Bailey Matutine
(Verified Pooka)
- Location
- Pelican Town
- Pronouns
- They/Them
So all he has to do is pass a test specifically designed to be difficult for him, based around his own fears and weaknesses?
Project: Gamer Ver. 2 (Young Justice/Gamer/Multicross OC)
- Thread starter Mister Ficser
- Start date
Lycanthromancer
The Arcane Fuzz
- Location
- USA
Yup. He has a way with things like that. Remember when he pushed his own id into committing suicide?
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Red_Faux
私を終わらせる
- Location
- 'Straya M8
I wonder what Terra thinks of the Great Darkness. Is she more powerful? DC Gaia definitely isn't, but I assume Terra is like, all iterations of the earth and Gaia at once? Hence how she had a connection to Wonder Woman, yet is above an Endless and Akatosh.
Confusing ladder of power in DC goes The Presence and The Great Darkness at the top with omnipotence, then the Empty Hand, then Darkest Knight, then Perpetua, then Doctor Manhattan is somewhere around here, then the World Forger, then Barbatos, then True Form Darkseid, then the Overmonitor, then the Monitor and Antimonitor, then Trigon, then regular Darkseid. The Spectres power is as high as necessary as judged by the Presence.
I know this is missing a lot of people, but is any of the placements wrong?
Confusing ladder of power in DC goes The Presence and The Great Darkness at the top with omnipotence, then the Empty Hand, then Darkest Knight, then Perpetua, then Doctor Manhattan is somewhere around here, then the World Forger, then Barbatos, then True Form Darkseid, then the Overmonitor, then the Monitor and Antimonitor, then Trigon, then regular Darkseid. The Spectres power is as high as necessary as judged by the Presence.
I know this is missing a lot of people, but is any of the placements wrong?
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It is also worth noting, the old Despair thought more along how could she cause more despair in the universe, to the point she convinced the Embodiment of the Sun Rao to create life, allow it to advance to a certain level, then explode that planet orbiting it while allowing one person to survive. As always, Despair was self-defeating, and that one survivor was Kal-El, Superman, one of the greatest forces for Hope in the universe.
The second Despair focused much more on street level issues of despair, and also hurt herself regularly, healing just as often. She was also closer to an albino, where the first one was very colorful.
The second Despair focused much more on street level issues of despair, and also hurt herself regularly, healing just as often. She was also closer to an albino, where the first one was very colorful.
- Location
- Australia
If by "built" you mean "raised", then we're highly vulnerable to that, sure. If by "built" you mean "born", then no. Human infants do not generally react with fear to differing races of humans, all factors considered (actually, it turns out the general trend is a visual preference for individuals with faces that adults would consider attractive, irrespective of that individual's race, gender or age).
/possibly over-analysing a post way too much
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I'm going to be completely honest-
I made the name up on the fly. It and she were meant to be important to a completely different plot thread.
That being said- I can work with this, and I don't even have to change much to do it. It's really nice to see a plot-hook that already came with some bait on it.
- Location
- Right next to the butcher's shop.
Eh, without going to deep into things, it's an inherent human trait but it's not just racism.
What counts as 'foreign' or 'strange' to our brains has little to do with nature and more with nurture, true, but the way we respond to them is pretty universal. The 'other' isn't just about appearance, but visuals are usually a large part of it. Anything we haven't been raised to consider 'normal' triggers the same reflexes. Reflexes that lead to negative responses of various kinds, as well as teaching children in a way that often reinforces this, making it systemic.
It's not an excuse for racism, it's just part of its origin. It can be surprisingly rare not to be at least subconsciously racist, according to studies. It can take us slightly longer to identify 'abnormal' faces as human, etc.
- Location
- Africa
it would be an intersting change in dynamics for Alchemist to pass the test of the starstone , because by doing so he becomes a divine being which means Terra has to treat him as a peer(not an equal mind you) having of his own undeniable autonomy rather than as a mortal who's fate and destiny are whatever the hell she decides to dictate to him
Lycanthromancer
The Arcane Fuzz
- Location
- USA
Jinx: "What are you the god of?"
Alchemist: "Snark, tabletop RPGs, and video games, apparently."
Jinx: "Sounds legit."
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- Location
- U.S.
wonder if that had any permanent effect on his psyche? just left with his ego and super ego
- Location
- The pits of Mania
I think that was just a hostile NPC that was created based on his id. His id is still intact and not happy with Terra-tan at all.
Does trauma count? Because he walked away from that with a fair bit of trauma that he's been repressing. Then he got some more trauma.
He's doing better than most folks in DC though! He's got some coping mechanisms that don't involve death rays!
Lycanthromancer
The Arcane Fuzz
- Location
- USA
You know what Al could use to put him on more even footing with DC's top-tier speedsters, who are one of his major weaknesses?
Temporal Acceleration. It's like Time Stop, but better, because A.) it's lower level, which means lower level requirements, B.) you can control exactly how long it lasts, rather than it being random, and C.) it actually speeds you up, rather than stopping everything else, not that the latter doesn't have some good use-cases, of course.
Temporal Acceleration. It's like Time Stop, but better, because A.) it's lower level, which means lower level requirements, B.) you can control exactly how long it lasts, rather than it being random, and C.) it actually speeds you up, rather than stopping everything else, not that the latter doesn't have some good use-cases, of course.
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He already has his crazy powerful haste spell, and Temporal Acceleration has the same issue as timestop, you can't actually affect other people while using it, normally nice for buffing but his magic doesn't have much in the way of cast time as is and he isn't much of a summoner.
