8856/Sorcerer's World: The Hand of Fate

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Sorcerer's World: The Hand of Fate
Date of Scene: 29 November 2021
Location: Hall of Justice - New Troy
Synopsis: The League has been betrayed from within and what was a bad situation is even worse. Just how close is Faust from realizing his schemes? Days? Weeks? And where is the real Dr. Fate in the League's hour of need?
Cast of Characters: Hal Jordan, Diana Prince, Thaal Sinestro




Hal Jordan has posed:
The seemingly impossible plans of Felix Faust march onwards and his purpose in laying low for so many months has been revealled. The mad wizard put his time to good use, restoring the Demons Three and winning one of the Lords of Chaos, Mordru himself, to his cause. He has gained powerful allies in the form of Eclipso, Blackbriar Thorne and even Amos Fortune and claimed powerful artifacts of mystical power as well. All in all, his success has been unsettling.

And now Dr. Fate has suggested that not only is it possible that Faust could actually upset the universal balance and tilt the scales towards the supremacy of magic over science, but that he is disturbingly close to accomplishing just that. To reordering the universe so that he, and others of his ilk, hold a distinct advantage over any who might oppose him. Not the sort of news that one wants to here.

Fate has come to their aid previously of course, and has taken into his care powerful relics like the sword Excalibur and the Siege Perilous, both artifacts that could tilt the scales Faust's way. And of course his intervention to counter Mordru's involvement was key. But now he has put out the call for more help, promising answers to his allies in the Justice League while requesting access to further items of mystical power that might tilt the scales and allow him to thwart Faust's efforts before they go any further.

The Oan Power Ring... does not qualify. With it's ability to do virtually anything limited only by the users force of will and imagination, it might seem like magic. But that is only because of the scientific principle that any sufficently advanced technology will look like magic to one unfamiliar with it. It is, in many respects the ultimate embodiment of science and technology. And certainly one of it's wielders, Hal Jordan stands present, awaiting the arrival of the League's ally.

Or really he doesn't stand at all. Instead he is draped in one of the chair's of the meeting hall. He does not quite have his boots up on the table, but it's almost possible to see him thinking about whether that might be the perfect, artful touch to complete his slightly exaserbated milieu. "Just like a wizard, to keep everyone waiting," he mutters.

Naturally, this is when that golden anhk portal appears at the far end of the room, absolutely flooding the chamber with that glowing light, almost blinding in its intensity. For a moment it is only possible to make the vague, dark form in the center of that radiance and then it steps through, the portal closing behind him, leaving the distinct, golden helmet of Dr. Fate clearly visible as the blue and gold clad figure hovers forward without touching the ground. << In your hour of need Fate has come, as he always shall to the allies of Order. As promised I bring answers. As I hope that you have brought the talimans that might seal our victory. >>

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana stands near one of the displays on the edge of the meeting room. She's reading something upon it as it scrolls by when the portal of bright gold energy opens. this draws her attention in the direction, and her eyelashes flicker a moment before she spares a glance in Hal's direction.

Wonder Woman is draped in her deep blue cloak that covers her armored form beneath it. Her dark hair is loose about her shoulders and sweeps around her neck gently in the atmospheric changes when that portal opens up.

She steps toward the table then, her eyes on the Doctor as he appears and makes his declaration.

She spares another look to Hal before she looks back on to the doctor.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice." Diana tells him in her Themysciran accented voice. "We have dealt with a lot with this Faust fellow, and are eager to see him face judgment for his crimes." She starts things off with.

Hal Jordan has posed:
With Dr. Fate's appearance, Hal drops a little of that indolent posture, swiftly rising to his feet and dipping his head to the arrival. The bright flare of light doesn't really bother him -- he flies past blazing suns on a regular basis afterall -- and he certainly can appreciate a little showmanship even if the inscrutable nature of that golden helm makes it impossible to read the features of the man beneath. "Of course," he says, echoing agreement with the Amazon Princess. "We appreciate any aid that you can provide us," the Green Lantern offers before motioning towards the table were an odd assortment of rocks, gemstones, curving pieces of wood and other assorted items sit in a pile. "This is the assorted objects of mystical power that we have in our custody, gathered up as requested. Taken from various magical threats," he says simply.

