TerroirNoir's "Cable Channel of AE!" Reviews. Part 2.

[TerroirNoir2]

5 minutes ago, sponazgul said:

You are too kind! Thank you. Not to press my luck, but I hope at some point you try out The Return of Despoticus,  my latest story arc (no pressure, you have a lot of things to do.)

 

Best regards!

Oh I hope to get to it. Along with some from @Jiro Ito and @LordRassilon.

[Jiro Ito]

appreciate the thought!  i'm trying to put together a long form something-or-other, but I'm slowwwww

[TerroirNoir2]

13 minutes ago, Jiro Ito said:

appreciate the thought!  i'm trying to put together a long form something-or-other, but I'm slowwwww

Oh, that's fine 🙂 I've been going through three probable (LOL) experts at Long Form.  Each has their own distinctive method of presenting an arc to us. 

[cranebump]

By "expert," we mean ( in my case) shooting 300 darts out of a cannon and hoping 5 of them stick.:-)

[TerroirNoir2]

@Ankylosaur, there's a few typos here and there in All That Glints 1.  Nothing major. Just a heads up.

[TerroirNoir2]

Arc 22 from our second author on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews is @cranebump's Solace: Part 3.

 

Mission 1: Ardent for Some Desperate Glory. This one starts off with an excerpt from Wilfred Owen.  (A quick check on that.  WW1 poet. Interesting.)

Thunderhead Bartlett is holding in some anger.  Mostly at himself it feels though I'm getting the edge of it too.  Bengal, his nephew, has dashed off hero-style into the valley of shadow. We have to find him.  

I'm not going to point out that I'm pretty certain Bartlett's own seniors would have felt the same way when he was younger.  If they'd ever known what he was up to. That'd go down well as well as a shrimp cocktail in a Kosher buffet.

 

Bartlett states the facts.  The law firm is done for.  Leola Pack's briefcase had so much dirt in it, along with our own investigations, that Barrier Tech is over too. The Feds (all sorts) are looking into Darkwater and the Injunction is stopped for now.  Councilwoman Krimulo is also being investigated.

So the case as it is, is done.

There's a but.

Diversant is still on the loose, and all that Mandelbrot malarkey is too.  Not good.  Plus Bengal and Montoya are in the wind.  Looks like Montoya went after Bengal.  And turned his locator off.  Didn't stop Kestral finding him though.  (She's good!)

 

Now I'm linking up with her to see what's what.

 

 

Typical old warehouse style building.  A few thugs along the way.  Now with added head trauma.  Can't stand the heat, stay away from the Radiation-enhanced super lady.

Ken Dickey?  Who the hell are you?

 

 

Ah, quick net-check. Used to be a "hero", didn't like it when he wasn't appreciated and went full Merc for any price.  Right. And I thought Ice Drone was a pain.  At least he knows what's right if you corner him.

 

Well, fair or not you're in my way, Ken.  HA!  I'm Engineria but you're...just Ken.

 

 

Round the corner I link up with Kestral, who doesn't seem entirely pleased to see me but accepts it.  Well, I say accepts but she's not happy about me being a bull in a ....Ok, let's move out.  Carefully does it.

 

Spoiler

@cranebump, I'd boost Kestral's toughness a bit.  She's useful but when she loses a good chunk of health from a regular thug with a gun that's not great. I know she's a junior hero but I'm someone who likes to bring their allies along with them rather than leaving them behind.

 

 

Kestral does pull my fat outta the fire though when I'm stunned and throws a high kick in for good measure!

(Still not had that medical I promised myself after my visit to Striga!)

 

 

We do a controlled detonation on some explosives and then move further into the building.  Plenty of thugs, some Trolls, even a few Gardvord. Or Gardvords?  Which one of those is the plural?  Meh, doesn't matter.  We round a final corner and find some guy called Sizemyk.  You need better PR representation my friend.

 

 

He was HOPING we'd find him.  Interesting.  And imps?  He probably means the junior heroes.  Doesn't know he has Cool Auntie Engineria to deal with!  (At least I hope I'm Cool Auntie Engineria!)

And Sizemyk just POPS out of existence with some sort of TP.  

Typical.  I can almost hear Kestral's teeth grinding under her helmet.

 

Ok, what do we have on this console then?  AHA!

 

 

So, some sort of personal vendetta maybe?  Let's check the other device. It's a long range TP.  Can't read any of the codes but it's been used.  Three coords are identical though.  This needs to go back to Thunderhead.

 

Come on, Kestral.

 

Thunderhead is nonplussed.  To say the least.  Time for some strategizing methinks.

 

[Mission 1 = Oh, I'm liking this.  It's gone from principled mission to personal.  Let's see how we go!]

 

Mission 2: Such high Zest. Right, we're on the trails.  Trouble is there's more than one.  So Kestral takes one and I'm on another. Enemy supers and mercs ahead of us though.  (Stay safe Kestral!) As for the third set of coords?  Justin Greene is handling that.  He'll be a bit more cautious I reckon.

 

In I go!  TP Away!

 

When I arrive in some office block I get a message from Thunderhead.  Seems Kestral appeared in some TSC base full of Trolls and who all.  Thunderhead rerouted Greene to her location and has sent Cyrus to deal with the third set of coords now.  In the meantime, let's see what's here.

 

Move out, Crew Chief?  I only just got here!  Time to ask you a few searching questions I feel.

 

 

He doesn't stay up long when faced with Kinetics and Rads.  Seems this place is another TSC "business venture", although they're closing up for some reason.  Maybe me and the Ravens are that reason. But it WAS the hub of the entire Skyway operation so there might be sensitive intel here.  Let's go for a looksee. Plenty of Sturmwolke folks about.

 

Ah.

See, when the Crew Chief said they were closing up, he meant it in a very permanent way.  There's more of these throughout the building too. I need to find the detonation device or I can't defuse them.

 

 

Ok, sneaking along.

Oh, I'm not the only sneaky person here!  What are you?

 

 

Well, whoever they are they don't last long against a surprise attack.  Being stealthy (as I have personally learned) only helps if it works and no one sees you!

However, what I DIDN'T see was who was just to the left of that door!  And Movo Shing comes through all guns or whatever blazing!

(Yeah, her HP is low there, but don't look at mine!)

 

 

And she TPs away when I hit her hard enough.  I wish they didn't do that.  I really do.  What happened to slapping cuffs on people and waiting for the cops to show up?  Grrr.

Movo.  One of the names Ken Dickey mentioned.  So is the other one here too?  Hmm.  Nothing for it but to keep moving and searching.

 

I find more explosives.  PLENTY more of them.  Looks like they really want this building gone.  Up the back stairs and...oh hello, Maladept I presume.

 

 

Hold the line?  Do you think you're at Helm's Deep or something? (Ok, gotta watch that again.  Viggo is very heroic and inspiring.)

Maladept is a mite annoyed.  He's wondering where the hell Movo is.  So, about that...

 

 

I do not understand people with Gravity powers.  WHERE DOES ALL THIS CRAP COME FROM?  More to the point, is there some sort of recycling program that tidies it all away afterwards?

 

 

I manage to shut down the detonation device and find another hub for TP. And there's a set of coords that looks familiar.  Let's go talk to Jim Bartlett and give him the skinny.

 

So that last code is the same one we found in the warehouse.  The final one.  Time to dive in head first he says. Helmet time I think!

 

[Mission 2 = Lovely feeling of chasing down the fleeing villains as their scheme seemingly unravels.  Still have some rescuing to do but on we go!]

 

Mission 3: Through the Thick Green Light. Bartlett will send Headlong the code to meet me. And as soon as Justin and Kylee clean up their spot of trouble, he'll send them along too.

 

Off I go!

Oh not good.  Starting blocks still have the warmth of my boots on them and I hear badness.

 

 

Jake's in trouble!  And he's swaying!  I don't like the look of that Goop Thing at all.  Mandelbrot is really scraping the barrel here and finding sludge at the bottom. Ick.

 

 

Jake just collapses!  Sweet potatoes!  What the heck? A serum?  Diversant is a monster of some sort now, too strong for Carlos. Ok, and Carlos is here somewhere. I'll find him.  I'll find him.

