12364/Lighting the Lantern: Beware My Power

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Lighting the Lantern: Beware My Power
Date of Scene: 15 August 2022
Location: An abandoned amusement park in Gotham City
Synopsis: The final showdown wtih the sorcerer Akaikos Cyprus that lived in Jessica's Lantern ring! With the asisstance of Justice League Dark and Red Hood, the sorcerer was defeated and banished to the realms of the dead. With that, the Lantern ring chose Jessica as its proper bearer, and now a new Green Lantern is born!
Cast of Characters: Jessica Cruz, Rien D'Arqueness, Jonathan Sims, Jason Todd, Chas Chandler




Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz is pacing back and forth at the abandoned amusement park that she has been using for JL Dark business, waiting for those to arrive. She has been careful not to use her ring for over a week - trying to keep the sorcerer within in a state of slumber. And has succeeded for the most part - but soon enough she'll draw on the ring - and all hell will break loose. This ends tonight. She has been carefully meditating for a few days, doing her best to mentally prepare herself.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
A portal opens, lined in glowing magical energy as the trio of the JLD's leadership steps through from where they'd gathered in the VR. Rien closes the portal behind them with a wave of her hand, "Look, France's unhealthy obsession with Jerry Lewis was an unfortuante and dark time in our history. We try not to think of it anymore. Just as England tries not to talk about all the artifacts and works of art it still claims as property despite clearly not being of British make and with no formal records of ownership." She flicks a glance towards CHas briefly.

Moving forward to Jessica, she offers a smile, "Jessica, good to see you again. You're ready to face the sorcerer? You've prepared yourself?"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "England may not try to talk about it, but some of us /do/ try to remind them," Jon grumbles. Look, there's a reason he's no longer allowed on the grounds of the British Museum, and it isn't for theft from the gift shop.

    He's come prepared for battle, with ankh-topped staff and magically-summoned superhero outfit. He nods to Jessica in greeting, then glances around the amusement park. "Interesting choice," he notes with a vague smirk. "I hope we've made sure none of the themed Gotham villains will pop 'round. I think they use these places on a rotating schedule." Look, any chance to mock Jersey.

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd - Armored up and masked as Red Hood - stands near Jessica. He gets the nervous energy she has and does his best to focus for himself. He sits sideways on the seat of his bike, waiting with her.

He still wasn't clear on how he was going to be of any solid use in a spiritual or psychic realm or whatever this shit actually was. But she seemed to think he could be of use and if being there as some reassurance, why would he refuse. He's seen the shit the sorcerer can do. He wasn't interested in facing off against the possessed and animated wax statute Queen of England. She was a bitch. It was the animated wax statues of Batman and Robin(the first) that was particularly unsettling even though there was a measure of satisfaction. All the same he did not care for a round two.

As others begin to arrive, he stands properly but remains silent. In addition to his Red Hood armor, his pistols can be seen strapped to each leg.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    The final of the trio is a head and shoulders above the others. Chas is imposing at the nicest of times. "Look, can we just agree that France and the UK both have their share of skeletons in the closet and leave it at that? How the blood hell did we get from cuisine to problematic behavior anyway?" He shakes his head and lets the coversation drop upon seeing Jessica.

    He offers her a nod. "Jess. Good night for it as any." He gives a look around the place. "Window dressing could use a spot of work, but it'll do." He's dressed pretty casually, dark jeans, a wild kalidescopic print on his buttoned shirt and a light leather longcoat over both. No weapons are visible on him, but there is a quiet strength that he exudes regardless of his unarmed state.

    He takes note of Red Hood and arches a brow. "Who' your friend?" he asks, giving the young man a once over that encompasses equal parts assessment of abilities and general gauge of demeanor.