The master of magic regards them from behind that helmet for a moment, still hovering just inches above the ground, that flowing gold cape rustling in some unseen breeze, or perhaps just moving on its own accord. It's hard to be certain. Finally Dr. Fate inclines his head slightly, lowering himself to stand behind the chair at the head of the long table that serves as the League's gathering place. << I appreciate your welcome and offer up my aid freely. I speak as plain as I can about these matters. Faust seeks to return the laws of the universe to an earlier state, where the chaos of magik ruled. When whim, rather then law, dictated what was and was not possible. Should he succeed you shall find your world plunged into chaos. The technology that you are so reliant on shall cease to be reliable and the forces of magic shall reign supreme. >> he intones.

Dr. Fate's attention swings towards the gathering of mystical relics resting on the table, surveying it in silence for a moment. << If this is what we have to work with, it shall have to be enough, >> he says finally, his voice a strange mix of man and something else, something ancient and powerful. << Are there any other questions that I can answer for you before I begin the ritual to try and stop Faust? >>

Diana Prince has posed:
As Hal speaks to Fate, Diana lets her eyes roam over the magical items on the table as well. She looks up when the Doctor speaks of the plans that Faust has for their world. She levels her stare at the caped man before she gently shakes her head. "We will not let him succeed. No one person gets to decide the fate of the world like this." She initially responds before her eyes flicker between the man and the gathering of items they have to aid him.

She gives another quick look to Hal before she regards Fate once more.

"If there are other magical artifacts that you believe could help with this endeavor, that you might have insight on how, or where we can find them.. We can send others to try and acquire them. But in the mean time, yes... if there is something you can do now to help... we must act as quickly as possible. Before this menace strikes again."

Hal Jordan has posed:
<<This will do. It shall have to. Felix Faust may be insane. He may be delusional, but with Mordru backing him now he is closer than ever to achieving his ends and this cannot be, >> Dr. Fate intones, waving hands in front of him in a series of intricate gestures. Again a glow seems to start to grow from both the golden helmet he wears and the amulet around his neck, a fiery blue pentagram of power seeming to appear out of nowhere, hovering above the artifacts that dot the table, motley assortment that they may be. The magician's chanting continues, words unintelligble -- even to Hal with the power ring's ability to translate thousands upon thousands of intergalactic tongues -- the tone of them growing, swelling dramatically.

Showmanship, right? Hal doesn't really understand magic, but he likes to think he knows it when he sees it. And this looks like the real thing. How all of this is supposed to stop Faust in his tracks cold he doesn't know, but there might not be a greater authority on magic then Dr. Fate. If says it, it must be true, right? Right. So he watches as that glowing blue pentagram begins to descend, watches as that mystical energy latice falls amongst the gathered relics, as they all begin to sparkle, and finally as they all begin to go translucent before fading away entirely.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Hal asks, a small frown creeping over his expression.

<< All is as it should be. Almost. Another prize is present and I would claim it for my master, >> Fate intones, the glow around him heightening as well as one of his hands suddenly whips about, fingers graspingly extended towards Diana. And for her it suddenly feels very much as if some force is trying to wrench the Lasso of Truth from her side.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana is a lot more motionless and statue-esque in her observation of this magical spell casting than her partner in Hal here might be called. She just stands there beside the table with her arms hidden within her dark blue robe adorned with a pattern of lines mimmicking eagle feathers.

She watches the pentigram as it descends, then observes the items all vanishing. She does share the sentiment of Hal's question, but her eyes go up to Fate to watch his response.

It's only a moment later that she feels that force pulling at the coiled-up golden rope of Divine power hidden inside her robe. It linked to her leather harness, she feels it all getting tugged, and the reaction comes swift.

The Princess suddenly lunges forward and uses her armored right leg to kick a chair from beside the table directly at the man that she believes to be responsible as her right hand goes down to the lasso to try and grasp around it to keep it from leaving her side!

Hal gets to see this all go from 0 to 100 mph in a split second!

