Fantasy OPEN The Aspects of Izloria: The Age of Steam

OOC: A shortie combo with @Shadowsun

IC: Lennox Jerod
Location: Triarc Church, Reme

Closer he would be able to make out what they were saying.

"How many do we have?" spoke a female voice, the woman with the bright red hair.

"We are about eighty percent complete, it's going to send shockwaves through the Republic..." spoke one voice, male.

"Are we certain this is the best move? We are getting rumblings that the Neheb are preparing an invasion if we give them a moment of weakness..." Another man.

"No, we've worked too long and too hard to turn back now, we'll fight off the snakes, just as we will fight off the pigs over us," spoke the female again. There was a quiet murmur of agreement.

"We have contacted a few Senators that will be out of the way when we make our move,"

"Good, we don't want them all dead,"

Definitely the jackpot. And we have some traitorous Senators too? Looks like we have collaborators…

And they could make a big mistake here if the Neheb are about to strike too.

Lennox stayed where he was to listen more.

There was some more murmur of agreement as the redhead gave instructions for them to move out and continue with their duties.

And then... there was a clanking of metal striking stone followed by a hissing noise in the vague direction that Lennox had come from.

Gas...

He would know from his training that's what it was, that sound was unmistakable. It was sure to bring back lots of fond memories of being shut in cabin with his fellows with tear gas, a rather recent invention, flowing directly into their lungs.

Though unlike that Lennox would have no idea if it was tear, poison, or some other kind of gas... and the ragtag group of RLF would certainly have no idea that the sound meant gas was imminent.

Lennox would have perhaps a few seconds to book it from his hiding spot before the gas reached him. Going towards the way he came he would, without a doubt, be going headfirst into the unknown gas. Which meant if he wanted to avoid the gas he would have to head toward the group that was gathered. Three entry points in the stone underground led to some unknown direction. If he was fast enough he might be able to book it fast enough to the other end... though it would be risky... how the RLF members would react was an unknown.

We have a problem….

Lennox knew that smell anywhere, it was unmistakable. Whether someone else had decided to crash this party or whether some RLF member had gone rogue remained to be seen.

Of course with his training he could hold his breath slightly longer but there were limits. He was human and humans couldn't hold their breath for very long.

So he had to head towards the group, there was no other option. Going back the way he had come meant possible death, although heading towards the RLF group could mean getting attacked.

A possible no win scenario. But Lennox was a spy, he knew death could come for him at any time. Warning the RLF members that there was gas would mean they could escape but if they set up another nest, Lennox would soon find it.

He knew their plan, now all he had to do was survive so he could report back. Lennox pulled his hood up and burst through the door "GAS INCOMING!" Lennox yelled as he entered and sprinted towards the other end.

If he got out he would hopefully be able to sneak away from the group.

TAG: @Shadowsun

 

IC: Prard Skivali - A combo
Outside Reme

The journey had finally continued in silence. Somehow Prard felt like it was a hardening silence of his own skin and resolve toward these others. Still, the icy one soon had them at a small little shack in the middle of nowhere. Definitely nowhere he had ever been before and nowhere he was likely to ever come again! Place was desolate and away from everything. As a solid city boy born and bred he felt no love for this wide open space to a no mention shack. Dominus indicated for Lucas and Prard to stay outside as Zima and himself entered the dark, large shack. The two took their sweet time loading something secretively into the cart.

Prard didn't really care, he was curious, but he didn't actually care. His job was come, help, and return. So far he had only been told to stand around as a lookout, with the only grace being that Lucas was remaining silent while picking a perch on some old stump.

Then after some time, Prard spotted a figure in the distance coming towards them over the hill that blocked the view of the city. The one place that most often drew his eyes, not because there was more people and more people meant more likely for someone to come from that direction. No, although that would be the reason he gave if asked. He had actually only kept looking that way because it was the way he longed to be back to.

It was difficult to tell who it was or make out any distinguishing features... a glance showed Lucas was too distracted to notice. He had a few minutes to decide what he wanted to do.

Putting a hand over his mouth as he turned away from the approaching figure he muttered the phrase, "Satchel of Enamel." and then it appeared in his hands. Slinging it into place he sucked his teeth at Lucas with a jerk of his head toward the city and the approaching figure. Reaching into his pouch he pulled three teeth out and worked them slowly in his hand as he tried to remain casual by shuffling his feet, kicking at dirt, and furtively looking all about like a bored kid.

