Alleyverse Era Nine

[Hoid Slayer He/Him]

On 1/29/2026 at 1:22 PM, Koloss17 said:

Perses, The Alleys, Belias’ Domain

Perses turned to face Ebon, something that wasn’t particularly necessary, but something people seemed to appreciate. “are you sure you want to talk about this now, in front of the radiant?” Perses gestured to the terrified radiant. “We can always talk about it after we kill him.”

The radiant’s heartbeat pounded in Perses’ ears, each breath a cacophony in this otherwise silent room. The smell of sweat invaded his nostrils.

”Okay, this guy’s getting on my nerves. I’m just going to shoot him.” Perses moved to get a line of sight on the radiant, leveling his gun at them, but not yet firing.

Ebonaryle, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Ebon hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Then the boy suddenly reeled backwards, falling down and staring somewhere past Ebon, past Perses, a crazed look in his eyes. That was enough for Ebon. In the past, he had been a killer. He had hated the Radiants, and destroyed everything and everyone that got in his way. And in this last year, he had also killed. But... but he was trying to do better.

He did not know what better was. But he would not stand by and watch as an innocent child was killed, Radiant or not. Not anymore. And so once again Ebon stepped between Perses and Lux, this time with purpose.

"No."

His conviction, the Rhythm of Command, shocked him. And though he felt fear, he did not waver.

"The boy is innocent. There must be some way to keep his silence." Ebon turned to the young radiant, hoping for some cooperation.

 

[Qianweilian He/him]

25 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:

Thav, Underground, Sewers

Thav referenced the directions and then led the way down the sewer tunnel. Eventually, they reached an opening in the wall, leading into a natural cave. A surly looking guard leaned against the doorway, eyeing them suspiciously. As they drew nearer, his eyes flicked to the piece of paper in Thav's hand, and he nodded curtly, allowing them to pass without a word.

As they moved down the passage, voices echoed, growing steadily louder, until they reached a wide cavern filled with people. Another group of guards stood near the entrance. Thav held up the invitation in his hand, heart beginning to beat. This was the real test of his disguise. To his relief, they let him pass. "This is a friend," Thav said, gesturing to Aradan. He did his best to speak in a slightly deeper voice to match the person he was imitating. The guards nodded, allowing Aradan to enter as well.

Thav turned to examine the room. Tapping zinc, he quickly counted about forty attendees. There were also some grunts, who he presumed were already under the employ of this mysterious enclave. Thav burned bronze, but as he had expected, felt no Allomantic pulses. The cave was being smoked.

Aradan Liese, Underground, Sewers

Following closely behind Thav, Aradan kept his eyes open for anything that might signal a trap. When they arrived at the cavern, unsure what to do, he just stayed silent and close behind Thav.

Quote

Sorry, bit short.

 

Edited February 2 by Qianweilian

[KnightSkye Reforged They/Them]

47 minutes ago, Steel Speedster said:

Thav, Underground, Sewers

Thav referenced the directions and then led the way down the sewer tunnel. Eventually, they reached an opening in the wall, leading into a natural cave. A surly looking guard leaned against the doorway, eyeing them suspiciously. As they drew nearer, his eyes flicked to the piece of paper in Thav's hand, and he nodded curtly, allowing them to pass without a word.

As they moved down the passage, voices echoed, growing steadily louder, until they reached a wide cavern filled with people. Another group of guards stood near the entrance. Thav held up the invitation in his hand, heart beginning to beat. This was the real test of his disguise. To his relief, they let him pass. "This is a friend," Thav said, gesturing to Aradan. He did his best to speak in a slightly deeper voice to match the person he was imitating. The guards nodded, allowing Aradan to enter as well.

Thav turned to examine the room. Tapping zinc, he quickly counted about forty attendees. There were also some grunts, who he presumed were already under the employ of this mysterious enclave. Thav burned bronze, but as he had expected, felt no Allomantic pulses. The cave was being smoked.

@Qianweilian

Fenna, Underground, Meeting Cavern

Fenna glanced up as two newcomers arrived. They were let through and allowed to mingle with the rest of the group. There was no clock, but she thought the meeting must be starting soon. She sat down against the wall and began storing weight to pass the time.

@Mistfallen Soldier

 

Jerrin, Smokestack

With some relief, Jerrin crossed back into the Scadrian zone and let his speed lapse completely. He felt slightly guilty for leaving when everyone else at the crater had been taken by the police force, but there wasn't much he could do about it either. Kaiden would be fine. He was a Radiant, and he hadn't done anything wrong. The Nalthians had no reason to hold him for long. Jerrin didn't have that luxury. He operated outside the law, and he doubted the New Hallandren guard would have shown him much kindness if he had been captured. If Kaiden actually needed help, he would send a message via his spren, and Jerrin could figure something out from there. For now, he could just go home. His job was done.