Hal Jordan has posed:
It is definitely not what was expected by the Green Lantern and while he might not be entirely sure of just what is going on, it looks very much to him like Dr. Fate is attempting to steal Diana's lasso. And as nice as it might be to have all the answers right at handm that isn't a luxury that they always have. He will just have to make it up as they go along! "What do you think you're doing?" he barks out, that ring hand coming up in a flash, levelled towards the blue and gold garbbed magician.

For a moment it almost seems as if Fate might be able to steal away that lasso before the Amazon Princess has a chance to respond. But only for a moment. The sudden swell of magical power proves inadequate and when she grabs hold of the lasso it is clutched at her side, one end slipping a foot or two, waving in that unseen, mystical force, waving towards the unlikely thief. But even as he clenches that grip, even as he makes a tugging motion he is unable to pull it free. << The things my wife could do with this. It should not be yours. You are unworthy of this gift of the gods. Surrender it to me, >> Dr. Fate demands, his other hand raised up, a golden beam of energy arching towards Diana, lashing out to try and make her surrender her grip.

That's enough for Hal. Whatever is going on here, it's not friendly. "I don't know what you think you're doing..." he says, the energy around the green power ring flaring brightly before an answering beam of energy lashes out, striking at Dr. Fate. The first blast runs headlong into some sort of shield, stopping short of striking home. A second and third follow, pounding away at the wizard's defenses. Finally the fourth strikes home, hitting Fate right in the side of the head. The helmet loosens, flies off, landing with a clatter several feet away.

As Dr. Fate straightens, his features finally revealled, one thing becomes very clear. It is not Kent Nelson standing there. Instead the features are a different man -- tantilizingly familiar, but just out of reach. His hair and beard are white and a certain desperate light radiates from fierce blue eyes. "You won't deny me!" he shouts, surrendering his grip on the lasso as he instead dives to retrieve the Golden Helm of Nabu.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana keeps her grip onher lasso as the golden beam is launched at her. This causes her left arm to come up and knock her robe off her shoulders! It falls back on to the floor, her bracer covered forearm going up to intercept the magical beam! She stumbles back a step, her footing wide upon the floor as she centers her weight, and focuses on the situation unfolding before.

Doctor Fate was trying to steal her lasso?!

Diana hasn't spoken yet, instead focusing on simply stopping his actions so far as Hal starts to pummel the doctor with his energy blasts! When the helmet is knocked free, Diana sees the face of the man beneath it, and feels the tug on her lasso stop. She straightens up and now willfully detaches her lasso from her side!

As this imposter rushes for the helmet, Diana twirls the lasso around, its length glowing golden bright now! She lashes out with its looped end to try and snare the imposter around the neck! It's an aggressive use of her lasso, but she's kind of mad now!

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
Frequently, Sinestro issues warnings when he's about to do something that puts other League members at risk. They may not offer much of a response time, they might be curt, but they're there-- a compromise between efficiency and field effectiveness.

Not so, today, once a flood of alerts is finally answered by an emerald comet streaking through the Hall's roof, intangible and brilliant-- and fast. So fast, in fact, that a deafening *BOOOOOOOOM* thunders through the Hall in his wake, followed closely by half a dozen more-- and accompanied not only by thick, glowing earmuffs around both other Leaguers' heads, but countless points of emerald light bracing everything that hasn't already been marked as hostile by his fellow Lantern's IFF sync.

"Lantern Jordan and I wield rings which are designed to restrict the usage of lethal force," Sinestro casually states, drawing to a stop above the fray while the excess of green settles.

"I can, however, assure you that Wonder Woman suffers no such limitations; surrender."

Hal Jordan has posed:
It is certainly an entrance to be sure. Magicians aren't the only ones that has a monopoly on showmanship though Sinestro would surely claim it is simply efficient. And it is at that. Certainly this strange Dr. Fate finds himself increasingly outnumbered. Even this... well, whoever he is, has to surely recognize that fact right? Two power rings levelled at him and the golden lasso around his neck, fingers clawing at it to keep it from completely cutting off his oxygen. It is, afterall, one of Dr. Fate's few weaknesses. He still has to breath.

