With Friends Like This

February 20, 2016:

Ozymandias narrowly avoids permanent death by dint of John Constantine's unlikely timing.

Warehouse, New York

Characters

NPCs: None.

Mentions:

Mood Music: [*\# None.]


Fade In…

In one of the rundown neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city, Ozymandias has gathered together some of his personal ancient Egyptian artifacts and have placed them in an ankh pattern around the room. He kneels down in the center of the room in front of a small bowl of water. He dips his hands in the water several and unfolds the scroll. He places his left hand on the scroll and picks up his assegai transforming the assegai into mystical version of himself as he stabs his hands.

This act causes a release of mystical energy to radiate throughout the room and serves as beacon to anyone who can sense mystical energy.

John emerges from the shadows. Mostly because shadows are easier to teleport into, and also for dramatic effect. He eyes the warehouse district suspiciously, as if suspecting it personally is offending his sense of smell. The lanky con-man turned wizard digs in his pocket for his silver-plated cigarette case and pops a cigarette halfway out. He draws it into his lips and then flicks a battered zippo to light, cupping fire in his palms and hollowing his cheeks a few quick times to stoke the cigarette to life.

"Bloody auromancers," he growls, not seeing what he's looking for after a few long minutes. "'It'll rain this week'. As bad as the bloody weathermen."

Then a stab of mystical power flares at one of the buildings, and John's eyes widen, then narrow. He's off with a flap of his overcoat, jogging towards the source of the mystical power.

When he gets there, he digs one hand into his pocket and comes up with a battered old Browning semi-automatic, holding it at hip level and padding cautiously forward. He holds his left hand out in front of him, little eddies of force twirling between outstretched fingertips as if ready to hammer his obdurate will forward into a weapon or shield.

He comes around a pile of boxes and spots Morien kneeling at his temporary ceremonial basin. "Oye! Mate!" John whistles at Morien. "What're you doing mucking around with that scroll, eh?" he calls, moving cautiously forward but trying to stick to what meager cover is offered.
Not only does the voice surprise Ozymandias, but also the accent as he removes the assegai from his hand and transformed it back to solid energy. He places the assegai on the ground next to him. "How do you know?" Ozymandias peers down at the scroll and shakes his head, "It doesn't matter. I suggest leave this place. I am dealing with matters that are beyond your comprehension and are very dangerous. The different artifacts start to glow blue as Ozymandias finally lifts his left hand from the scroll.

"There's literally no such thing," John assures Ozymandias wryly. "I wrote the book on Incomprehensible, and I did it in Ch'thagan, backwards, in rhyming couplets."

He moves laterally, keeping plenty of space between himself and Ozy, and eyes the scroll with a baleful expression. "So how about you tell me why you're mucking around with that scroll? My auromancer mate heard the temporal crash almost a full six hours ago. I'm not sure where you're going but whatever hole you're ripping open to get there is going to make one crashing great noise," he warns Ozy.

Ozymandias recalls seeing this man when he got Zatanna's autograph, "Auramancer." Ozymandias realizes he knows a list something about magic, "You are mistaken. I am not going anywhere. I am summoning something here, and that is why you need to depart here.

The objects that were once glowing blue have started to slowly turn to orange.

"…No, you're -going- somewhere," John assures Ozymandias, waggling the barrel of his gun at the scroll. "Etruscan, right?" John says. "You probably got it from that hack amateur Benson across the bay. His Etruscan's about as good as my Taiwanese," John says, wryly. "You can't hear it?" he inquires, moving closer. "It's the tonals. It's like a bloody cheese grater on my skin, I felt it from fifty yards off. My mate heard it happening yesterday. You're putting so much juice into that incantation you're going to blast some new real estate into the Warehouse district."

Ozymandias raises his right eyebrow from behind his mask, "It came from a scroll that had a variety of different languages that most people have forgotten. I had to transliterate into a common language which turned out to Etruscan." Ozymandias shakes his head and smirks, "No, I got the original scroll from Anath-Na Mut, and I quite positive he has never gone by Benson."

Ozymandias looks around at the glowing artifacts, then back at the scroll.
Ozymandias really do not want any help in his personal crusade involving the forces of Apep and Maat, but he isn't going to risk blowing up the Warehouse district because of his hubris. Ozymandias grinds his teeth, "Who are you, and how can you help? Because I need to speak to the creature that is connected to the scroll.

