reach. The signature of the barrier breaking calls her into action, walking away from the camp until she reaches the edge where a Lantern led through an assassin, a magician, and a guardian. She raises her palm to the last twinkling remnants. Red light joins green in a mellowing sparkle, and the healing mend of a barrier spell might not realize she is anything else than part of its world. Modulating her magical aura helps to push through but not be ready for what's on the other side.

Footsteps and the SHIELD uniform rips away to leave her in a roughspun gown, dropping to her knees with a gasp. Denying herself hurts. She isn't quiet. Hearing her is not difficult.

A witch is neer late nor early. She arrives precisely when she needs to. The manner of that arrival for The Scarlet Witch, from a line as old as Transia and Latveria themselves, certainly is up for debate though. Inelegant. "Ugh."

Hal Jordan has posed:
For a moment at least Hal looks more likely to be random peasant number eight, destined to be skewered on some goblin's sword. It's not a good look really -- kind of like that mud brown tunic, ugh -- but as fearless as the Green Lantern might bem it appears that he did do the readings this time and prepare accordingly.

And what preparations might those be? From that beaten leather pack the sometimes test pilot pulls out what looks to be a long, blue cloak and a sword tucked into a scabbard. Off hand, not necessarily a big improvement. But then these are not just any cloak and sword. Those long weeks of searching for Dr. Fate, the journeys to all those alternate realities are about to pay off. In the world of the Queen of Fables he claimed these and while he would still rather have the Oan Power Ring circling his finger, the Witching Cloak and Vorpal Blade are not bad usbstitutes, truth be told.

In a moment the cloak is wrapped around him, moving on it's own as if caught on the breeze, though none stirs at the moment. The scabbard is fastened to the length of soft rope that serves as his belt and he sneaks a quick look towards Hyperion, flashing a grin towards the other man. "I'll wait next time," he says.

But he probably won't. Sometimes a little fear can be a good thing.

They do seem to have made it through the barrier undetected, though just how long that might last is a matter up for debate. The earth around them is still very much blackened and the desolation suggests that the fires started by the dragon on the last trip through did quite a number on the nearby forests. The land does roll here, hills overing the potential of some cover at least. In the distance great pillars of smoke rise up into the... mid-afternoon sky? It is dark enough for dusk, but unless Latveria now runs on it's own time in addition to it's own weather it must still be afternoon right? There is a glow on the eastern horizon that suggests a great many fires burning. More carnage from the dragons that Faust seems to hold under his sway? Or perhaps campfires. Hundreds, thousands of campfires. An army of the unlikely fairy tale creatures that mad mage has gathered under his sway.

All of this is a little clearer for Hyperion of course, then the rest of them. But even then there is like a smokey miasma hanging in the air, unseen by Hal or Natasha perhaps with their very humaan eyesight. But a vaporous, obscuring power that seems to blot out the enhanced senses of others, be they magical or otherwise. It does not blind, just... lessens the sight to something a little less super.

Perhaps Faust is concerned for Kryptonians. Even mad mages can learn a lesson or two.

"Everyone okay?" he asks, glancing around as he steps over to offer Wanda a hand back to her feet. "So, towards the fires? Or in the direction of the Doomstadt? Or should we see if we can find some sign of Doom first?" he asks, glancing around, though perhaps ironically considering the assembled power his gaze finally falls on Natasha.

Hyperion has posed:
    Eyes narrowing, Hyperion shakes his head. He looks down and notices that he appears to be clad in black leather armor. Something right out of a fantasy RPG. A snort, and he looks back up and then towards Hal. "Something is obscuring my augmented vision. But I can still hear dozens of heartbeats in the general area." he tells everyone else.

    He goes so far as to indicate with a pointed finger, the general locations he got from that. But it's just that, general... audio can echo, fragment and such. So it's not like he's Daredevil or whatnot. But he makes ready to intercede however he is needed ... or -if- it is needed. Other than that, he just follows behind Hal dutifully.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would go to look around and purse her lips as the group goes fully through the barrier. Therea re no signs over of immedaite pursuit or them being noticed. She goes to voice her opinion, "The fires could be anything from marauders to villagers. If monsters, I'd rather avoid a fight unless we have no other choice in the matter. Openly searching for Doom will be problematic. If he wishes to be found he will be, if not then we'll never locate him, he has too many places here to hide taht he's had years to ready. Our bes toption is to go towarsd Doomsdat. There's the highest probability that Faust will be there. It's the seat of power of the realm, where the primary garrison will be."

She would continue on, "It has the largest infrastructure and is the most well defended location. And likely whatever spell Faust is weaving will be centered there. Statistically we can get the most information from heading towards there." She's being pramatic here. Leaving the monsters to destroy the locals is an unfortunate thing. But it's not something that will help them towards their ultimate goal.

Natasha's training comes as a spy and assassinf oremost. The others are heroes and guardians. Sentinels. They may feel quite different on the perspective of 'the needs of the mission'.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Power moves through the barrier, it neither menaces or threatens to break into full fury, instead, when Zee looks back, hands raised in case she has misread it all very badly, it's Wanda. She breaks into a smile and nearly laughs at the transformation then looks down at herself and does laugh.