The white haired man -- though he appears to be in his thrities or early forties at most, rather then aged -- offers no reply. Not to Hal or Sinestro. Understandably so, given that he is currently just fighting to keep breathing at all. One hand falls from the golden cord around his neck and instead makes a twisting notion and a small anhk shaped portal appears in front of him, a large scarabed jewel rotating there in mid-air before a light appears deep in it's faceted surface. It begins to spin and a moment later the odds have changed once more as a trio of new figures stands present.

Foremost of them is a towering woman in a black body suit with a stylized 'S' clasp holding the cape that drapes her shoulders. Raven locks hang well past her shoulders and she sneers at those around her.

The second figure looks likewise familiar, but not. The blue and red costume he wears echoing a familiar symbolism, but yet again, twisted. No 'S' crosses this heavily muscled chest, instead a twisted sort of red 'U' etched there over a golden emblem. But the look of disdain is certainly recognizable.

The last appears in a glowing green suit very much like that of the two lanterns that stand there. The symbol on his chest is no lantern however, perhaps a stylized star. Green energy crackles around him like a living thing. Hal's own smirking face stares back at him.

It is all that this false Fate can do to speak, but he manages it. "Superwoman. Ultraman. Power Ring. Destory them. Bring me the Amazon's lasso and bracers," he gasps out as the trio suddenly launch forward -- Superwoman lunging towards Wonder Woman, that golden lasso in her hands already beginning to lash out towards the Amazon Princess... Ultraman towards Sinestro, a fist heaved towards the Lantern... and Power Ring towards Hal who suddenly finds an emerald barrage peppering him.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana has the lasso around the false Fate's neck, and is starting to pull it taught as she walks ever closer toward the man... but she stops when he summons minions...

Diana's chin is angled downward, her eyes glaring with annoyance. She looks from one of the new arrivals to the other, then hears the words from the man she has by the throat...

And they are being attacked!

Quickly, Wonder Woman pulls on her lasso and attempts to send the Faux Fate toward one of the inner load-bearing stone walls! She releases the lasso from around his neck, and lunges up in to the air to meet her attacker head-long! Her own lasso is brought back to her body where it sweeps around her form, her hands going out toward Superwoman! A good old fashioned grapple seems to be the Princess' plan here!

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
"What--"

Ultra Speed leaves little time for confusion. Before another syllable leaves his mouth, Sinestro's sent flying across the meeting chamber, through several walls, and into a refrigeration unit in the League's terrestrial medical suite by a single punch. The only silver lining is that said punch connected with the everpresent emerald aura clinging to his body rather than him-- and even that comes with the stark caveat of the punch's echo erupting through his nervous system, shunting a fraction of the responsibility for bearing stresses as severe as a punch from -- THAT away from his ring's power supply.

Needless to say, he's a little slow to retake his feet afterwards and stumbles a couple steps forward as glass shards and spilled medicine sloughs off of him, giving Ultraman a virtual eternity to close in for another titanic blow. In fact, the alien Lantern doesn't even move after stabilizing himself, instead resorting to bracing against an exam table, hunched over and panting slowly. Even when that red and blue cruise missile's a heartbeat away, Sinestro's still--

-- and then the room's washed in a vivid red flare emanating from a distant corner, while Sinestro shatters into millions of emerald slivers, which promptly fade into sizzling green motes, and then-- nothing.

"My ring tells me that your ally has found a cheap facsimile to shove onto some slow-witted dupe's finger," lowly rumbles from that corner as Thaal steps clear of the shimmering distortion hiding him from perception, ring strobing madly between waves of red and green, "and it appeared that a duplicate Princess was turned up as well... yes?"

Stepping towards Ultraman as sweat beads across his brow and solar radiation floods the room, he concludes: "Which makes you the fool who chose the worst fight that he could; doesn't it?"

Hal Jordan has posed:
Despite the force with which he is suddenly hurled by the flick of Diana's lasso, this version of Dr. Fate seems to go with it -- perhaps because no matter where he is being thrown, at least he can breath again. And so he flies through the air, hitting the ground heavily as he slides towards the wall, one hand extending as he reaches, hand extended towards the golden helmet that begins to fly his way. Even as it slides back in place over his tantilizingly familiar features he crashes into that stone wall heavily, grunting despite any magical protections he has running, the impact still taking a toll.

