*On the Mountain in the Graylands*

[ibn_al_xuff]

The journey has been difficult. The snow is very cold, but Ibn is determined to continue. He has seen strange things and he knows the dangers of waiting too long in the mists. He will have to fight for every inch towards life.

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[_darkknight_]

And so they continue moving along. Behind him, just to be sure, Batman tosses a grenade of knockout gas at the villains they just left behind.

Just to be sure.

[ibn_al_xuff]

Only the Batman would have knockout gas in the Underworld. That makes Ibn smile, just a bit. He follows his father towards the portal.

[deadmanbrand]

A voice familiar to one of them echoes from the darkness.

"Bat boys, bat boys. Watcha gonna do? Watcha gonan do when they come for you?"

[_darkknight_]

Normally he wouldn't be that pleased, but now?

A smile spreads across Batman's usually stern features. "Figured to run into you here, Boston. Your home field."

[ibn_al_xuff]

For someone that didn't like magic, the Batman sure knew a lot of magical folk. "Friend of yours?"

[deadmanbrand]

"The bestest! Except when he wishes he could throttle me. Which, waaaay late. Pardon the pun."

It's not every day -- or place Boston's fully visible. He looks thin, almost translucent.

"The veil's thinning. It's getting harder and harder for me to from place to place around here, and getting back to Earth's outta the question right now. For me anyway."

[_darkknight_]

Batman pauses, eyes narrowed. "We're on our way out." And his next words are even more startling. "Maybe I can help."

[deadmanbrand]

"We can help each other," he says, surprisingly unflip. "Fate doesn't know yet about the damage to the paths between your world and mine. If this keeps up, not only will Earth be cut off from the subtle realms, nothing's gonna get out."

Really, really serious now.

"This keeps up, Earth's gonna be a haunted planet in a matter of weeks. Maybe sooner."

[ibn_al_xuff]

Perhaps this was another reason that they were brought here? The wheel of life must be protected. "What is causing the damage?"

[deadmanbrand]

"Not sure. God's not talkin'. But it all started when Wotan got free. Jim Gordon and I freed Balbo's soul, but I wasn't able to stop him coming through, too. Got myself shunted straight into the afterlife again."

[_darkknight_]

He hates this sort of thing and is still moving in the direction that appears correct - Fate's ankh is now in his gloved fist - but to make conversation and in acceptance that Brand's not talking out of his...whatever, the Batman asks, "Suggestions?"

[deadmanbrand]

"Yeah. I got one. I've been sitting here in the afterworld, trying to get through. And it strikes me you gents are gonna have the same problem. room fulla mages and no one gets a weather report. typical. I've been storing up energy to break on through to the other side."

[ibn_al_xuff]

"It is my hypothesis that Crime Alley could be a weak point between the worlds for the two of us. That is where I called upon the spirits of my ancestors and could be used to transport us. However, I lack the power to punch through, but I can provide the focus.”

[deadmanbrand]

"I got the Powwwwwer," he sings. "Let's get to the weak point, and I'll getcha home."

[_darkknight_]

"Sooner the better," Batman grunts as he quickens the pace. For a big man, he moves at a good clip, especially when he sees someone familiar in the distance. "Come on."