 

 

I find Diversant's discarded clothes and he seems to have donned some sort of power armor.  Right.  Well, good to know what I'm up against I suppose.  On I go. And I find a medical station.  Empty syringes of Superadine and something I don't recognize.  Ah.  We're in super soldier territory now, are we?  I place Buddy on Speed Dial and key him to TP to me when I call.

 

Oh.  I think I know what THAT is.  And if I destroy it then no more interference from summoned Mandelbrot creatures I reckon.  Suits me fine.  BOOM! BOOM!  And up it goes in a burst of plastic and metal.

 

 

Ah. Diversant.  

Taps Speed Dial.

Buddy?  I need ya. 

 

 

Let's take this guy down!  GO GO GO!

He's tough!

Buddy keeps the goon squad off my back while I lay into Diversant.  I'm blasting him and ripping health from him but he keeps on coming!

 

 

And we take them down.  And take a knee!  Whew.

He's muttering to himself.  What is it with these people that everything has to be epically apocalyptic?  I mean is there a Community College thing for aspiring villains?  I can't even see Recluse wasting money on that.

 

 

We go looking for Carlos and we find him....oh no!  No no no!  (Not again @cranebump, not another Willie Sullivan!)

Ok, whew. He's bad. Buried in rubble but he's still with us!  We dig him out.

 

 

Carlos had managed to steal a datapad from Diversant though.  Boy has it.  He just needs to learn some caution.  And get better armor.  I learned that the hard way!

 

Back to Bartlett to debrief.

Kid's in intensive care.  Probably won't walk unassisted.  Damn.  But we don't have time for that.  As someone once said, personal isn't the same as important and right now we need to finish this.

 

[Miission 3= Oh you evil writer, @cranebump! You're worse than @Darmian for getting people involved with NPCs!  ARGH.  Right.  Vengeance!]

 

Mission 4: Finale. What Candles May be Held. The datapad is full of what we need.  Keenan Diversant, Anwar's father.  A.K.A. Doctor Anguish.  Same bozo who tried to blow up the city back in the 90s for some gawdforsaken reason.  Who knows why these people do that.  I mean, you LIVE here!  I dunno.  He was caught, presumed dead in a big Zig breakout.  As you can guess, he wasn't.  Now he's back and madder than ever.  More bombs!  More madness! This time with added Mandelbrot! 

We have a city to save that doesn't even know it's in danger.  Hey, that's the job of a mid level super.  It's not all muggings and clutch purses and carjacking.

But we know where he is.  Time to visit the sewers.  

Aha!  I had my leg armor reinforced with waterproofing.  Assuming that IS water.  

 

Time to end this.

 

Wait what?  Echo?  Is this guy a time traveler?  Or are we having an Aeon moment here?

No matter.  Anyone I meet that isn't Headlong is getting a blast of Rad.

 

 

And down he goes!

Not that it mad a lot of difference because there's another bunch of them around the corner surrounding Headlong!

 

 

I deal with those and the pair of us head further into the depths.  Oh this place is ...what's that word I liked?  Manky.  Yeah.  Very onomatopoeic.  (Look at me being erudite!  Ha!)

 

Oh hell, that giant Sizemyk is back.  With goons!

And Headlong is taking a beating!  I can't keep him going fast enough with Kinetic heals either. Port out!

 

 

Headlong ports out!  Good.  Just me and the giant now.  Boom!

Yeah, you got that right.  I am!  Now stay down!

 

 

 

Moving on I see Ken Dickey in a corner throwing up.  Ok, he's a douche but..can't fault him on that.  It's nasty down here.

Well well well.

Doctor Anguish.  And your machines of doom.

Have to take them down as well as you.  You probably have a Dead Man's Switch.  (Would an immortal NEED a Dead Man's Switch?  Would they even think of one?)

 

 

I'll just slide around the corner to the left and take out the first of the machines and then I'll....get ambushed by Movo Shing.  Because that's the sort of day we've been having.  GRR!

I beat you before, I'll beat you again.  Stay down this time!

 

 

So, I call Buddy.  We stand there for a bit and scan.  And then it seems as though there's an imperceptible nod between us.  And I call Marcus.  Not called him for a while.  He's probably somewhere with his feet up having a daiquiri.  Oh man, I'd love to be doing that about now.  That new Praetorian place I was talking about has some great ones.

Sorry!  Anyway, where was I?

 

 

Ok team.  Let's do this.  Take out the machine, watch for Maladept (yeah, I saw you hiding there!) and his goons.

Okay then.  Marcus went straight for Maladept, leaving me and Buddy to tackle the goons and machinery.  Well, he's emanating BIG HERO energy, so...yeah.

 

 

With Maladept down and Buddy in the red but holding, Engineria and Marcus go for Anguish himself!

He's a tough cookie too.

 

 

But down he goes.  I leave Marcus to stand on him or something while I scoot around and wipe several databases.  Thereby stopping the possible explosive end of the city!  No biggie.

 

And we stagger back up the sewers and out into beautiful daylight.  Time to talk to Bartlett then.

He give me the routine.  And even though we both know the words, they're still the RIGHT words.  We'll get back on that horse, the city will rebuild and we will go on.

I'll be happy to work with the Ravens again sometime.

Until then.

Now?  Now I get that long overdue medical!

 

[Mission 4 = Great finale!  Tension all the way through and I really didn't know if I could handle the end so Buddy AND Marcus were called in.  I'm glad I don't play normally on 4/8 or anything like that.  Recommended!]

 

Verdict.  @cranebump has crafted another beautiful vignette of life in the city when you're not the top super.  And that suits Engineria.  Even though she's now a 50 and has Incarnate powers, she's still at heart a squishy!  Loved this arc.

 

Next up from @cranebump is Gravity.

And next on the schedule in TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE reviews is @ZamuelNow's Dhahabu Kingdom and the Indelible Curse of Hate.

Edited Wednesday at 05:40 PM by TerroirNoir2

[cranebump]

I replayed the story myself this weekend.  Didn't see ol' Maladept hiding in the boss room. The results of attempt #1 were, um...less than optimal. Actually had to do some old school pulling to clear some space before I went back in. Good times.:-)*

 

*I'd-a called in the whole cavalry, as well, if I'd had them.:-)

Edited Wednesday at 08:27 PM by cranebump

[TerroirNoir2]

The next arc on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews will be part of the Interludes, Side Trips, and One-offs, and is @ZamuelNow's Dhahabu Kingdom and the Indelible Curse of Hate.

 

Portal Corps is almost magical in what it can do by opening up a myriad of other worlds to us.  But it's not the only world out there doing that. In fact I was surprised to get a message from one such place.  It seems that their Seers had asked for Engineria by name!  Ah, interdimensional fame...or I hope it's fame!  Interdimensional infamy doesn't sound nearly as attractive.  So anyway, I meet with Queen Auri and she is charming. But I didn't get called here for charm.

 

Mission 1: Chapter 1. A curse has spread like some sort of disease across Queen Auri's lands. Her people afflicted by a sigil of some sort that suffuses them with anger and hate.  Civil strife is omnipresent. And it continues to spread.  And Engineria has been sent for to give aid.  How can I say no?

 

Well, first of all King Aurus has personally set out to stop a rampage on some farms.  So he may need back up at the least.

And so I am catapulted across the void to Dhahabu. 

And almost immediately I am confronted by this hate virus in action.  

 

 

I have to deal with these hapless people so I do.  Can't say as I like it but I like getting beaten to death less, so it is what it is.

Now, there's the king to find and a few villagers.  Time to go scouting.  Ah, a high spot.  That will suit me fine for this.

And I can see the king way off to my left.  Rescue time!

 

 

So I take to the air and fly over. 

The king is held captive by a Possessed Songstress, a Possessed Blacksmith and a thing called a Gilded Gome.   Those last are sort of mechanical thingies created by Master Blacksmiths, inspired by crabs.  But now?  Now they're a menace in their own right. How does a cursed sigil work on a machine though?  Or do the Blacksmiths control them?  And as for the Songstresses? Oh, they're equally deadly.