Actually that's something he should grab, can't go wrong with summoning disposable minions.
- Location
- The House of Moon and Star
- Pronouns
- She/Her
As long as they're actually disposable, and actually able to work with you. For someone who seems to value sentient life and is really hard to work with, finding something appropriate might be tricky.
Lycanthromancer
The Arcane Fuzz
- Location
- USA
Haste only works up to about 20x normal speed, while Time Stop and Temporal Acceleration work up to infinite and nigh infinite, respectively. And against someone with access to the Speed Force (or even just Superman or Wonder Woman), 'nigh infinite' at least is 100% mandatory.
Lots of great summoning type spells in D&D, especially in the upper echelons. Summon Monster I-IX, Summon Nature's Ally I-IX, Gate, the Planar Ally spells, and the Planar Binding spells (for longer term projects) all give minions that are varying levels of intelligent, magical, and disposable.
There's also Astral Construct for 100% disposable minions, since they're mindless, soulless automatons made from ectoplasm that work directly according to your mental commands.
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- Location
- Auckland, NZ
The answer would be yes obviously. And, hey, the abusers have numbers on their side.
- Location
- The pits of Mania
Bloodstained Ritual of the Night has what Alchemist needs there. Alchemist already made the equipment which reduces mp-usage to zero anyway, which was a main complaint against him getting the glasses.
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- Location
- Africa
I am pretty sure the spell would stack with haste , as one spell make you move faster while the other accelerates you through time , I am pretty sure haste has nothing to do with time magic though I think their is a higher tier variant of it that does work through time magic called true haste
Lycanthromancer
The Arcane Fuzz
- Location
- USA
Here's a few lists of things Al might want to consider acquiring: Being ready for literally EVERYTHING
I don't think Wall of Force cares. He can already shape that into a box, and it's around the target, rather than affecting the target, so he can entrap someone in one just fine, Temporal Acceleration or not. And not even Superman and Wonder Woman, two of the physically strongest beings in existence (ie, they can move planets around by hand), can punch their way out of that one, and as a [force] effect it also prevents phasing, and there are other spells that can prevent teleportation (see: Dimension Lock, which can also be cast during stopped time). So about the only ways to get out of a Dimension Locked Wall of Force are time travel and some manner of disintegration effect. Otherwise you're both trapped and screwed.
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Oh how I wish I could have done something like this in similar situations when I was in school.
However, didn't Alchemist say something earlier about not wanting the government to know he could compel people to tell the truth?
This seems risky for Jinx since they have no idea Alchemist is here, and Jinx obviously has powers, so the obvious conclusion that Jinx set up the Zone of Truth comes to mind.
That said, now that Alchemist has Zone of Truth, imagine setting one up to cover the U.N. Security Council Chambers and the General Assembly Hall in the U.N. building. Good way to start World War III.
How about setting it up in the press room and the throne room in Bialya, along with many other places Queen Bee appears publicly?
Maybe have "L" set one up right before Lex Luthor gives a speech concerning Superman or the Justice League?
If he wanted to go evil and destabilize the government, set one up on each chamber floor in the U.S. Capital building, and one in the White House Press Room.
A more amusing thing would be to set them up in each courtroom where supervillains are being tried, especially Light members. In theory this should have no effect since perjury is a crime.
His core concern was actually the spell Confession. A magical brand that would hurt and potentially kill the person it was put on if they lied.
Zone of Truth is significantly less dangerous, though as you've noted it's much more easily abused.
Both are weaker and less all-powerful than the Lasso of Truth. That thing -Forces- someone to speak the truth, whereas Zone of Truth just ensures that anything someone says is true. It can be circumvented by simply refusing to speak.
Zone of Truth is significantly less dangerous, though as you've noted it's much more easily abused.
Both are weaker and less all-powerful than the Lasso of Truth. That thing -Forces- someone to speak the truth, whereas Zone of Truth just ensures that anything someone says is true. It can be circumvented by simply refusing to speak.
Indeed, not speaking isn't an option with the Lasso of Truth, it's been shown to give even Green Lanterns verbal diarrhoea. (Okay, Hal normally does like to hear himself talk, but he couldn't shut up even once he realised what was happening and actually tried.) The only defence against the Lasso of Truth is a high willpower combined with the ability to launch into long, boring, and entirely true pointless stories that go nowhere, and take forever to do it. Wonder Woman may be able to defeat a wild boar, but she's helpless against a wild bore.
- Location
- The House of Moon and Star
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well, she could still punch them. Though I'm told it's apparently not good diplomatic etiquette.
Chapter 111
Project: Gamer Ver. 2 Alpha Build 1.1.1
Disclaimer Me Do: I own nothing you recognize. And most of what you don't recognize, I still don't own.
_________________________________________________________________________
Alchemist sighed dejectedly as he entered the Mountain proper. Ash trailing along right next to him on a leash.
It'd been a good few days, he'd gotten a lot done, now he was just waiting for the concrete to properly cure so he could drop a cabin on it. Then there'd be more work, then more work, then, just to be different...
He'd still need to do more work. At least if he didn't want it to look like the rush job he threw together in the demi-plane.
He'd redo that properly. Eventually. Just not today.
Today Batman had his whole team of itty bitty baby psychos altogether.
"We've gotten hold of intelligence suggesting that Bialya-" The monitor behind Batman lit up, a tiny sand-hole country zooming into focus on a world map. "-has either purchased, found or stolen alien technology."
