Zvso – A Roleplay

[Channelknight Fadran]

The Mystic chuckled and ducked each of them, dashing forwards and slinging a fist at Lyanor. His spiked knuckles had been discarded, but now his bones were exposed and hardened by his power.

---

Elya deflected the first rounds of bullets, slicing at each without barely a glance. The Mystic could fire two rounds at once, sending them through the portals at her. In the moment she felt the air shift unnaturally, Elya redoubled her power and redirected her movements. It took the Mystic maybe a second to align his own weapons, giving her enough time - barely - to deflect them. 

There wasn't enough information to go off of yet: clearly, this Mystic was confident in his close as well as his long-range capabilities, given that he'd let his guard down near her for so long. Rushing in without any clue as to what his other abilities were could be deadly.

But time wasn't something she had. Elya grit her teeth; she had to finish this. She had to get back to the others....

[Mystic Syn she/her]

The figure watched the battle from above, focusing more on the one with William. The other one’s fighting was good, though the stances were familiar. She couldn’t quite place where she knew them, or rather maybe she didn’t want to remember. It seemed like William was getting the upper hand in this fight, if only by a small bit. She bit her bottom lip, her finger tapping on the roof’s surface, before she turned to walk away.

Just like that? the voice interrupted. You’re not going to help them against him?

“Why would I?” she asked, her voice empty.

Because you want to be a better person.

The bodies materialized, making it difficult to discern if it was real or not. Their blooded soaked through the stone, the red leaving its mark. Every single corpses’ eyes stared into her, any sign of life she remembered them having gone. The figure glanced to the right, her family lying bloodied and broken. Next to them was the one that still pained her to this day. His wounds shone brightly, but she didn’t need to look at them to know where they were.

You want to be a better person, the voice insisted.

“Who I am and who I want to be are two completely different things,” she whispered.

Will you let yourself think that? For all time and eternity?

“There’s no ‘letting myself think that.’ It’s just logic.”

But you can change that.

The figure’s eyes fell on her brother and uncle. The terror on their faces were bright as day the last time she saw them… Right before they died. The figure glanced towards him. She tried to save him––to become a better person––but she always resorted back to who she was.

There was nothing she could do about it.

Yet, there was still that faint hope. The spark that hadn’t been smothered through everything she’s been through.

She let out a sigh, then reached up to her comm, clicking it on. “Sage?”

“Yo?” his voice answered immediately.

“Keep your ‘yo’s’ to yourself,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. “A Reaper dies. What would happen?”

“They would be replaced by the reserves. You know this.”

“Yes, right. But what would happen if they were killed by one of their own?”

“What are you planning?”

“What would happen?”

Sage sighed. “They would face punishment like anyone else.” He paused. “It would be different for you, especially if no one knows.”

“Well, I’m used to being punished,” she said, clicking the comm off.

The figure backed up, jumping on her toes for a second, then sprinted towards and jumping off the edge towards the next complex. Her heart raced after each jump, getting steadily closer to William’s battle.

. . .

Ji tried and tried, but couldn’t line up his shot. He cursed at the weapon, tossing it aside. There was no way––not even in Ko’ad’s glorious name––he could use a sniper effectively. Even with the thermal vision, the stupid people down below decided that moving was a great option, even when he was trying to snipe them. The nerve of some people. Actually trying to survive.

He got on his feet, brushing himself, then turning the thermal vision off. Ji turned to the where he’d dropped the gas mask, though every fiber in his being warned him against putting on a thing that could potentially not make him breathe. As he forced himself to reach down, rumbling footsteps came from the door, growing closer and closer.

Pacis soldiers burst through the door, filling the room in moments. They shouted at him, pointing their weapons––or hands in other’s cases––at him.

Ji continued with his business as if they weren’t there, blowing any debris out of the mask. He grumbled to himself as dust flittered out of the worn mask.

“Hands in the air, Ji Naito!” the leader shouted. “Come quietly and you won’t be harmed. You’re outnumbered.”

