Bounce

Justice League Unlimited - United We Stand

Threat of alien invasion?

Thank goodness we're all human. Oh, wait...

In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night...

Name: Al-X

Alias: Green Lantern

Age: 104 years

Personality: Analytical, Inquisitive, Curious, Stubborn, Pragmatic

Powers: None, personally, save for strong willpower. Oh, and the single most powerful piece of jewelry known to the cosmos. As Al-X has focused on criminal and forensic investigation, his use of the ring is particularly trained in

• Universal Translator
• Electromagnetic Scanning
• Environmental Playback
• Invisibility/Light Refraction

Weaknesses: Proper ring usage is a demanding occupation.

• Must be wearing the ring
• Must be in possession of one's faculties (drugs, mind-altering effects, vertigo, etc)
• Must be kept charged (plot-powered battery life)
• Avoid red energy when possible (red energy dissolves green)

Background Hero: Guy Gardner

Former Team Affiliation: JL Task Force

Appearance: Al-X is a young Korugaran, the same species as the infamous Sinestro, though may not be a "pure" example of the species owing to several deviations that lend him a less overall human-like appearance. His pointed ears are larger; his skin is more purple than red-violet; his eyes have no discernible iris or pupil; he's bald; and, he lacks a nose.

Potential Storylines:

• Obligatory lose the ring adventure
• Also obligatory forget to charge the ring adventure
• The Justice League meets in match in trying to prevent Guy and Al-X from killing one another (which could also lead into the ring being depleted scenario above)
• It's Not Easy Being Green Alien (On Earth, Anyway)

BRIEF Bio: A native of sector 1417, Al-X was chosen as a Green Lantern candidate shortly after his 100th birthday. Initially training on Oa under the tutelage of both Salaak and Kilowog, Al-X was assigned to sector 2814 for field training. He hoped to be partnered with Hal Jordan or Jon Stewart. To his regret, he got Guy Gardner instead (Al-X still hasn't been able to determine just who among Guardians he must have offended or pissed off...). To say that the two clashed would have been a gross understatement. Thankfully, Wonder Woman convinced Gardner to commit his time to JL International, while the Martian Manhunter recruited the Korugan for his JL Task Force.

After the dissolution of the Justice League in its various forms, Gardner and Al-X were recalled to Oa where they happily went their separate ways. Al-X resumed his training in interstellar law and investigations for a period of no less than 365 Gardner-free days (not that he was counting.) Sadly, all good things must come to an end. And, on the 366th day, not only did Gardner appear but brought with him news that they'd been re-assigned to sector 2814, as partners, to support the establishment of a new Justice League facility on Earth's moon.

What in the human hell had Al-X done to deserve this?

Notes:
Let me know if you'd rather have a human Lantern and I can roll with another entrant. I figured this might be a fun way to play to the "monster character" and the "threat of alien invasion" at the same time.

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

It has begun. Welcome to...

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

_{”A Song of Garth & Fire, part I” [ post theme ] [ next ]}

NORTH AMERICA
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Virginia

For nearly sixty years, the USS Trafalgar sailed the seven seas.

Once a proud member of the Kitty Hawk-class of so-called ‘supercarriers’ that had emerged in the 1960s, the Trafalgar had followed its predecessors USS Constellation and USS John F. Kennedy by bowing out of active service in the late 1990s, after more then thirty years of deployments in the national defense of the country whose flag it had carried across the globe. Those proud memories of the ship’s service days were now merely footnotes in the annals of history. Since the ship had pulled out of Naval Station Mayport for the last time, it had been collecting rust in one of the ghost fleet boneyards, waiting for its fate to be decided.

Scraped for razor blades? Sold to a developing country? Turned into a museum ship?

No, the Trafalgar was to be towed out to sea and scuttled to the bottom, where it would become home to a new artificial reef.

The ship had been mothballed for the better part of the last thirty years. Most of its equipment stripped away. Its paint chipped and faded, exposed metal rusting from decades of neglect. It seemed the haunted husk of a vessel.