Pictures were brought up, overhead images of compounds, convoys and tents. Lots of tents.
"The reining monarch of Greater Bialya, Queen Bee has refused the Justice League entry into her country, as such this will be an espionage mission which means that contacting the League must be limited to dire emergencies." Well, that was different from Alchemist's memories.
He'd been pretty sure Bats would say that there's to be no contact. Period.
"Can we expect any kind of support for the mission?" Aqualad asked him, his eyes focused on the pictures overhead.
"Whatever tactical data we have and all equipment onsite is available as you need it." Batman answered him. "Once you enter Bialyan borders however, we will not be able to assist you. The military presence is both large and lethally responsive, but no current information suggests metahuman activity."
"Alchemist." Batman nodded to the silent golem. "Will be onsite monitoring the console. Through a series of transmitters and encrypted nodes, we do have access to their open communication channels, and he will be keeping the League appraised of any major developments. In the event of a severe emergency, an encrypted contact has been added to all of your communicators. Your mission-"
Here the dark knight actually laid it out plainly. "-Is to acquire whatever photographic proof, visual and audio recordings, even documentation if it can be done discretely. Unless your cover is broken, you are not to engage with potentially hostile forces. This is a fact-finding mission, not a smash and grab or some sort of confiscation action."
"I can use the bio-ship." M'gann piped up after several moments of silence as people digested what they'd been told. "We can fly her there, and it can turn invisible! If we're low enough to the ground we won't be picked up on radar, right?"
"With our current understanding of Bialya's military capabilities, this should be correct." Batman nodded at the very eager Martian girl. "If there are no further questions? Then gear up and meet in the hanger in fifteen."
Everyone but Alchemist stood up and separated, going to get their gear from wherever they'd had it stowed. Once the room had cleared up a bit, he got moving too.
Not very far, they were already in the operations center. He was just moving to grab his preferred chair.
Kid Flash liked to take it for himself.
"Player One, stay behind." Batman didn't need to shout to be heard, and the girl in question froze near the doorway. "Alchemist, could you leave the room for a moment?"
"Yeah, boss." Batman's voice had been flat and even, rather than harsh or angry. Still, this was a serious moment and Alchemist could hold his tongue. For a moment, at least.
He picked up Ash and left the room, walking down the hallway to the Recreation room and its attached kitchen. He'd check back in ten...
"Are you eager to live out in the country?" He put Ash on the ground and started rubbing her ears. "Are you Ashie? Who's my good girl, yes you are!"
Rubbing her belly, Alchemist forced himself to grin.
He really hoped this went different than he remembered.
-----
Tiffany looked up at the big screen of the main console inside the operations center.
She hadn't been allowed to go on the mission with the others. She still wasn't being trusted enough to work with the others and not...
Batman had been nice about it, at least.
It was also the first time she'd seen him, alone, since the incident. She'd wanted, needed to talk to him but didn't really know how to ask. So she took the opportunity to ask him the one thing that had been bothering her ever since.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that Alchemist was Leslie?" She'd spent so long trying to find him.
She hurt people, when she was trying to find him.
"Because he wasn't Leslie." Batman had looked about ready to leave, but stopped and sat down instead. "The first time he met me, he told me his name. Some form of unpronounceable gibberish and static, Alchemist was just something he picked that was convenient for him, at the time. The second time he met with Robin and I, he directly told us that he was working on a means of recalling Leslie."
It still burned her, it still hurt her! "But you could have told me!" She raised her voice.
Not quite screaming, but on the verge of it. "You could have told me. I would've helped. I-I-he... I would have helped."
She didn't know how, but she would have helped him! Would have done anything, anything to fix it. Fix him.
"Did Alchemist tell you how he almost failed to get Leslie back?" He waited for her to nod before continuing, referring to the 'conversation' they'd had as she was screaming at him, hitting him. "According to Black Canary, he was worried what would have happened to you if he failed. She thinks he decided it would be better for you to remain uncertain and unknowing, than to know what had actually happened or why."
And what, leave her thinking he'd run away or been kidnapped or something infinitely worse? That was better than knowing he had- had...
"It still seems cruel." She wiped away at her eyes, refusing to look at the Dark Knight.
"It was." He agreed, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. "But he told Leslie's mother and she turned to substance abuse to try and deal with her grief. Sometimes, there are no good options."
Was that what happened to Mrs.Winters? Her own parents had forbidden her from trying to talk to the woman shortly after Tiffany had started going to therapy.
She wanted to blame herself, and she knew she still did, partially. But everyone had been insistent, even Alchemist had said it. She was a victim and Dave was the person at fault.
He'd caused all of this. Intentionally and otherwise.
"Perhaps it would be best." Batman stood up, making ready to leave. "If you talk to him yourself and simply ask."
"But what should I even say to him? The last time we talked, I..." She trailed off, uncertain how to say it.
"I've heard an apology is a very good place to start." He sent her a smile, just a small thing. She wouldn't have seen it if she wasn't looking.
"Alright." She could do that. "Alright."
-----
She spent a solid half-hour in the bathroom just trying to work up the nerve to say what she thought she needed to say.
After she thought of it.
Talking to him had been difficult, in the past. He'd do or say something she wasn't expecting and it would just throw off the whole rhythm of the conversation and she barely knew how to handle that!
Walking back into the Operations Center, she saw that he was sitting at the central terminal. Casually pulling gun magazines out of his inventory, loading them and then casting a spell on them.