He finally looked up at them, and gave them a wry smirk. “Hasn’t stopped me before.”

The Pacis pulled their triggers on him.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

1 hour ago, Mystic Syn said:

The figure watched the battle from above, focusing more on the one with William. The other one’s fighting was good, though the stances were familiar. She couldn’t quite place where she knew them, or rather maybe she didn’t want to remember. It seemed like William was getting the upper hand in this fight, if only by a small bit. She bit her bottom lip, her finger tapping on the roof’s surface, before she turned to walk away.

Just like that? the voice interrupted. You’re not going to help them against him?

“Why would I?” she asked, her voice empty.

Because you want to be a better person.

The bodies materialized, making it difficult to discern if it was real or not. Their blooded soaked through the stone, the red leaving its mark. Every single corpses’ eyes stared into her, any sign of life she remembered them having gone. The figure glanced to the right, her family lying bloodied and broken. Next to them was the one that still pained her to this day. His wounds shone brightly, but she didn’t need to look at them to know where they were.

You want to be a better person, the voice insisted.

“Who I am and who I want to be are two completely different things,” she whispered.

Will you let yourself think that? For all time and eternity?

“There’s no ‘letting myself think that.’ It’s just logic.”

But you can change that.

The figure’s eyes fell on her brother and uncle. The terror on their faces were bright as day the last time she saw them… Right before they died. The figure glanced towards him. She tried to save him––to become a better person––but she always resorted back to who she was.

There was nothing she could do about it.

Yet, there was still that faint hope. The spark that hadn’t been smothered through everything she’s been through.

She let out a sigh, then reached up to her comm, clicking it on. “Sage?”

“Yo?” his voice answered immediately.

“Keep your ‘yo’s’ to yourself,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. “A Reaper dies. What would happen?”

“They would be replaced by the reserves. You know this.”

“Yes, right. But what would happen if they were killed by one of their own?”

“What are you planning?”

“What would happen?”

Sage sighed. “They would face punishment like anyone else.” He paused. “It would be different for you, especially if no one knows.”

“Well, I’m used to being punished,” she said, clicking the comm off.

The figure backed up, jumping on her toes for a second, then sprinted towards and jumping off the edge towards the next complex. Her heart raced after each jump, getting steadily closer to William’s battle.

. . .

Ji tried and tried, but couldn’t line up his shot. He cursed at the weapon, tossing it aside. There was no way––not even in Ko’ad’s glorious name––he could use a sniper effectively. Even with the thermal vision, the stupid people down below decided that moving was a great option, even when he was trying to snipe them. The nerve of some people. Actually trying to survive.

He got on his feet, brushing himself, then turning the thermal vision off. Ji turned to the where he’d dropped the gas mask, though every fiber in his being warned him against putting on a thing that could potentially not make him breathe. As he forced himself to reach down, rumbling footsteps came from the door, growing closer and closer.

Pacis soldiers burst through the door, filling the room in moments. They shouted at him, pointing their weapons––or hands in other’s cases––at him.

Ji continued with his business as if they weren’t there, blowing any debris out of the mask. He grumbled to himself as dust flittered out of the worn mask.

“Hands in the air, Ji Naito!” the leader shouted. “Come quietly and you won’t be harmed. You’re outnumbered.”

He finally looked up at them, and gave them a wry smirk. “Hasn’t stopped me before.”

The Pacis pulled their triggers on him.

Grace raised her gloved hands and washed the Pacis in a wall of fire.

[Quivil]

Kazh hugged the lifegiver again, still flaming.

Quote

If I vanish for long periods of time during this fight just assume that I'm made of flame and sitting on/hugging/tackling/touching/right up close to the lifegiver Lyanor's shooty mcshooting. K?

[2EmLee2]

Quote

I think it’s about time I actually joined this thing instead of lurking in the background.

Alissya heard the sounds of fighting.

Fighting meant wounds.

Wounds meant the need for healing.

And the need for healing was like a beacon for her. A moth to a flame.

But fighting meant danger.

Danger meant the possibility of… bad things.