A step and something knocks against her knee. Puzzled, she plumbs the depth of the rough pocket and removes a mirror. A gift from the Queen. Holding it up, it reflects back the leaden sky, a voice, heavy with irony, tells her, "Nu-uh. Not in those clothes. You are not the fairest of them all."

"Tell me something I don't know." She drops it back into her pocket.

Turning to Natasha, "Then Doomstadt it is. Faust will have his strongest defenses there. Can we draw him out, I wonder?"

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Wanda gets no choice about her attire. She fits to the time period in a high-waisted gown caught by a girdle. Only in the girdle are things telling, knotted Ms and Ws looped in a neat array. The red star embroidered on the lining of her trailing sleeves is out of sight, especially when she accepts Hal's help to her feet. "Such courtesy. You have my gratitude, sir." Her hand in his is warm as she steadies herself. Solid boots rather than slippers prove suitable for walking. "This place is certain to give me a megrim by the morrow. An absolute barrage of unwelcome sensations, so I ask your patience."

The mild disorientation will pass. In the meantime she examines those marks left by a prior battle, searching for differences than those inflicted or expected. "Ms. Romanoff is right and her logic sound. We cannot know if those cookfires harbor indifferent soldiers or hostile foes. Doomstadt will have greater scrutiny and risk to us standing out, but we will be closer to the source of disruptions. I am certain Ms. Zatara and I will be able to spot any immediate signs the sorcerer turns his attention our way. Suppose that the danger comes."

She has to fight to keep from sounding like a woman from the marches circa 1308, her tongue heavy with irony. "An enchanted mirror?"

Hal Jordan has posed:
Yep, that's him. Gentleman to his core.

Listening to the others, Hal nods his head in apparent agreement. "Makes sense to me. We can probably deal with just about anything else that has appeared around here and it won't matter a lick if we don't know where Faust is or what he's up to," he says quietly, glancing around, rather missing his ring. The cloak he wears might make him all but immune to harm and there is not much that the sword cannot slay in theory, but he'd give a lot for a ready way to scout out their surroundings right about now. And all he has for that are his own two feet and rather ordinary eyes.

Of course, the problem they will face is that essential, here in Doom's former nation Felix Faust one. He might have tried to remake the entire universe into a sorcerer's paradise and yes, that failed. But within these borders he succeeded. Which, of course is no doubt the reason he is now trying to expand those borders. That suggests that there might not be too many restraints on his power so long as he is within the shimmering walls that encircle his purloined kingdom.

"I suppose we might want to move out then, before any of the guardians Hyp has sensed stumble onto us," he muses, starting towards those shattered, burnt remains of the forest. Indeed, shapes can be seen moving nearby -- not directly towards them thankfully -- but close enough to suggest the threats waiting for them if they stray too close, if they're spotted. "Should we stick to the ground? Or is taking to the skies worth the risk?" he asks, again turning his attention towards Natasha and Wanda as the voice of experience in this case. "I mean, I've always wanted to slay a dragon. But bringing down a hundred of them upon us might be a different matter," he admits.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod to Zatanna, "Quite possibly. Faust is a known entity. We're all familiar with his abilities, psychological profile.. And how to challenge and bait him if need be. If his seat of power is under threat he'll respond appropriately and likely come out himself. He has his ego.. And he'll have to dela with us quickly if we do hit him due to the power at our disposal. Such a thing can't be left to underlings or swarm tactics."

She would move to try and scan the area as she would look at the motion.. Not able to get out much of it. Looking to the others. "Flying gets us there quickly but guarantees we'll be attacked en route and they'll be fully mobilized to engage us. Going by ground will take us days if not longer through an area we don't know, monsters and patrols. But lets us get a solid idea of the area rather than directly attacking the front gates."

Musing. "Faust's hold on the area is substantial and he seems to not have wanted toe xpand his zone of control further. We're not pressed for time.. but if we go through here for weeks each way and are exhausted we'll have problems at the end and no guarantee of success in stealth." Giving the pros and cons of each.

Hyperion has posed:
    "I think that whatever we do to minimize exposure would be best. Also... it feels different to me. . . -I- feel different. I do not feel the rush of energy I usually do in your universe. This feels more like my home universe. There was far less ambient energy there for me to absorb. Which made me weaker overall. So, the more power I expend, the weaker I will grow ... to a limit."

    And so he just walks along, focusing on his hearing for the most part. "I could use a portion of the energy available to move at Hyper-Speed." Yes, not superspeed. Hyper. What? It's a branding thing. "If you need me to report on positions or some such. Again, I'd prefer to hold off and retain what energy I can for as long as I can."

    But he shrugs his shoulders, "I only hope that are not using enchanted weapons themselves."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Finding Faust is the key. Simple for a Witch, right? Zatanna trusts in Natasha's and Wanda's tactical sense and looks a question at them both, eyebrows raised at whether they will fly or not. A portal might be too easy to be tracked.

Her hand finds the mirror again, thankfully smaller than the mirror that came to her when they were caged by the Queen of Fables. Edging it out of her pocket, she narrows her eyes at it.