"What are you doing?" Slipped out of her mouth before he brain had time to catch it.
"Grinding a spell." He answered for her simply.
That... Really was a simple answer. He hadn't said which spell... But then, she actually hadn't asked which spell.
"Oh. Is it going well?" It had taken her a long time to master Acceleration, but it was incredibly handy!
"Eh, it's going alright. Just need to do one more spell after I get this one figured out." She worried a bit as to what kind of spell it was, but put the thought out of her mind.
"Alchemist? I- There's something I need to say to you!" She swallowed thickly, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"I mean, you were saying things to me? At me?" He put down the magazine he'd half-loaded and turned to fully face her. "You alright?"
"Yes? No? I-" Why was this so difficult! She'd heard Alchemist apologize a dozen times over for minor things, it should be easy for her! "-I'm sorry!"
"Sorry? For what?" She knew he was being obtuse. His tone was light and curious, but his eyes were bright and focused directly on her. Watching. Waiting, with an intensity she didn't feel comfortable with.
"For- For hitting you. For hurting you. For throwing a tantrum and attacking you." She clenched her hands into fists to stop them from trembling, but that just made it worse.
She looked up from her lap, at him. He'd closed his eyes, his shoulders dropped and he exhaled slowly through his nose. More relaxed than he'd been the entire time he'd been in the base today.
"Apology accepted, Tiffany." That... That was it?
"That's it?" She found herself asking before she could close her mouth.
"That's it." He agreed. "I'm still not happy about it, but if you mean it, I'm willing to accept it. No hoops, no demands, no begging. Just don't do it again."
"I- No! I promise!" Her eyes burned a little bit, and she could feel pressure building up in her nose. She'd been expecting... Well, she wasn't sure, but not that! "I'll never do it again!"
"I'll hold you to that." He gave her a wan smile before returning to his work. "The team won't be arriving in Bialya for about four more hours, why don't you get a nap or go home for a bit? If something comes up, I'll text you alright?"
"Alright." She wanted to talk to Leslie. With Karen.
Maybe... Maybe they deserved an apology, too.
-----
Watching the door close behind Tiffany, Alchemist breathed out in relief and leaned back in his chair. He'd been tense the entire time he'd been in the mountain, and he didn't really want to admit why.
Because being afraid of a teenage girl just really wasn't impressive.
It didn't matter that he could 'beat' her in a straight fight using magic. What mattered was that he remembered her hurting him, and there was a part of his mind that expected her to do it again.
He appreciated the apology, though. So long as it wouldn't impact things, he'd keep his discomfort to himself.
It was part of why he'd been keeping his hands busy, prepping countless magazines with Abundant Ammunition. He wanted to get the spell mastered so he could just prep a couple of specific magazines and not have to think about them ever-
~~Spell -Abundant Ammunition- has leveled up!~~
~~Abundant Ammunition has reached level 100 (Max!)!~~
-again.
"B. E. A. Utiful, girl." Alchemist reached down to stroke Ash, lying against his feet.
The spell didn't work on magical ammunition, or alchemical ammuntion. Everything else was fair game, though.
And all of the fancy high-caliber bullets he'd stolen from the zombified military might be very advanced, they weren't magical in any way.
Up next on his to-do list would be Gravity Bow, which would make whatever ranged weapon it was cast on cause damage as though it were a 'Size category larger'. He'd maxed out the melee version, Lead Blades, back when he'd been casting it on the pickaxes used by the miners on Solstheim. With his perks, it would actually make it work like it was two size categories larger. It would turn a handgun into a hand-cannon!
Hell, he'd mastered two other spells at the same time. Effortless Armor and Life Bubble. It turns out that, when people feel comfortable and not like they're locked up in a hot, choking crypt? They work a lot faster!
Alchemist checked the time, then checked that against the expected time of arrival for the team to Bialya.
Still a bit more than three and a half hours until everything went wrong.
He already had Batman's contact information open, but he didn't know what to say, or how. He'd played the 'Crazy Psychic' card kind of hard, and both Batman and Wonder Woman knew that when he went out of his way to say something, he was being serious.
But Psimon was a direct agent of the Light, and interfering with them directly could... Well... Actually, what could they do that they weren't already trying to do? Sure, Slade was off on a wild goose chase and being harassed at every step, but he was still hunting for Alchemist.
Alchemist swapped over to M'gann's contact information and composed a text.
'Heard there might be a psychic working under Queen Bee. Pretty strong, great with memory. Be careful, can you keep shields up while you're there?' Was sent to her, and a similar one was sent to Batman.
Canon sucked, and he couldn't think of a good enough reason to try and keep to it. Hell, with the Helmet of Fate not collecting dust here in the mountain, Canon was well and truly slagged anyway!
M'gann sent him a thumbs-up emoji, which was probably all he was going to get on that front. Batman left him on read, which was exactly what he'd been expecting from the man. It was a transfer of information, not a lead-in to a conversation. So long as it was adequately consumed, Alchemist was content.
That still left him with a bit over three hours... Well, he did have something he'd been meaning to do, he supposed.
Alchemist pulled out the Oblivion Armor set, a Sinner Armor set and a full suit of Ebony Armor. He lined them up next to each other on the ground in three rows before he began pulling out more things.
He'd experimented with Synthesis, and he'd worked out the limitations. He could add six items together into a seventh, which he already knew. But he'd spent some time working out how that treated various factors. 'Passive' benefits, like bonuses to elements or resistances, would stack together just fine without eating a 'Factor' slot. That is, a specifically defined advantage or enchantment added on to something.