John scowls, but puts his gun away at least. "Then either you're a fool or some bloody wanker's pulling a trick, because you're a few syllables and some sparkles away from blizting yourself into another dimension."

He steps closer to Ozymandius' little ritual space and stares at it for a few seconds. One might be inclined to think that he's discerning some fundamental nature of the magic that goes well beyond the human perception of such.

"Orright," he says, rubbing his hand across his mouth in thought. "The bridge is already linked. There's power in the conduit," John mutters, thinking aloud. "So maybe we can put some topspin on it instead of trying to redirect that power. Something's gotta go through it, but maybe if we flip this beast we can bring it -in- instead of sending you -out-."

He reaches into his pocket for some chalk and what looks like a can of silly putty, and starts scratching on the floor with the marking instrument. "Can you hold it stable for… five minutes?" he asks Ozy. "It'll take me that long to empower a magic circle, at least. Bloody hack work it'll be, too," he mutters, moving and stooping only long enough to scratch sigils on the concrete floor. Ozy would recognize a very crude— almost amateur— set of fundamental runes that most wizards give up on using regularly once they're of a 'professional' mindset. However, John is getting them down on the ground, and fast, and from memory.

Ozymandias looks back at the scroll and then back to John, "Yes, I am positive I can, and I am know fool. It just my knowledge of occult is large, but most manipulations of the Art is not something I am experienced in. Ozymandias narrows his eyes as he peers down at the scroll, "PErhaps, I am a fool, I should have realized that there was deeper meaning to the scroll.

Ozyamndias focus his attention on John for a moment as he pulls out the runes, before placing left hand on the scroll to stabilize it.

The artifacts briefly turn white, but whatever John is doing has cause them to turn back down to blue.

"Well, takes a wise man to admit when he's been wrong," John concedes grudgingly in the face of Ozymandius' humility. He works fast, his scratches sloppy but gaining a certain sense of 'realness' as he makes the circle around Ozy's altar. The runes are simple, but more after the fashion of a master artist using the proper medium for expression, rather than a beginner with only a few notions in his proverbial toolbox.

John finishes the last rune and flicks a switchblade into his hand, cutting his inside forearm with a grimace and letting a fair measure of blood dribble onto the last rune. The chalk lines glow with redoubled energy as John's own lifeforce powers his raw willpower.

"Well, that should do it," John mutters at Ozymandius. "I mean, unless a major God comes through this end instead of just answering your call. In which case… well, been nice knowing you for five minutes," he says in a wry, deadpan tone.

"Well, takes a wise man to admit when he's been wrong," John concedes grudgingly in the face of Ozymandius' humility. He works fast, his scratches sloppy but gaining a certain sense of 'realness' as he makes the circle around Ozy's altar. The runes are simple, but more after the fashion of a master artist using the proper medium for expression, rather than a beginner with only a few notions in his proverbial toolbox.

John finishes the last rune and flicks a switchblade into his hand, cutting his inside forearm with a grimace and letting a fair measure of blood dribble onto the last rune. The chalk lines glow with redoubled energy as John's own lifeforce powers his raw willpower.

"Well, that should do it," John mutters at Ozymandius. "I mean, unless a major God comes through this end instead of just answering your call. In which case… well, been nice knowing you for five minutes," he says in a wry, deadpan tone.

Constantine's effort are successful as the magic that was supposed to pull Ozymandias into another dimension has switch just like the ocean tides. The magic flows back into the warehouse and pulls the other way.
The room shimmers several times, before breaking down into billion shards of light. The shards of light form a doorway in the middle of abyss, while the floor and sky turns into nothing but starry night sky. Silence hangs in the air for three minutes, before there is soul piercing hiss as a gigantic snake head appears from the doorway.
As the rest of this humongous snake makes its way out of the snake, the area that was once just a doorway in the middle of abyss disappears as does the night sky. The starry night that encompassed the floor, the walls, and the sky has now been replaced with a desert and a sunny sky.
The snake slithers around the room with its fangs out and stops right in front of Ozymandias, "So I see the coward has not his lesson." As these words leave the snake's lips, the snake transforms into a beautiful brown skinned woman with long black dreadlocks, She is wearing a long emerald colored dress with a reptilian pattern. "Why have you wasted mine and your time by calling on me?"
The woman's glowing ivory eyes fall on Constantine, "He does not have friends, so why are you here?""

