2017.01.10 - Demon Hunt
It is another typical night of bad winter weather in Gotham City and all is distinctly not well. The heavy clouds overhead hide the stars. Occasional spurts of freezing rain fall alternating with snow flurries.
Perching atop City Hall is Batman. He is scanning the streets below, hot on the trail of a demon that somehow found its way into the world and, more specifically, his city. The distant wail of sirens punctuates the night as first responders try to cope with the demon's carnage.
Barret Flynn flew in. He was on assignment from the Atomic Knights HQ as there had been more demon invasions recently, so all hands were on deck, so to speak. He was using one of his many sensor arrays to attempt to track down the demon, but was having very little luck in the matter. He landed on a nearby roof to allow his jets to cool down.
It's hard to miss Flarehawk. His outfit looks like he pieced it together himself out of stuff he had laying around the house, but that's if someone got a good look at him. EIther way, the bright glowing wings of flame were hard to miss regardless of his costume, as he floated through the cold night over Gotham, he himself seemed to be just enjoying flying around, not really doing anything of note at the moment.
When some people pray, it is without an expectation of answers. Ganymede is used to receiving regular communications with his Gods, however... And it's during prayer that the young Amazon feels a pair of soft wings caress his skin in greeting as tiny claws land on his shoulder. Laughing, the youth lifts the small messenger dove into his hands. "[Little One! You bring news from Themyscira?]" His grey eyes darken as he reads the message, nodding softly. Kissing the dove on the head gently, he carries it to a perch in the garden, where it can rest and recover. Rushing through the Embassy, Ganymede cannot find the Princess... So it's up to him. Donning his new armor, fashioned of night black cloth and silver metals, the youth takes to the skies at high speed toward Gotham, finding himself there in a short amount of time... and at Batman's side, eagle eyes having picked the Dark Knight out, despite his, well... darkness.
Unlike the last time Batman -- or anyone else -- may have seen him, this time Zachary Zatara is in much less formal attire. He does sport a coat over all of it that looks especially well-tailored though, which may stand out slightly next to his more informal ensemble. But he still has the command of presence, still clearly can take the spotlight for an audience, so when he appears...it's noticeable.
Hands in his pockets, Zach looks around. "There's something nasty in Gotham. But what else is new, right?" It's like he walked out from...somewhere, but it's not exactly clear as to where. "Sorry to just drop in, but my house was passing by, and well..."
From the roof of City Hall, it's not hard to spot other objects in flight. Batman tracks Barret's descent to a nearby roof. He's just about to start moving when there's another object in flight that comes up on his radar... with flaming wings? What the fresh hell is going on?
When Ganymede appears out of the night sky, Batman just offers the Amazon a curt nod. The Dark Knight isn't even surprised when Zachary Zatara materializes out of thin air.
"There's two unknown fliers, one on that roof there," Batman says, pointing toward Barret's landing site. "And there," he concludes, perhaps not needing to point out whatever was up in the sky with fiery wings. "And I still don't know where the creature is. It headed this way from the waterfront."
Barret Flynn looks around the city. He wasn't sure what was causing it, but something was causing his sensors to malfunction. He tried to readjust them, but it didn't seem to do anything of note, and the demon's location was still unknown. He sighed and radioed in to HQ. "HQ? Yeah, my sensors are on the fritz here. current cause is unknown." He didn't get a response from HQ.
Hopefully people won't think Flarehawk is the demon. I mean flaming wings flying through the sky, that could absolutely be misconstrued. He does a big loop around, looking down over the city. He's getting a weird feeling like something bad is going down, so he's starting to look for it. He just hopes the something bad isn't himself.
"The Gods are with us." He tells Batman with a smile, hands on his hips. When Zachary seems to appear from nowhere, the Amazon is slightly startled, but gets over it fairly quickly. "It is good to see you again."
{JLA} Superman hmms.
{JLA} Superman says, "Fighting demons?"
