>>C:\main_drive\Section_1: Events

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona

 

"I too wish to convey my thanks."

[Perp]

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

The singer watched as the swordsman walked away, tapping her finger on the bar for a moment. Once he stepped outside, she immediately sprung to action, rushing over to Kelko and shaking him.

 

"Hey, wake up! You here this? They're going to bust a full-on gang! Come on; get up; we need to hear all of this!"

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

 

IC: Kelko (The Undercity, Artakha's Alehouse)

Kelko's snoring slumber was interrupted by a fit of coughing as the lady from behind the bar violently shook him awake.
 
"A gaaang, you sssay?"
 
He thought about that for a few moments.
 
"Mm, sssoundsss gooood. Yeah, let'sh do that..."
 
He shakily got to his feet.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Perpetual Darkness

[Simulacrum]

-IC: Kaiota Manawa-

 

The streets darkness and iniquity was Kaiota's refuge, umbrageous asylum from the peering eyes of the few uncorrupted Enforcers; their cold embrace was the only physical sensation she allowed. The neon and trash-littered boulevards, electric avenues that sprawled endlessly into nocturnal abyss, were soon left behind for side alleyways and less-travelled passages. She approached the Web with confidence; the gang's leaders had only to state her temporary alliance, for all members new her appearance from the posters and murmured, reverent descriptions.

 

She was death, embodied. It appeared in the mechanical, measured movements of her locomotion; it burned silently, darkly in her absolutely black eyes. Violence and despair composed her powerful form. 

 

The Skrall who stood at the complex's entrance seemed vaguely familiar, causing her to pause momentarily. "News?" her voice was thick and deep, primal and ominous in its ferine power. 

Edited June 27, 2014 by Kilgore Trout

[Void Emissary]

IC: Kotanna ~ Lowercity, Outside Artakha's Alehouse

 

"Be that as it may, Romaln," I said, approaching the captive Vortixx, "the usage of such racial slurs is unacceptable, no matter his criminal nature and utility. I would recommend that you cease and desist immediately."

 

Turned to the other beings (Sergeant Naona, unknown civilian Toa, unknown police officer), held up one hand in a gesture of nonviolence. "Enforcer Kotanna. Followed your trail from the altercation at intersection AA-37-B; apparently you're hunting the Chains of Roxtus. I offer my assistance in such an endeavour."

 

- - -

 

IC: Mar ~ Lowercity, Entrance to the Web of Chains

 

I smiled and raised me arms, gesturing 'round us like a magician on stage. "It look like anythin' new is goin' on aroun' here?"

 

I took a step forward, one of my hands never driftin' too far from a heater; this wasn't no run-o-the-mill thug, this was the  Kaiota Manawa. Boys back at the den would whisper that she was the precursor to them Demons you see today, and though I never put too much stock in 'em old wives tales, I couldn't say that lookin' at her in the flesh wasn't a tad frightenin' experience. Still, I me wicked smile stayed right where it was.

 

"Meh, a couple o' slaves comin' in, Knife-Eye's outta the hospital, Seldron's down partyin' it up with the rest of 'em Dealers." I paused momentarily, sure I was forgettin' somit. "And ol' Black Tunneler's not back yet. Probably got drunk or something, passed out in a gutter somewhere, y'know?"

 

I shrugged, real casual. "How's it back in the city proper?"

 

-Void

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

 

"Violent. Dissonant."

 

The words rumbled with the power and majesty of rolling, midnight thunder. Her eyes shifted slightly in their focus, evident from the small but noticeable changing of lighting on their shadowed infinity.

 

"I trust your superiors are present?" all the stories proclaim that only currency mattered to Kaiota; she charged extreme amounts and executed extreme tasks, helping form the insidious enigma that was her reputation. "Payment is due."

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"More help is definitely appreciated," replied Naona. "We will be glad to have you."

[Void Emissary]

IC: Kotanna ~ Lowercity, Outside Artakha's Alehouse

 

"Much appreciated," I reply, extending my right arm in the offer of a handshake. "Sergeant Naona, if I'm not mistaken? It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

 

- - -

 

IC: Mar ~ Lowercity, Entrance to the Web of Chains

 

"Yup, yeah, payment; right on it."

 

I turned on me heel, heading on over to Seldron's place. It was a short lil' jaunt, if ya knew the way proper; which, thankfully, most folks didn't. This 'ere fact made for one advantage I 'ad over Ms. Manawa, no matter 'ow small it may've been.