Slowly, the blue and gold garbbed man rises to his feat, that jeweled scarab flying to his hand, an instant later a regal looking sword appearing in the other. << Faust wanted me to send his thanks for leaving me in possession of the Siege Perilous and Excalibur. He feared that you might see through me, but while I might not be your Dr. Fate I am far greater than the relic who bears the name here. >>

It would seem Superwoman is more then happy to engage on Diana's terms, throwing herself at the other woman, arms outstretched. Not that she doesn't try to coil her lasso around the Amazon Princess of course, seeking to gain an advantage. She doesn't seem the kind to fight fair. "Are you what passes for an Amazon in this world? Pathetic," she sneers, trying to meet her foe with sheer strength -- and perhaps surprisingly finding that she can't simply over power the other woman. But if anything that only makes the sneer grow more pronounced. "Give up that lasso and those bracers and maybe -- maybe I'll keep you as a pet instead of snapping your neck," she blusters.

Unfortunately Hal doesn't have any magical artifacts to barter with. His doppleganger seems to feel no restrain, energy blast after energy blast directed towards Hal. And each time a shield is raised up stopping the blast, or a giant emerald sword of power appears to slice right through the beam before it can strike home, leaving the two remaining bursts of energy to pass by Hal on either side. "This is it? You have the most powerful weapon in the galaxy at your disposal and all you can manage is this? Well, I guess it is only the second most powerful weapon now that I'm here," Power Ring says arrogantly, resuming that all out assault.

Despite whatever superficial similarities the final figure might have to Superman, that arrogant brashness resembles nothing like the Man of Steel. But he certainly moves and hits like him, almost a blur as he launches his assault on Sinestro, sending him flying. Or at least he beleives that he has sent him flying. "Huh. I didn't think anyone could be more of a weak-willed failure then our Power Ring, but I guess I just needed to cross a few dimensional barriers, huh?" he says, already lunging forward to try and finish off Sinestro, fire radiating from his eyes to wash over the alien Green Lantern. For a moment he seems to think that he has destroyed his foe entirely. But he is quickly diabused of that notion, whirling to find Sinestro behind him, radiating that energy his way and actually staggering for a moment. "You think that's going to protect you?" he growls, again lunging forward, leading with one massive blow of that first. But he is just a fraction slower now, the blow just a little weaker then the first.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana keeps her own lasso close at hand, in which she has it wrapped around her own body at the moment. "Yes it is." She says with clenched teeth at the question of the Amazons here. AFter all she has to answer questions while wearing the lasso herself, right?

The other's own lasso is able to get around Diana's right arm too, but the Princess isn't focusing on it, as her goal is to get up close and personal with this foe! Diana grabs the lasso rolling around her arm and attempts to jump it right back at the other woman, moving to try and pull it around her neck! A thousand years of working with lassos, gives Diana quite the entrenched ability at knowing how to move a rope to tie a person up!

Her left arm delivers a series of blows to 'Superwoman' in her ribs, trying to off-set her ability to defend herself!

All of this is chaotic and going so fast that the two are moving in a blur together in the heavily damaged meeting room now!

The two women get within range of this helmeted Faux Fate again, and Diana spares a moment of thought to sweep her left armored boot up to try and kick him square in his speech-giving face also!

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
Sinestro is a deeply proud -- some would say arrogant -- man in his own right, having spent decades of his life accumulating plaudits recognizing his efforts to master his office and badge, both. Pride and indomitable will render him resistant in the extreme to the kinds of taunts and jabs that the guilty so often throw to unbalance the just, mostly.
"'Weak-willed.'"

Normally.

"Hm."

Eyes throbbing with Oan light narrow. What was already a healthy base level of disdain is multiplied tenfold in the steady downward curve of his lips, the redoubling tension of his fists.

"Very well, then," he intones, making silent note as his ring reports fractionally lessened speed from the incoming hostile-- and steadily dwindling power levels.