Alert to the approaching shapes, "I can ask the mirror," she observes quickly to the others. "No need to monitor radio transmission, not that we could," she shrugs.

"Mirror, where is the false usurper of this kingdom?" she demands, knowing that imprecise questions will receive imprecise answers.

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Wanda adjusts the veil around her hair. Not a wimple, a simple metal disk atop a linen cloth covering her hair. "We have been to Doomstadt. You know the way, Ms. Zatara. I could suppress your magic as you do but we may be found." The darkness around them is insufficient to really cover them fully, but it's best to rely on Hal and Natasha to man the defenses and Hyperion to warn of incoming things. "The other paths... One is our last resort. The other might work, if the land remembers my kind. The witch road would get us closer and he cannot open it. Faust isn't one of us."

She twitches her shoulders, the smallest of shrugs. The air is thick and the dust plentiful. "Otherwise we can borrow horses and be on our way faster than foot and less obvious than some. It's unlikely we would all pass as merchants. A troupe of performers, certainly, but who has performers in a time of war? A troupe needs a wagon, horses, and we are in the same situation. Tell us what you are comfortable with and we can try."

Hal Jordan has posed:
"That's interesting," Hal comments as Hyperion reveals that he does not seem to be woking at his very peak efficency. "I wonder if Faust took direct precautions or if it something inherent to the magic itself. Dr. Fate warned that he was trying to reorder the universe, to strip dow the law of nature and physics to replace it with something more chaotic. Pure magic," Hal muses thoughtfully before shrugging his shoulders.

The cloaked man does listen closely to Natasha as she outlines the advantages and disadvantages of both paths, nodding his agreement with her assessment. But even as they talk he continues to slowly walk forward towards that ravaged forest, putting at least a little distance between them and the border. One would presume that the sentries and defenses would be thickest there and then again as they near the Doomstadt -- or whatever the equivilent is now. "Makes sense. And I suppose magic holds too many risks? I enjoy camping as much as the next, manly outdoorsmen but it doesn't seem like it would be as much fun spending days hiking around here?" he asks before Wanda interjects and raises her own possibilities.

"There's also the question of what has happened to all the people of Latveria that have not already escaped beyond the borders. Disguises might not mean much if Faust has just imprisoned anyone that doesn't serve him. Or worse, if those that remained behind did so because they've been transformed into the monsters that populate his army," he points out.

All of those issues though are put by the wayside however when Zatanna calls upon that mirror, shrunken down into something able to be held in one hand. Much more user friendly to be sure. "Oooooooh , I /like/ this place," comes the mirror's reply to her inquiry. "Mmmmm, there is just so much juice here. Someone's being naughty and breaking all sorts of rules, mmmmm!" it adds, the face appearing there looking very happy indeed. And possibly a little inebriated. This place, right now, it seems that it's got the good stuff. At least if you're a magic mirror. Or maybe magic in general. "Let me give you a peek..." it offers.

As the scene starts to play over that mirrored glass it suddenly glows and an instant later it is playing out in front of them all, like some magical hologram instead of being confined to the much more limited screen space of the mirror. Apparently the excess energy is increasing it's capabilities too. And in that image, there is Faust, sitting in a throne. The image pulls out and the dark stone of what most of them will recognize as the throne room of the Doomstadt becomes apparent, the green banners of Doom replaced by blue and gold that definitely evoke Faust. That mind's eye starts to pull away further until Faust abruptly looks up, a smile sliding across his face as if he can somehow see the unseen sensor that provides them their view.

The mirror screams, the image flickering for a moment as it shows Faust lifting a hand curled almost into a claw, long fingers wiggling. "Well, well, well. I was wondering when I would see some of you again," the turbaned wizard says. "I so appreciate your visit. I only regret that it will be so short..."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would nod at Hal, "I'd estimate at least twelve dyas walking. That's presuming the country's still pathed the same and the geography hasn't changed. That's presuming we don't run into anything and make solid time." That's her bare bones estimate, and by the way she phrases it realistically she'd assume mit has some further time on top of it.

And then as the talk of the mirror comes up she goes to watch over it as the scrying starts.. She moves to mvoe to a positionw here she can get an unimpeded view and goes to commit things to memory. She's evaluating the position, the posture, the location.. Trying to evaluate just where exactly in the fortified castle Faust is. Then when he goes to directly address them her face takes on a sour expression to it.

Hand going up to a blade to be ready while glancing over at Zatanna and Wanda in confirmation that she was not seeing things.

That he was, in fact, seeing them. And the trouble that would be coming.

Hyperion has posed:
    "I suspect it is something less directly nefarious. I believe that the barrier is simply preventing as much cosmic energy from passing through as the atmosphere does. I am stronger in space than in the atmosphere, and I think it is just a simple matter of blockage." admits Hyperion.

    And as the mirror begins speaking, he lifts a brow. He doesn't discount magic. He's been exposed to it enough of late. But the scream, followed by Faust's welcome speech makes him sigh. "So much for the subtle approach." he mutters as his eyes begin to glow... energy coalescing from his body's cells being transferred to his ocular nerves in preparation for release.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Biting back an expletive, Zatanna drops the damned mirror back into her pocket, then head tilted to one side, glances at the others apologetically. She drops her eyes, embarrassed for not seeing that eventuality.