 

I won bother y'all with the details of us enterin' the den, partly to keep this 'ere plot moving at a good pace, and also to keep any inquisitive coppers from figuring out our little secret way of gettin' in and out. Needless to say, it went real smoothly, and soon this 'ere dynamic duo were down amongst the Dealers and Catchers, cast in smoky shadows and speckled with the paltry light of a thousand candles and chandeliers.

 

Thank god for the liquor or else I wouldn't be down 'ere at all. Not my kind o' place, y'know?

 

"Boss oughta be around 'ere somewhere." You cad barely 'ear me o'er the din. "Now, which job're we payin' ya for again?"

 

-Void

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

He took the hand. "Yes ma'am. It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

[Void Emissary]

IC: Kotanna ~ Lowercity, Outside Artakha's Alehouse

 

"Your reputation precedes you, Sergeant." I cast my gaze to the pair of unknown non-criminals. "Unfortunately, I'm at a loss for the names of your comrades. My apologies, gentlemen."

 

-Void

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

Firen smiled apologetically, one of the few real expressions that could actually be visible to any of the other people present. He gestured to the gang members, as well as the police officers present, and then at himself. "Apologies, Enforcer Romaln, but names are rather inconvenient things. I tell mine, and before long, someone knows it who shouldn't."

 

Once again, he gestured to those present. "We've witnesses, both criminal and cop. And while I hate to say it, statistical probability is that one of you is a dirty cop. Even if you're not, the criminals can pass it along to buddies in jail. Or visitors. People who can pass it along themselves. Before you know it, every gang in the lower city, and a few particular people in the upper, know the name of the thorn in their side."

 

"Granted, I should come up with something. The singer had a point."

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"I have yet to hear your name," said Naona, turning to Firen.

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

 

"Assassination and clean-up." Kaiota observed her surroundings briefly; she had been here before, but not recently. She noted faces and conversations, mentally categorising them according to usefulness of potential threat. "The target was a lieutenant to a gang leader. I believe your superiors wanted to convey a message." The words were delivered over the din with a restrained volume, capable of being heard, but not agonisingly yelled. 

Edited June 29, 2014 by Kilgore Trout

[Void Emissary]

IC: Kotanna ~ Outside Artakha's Alehouse

 

I nodded once in response to the grey Toa. "A practical strategy. Unfortunate, true; but practical. However, some sort of title would be helpful if you are to accompany us on this quest."

 

- - -

 

IC: Mar ~ Chains' Den

 

"Sounds jus' charmin'," I replied, trying to spot Seldron amidst all o' this rabble. "'Ow much do we owe ya exactly? I jus' might be able to round the money up without the boss...."

 

-Void

[sunflower]

OOC:

 

CLEAR

 

*zap*

 

Staff IC: 

 

Section by section, piece by piece, from one agonizing moment to the next, the alien mind dug it's way through the consciousness of the man.  Plucking out one memory and another without apparent rhyme or reason.  It drifted from one aspect to the next with an almost lazy focus.  Horic, as he himself soon realized, was nothing to the consciousness but information, bearing no more importance to it than he would regard the streets he walked upon in the city of night.

 

As he "watched" his very being get picked apart, the form before him slowly began to resolve from abstract shapes in the darkness.  First came the head, or what most would assume to be the head, a roughly triangular object with it's narrowest end pointed upward.  Each end was adorned with a glowing orb, the ones that had glinted out from the shadows, though they looked more like stones than eyes from this distance.  The rest was comprised of a smooth, black material, with no other distinguishing marks in sight.  The head was suspended at eye-level from an impossibly thin neck, one that curved upward toward the body of the creature, which was similar in appearance to that of a Toa.  Had a Toa been impossibly gaunt in appearance, to the point where their bones were worn on the outside of their body.

 

From the shoulders sprouted, for there was no other word to describe the arrangement of parts, two long appendages that hung loose like ropes, disappearing into the shadows with the rest of it's decaying form.

 

However, before Horic had a chance to ponder the significance of this, the mind slowly receded from his own, pulling itself away like a splinter from flesh, leaving behind only a vague sense of... disappointment in it's wake.

 

One of the demon's limbs rose up, revealing a hand with not but a single digit, one that pressed itself to the brow of Horic's Arthron.

 

One moment he was standing in utter darkness, and the next he was thrown back into the world he knew.

 

There he was, back in the doorway he had been standing in before, as if nothing had actually happened, leaving the question of whether or not it actually had.

 

OOC: 

 

i'm not finished yet

 

oooooh no

[NorikSigma]

IC: Horic

Horic shakily pushed himself up and looked around. The others were gone.