And he'd been getting ready to do this for a while, but he'd been putting it off. It wasn't critical, so he'd worried about his other projects instead.
Like building a cabin. Or trying to find the Riddler so he could hire him as a private investigator. Or the healing magic he'd been casting on the concierge of the hotel, Gotham Heights, where he'd been staying.
Alchemist started with his helmet. The recipient item was an Ebony Helmet because, quite honestly, -it was an actual helmet-! It had the silver whorls added to it after it was made, not made to look pretty or scary as some piece of abstract art that was poorly beaten into a helmet shape! It was the one he'd previously replaced the visor with Transparisteel, so it was completely clear.
To it, he fused in the Oblivion Helmet, a Nether Helm, all three of the Dragon Priest Masks he'd gotten, and finally fed into it the spell for Life Bubble.
~~ MageKnight Helmet ~~
~~Defense: 366
Magic Defense: 213
Resist: Fire +76%, Ice +76%, Lightning +76%, Dark +22%, Stat Reduction +5%, Curse +60%
Immune: Blind, Possession, Poison, Silence
Added Effect: Extend Duration of Spells, Reduced Damage from Ranged Attacks, Fire/Ice/Lightning Magic is 25% more effective, Body is enshrouded in a bubble of stable and hospitable environment.~~
One done, three more pieces. He actually got lucky and got a duplicate helmet for his troubles this time! On the one he planned to use, he used prestidigitation to turn the visor pitch black. Not that it actually would impede his vision with True Sight, but it would stop others from looking in!
Into the Ebony Armor, he fused in the Coat of Oblivion, the Traitor's armor, the robe he'd turned into a knockoff Archmage robe with the Skein of Magnus in it, Effortless Armor, and then he threw in the ring he'd taken off the Dragonborn, the one that further increased HP and Stamina regeneration.
~~MageKnight Armor~~
~~Defense: 377
Magic Defense: 290
Resist: Fire +22%, Ice +22%, Lightning +22%, Dark +31%, Stat Reduction +10%, Lowered Magic Defense +60%
Immune: Silence, Sleep, Lowered Strength
Added Effect: Gradually Restore Health, Allies Nearby Gradually Restore Health, All Spells Cost 15% less and Magic Regenerates 100% Faster, Worn Armor Feels Weightless and Does Not Impede Actions, Health and Stamina Regenerate 50% Faster~~
The gauntlets were next. Though before he got started, he used Transmutation to take off the end of the fingers and the next knuckle down on the right one. He still needed to use the fingers on that hand! Afterwards, he went ahead and used the freed material to make the housing he'd need for the Phozon Crystal.
On the left gauntlet, he made a series of four paired holes, so eight in total. He still hadn't figured out how to make Materia slots by himself yet, but he was getting there! And, well, he was about to cheat.
To the gauntlets, he fused in the Oblivion Gauntlets, the Sinner's Gauntlets, the Wizard Bracer, the spell of Lead Blades and the bracers he'd bought from Glover Mallory that improved sneaking and the hood that improved marksmanship.
~~ MageKnight Gauntlets ~~
~~Defense: 295
Magic Defense: 205
Resist: Fire +22%, Ice +22%, Lightning +22%, Dark +22%, Stat Reduction +5%, Reduced Magic +60%
Immune: Blind, Reduced Strength, Petrification, Poison
Added Effect: Restores Magic When You Deliver the Killing Blow to an Enemy, Extends the Duration of Attribute Boosts Applied to You, Unarmed Attacks Strike as Though From a Huge Creature, Sneaking is 40% Better, Marksmanship is 40% Better
Materia Growth: Normal, Four Paired Slots~~
No duplicate, but he did get his original materials refunded, so that was nice?
And finally came the boots. Into a pair of Ebony Boots, he fed the Oblivion Boots, the Betrayers Greaves, and the silenced steel boots he'd bought, again, off of Glover Mallory. Unfortunately, he was out of extra stuff to feed into his boots, but he supposed... Well, actually, he did have one more thing. He added back in the bracer that came back from the last set that increased sneaking. Unlike the Dragonborn he wouldn't benefit from stacking enchanted items, but there may be times when he only need parts of his armor.
~~ MageKnight Boots. ~~
~~Defense: 337
Magic Defense: 261
Resist: Fire +24%, Ice +24%, Lightning +24%, Dark +38%, Curse +20%, Stat Reductions +15%
Immune: Slow, Petrification, Skill Reduction
Added Effect: Wind Does Not Affect Mobility, Boost Movement Speed While Casting Spells, Armor is Muffled and Does Not Make Noise, Sneaking is 40% Better~~
No duplicates this time, and no refunded gear either.
That was fine. This... He really hoped he wouldn't be needing these here in a few hours.
He inventoried his gear and sat back down at the console, his leg tapping up and down nervously.
He'd made the team aware of Psimon, set up his magical armor, had his weaponry ready... And he still didn't feel calm.
He knew something was going to go wrong, and he was scared to discover what it would be... But until it actually happened, all he could do is wait.
And wait, and wait.
Disclaimer Me Do: I own nothing you recognize. And most of what you don't recognize, I still don't own.
_________________________________________________________________________
Alchemist sighed dejectedly as he entered the Mountain proper. Ash trailing along right next to him on a leash.
It'd been a good few days, he'd gotten a lot done, now he was just waiting for the concrete to properly cure so he could drop a cabin on it. Then there'd be more work, then more work, then, just to be different...