Lucas would spin around looking rather annoyed as he then came to view the figure in question. After a few moments, he would stand before them both. He was just shy of six feet, and extremely muscular. His spiky blonde hair seemed to magically keep itself upright wildly. An excited smile on his face as he looked at Prard.


"Either of you boys seen some shifty fellas around here?"

Prard quirked an eyebrow before jerking his horns on down the road away from town. "Shiftiest thing I saw was Mikian head that'a way a little bit ago. Can't recall how long ago, or much more en' that. . ." he added as he held out his empty palm making a rubbing motion to show his pockets were light.

"Huh," spoke the man as he looked towards Lucas, whose sheepish demeanor at current was actually a help.

"Say kid," he spoke again kneeling down and grabbing a pebble as he fiddled with it. "Whatcha doing all the way out here? Gonna get dark soon, won't be safe... you should head back to town I can walk with ya if you're like..."

He then chuckled as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Though your mama probably taught you right not to trust strangers right? Can get you into all sorts of trouble..."

The man wasn't paying, but he wasn't backing off either. Hands behind his back he moved the teeth so they were sticking out between his fingers as if he had a mean knuckle duster, bringing it around again as the man played with his hair he shook it in a very unthreatening manner as if he didn't know what he was doing or what to do with the weapon.

"Brodder's not for sale ejit! Now get lost. . .else!" he was purposefully making his voice crack. Trying to play off his young looks and make himself like an overprotective friend or big brother. No telling if it would work. Unfortunately as the plays of the streets went when surrounded by country he didn't really have many plays. There were no streets to whack and run through, no passages he could exploit or alleyways to trick the muscle mountain with, which left the young idiot kid routine as his best option.

"Mmm that's cute kid, I like your stuff," he spoke with a chuckle, unphased by the Prard's threat. In fact, it made the man's smile deepen. It had reminded him of something.

"Did the man pay you to keep watch? I know he's in there..." he pointed towards the shed. "I wouldn't want you to get caught up in anything you shouldn't be..." Lucas's eyes grew wide, looking towards the shed as if hoping that Dominus would come out and save them. There was no such rescue.

"Come on, run along kid you don't want to be here when this goes down,"

Looking down dejectedly Prard dropped the teeth with a flick of his wrist at the mans feet. "No. We don't want any trouble." he stated before looking back at Lucas, "Run back, don't come out with them. We want no trouble." as he shook his head emphatically to keep the man's gaze as the teeth dipped into the earth. . .

Lucas shot up, gave a nod and then began to dart toward the shed. The man looking down, seemingly either disappointed or sad.


"So it's going to be one of those days..." he spoke as he darted out a hand with a shout. "Steel... Freedom!" Within an instant, an axe would materialize within the hand of the man.


"Come on kid, I would rather not hurt you,"

"I would rather you didn't hurt me either." Prard stated as he stepped back at the sight of the 'Steel Freedom'. Swallowing hard he reached in his Satchel of Enamel and pulled out a fourth tooth, with a gleam he rubbed it. At that moment the ground between the man's feet bubbled up and turned out as the first two of his summons erupted from the ground in a whirl of enamel as they raced to claw and stab their way up the man by them.



The toothy centipedes were little horrors, but they were vicious and fast. Lastly the third summon crawled out from the ground, making to bite and clamp on to the man's ankle.



The enamel turtle of the horror maw was as slow as the centipedes fast, but it was a hardier one that would bite on and stay on where it could, until it was either destroyed or it bit through. Prard was glad the kid had run, otherwise the summons might of been confused and not all would be attacking the lone man as they were. Seeing that happen Prard continued to back away, keeping an eye trained on that ax.

TAG: @Shadowsun

 

OOC: Apologies for the delay, I got/am sick

Turmoil
​

The gas of horror bounded after Lennox, its wisps of hallucinogenic madness wisping around his legs like the tentacles of some eldritch beast. The faces that he bounded towards now became more clear as they drew near, each of them whipping around as he shouted.

"GAS INCOMING!"

The woman with red hair turned around in the direction of Lennox, the pipe in her mouth hanging loosely as she looked at the impending gas.