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz opens up a long carrying case she brought and brings out a shotgun. "I'm ready. But my preparations were mostly mental. I've never meditated so much in my life - you can find all SORTS of stuff on Youtube." She glances at Chas. "This is Red Hood, a local vigilante and one of Batman's crew. And my boyfriend. Long story." She takes a slow deep breath. "Here we go." She then holds her left hand up as it starts to glow, a dark-green construct tophat appearing in the air, a rabbit peeking out of it, snarling. She grimaces at her left hand. "He's waking up, Rien. You can probaly sense where to go from here..." She pumps the shotgun. "Let's go."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien grins towards Jon, then glances up at Chas, "Food and politics often go hand in hand, sadly. Besides, it was a better topic than fashion." None of them are exactly fashionplates. Her own clothes morph into the armored outfit she uses for work related eventsas she nods to Jessica.

A glance to the shotgun has her lifting a brow, then looking towards Jason, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have that? You might need it more." Regardless, she'll look to the ring and gives a nod as the constructs start to appear, "I can feel his.. presence, such as it is. Lets go ruin his day." Pausing, she motions for Jason to draw his guns so she can touch the barrel of each, lining the weapons with a crackling energy that seems to absorb into the guns after a moment. "You might find those a little more effective where we're going."

Reaching one hand towards the ring to draw on it's energy as a means of attunement, the other hands angles out to empty space, opening up another portal that leads to somewhere altogether different.

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Inside the realm of the ring is a crazy landscape. Everything is glowing in a dark green hue, and there's a strong aura of magic around. And weird mysterious sounds are echoing everywhere. In the center of the realm is a cage of black fire - and inside - is a bright green lantern inscribed with the emblem of the Green Lantern Corps - and standing by it is the figure of a man, all in dark green, wearing robes. He is staring at a wall that shows an image of the amusement park - he can apparnety see what the ring can see - but as the image flickers and fades away, he whirls around and stares. "Poppet?!?!" the sorcerer exclaims. "What is the meaning of this? You cannot win - you know that, right?"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon nods to Red Hood--he knows some of the Gotham vigilates, though he's never met this one. He makes sure his staff is imbued with energy, and then he'll follow the others through the portal to the inside of Jessica's Green Lantern ring, evidently? Interesting concept.

    He peers at the sorceror for a moment and then rolls his eyes. "Bold words from a man who has to control others through fear. Pretty boilerplate stuff, really. Abusive language always follows the same script." He's definitely letting Jessica go in first, so she can face the sorceror head-on, but prepared to back her up.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood nods to the others. A 'heh' is offered in response to Chas and his opinion of the location. "At its best it wasn't great. Some might call this an improvement." He then adds, "I believe you're familiar with Red Robin. He is probably the closest I've got to a brother. We tend to differ in our views of approprate levels of violence but we're on the same side." Usually. Tonight Red Hood's views are probably better suited.

To Rien's question he shrugs, "I tend to work better with pistols but you're the expert. I'm just some extra muscle. If you suggest I take it too, I will if Jessica is good with that." A glance toward her, "Otherwise I've got these and a crowbar." He doesn't seem to want to go into details on that. He does draw the pistols, holding them barrels down for her to, er, work her magic on? "Thanks. I'll take any advantages I can get."

When they're in the other realm he slowly turns around, trying to get his bearings, then he looks toward the caged lantern and the sorcerer. "They always have to posture."

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas nods to the information about Red Hood and waits for Jess and Rien to do their thing. He doesn't waste much time with pretenses or banter. He's spent enough time around mouthy sorcerers in his experience that, evil or good, the banter gets a little samey after the third or forth hundred times he hears it. Instead, he releases the holds on his angelic energy and blue flame akin to that of supergiant stars surrounds his form and fills his eyes. The energy grows and coalesces into a blade of the same energy in one of his hands.

    He's pretty sure he could destroy the cage--even a magical one constructed by the power of a Green Latern ring--were it in the physical world and not on the playing field of this mad wizard. But here, he's not sure how his powers would do anything to it. Besides, it's Jessica's ring. So, he decides to leave it to her and his eyes search the strange green landscape as he waits for an adversary to present itself for judgement from one of the Heavenly Hosts, namely him.