But, needs overpowered possibilities.

Alissya crept towards the sounds of fighting.

Quote

Where’s the best place for Alissya to pop up? I was thinking she could emerge from an alleyway and discretely heal one of the wounded.

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

You could probably bump into any of the three parties without too much trouble.

 

[2EmLee2]

Alissya dashed through alleyways until she came into an opening that revealed two figures. The first was a man laying on the ground, bleeding profusely. The second was a young woman with a gun aimed at a target Alissya couldn’t see. The man was obviously in much pain. Holding out her hand, still cloaked in the shadows cast by the buildings to either side of her, she used her powers. It was like trying to harness the energy inside her and push it out into the other human. A soft green glow appeared over the surface of what Alissya assumed was a stab wound. The glow was like the surface of a thick bubble, little swirls of brown moving around like a liquid. She grew tired as the energy seeped out of her, leaving her weaker than when she started. It was worth it, though. Other people needed her energy more than her. Other people had friends, families, lives. They had a reason for going on for another day, while Alissya had the powers to help them do so.

[Quivil]

3 hours ago, 2EmLee2 said:

Other people had friends, families, lives. They had a reason for going on for another day,

Quote

*cries*

 

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

The day before the assault Jeh crept through an alleyway, he heard sounds of fighting, hmmm, should he go help? maybe. maybe not. if the pacis were involved he probably shouldn't.

Quote

I was getting bored. can Jeh pop in and maybe fight the pacis a bit?

 

[DramaQueen she/he/neopronouns]

21 hours ago, 2EmLee2 said:

Alissya dashed through alleyways until she came into an opening that revealed two figures. The first was a man laying on the ground, bleeding profusely. The second was a young woman with a gun aimed at a target Alissya couldn’t see. The man was obviously in much pain. Holding out her hand, still cloaked in the shadows cast by the buildings to either side of her, she used her powers. It was like trying to harness the energy inside her and push it out into the other human. A soft green glow appeared over the surface of what Alissya assumed was a stab wound. The glow was like the surface of a thick bubble, little swirls of brown moving around like a liquid. She grew tired as the energy seeped out of her, leaving her weaker than when she started. It was worth it, though. Other people needed her energy more than her. Other people had friends, families, lives. They had a reason for going on for another day, while Alissya had the powers to help them do so.

Quote

I'm assuming this is me and Frustration.

@Frustration

[Frustration]

21 hours ago, 2EmLee2 said:

Alissya dashed through alleyways until she came into an opening that revealed two figures. The first was a man laying on the ground, bleeding profusely. The second was a young woman with a gun aimed at a target Alissya couldn’t see. The man was obviously in much pain. Holding out her hand, still cloaked in the shadows cast by the buildings to either side of her, she used her powers. It was like trying to harness the energy inside her and push it out into the other human. A soft green glow appeared over the surface of what Alissya assumed was a stab wound. The glow was like the surface of a thick bubble, little swirls of brown moving around like a liquid. She grew tired as the energy seeped out of her, leaving her weaker than when she started. It was worth it, though. Other people needed her energy more than her. Other people had friends, families, lives. They had a reason for going on for another day, while Alissya had the powers to help them do so.

John stared at his chest as the skin around the knife began to glow, and then tingle.

Of course, mystics couldn't be satisfied with having magic, they had to have magic weapons too.

John ripped the knife out, not sure what it was doing to him but knowing it wasn't good. When he pulled it free he was surprised to find the wound had closed after the knife had left.

John grinned, standing he grabbed his gun, and picked up the knife. He wasn't sure how that had happened, but right now he couldn't question good things. John walked through the clouds of gas towards the somehow still alive Mystic. By this point the gas was starting to disipate, so it wasn't hard to line up a shot.

[2EmLee2]

4 minutes ago, Frustration said:

John stared at his chest as the skin around the knife began to glow, and then tingle.

Of course, mystics couldn't be satisfied with having magic, they had to have magic weapons too.

John ripped the knife out, not sure what it was doing to him but knowing it wasn't good. When he pulled it free he was surprised to find the wound had closed after the knife had left.