​

Well, that isn't good she thought as she held her breath, not reacting to catch or obstruct Lennox as she then skipped with Mirian-like grace to one of three exit points. The man closer to the gas was not so lucky, coughing as the gas-filled his lungs, after a few seconds, his hagged eyes looked to the other man that was trying to back away, a cloth held over their mouth as he leaped onto the other man, clawing into his face like a wild animal as the gas then overtook his lungs.

The red-headed woman was just behind Lennox, the two of them continuing to run as the path they followed forked, the woman tugging on Lennox's sleeve for him to follow. In the chaos of the moment, she had assumed that he was one of the guards posted upstairs. They then found themselves in a supply room, boxes and lines of weapons, ammunition and other goods filled every inch as the woman rummaged through a section, pulling out two gas masks, a toss of a hand as she threw one to Lennox.

They had but a few seconds to put it on, it was tight but doable.

The gas would soon overtake much of the underground base, spreading as far as it could given the large cavernous nature of the depths. Xenevera would now have ample opportunity to come down into the base, her first arrival being the two scurrying fighters that had been left in the wake of Lennox and the red headed woman, neither of which Xenevera would have seen by the time she got down there.

TAG: @darthbernael (combo) @Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo) Separate combos... for now...

---

IC: Senator Redgrave
The Neoegalitarian Party Room

There was a clamor in the Party Room, the fellow Senators looking around at each other confused. There were some muffled 'Whats?', a general sense of talk, and even a cry of 'Coward!' from the others as Senator Redgrave reassumed the podium.

"Now, now order, order I say there will be no such talk," murmured the Senator with the elden, if perhaps tarnished grace that he had been known so well for in his younger years.

"In light of such circumstances, I will announce to the general assembly that we will withdraw our bill until we can rework in an effort that we can all support," there was another outcry of annoyance from the Senators. Redgrave glanced at Grant with some concern as he then pressed on.

"Order, order!" droned on the Senator. He could understand their sentiment, it had been months of coordination and efforts to get the bill to its current form. It was dead now before even getting to see the light.

"Now with our other business..." continued the Senator, the rest of the meeting continuing, though much of it not pertaining to Grant. At last after what would feel like an eternity the meeting would conclude, the ruckus drawing up from their seats as they began to go their separate ways. Redgrave then walked over to Grant, a gentle hand placed on his shoulder.

"A word, Senator, if you can spare the time" spoke the man gesturing to his office. Despite how it was phrased it was clear from the tone that it did not matter if Aron could spare the time or not. A shuffle in into the office of the Party Leader, a relatively humble abode as he was completely silent, going over to a teapot in the corner that had been freshly made, pouring a cup for himself and the younger senator.

He took another sip, the silence no doubt deafing at this point for Grant.

"What happened Grant?" he spoke calmly.

TAG: @HanSolo29 [Single or Combo]

---

IC: Nyx & Victoria
Nyx's Office

Nyx looked out of the window, Victoria had just informed him of the news.

"I didn't think he would do it," he spoke simply. Looking out of the window as he then gave a half turn to Victoria.

"Well... I suppose a deal is a deal..."

Victoria looked concerned.

"Don't you think Mr. Vesper will be annoyed?"

"Probably, but so what I got the results he wanted," a wave of his hand as he dismissed her.

"Alright I will make the necessary arrangements,"

"Yes and pack my things, our work is done here,"

"Very good sir,"

TAG: Nobody

---

IC: ???
Grant's Office

"Yes miss, I understand right away," was the response of the private investigator. The phone then dialed for the Reme Police Department. One ring, two rings... they then picked up.

"On Senator Tevye Nyx you say?" replied the informant, a vague sound of rifling papers as they went through some records. "Alright one moment..." Several minutes passed as Bella remained on hold until...

"Well this is odd... usually we have at least something name, date of birth, place of birth, even for those that... take an advantage of their position to have their records scrubbed but Nyx there is nothing... he simply does not exist," spoke the friend. Pleasant small talk was exchanged between the two of them as they apologized multiple times before the call then ended.

Bella would then be at somewhat of a loose end, an awkward amount of time left until the General Assembly.

There was a sliding motion from underneath the door of Grant's office. Upon closer inspection, there was a letter that had been slipped through. Opening the door would reveal the normal hubbub of the office flow, no one stood out that could have slid it through.

It was standard protocol for Bella to open all of Grant's mail prior to him reading. The front of the letter simply read 'Senator Aron Grant' upon opening it up was a single piece of paper. Centered in the very middle was a short phrase.