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz smiles as she hands her favorite shotgun to Jason after it was imbued with the same magicks that Jason's pistols were. "You're right, I don't need this." She then steps forward. "Wow - you're a pathetic shade that doesn't belong in this world..." She takes a deep breath and moves to stand by the imprisoned lantern. "The most you can do, Akakios Cyprus, is taunt me and do some cheap parlor tricks. Are you aware that the wax museum is already back to normal? As if nothing ever happened. You didn't choose me - yes, I had fear of my situation... but the ring came to me because of my will." She then puts her hands on the flaming bars and focuses. "This ends now!" A shimmering bubble starts to form around Jessica and the cage, as the lantern begins to respond to her presence.

The sorcerer just shakes his head. "Predictable as usual. If you die in here, poppet, I can finally claim your body as my own. Of course I'll have to find something more suitable. You... are hardly what I'd call a good host." He raises his hand and a swarm of misshapen fiends comes out of nowhere to attack the invaders.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien just rolls her eyes at the posturing from the sorcerer and lets the glowing bone claws slide from the backs of her hands. Glancing sidelong to Jon and Chas, she murmurs, "Do either of you remember when these monologues were intimidating? Seems like a lifetime ago..." Of course, in Rien's case, that might be true!

She waits for the inevitable, then smiles, "Ahhhhhhhhh, guilt-free violence against constructs... always a nice change of pace!" Rien runs towards the fiends with a grin that finally shows the resemblence to her father, launching herself at one with claws leading the way!

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "I honestly don't remember them ever really being intimidating," Jon replies. "I was there during Loki's attack on New York and I have to say--the monologue was the /least/ intimidating part. The Frost Giants were much scarier." He quite calmly twirls his staff and moves to just attack the fiends with his staff.

    Jason, at least, might note the influence of Red Robin in Jon's staff-fighting skills--he's learned a lot since then, but he started with Tim Drake showing him how to use the staff properly. Bright teal energy meets the green of the Lantern constructs as the ends of the staff hit the fiends so they can't distract Jessica from what needs to be done.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood takes the shotgun. "Alright. Kick his ass, Jess." He hefts the weapon and steps away from the others to give fighting space. Keeping his back toward Jessica he begins to shoot at the constructed fiends. As the enchanted shotgun fires and seems to have the desired effects he spares a glance towar Rien, "I could get used to this.." then back to blasting. It's what he does best.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas launches himself into the fray, sword cutting constructs down as they rise up. "I don't think any of them will ever match what Michael was trying to feed people during his Emo-kid phase a few months back" he says as he runs a particularly vile looking beast through with the sword of heavenly flame, pulling back as it thrashes in its dying throes. He kicks it free of the blade.

    Another comes from behind and he turns to raise his free hand and obliterates the vaguely shaped creature with a blast of holy fire that disintegrates the construct from-what serves as its waist up. "You'd think a great and powerful sorcerer would have better minions at his disposal. Are you sure you're even capable of handling the ring, big guy?" he asks, tauting the wizard. "Jess, put this arsehole out of his misery so he doesn't keep deluding himself."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz grits her teeth as she starts to pull the bars apart, her hands glowing green - a brighter green than the dark murky green of the sorcerer. She stares at the sorcerer as the entire realm shifts a bit, growing brighter by a few notches, and the monsters weakening. "You are nothing - a shadow of a one-powerful sorcerer... in your heyday you might've been something - but now, you are NOTHING." As she tears the bars apart, the realm is glowing brighter, as is the Lantern within. She can almost touch it... all her will is focused on freeing the lantern within. "See? You are a parasite, clinging to true power. I half-opened this and your control is slipping!"