As if he had somehow overlooked Wonder Boy at first, Zach starts slightly from his usual coolness. But it's for a soft smile to come to his features, and he inclines his head in the Amazon-boy's direction. "You too. Crazy weather lately" He wiggles his hands, in the pockets of his jacket. "Have you eaten today? We should go to Ma's Diner later. Great hash browns." Whatever's going on, the young magician doesn't seem to be too bothered by it. But then, he's in the presence of Batman, so he likely figures they'll sort it out together, no matter what.
{JLA} Batman says, "Yes"
Weighing his options for a moment, Batman remains still. His head turns slightly as his attention shifts from the fiery presence in the sky, to the nearby rooftop and finally back down to the city streets.
"Can you fly around and see if you can spot the thing? It's about eight feet tall, very muscular and has a large set of black feathered wings sprouting from its back," Batman says to Wonder Boy.
"Find out who or what is up there," Batman directs Zachary, pointing to the other building where Barret lurks on the roof.
Barret Flynn keeps looking down at the city as he continued to try to open up a communication channel with HQ, but he was being blocked by something. He started pacing around the rooftop, trying to find any sort of clue that can help locate the demon that is still at large. He sighed loudly.
Spotting a seeming gathering on the roofs down below him...It's not hard to miss people, Flarehawk goes into a dive, swooping down closer. Seems like a lot of folks are out tonight. He doesn't have any kind of enhanced vision, so it's not possible for him to know who he's diving down towards until he gets close enough to realize it's the goddamn Batman. He immediately flares those wings of his and pulls out of the dive.
The Amazon hesitates for only a moment as he translates the words for himself, and then he's in the sky quick as a thought, narrowly missing Flarehawk as he goes, twirling around the hero in a graceful display of aerobatics. As always when Ganymede finds himself in the air, he's smiling, even as he looks for a demonic entity on the city streets of Gotham, despite the clouds, cold and damp.
"Sounds like a demon of one of the Hell realms," Zach comments, to Batman's description for Wonder Boy. "Gnikrow sehtolc!" With a gesture, Zach's casual outfit turns into a tux with his black cloak billowing around him. It's a dramatic change, but he seems to treat it as incidental. It's likely that anyone familiar with his family's magic would do the same.
"On it," the magician answers Batman. "Tropelet!" And suddenly he's gone, with only the faint cascade of tiny purplish sparkles to mark his presence. But then just as instantly, he appears a short distance from Barret. "So who the blazes are you and what are you doing here, anyway?" Zachary Zatara, not one to beat around the bush with pleasantries. His tone is pleasant though, even if his words aren't really.
Superman swoops in from the sky above to land near Batman. "I was overseas when the alert came in from the Watchtower," he explains. "How can I help?" It's Batman's town, and Batman's the one who was on the scene first, so naturally Superman defers to him. The rules in Gotham have always been complicated due to the city's history and unusual qualities, and Superman always strives to respect them. After all, Metropolis is pretty odd in its own ways, too--but now's no time to bring up Lex Luthor, after all.
The Dark Knight drops into a defensive crouch when Flarehawk comes swooping down at him. But at least he can get a better look at this fire winged stranger flies over the sky of his city. Just who the hell was this in a cheap mask and hoodie?
Wonder Boy and Zachary off on their own parts of this mission, Batman concentrates his full attention on Flarehawk. When Superman arrives, it's a godsend. "Thanks for coming," Batman says to the Man of Steel. "I don't know if he is friend or foe," he explains, pointing out Flarehawk.
Barret Flynn jumped back. "I'm Barret Flynn of the Atomic Knights. I am here on assignment to stop a rampaging demon in this city." He says, startled as a person just appeared out of thin air in front of him. "Who might you be?" Barret asked the unknown person.
Oh great, Superman too? Flarehawk is totally in over his head, "Friend, friend!" He calls out, coming into a hover and holding his hands up, "Sorry, it wasn't an attack, was just trying to see who was down here. I didn't realize it was two of the biggest baddest out there."
The young Amazon rushes through the city at high speed, disturbing the air currents with his passing as he pushes himself to his upper limits. Whatever this thing is, it's not safe for the citizens of Gotham to be out and about with it here, as it means them all harm.