John grinned, standing he grabbed his gun, and picked up the knife. He wasn't sure how that had happened, but right now he couldn't question good things. John walked through the clouds of gas towards the somehow still alive Mystic. By this point the gas was starting to disipate, so it wasn't hard to line up a shot.

Alissya collapsed against the wall, her energy spent. The wound must have been fatal if it had taken up that much energy. Panting, she slid into a sitting position, too tired to support her weight. She should probably try to get farther away from the fighting, but after running around with practically no food in her stomach and healing the injury, she could barely keep herself awake. If she could at least recede farther into the alleyway… Alissya’s head rolled against her chest as she drifted into a deep sleep, unable to move an inch.

[DramaQueen she/he/neopronouns]

19 minutes ago, Frustration said:

John stared at his chest as the skin around the knife began to glow, and then tingle.

Of course, mystics couldn't be satisfied with having magic, they had to have magic weapons too.

John ripped the knife out, not sure what it was doing to him but knowing it wasn't good. When he pulled it free he was surprised to find the wound had closed after the knife had left.

John grinned, standing he grabbed his gun, and picked up the knife. He wasn't sure how that had happened, but right now he couldn't question good things. John walked through the clouds of gas towards the somehow still alive Mystic. By this point the gas was starting to dissipate, so it wasn't hard to line up a shot.

"Wh--what happened? How are you......what?"

[Frustration]

2 minutes ago, DramaQueen said:

"Wh--what happened? How are you......what?"

"I'm just as confused as you are."

[DramaQueen she/he/neopronouns]

"Is there a Lifegiver nearby or....?" Lyanör shook her head. "Nevermind. Let's just focus on this guy for now, then figure out the magic healing later.

Edited April 8, 2022 by DramaQueen

[Channelknight Fadran]

V'Harte slashed out with another pocketknife relentlessly, eyes wide and insane without any lid or brow to cover them. Every string of blood his knife flicked aside generated a line of sinew, slowly sapping the strength of his opponents to heal himself.

"Things would be an awful lot easier," he growled, "if you would stay still!"

---

Darting forward, Elya slashed at the opening. The Mystic once again dropped backwards into a portal, leaving only open air for her to cut. She scraped around on her toes to slash again, cutting out another bullet and facing towards William again. As soon as there was a moment to move, she was running again. Any outside observer wouldn't stand a chance of keeping up with this fight, only catching glimpses of a black coat, flashes of a blade, and a figure disappearing over and over again just before the assailant could catch him.

Lights... he was judging her speed too well. Elya's feet barely touched the ground as she sprinted towards him once again, reading his reactions and forcing her movements to compensate. It didn't matter that she was focusing so hard that every brush of breeze against her hair was enough to indicate a tensed muscle or catch in his breath, or that the moment another portal opened she knew exactly from where the shot would come and to where it would go--there wasn't a thing she could do to stop him from slipping through another portal the moment her blade started swinging.

There has to be something. Elya ran through her options by the hundreds in just a fraction of a second. His portals... why does he always wait for the last second to dodge? He isn't reckless like the Lifegiver, so there must be something he's more focused on. It takes him a few moments to align his portals and fire through them; is he just conserving time? Or...

That was it. She slashed once more at the air, pulsed out with her power, then twisted again on her toes to spin around and start running. More bullets rained out at her in quick succession, either dodged or slashed out of the air. The only thing holding her back at all were the dozens of shots, one after another, forcing her to sacrifice speed and time to dodge or deflect them, meaning the Mystic was prioritizing offense over defense.

So the only reason he waited for the last moment was because he couldn't aim while stepping through his own portals.

[Frustration]

"Things would be an awful lot easier if you would stay dead." John taunted. John jumped back and firing at V'harte's head.

[Channelknight Fadran]

He was focusing all his energy into his movements now; not even such a steady shot as John's could do so much as scratch him. V'Harte dashed forwards and swiped with his pocketknife over and over, stance low and agile. His movements were almost inhumanly fast.