 

"What-" he stumbled and caught himself. Shaking his head, Horic's mind whirled in a frenzy. He still felt... violated.

 

"Where did the others go?"

 

Horic walked back onto the street. Maybe a Darkblade had spotted the others.

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

For a moment, Kaiota's eyes flickered vaguely, the reason for the motion uncertain. "Ten thousand, presented in physical form. Digital is too easy to trace." While it was possible that such amounts were available for Mar to give, it was far more likely that only his leaders could provide such extremes.

 

OOC: That's one wild guess at how currency works in The City; by no means consider it an authoritative description of this RPG's economic systems.

Edited July 1, 2014 by Kilgore Trout

[Void Emissary]

IC: Mar ~ Chains' Den

 

"Errrrrrr." I patted me coat unconsciously. "I can cover the ten. Not too sure 'bout the thousand, though."

 

I signalled for 'er to follow me through the crowds, working our way over to the table where the boss was. I tapped 'im on the shoulder, one hand close to a heater. "Ay, Mr. Seldron sir; we've got a fixer needs payin' up."

 

-Void

[Wade.]

IC: Volin

 

Volin couldn't remember the last time he felt so...alive.

 

Life had never tasted so good, he thought, as he felt the Toa's energy rapidly flow from her body into his own, fueling him, sustaining him. Eventually, the source ran dry, its sweet, succulent flavor suddenly replaced by the bland, metallic aftertaste of blood, an indicator that his little snack had nothing left to offer. He withdrew his fangs from her neck and let her drop to the floor, silently licking his dagger-like teeth in satisfaction but like anything sweet in this world, it always left him craving more.

 

He extended his arm with an open palm facing the corpse, unleashing a jet of black flames which gnawed at her slender frame, rusting the metallic components and rotting the flesh until nothing remained, not even ash. Just as the flames died out, he disappeared from the hidden alley, melting away into the shadows. For a while, he never reappeared, his essence mingling with the darkness while he travelled throughout the city, searching for…something.

 

He didn’t know what, but the urge to find it was more compelling than his hunger at the time. The closer he got, the more his bloodlust intensified, yet he wasn’t in the mood to eat. No, this was something entirely different, something more savage. It wasn’t until he reappeared in another alleyway that he knew exactly what he needed to do.

 

Across from him on a brightly lit street stood a Toa, tall and strong in appearance yet age seemed to be catching up with him. Volin’s next actions were purely instinctual. In a rush of speed, he burst forth from the alleyway with incredible speed, charging towards the orange Toa from behind, claws bared with the intention to tear his throat out.

 

OOC: That's Horic, by the way.

[NorikSigma]

IC: Horic- Backstreet

Horic turned at the sound of movement.

 

A large, vaguely humanoid creature, with razor-sharp claws and rowsbof bared teeth, scrambled at Horic its eyes full of bloodlust.

 

Horic had never seen this monster, but he knew this was one of the dreaded "demons".

 

Horic drew his assault rifle and fired straight at the creature.

 

OOC: That escalated really quickly.

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

OOC: Absent far too long..

 

IC: Seldron / The Undercity / Chained Keep

 

Seldron looked at Mar closely, a look of confusion on his face. "Do I know you?" he asked, before giving a closer inspection. "Oh, of course. You're one of the Watchers we brought here... word of advice? Speak to the Dealers in the future. If this were anything but a party, the cloaks would have already be swarming us."

 

Looking to Kaiota, he said, "Though I suppose that is not of any concern to you, is it? I apologize, but with my Dealers handling most of the assassinations, it's becoming harder to keep track of all of our business."

 

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

The singer was quick to crawl up to the recently broken window, peering out and seeing the group that had gathered. They weren't exactly trying to be secretive, so she found a good place to listen in. She motioned for Kelko to follow.

 

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Outside Artahka's Alehouse

 

As the other discoursed, and Romaln gave a private laugh to Kotanna's comments, his eyes scanned the area. Just in the corner of his good eye, behind one of the alleys, he saw a hooded figure leaning against the alley - one who didn't realize he knew; not yet.

 

Interrupting the others, he asked, "Naona, do you happen to know if we ever captured one of the dealers in the scuffle earlier today?"

 

OOC: The Catcher sent out here.

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

Edited July 6, 2014 by Toa Levacius Zehvor

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

 

Kaiota remained silent as her temporary employer explained the reason for the observed inefficiency, her eyes not unreadable, merely empty.

 

"I see," came the flat, no doubt truthful response after he finished. Assassin, Cleaner, Heartless; Kaiota was many things, but loquacious was not to be found upon the myriad list.