The monsters are staggering a bit, both from the combined onslaught of the invasion, and from the weakening of their master. The sorcerer, for once, has nothing to say as he puts his hands on the bars of the cage too, doing his best to undo what Jessica is doing - but the panicked look on his face would be clear that it's just not working well. The realm continues to brighten, notch by notch, and the monsters get a bit weaker with every moment...

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien lets out a laugh at Jon's assertion that they were never very good. "You need to start going up against better villains! There are some that are truly gifted in monologuing! I'm tempted to say that's how they got into villainy in the first place, since they're not very good villains." She slices apart one of the fiends before grinning towards Jason, "Join the club and it's part of the perk package!"

Then she turns, angling towards a construct coming up behind Chas. Not that he can't handle himself, but she's right here! And it's threatening a friend! bone claws that glow a faint light blue appear through the construct's chest in the moments before she rips it in two. "I didn't get to hear most of Michael's monologues firsthand... but I have /all/ them trapped in my head. Which is.. you ever lie awake in bed just unable to turn your brain off? Now imagine that, but you're also reliving Michael's life while you stare at the ceiling."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "Don't remind me," Jon grumbles at Chas and Rien both. "I was the /target/ for most of those monologues." He shudders, and shakes his head, staff easily destroying constructs with little puffs of smoke.

    "I'd offer some advice on making better constructs but I think Jessica has you beat anyhow." He looks to Rien and Chas. "Do we have any idea where the shade's going to go once it's evicted? Or should I make sure he gets yanked where he belongs--the afterlife--and doesn't just try to go bother someone else?"

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood looks back, "What is this? Try before I buy? If I like it I have to sign on the dotted line? That's unfair I'll note. You sparkly-thinged my guns without asking. I'm not giving them back" he half heartedly protests. It hasn't occurred to him that maybe whatever magicky stuff done could just wear off. Not one for taking too much time to think - as opposed to Red Robin - he just keeps firing. Soon enough the shotgun is empty and he slings it over his shoulder and pulls both pistols to fire on the constructs.

"It seems like this is getting, I don't know, easier? If it's like this all the time you might have talked me into it." Joining.

Finally paying attention to the others as the constructs seem to be weakening. Seeing Jon's stave fighting he can't help but smirk, "That technique seems rather familiar. Nice." Then it's back to blasting evil fiend constructs in the name of goodness.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas cuts through constrct after construct, tearing through them like so many sheets of paper. Rien's taking of one on his back earns her a look. "You took my kill" he says to her with a smirk to indicate his jest and appreciation. Another before him earns a boot to the face backed by the the power to move planets.

    He looks to Jon and then to the shade of the sorcerer. "If you don't, I will..." he says as he grabs one of the snarling beasts and drives its center mass into his knee before jamming the sword through it. "You got 'im on the rope, mate" he calls to Jessica. "Take him down and let's finish this once and for all." Another snarling construct is lept over and kicked toward the waiting claws of Rien. "I'll let you have this one, dearie."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz manages to tear the cage open - though the sorcerer stays on the far side, trying to reinforce it - but his stranght is waning. "Too scared to come over herre yourself? You're a ghost - a shade. You need to be banished from this plane forevermore..." she cries out - as she finally enters it and puts her hands on the Lantern itself. A shockwave of emerald light erupts from the Lantern, blasting away all the fell dark-green of the sorcerer - the blast would send the sorcerer sprawling and the cage shatters, the construct fiends collapsing. A voice comes - from Jessica's hand. "Rebooting..." The ring itself changes - becoming a bright green, the six-point star emblem puffing off of it to reveal the proper Green Lantern emblem.

The sorcerer gasps for breath, all his plans laid waste as he rises once more, pointing at Jessica who is still laying hands on the lantern. "This... was not... meant to be. I am... eternal...!" he weezes, trying to gather his strength.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"One of you should, he's not a demon so me banishing him won't do any good," Rien calls back to Jon and Chas, tearing through more of the constructs as Jessica struggles against the sorcerer to retake the ring. She lets out a laugh at Jason's comment, "The enchantment is temporary. There's no strings attached to the guns or the enchantments, but if you want something more permanent we'll have to discuss it later!"