"All bets off on remaining hidden. Juice, indeed," she grimaces, slapping her skirt pocket. "Scared you, didn't it?"

Lifting her skirts, she starts for the woods. "I hope this will give us some cover."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Forests are natural. The ground beneath Wanda's boots is pure earth, and the Romani sorceress whispers to the roots in unburnt soil. To rock solid and firm. To dormant seeds that germinate with life. The Witch Road prefers a bulwark in nature and with Faust staring at them, she takes option closest to them.

"If this works, follow me. We stay on the path as far as it goes." Open, open, and if it doesn't then she will resort to raw power over inherited gifts from her mother's line. A line shared with the overthrown ruler of Latveria by his mother.

Witch Road or Chaos Witch, what's it to be, Faust?

Hal Jordan has posed:
Unearthly screams from magical artifacts rarely bode real well, do they? They are also pretty loud and grating, but Hal will probably refrain from commenting on that. The mirror sounds like it is in real pain and while it is a bit of a smartass, it did help them escape the Queen of Fables. Whatever Faust is doing to it, chances are it doesn't deserve it.

"This doesn't bode real well, does it?" the not so Green Lantern asks. Probably rhetorically. Few good things immediately follow a scream like that.

While Zatanna slips that screaming mirror away, back into her pocket and out of sight, it does not remove the image of Faust in his throne before them. He still smiles that cruel smiles, still seems to see them as if they were standing right in front of him instead of days walks away. "A nice little trinket you have there. I'll have to take it off of your corpse," he says spitefully towards the League's foremost magician. Then his gaze shifts to Wanda, eyes widening ever so slightly before his smile grows. "An interesting gambit Witch. But here, in this realm -- my realm -- all magics are mine," he comments, motioning with his hand.

Just like that the road that Wanda is attempting to bring into being springs forth, so much easier then might normally be the case. But then it does not take very long at all to tell that Faust has slipped his own slimey tendrils of magical power into her effort.

And standing there on the road? Dozens of figures, all towering above the burnt remains of the surrounding forest. Twenty feet or more in height each and everyone one of them. Golden armor gleams on their giant forms. A force to make lesser hearts quail. The ground shudders with their steps and they start forward.

And behind them? One figure towers over them much like they tower over the scouting party. A familiar figure at that. Mordru, the Lord of Chaos himself. But not as he appeared the night that Faust and his allies stormed Latveria. No, now strands of golden thread run all over his body, from his head and that great beard, down over shoulders and chests and to all four limbs. A look of anger marks his face, of reluctance and resistance. But he moves, moves in little jerks and hesitations, like a marrionette on a string. He lifts a hand and the sky comes to life, a dozen bolts of lightning raining down around them.

"I shall enjoy this," Faust gloats, leaning forward in his throne as if anticipating their imminent destruction. Which is when that image begins to pull back, further and further, streaming from the throne room itself to show the Doomstadt in it's entirety. More importantly, to show the courtyard where fifty or more carts rest, each with a massive crystal propped up in them. Crystals that Wanda and Natash have seen before. The crystals all look the same as the solitary one that expanded Latveria's borders a weeks earlier. Now multiplied dozens of times over.

Faust has been busy. His intentions made clear.

"What? No, what have you done you internal mirror! I will smash you into a thousands shards and..." Faust voice begins before abruptly cutting off.

The mirror's muffled voice sounds from inside Zatanna's pocket, more then a little raw from the screaming. "He is most definitely not the fairest of them all. Jerk."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Faust hasn't come here himself, which catches Natasha Romanoff somewhat by surprise. He was interrupted at first. But still.. She goes into a defensive stance, rapidly twisting over to take in the exact location of the rest of the team. She's moving over on an interception point to put herself 'between' Wanda and Zatanna and the attackers. She's going to be of little use against monsters and gods, but she can draw some fire away from them.

and not fire itself, but magical lightning. Natasha goes to snap at the others, "MOVE!" She's going to leap through the air, going into a quick sommersault and dive as she hits the ground, Bow drawn, even as MOrdru himself goes along. Then she goes to line up a shot with an arrow. Sharpened point, metal tipped. Going to line it up direction wtih Modru's eye.. String drawn and fired. She's not as good at this as Clint is. But she's still good. Hand snaps up again to draw another and fire it. This one aimed at Modru's other eye. A third aimed at his throat in rapid succession.

Hyperion has posed:
    Knowing he's only going to get one, maybe two -full- power shots with his Atomic Vision, Hyperion hesitates. He does not lance out at the armored goons. But Mordru... that is another story. He takes a single step forward, bracing himself before he unleashes hell... or rather stellar might from his eyes.

    He pours it out like it was water. Everyone near him can feel the heat... like holding the hand too close to an open flame. The twin beams of power merge into one and stream towards Mordru with pure fusion levels of heat... like the sun itself was lashing out. The core temperature of the power beams approaches 12 thousand degrees for a brief moment... all aimed at the spot at center mass of the chaos lord.