 

 

Anyway, I wade in and set about freeing the king.  Takes me a short while because those little Gilded Gomes are tough nuts to crack.

 

 

But I break it open and run off the Songstress and the Blacksmith.  The king is not feeling too good though.  

Hey!  I didn't bring any sorcery!  I have Kinetics and Radiation...oh wait, you're not talking about me.  

He tells me to stay back.  Looks like he's got the hate curse now too! He says he has to exile himself.  That's perhaps extreme.  Surely there's....

 

 

And then...he just VANISHES FROM BESIDE ME!  I literally turned my head for an entire SECOND, and he was gone!  

Now what am I gonna tell the queen?  In the meantime I have to find those villagers.

 

 

Ah, I spy a Seamstress!  Down there along the ridge!  Okie dokie lady, Imma coming!  

 

 

Or I should say I'll be there in a bit because this Songstress that I hadn't spotted has put me to sleep and I am ALL out of Break Frees.  Note to self: Stock up on Break Frees.

Come on! Shake it off before she murders me!

 

 

And I do thankfully!  I hop down to rescue the Seamstress and lay around me with an Irradiation Blast.  Then proceed to take out the two Gilded Gomes and the Blacksmith, leaving the bunch of them lying there moaning.  Or just one moaning.  The Gomes are...I dunno what that noise is.

 

 

And finally I climb the hill and find a Farmer in a similar predicament. He gets rescued in short order too.  And also thanks me for being a great warrior.  Well, I dunno about that but you're welcome all the same.

Both the farmer and the seamstress are worried about something they call the "Spider King Anansi."  I reckon that's a question for Queen Auri when I get back.  

 

Getting back to the Queen and relating all this to her, she's visibly in shock that King Aurus is afflicted too. She says she simply doesn't know what to do.

Well, most of the time I have NO idea what I'm doing but you keep going until the job is done.  So, let's have a chat and see what we can see.

 

[Mission 1 = A beautiful little intro to an entirely different  world.  I like it a lot.  Looking forward to seeing where this takes Engineria.]

 

Mission 2: Chapter 2.  Queen Auri states that Aurus (the king) was brave and had resolve. She's afraid now that this evil thing has taken hold of him. But seeing as the villagers mentioned King Anansi it might be wise to investigate that.  Anansi is clever but a bit eccentric and may want to engage in honorable combat before helping.

He and his kingdom aren't entirely human either.

Lady...sorry, Queen, if you knew that amount of things that I've faced that aren't entirely human you'd be even more shocked than I usually am. Normally by some sort of lightning power.

Ok, let's go see Anansi then.  

 

Well, there's a charm to the place, I'll give it that.  And Spider Mages, Spider Warriors and...Masks of Cunning?  Interesting.

 

 

The Masks are passed down through generations and the wearer is aided by part of the spirit of their ancestors.  Have to be careful of those.  Warriors and Mages?  Warriors and Mages I can deal with.

 

This is a big place.  Time to take to the air and do a recon of...and there he is!  Hello Anansi!  Let's get down to that little beach and see what you have to say for yourself.

 

 

And Queen Auri was right!  Honorable combat it is!

He's not holding back either!  Plus his assistant (Attendant? Are the assistants of royalty called attendants?  Servants?  Whatever, he's blasting me with his magey powers too.)

 

 

Oh, Anansi is tough.  I rip his Endurance away using Kinetics and that slows his attacks, giving me time to gather myself and press my own attack.  It works!  Although I need to take a knee for a moment before carrying on. Wait, you fought King Aurus too?  Might need to ask the Queen about that later.

 

 

Oh, he's left me a gift.  Ok, Anansi's kingdom and his rules are a bit peculiar to my understanding.  Dhahabu seems more "normal" to how I regularly interact with the world(s) even though to me it is exotic. However Anansi says that the same curse that has afflicted Dhahabu is beginning to be felt in his lands.  Honestly, he could have just sat down for a coffee with me rather than trying to crack my armor open like he was having a lobster dinner.

Now, where's this gift?

Ah, there it is!

 

 

Once I've dealt with its guardians I have a looksee. Hmm, a sealed letter to the Queen and a map to somewhere near Dhahabu. If he was telling the truth this should aid Queen Auri.

Time to report back to her majesty I suppose.

When the Queen actually reads the letter she agrees with my supposition. I'm going to get cleaned up and rest.  We'll chat in the morning.

 

[Mission 2 = More world filling.  I'm very much liking this take on a multiversal mythical place based on West Africa/Ghana.  Makes a change from the main CoX world where the most mention we get of different cultures is the Tsoo, or possibly West Libertalia (wherever that might be)]

 

Mission 3: Chapter 3. Queen Auri has read the Spider King's letter and now she's passing on the details to Engineria.  The answer to the curse can be found in an abandoned diamond mine in Dhahabu itself. Auri knows of this place.  Years ago a sorcerer was banished after searching for an artifact to empower himself rather than benefit the kingdom.  His searches caused the deaths of many and so he was exiled.  It looks like some sort of vengeance on his part was planned, or at least that's our supposition right now.

So, I have to enter the mine and find the Portal of Perception and say the right incantation over it.  Gotcha.  Magic?  I don't understand it but it seems to work.  Surely some sort of higher/external physical laws that operate on a different wavelength?  I dunno.  I'm trying to rationalize all this. 

Oh, there's traps.

Well, of course there's traps.  As long as it's not a giant rolling stone ball like Raiders of the Lost Ark I'll be fine.  Won't I?

 

hi ho, hi on, off to the mine I go!

 

 

And we're in.  I'm not sure I could get a signal to Buddy or Marcus down here even if I wanted to.  Let's hope I don't need them.

Ok, what are you then?

 

 

Oh HELL!  What you are is a portal alright!  One that summons the mournful memories of the dead!  Apparently an "impure", and I'm reckoning that's me, seeks the Portal of Perception.  And these folks aren't taking kindly to that.

Why am I not surprised?

 

 

And they just surround me and ...oh I see!  The ghosts of the dead miners lost in the cave in caused by the sorcerer.  The shovels give it away.  Also, shovels damn well hurt!  OW OW OW!

Repulsion field ON!

And bounce these spooks away from my while I gather my wits.

 

 

Oh how many of these guys died down here?  They just keep on coming!  I'm Rad Blasting and ripping energy from them (I wonder what that does to their soul forms?) and bouncing them away from me.  But they're intent on beating my head in with shovels!  HEY!  I'm trying to find that douche that killed you all!  They're not listening. 

 

 

And finally I fight them off. Whew.  Take a knee.

Hmm, moving on I find a treasure chest.  Anansi warned that touching these could be dangerous.  Well, if checking the other thing brought on that rage of the Mournful, I ain't going NEAR this.  Well, no nearer than I am!  Hands off!

 

 

Ok, so this is the altar and I have to...wait, it's AN altar.  I take a quick look around.  Can't see another one. ( @cranebump has made me slightly paranoid!) 

Ok then.  this is the altar so I have to recite an incantation over it and that should reveal things to me.

 

 

Oh it revealed things alright!  More of these vengeful spirits!  How many times now?  I am NOT the one who did this to you!  Get the hell off me!

Blasty Blast!  

Oh I think I've put my back out!  That was a crazy angle to be leaning at for a Rad Blast. And I only just had that medical too!

 

 

But my fight with these poor demented souls leads me to the Portal Avatar.  And he wants to test my worthiness.  Of course you do.  Just once I'd like to, I dunno, sit down and fill in a form and get it stamped.  I don't mean waiting 6 hours in the DMV and then being told they're closing, I mean...you know what I mean!

 

 

We fight back and forth and all the while I keep glancing to my left where there's a coffin.  What the hell is that there for?  Me if I fail?  Or would I join the Sorrowful Memories? I don't think so because I didn't die at the hands of the sorcerer but you wonder.

Finally I prevail. Go me!  Long drawn out and very winded breath taken.

 

 

Ah.  The coffin is there to remember the tragic fallen.  (Lovely little touch @ZamuelNow, like it.)

 

And finally the Portal of Perception.  Let's crack this open and see what's what.