He'd still need to do more work. At least if he didn't want it to look like the rush job he threw together in the demi-plane.
He'd redo that properly. Eventually. Just not today.
Today Batman had his whole team of itty bitty baby psychos altogether.
"We've gotten hold of intelligence suggesting that Bialya-" The monitor behind Batman lit up, a tiny sand-hole country zooming into focus on a world map. "-has either purchased, found or stolen alien technology."
Pictures were brought up, overhead images of compounds, convoys and tents. Lots of tents.
"The reining monarch of Greater Bialya, Queen Bee has refused the Justice League entry into her country, as such this will be an espionage mission which means that contacting the League must be limited to dire emergencies." Well, that was different from Alchemist's memories.
He'd been pretty sure Bats would say that there's to be no contact. Period.
"Can we expect any kind of support for the mission?" Aqualad asked him, his eyes focused on the pictures overhead.
"Whatever tactical data we have and all equipment onsite is available as you need it." Batman answered him. "Once you enter Bialyan borders however, we will not be able to assist you. The military presence is both large and lethally responsive, but no current information suggests metahuman activity."
"Alchemist." Batman nodded to the silent golem. "Will be onsite monitoring the console. Through a series of transmitters and encrypted nodes, we do have access to their open communication channels, and he will be keeping the League appraised of any major developments. In the event of a severe emergency, an encrypted contact has been added to all of your communicators. Your mission-"
Here the dark knight actually laid it out plainly. "-Is to acquire whatever photographic proof, visual and audio recordings, even documentation if it can be done discretely. Unless your cover is broken, you are not to engage with potentially hostile forces. This is a fact-finding mission, not a smash and grab or some sort of confiscation action."
"I can use the bio-ship." M'gann piped up after several moments of silence as people digested what they'd been told. "We can fly her there, and it can turn invisible! If we're low enough to the ground we won't be picked up on radar, right?"
"With our current understanding of Bialya's military capabilities, this should be correct." Batman nodded at the very eager Martian girl. "If there are no further questions? Then gear up and meet in the hanger in fifteen."
Everyone but Alchemist stood up and separated, going to get their gear from wherever they'd had it stowed. Once the room had cleared up a bit, he got moving too.
Not very far, they were already in the operations center. He was just moving to grab his preferred chair.
Kid Flash liked to take it for himself.
"Player One, stay behind." Batman didn't need to shout to be heard, and the girl in question froze near the doorway. "Alchemist, could you leave the room for a moment?"
"Yeah, boss." Batman's voice had been flat and even, rather than harsh or angry. Still, this was a serious moment and Alchemist could hold his tongue. For a moment, at least.
He picked up Ash and left the room, walking down the hallway to the Recreation room and its attached kitchen. He'd check back in ten...
"Are you eager to live out in the country?" He put Ash on the ground and started rubbing her ears. "Are you Ashie? Who's my good girl, yes you are!"
Rubbing her belly, Alchemist forced himself to grin.
He really hoped this went different than he remembered.
-----
Tiffany looked up at the big screen of the main console inside the operations center.
She hadn't been allowed to go on the mission with the others. She still wasn't being trusted enough to work with the others and not...
Batman had been nice about it, at least.
It was also the first time she'd seen him, alone, since the incident. She'd wanted, needed to talk to him but didn't really know how to ask. So she took the opportunity to ask him the one thing that had been bothering her ever since.
"Why didn't you ever tell me that Alchemist was Leslie?" She'd spent so long trying to find him.
She hurt people, when she was trying to find him.
"Because he wasn't Leslie." Batman had looked about ready to leave, but stopped and sat down instead. "The first time he met me, he told me his name. Some form of unpronounceable gibberish and static, Alchemist was just something he picked that was convenient for him, at the time. The second time he met with Robin and I, he directly told us that he was working on a means of recalling Leslie."
It still burned her, it still hurt her! "But you could have told me!" She raised her voice.
Not quite screaming, but on the verge of it. "You could have told me. I would've helped. I-I-he... I would have helped."
She didn't know how, but she would have helped him! Would have done anything, anything to fix it. Fix him.
"Did Alchemist tell you how he almost failed to get Leslie back?" He waited for her to nod before continuing, referring to the 'conversation' they'd had as she was screaming at him, hitting him. "According to Black Canary, he was worried what would have happened to you if he failed. She thinks he decided it would be better for you to remain uncertain and unknowing, than to know what had actually happened or why."
And what, leave her thinking he'd run away or been kidnapped or something infinitely worse? That was better than knowing he had- had...
"It still seems cruel." She wiped away at her eyes, refusing to look at the Dark Knight.
"It was." He agreed, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. "But he told Leslie's mother and she turned to substance abuse to try and deal with her grief. Sometimes, there are no good options."
Was that what happened to Mrs.Winters? Her own parents had forbidden her from trying to talk to the woman shortly after Tiffany had started going to therapy.
She wanted to blame herself, and she knew she still did, partially. But everyone had been insistent, even Alchemist had said it. She was a victim and Dave was the person at fault.
He'd caused all of this. Intentionally and otherwise.
"Perhaps it would be best." Batman stood up, making ready to leave. "If you talk to him yourself and simply ask."
"But what should I even say to him? The last time we talked, I..." She trailed off, uncertain how to say it.
"I've heard an apology is a very good place to start." He sent her a smile, just a small thing. She wouldn't have seen it if she wasn't looking.
"Alright." She could do that. "Alright."
