18th January 2011
You move through the shadows, your every step calculated and silent as you scout out the location of the E88 stronghold where Kaiser and the twins are having a meeting with the Empire's non-cape gang leaders. The night is cold, and a thick fog hangs in the air.
As you make your way, the city is shrouded in darkness, with only the faint glow of streetlights casting eerie shadows. The air is heavy with the scent of smoke and dampness, adding to the tense atmosphere.
You pass by abandoned buildings, their windows boarded up and graffiti covering the walls. The streets are empty, the usual hustle and bustle of the city replaced by an unsettling silence.
As you approach the Empire stronghold, you notice a large radio tower nearby. Its steel structure rises high into the sky, its antennas reaching out like fingers into the darkness. The tower is illuminated by a soft, eerie glow, casting long shadows across the surrounding area.
The tower is surrounded by a chain-link fence, with warning signs posted every few feet. Barbed wire lines the top of the fence, a clear indication that the area is off-limits to unauthorized personnel.
Despite the late hour, you can see lights flickering at the top of the tower, indicating that it is still in use. The hum of machinery fills the air, adding to the sense of foreboding that hangs over the area.
As you get closer to the stronghold, you can see the structure looming ahead. It's a large, warehouse-like building, surrounded by a high fence topped with barbed wire. Guards patrol the perimeter, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble.
Unlike what you expected, the stronghold appears to be a legitimate business establishment, with no visible signs of the criminal activities you had anticipated. The building is well-maintained, with a sleek and modern design that wouldn't look out of place in a corporate office park.
As you continue watching the place, your heart sinks as you realize that fighting Kaiser and the Twins inside the building with who knows how many gang members would be suicidal. You know that you'll need to find a way to lure them out if you have any hope of taking them down.
You retreat to a safe distance, hidden in the shadows as you brainstorm a plan. Suddenly, it hits you. The radio tower nearby could be the key to your success.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 11/12. HMP.
With a newfound determination, you make your way to the radio tower. Once you get close enough, you focus your power and feel your essence flowing into the circuit board in front of you. It's not just any part, but a key component of the radio tower. With a surge of energy, you awaken the spirit of the tower, making it your slave.
The radio tower, now essentially "alive," hums with newfound energy. Its antennas twitch and sway and it emits a low, resonant hum. You command it to obey your every command, and it responds, its movements fluid and precise.
But as you revel in your newfound power, you can't help but wonder what consequences your actions might have. The radio tower was once a neutral piece of technology, but now it serves your every whim. This was a powerful ability. To usurp control over technology. If this gets out, will others see it as a threat if they find out? Will they try to stop you?
You push these thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. Your phone rings and the newly awakened being speaks through it, its voice a strange blend of mechanical and ethereal tones.
"I am yours to command, Master." it says, its words cold and mechanical.
You focus your attention on the radio tower, now under your control, and ask it, "What can you do?"
The tower's response comes immediately. It can broadcast messages over a wide area, intercept and decode communications, and even emit an emergency signal that would disrupt phones in the vicinity.
With a smile, a plan begins to form and you command the radio tower to call all cellphones in the Empire stronghold. The tower springs to life, its antennas vibrating with energy as it sends out a signal that reaches every cellphone in the area.
Inside the stronghold, the sound of ringing phones fills the air, and you could already imagine just what was going through the minds of the Empire members.
I stood in the meeting room, surrounded by chaos. All the Phones were ringing incessantly, causing confusion and panic among us. Kaiser was sitting on his throne, Fenja and Menja beside him. All three were looking irritated as no one dared answer the phone, unsure of taking the initiative.
"Enough!" Kaiser shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Everyone, quiet down, NOW."
We all stopped but the phones continued to ring. Frustrated, Kaiser finally took out his phone and pressed the speaker button. Immediately, two things happened, the other phones stopped ringing and a voice answered on the other end of Kaiser's phone, a voice I recognized immediately.
"Hello, Kaiser," Faust's voice was calm and measured. "I hope you're enjoying the show I've been putting on for you."
Kaiser's face twisted in anger. "Faust! What have you done?"
Faust chuckled. "Oh, Kaiser, you know me. I'm always looking for ways to make things interesting. But enough chit-chat. I'm here to deliver a message."
"What message?" Kaiser demanded.
Faust's voice took on a steely edge. "I'm coming for you, Kaiser. The Empire is finished. After today? There isn't gonna be an Empire left."
Kaiser's face darkened, his fists clenched in anger. "You think you can stop us, Faust? You're just a man in a mask. We are the Empire, and we will crush you. Especially since your trick with the Merchants will not work on us."
"I know everything about the Empire's operations," Faust simply said as I watched the realization dawned on Kaiser's face. "And as we speak, I'm dismantling it, piece by piece."
Kaiser's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could you know? We've been careful," he protested, but I could hear the hint of fear in his voice.
"Careful, yes, but not careful enough," Faust replied. "I have eyes and ears everywhere, Kaiser. I know where you keep your stuff. Who you're made men are. All those that you have bribed. Where your capes are. Your accounts. Your contacts. Your dirty little secrets. I know it all and now? Now, your little empire is crumbling, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
Then we heard it, conversations between various Empire members. The voices were frantic, filled with fear and confusion as they realized they were under attack by New Wave and Faust's Projections. The Voices belonged to everyone from the gang members to the capes. I could recognize Krieg's voice, frantically saying something about Othala. This played out for a minute before switching back to Faust.