"Zachary Zatara," he answers smoothly. "The world's greatest and most popular teenaged magician." It's stated as if Barret should really know this. And in Zach's estimation, he really should; anyone calling themselves the Atomic Knights should surely be aware of the headliner at the Metropolis Dome. "So it *is* a demon. Huh. Well anyway, hop to that rooftop. Over there. You're in bat country now."
With another quick word, the young Zatara is standing with Batman and Superman. "Oh. Superman. It's weird seeing you in Dark Shadows City. You really belong where the light's better." That comment is left to stand unaddressed as he then immediately turns to Batman, figuring Barret will catch him up sooner or later. "He says he's Barret Flynn of the Atomic Knights, here to stop a rampaging demon, but you knew that. And I knew that. If it's alone, it's probably excessively nasty. Might want to pummel it back to whatever hell-dimension it came from before it starts...you know..." The magician makes a vivid gesture with his hands, fingers moving in a graceful wave as he sweeps them in the air. "Sucking people's souls out through their anuses."
Superman's eyebrows lift up... and up... and up. "I see," he says, giving a sharp nod. "Well, has anyone cleared the area of civilians yet? I can make that my first priority, and perhaps Zach and Wonder Boy can take point?" He looks to Batman deferentially, clearly making it a suggestion rather than instruction--but when it comes to fighting demons, his instincts and experience tell him to trust Amazons and Zataras above just about anyone else. As for Flarehawk, Superman seems to accept him as part of the team readily enough. They're all here to protect the innocent, after all!
"Friend? We'll see about that," Batman mutters after Flarehawk's protestations.
As Wonder Boy races through the city streets, there's soon a disturbance to be found. It would seem the demon has cornered a car on a narrow one way street. The frightened passengers scream and try to scramble out of the vehicle as the demon perches on the hood.
When Zachary returns, Batman nods at the information provided. "That's the idea," he says in a grim tone.
Looking back to Superman, the Dark Knight nods. "It came from the waterfront and has disappeared somewhere around here. Clear a perimeter but keep an ear out if we need you."
Barret Flynn flies over to the rooftop with the people on it. He lands on the roof nearby and walks up to the people. "Hello. I'm Barret. There's a category Alpha demon on the run in this city. I'm hear to help." He said.
"That's what everybody's here for? Okay, I can help. I can see if I can track it down." Flarehawk takes up to the air, trying to get some distance up from the group so he can try to see what's going down. Of course it'll be up to Wonder Boy to let the rest of them know he found it
"[By the Gods!]" Wonder Boy exclaims, having spotted the demon. There's no time to return for help, no time to call out for the other heroes. Streaking in like a bolt of Zeus thrown lightning, Ganymede lashes out, feet slamming into the Demon's side at an angle, in an attempt to knock it up away from the car and its occupants.
"Why don't we just go and find it? I'm pretty sure between everyone here, we can send it back to whatever hell it came from." Zach reaches down to tug at his gloves, an idle sort of gesture making sure they're securely on his hands. Not that he particularly expects to have to touch anything, or even to need the gloves really. "I'll see you there."
Then, with that, the magician extends his hands and then dramatically lifts them. "Tropelet em ot eht nomed!" And he vanishes in a purplish haze, before appearing again near Wonder Boy. "Oh great," he mumbles, mainly to himself. "It's one of *those*."
Superman nods once more, then swoops away into action. He lets his hearing guide him until he finds the area where the demon is causing such trouble, reaching up to activate his comlink. "[ Spotted at my position -- Wonder Boy has engaged it. I'm going to clear the area of civilians before I assist. ]" With this said, he begins scanning the area for anyone in harm's way. Those he finds, he'll carefully and quickly relocate out of the demon's immediate area.
Batman nods curtly at Barret. "We'll see just how much help you can be," he comments.
As Flarehawk takes to the skies once more, Batman resumes his careful observation of the city streets. What was taking Wonder Boy so long to report back? A disgruntled sigh escapes him once Zachary teleports away. If only it were that easy for the Dark Knight.