-----
She spent a solid half-hour in the bathroom just trying to work up the nerve to say what she thought she needed to say.
After she thought of it.
Talking to him had been difficult, in the past. He'd do or say something she wasn't expecting and it would just throw off the whole rhythm of the conversation and she barely knew how to handle that!
Walking back into the Operations Center, she saw that he was sitting at the central terminal. Casually pulling gun magazines out of his inventory, loading them and then casting a spell on them.
"What are you doing?" Slipped out of her mouth before he brain had time to catch it.
"Grinding a spell." He answered for her simply.
That... Really was a simple answer. He hadn't said which spell... But then, she actually hadn't asked which spell.
"Oh. Is it going well?" It had taken her a long time to master Acceleration, but it was incredibly handy!
"Eh, it's going alright. Just need to do one more spell after I get this one figured out." She worried a bit as to what kind of spell it was, but put the thought out of her mind.
"Alchemist? I- There's something I need to say to you!" She swallowed thickly, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"I mean, you were saying things to me? At me?" He put down the magazine he'd half-loaded and turned to fully face her. "You alright?"
"Yes? No? I-" Why was this so difficult! She'd heard Alchemist apologize a dozen times over for minor things, it should be easy for her! "-I'm sorry!"
"Sorry? For what?" She knew he was being obtuse. His tone was light and curious, but his eyes were bright and focused directly on her. Watching. Waiting, with an intensity she didn't feel comfortable with.
"For- For hitting you. For hurting you. For throwing a tantrum and attacking you." She clenched her hands into fists to stop them from trembling, but that just made it worse.
She looked up from her lap, at him. He'd closed his eyes, his shoulders dropped and he exhaled slowly through his nose. More relaxed than he'd been the entire time he'd been in the base today.
"Apology accepted, Tiffany." That... That was it?
"That's it?" She found herself asking before she could close her mouth.
"That's it." He agreed. "I'm still not happy about it, but if you mean it, I'm willing to accept it. No hoops, no demands, no begging. Just don't do it again."
"I- No! I promise!" Her eyes burned a little bit, and she could feel pressure building up in her nose. She'd been expecting... Well, she wasn't sure, but not that! "I'll never do it again!"
"I'll hold you to that." He gave her a wan smile before returning to his work. "The team won't be arriving in Bialya for about four more hours, why don't you get a nap or go home for a bit? If something comes up, I'll text you alright?"
"Alright." She wanted to talk to Leslie. With Karen.
Maybe... Maybe they deserved an apology, too.
-----
Watching the door close behind Tiffany, Alchemist breathed out in relief and leaned back in his chair. He'd been tense the entire time he'd been in the mountain, and he didn't really want to admit why.
Because being afraid of a teenage girl just really wasn't impressive.
It didn't matter that he could 'beat' her in a straight fight using magic. What mattered was that he remembered her hurting him, and there was a part of his mind that expected her to do it again.
He appreciated the apology, though. So long as it wouldn't impact things, he'd keep his discomfort to himself.
It was part of why he'd been keeping his hands busy, prepping countless magazines with Abundant Ammunition. He wanted to get the spell mastered so he could just prep a couple of specific magazines and not have to think about them ever-
~~Spell -Abundant Ammunition- has leveled up!~~
~~Abundant Ammunition has reached level 100 (Max!)!~~
-again.
"B. E. A. Utiful, girl." Alchemist reached down to stroke Ash, lying against his feet.
The spell didn't work on magical ammunition, or alchemical ammuntion. Everything else was fair game, though.
And all of the fancy high-caliber bullets he'd stolen from the zombified military might be very advanced, they weren't magical in any way.
Up next on his to-do list would be Gravity Bow, which would make whatever ranged weapon it was cast on cause damage as though it were a 'Size category larger'. He'd maxed out the melee version, Lead Blades, back when he'd been casting it on the pickaxes used by the miners on Solstheim. With his perks, it would actually make it work like it was two size categories larger. It would turn a handgun into a hand-cannon!
Hell, he'd mastered two other spells at the same time. Effortless Armor and Life Bubble. It turns out that, when people feel comfortable and not like they're locked up in a hot, choking crypt? They work a lot faster!
Alchemist checked the time, then checked that against the expected time of arrival for the team to Bialya.
Still a bit more than three and a half hours until everything went wrong.
He already had Batman's contact information open, but he didn't know what to say, or how. He'd played the 'Crazy Psychic' card kind of hard, and both Batman and Wonder Woman knew that when he went out of his way to say something, he was being serious.
But Psimon was a direct agent of the Light, and interfering with them directly could... Well... Actually, what could they do that they weren't already trying to do? Sure, Slade was off on a wild goose chase and being harassed at every step, but he was still hunting for Alchemist.
Alchemist swapped over to M'gann's contact information and composed a text.
'Heard there might be a psychic working under Queen Bee. Pretty strong, great with memory. Be careful, can you keep shields up while you're there?' Was sent to her, and a similar one was sent to Batman.
Canon sucked, and he couldn't think of a good enough reason to try and keep to it. Hell, with the Helmet of Fate not collecting dust here in the mountain, Canon was well and truly slagged anyway!
M'gann sent him a thumbs-up emoji, which was probably all he was going to get on that front. Batman left him on read, which was exactly what he'd been expecting from the man. It was a transfer of information, not a lead-in to a conversation. So long as it was adequately consumed, Alchemist was content.
That still left him with a bit over three hours... Well, he did have something he'd been meaning to do, he supposed.