    He doesn't run, doesn't go and hide. He stands there in the open as everyone else scrambles.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Lips pressed into a deep frown at the projection that Faust's magic keeps before them, Zatanna readies herself to trod the Witch Road until he wrests the magic out of Wanda's hands. Nor does she run.

"Ware," she yells (succumbing to the magic distorting her speech into archaisms) at the sight of the 'escort' sent to meet them on the road.

With a scooping gesture of both hands, she projects a silver shield before the group, a series of revolving circles, engraved with glyphs and pentagrams as Natasha cries her warning and Hyperion shifts into Atomic mode seeking to burn down Faust's menacing troops. Hands held high, she multiplies the shields until they are surrounded on all sides.

The magician murmurs to the mirror, voice rough with the effort to keep the shields in place. "Well done. Apologies for mistreating you. How fare you?"

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Control issues come along with being an all-seeing, all-powerful wizard with world conquest needs. Wanda was expecting something to go wrong with opening the rift to the Witch. Giants pop up like mushrooms to her surprise, and she closes her fists at her sides. "Profaning nature? I don't like that." Small red motes bleed over her pupils, a floating serenade of poppy petals on onyx. Some things must be done even when they do not like it.

"Go after the escort, I'm after him. He's trapped," she warns Hal and Hyperion. Zatanna may be giving cover by the shields but she doesn't add to them. What comes summoned from her hands is the mutation, not the magic. The very thing that makes a lord of chaos ennobled. Except hers is slant, touched by one of the darkest Elder Gods to become something beyond even that. Golden strands where they cross in knots are targeted first. One at the shoulders, another by the brow. Her fingers twist to proverbially snap them one by one.

She peppers smaller snags with sparks of pure chaotic manipulation and yanks on other snags, absolutely no method to the madness. "Chaos is freedom. Fight it." A plethora of pure statistical imbalance and kinetic entropy rolls around to try and accelerate Mordru pushing free.

Hal Jordan has posed:
\Well, that might not tell them everything Faust is up to, nor everything that he has in his arsenal, but it tells them a lot. They've barely been in Latveria five minutes and they almost certainly know Mordru's next play. They also know that his allies are still around, though by the looks of things they might not be such great partners anymore. Certainly it doesn't look like Mordru is here by his own will. Which means that it is entirely possible that Eclipso, Blackbriar Thorn and the rest of them are out there somewhere, serving Faust's ends.

More troubling, it means that here, behind those shimmering walls of magical force Faust has the power to bing a Lord of Chaos to his whims. That's kinda... frightening. Not something that Hal would usually consider.

Those armored giants marching towards them are surely a threat. A not insubstantial one either. One of them lifts a hand and the air around it seems to shimmer for a moment before it is suddenly filled with crackling energy. It rears back and makes as if it is throwing and that crackling energy extends, lancing out into a bolt of lightning that races towards them -- only to be stopped short by Zatanna's conjured barrier just in time. More concerning, that trick is uplicated numerous times as other hands begin to crackle with electricity even as those giant forms march towards them. Just how much can that barrier take?

Still, there is no doubt that Mordru is the greatest of the threats. Still, he moves slowly, clumsily, not at all like the Lord of Chaos he is. It lets Natasha pepper him with those arrows, each finding the mark as too-slow arms try to bat them away. But they are little more then insects, little more then flecks of dust and he only looks vaguely irritated as they find his eye and throat, perhaps unable to actually benetrate his skin. But that is surely not the case where Hyperion blasts him full on with that Atomic Vision. Again, the giant mage seems to move, seems to try and conjure up some defense as well, but he is too slow again. For a moment his features are lost under that bright flare of energy and he staggers back. And when that blast clears? Mordru still stands. Scorched about the face and neck, embers still burning in that great beard. And hatred burning even brighter in his eyes.

Hal Jordan has posed:
But it is Wanda's 'attack' when it comes that produces the most surprising results. Those chaotic magicks that answer her command do not go after the bound Lord of Chaos himself, but instead attack those golden threads that run all over his body, binding him in tethers not of force but of magic. And as they are sliced and unravelled the giant mage gives a start. For a moment he glares down towards Wanda, towards Natasha and in particularly towards Hyperion. Then, with the slightests of inclinations towards the Scarlet Witch he whirls and steps back onto that long, winding road. "FAUST!" he bellows, his words shaking the earth far more than even the foot falls of the giants that are left behind as he steps onto that road and both he and it vanish.

That's one big threat down. And hopefully one big headache for good ol' Felix.

Hal does as is suggested, launching himself forward to engage the giant horde while the others deal with Mordru. He races recklessly towards the nearest of them, ignoring the giant battle axe that slices towards him. Axe meets cloak -- and instead of leaving nothing but a bloody smear on the ground the weapon actually chips before recounding away, as if striking at something too hard for it to crack. And while Hal might not be a swordsman, that blade all but leaps into his hand, moving as it will, guiding him more then the opposite way. He lunges, slicing at ankles, at tendons and one of the great giants gives a cry, dropping to his knees.