 

 

Oh, poosticks.  There's a limited amount of time left before the curse truly is indelible.  Fortunately the Seers got one thing right, as an outsider it cannot affect me so this is a me/Engineria job that only me/Engineria can do.

 

Back to the Queen Toot Sweet!

 

[Mission 3 = I have to say the crafting of Dhahabu in this arc is lovely.  Really fitting the pieces together.  And even tiny things like the addition of the shovels just sells the reality.  Good stuff.]

 

Mission 4: Chapter 4.  Queen Auri castigates herself for being naive about the sorcerer. He must be stopped though or the entirety of Dhahabu will fall to the Curse of Hate.  You said it, Queen.  So the plan is to break the mystic runes of the sorcerer and weaken him enough to take him down.  Simple plan but sometimes those are the best ones.  Less moving parts to go wrong.

Let's get to it! Time to face this guy where he's the strongest. I mean what could go wrong?

 

Sheesh.  I'm barely inside the door and already the halls are filled with nightmare fuel!  I mean look at these things!

 

 

Ok, I fight my way through them.  The tendrils are particularly tricky since they grab and hold and next thing you know I'm getting blasted by the other glowy hellballs.

Bah!

I'll need a thorough scouring of my armor after all this.  If there IS an after all this that is.  Lot of Esses in there.  I think I'm losing my mind!

 

Aha!  Or maybe not Aha.  It might be the sorcerer.  Ah, turns out it isn't.  It's some sort of empowered echo of him set to guard this place against the likes of me.  Reckon there'll be more of these along the way.

This one wasn't the toughest by himself but backed up by the tendrils and so on he was tricky to defeat.

 

 

Ok, time to pause and have a look around me.  Oh this place is nasty.  Reminiscent of the worst of the CoT, and they have nasty sorcerer stuff down to an art form.  (Nope, the Banished Pantheon are amateurs in my opinion. Horrible and vicious but amateurs.)

 

 

Right, on I go. And there's the first rune!  And within a matter of moments I have it shattered into so many bits of rubble. Yay!  Now and then you get a little bit lucky because the next rune is literally around the corner to the right!  BOOM!  And it's gone too.  One more left before I go hunting for this Chukizi fella.

 

 

Further along I find the last rune stone and stomp it into pieces, then it's straight into a large open temple style area where the sorcerer Chukizi is waiting for me.  Let's see how this goes.

 

 

JEEZ LOUISE I got cocky.  Chukizi is STRONG.  I mean I barely hit him and he just took me down.  Once I mediport (Oh please let that work!) out of here and patch up, I'm going to shoot him from a distance and then kite him for a while.  Move and shoot.  Move and shoot, Engineria!

 

 

Now, where was I?  Oh damn.  I have to run through the entirety of his evil dungeon lair again to get to him.  On the other hand, that IS better than a hot door and him waiting for me when I get in.  So you takes your chances when you get them.

 

And then I'm back through the doorway of the temple and...wind her up and let her rip!  BOOM!

 

 

OMG!  The Proc Procced!  I totally forgot I had that thing!  NICE!  Now you stay in that for a minute while I shoot you.  From over here.  There's a good...bad...sorcerer.

 

 

And I've beaten him.  Ah, he's still grinning at me though.  That's not a good sign. 

Well...fiddle dee dee.

And other less savory swear words.

 

 

Gotta go seek out Queen Auri and see what she has to say about all of this.  Not that you'd want to actually tell her this but...anyway.

 

[Mission 4 = Lovely piece of tension building.  And the fake sorcerers along the way led me into a false sense of security, and then the main guy...nasty!  Great mission.]

 

Mission 5: Chapter 5. Queen Auri is aghast.  (I don't often get to use that word), including at the wizard adopting the name he did, which I think literally means hate.  But we have to do something about Aurus. The Portal of Perception will allow me to access the Spirit Realm, and once there I'm getting all surgical on the soul of the king.  We're going to cleanse him of this evil once and for all.  Queen Auri says she will be with me in spirit.  Ok, that's nice.  I'll report back if I live.  Or wake up?  How does this work anyway?

Oh, I'm there!

 

 

And I am attacked almost immediately!  Not good.  Still, I've fought my way across Paragon and the Rogue Isles, through time and back, I hope I can handle this.

A Reflection of Madness? I was warned that the Curse could reach even me here.

 

 

Holy moly, it IS me!  I've met a few doppelgangers along the way but not the personification of my own madness before!  

 

 

Up ahead I find...something.  What on earth is it?  OH!  Once I examine it then the Sealed Emotion, the love Auri has for Aurus, steps forth personified.  Well, she DID say she was going to be with me in spirit.  Normally that means, you know, thoughts and prayers, and well wishes.  The Queen meant it literally.  Well, good for her.  I'll probably need the help.

And it looks like I will because up ahead is King Aurus.  Possessed King Aurus.  Looking a lot more possessed than those Blacksmiths I met earlier let me tell you.

 

 

From the looks of things the REAL Aurus is still in there struggling to free himself.  We have to help him.  Well, I have to help him.  I'm not exactly sure what Sealed Emotion here can do.

 

 

And he's tough!  Fortunately I had learned my lesson from facing off against the sorcerer and didn't just run in like a noob and get ganked in ten seconds.  Plus!  Plus Sealed Emotion here is healing me!  Or at least I think she is.  I'm not taking as much damage as I think I should.  But the fight goes on and circles around with the possessed King taunting me all the time.

 

 

Until eventually the Curse is purged from his soul.

Whew.

That was intense.  Time to...wake up?  I suppose that's how it works.

And I'm back with the queen.

She offers me a thousand thanks.  Doctors are even now with Aurus and say with time he will recover.  Time for me to get to Portal Corps once more and go home.

Maybe a nice bath and a glass of wine is in order.

 

[Mission 5 = Great finale!  Loved the fact that the curse now affects you too.  And the Sealed Emotion was a further nice touch.]

 

Verdict.  Well, @ZamuelNow had a big job here.  Introducing us to an entire other world in 5 missions, while still having a good story for those missions.  I'd say success on both fronts and will recommend this arc to anyone. 

 

Next up on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews as part of the Interludes, Side Trips, and One-offs, will be @sponazgul 's The Return of Despoticus. (@First of Equals on the AE console)

 

And immediately next up is  @Ankylosaur's All That Glints 2: Beware the Ids That March.

Edited yesterday at 01:35 AM by TerroirNoir2

[TerroirNoir2]

3 hours ago, cranebump said:

I replayed the story myself this weekend.  Didn't see ol' Maladept hiding in the boss room. The results of attempt #1 were, um...less than optimal. Actually had to do some old school pulling to clear some space before I went back in. Good times.:-)*

 

*I'd-a called in the whole cavalry, as well, if I'd had them.:-)

Well, I dunno who you ran it with but you've seen Engineria at work.  Still a little mid level super in a city of really big ones.  She knows what she can an can't do, and sometimes the cavalry is called!  I'm sure Buddy would be happy with that.  Not sure about Marcus though!

[TerroirNoir3]

Getting prepped.  TerroirNoir2 is close to 90% on attachments!

[sponazgul]

These are great reads, thank you for all this hard work

[TerroirNoir3]

2 hours ago, sponazgul said:

These are great reads, thank you for all this hard work

Slowly getting there!  There may be a break next week though as I've got some overtime to handle.  Ah, that's life.

[TerroirNoir3]

Yeah, I'm keeping this image to go alongside my avatar pic here.

 

 

[TerroirNoir3]

3 hours ago, sponazgul said:

These are great reads, thank you for all this hard work

Yeah, I admit I can get a little spoilery here and there but I think it adds to the fact that I said WAY back at the beginning that these are more "The Adventures of Engineria" than a pure review.  They are what they are.  

[Darmian]

I know there's been a gap, but it's hard to believe these started three years ago!

[TerroirNoir3]

Arc 23 from our first author on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews is @Ankylosaur's All The Glints 2: Beware the Ids That March.