Both factors play into his decision to meet the alien juggernaut's charge head-on, surging forward at the last instant as his persistent aura abruptly intensifies and snaps forward, its leading curve rippling for a beat before it fragments into an array of emerald waldos with their claws splayed wide open. Emerald light crackles between the tips for a split second before each manipulator projects a burst of gravity pointed squarely at the dimensional intruder's chest in the hopes of violently repulsing him.

"Go ahead, then," he sneers amidst the screech and metallic whirring of reimagined technology, "Show me what true strength looks like, interloper!"

Hal Jordan has posed:
With the Golden Helmet of Nabu once more upon his head it is impossible to read Dr. Fate's expression. But if he was hoping for a quick end to this, if he was hoping that this altenrative Justice League could make swift work of this world's, well he has to be a little disappointed right about now, doesn't he? Enough so that the masked magician apparently comes to a decision, the hand holding the Siege Perilous coming up once more, that glow deep in the heart of the jewel starting to manifest and for just a moment other images shimmer in mid-air, looking similar to other Leaguers of this world. Similar, but not.

Fortunately for all of them, the battle between Wonder Woman and Superwoman is far ranging indeed, the meeting hall crossed as the two Amazon warriors lash out at one another. Superwoman grimaces as she finds her anticipated quick victory out of her reach, dark eyes glinting with anger as each of her blows is knocked aside before she can strike home at her opposite. The slip -- when it comes -- is so miniscule it might easily be missed. Superwoman probably would have missed it but while she might be an Amazon, she is no warrior princess trained from birth. So in an instant she finds herself fighting off the lasso wrapped around her neck, carried along helplessly, trying to kick out, to strike Diana -- to somehow break free -- as her foe crosses the room in a rush and levels a kick towards Fate that sends him staggering before the Siege Perilous can bring in yet more foes.

For his part, Hal takes the assault, takes everything that Power Ring and his strange, magical ring can dish out at him, turning the attacks aside -- sometimes just barely -- but it is enough. Enough to make his opposite frustrated, little beads of sweat beading on his brow as he lashes out again and again, seeking to overwhelm his foe. Is it concentration? No. Hal knows exactly what it is. It is an emotion all but unknown to the pilot turned space cop. It's fear. The next time that green shield is conjured to take the blast from the Ring of Volthoom he does not content himself with that. Instead the shield lingers, not shattering under the assult. Lingers as a brilliant green energy beam lashes out from the center of it striking Power Ring in the chest. The fear in Harold Jordan's eyes grows as tendrils of green energy begin to lace up his arm, glowing through his uniform. "No, no, no..." he mutters, giving up a step, and then a second under the onslaught of the Green Lantern for Sector 2814.

It would be an interesting battle of arrogant wills indeed, to see Ultraman face down the Green Lantern of Sector 1417. But as strong as Ultraman might be, as fast and as powerful what he apparently hasn't reckoned with is his foe's mind. Each passing moment drains him of his strenght. Little by little perhaps, but each moment lessens him even while his foe gathers up that indominatable willpower. So the dark haired brute plunges straight ahead, that fist slamming into the green construct that meets him. Raw, Kryptonian strength meets the emerald energy of Will and while cracks might appear in Sinestro's constructs, it does not shatter. Ultraman's eyes widen ever so slightly in surprise before that jaw firms and he rears back again before launching a haymaker blow at the construct that holds again. "How...?" he begins in disbelief... right before that beam strikes him in the chest, that gravity force of a sun slamming him backwords, hurling the blue and red clad figure into the stone walls of the Hall, just narrowly missing Fate himself as a shower of dust, pebbles and rock chunks rain down on the combatants.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana plants her wedge-heeled boots back down against the floor of the meeting hall, the dust and bits of roof raining down upon them all covering her dark hair now as she gains some grappling ground on her foe! Superwoman gets elbows and punches in to the side of Diana, but Diana gets behind her and keeps gaining inches of ground in lassoing / tying the strong enemy up!

Wonder Woman does back up though, with each hit that lands against her body! She is pushed back toward the room's heavy stone wall, but just before she presses back to the wall, she kicks her foot down, and her own lasso sweeps off her body, her foot actually manipulating the lasso of Truth by standing on it, and sending it whipping around Superwoman's body too now!