"I think Faust has told us a whole lot more then he intended. If your reports were right, I think we're going to need a plan to deal with those crystals before he starts expanding his borders in all directions. Any chance either of you can use magic to get a message through to Doom?" he asks as that sword dances in his hand like he were some weapon master of old.

Hyperion has posed:
    Gone is the lord of chaos. This leaves only the hordes of giant armored goons. Joy... Hyperion presses a hand to his chest after that blast finishes. It took more out of him than he even expected. But he is not out of this fight.

    After a moment, he recovers and speeds in... blurring with pseudo-motion before he skids to a stop at the feet of one of the giant armored guys. His hands grip a leg of the creature... fingers digging into the material as he turns and twists...

    He is planning to turn one of the goons into a bludgeon with he fully intends to batter the other goons with. His strength has waned a little bit, but his anti-gravitons help him to lift and manipulate the creature as he swings away like he is trying to beat Babe Ruth's record here and now.

Hal Jordan has posed:
Still muffled by being tucked back away in that pocket, the mirror's reply might be lost under the chaos and growing clatter of battle. "Think nothing of it beautiful. But I'm not nearly loving this place as much as I was. If you get the chance to give El Turbano a swift kick in the ol' twig and berries I'll consider us all forgiven."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
The question is whether anyone wants to get a message to Doom. or that Doom doesn't know already. Natasha goes to quickly take out another arrow to notch it, then is going to fire it at the next of the giants. The one that's nearest to Hyperion at lease. She aims for a shot over at the eye if she can. Then the next arrwo is quickly notched up and she geos to aim and hsoot it over at the neck of the one that's nearest to Hal.

"We need options! Does anyone have suggestions over for how we can take these out quickly?" She would murmur, going to start to try and take out targets of oportunity to support the rest. "Hal, how good a throwing arm do you have?"

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Chaos, glorious chaos, tumbles and rolls on the other side of the shields fueled by Wanda untying the knots holding Mordru to the magic of the realm. Zatanna will treasure his look of mystification and subsequent disappearance for a long time.

The shields fall at the magician's bidding. A spear in hand, not steel tipped but of bronze, she uses a lesson given to her not long ago and launches it at the giant behind Hal's foe. Through the roar of battle she barely catches the mirror's cheeky comment.

"We," she grunts throwing the magic missile, "plan on doing just that."

The spears arcs into the air and hits the giant squarely in the breast bone. The ground shakes as it tumbles backward and falls.

To Hal's suggestion, "I can whisper to him if he is not warded."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Wanda doesn't glory in seeing the gigantic Lord of Chaos gallivanting about the Latverian countryside any better than throwing lightning at her. Any creature forced to act against its will strikes that softer side of her nature. She watches Mordru disappear from their vantage with a pressing frown and her hand at her waist to knead out a stitch from the exertion of throwing so much at one spot.

"Reach him if you can. We need to make him aware, given we're fighting this war as odd allies," she says. Now comes options. Take things out quickly?

Well, she has one option, a handful of chaos energy spun up into a globe. It pops and sings, swirling around. Hyperion might be running lower but he's got a backup. "Hyperion! What kind of energy do you need? Call your preference and I can try to supply it."

Hal Jordan has posed:
It is a fair point. Doom is at best a... difficult ally. Certainly Hal can attest to that fact as well as any. While he did provide the magic that ultimately allowed the League to find and rescue Dr. Fate, it took weeks and multiple incursions into alternate realities to finally do so. Nor is anyone who travelled with him into Hell to face down Mephisto likely to forget that the Latverian monasch used them for his own ends as much as helping them acquire magic necessary to counter Faust.

But Latveria is Doom's kingdom. And he has apparently stayed behind to do what he can for it's people, no matter his reasons. Perhaps that is reason enough to at least reach out? Or perhaps the fact that he is the rightful ruler of this nation might give them an edge? Faust's new order operates on causes and effects removed from the natural, the scientific. Different principles apply and the rights of lordship certainly would seem medieval enough to fit into this reality that he as created.

Either way, letting others know what Faust intends and rallying to stop him would seem to be their highest priority now.

The one good thing about engaging the towering golden giants in melee? They don't seem inclined to use those bolts of lightning, instead drawing out weapons. Huge weapons sure, but they seem a little less intimidating then bolts of pure energy. For his part Hal continues to move amongst them -- or at least lets the sword guide him -- as he parries away blades a dozen times the size of his own with ease and then stabs at the giant hands that wield them to make them cry out in pain and drop their weapons. "I mean, I pitch for my beer league's baseball team. Does that count?" he calls back to Natasha.

It probably doesn't.

Fortunately it would seem that Zatanna has far better aim, whether due to magic or natural skill doesn't really matter and that conjured missile strikes home, bringing down another giant. And of course Natasha puts that bow to good use -- no doubt Clint is off somewhere, smiling. And the giants are not anywhere near as powerful as Mordru it seems. These arrows draw blood, opening wounds above eyes and blinding the golden giants as they try to clear their vision in time to defend themselves.

As effective as all that is, as effective as Natasha's bow is, and Zatanna's magic and Hal's sword and cloak, it's pretty hard to beat someone who can simply grab hold of a twenty-foot tall giant and start using him as a flail. Hyperion swings and a half-dozen of the golden-armored men are downed at once. And then battered about their heads and chest for good measure. Add in the one that used as the weapon? That's nearly half the opposition done in within a matter of seconds.