 

So, when last we met Aurora Pena, Engineria and her were taking a truck ride into the woods on Striga.  Sheesh, that woman needs therapy.  I mean she says she's not Mother Mayhem despite having housed that consciousness for years, and I think she consciously believes that, but she goes out of her way to atone for anything that Mayhem might have done while possessing her.  I'll leave it at that.  Tricky subject that you can't just randomly bring up.

 

Mission 1: A Meeting of the Minds.  So Katie Douglas mentally uploaded/telesent everything she and I experienced previously to Aurora.  She's up to speed now with the Cliff Notes and Ii don't have to explain anything.  She's been searching for Penny Mayhem since the whole Faultline thing though, and sensing the hate wave that flooded Striga she headed there, and was caught up in it until Engineria and Katie rescued her. Now, she wants my help.

 

And then our phones buzz.  As in both of them.  Same message.  It's from Splice! Ah.  See, Splice is involved with Mr.G and a whole passel of "bad" Praetorians.  Not sure how this is gonna work but let's see what she has to say.

 

So Splice was looking for a different Subjugator than the one I found.  Ok.  And maybe sharing some intel would help everyone out.  Aurora has Vanguard contacts too, and those could be useful. Can we meet up and ...have a chat?

 

Engineria looks at Aurora.  Mind ride?  Mind ride.

We/I head off to the location given.

 

Well, that's a great start to the day.  

 

 

Moving through the warehouse I pass the Milipals mentioned by Splice.  They're stationary and (so far!) non-threatening.  Ah, there's Splice ahead.  With some company I remember from Steel Canyon.  Time to give her a helping hand I think.

 

 

Ok, same tactic as before (Don't get complacent though!) and I Rad blast them until they dissipate.  Dissipate?  Diffuse?  Drift away?  Whatever.  They be gone now.

Hi there, Splice.  Got your message.  What's the skinny?

Thorn?  Have you SEEN Praetoria recently?  Nuff said!

 

 

Right, who are we seeing?  If there's a Tinman and a Cowardly Lion and a Scarecrow around here I will not be happy.  (Although I wouldn't put it past you, @Ankylosaur!)

 

Well, I should have guessed it would be him.  Ok, G, what's YOUR deal?  This had better be good.  You do know you're wanted across....well, nearly everywhere.

 

 

Mr. G leads me on to a desk and places a formal request in my hands.  Down below I can hear someone...is that Transmuter?  I think it is!  And we pass by Bobcat! Ah!  I have reasonably good standing with Vanguard, I have since I helped with the whole Richter in the RWZ thing, and now this?  This is not a good position to be in.  Sigh.  Ok, what is it?

 

 

Don't open it until I leave.  (You seeing all this Aurora?  I hope you are.)

And then we're done.  The computer nearby contains intel about moving Subugators to the volcano on Striga.  Weird.

Right.  I'll see myself out then.

 

I leave and have a brief chat with Aurora in my head while walking back to where she is in the truck.  I think of it like being on the phone, it's easier to get my head around it that way.

 

Ok, gimme a minute.  I open the request.  Ah. Penny Mayhem ne Yin is the once responsible for the recent outbreak of viral hate.  (Let's hope she never crosses over to Dhahabu!) She's currently with the Council.  Plus she has taken over the Awakened.  (She should look at Kallisti!  They're all over that park in Flagtown!) She's also captured Subjugator 5, one of Mr. G's "people". 

Here's the catch.  G will help us find Penny if we can free 5.  However to protect 5 from Penny we need a device.  And it's in Praetoria.

Yeah.  Told you there was a catch. Aurora says/thinks that we need to talk to Marchand first.  I definitely agree.

 

[Mission 1 = Great set up.  Like the progression from the Mr. G arc in the Rogue Isles and crossing over with the equivalent New Praetorians.  Nice!]

 

Mission 2: Mental Block.  Well, Aurora and Engineria meet Marchand, before all of us head over to Vanguard to see Gaussian. We're told that there are far more Apparitions appearing across Paragon and Vanguard have agreed to open the portal we need.  Sneaky old Marchand did NOT tell Gaussian about Mr.G though! In the meantime we've updated the ubiquituous G with what's going on.

 

Now (now she says!), it gets confusing.  We're off to retrieve what Mr.G refers to as "hats".  Tinfoil hats?  I'm assuming some sort of neural relay cap actually. We'll be dashing into the CMF, hoping not to get irradiated (again, I have some immunity to that, so go me), swiping the "hats" and running back to the portal.

 

So, in I go.

 

 

Oh, I believe I've seen those sort of robots before.  Neo-Tokyo?  I think they are!  Ok, too busy to check. (Also, this mission is on a timer!)

 

 

Ok, nothing in here.  But there's more of these things so I rush around checking.

In between getting shot at by robots!

 

 

And I found it!  One "tin hat" collected, I run for the portal.  

Whew!

Aurora (who was mind riding along with me) thought those robots were one of Cole's experiments.  Nah, you're Praetorian but there's whole sections of your history you don't know.  Well, for obvious reasons. She also catches me up on what the Awakened and the Apparitions actually are.  Neither of which is very nice.  Mother Mayhem was an unpleasant person to say the least. And she reckons that the Apparitions are drown to Penny and the Awakened like moths to a flame.

 

[Mission 2 = Short, timered mission.  This could have been done as text but frankly I think it adds to the total "vibe" of the arc so far, delving back into Fallen Praetoria.]

 

Mission 3: Recurring Dreams. Ok, we have an email from Transmuter of all people, updating us on the volcano situation. There's a way into the vents and he's attached coordinates for us.  Well, for ME.  (Honestly, I probably should take a lecturer position with Hero Corps if Whipsmart isn't hiring.)

 

We bring the Hat, stick it on Subjugator 5 and bingo bongo, she's protected from Penny's mind control.  How hard could it be?  Well, that's the thing, isn't it? But this time Aurora isn't going along for the ride.  She's wary of having control wrested from her (and surely that couldn't be good for me either) plus she doesn't trust Mr. G.  You think I trust him?  I trust him as far as I can throw the Atlas statue.

 

I get in and tackle a few flying gun bots and a Galaxy guy.  Honestly, do they even KNOW they look like Luchadors?  I'm surprised one of them isn't called Nacho Libre!

Aha!  An Awakened Mindstorm.

 

 

Well, mind powers or not she succumbs to some Rads and I move deeper into the complex.  Carefully does it.  No need to get cocky and die in a stupid way.

I slide around a corner and suddenly I'm in a small computer complex with arrays of data banks.  In the middle of all that is Beholder, held captive by the Awakened!

 

 

Kingdom?  What Kingdom?  If you're talking about Praetoria then that ship has long since gone to Davy Jones's Locker.  Or whatever the Praetorian Hamidon equivalent of that is.

Kiting around the equipment I take down Beholder's captors and then free her.  Ah, a voice you say.  Might be Penny Mayhem.  Might be.  Not sure whether I really want to trust Mr. G on this.  Ok, he's not led us wrong so far but then again everything so far has apparently suited him so why would he?  Nevermind.  things to do. Trouble is, according to Beholder, that same psychic energy is going to be used to power some sort of giant robot.  Hmm, looks like they're scaling up from the Teslas.

 

 

Up ahead we find Dr. Arvin.  Former Praetorian who now works with the Council. He's not happy to see us. Not at all. 

 

He rants at us as we fight him but in the end he and his Council bodyguard go down.  There's...what the hell is a Riesengarde? Oh, I'll find out. In the meantime there's some stuff to examine.

 

Things like this!  What's in here?  Aha! Vials for an Uber Soldier.  (Some text missing here @Ankylosaur I think.)

Is that the Riesengarde?

 

 

Oh, I reckon the Uber Soldier IS the Riesengarde!  Look at this guy!  He's roided out completely!

Plus he's pretty much given the game away with his mention of serum from Dr. Arvin.

Even so, he too goes down to Kinetics ripping away his Endurance.  No energy = can't hit me!  Love that.  Gives me a breather every time.  Well, every time it WORKS!

 

 

Beholder and I also find some information detailing that Marauder and Mynx's DNA has been used for something.  Oh oh.  That's not good.

Time to report in to Aurora Pena.  We've gathered a fair amount of intel now so let's sift it and see.