"There isn't anything you can do to kill me!" V'Harte shouted, slashing John across the face to keep his energy up. "Not even with your little Lifegiver over there keeping you healed. Especially not, even... energy in you is energy in me."

---

Elya leapt over one last shot and swung at his head once again, but put too much power into it. As he vanished once again, her momentum carried her around in a spin as her hand gripped another throwing knife. This was the only opening he gave: a single instant of disorientation before he could start shooting again. She'd already discerned his exit point, so all she needed now was a perfect throw.

The knife went flying. More portals for his shots appeared; but none for his escape.

Scraping the ground once again with her heel, Elya prepared to dodge again--but no shots came. She dashed forwards, scanning the area for the first time with her eyes. The Mystic had stumbled backwards, teeth gritted against the knife now jammed into his sternum. Blood drained down and began to stain his shirt.

This is the moment! There wasn't any time to breathe or hesitate.

Elya took one last leaping dash and reared back her sword, pouring energy all throughout her body. He still wasn't moving--her blade was finally about to connect.

His eyes turned up to meet hers, completely unfazed.

Lights!

And then a hundred portals appeared throughout the entire alleyway

[Frustration]

John dodged back, unable to avoid the attacks but able to keep them to small grazes.

"Really? Because I'd say you are about drained, given the amount of gas you've inhaled and the wounds you've received. How long can you keep this up? You can bleed, and you can hurt. That means that somehow, someway you can die. And I garuntee you I WILL find that way." John said ducking under another slash.

John fired his gun, and then swung the rifle like a bat hoping to catch V'Harte as he dodged.

Edited April 8, 2022 by Frustration

[DramaQueen she/he/neopronouns]

Lyanör had managed to slip into the background of the conflict, listening in on their conversation.

She was intrigued by the mention of a Lifegiver, but even more intrigued by the Mystic's statement of "Energy in you is energy in me." It sounded almost as if...he got more power from hurting them.

Quote

Cool she figured something out now what does she do

 

[2EmLee2]

20 minutes ago, DramaQueen said:

Cool she figured something out now what does she do

Quote

Maybe she was in the alleyway Alissya is in and saw her or something

 

[Quivil]

6 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

He was focusing all his energy into his movements now; not even such a steady shot as John's could do so much as scratch him. V'Harte dashed forwards and swiped with his pocketknife over and over, stance low and agile. His movements were almost inhumanly fast.

"There isn't anything you can do to kill me!" V'Harte shouted, slashing John across the face to keep his energy up. "Not even with your little Lifegiver over there keeping you healed. Especially not, even... energy in you is energy in me."

Quote

Kazh is constantly burning V'Harte. That's what touching someone while he's made of fire does. I feel like you're ignoring it, possibly because you don't know, but what Kazh is doing would at least be a bit of a distraction, if not a hindrance. Please let me know that you understand.

Also Kazh has cast a fire inside V'Harte, and the fire is growing.

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just now, Tani said:

 

Quote

...would you like to be shanked?

 

[Quivil]

1 minute ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

...would you like to be shanked?

Quote

I'd like my actions to have a noticeable effect on V'Harte.

And it's really hard to effectively shank a fire. I'd take about one damage point from being stabbed while in Body of Flame IIRC, and there'd be no blood. If you hit me a bunch I would go away from being hurt too much eventually.

 

[DramaQueen she/he/neopronouns]

15 hours ago, 2EmLee2 said:

Maybe she was in the alleyway Alissya is in and saw her or something

Quote

I was thinking something involving the "energy in you is energy in me" thing just because I don't think Lyanör would really leave John to fight alone.... I'll figure it out.

How can I help John? How can I let him know not to get hurt no matter what without letting the Mystic know that I know?

She slipped through the gas, face covered, far enough away from the conflict that she was obscured from view. Stepping silently, she drew close behind the Mystic. If we can keep him wondering where we'll strike from, he won't be able to know where to strike us.

She rammed her pocketknife into his side, then left it there and retreated back into the safer coverage of the gas.