"He might be of use," Hal says, adding his word's to Wanda's. "We need to let those outside know what he's planning. Doom might have even more knowledge that could be of use. If he can meet us. See if you can reach him and then we can fall back," he urges.

Is it the right move? Who knows. But it seems worth a shot. With that, Hal slowly starts to give ground, keeping himself in front of all but Hyperion since the Witching Cloak seems to render him invulnerable to the giant's weapons.

Hyperion has posed:
    After his bludgeoning spree, Hyperion finds himself down on one knee. He is breathing heavily.. wait, breathing? He doesn't use air. But apparently he does. Between gasping breaths he calls out, "Pure..." *gasp*.. "Stellar Cosmic Energy. The.." *gas* "Radioactive output of any star. Radiated into space...."

    And that is when he gets struck by one of the giants' weapons. It's magical, and the mace crashes into his face... breaking the orbital around his left eye and sending him flailing back through a tree where he lies still for a pregnant moment..

    Then he gasps and inhales deeply. He had actually stopped breathing for just a moment. "Ow..." he mutters, lying there on his back and staring skyward. He's expended a -lot- of his energy now. Yep.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Now Natasha goes over to call out, "Fire in the hole!" She goes to flip over to Hal a large bottle. Going to take up one over of her own as she calls out, "Aim for the head and get the wick going first!" Filled with a viscuous liquid.. Natasha had spent her time researching and preparing something that would fit all to well in this world. So the redhead spy passes along to Hal through the air cleanly a thick, clay bottle..

That if one had looked into the wars even before this era, would be called simply.. Greek Fire.

Something used to quite deadly effect. Presuming she's at a good angle over, then moving to take her own over, cock it over at hte head of one of the igants.. Light it off and then hurl it through the air. It's hopefully going to be effective. Even a huge goliath might have issues with nearly adhesive flame adhering to it's head and burning all over. Even a golem or a monster perhaps even.

It's at least enough to hopefully give some cover.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
The lessons stuck apparently, Zatanna is surprised at the hoped for result. But it was hardly her strength or good aim that had directed it but magic, magnified by the strange currents in this land.

Muttering under her breath, she conjures another spear into existence. It glows with magic as she hefts it about to throw when Natasha cries her warning and Hyperion falls to the ground with a crash to rival the giant's. Distracted, she propels it into the air, aiming for another of the towering giants, but has turned away in search of Hyperion before it hits its mark. At a dead run she runs to his side and drops to her knees, "Magic? It was the magic that knocked you down, isn't it? Magic healing might be just as deadly for you."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
Stellar transmissions and cosmic energy. "Of course it would," Wanda sighs under her breath. Look at who her father and her half-sister are. Phenomenal cosmic power, iddy-biddy Hyperion space. Oh well. At least it's not The Sentry.

Molecular transmutation of energy is going to take a lot out of her. She goes down onto one knee and spreads her hands wide. "Zatanna, stay back. This is a twist." The globe wobbles and spins, wildly oscillating as it burns ruby and turns a weird orange and back again as she pours in her sheer force of will. Nothing more than telling reality what she holds in her hands. 'This is stolen starlight from Sol' is a whole lot easier than imagining a new star. Than pretending she has ever seen Proxima Centauri or Rigel except through a telescope. Than trying to become a mini-Chernobyl. Her power punches into the spectrum of wobbly glop by carving bits and pieces of ambient energy into a cobbled whole and shouting 'You're plasma and light'. Being partly written from cosmic background radiation in this universe has got to help, and also being the daughter of the best magnetokinetic this side of space. Maybe. Mind the nosebleed, but she shunts the wobbly ball at Hyperion. Dinner time.

Reality warped dinner time.

Hal Jordan has posed:
For a moment it seems that everything is going swimmingly. That their biggest care in the world is whether or not Victor von Doom will hear Zatanna's magic whisper. The giants fall swiftly, but not without offering a pretty painful reprisal. At least painful for Hyperion as that mace connects and knocks him flying right past the rest of the group to land sprawled out on that blackened, burnt ground, the unusual sight of blood marking his features very uncommon indeed.

Fortunately Natasha is there to get a little revenge. Technology might be reduced in potency by a significant degree, but when one is clever one can get around those limitations. And when it comes to makeshift grenades, well, Greek Fire makes one hell of a substitute. As she tosses that projectile, it does indeed fine it's mark, splattering against one of the giants and even splashing onto a second. There is just a moment before both of them go up like kindling, the burning fire clinging to them as they scream and burn and sizzle.

War gets pretty ugly.

A little more unexpected is the fact that the Black Widow drops a second of those bombs off as she flips over Hal. Again, with his ring he could have caught and delivered it flawlessly. It's not quite as smooth without -- one more reason to miss the ring, no matter how cool the cloak and sword might be. He reaches for the grenade and it bobbles in his hand, slipping from his grasp as he lunges, grabbing hold before it can slip and shatter at his feet. Resuming his back peddling, he tries to light it on the move, fumbling for the flint and steel he tucked away for a rainy day. And when he gets it lighted? He hurls it, not at a giant perse, but rather in the path of several of them, the makeshift bomb shattering against the burnt remains of a stump, a sheet of fire flaring up, cutting off the path of the pursuing giants. "Whew."