Which made it damned creepy as the guard made his way through the sounding and security check. The hair stood up on the back of his neck whenever he walked this ship, and that was before they’d littered it with a daisy chain of bombs.

A sound jolted the guard to turn toward an open hatch. “Who’s there?” he barked, a hand coming to rest on the back of the Beretta at his hip.

There was a clatter, as a wrench dropped to the floor. “Sorry!” a male voice called out, as one of the dock workers emerged from the shadows. “That’s me,” the man offered, bending down to scoop up the offending tool.

The guard didn’t seem ready to relax yet. “I thought the demo crew had already left.”

“They did,” the man agreed, slipping the wrench back into the bag hung off his belt. “Well, most did, yeah. I was just giving the charges in the lower bilge a final check. We want the ship to go down at the right angle, after all.”

The guard gave a slight nod in agreement. What the man said made sense.

“Got your badge on you?” the guard asked, not yet moving his hand away from the gun.

“Oh, of course,” the man offered, reaching inside his coveralls to produce a white identification card that dangled at the end of a U.S. Naval Sea Systems emblazoned lanyard.

The security badge read: P. Mortimer.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN
3,600 feet below sea level

Nestled in a fertile valley of deep sea coral amid the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Idylls had long been viewed as a sort of vacation spot away from the hustle and bustle of Atlantis.

A fortification here had originally been constructed as a summer palace for King Atlan, though later became the residence of the High Mage of Atlantis. As communities sprang up around the mage’s tower, the residence transformed over several generations to become a barony and then a duchy, and then finally a kingdom upon itself. Of course, by that time, feuds over the post of the High Mage of Atlantis had fallen victim to the petty conflicts that had swept across the sea floor in the wake of Sareme Revolt and the Coral Riots that had followed as political opinion became sharply divided and the people amassed behind their chosen sovereigns.

Crastinus sprang up as an opposing school of magic to the one in Shayeris, challenging the traditional seat of power among the magi. Further abroad, Venturia annexed a portion of Lemuria, which elevated the conflict to one of open war. When the dust had settled, Tha-Korr of Atlantis had secured more than just his own throne. By carefully maneuvering his allies and his opponents alike, he’d managed to restore the balance of peace to the undersea world. An arranged marriage between Thar of Shayeris and Berra of Crastinus not only buried generational bad blood between the two magic kingdoms, but shored up the king’s allies against Attuma of Venturia, whose ambitions made clear that no ocean was large enough to satisfy him.

There still remained challenges. Racist attitudes and stereotypes toward the Brine lingered. R’llyeh had withdrawn from diplomatic relations with its neighbors. And as the conflict between Lemuria and Venturia dragged on for more than a decade, Atlantis had yet to so much as broker a detente between the two...

As he was scrawling on the board at the front of the room, the man stopped as he realized his charge’s attention was anywhere but. “Are you listening?”

It wasn’t spoken. Instead, the man’s thoughts projected through the water, interrupting the wandering muse of a child looking out the window.

Vibrant, violet-colored eyes blinked. His head jerked so that he was looking forward once more. “Huh?” the young prince uttered, before trying to smooth over the mistake by immediately appending, “Oh, I was listening, Vulko. Honest!”

The aging magi’s look was skeptical to say the least. “Oh really?”

Caught in a lie, the young prince did what any self-respecting politician would do.

He tried to double down on it.

“Yeah, you were talking about… uh...”

“The Coral Riots,” Vulko supplied casually.

“Yeah, the Coral Ri... uh... Coral Riots!” Garth stammered, at first tripping over the attempt at repeating it back to the man as he realized he had no idea what he was talking about.

“Then you should be able to write me an essay on the causes of the conflict and who it involved.”

The boy’s mouth fell open. His eyes darted to one side of the room.

Burying his face into the palm of his hand, Vulko gave a heavy sigh. Then, taking a seat across from the boy, opted to try a different approach. “When you are king, it will be very important to understand that every decision you make is likely to touch on some aspect of our people’s history,” the aged magi explained, with a patience that was both well practiced and well worn. “How people perceive the respect, or disrespect, of that history can prompt strong political reactions that may appear on the surface to have nothing to do with the decision itself.”