John shrugs at the woman. "I was out and about. Bored. Didn't have anytthing better to do." He goes to draw on his cigarette, but finding it nearly out, he scowls and flicks the butt into the air. It vanishes mid-arc, as if up his sleeve, and he produces a new one from his silver-plated cigarette case, igniting the stick with a flame from his battered old zippo. He snaps the lid shut with a flick of his wrist and puffs the cigarette smoke skywards, wisps emerging from his nostrils.
The Snake flicks her tongue at John, "Perhapss, we might visit me again without Ozymandias. There is something different about you are you. You remind me of the magi of old.

Ozymandias growls, "He does want anything that you are offering. Given into fear in a moment that has become insignificant does not make me a coward!

The woman continues to fixate her attention to John as she talks to Ozymandias, "Have you not come to me to figure out away to extend you life? Does Apep want to claim your body and soul to return to the mortal, and does not Maat want to end your life to keep this from happening. Have you not come to me like a miserable scarab like you did thousand of years ago in fear of dying? You are still a coward!"

"You have never learned the lesson that all creatures most learn eventually" The woman finally turns her attention away from John to look at Ozymandias, "But, perhaps in a few moments I will be able to educate you."

Ozymandias raises his right eyebrow again behind his mask, "What do you mean?"
Ozymandias pages: You can sense the force of Apep and Apep(God of Chaos) trying to enter her mystical area.

John's face hardens at her words, and he holds a hand up and says something. The word is not in any language spoken by mortal man, and the universe itself seems to tremble in response to that single syllable. He holds a palm up in an imperative gesture of absolute command, fingers together— the universal command of Stop!

His obdurate will reinforces the runed circle scratched on the ground around Ozymandias, the chalk bursting into sizzling blue flames in response to the raw energies he fills them with. In the circle, entropy- the seething death of the universe itself— comes to a grinding halt in response to the man's simple command.

"I don't kiss and tell on my first date, luv," he assures the woman, unmoved by her towering presence or her sinister command. "My mate here was keen to talk to you, but I'm not about to let you run rampant through the streets. You push any of that glamour my way, I'll cut your connection off and leave you to figure out how to glue yourself back together," he warns her, referring to the invisible bonds of power that tie her to her astral realm.

"Impressive and so Masterful, Look how a true man behaves in front of the universe. They are not timid, but brave. If I had more time, I would enjoy showing you my pleasures" The creature slithers her tongue at John again, but you are right. "Your mate has a question. He reaches to know how to extend his life once again. Apep will not reason with him, so he must found away to convince Maat that he has the means to stop Apep."

Ozymandias crossses arms in front of his chest, "Enough with your insults? If you know why I am here, then just tell me the answer. How do I stop Apep, so Maat will not kill me to save the world.

The Snake Deity expresses a grinning fanged smile, "The answer is simple. You have to show her you are willing to sacrifice everything to stop him. Before the Forever Time, I stole from Apep the ability to create more vessels for him to inhabit in the mortal world. He has used up all those ones vessels he has create, and you are the only one I have ever created with that power. I gave all of the power I stole to you. It made you the perfect vessel for him. I thought that you would have learn your lesson, before this day, but you have not.

The woman looks back at John, "You can send me back. Apep forces in the physical world will surely begin descending on your locations in hours as well as his minions in the spiritual world if you continue to keep him from me. He only wants to punished me for my role, and to be honest I wished to join Anubis. My realm has become boring and infected with commoners. Perhaps, my death will teach you a valuable lesson."
Ozymandias has disconnected.
Ozymandias has connected.
"Impressive and so Masterful, Look how a true man behaves in front of the universe. They are not timid, but brave. If I had more time, I would enjoy showing you my pleasures" The creature slithers her tongue at John again, but you are right. "Your mate has a question. He reaches to know how to extend his life once again. Apep will not reason with him, so he must found away to convince Maat that he has the means to stop Apep."

Ozymandias crossses arms in front of his chest, "Enough with your insults? If you know why I am here, then just tell me the answer. How do I stop Apep, so Maat will not kill me to save the world.

The Snake Deity expresses a grinning fanged smile, "The answer is simple. You have to show her you are willing to sacrifice everything to stop him. Before the Forever Time, I stole from Apep the ability to create more vessels for him to inhabit in the mortal world. He has used up all those ones vessels he has create, and you are the only one I have ever created with that power. I gave all of the power I stole to you. It made you the perfect vessel for him. I thought that you would have learn your lesson, before this day, but you have not.