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Seldron / The Undercity / Chained Keep

 

After a moment of quiet, Seldron gestured, saying, "Yes... I'm sure you do. Well, if what you're here for is pay, standing here is hardly the most effective strategy."

 

"Watcher," he said, directed at Mar. "Escort her to the vault."

 

Again, to Kaiota. "There should be a case waiting there for each job. The old treasurer should be more than capable of withdrawing yours. And once you're done, return quickly... I have a job for you. And far greater pay at my disposal than the common dealers in my employ."

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona

 

"I do not believe so."

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

Though our views on the treatment of the criminal class have often conflicted, Romaln's capabilities as an Enforcer had never been doubted.

 

"I sense that you're leading up to a piece of relevant exposition," I said, right hand drifting towards the handle of my axe. "If you could expedite this revelation, it would be most appreciated."

 

- - -

 

IC:

 

"Mar," I muttered, the muscles of me jaw tightening at his call of "Watcher", at the sound of an anonymous, expendable title. "Me name's Mar."

 

I dunno if Seldron heard me words, but whether he did or not was none of my concern. I turned away, and with a sharp movement of me hand, signalled Kaiota ta follow me to the vault. Behind us, I could only assume that the boss turned back to the haze of his revelry, a show starring only himself surrounded by a backdrop of anonymous, expendable extras.

 

Kaiota, now, she warn't no anonymous lady; walkin' through the keep, folks were stumblin' over 'emselves trying to stay out of 'er way -- no one knew exactly what would happen if they bumped into 'er, but the general consensus was that it warn't nothin' good. Why, I'd never gotten to the vault in such a short amount o' time; I needed to start travelin' with her more often.

 

"Well, here we are," I announced we came up to the door, a big iron monstrosity of a thing. Two guards, Sisters of the Skrall, watched us with them inscrutable gazes. I grinned, but lamentably it 'ad no effect on 'em. "The word o' the day is 'arugula'." And fortunately that 'ad a little more effect on them. Them two didn't even blink as they opened the door; didn't move any other part of their body either.

 

"Ladies first," I said, gallantly movin' ta one side of the portal.

 

-Void

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

 

Kaiota had entered the vault with her usual phlegmatic stolidity, steps measured and posture nonpareil, performing the necessary actions to withdraw her earned currency. The money was organised properly, grouped in small bundles of high-value bills, which she placed in her duffel with bizarre indifference. Mar's presence seemed hardly noted while she inspected and organised the considerable sums, a shadow she thought unworthy of mention. However, to his surprise, as they exited, she spoke, staring at him with directed severity. "Any idea what the offered job is?" Her speech was flatly utilitarian, void of all loquacious garrulity.

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

"More of the same, probably," I said as we headed back to the main foyer. "Seldron on them lot only give the principal jobs to the Catchers. The rest are mainly hired to discourage the coppers and the other gangs."

 

I didn't even turn to face 'er. "Why the sudden curiosity?"

 

-Void

[Perp]

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

The singer was quick to crawl up to the recently broken window, peering out and seeing the group that had gathered. They weren't exactly trying to be secretive, so she found a good place to listen in. She motioned for Kelko to follow.

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

IC: Kelko (The Undercity, Artakha's Alehouse)

 

Kelko stumbled along the floor of the Alehouse, knocking over more chairs and apologizing to them in suit.

 

His blurred vision barely made out the strange woman from the bar beckoning him over to the window, out of which a nice cooling breeze was flowing and providing a small measure of relief for the drunken gunslinger...

 

...but not enough to stop him from injuring his hands on the broken glass of the pane of the window that his female... compatriot?... was staring intently through.

 

Kelko hauled himself upright, hands bleeding from the glass as he watched the events unfolding through the shattered portal, half-conscious and oblivious to the pain in his palms.

 

He looked out the window, too drunk to even comprehend what was going on.

 

"Can ya... fill me in, missssy?"

 

He retched and burped.

[Simulacrum]

-IC:-

 

"Information is always wanted," she explained. "now back to Sheldron, I think." She finished the tepid conversation vaguely, speech seeming an unwanted nuisance upon her tongue, waiting for Mar to lead her, despite the fact she had already memorised the route.

[Void Emissary]

IC:

 

"Probably a good idea," I replied. We was already rounding the final corner to the foyer. "Boss ain't a man 'oo likes waitin'."

 

The din o' the den was wasn't any welcome sound to me ears, nor the sight of the ol' bossman. But I still walked up and tapped 'im on the shoulder. "Ms. Manawa for ya, Mr. Seldron."

 

-Void