“But most of my dad’s duties are ceremonial,” the boy remarked, as though casually dismissing the notion entirely. If not the kingdom itself, as he explained, “I’m not going to be the king of Atlantis.”

This time, it was both hands covering Vulko’s face.

Straightening back up, the man took a breath and tried to get the lesson back on course. “No, but you will advise the king of Atlantis,” the man stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “And whether you’re advising the king of Atlantis or giving a speech opening a new library down the street, if you don’t understand the history of our people, then you won’t understand our people.”

A pair of large, violet-colored eyes just stared back at him, as though devoid of anything resembling intelligent life.

“I can see your eyes are glazed over,” Vulko relented finally, pinching the bridge of his nose before making a dismissive gesture. “Go, play, your highness.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the child had bolted through the window. Already descending toward the reef where other children were playing as Vulko called after him.

“But I expect that essay tomorrow!”

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MEANWHILE...
The Pacific Ocean Basin

The sound of every chair scraping against the stone echoed through the chamber as the doors were thrown wide and the assembly snapped to attention.

The grizzled warlord moved into the room like a scarred orca that was stalking its prey. As he crossed from the threshold to the head of the long table, his eyes challenged each present to try and hold his gaze. None dared.

Before him, a map of the conflict with Lemuria was decorated with models and flags.Barely sparing the familiar scene a glance, the man’s gravelly voice rumbled as he spoke. “There’s been a change in strategy. I want conscripts drawn up from every village.”

The generals each looked at one another in turn, as though asking if any of the others had been aware of this.

“We march on Lemuria when I return,” the warlord stated flatly.

The sound of a man clearing his throat shattered the silence that followed. Speaking up, the senior military advisor began, “My lord, Atlantis will not tolera–”

“Atlantis is my concern, not yours,” the warlord snapped, forcefully halting the man mid-sentence. Turning back toward the doorway he’d come through, the grizzled warrior added, “Once we have the magi of Shayeris and Crastinus at our beck and call, I expect Tha-Korr to be more concerned with keeping his own throne secure.”

A pair of violet eyes burned with an eerie cast of hellfire, as the skeletal-like frame of the magi appeared from the shadows. “Rest assured, once I am on throne, the pacifist policies of my brother will be a thing of the past,” the figure intoned darkly.

The warlord gave a wan smile at the words, but seemed not yet convinced. “You are certain that the surface is about to attack Shayeris?” the warlord demanded. “I’m taking an awful risk, Slizzath.”

“Such is necessary to reap greater rewards of power,” the magi countered, flashing a devil’s smile as he added,“The other kingdoms are unprepared for what is to come. That ignorance will foment into confusion, and that is when you will seize power before any in Atlantis or Tritonis know what has happened.”

Taking a step closer to the warlord, the violet-eyed magi urged the man on as he boasted,“And, together, we can reshape not only the seafloor, but the dry land as well, King Attuma.”

“Or should I call you... Ocean Master.”

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T P R O P O S A L

G A R T H

T H E S U B - M A R I N E R

---

---

"I won't stand here and do nothing!"

---

^{_{GARTH OF SHAYERIS ♦ PRINCE OF IDYLLS ♦ ATLANTIC OCEAN}}

O R I G I N S:

---

The son of King Thar of Shayeris and Queen Berra of Crastinus, Garth represents the new hope that is the United Kingdom of Shayeris and Crastinus, one of the twelve undersea kingdoms that comprise Poseidonis. Under the tutelage of the High Mage, Vulko, Garth is coming of age in a realm of magic that stands in firm opposition to Venturia’s warmongering. This has thrust the boy into the midst of undersea politics he doesn’t yet understand, as his uncle, Slizzath, conspires to bring about events that will propel him to power at great cost to life both above and below the surface.

As the United States prepares to sink the aircraft carrier USS Trafalgar with the stated goal of creating an artificial reef, events are set into motion that will upend Garth’s royal life and ask the question of whether one boy alone can stop the tide of war with the surface.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

Sample Post

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF SHAYERIS & CRASTINUS
The Hamlet of Thierna na Oge

There was so much blood in the water.