Chas sends one of the fiends straight towards her and she obligingly slices it's head clean off before flashing a smile towards Chas, "Why Chas, cher, I didn't know you cared!" Laughing, she darts off towards the last of the constructs, sliding to her knees to cut them down to size. Literally.

When the ring starts to shift and change colors, Rien lets out a whoop, "You got this! Kick his ass!" She glances back to Jason and grins, "Oh we fight way scarier things than this, but we'll have your back the whole way."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon rolls his eyes at Chas and Rien. "Lord spare me," he mutters, and then turns to face the sorceror. He summons up wings and circlet and sets the staff firmly on the ground.

    "Akakios Cyprus, you have outstayed your welcome on the mortal plane. You are right. You are eternal--so are we all." He grins. "But I'm pretty sure you've got a sojourn somewhere unpleasant before you get to come back into the cycle."

    Teal energy whips out from the staff to wrap around the sorceror's shade, attempting to drag him to the Underworld where he belongs. Not to Duat, exactly--more just to the lands of the dead, where whoever the sorceror was supposed to face can judge him for his actions in life.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hook keeps shooting and reloading. Fortunately he wore his jacket with the deep pockets so he could carry more clips of ammo. Or something. Still, as long as fiendish constructs keep showing up in his line of fire, he is only too happy to put them down just as quickly.

"Scarier? I'm pretty sure I'm a bit too blue collar. Red Robin's the brainiac from Gotham you want." He then adds sarcastically, "Not my back I worried about. My head? Shre." Dark humor. It seems to be a Family trait.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    More of the constructs start to swarm Chas but the angelic aura about him combined with the sorcerer's weakening hold over the world around them causes most of them to destroy themselves as they attack, doing more damage to themselves than the angelic guardian. He watches as Jon starts to conjure and send the sorcerer to his own hell.

    He gives Jason a look. "No one's ever too blue collar, I've been at this for the better part of 20 years, kid." He grins and raises his angelfire sword. "Before I ended up like this... I drove a cab and ran a bar. No powers, no brains, just determination and a giant can of 'fuck off'. You'd be surprised how far those two can take you. Even among these sorts."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
With the sorcerer finally banished, and all the construct monsters dispatched, the green realm disappears and the five reappear at the spot form which they left. Jessica straightens up. "It's over..." she whsipers softly as the ring slides off of her finger and hovers there. "Reboot complete. Subspace connection to Oa reestablished." Jessica looks at the ring, not sure what to think of what's about to happen.

The ring slowly begins to fly away, as Jessica sighs softly, shaking her head as she forlornly reaches skyward for the ring - then the ring stops. "Jessica Cruz of Earth. You have shown the ability to overcome great fear." The ring returns to float before her. "You have been chosen." Jessica reaches out, and slides her finger into the ring, and immediately, an eruption of green light flares around her, as the Green Lantern emblem flares to light in the night sky directly above her. Her clothing changes to a glowing green and black bodysuit with white gloves. A green lantern forms in her hand, just like the one from the green realm. "Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."

Jessica looks down at herself. "You were right, Rien. I was worthy..." she whispers as she gives her a hug - then turns to give Jason a powerful embrace. "Thank you, all!"

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien points to Chas as she looks to Jason, "Never. /Ever/. Let anyone you that 'human' isn't good enough. Chas, Cael... both were in this as humans long before there were any sort of powers involved. We're a team, we help each other out. Enchanting weapons is a minor thing, easily done, and a small price to pay to have the right people on the team." She flashes a grin towards Chas, then Jon, "We've all gone through our own trials by fire..." Her eyes turn back to Jason, "We've all had to deal with doubts. You'd be welcome."