Diana's goal here is to continue to 'web' the woman up, being close up like this, she starts to try and wrap her up in her own lasso, as well as Diana's!

Like a spider, with her prey up close like this... Wonder Woman starts frantically wrapping, tying, and moving to gain more ground. All while tanking the blows that do land against her.

The two women are assuredly going to feel the aftermath of this fight, no matter who comes out on top!

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
Ultraman is strong,

    and fast,
        and tough,
            but Sinestro's willing to suffer if that's what victory takes.

Every blow against the snapping, gravity-wielding phalanx of his aura ripples brutally through the alien Lantern, a reminder of the ruin that awaits should he dare let his mind wander or his will falter for even an instant. A thin red rivulet trails from his nostril, coursing past the philtrum on its way to painting a trail down tightly set teeth, then dripping from his bottom lip only to incrementally vanish amidst emerald radiance with a series of tiny hisses. Each new impact's a groan, a shudder, a scream only just bitten back.

When Ultraman eventually draws back in shock -- when he sees the fruits of strategically borne agony glimmering defiantly in Ultra Vision -- he is met with a broad, nigh-predatory smile.

And then he's gone, forced to wonder--

"How?" booms through the meeting hall, Sinestro having streaked directly after Ultraman surrounded in a translucent red field that he's racing to keep the extradimensional titan enveloped in. "Because I am Thaal Sinestro, the greatest of the Green Lanterns, and you...?"

The space between question and answer is all that's needed for those mechanical arms still protruding from his personal aura to sink inwards, while several fireteams worth of emerald alien weaponry manifests in the air around him, each one pointed squarely towards Ultraman as throbbing energy builds within their barrels.

"Are a howling gibbon stuffed into a mantle too heavy for him to bear," is punctuated by a whine-screeching salvo of energy beams from that array of glowing barrels.

Hal Jordan has posed:
<< Very well >> the strange Dr. Fate intones, annoyance clear in those not quite human tones. << Keep the gifts that the gods have bestowed upon you for now Amazon Princess. With the relics you have unwittingly provided Faust your days of standing over this world like Titans of old are rapidly coming to an end. And I can promise that your Fate will not be coming to your aid. The rise of Magic is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it. >> the masked figure asserts, a glow beginning to radiate in the depths of the Siege Perilous once more, though this time the intent does not appear to be to summon more foes, but to extract those that have proved... not up to the task.

Increasingly bound in the Lasso of Truth and unable to bring her own Lasso of Submission to bear, Superwoman hurls insults and vile epitaphs towards her opposite. But that seems to be all that she can do. She twists and flails, struggles at the god-spun cord that confines her and... it is all for naught. "You can't beat me!" she shrieks. "But you did beat me!" she calls out almost immediately afterward, the magic of the lasso compelling that most humbling of confessions. But for just a moment a gleam enters her eyes as the radiance of the scarab-like jewel begins to wash over them. But whatever hope she might have felt dies as the bindings of Diana's lasso apparently counteract the magic of the Siege Perilous. "Nooooooooo! You promised! You promised you would take me with you when we left!" she cries out, staring daggers towards the increasingly insubstantial forms for Dr. Fate and the two other otherworldly members of the equivilent of the Justice League.

For his part Hal is not nearly so ruthless as Sinestro. But then he is not facing quite so formidable an opponent, or at least not as determined as one. Now under a fierce assult of his own, it is clear that the Ring of Volthoom is not powered by Will, but instead by fear. This alternate HArold Jordan just slinks back, frantically throwing up shield after shield to protect himself, his own attack broken as those tendrils of green energy continue to slip through his flesh, like the roots of a tree seeking nourishment from the soil. The ring, literally feeding on it's wielder. It might be more powerful than an Oan Power Ring... but it clearly comes with a pretty high price. But as the light flares from the jewel in the hand of Doctor Fate, Power Ring goes insubstantial and begins to fate, Hal's next blast of emerald energy seeming to pass straight through him with no effect.