Good Work, now as promised a name:
James A. Vesper​

That was it, no image, no additional information, no proof to corroborate if this was even true.

TAG: @Lady Belligerent

---

IC: Veritas
On the Airship

Veritas nodded, his brow furrowing at the mention of 'Galactic' and 'Latin' Guh-lack-tick? Lat-in? What the hell was that?

A question he meant to ask in a moment as he then responded to Noct's own questions.

"Do I need a good reason?" he chuckled, before resting his chin on his hand and looking out of the window. "Oh I don't know, contract killing gets boring after a while and I'm no particular fan of the Eye even if they pay well..."

He then looked to Noct.

"Plus Mr. Noct you are so ruddy mysterious, who could not be fascinated what you'll be up to?" he spoke with another laugh. "hmm... a moment a go you used some words I've never heard before... Guh-lack-tick? Lat-in? What's that?"

TAG: @Sinrebirth [single or combo]

---

IC: ???
Outside Reme

As the various bone creatures surrounded the tall, muscular man he looked around them all. A sigh as he spoke simply.

"Mmm, that's rough," he spoke as the creatures then began to pierce and bite down on him.

But...

He showed no reaction, the creatures shaking their heads in confusion as they got no purchase on the man. He then pushed down as he leaped to the side, away from the creatures as his hammer then came down with a swing and shattered straight into the bone turtle splitting it in two.

"Wow kid, you can summon bone stuff? That's kind of awesome,"

He then took his hammer and rested it on his shoulder.

"Actually makes a halfway decent counter to my own ability, if you can figure it out," he spoke with a grin. Waiting for the Vasilian to make his next move. There was no sign of Lucas, Zima, or Dominus. There was a faint scuttle that the Vasilian ears of Prard would be able to pick up as if there was someone traveling down somewhere.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Prard Skivali
Outside Reme

Seeing his underhanded tactic not work was one thing, he had just wanted to be a delaying tactic after all, but to see the man swing into the bone turtle splitting it in two. Well that was something else.

"Wow kid, you can summon bone stuff? That's kind of awesome,"

He then took his hammer and rested it on his shoulder.

"Actually makes a halfway decent counter to my own ability, if you can figure it out," he spoke with a grin. Waiting for the Vasilian to make his next move. There was no sign of Lucas, Zima, or Dominus. There was a faint scuttle that the Vasilian ears of Prard would be able to pick up as if there was someone traveling down somewhere.

Putting his hand down he pulled out more teeth from his satchel and tossed them on the ground. This man hadn't come alone. There was far too much purpose for that, but besides that odd sound Prard wasn't sure where he was going to be attacked from next. Not to mention he doubted he could survive a direct attack.

His summons swarmed and were falling back on their default behavior, which was to try to attack the face. He wished them well, but was focusing on the scuttle noise the weapon before him as he shifted the tooth in his hand into a dagger and held the other teeth in reserve once he knew where that noise was coming from.

TAG: @Shadowsun

 

OOC: A combo with @Shadowsun

IC: Lennox Jerod
Location: Triarc Church, Reme

Somehow he could feel the gas still coming towards him like a thunderous cloud. He just had to hope he could get out in time.

The red headed woman caught up to him, and Lennox had to ignore what was going on behind him. He had to survive and complete the mission, that was all that mattered. He had the information he needed, Lennox just had to make sure he got it back to HQ.

Lennox followed the woman into a room and was thrown a gas mask. He had to put it on which meant lowering his hood slightly to get it on. Which he did.

"So I'm guessing this is where we run for it then boss?" Lennox quickly asked, as if he was still a servant of hers.

"Damn right," spoke the woman, the mask proving favourable for Lennox as it obscured his face. "Here take these," she commanded as she gave him a pile of half a dozen masks, herself taking a similar number.

"A lot of people are about to die... someone is..." she swore loudly as she then strapped a rifle to her back, Lennox would have an opportunity to grab a weapon if he so desired. She then gave a gesture toward another door, deeper in the underground.

Lennox had to play things carefully here. Here was a chance to go a bit deeper to find out more. But not so deep he would become trapped.

He grabbed another rifle, but he still had his Aspect in reserve to use if needed. Grabbing the masks he headed out the door the woman indicated.

They would journey deeper, seeing various members of the RLF coughing and crazed. Room after room lined in a dishevelled manner, the sleep quarters of a resistance. The grungy, muddy underground filled the claustrophobic space with a depressing air. An air that had been poisoned with the hallucinogens.