 

Yeah, Aurora is anxious.  Giant psychically controlled robots, the DNA stuff, all of it amounts to pure nasty.  And she reckons that Mr. G wants that Mynx intel for Bobcat.  Ok then.  More than I knew but that's about it.  She's going to contact G and see what's what.  It's not like he'd LIE to her, is it?  

 

[Mission 3 = Tense.  Good action all the way through and some really lovely placement of NPCs and items.  Particularly like where Beholder appeared. On to the next mission!]

 

Mission 4: Mind Blown.  Of course the first thing is...we still haven't rescued Subjugator 5.  So that's still live.  And hopefully she is too. If there are other Subjugators there then they have to be stopped permanently.  Ah, that sounds a bit final but ok.  They're uber dangerous left under the control of Penny Mayhem.  Or anybody for that matter.  Beholder?  Aurora is on that and will keep me updated.  In the meantime, it's back to finding Sub 5 and sticking a tinfoil hat on her head.

Oh, the things I get myself into.  

 

So it's off to volcano city on Striga where the Council do play.  Worst. Nursery. Rhyme. Ever.

Place is dry and hot and all paths seem to lead downwards. So towards the magma?  Great.  How heat resistant is my armor anyway?  I mean I haven't been set on fire for , I dunno, whole hours.

Oh yeah.  Definitely down.

Down down down. This is gonna be one of those days. I just know it.

 

 

OW!  Oh, I was NOT expecting that!  These guns just pop out of the gawdamn wall and shoot you!  OW OW OW!

 

 

Ok, I deal with that, plus the clankers around the corner.

 

(Little bit of a PSA here for other players)

Spoiler

This door works!  But do NOT use it!  It exits you back into the AE and you have to make your way down through the map again.  Bah.

 

 

So, I move around the corner and there in front of me is that giant robot thing.  I saw something like this once on a trip to Cimerora, except that was not the Council, it was the 5th Column.  Ah, they're all fascist scumbags at the end of the day.

 

 

Oh for Pete's Sake!  Those pop up guns are literally everywhere!  I'm getting riddled with bullets! I have to take to the air and get to a ledge above them before whittling enough of them down so as not to be in a crossfire.  

Ok, a few minutes later after all that I spot one of the enemy Subjugators, Subjugator 3.

Swoop down and blast her!

Oh!  I missed one of those pop up guns!  Fortunately it also missed me!

 

 

I trash the Subjugator and stalk after her compatriots.  Soon 23, 19 and 11 are joining their squiddy headed sister in oblivion.  

And there's Subjugator 5!

Note to self, don't fall in the lava again.  That was not good.

 

 

She floats along behind me as I make my way to the bottom where the lava venting control console is located.  And with some judiciously placed Rad Blasts it is no more!  Now to get the hell out of Dodge before it becomes hotter than hell!

 

 

Hey there Aurora!  I'm back!  And look who I have with me.

And of COURSE Mr. G has another ask.  So, it builds and builds.  This time in exchange for intel on Penny he needs another (another???) portal back to Praetoria. Trouble is the apparition rate is rising and he is our best bet.  (Is he though?  I mean what's Primal Penny at?  Or Aurora Borealis?  Ah.  Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned HER.  That's as tricky as mentioning Mayhem.  Poor Sister Psyche is dead so at least I don't have to worry about that.

 

[Mission 4 = Oh, that's a NASTY mission.  Glad I did not have it on a high difficulty level.  Fighting hordes of enemies around the giant robot would be intense while also being shot repeatedly by those pop up guns!  Good stuff though.  On to the finale!]

 

Mission 5: Mental Distress. Aurora has some unbelievable news. Vanguard is willing to open another portal, although Gaussian was heard muttering that if G and his gang got stuck there that wouldn't be the worst thing to ever happen.  Hah!

But the temporal aspect of where we are going is...tricky.  The TUNNEL system only ever seems to deposit you in the past, and other methods are as unreliable too it seems.  So we may not all end up in the same immediate "when".  Sure sure.  I don't understand it but I'm getting used to it.  I think.

 

And only then does Mr. G contact us. There is a device called the Soothseer that Mother Mayhem herself used. G believes the dissonance it causes can break Penny Mayhem's control.  Now here's the catch.  We have to go to Mayhem's hospital in First Ward. Oy!  And Aurora says that Mother's presence so permeated that place we might even see versions of her there!  Ack.  ACK I say.

 

And then I stop saying ACK and walk through the portal.

(ACK)

 

The first person I see is Bobcat.  She's a bit trussed up but I soon cut her free.

 

 

The pair of us prowl along (Well, Bobcat does the prowl thing) and shortly after we find Subjugator 5.

Hello...dammit woman!  Now I can't see a thing!  Blinking for several minutes ensues.

 

 

Hang on!  I hear someone!  We scout ahead and up some stairs through a narrow corridor and come out on a sort of mezzanine where we find Transmuter.  He's grateful to see us and joins the gang.  At the back I notice.  HMM.

 

 

Splice and Mr. G himself join us later.  Quite a little army we have.  And it looks as though we'll need it.  THAT looks rather dangerous.  Although for once we have the numbers on our side.  Well, nothing ventured nothing gained.  Let's GO GO GO!

 

 

"Embrace the madness"?  That's a resounding NO from this little supe!  Not having that, Malaise...err...echo resonance of Malaise.

 

 

With this many of us he goes down like a ton of bricks through a rotted floor.  Yeah, that's a terrible phrase but I'm busy here, so leave me be!

Of course Aurora DID warn us that Mayhem's presence might manifest itself here.  And it does.  As if Malaise wasn't enough.

 

Now that's just asking us if we want to embrace the madness, isn't it?  Join the Seers?  Well it is to my way of looking at the world.  fortunately for us this is not the real Mother Mayhem.  That... that would not go so well I think. 

 

 

We take her down though and then multiple sighs of relief percolate around our little band of fighters.

And the job is done.  We have the Soothseer.

Except the only person to return was me!

Mr. G and gang have stayed behind!  They have plans of their own concerning Neo-Tokyo.  [Not going to spoiler those for other players]

Aurora is still pleased.  She can use the device to disrupt further apparitions. Once she does homing in on Penny Mayhem will be their next objective.

 

[Mission 5 = A great little "collect the allies" mission.  Lots of character and tone and then having them stay behind?  Very different. Good stuff all round!]

 

Verdict.  @Ankylosaur delivers again in his own inimitable way!  Further building out the universe we encountered earlier via the TUNNEL system and Neo-Tokyo.  Looking forward to the third part of this story.

 

Next up from @Ankylosaur is All That Glints 3: Super Ego Maniac.

And next on the schedule in TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE reviews is @cranebump's Gravity.

Edited 16 hours ago by TerroirNoir3

[ZamuelNow]

On 8/20/2025 at 7:26 PM, TerroirNoir2 said:

Verdict.  Well, @ZamuelNow had a big job here.  Introducing us to an entire other world in 5 missions, while still having a good story for those missions.  I'd say success on both fronts and will recommend this arc to anyone. 

 

Glad you enjoyed it.  It can be great for an author to see their arc through other's eyes.  Though...I noticed a typo.  And I know exactly how I wound up making it, ugh.  As far as the third mission, the cave has invisible ghost patrols so they might have found you while you were in the middle of fighting the ambush.

[TerroirNoir3]

2 minutes ago, ZamuelNow said:

 

Glad you enjoyed it.  It can be great for an author to see their arc through other's eyes.  Though...I noticed a typo.  And I know exactly how I wound up making it, ugh.  As far as the third mission, the cave has invisible ghost patrols so they might have found you while you were in the middle of fighting the ambush.

I did enjoy it.  And while I have another break due to work coming up, I hope to get to the second Dhahabu arc to complete the set.

[Darmian]

@ZamuelNow runs M.A.S.S. as regularly as possible and is a great advocate for story based AE.

 

 

[TerroirNoir3]

ACK.  Getting a DBserver error.  Was trying to update All That Glints 2: The Ids That March, can't even get on!

[sponazgul]

7 minutes ago, TerroirNoir3 said:

ACK.  Getting a DBserver error.  Was trying to update All That Glints 2: The Ids That March, can't even get on!