"Acknowledged," Batman answers Superman over the comlink, checking his current position on what looks like a customized smartphone but of no make or model currently available through civilian retailers. Once he knows where the trouble is, he's on the move. He goes over the roof tops where he can, leaping the smaller spaces and using his grapple gun to bridge the larger gaps.
Soon enough Batman looms over the street where Wonder Boy does battle with the demon. The creature has forgotten all about its easy prey in the car and is bent on trying to catch hold of Ganymede to rend him limb from limb.
Batman and the other seem to have already spotted the demon, and it's being engaged. Flarehawk moves in as well, swooping down low over the ongoing battle, where Wonder Boy is moving to get it away from the car. He's not strong enough to lift the car, but it seems Superman might have that in hand.
He lands behind the demon, and the wings disappear and the flames shift into a sword and shield, "Hey big guy! Why don't you pick on somebody that's almost your size!"
The slim youth flips backward after his hard kick and lands with a grunt of effort, sliding several feet as he does. And then the Demon is on him, claws flashing, and the Amazon's bracelets fly faster than the human eye can follow, blocking slash after slash from the demon. Wonder Boy finally kicks out at the thing, a high, spinning leap that takes him from the ground, foot slamming into the Demon's jaw... only to be caught by the ankle and hurled, full force, at Flarehawk.
Confronted with some kind of awareness of at least the general origin of this demonic creature, Zach now gathers something of a battle plan. As always, ranged; he's not so great up close and personal, especially when it's a foe with super-duper strength and agility. Sure, he can account for himself in a fight, but...he'd prefer to use magic. "Tsoppmal niartser ym eof!" He calls out, the nearest lamppost stretching out like a tendril to whip around the demon, in an attempt to fetter it in place. Maybe that will help the others trying to engage it in close quarters.
Superman darts around to several nearby locations, transporting people who were too close for safety, before he moves in to support the others. He hangs back at first, but when Ganymede is flung through the air, Superman dives in toward it. He notices the animated lamppost (and heard who did it), so he lets that move lead, trying to get around behind the demonic beast to catch it with a sharp punch to the back of the neck--he's not sure if demons have pressure points, but maybe he can knock it out! As usual, he favors the least violent solution.
The Caped Crusader is on the street now and moving in. But he's not foolish enough to try to tangle hand to hand against a demon. Seeing the lamppost reach out and twist around the creature, Batman gets a bit closer to Zachary. "How do we kill it? Or banish it? Can you just get rid of it with your magic?"
It's not hard for Superman to punch the demon in the back of the neck and that seems to elicit a roar from its gaping, fang filled maw. It struggles mightily against its bonds, the metal of the lamppost groaning and whining in protest.
Barret Flynn flies in close striking it multiple times with his energy blade. He knew that his scanners would be useless at finding a weakness, but he still wasn't quite sure why. This demon seemed a bit.... different from the ones he normally fought, however.
Well so much for that plan. Flarehawk drops the flaming shield and sword as he spots Wonder Boy flying in towards him, moving to catch the smaller teen, "I gotcha!" He does indeed got him, but he winds up knocked on his ass for his troubles.
"Ow. Okay. You're good." He says, "But might wanna stay down and let the big guy handle it." He'll let Wonder Boy go if he protests though.
If Ganymede had but a moment more, he'd have landed on his feet in a fighting crouch. But he's caught by Flarehawk and moves with the fall, instead, landing atop the young hero, face flushed with embarrassment. "Thank you for catching me... But Superman will not be able to handle it alone." He smiles, pushing free gently, and then he's back into the fray, lasso twirling and suddenly entangling the demon, opposite the lamp post, his smile wide as the lasso, well... lassoes.
"Demons don't really die," Zach explains easily enough, seemingly used to both the chaotic pressures of battle and the sudden appearance of allies like the Batman. "Well," he amends, soon after, "not like you might conceive of the term. It's actually kind of interesting--"
Then the magician catches himself. No mystic symposium stuff right now. Must keep that under control. "The best thing to do is to banish it back to where it came from," he concludes, in an even tone. "But to do that, we're going to have to keep it from moving. I think I've got an idea of its dimension of origin, but while it's fighting and thrashing around...no way can I get it back there without it just clunking back here."