"Come on, come on..." spoke the woman through the mask as she tried to grip one of the maddened people, foaming at their mouth, as they thrashed about in fear. Several people were crawling in their beds, the gas having taken over their minds. Making them useless and impossible to reason with.

The woman turned her head in the direction they had come in as if she had heard something.

"They are coming, come on we need to prepare to fight," she spoke as she moved beyond the bed area two people coming to claw their way toward the woman, another two incensed by rage to attack Lennox, blocking his way out.

What in the name of all that was sacred was going on? Whatever this gas was, it was driving people crazy. It must have had some compound in it to induce something within these people.

Lennox, following the woman, had to elbow people out of the way who were trying to have at him. But now he was blocked, and the woman was about to be attacked.

You know what they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer….

He would only have a few shots with the rifle. Then he would have to reveal his Aspect. No other way he was getting out of here otherwise.

First things first….he dropped the masks, pulled the rifle from his back, safety off, and then started shooting at the people going crazy.

His excuse would be they were already dying. In his minds these were terrorists and they were going to blow people up. They needed to be eliminated.

The woman whipped around her eyes wide as she saw Lennox shoot the two that had come towards him. She had brought the bat of her gun across the faces of the other two that had come towards her.

"What are you doing?" she yelled, looking at the man in horror as she peered closer. "Wait a moment... who are you?" She spoke as she picked up one of the pillows on the bed.

"Time things went... BOOM!" she spoke as an object appeared in her free hand with a large red button on it and she threw the pillow towards Lennox as it then exploded, having but a moment or two to shield himself as he was sent hurtling back.

Once he picked himself up he would see the woman fleeing in the direction that she had been leading them in.

Maybe Lennox had given himself away. She did say he had to fight, he guessed shooting wasn't part of the plan….

And then she threw a bomb at him. Lennox managed to dive backwards but the force of the explosion sent him hurtling backwards anyway.

Shaking his head to try and clear the ringing in his ears and blink back his vision he saw the woman was making a run for it. And he had to stop her.

Time for plan B. And so he uttered one single word:

"Fireflash".

Two silver batons appeared, one in each hand. His signature weapons of choice, his Aspect.

He followed the woman at a fast run.

TAG: @Shadowsun

 

One More Step​

The Senate chamber was circular, concentric rings forming around a center podium. Two smaller podiums facing towards it by the two sides of the innermost ring. In the second ring from the bottom would be where Grant would be seated such was his place. Just as the Assembly would begin Bella would be able to make her way through the crowd, passed the public box, and down through the rings. Grant would be just behind Senator Redgrave who was positioned right behind one of the two smaller podiums.

The Speaker then rose, coming to the center as he called for Order, the various people settling down in their seats. Though hushed conversations continued as was the nature of the fully gathered Senate.

"Calling Prime Senator Bile!" there was a round of cheers from the section of the Unionist party on the opposite side of the inner ring to Redgrave arose, buttoning his suit with a fluid motion as he made his way towards the central podium, his hands held up to settle half the room down, the other sat in contempt.

Prime Senator Aamir Bile, Magistrate of The City of Reme

​

"Thank you Speaker..." he spoke with a nod of his head towards them, his attention then shifting to the rest of the room.

"My fellow Senators, members of the press, this afternoon I want to begin with a story. The story of a young woman, who at just seventeen years old had managed to work diligently and take her god-given gifts to fulfill her dream of being the first of her family to obtain a university degree. Her name is April Wyphem." He paused, his words spoken with the primed elegance and charisma that the elderly Redgrave was lacking in his later years. It was easy to see why so many would vote for him, even if it was questionably how fair the elections were.

"Hours ago, she was shot dead in the head by an unknown assailant right along the grounds that I walked along during my time as a student at Reme University," he paused again.

"Such a crime, such crimes are unforgivable, and even more so when Aspects are used to cover up or escape such crimes" His attention turned to Redgrave. "Senator Redgrave and the members of his party would have us think the solution be simple. To just shove more money and police into our city and across our nation, but such an approach, even ignoring many of the abhorrent parts of their bill, does not speak to the fundamental issue of Reme and the Reman Republic..."

His eyes scanned the entire crowd.