Alchemist pulled out the Oblivion Armor set, a Sinner Armor set and a full suit of Ebony Armor. He lined them up next to each other on the ground in three rows before he began pulling out more things.
He'd experimented with Synthesis, and he'd worked out the limitations. He could add six items together into a seventh, which he already knew. But he'd spent some time working out how that treated various factors. 'Passive' benefits, like bonuses to elements or resistances, would stack together just fine without eating a 'Factor' slot. That is, a specifically defined advantage or enchantment added on to something.
And he'd been getting ready to do this for a while, but he'd been putting it off. It wasn't critical, so he'd worried about his other projects instead.
Like building a cabin. Or trying to find the Riddler so he could hire him as a private investigator. Or the healing magic he'd been casting on the concierge of the hotel, Gotham Heights, where he'd been staying.
Alchemist started with his helmet. The recipient item was an Ebony Helmet because, quite honestly, -it was an actual helmet-! It had the silver whorls added to it after it was made, not made to look pretty or scary as some piece of abstract art that was poorly beaten into a helmet shape! It was the one he'd previously replaced the visor with Transparisteel, so it was completely clear.
To it, he fused in the Oblivion Helmet, a Nether Helm, all three of the Dragon Priest Masks he'd gotten, and finally fed into it the spell for Life Bubble.
~~ MageKnight Helmet ~~
~~Defense: 366
Magic Defense: 213
Resist: Fire +76%, Ice +76%, Lightning +76%, Dark +22%, Stat Reduction +5%, Curse +60%
Immune: Blind, Possession, Poison, Silence
Added Effect: Extend Duration of Spells, Reduced Damage from Ranged Attacks, Fire/Ice/Lightning Magic is 25% more effective, Body is enshrouded in a bubble of stable and hospitable environment.~~
One done, three more pieces. He actually got lucky and got a duplicate helmet for his troubles this time! On the one he planned to use, he used prestidigitation to turn the visor pitch black. Not that it actually would impede his vision with True Sight, but it would stop others from looking in!
Into the Ebony Armor, he fused in the Coat of Oblivion, the Traitor's armor, the robe he'd turned into a knockoff Archmage robe with the Skein of Magnus in it, Effortless Armor, and then he threw in the ring he'd taken off the Dragonborn, the one that further increased HP and Stamina regeneration.
~~MageKnight Armor~~
~~Defense: 377
Magic Defense: 290
Resist: Fire +22%, Ice +22%, Lightning +22%, Dark +31%, Stat Reduction +10%, Lowered Magic Defense +60%
Immune: Silence, Sleep, Lowered Strength
Added Effect: Gradually Restore Health, Allies Nearby Gradually Restore Health, All Spells Cost 15% less and Magic Regenerates 100% Faster, Worn Armor Feels Weightless and Does Not Impede Actions, Health and Stamina Regenerate 50% Faster~~
The gauntlets were next. Though before he got started, he used Transmutation to take off the end of the fingers and the next knuckle down on the right one. He still needed to use the fingers on that hand! Afterwards, he went ahead and used the freed material to make the housing he'd need for the Phozon Crystal.
On the left gauntlet, he made a series of four paired holes, so eight in total. He still hadn't figured out how to make Materia slots by himself yet, but he was getting there! And, well, he was about to cheat.
To the gauntlets, he fused in the Oblivion Gauntlets, the Sinner's Gauntlets, the Wizard Bracer, the spell of Lead Blades and the bracers he'd bought from Glover Mallory that improved sneaking and the hood that improved marksmanship.
~~ MageKnight Gauntlets ~~
~~Defense: 295
Magic Defense: 205
Resist: Fire +22%, Ice +22%, Lightning +22%, Dark +22%, Stat Reduction +5%, Reduced Magic +60%
Immune: Blind, Reduced Strength, Petrification, Poison
Added Effect: Restores Magic When You Deliver the Killing Blow to an Enemy, Extends the Duration of Attribute Boosts Applied to You, Unarmed Attacks Strike as Though From a Huge Creature, Sneaking is 40% Better, Marksmanship is 40% Better
Materia Growth: Normal, Four Paired Slots~~
No duplicate, but he did get his original materials refunded, so that was nice?
And finally came the boots. Into a pair of Ebony Boots, he fed the Oblivion Boots, the Betrayers Greaves, and the silenced steel boots he'd bought, again, off of Glover Mallory. Unfortunately, he was out of extra stuff to feed into his boots, but he supposed... Well, actually, he did have one more thing. He added back in the bracer that came back from the last set that increased sneaking. Unlike the Dragonborn he wouldn't benefit from stacking enchanted items, but there may be times when he only need parts of his armor.
~~ MageKnight Boots. ~~
~~Defense: 337
Magic Defense: 261
Resist: Fire +24%, Ice +24%, Lightning +24%, Dark +38%, Curse +20%, Stat Reductions +15%
Immune: Slow, Petrification, Skill Reduction
Added Effect: Wind Does Not Affect Mobility, Boost Movement Speed While Casting Spells, Armor is Muffled and Does Not Make Noise, Sneaking is 40% Better~~
No duplicates this time, and no refunded gear either.
That was fine. This... He really hoped he wouldn't be needing these here in a few hours.
He inventoried his gear and sat back down at the console, his leg tapping up and down nervously.
He'd made the team aware of Psimon, set up his magical armor, had his weaponry ready... And he still didn't feel calm.
He knew something was going to go wrong, and he was scared to discover what it would be... But until it actually happened, all he could do is wait.
And wait, and wait.