With Zatanna adding more spears to the mix, the number of giants is rapidly falling and those that still stand do not look so eager to give chase to the withdrawning heroes. Instead the handful that remain begin to hurl those bolts of lightening after them instead, the electricity starting to fall around them once more, ripping at the soil as they look to find their range.

Continuing his retreat, he hastens it a little now, giving ground more quickly and zigzagging a bit as he crosses the blackened open expanse, the shimmering walls of magic growing closer and closer as he tries to present a more difficult target to the giants but still head towards Hyperion. Of course, before he can try to pick the man up and carry him bodily towards safety Wanda provides a different solution.

Just supercharge him. Those poor giants.

"Lets wrap it up here. Time to get back and make sure we have a plan to deal with those crystals," Hal calls out, veering away from Hyperion. He'd rather not be in the way.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanoff would be moving to take some steps back, even as she's readying another vial of the wretched flame. And going to take out anotehr. This a thicker concoction that she moves to light a wick on. Moving to hurl it and another through the air. This one hits the area, making a vast churn of thick, hideously smelling smoke. Don't ask how she came by this particular horrendous concoction of ash out of a Victorian era sufferette.. but, it works and hopefullyg ives them some extra room to withdraw, even with the abonimations that are the great giants walking. She goes to flick through the last of her vials of greek fire, going to add over to the chaos and fell the last of the beasts while calling to the rest.

"Acknowledged, let's get out of here. We've overstayed our welcome." She would smirk. "And we have some more things to bring back with us." She goes towards one of the fallen giants, presuming there's no more immediate threats of fighting for just a minute, going to take off her sword to use to chop the head off and presuming no interruption, would move to take it with her dragging it along.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Glad to be sitting, the homo magi reconstructs the shields she took down after several lightning bolts reach them for an electrical finale. Her eyes close and the world spins. Reality ripples, taking Zatanna's breath away.

It's like teetering on the edge of a railway track while a voice yells "MIND THE GAP." The homo magi flattens herself to the ground and rolls away from Hyperion, wishing she had a trenching tool to dig her way into it.

When the world rights itself again, she hears, "Ouch," from her pocket.

"I can't shield us much longer," she gasps to the others. "I'm almost done. I'm ready to get out of here."

With a pat to her pocket, "Sorry. We on our way out of here."

Wanda Maximoff has posed:
It would be bedtime any time now. Wanda puts her hands on the ground and stays on all fours, breathing heavily for the energy that she had to yank out from herself against reality grinding back on her. All she wants is sleep at this point, though not something she will get. For all that reason says get up and move with the others, she isn't going anywhere terribly quickly.

"Sorry. Give me just..." She licks blood away and uses the sleeve of that medieval-period dress to wipe her face. She would really like to rest in a corner while Black Widow dances with death and Hal is impervious to near everything, but that's not the way to win a war. Give it a bit and she can haul herself up, though the pounding buzz in her head is proof of that megrim she swore might come by. Turns out it did.

One foot in front of the other, that's the spirit. She follows in Zatanna and Hal's wake, drawn nearer to their general vicinity. Things are a bit blurry anyway. "Any time we can go is good." And hopefully there will be high-calorie food around, a cake or some awful pile of pastries. Like her twin, she burns through calories like a monster.

Hal Jordan has posed:
With Zatanna's shield covering their escape there's little to stop them now. Hal pauses his own backpeddling towards the safety of that magical barrier only long enough to check on Wanda, slowing to match his pace to hers to lend her a hand if her pace should lag behind again. "Just a couple dozen more steps. If you need a ride, don't worry, I think one's coming. Courtesy of you, so you definitely get dibs," the cloaked man quips.

The giants definitely don't seem interested in engaging any further and indeed as that horrid smoke is tossed by Natasha they retreat even further, that obscuring hazy cloud making their lightning blasts increasingly erratic. And even helpful as one of them streaks by and takes out the ogre standing sentry at the border.

Friendly fire is a bitch.

And then Hyperion is glowing, that fresh infusion of cosmic power flooding through him as he rises, first to one knee, then to his feet. Then he is racing forward at speeds to great for the human eye to track, through that miasma of smoke. Just what is done to the remaining giants is a question, but the cries and then the sudden silence suggests that they're not likely to bother them further.

That headlong dash is shortened considerably as Hyperion snatches each of them up in turn, racing across the border to leave them in that open, green field, once more under the mid-afternoon's sunlight. In mere moments, all of them are back on their own side. Back to safety.

Mission accomplished, even if not how they might have expected. Once again, Faust's arrogance has underminded him and revealled his plans. Now they have a real chance to thwart him. "Good job everyone," Hal says, bent over, hands on his knees. "Lets take the rest of the day off."

Next will come the planning. Figuring out the best way to take out all those crystals. The only question is will they be able to call on Doom's help to do so?