"In order to ensure true safety. In order to better equip our police force. In order to repair a solid foundation so that we can begin to focus on the threats beyond our borders it is imperative that we introduce, pass, and approval the Aspect Registration Bill..." his voice grew louder with passion as there were cheers of support mounted "and require every single citizen of our Republic in order to prevent tragedies like that of April Wyphem from occurring ever again,"

There were various murmurs throughout the group of Senators. During the speech, Bella would have been able to update Grant on the current situation...

TAG: @Lady Belligerent @HanSolo29 (Combo, starting with Bella informing Grant of the news during the speech)

---

Underneath Reme

Xenevera would quickly hear the running of Lennox though to her he would just be another rebel rat living underneath the city. It was easy to make it passed the various men and women in their crazed fury that were killing each other. Lennox would remain on the heels of the unnamed red-headed woman until she quickly turned around her hands splayed outward.

The three of them in their single-file line of chasing would reach a large central chamber that opened up from the cramped path they had taken. The ruins of some city that Reme had been built atop of.

Ignore the gap/light above, there is instead a central spire of rock coming down
​

The red-headed woman would jump, hop and skip about as she landed atop a large pillar looking down at Lennox. The gas had not made it down this far, and neither of them would yet notice Xenevera who with the combination of their assassin's approach and the general upheaval that made it all the more difficult to concentrate on anything. She would be able to slink into the shadows of which they had come from as the red-headed woman would look down at Lennox from her perch. Slowly taking off her mask as she took deep breaths.

"I wasn't anticipating being discovered just yet, you almost ruined the big show," she spoke with a playful look in her eye. As she threw the mask down towards Lennox and pressed down on the little remote that remained in her hand as it exploded by the man.

TAG: @Jerjerrod-Lennox @darthbernael [Combo...]

---

Outside Reme

The scuttling sound from the shed that Lucas had gone into then faded completely as Prard would have a moment to observe the man. Were the others running away in some underground tunnel perhaps?

The creatures would quickly swarm the unknown, jumping up as one landed on his neck, a shift of his hand as he at the same plunged down to strike at one of the 'bone' creatures on the ground. His axe bounced off the creature leaving no damage in a stark contrast to before as the one on his neck bit down onto his face.

He would then grab it with his free hand ripping it off. His face seemingly unscathed from the bite as he then shifted free of any creatures and cleaved his axe straight through another one with the shattering force from before. He would continue this little dance, his axe at times bouncing off the creatures like rubber doing nothing and at other times demolishing them with utter relentless power.

"Damn these things are annoying," he spoke as he then looked at the creatures, shook his head as he then bolted charging right by them as he directed his focus at Prard, 'Steel Freedom' coming down with thunderous foce.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

---

Airship

"Like Veritas. In those two languages, your name means Truth. It's kinda adorable, to be honest. The Merc with a Conscience called Truth."

"Really? That's funny, I can't really remember where I got my name from, though I don't remeber much of my childhood really. No pops or mama to speak of..." he trailed off looking up at the ceiling of the airship as one of the other passengers had turned in their seat and was silently staring at Noct.

​

A yellow-golden mask obscured their features, even their eyes as Veritas leaned over speaking in a hushed whisper. "Wonder what that guy's problem is, maybe he is one of the guys after ya,"

Noct would get much time to think about this as there was a sudden loud bang from the back of airship and it violet vibration. Screams began to cry out as the sounds of boots thudded from the back of the airship, the sinking, fearful feeling as it began to plunge toward the ground despite the desperate attempts of the pilots to course correct the ship.

​

Veritas cursed under his breath as he muttered the name of his Aspect.

"Seems we have unwanted company..."

TAG: @Sinrebirth (Combo)

 

IC: Prard Skivali
Outside Reme

Well, the scuttling wasn't an attack. If he had to guess he wasn't going to be getting any help, he was being abandoned to whatever it was that was happening. So, if he actually wanted to survive and still be accepted - he groaned in frustration as he realized what it all meant. He was the staller. The lookout kid that was delaying the guards or rivals or whatever long enough for the others to get away. He had really hoped to have something he was better suited to, like locks or runaway lookout like the illusion kid.

"Bang me horns." he grunted in frustration. None of this made sense, what kind of initiation involved dying? Perhaps the group was full up on members right now? Fiddling with the tooth in his mouth as he held the dagger at the ready, backing up slowly he watched his creatures being wholly effective and ineffective at the same time. What? If his life wasn't endangered he might of been amused or laughing watching the fight. The creatures weren't harming the man, but the man was bouncing off the creatures as well as occasionally smashing them. Maybe it was he couldn't hurt them if another was on him? But then why weren't the creatures able to hurt him?