The system can't handle your truths.

[TerroirNoir3]

Arc 23 from our second author on "TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE" Reviews is @cranebump's Gravity.

 

Mission 1: Velocity. So D.A.T.A. Been a while since I was there but I get a call from Rick Davies to mosey on over and check in.  Seems my bona fides are still fidey. Rick is his usual self, friendly but efficient and focused on the task.  So anyway, Crey...Ack. They'll just lawyer us, Rick.  Like they ALWAYS do.  Chris Jenkins will roll out all smug and lay down some documents and then we'll go home.  (Jenkins owes me some, but not enough to overcome a Crey pay check.)

Oh. This is different.  Go on.

So intent on bringing them down by slowly going through every tiny detail...they recruited Machine Maiden. She can tap into anything, hack it and get out.  Alas, something hacked her back on the last job and now she's gone haywire.  Which considering she's normally a pacifist is something. The job is to shut her down and bring her in.  Gonna have a little bit of help too from MARK IV. (I met him once over in Founders Falls I think) He'll upload a worm and I whack her over the head.  Right.  So I ain't the brains in this operation.  Nice to know I'm appreciated.

 

So in I go.  Hang on, robots?  Crey doesn't use robots, they're all up in your face about power armor and protectors and so on.

And there's some remaining human staff to rescue.  FROM the robots?  What's going on here?

 

 

They go down to Engineria's finely crafted artisanal Rad Blasts all the same though.  So, Team Lead....Ok, just run off then!  See if I care!

I dunno.  He did say that whatever caused those old bots to break out of their crates is probably affecting her too.  At least I think he said that.  There was a sort of yodeling doppler effect as he ran down the corridor.

 

 

Right.  So who's next on the agenda?

Constance Truheart.  Now there's a name!  You don't see those sort of names these days!  (Well, yes, we just did but go with me here.)

 

 

Another batch of organically reared Radiation and Kinetics, hand delivered by Engineria to robots across the board.  And stay down.

So, Constance.  Can I call you Constance?  Ms. Truheart.  What's the skinny here?

 

 

Yep, bit of a mystery there.  Rick said as much.  Rick Who?  Oh, Rick ... O'Shea. You've probably not heard of him.

And over there is the Chief Custodian.

 

 

I'm a coming!  Stop hollering, you'll bring the roof down or something.

So I rescue him and he claims that there's nothing important here, it's old cold stuff from years back.  And have I seen Constance because they have a hot date?  Ah. No. No I haven't. Sorry.

Sheesh. Priorities!

 

Not seen MARK IV yet, so I move further into the building.

Ok, found him.  He's...scanning the bots?  I hope that helps.

 

 

So MARK IV, where's this upload spot for the worm?

 

 

And the objective is set and off we go.

Jeez Louise, MARK IV does NOT mess around!  I think he left a dent in the wall from that bot's head!

 

 

Oh hell!  Singularity!  I'm hoisted into the air and zapped!  Not good!  MARK IV is on hand to punch this Sounder Prototype into iron filings though!

 

 

It doesn't take him long.  Scarily short in fact.  I am glad he's on MY side.

Anyway, we proceed around the corner and he starts his upload while I activate the power system.

 

 

Then I have to pacify the pacifist and drag Machine Maiden home for a nice long lie down and some milk and cookies.

Because of COURSE it's going to be that easy.  Why wouldn't it be?  Stop looking at me like that.

ACK!

Also, not Paul!  Not Paul!  Who the hell is Paul?!

 

 

Mother of...my Endurance just vanished!  Not good!

Blues blues blues!  Popping blues like candy!

Now have an Atomic Blast!  Oh, you didn't like that, didja?  Thought not.

 

 

Moments later she's down and off I go with her over my shoulder.  Well, I say moments later, there was a brief incident with some Paragon Protectors but they got what was coming to them.  

 

Rick Davies has no idea who Paul is.  And he's not exactly sure how Machine Maiden functions, so can I stick around for a bit just in case?

Yeah, why not.  Get me a coffee and a sandwich though.

 

[Mission 1 = Timer!  @cranebump loves a timer.  But it did add to the tension of the mission.  Nice mystery there to hook us too.  Looking forward to part 2.  Good stuff indeed.]

 

Mission 2: Inertia. So, Rick fills me in (Good sandwich by the way). Machine Maiden has rebooted herself following her shut down.  She should be fine in a few weeks. It seems that the "guard dog" she hit in the files was connected to some scrapped Crey projects.  Well, that Custodian did say it was old and cold. And Paul?  Yeah, Paul is Paul Summerfeld, a former Crey employee now doing time for his part in the Revenant Hero fiasco. So it's possible those files were his and if we could get them then that would help in our case.

I love how he keeps saying "we" and "our" here, as though I'm part of this.  I sense I'm about to be though.  Wait for it. Wait for it. There we go.

 

So, we have the location of some hard copies.  Vital stuff in an age where things can just be digitally erased. So Engineria and MARK IV will go in. MARK IV will set off the fire alarm, then we find the files, firebomb the place and get out. Wait, firebomb the place?  Aren't you supposed to be the "good" guys?  Yeah, yeah. I know I have done stuff like that before, but not for you!

Fine fine.  I'll go.  But I don't like it.  Have more of those really nice sandwiches ready for me for when I return.

What?  How is that extortion?  

 

So we go in.  MARK IV sets off a fake fire alarm and ....I suppose that's gonna be connected to why the place burns down?  Well, I hope the assessors don't find explosive residue.  Or if they do I suppose it could be from literally anyone Crey has pissed off in the last 20 minutes, never mind years.

Camaraderie you say?  Sure.  Get me a sandwich.

 

 

We move deeper into the warehouse.  I spot a couple of computers but I leave them alone.  We're after hard copy files after all.  And there's a filing cabinet! Come on , MARK IV, let's have a looksee.

 

 

Hmm, odd. What do you make of this?  And don't be robotically literal and say a hat.

 

 

Ok, let's set the explosives and get outta here.  First spot is just next to us.

 

 

Yeah.  I suppose SOMEONE was going to respond to that alarm.  I thought we'd have more time though.  Pity.  Hit them, MARK IV.

 

 

Once we'd dealt with them and pushed them out of the rear loading bays into the yard (What?  Like I'm gonna leave these schmucks to burn to death?), we set our explosive and then look for two other good spots.

There's one.

 

 

And then on the way out we set the final one and head for the exit.  When we're gone the place goes up.  Job done.  

Time to visit Rick Davies I think.

Rick has heard of Dr. Zeist. Oh, DOCTOR Zeist, is it?  Big into cloning. Rick will touch base with D.A.T.A.'s director about this.  Zeist is the next lead. 

 

[Mission 2 = Short, sharp and to the point.  Like it!  Also, another timer!  It coalesces rapidly and I can see why this arc got a Dev Choice.]

 

Mission 3: Momentum.  So after contacting the director Rick tells me (munch munch munch) that Zeist is apparently freelance.  That's Crey-speak for "Who him?  No, we have nothing to do with him, officer", in my opinion.  But he hasn't been on the books of Crey for a while now. Though his current whereabouts are weird.  Night Ward.  I mean how (pass the chips)  do you find out stuff about there?  Monty and the gang in the Midnighters maybe?  Or Azuria is just next door. As if I hadn't just had a whole bellyful of Praetoria recently.  At least this place is just ("just" she says) dead, and not overrun with Hamidon.

Anyway.  I've finished my snack so time to go investigate I suppose.

So find the Doc, get his files and anything else he might have.  And Rick gives me what he calls an e-shunt to beam stuff to him electronically.  So like an Aether-Drop, ya? 

 

I don't remember Night Ward being so...cavernous.  Still, we're obviously in the right place because I found some Drudges.

 

 

They're never friendly.  So I am forced to give them a beating.  I dunno what exactly happens to them.  I mean, I don't think they're technically alive so...whatever.  Take that!  And how's about you stop hitting me and we'll be friends?  No?  Didn't think so.