"I know everything, Kaiser," Faust began, his voice calm but filled with judgment. "Just like I knew everything about the merchants. You've been operating outside the law for a long time, and tonight, it ends."
Kaiser's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible. We haven't broken any oaths," he protested, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
I felt a chill run down my spine the moment I heard that. What Faust was implying and what Kaiser feared.
"Since when were you under the impression that you need to break an oath for me to get you?" Faust said, his mocking tone adding an extra edge to his words.
I could see Kaiser's confidence faltering as he realized the depth of Faust's knowledge. I looked around at the other enforcers, seeing the same fear and uncertainty mirrored in their eyes.
"You can't do this," Kaiser finally said, desperation creeping into his voice. "We have rights, we have power."
"Not anymore," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Tonight, justice will be served, and the Empire will end."
Faust trailed off and Kaiser did not reply immediately. I could see that he was thinking seriously about something.
"....how about we make a deal Faust?" Kaiser finally spat out through gritted teeth. "The Empire is powerful, too powerful to simply take down. We have backers and resources. More than you know. What would it take for you to back off? For you to call off your dogs?"
"I don't need your bribes or scraps, Kaiser," Faust replied. "Why would I when I can just kick your ass and take everything for myself? I mean, I am already doing so. Gotta say, you have some neat shit lying around. Real nice stuff that I am gonna be putting to good use. Especially the stuff in warehouse 38. My, my, did you tell the rest of the Empire about that?"
Kaiser's eyes widened in shock and I could see the visible parts of his face pale with realization. "You wouldn't dare," he stammered, but I could feel Faust's smile through the phone.
"Oh, I would," Faust replied, his tone cheerful and joking. "What goes around, comes around, Kaiser. You've hurt too many people, and now it's time for you to pay the price."
"Oh and the only way the curse will end is if you kill me," Fause continued. "So never."
It was the final straw and metal spikes erupted all around us. I was lucky but many were not, getting impaled by spikes of metal.
"I'll kill you Faust." Kaiser screamed in rage.
"Let's put that to the test shall we? I'm waiting for you, just outside the building you're hiding in while your oh so precious Empire crumbles all around you," Faust said. "So feel free to come outside, if you dare. Feel free to bring the two eye candies as well."
With that, Faust ended the call, leaving Kaiser fuming. He turned to us, his expression dark. "Prepare for battle. We will kill Faust tonight."
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the gravity of the situation. Faust was not to be underestimated, and tonight would be a night to remember, for better or for worse.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 10/12. MHM.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 09/12. Opened Eye of the Hurricane.
You reflect on your actions, realizing that taunting Kaiser was a risky move. However, you also understand that it was necessary. If you wanted them cursed, they had to be defending the Empire's operations specifically. This required pushing them to defend their territory and their operations, which in turn made them vulnerable to your plans.
Despite the risk, you knew that you had to proceed with your plan. The Empire's grip on Brockton Bay had to be broken, and you were the only one who could do it. So, you steeled yourself for the challenges ahead, knowing that the path to victory would not be easy, but determined to see it through to the end.
Using telekinesis, you rise into the air and hover in the sky, your presence hidden by the darkness of the night. Below you, the Empire Stronghold erupts in activity as the members scramble to respond to the threat that you represent. You watch with a sense of grim satisfaction as they slowly begin to emerge from the safety of their stronghold, their movements betraying their fear and uncertainty.
You know that this will be the fight of a lifetime. The Empire will not go down without a fight, and you are prepared to face whatever they throw at you. Your powers are at their peak, your resolve unwavering. You have spent a lot of time preparing for this moment, gathering information, sabotaging their operations, and now the time has come to confront them head-on.
As you descend towards the stronghold, you can feel the weight of the moment pressing down on you. This is not just a battle between capes, but a battle for the soul of Brockton Bay. The Empire represents everything that is wrong with the city, and you are determined to bring them down, no matter the cost.
Battle Choices:
You have MHM active and have 5 sux. You have OEH active and have 2 Sux. They do not know where you are and the first attack is a surprise attack. You are in the air so melee attacks do not work against you and you cannot do melee attacks.
The Combatants are Kaiser, the Twins and a Size 2 Battlegroup. They are suffering +2 Difficulty but will be doing lethal damage to try and kill you.
Choose 1: You can freely choose a Shintia and Stats every time you transform.
[] Activate Shintai at the start of the fight (Costs 2 Essence, and 2 Willpower)
-[] Demon Emperor and one of the stats below.
--[] Strength +6, Dexterity –1, Stamina +5, Appearance 0
--[] Strength +3, Dexterity +2, Stamina +3, Appearance 0
--[] Strength +4, Dexterity +0, Stamina +5, Appearance 0
OR
-[] Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai and one of the stats below.
--[] Strength +2, Dexterity +2, Stamina +2
--[] Strength +3, Dexterity +1, Stamina +2
--[] Strength +1, Dexterity +4, Stamina +1
[] Do not activate Shintai unless you are about to lose/die.