The woman looks back at John, "You can send me back. Apep forces in the physical world will surely begin descending on your locations in hours as well as his minions in the spiritual world if you continue to keep him from me. He only wants to punished me for my role, and to be honest I wished to join Anubis. My realm has become boring and infected with commoners. Perhaps, my death will teach you a valuable lesson."

"I'm just here to make sure you don't get some nutty notion about breaking through," John assures the serpent-woman. "Nothing personal, luv. I'm just picky about breaking the eastern seaboard. All my things are here, eh?" he tells her, in a bland tone. He nods at Ozymandius. "You send her back whenever you're ready, mate. I'll make sure she don't get a ruddy foot in the door."
"Unlike your mate, I know when it is time for my season to end. Too bad, I did not encounter in early times." The woman walks over to Ozymandias and clasps her hands around his face, "All the things you could have accomplished in all of these centuries, and this is all you have become. You could have ruled this world. It is sad. Since we are connected, when Apep's slays me and I am sent to Anubis' realm some of magic and knowledge will flow into you. It will be painful, but perhaps you will be wiser afterwards. Good bye, Ozymandias.

The woman walks away from him and begins her transforming into a snake.

Ozymandias closes his eyes for a moment, then turns away from as he pulls his shield from his back, transforming into mystical energy and slams the shield into the scroll.

The room shimmers again and begins to fade away. As the room fades, you seen the armies of Apep begin to filter into her realm as her realm vanishes from our reality. She is not timid at facing her approaching death.

John narrows his eyes and exhales smoke through his nostrils, but doesn't let his guard down until the woman is completetly departed and the door is sealed behind her.

"Right," he says to Ozymandius, looking at the fellow. "Who the hell was that bint and what was she knockin' on about?" he asks, jerking a thumb at the closing portal.

As a tear is hidden by the mask, Ozymandias taps his left foot on the ground and mumbles, "I hated her for centuries, but in away she was my second mother." Ozymandias looks over at John, "Long ago, I was a soldier and I had committed many attacks against my enemies on behalf of my nation, but then my enemy retaliated with a force we could not defend. I fled, because I knew I was going to be one of those heads that were going to be cut to be shown as a trophy. I fled and encounter this deity, and I thought it was saving, but it curse me. Now, Apep, God of Chaos who recently lost a vessel he would use and drop for eons was destroyed, and he sent back to his realm.

This defeat has angered him to the point that he no longer wants to ever be forced to have to dwell in his dimension again, so he is going to bring himself to this world again by somehow claiming my body and soul. He will then bring his entire dimension to this world, and opposing his is the forces of Maat, Goddess of Order. Her forces are just going to kill me to stop him. Since I still after all these centuries do not wish to die, I am trying to figure a way out of this.

Ozymandias lets out a blood curling scream and falls to the ground in pain. "She…..was…right…it was painful!"

John stares at Ozymandius, then pinches his brow and sighs. Loudly. And stands there for a few moments, processing what looks like a Grade A migraine hammering against his brow.

"C'mon mate, on your feet," John tells Ozy, unmoved by his agony. "I was hoping to have a quiet week of playing snoot and getting sloshed. I suppose I might as well help check an ancient god of chaotic intent," he says sourly. He walks around the circle, scuffing out the runes with his shoetip. "But I'm too sober to have this conversation right this minute. I know a diner not far from here. Let's nip in and get some food in us, eh?" Solidly practical advice.
"I don't eat, and I actually have a dealings with that do not involve the supernatural." Ozymandias slowly gets too his feet, "I need get these items back to my safe too. Ozymandias extends his hand, "I am Ozymandias. Thank you for your help, and if you are able to come up with something interesting please let me know, I guess I can always meet you at the Oblivion bar.

John shakes Ozy's hand firmly, making no effort to wrestle him for it. "John. John Constantine," the lanky Brit says. "Yeah… that Constantine," he adds, wryly, a moment later. There's been few fellows since Orpheus who've traipsed to Hell and back. Constantine's one of them.

"Leave me a message with Figgas," he tells Ozy. "He knows how to get a hold of me— folks who frequent the Bar leave me messages from time to time. We've got some talking to do, I think."

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