Hearing Zachary's words, Superman shifts tactics. With the lamppost and magic lasso entangling the creature, he reaches to grapple it. If he can, he'll pin its arms behind its back and hold them there. "If we can hold it," he calls out to the others nearby, "then Zatara can banish it! It's strong *and* magical, so it might take all of us to do this!"
The demon roars again as Barret strikes the creature with his energy blade. But at this point in time, it's more angry than actually hurt. It casts a baleful look at Barret, the promise of death or worse clearly written on its bestial features.
Wonder Boy's lasso seems to further entangle the creature and it tries thrashing its way free again. But then Superman is there, pitting his amazing strength against the creature not meant for this world. For a moment it seems to be a dead standstill between the Man of Steel and the demon, then ever so slowly the demon's arms are bent back under Superman's control.
Pulling some 550 cord from one of the compartments of his utility belt, Batman gets closer. He makes a quick loop and flings it over the demon's head to catch around its neck and pull tight. Did demons breathe? He was about to find out!
Barret Flynn Kept swinging at the demon. "I was wrong! This isn't a category Alpha demon at all! This is unlike any other demon I've ever fought!" He shouted as he flew around it trying desperately to find any weak point at all.
Hell at this point he might as well jump in and try to help too. Flarehawk gets back to his feet after Wonder Boy is let go, and he moves a bit to the side to get an angle, before he dives in to try to grab the demon's leg, using his weight to try to hold the leg down. Everyone is just kinda dog piling on the thing now.
"[Gaea, give me strength]!" Ganymede cries, the lasso almost jerking from his hands, before he finds his balance, planting his feet and pulling hard, eyes clenched shut with the effort. He's not nearly as strong as Diana, but even the Amazon Princess might have trouble with this beast! "I command you, SLEEP!" But, the creature being a demon... unlikely.
Good, good. Zach nods a few times, mostly to himself. He starts to go over the specific sigils and motions he'll need -- not to mention the words, though those are easier. With his focus, it's more important to have intent in mind than it is to say any particular words. He could say anything, just as long as it's focused in his way. That'll make it easier.
It takes him a short time, and Zatara the Younger draws closer to the others, holding the creature in place. He's seen the anger in its eyes, the fury and promise of injurious outrage. But it's par for the course, when dealing with these things. Superman has it in the lamppost, Batman's got it snared, Ganymede's lasso relentlessly assaults its magical nature, Flarehawk is keeping its movement minimal, and Barret has weakened its physical resistance. Looks like as good an opportunity as any!
"Og kcab ot lleh, bos retsis!"
There's a sudden inrush of air, then a sudden burst of pressure flaring out from a point, accompanied by iridescent purple sparkles mingling with fiery phosphorescence.
Superman holds that lamppost in place with all of his considerable might, but he has to be careful to avoid the demon's claws. Magical creatures are quite dangerous to him, after all! Magic is always complicated for him, and even Zachary's spell makes him wince a little. He can sit inside an active volcano without breaking a sweat, but feeling that much magical power is like a normal person standing beside a blast furnace.
Once the creature is finally gone, Superman breathes a sigh of relief. "Well done, everyone!" he calls out to the others. "That could have been much worse if we hadn't dealt with it so smoothly!" He gives Zach and Ganymede particular looks of gratitude, since he was depending on them, but he also gives Barret and Flarehawk each a nod. In his mind, it was clearly a group effort. Last, he turns to Batman. It's still his city, after all.
With the demon gone, Batman takes a moment to look around. The occupants of the car had been taken to safety by Superman, but the car was definitely totaled. And that didn't even account for the casualties of the night before they managed to stop the demon. Though no more sirens were wailing in Gotham, the emergency room at the hospital was definitely busy after the creature's destructive swath. Even worse were those that had had their souls torn from their bodies.
"Good work," Batman finally says, his words of praise seeming unusual for the grim set of his mouth.