Today is not a good day for the Crime Syndicate. It would be nice to think that the three most powerful members of whatever strange Leauge they come from might learn something from this humbling experience. But that seems unlikely. Still, Sinestro at least might get some satisfaction at seeing the mightest of them -- in theory -- actually cower for a moment, sprawled out in a heap of crumbling stone, an answering trickle of blood actually leaking from his nose -- invulnerable flesh meeting its match in the ruthless application of willpower. Dark eyes glinting with unfamiliar fear and hatred stare up at Sinestro and he starts to rise to his feet, to take the battle to the Green Lantern when that light washes over him. "I'm not done Fate! You can't do this..." he barks, his voice fading out just like his physical self. But is the last gleam in those eyes relief, despite the heated, combative words?

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana got slammed up in to the wall several times by Superwoman. The wall was crushed inward with a spider-web of cracks from the force of it as well! But in the end, Diana worked more and more of both lassos around the woman until she made a final move of dropping her to the ground!

Crouched over her, Diana grabs both lassos by their ends and rises up. She stands up above Superwoman before planting her left booted foot down upon the woman's spine, and just holding her there, with the lassos held in either hand.

Hogtied.

Diana of Themyscira looks up to see the Faux Fate retreating, then looks over to see her counterparts. "This is beyond being out of hand." Diana says then in a still annoyed tone of voice, her hair and form covered in dust and bits of rock.

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
Not for the first time since his arrival, Sinestro finds himself observing the Princess of Themyscira and her captive with an arching brow and burgeoning esteem glimmering in his eyes. A beat later, his attention shifts towards his colleague, brow still arched. "And I trust," he wonders while swiping blood from his nose, "that you found yours wholly inadequate as well, Jordan...?"

Without waiting for an answer, Sinestro sweeps his gaze across the spaces the other intruders left behind while his ring shimmers gently, scanning for residual traces of whatever energies the Siege Perilous might've emitted. "What was all of this? I recognized the sorcerer from the League's personnel files, but his behavior felt rather out of character. Why was he here?"

Hal Jordan has posed:
And just like that the false Dr. Fate and at least two of their alernate reality duplicates are gone, faded out and no doubt returning to Felix Faust and Mordru with their haul of purloined mystical artifacts, ready to turn them over and contribute to the looming overwrite of the laws of nature themselves.

Not exactly the sort of result that they could hope for.

On top of that they now know that Dr. Fate has somehow been removed from the picture. One of their mightiest eldritch allies lost, taken off the board before the game even truly began. What can they do about that? Where can they start? Do they seek out whatever prison holds Dr. Fate at bay and waste more valuable time? Or struggle on with one mystical hand tied behind their back? There are no good answers there, only more bad ones.

Of course they have come out of this with one captive. Left with hardly any way to move let alone escape, the self-proclaimed Superwoman stares daggers at them all, though none moreso then the Amazon Princess who bested her. If looks could kill they would all be in trouble. Fortunately it would appear that a death stare is not one of the abilities of the trussed up villain.

There is no lighthearted levity or insolence from Hal Jordan now. He can recognize the less then ideal situation that they are in now. "That was not Dr. Fate. At least not our Dr. Fate. Whoever he is, it looks like he is working with Felix Faust. We left two of the most powerful artifacts in existence in his hands and that means they're Faust's now," the Green Lantern says grimly before giving a shake of his head. "I uhhh, would like to think that was not me at my best, no matter if he had my face or not," he agrees drilu with Sinestro before turning back towards Diana and her captive. "So. Faust is one step closer to achieving his goals, despite all our efforts. And all we have is you. A potty-mouthed pretend amazon. Hopefully you're in the mood for talking," he says to the trussed up woman.

Hopefully she knows something.

Thaal Sinestro has posed:
"Of course it wasn't--" Sinestro begins grousing, only to bite the rest back and swallow it with a low, "-- hnnh," and eyes rolling towards the roof.

Amidst this, thin green streams have begun coursing through the room, wriggling towards debris, holes, broken furniture-- as many signs of this mess as they can reach. Whatever they touch, they fix -- whether it means wrapping around and carrying junk away, or piecing together that which can be salvaged. At least, until the ring runs dry, they do.

"I think you'll agree that all things considered, her mood is irrelevant," he states, glancing over to meet the captive's eye.