At first, he’d thought that it was just sediment. The visibility around the tremendous impact sending hundreds of pounds up from the ocean floor to create a veritable fog in which the boy could no longer see the hand in front of his face.

It was a quick and sobering realization that debris was not the only thing floating around him. Luckily, the cold waters around him stole away his tears as quickly as they sprang.

Taking a deep breath, the youth steeled himself. Even without his sight, the boy’s sense of location could pick out each of the guards around him in turn. “What are you standing around me for?”

From the murky blackness the thoughts of the man-at-arms was quick to answer, “Your Highness, it isn’t safe!”

“Yes, and our people need your protection,”the boy charged

He could feel the guards checking in with one another. After an awkward silence, a voice finally offered, “I’ll stay with the prince.”

The boy gave a sigh of relief, releasing a breath he’d held in anticipation of being dragged back to Shayeris and thrown into a room. To wait around with tutors while others did the work that needed to be done.

Or worse, catered to him when that attention was needed elsewhere.

“With me,” the boy said, not wanting to yield for even a second when it seemed the hand had loosened on the reigns that sought to tether him to a throne that was not yet his.

N O T E S:

---

• Tha-Korr is King of Atlantis, but I will make no references to Fen or Atlanna, so the royal family of Atlantis is free to be interpreted by anyone who may wish to pick up Arthur/Orin or Namor. Similarly, I will make no reference to Tom Curry, Amnesty Bay, Nereus, Mera, or Xebel.
• I have no plans to introduce Black Manta, so if anyone wants to use him and/or introduce a version of Khaldur'am/Jackson Hyde, they're free to do so.
• Planned Rogue Gallery is Slizzath and Attuma for the undersea side of the plot, and Dr. Dorcas and the Scavenger for the surface side of the plot. Future plots may also use Suma-Ket, the Dead King, and the Unforgiven Dead.
• Surface side plot involves Beachrock, Massachusetts.
• Support Cast: Deputy Wilson, McCaffey, Quisp (Silver Age version), Mar (Alpha Flight)
• "The Brine" people refers to Marvel's Plodex race in this merged undersea-verse.

P O S T C A T A L O G:

---

_{"A Song of Garth & Fire"}

• _{Chapter 1}
• _{Chapter 2}
• _{Chapter 3}

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

<Snipped quote by Bounce>

and with apologies to the magnanimous Bounce for the delays, Garth is accepted! Excited to see what you do with Atlantis and its kingdoms.

@DocTachyon

Thank you.

I'll aim to post on Fridays, starting this week. It worked as a rhythm when I wrote Kai-ro, so I'll see if I can fall back into those old habits.

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

The sample is a rush job, but screw it.

Leaked Script for Disney's Finding Nemo 3

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T P R O P O S A L

G A R T H

T H E S U B - M A R I N E R

---

---

"I won't stand here and do nothing!"

---

^{_{GARTH OF SHAYERIS ♦ PRINCE OF IDYLLS ♦ ATLANTIC OCEAN}}

O R I G I N S:

---

The son of King Thar of Shayeris and Queen Berra of Crastinus, Garth represents the new hope that is the United Kingdom of Shayeris and Crastinus, one of the twelve undersea kingdoms that comprise Poseidonis. Under the tutelage of the High Mage, Vulko, Garth is coming of age in a realm of magic that stands in firm opposition to Venturia’s warmongering. This has thrust the boy into the midst of undersea politics he doesn’t yet understand, as his uncle, Slizzath, conspires to bring about events that will propel him to power at great cost to life both above and below the surface.

As the United States prepares to sink the aircraft carrier USS Trafalgar with the stated goal of creating an artificial reef, events are set into motion that will upend Garth’s royal life and ask the question of whether one boy alone can stop the tide of war with the surface.

S A M P L E P O S T:

---

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF SHAYERIS & CRASTINUS
The Hamlet of Thierna na Oge

There was so much blood in the water.

At first, he’d thought that it was just sediment. The visibility around the tremendous impact sending hundreds of pounds up from the ocean floor to create a veritable fog in which the boy could no longer see the hand in front of his face.