"Damn these things are annoying," the man spoke as he then looked at the creatures, shook his head as he then bolted charging right by them as he directed his focus at Prard, 'Steel Freedom' coming down with thunderous force.

"Blimey!" Prard grunted as he squatted. This was the moment he had waited for. He hoped his creatures had grabbed on to the man again before they clashed, but he knew what he had to try to do. When the man came near and swung he would have to twist jump at the man! Use his dagger to deflect a blow, with luck - because frankly he didn't have anything else going for him at the moment. Grab the mans neck and kiss him!

Yeah, you read that last part right. Desperate times, deranged measures! Or however that saying goes. If he could make his mouth connect he would try to spit the tooth down the other man's throat, twist away with a gouging scrape of his left horn across the man's face. Land behind the man, and run to or past his creatures to make distance again!

What did he have to loose? Just his life right, and if he didn't pass this - survive this - he wasn't going to have much of one left anyway.

TAG: @Shadowsun

 

Somewhere

The unnamed man that had met with Xenevera was alone in some strange, secluded part of Reme. Perhaps deep underground, or nestled within the labyrinthian city. Regardless the room was well lit, thought no windows to indicate where he was. Another man sat in an armchair across from him, the back of it obscuring the features of the other save for the vague fuzzy shape of the top of his head. The blonde haired man took another sip his cool tea.

​

"There has been a significant alteration to our overarching plans," spoke the man hidden by the back of the chair.

"Yes I had gathered that, I suppose you lost contact? A shame, though our purpose remains unchanged, this has happened before," he spoke softly taking another sip from his tea. There was an eerie sinister quality to how calm the man was.

"It... uneases me, a rather drastic reaction to whatever he..."

The blonde haired man raised a finger.

"Forgive me, but it is not our place to question, not even yours. Nyx has departed along his way and whatever dealings he has with his journey is no concern of ours,"

"Oh is that so?" spoke the other sardonically.

"Yes. Further more there have been more signs of... Our Friend in Yellow. It may appear far sooner than we anticipate,"

"The twenty third, no? Or however it works,"

"Yes, yes quite right," he spoke with a little nod, now settling the tea cup down. "We have moved the pieces around into place, it will be a short matter of time until the Shattering occurs... in fact," the man flicked out a pocket watch. "Any minute now..."

"And from there?" interjected the other.

"Oh well then we begin your path to ascension of course, we will be ready in time,"

"And you are certain of this?"

"Oh yes, quite certain... for I have seen it, time and time again..." A fracture as the man leaned forward, a ghostly smile spread across his face.

​

"Fret not, it will be over far sooner than you believe it to be..."

---

Chapter Two:
The Shattering
​

Xenevera had no way of possible knowing. But the movement that she had taken to shoot a critical point of the ceiling, merely expediated precisely what the red headed women had desired. For the cave in of the initial rock would begin to reveal a bed of metal underneath, there had been preparations here. And the rude appearance of Xenevera and Lennox had greatly expediated those plans...

---

​

Aamir Bile overlooked the murmuring crowd, his hands raised up to settle them down. The senate chamber packed with every member Aron Grant and Bella Wessex along with the rest of them had no idea what was about happen.

"We live in a modern age, no longer are we able to simple lean back and take comfort in the martial and technological prowess that we as Remans have enjoyed for centuries. The Neheb Empire is mustering together, unified in their singular focus to see the destruction of the Reman spirit. Are we truly going allow them to send spies to simply undermine the grand Reman Empire simply because we are too ineffectual to pass forward a meaningful, profound bill that will ensure the safety, security and continue progress for all Reman Citizens..."

There was a rumble. His eyes darting around for a brief moment as a crack began to form across the center of inner ring.

And then...

The ground beneath them all crumbled within an instant...

---

The debris would fall on them hard and fast as bodies quickly began to fall. Dozens of them. The red headed women had been flung off the column she had been standing off in the initial explosion. And both Lennox and Xenevera would lose track of her in the ensuing chaos. The earth rumbled upon them both, crashing hard and fast as it knocked into them.

It was a miracle they neither of them had died.

Wounded? Undoubtedly. But alive.