Then she's laughing and returning Jessica's hug, "I'm glad you realized it, too, Jessica. Congratulations." Rien lets her go and moves back towards the other JLD leaders, smiling at them, "And I think here is where we can bow out gracefully. You guys want a portal anywhere?"

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon frowns, ever-so-faintly. Something about the display of Oan power bothers him in a way he can't quite put a finger on, a resonance from Ma'at, an ancient wariness.

    "Be careful, Jessica," he says, tone carrying that same wariness. "You are worthy--but you are worthy regardless of what power you've been granted. Don't let your new bosses convince you otherwise. Never trust anyone, or anything, blindly." He shakes his head. "That said? Congratulations."

    They look to Rien, expression still unsettled. "Back to the Velvet Room, I suppose? We can celebrate Jessica's success." However much he distrusts the Oans--and Ma'at /really/ distrusts them, for some reason--that doesn't undercut what Jessica did here.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood lowers his pistols as the last of the constructs are dispatched. As Jon banishes the sorcerer properly, he can't help but lift a hand, waving just before the banishment is completed. "Bye."

As the group give him the cheerleader speech (to his thinking), he lets out a laugh, "Sure. I get it. And I could be President one day if I wanted to be. Or an astronaut. I've been a vigilante in Gotham since I was barely in double digits. I don't doubt what you're saying. Any of you. I question whether or not this is what I'm supposed to be doing."

He shakes his head, "Gotham needs all the help it can get. And, as much as I usually want to punch Batman's all knowing all disapproving scowl, the truth is he needs all of us whether he wants to admit it or not.." He pauses as the world returns to normal. As much as Amusement Mile could be considered normal.

When Jessica's interaction with the ring is complete and she turns to hug him, he returns it. "You did good."

He looks back to the others to finish his thought, "She's got a cosmic ring. Me? Maybe this is the direction I'm supposed to go. Maybe it isn't." He glances to Jess with the last. Knowing she seemed to want to see him join as well. "I'm game for staying in touch. You need a trigger man? I'm in as long as I can help. More than that?" He shrugs. "As someone who knows more than I once said: Never trust anyone, or anything, blindly." He's glancing toward Jon, his tone is actually relaxed and probably a little amused at being able to turn back that comment but he continues, "I'll talk with Red Robin. See what he has to say about all this." He's at least keeping an open mind. For Jason Todd?

That's significant improvement.

Chas Chandler has posed:
    Chas isn't going to push the young man on his choices. He's been in those shoes before, back when he was barely in double digits himself. The kid will come around or he won't, and that's that. Instead he nods to Rien. "I think a celebration is in order at least for us, if they have somewhere else they want to be to celebrate... I'm not going to force them to it."

    He raises his voice a bit for the pair. "You did well, today Jess. I look forward to seeing what you can do without that arsehole mucking up your abilities." He turns and lets the blue fire fade from around him, the faint illumination returning to the normal dark of the ababdoned amusement park. "I've got... more notes to compile as well, so I'll be burning the midnight oil as usual tonight. Need to get the word out on that thing that attacked Mercy."

Jessica Cruz has posed:
Jessica Cruz nods. "I should meet up with you guys and get the details on what's going on. I have to stop being such a hermit." She smiles softly, then winks at Jason. "I'll see you later, sweetie," she cooos, the Lantern emblem glowing around her right eye as the six-point star once did." Unlike a normal Green Lantern, her lantern seems to be more than just the green light of willpower - there is also a magical aura to it, that those sensitive to it can just see. Perhaps a residue of the sorcerer's presence. "Since I'm already annoying Batman by flashing powers - I might as well." She moves away from the three JLD people and stands near Jason. She smiles softly, and holds her ring hand up to the lantern.In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. For those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's Light!" Once again, the Green Lantern emblem flares to light around her and shoots up into the sky - and she smiles as she looks up at it. "Free. At last."