It was a quick and sobering realization that debris was not the only thing floating around him. Luckily, the cold waters around him stole away his tears as quickly as they sprang.

Taking a deep breath, the youth steeled himself. Even without his sight, the boy’s sense of location could pick out each of the guards around him in turn. “What are you standing around me for?”

From the murky blackness the thoughts of the man-at-arms was quick to answer, “Your Highness, it isn’t safe!”

“Yes, and our people need your protection,”the boy charged

He could feel the guards checking in with one another. After an awkward silence, a voice finally offered, “I’ll stay with the prince.”

The boy gave a sigh of relief, releasing a breath he’d held in anticipation of being dragged back to Shayeris and thrown into a room. To wait around with tutors while others did the work that needed to be done.

Or worse, catered to him when that attention was needed elsewhere.

“With me,” the boy said, not wanting to yield for even a second when it seemed the hand had loosened on the reigns that sought to tether him to a throne that was not yet his.

N O T E S:

---

Notes Here

• Tha-Korr is King of Atlantis, but I will make no references to Fen or Atlanna, so the royal family of Atlantis is free to be interpreted by anyone who may wish to pick up Arthur/Orin or Namor. Similarly, I will make no reference to Tom Curry, Amnesty Bay, Nereus, Mera, or Xebel.
• I have no plans to introduce Black Manta, so if anyone wants to use him and/or introduce a version of Khaldur'am/Jackson Hyde, they're free to do so.
• Planned Rogue Gallery is Slizzath and Attuma for the undersea side of the plot, and Dr. Dorcas and the Scavenger for the surface side of the plot. Future plots may also use Suma-Ket, the Dead King, and the Unforgiven Dead.
• Surface side plot involves Beachrock, Massachusetts.
• Support Cast: Deputy Wilson, McCaffey, Quisp (Silver Age version), Mar (Alpha Flight)
• "The Brine" people refers to Marvel's Plodex race in this merged undersea-verse.

P O S T C A T A L O G:

---

tbd

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

Go nuts.

@Sep

The best part of this advice is the signature gif (also my favorite SG-1 episode... golfing through the gate ftw)

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

I'm working on an application that will merge DC and Marvel's versions of Atlantis.

Before I get too far, has anyone made any references to Atlantis, Namor, or Aquaman? My searches of the topic have only brought up that @Retired might have ideas (or have had ideas) early in the OOC, but that appears to be it. But I wanted to ask in case I'm about to step on any toes.

New York By Night (A Vampire The Masquerade RP) (CLOSED)

The undead child shied back behind his zombie meat shields.

Nondescript brown eyes stared out from behind the disheveled and bloodied corpses as Enzo watched the scene unfold around him.

The sight of Elizabeth ripping into one of the thugs made the boy’s stomach growl.

...wait, did they even have stomachs anymore? How did that work exactly?

He really should have packed a lunch for this sort of thing. Of course, if he’d known what they’d be doing tonight, he’d have made a couple of preparations. Cosi e la vita, as they say.

Though, shouldn’t that be cosi e la morte in their case?

Ian’s voice snapped the boy back to what was happening around them. Elizabeth had started toward the door, but the Brujah was trying to get the situation under control and the others in line with the plan.

When Ian suggested that Raph check the door, the meek Giovanni spoke up. “Why don’t we send these guys?” the boy asked, using one thumb to indicate the zombies that dwarfed his small form.

Extending a hand out toward the door, the diminutive necromancer uttered, “Andiamo!”

...and then bravely relocated himself so that he was hiding behind Ian as the zombies proceeded.

Elizabeth was through the door as soon as the gunfire had stopped. From behind Ian, Enzo couldn’t see much beyond the doorway. And didn’t plan to step out of line unless Ian told him what to do.

New York By Night (A Vampire The Masquerade RP) (CLOSED)

Gonna work on a post, I might be able to get it done by Wenesday or Thursday.

@Eviledd1984

If you care to weave it in, Enzo would suggest sending one of the zombies to check out what's beyond the door.