The screams of terror would soon follow the ringing in their ears. Bodies, broken and blooded were strewn about everywhere. Grunts and cries of pain making themselves well known. Above them now existed a jagged circled that led up into a large chamber like room.

That of the Reman Senate.

TAG: @darthbernael @AgentViper007 (Singles, please) Mentions for @Lady Belligerent @HanSolo29

---

Airship

The two shots that had rung out from Veritas's gun began quickly entangled in a web of electricity, reducing their momentum as they promptly clattered to the ground. In a fluid moment, the man swooped low and released a slash of electricity towards the legs of them both, Veritas making a dart upwards as he retook a new position. It was difficult for him to use his gun in such a small space, that and the fact they were on an airship. Any miss fire and it could spell certain doom for them all. So he was being conservative with his shots, and would naturally have to rely more on Noct to actually bring down this new foe.

Another shot fired as he jumped but this time it began microscopic in scale, it finding a space through the shoulder of the tall man causing him to stagger ever so briefly. Perhaps...

TAG: @Sinrebirth (Combo?)

---

Skirmish Outside Reme

As the man swung towards Prard, the dagger brought up in an effort to deflect 'Steel Freedom' a look shifted in the eyes of the long haired man. His eyes moving to their corner towards them as they were just about to grab onto him.

In the same moment the man began to grunt, the axe would come in contact with the dagger it did not deflect. Nor did it snap the dagger in two. No, the dagger moved through the axe. Like a hot knife through butter. Not only that but Prard would feel no resistance, no weight or force of the axe being applied through the blade. It was as if the dagger was striking against air.

In the same spilt moment the creatures grabbed onto the man's legs, unable to do anything as Prard attempted his maneuver. As Prard's lips came into contact with the man's neck, the enamel 'bullet' would fire but simply bounced off... not leaving that even of a simple bruise.

The man separated from the young Vasilian standing before him a few feet away as the axe reformed in his hand.

"Well..." he sighed as he cracked his neck. "Your pets certainly don't make this easy kid, you would have been very dead..."

​

"Alright, you come to me now," he spoke in a relaxed tone, balancing the axe in his hand.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto

36 days until the arrival of Our Friend in Yellow

 

IC: Lennox Jerod
Location: Underground Lair, Reme

As Lennox made his exit he heard another shot ring out. But he wasn't interested in where it hit.

He just wanted to get out.

But his ears picked up something. Something falling? Was that bits of celing? What had the red head or the mystery guest done? He had to turn around and look.

And wished he hadn't.

There were bodies and debris crashing down everywhere and even though Lennox tried to bat away what he could with his batons he was overwhelmed as everything crashed down on top of him.

Lennox blacked out for a few moments, when he came to he was in pain, no doubt about it. He'd dropped his batons in the ensuing chaos and with a weak murmur of "Fireflash" the batons disappeared. He wouldn't need them now and he was probably in no fit state to wield them.

Lennox didn't know if anything was broken. He tried rolling over and there were sharp stabs of pain so he stayed on his back. And he could see through the hole in the ceiling…

Oh no….that's the Senate!

He'd failed. The terrorists had succeeded in thier plan. And no doubt Lennox would get a good bashing for this one. And he would take it. He should have taken out the red head.

There were cries, moans everything that told him that there were bodies everywhere. Was the mystery guest one of them?

Need to get up….

He took a deep breath, grit his teeth and heaved himself up into a sitting position. What could he do? Well he could try and get some help, no doubt it would be on the way. But other than that it was to try and help and collect bodies.

Taking another deep breath he pushed himself into a standing position. His clothes were ripped, blood and bruises everywhere. And one of his legs and arms were really painful.

One step at a time Lennox.

He limped forwards.

TAG: @Shadowsun , @darthbernael

 

IC: Prard Skivali
Outside Reme

So. . .huh. Prard stood there, dumbfounded.

Frozen as he waited watching as he did. . .nothing. He should be dead. Why wasn't he dead?

The man spoke, stating as much. Prard had been outclassed, and frankly out everything. He should of ran, but as the man spoke all he could do was swallow. Hard.

"Ne'" choking on his words he looked man, feeling a tremble start in his hands as he let his creatures and bag fade away. "Not, not much a scrapper'." he stated with a shake in his voice. Inexorably he lifted a foot to obey - then that final motion triggered his panic and he ran. He ran after the others, ran like the scared zig-zagging street rat he was.

TAG: @Shadowsun