 

 

Leaving their faux bodies lying behind me I wander deeper and find a crate full of wax.  Except it's wax currency.  The sort that the Drudges use.  I have NO idea what they spend it on though?  Birthday candles?  Depilation?  Maybe!  Some of them ARE pretty bald.

Ahead I see Taskmaster Dross.  Might get a word with him.  Taskmasters tend to be a bit, what's the word, more sanguine than their minions. Of course they'll still let their minions have a go at me so that gauntlet has to be run.

 

 

Yeah.  Had to take those guys down.  Dross doesn't seem in the least bit bothered...wait.  Are these guys MADE of wax?  Nevermind!  I do not care about that right now. So Drossy, my old pal.  Have you seen a fella goes by the name of Zeist?

 

 

Ah.  Ok then.  Seems Zeist was paying the Drudges for contact with a particular spirit. And everything was cosy until they go fed up with him.  Ah, that does not sound good. Which spirit was that by the way?

Oh that's ok.  I'll just find his base by myself.  Later (hopefully never!)

 

Further along I find what appears to be a makeshift base.  I have to clean some Drudges out of my way, along with those lantern things.  They smart like you wouldn't believe!

 

Ok, what do have here? Ah. A body.  That'd be Zeist then.  Should have expected that.

What else?

Hmm. video footage of Zeist demanding that the Drudges bring him keys.  And they get fed up and kill him.

Notes on something called a Universal Interferometer (yoink) that will be handed over to Rick Davies...and oh.  A folder.  The "keys" he wanted was Raymond Keyes.  Praetorian Raymond Keyes.

Well fiddle dee dee.

 

Need to get back ASAP and chat to Davies.

Rick has a look.  Seems Zeist was reverse engineering Anti-Matter's Orbital Platform shenanigans.  With help from the man himself! And he runs off to spread the good news.  Says he'll be back.

Time for a lay down and maybe another of those nice sandwiches.  There's a lot to be said for pastrami.

 

[Mission 3 = Wonderful little mission with lots of twists and turns.  Looking forward to the next one!]

 

Mission 4: Action and Reaction. And the soup thickens. It looks like Zeist wasn't working for himself but for someone called The Doctor.  (Hey, I think I've run into her before!  Or at least a version of her.  Which if you're a digital person is entirely possible) Carole Friedkin.  Yeah.  That's the one.  And the Universal Interferometer? Oh, it seems they can be used to impose gravitational fields on top of each other in layers.  Ok, lost me there.  I can field strip a radiation gauntlet and kinetic suit with the best of them but gravity?  That's magic. Well, not actual magic.  But not in my wheelhouse.  

And of course knowing my luck that's not the end of it. Anti-Matter's Protocols.  Which would make any module infused with them basically immune to hacking.  Machine Maiden bounced off an early iteration of those. So I'm off to Primeva in Nerva, where D.A.T.A. has tracked emissions from such modules.

Right.

Nerva.  I'm starting to dislike that place.

 

Which is why I'm in a cave system in a jungle.  AGAIN.  Sigh.

Oh hello.  Looks like the help haven't been paid. AGAIN.  Not my problem, amigo.

 

 

Once more with feeling.  NOT MY PROBLEM, AMIGO.  Ah, you'll realize in a moment or two when you're lying on the cave floor wondering about your life choices and how you too ended up in a cave in Primeva.

 

 

I pass a forklift on the way.  Why is there one of those here?  Ah, Nemesis?  Nemesis is here?  I'd like to say things are making sense now but only in the sense that Nemesis has fingers in soooo many pies that I'd be a fool to think it couldn't be involved.

 

(@cranebump, little typo there.)

 

A comms satellite.  Looks like they're really getting ready for something bigger.  I wonder where it's meant to target once it's launched. Well, maybe I'll find out further in.  In the meantime satellite go boom now.  BOOM!.

 

 

I stroll down to a large open area filled with equipment and people.  There's a Site Commander shouting about stuff.  Some about Roibart. That's the guy I flattened earlier.  And this commander is not happy.  Well, I'm about to make his day that much worse.  Every silver lining has a cloud, you know?

 

 

ACK.  They've all spotted me!  Time to go to town on Nemesis then.  Feets don't fail me now!

 

 

And I proceed to "diminish their capacity for action".  Yeah, that's how I'm going to record this in the report.  You don't think I write reports?  Oh I write reports.  You have to or otherwise who knows what sort of legal trouble I might get into.  Admittedly I don't write reports for everything. 

 

Now to examine this gear.  Hmm. Long range TP.  The comms sats will be launched into space using those.  Much handier than conventional methods. And over here?  A crate of those Interferometers ready to be attached to the satellites.  Power nodes and antimatter receptacles.  That's "regular" antimatter (if there is such a thing) rather than the deceased Praetorian.  It's not a space coffin.

 

So the satellite will be able to create large but localized gravitational fields.  In space but also on Earth. 

Time to get back to Rick Davies I think.

 

[Mission 4 = Great little click and investigate mission.  Filling in the blanks.  Good stuff indeed.]

 

Mission 5: Free Fall. Rick has a theory.  And honestly  it's insane.  But not that insane.  It's basically cloud removal.  Invert the gravity around any cloud bank and bingo, no clouds.  No clouds no rain.  Ransom the rain time.  I mean, yeah.  Ok.  Wasn't there an old timey villain called the Weatherman who did that back in the 70s?  Or was that a cartoon I saw? Whatever.  Dangerous.

However, what Rick knows of Friedkin is she would never do this, so it's Nemesis who is behind it.  Friedkin had her ethics but Rick thinks she's being played.

So, with Friedkin being the Digital Doctor, we need Machine Maiden to get in there and deal with her. And I'm the muscle again?  Yeah, figured.

So with signals triangulated off we go.

 

We get into their secret hideaway.  Yeah, not 100 percent but you can handle it.  And remember, I am not Paul!  Engineria!  Not Paul!

 

 

Ok, this place is partially caved in.  It's a wonder anything in here is working.  We get to an active terminal though, and once Machine Maiden starts her interface I'm going to have a look around for Nemesis. Oh, and activate the containment device for Friedkin.  That'll be vital.  No Friedkin, no...I was gonna say no clouds but I actually mean the opposite of that.  So, yeah.

 

 

Sheesh, that's one chunky machine!  Hmm, Arachnos design.  They do like to roid out their stuff. Kinda looks like an engine block.

 

 

Ok, Maiden, I'm gonna patrol and see if we have any visitors.

And of course we do.  I find them by being shot.  OW.

 

 

But you haven't brought enough backup. my Nemmy pal!  And down you go!

What the hell is going on out in the main corridor?

Manifestations are fighting each other.  I mean ok but what? Body cam records all this so I'll ask Rick when I get back.  No sign of Machine Maiden at all either.

 

 

So anyway, back at D.A.T.A. I have a sandwich while Rick goes over my cam footage and the telemetry results.

The modules are inert. That's good.  As for the Interferometers?  We might find a noble use for them at some point.  Also good.

The Doctor? Still technically alive but internalized in Machine Maiden.  Nemesis erased part of her ethical self so Maiden kinda had to become her.  So if I'm understanding all that the Manifestation fight was that happening.  Ok, weird.  Not the weirdest thing I've seen in my life as a supe but it's up there.

 

Rick suggests we all relax and head outside to enjoy the nice cloudy day.

Ah, no. I'm not doing that.

 

[Mission 5 = Sweet round up.  Worked perfectly!]

 

Verdict.  Excellently tight story.  @cranebump can do single arcs just as well as multiparters.  Recommended!

 

 

Next up from @cranebump is Fallout 1: The Unlock.

And next on the schedule in TerroirNoir's Cable Channel of AE reviews is @sponazgul 's The Return of Despoticus.

Edited 52 minutes ago by TerroirNoir3

[Darmian]

31 minutes ago, TerroirNoir3 said:

  @cranebump loves a timer.

To be fair, I've not seen a timer in one of his arcs for a while.  But they were definitely a thing for a bit. 

[cranebump]

You forget to go back and delete one lousy timer…(or 50):-)

[Darmian]

22 minutes ago, cranebump said:

You forget to go back and delete one lousy timer…(or 50):-)

Your "fame" precedes you!