Arriving at the safety of the hideout, Jerrin finally turned off his electrum. Inside, he found it empty. Didn't Thav have some 'job' tonight? he realized. The two of them were still working on the case, but they were each pursuing separate avenues to cover more ground. Thav had seemed pretty adamant that this particular mission was a one-person job.

Jerrin tried not to worry too much about the kid, but it was hard, considering what they had been through. Instead of going to sleep, he sat back down at his desk to continue searching the papers there.

Skyelarin, Smokestack, Herrings house.

"Hey Jerrin..." Skye grinned a little apologetically. "Didn't want to bug you while running, did you see where that Fused went? Kai is worried about him." 

She sat down and stretched, tho not quite right for how a human should stretch. "And hows Thav doing? You guys still buddies?"

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

On 1/31/2026 at 4:53 AM, Ink and Embers said:

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

The head guard, Midas, raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "How long have you been here in Alleycity?" he asked, an edge to his voice that most commonly heralded a mocking kind of laughter. 

"Uh ..." Cayansa peered around them. There was one large timepiece on a turquoise building with people streaming in and out of it, but there were too many segments and too few hands to make sense. "A day and a bit? Definitely not two nights. Well, that depends on how time here works, which is strange, because time is supposed to be constant, right? That's what makes time time!"

They remembered the first timepiece fabrial they'd made, one of three, probably all sold to rich lighteyes by now. The spren had pulsed in the gemstone, spinning in time to some unheard song that perhaps humans had never been meant to understand. Then, of course, they'd been packaged up and sold like chulls to the slaughterhouse. 

Cayansa focused back on Midas and Kai. "How are you using the anti-Stormlight? No, it can't be anti-Stormlight, or there would've been-" Their eyes widened "- there would've been an explosion..."

@Koloss17 @KnightSkye Reforged @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren

On 1/31/2026 at 6:48 AM, Koloss17 said:

Midas had half the mind to let the prisoner free, as they didn't even know where they were, much less what the policies of the area were. However, that would be quite the violation of policy. While Midas believed them, he also had to keep in mind that they could easily be lying. In a place like Alleycity, trusting one's intuition often led to being punished for it. However, he could answer the stranger's question.

"The Alleyverse is an odd place, a place outside of time. There are those that came from planets far and wide, and those that came from other times." Once more, Midas reminisced on his past life. A world of ignorance, with no knowledge of electricity, or of other worlds. They didn't even know about all of the magic contained in their world. Such darkness, both physical and mental. "I come from a planet called Scadrial, and have been given the magic from a planet called Nalthis. I have been told that in the future, our planets would have interacted, but that would be many centuries after I would have died, had the Alleyverse not found me. Even you were likely born many years after my time." Midas put on a gentle smile. "And yet here we are, face to face."

On 1/31/2026 at 6:02 PM, Ink and Embers said:

Cayansa, New Hallandren, a few blocks from the garrison 

Cayansa stared at Midas, at a loss for words. Time that turned minutes into centuries? Other planets? A place that wasn't either?

In the future, our planets would have interacted... There were people here who would have been born long after Cayansa had died of old age. There were other Rosharans here, too, maybe people who-

They must know! Reyx said, glimmering rapidly in excitement. Some of them, about happened back at home. If everything's already happened but none of it's happened yet, then you can learn it. Perhaps this is where lost moments go. 

That makes no sense whatsoever, Cayansa thought back. Time is meaningless then, under these rules.

No. Time was meaningful before your people invented timepieces, and it still be constant once you're dead. This place is outside of time, like Midas said. What don't you understand?

Cayansa gave up debating with Reyx. "Magic from Nalthis? How does that work? Is it the one that removes Stormlight, or the one that makes everything so colourful? Are they the same one?" They wished they could move to write this down without giving away the fact they were untied. Gesturing with their head to the guards, they added,  "What about these people? They seem to be less colourful than everyone else. Not the most striking conversationalists, either." Or the most observant.

@Koloss17 @KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

 

21 hours ago, Koloss17 said:

Midas, New Hallandren, New Hallandren Garrison

Midas put on a soft yet patronizing smile. “Oh child, you have so much to learn about the Alleyverse.” He couldn’t answer all of their questions, but he chose to answer the one that would be most pertinent. He gestured to the lifeless guardsmen. “These are the recovered corpses of New Hallandren guardsmen that have died in the line of duty, given a false life from the magic of Nalthis” In truth, they deeply unnerved Midas, but he had grown used to them, as they truly were quite efficient. “Some day, I will become one of them, when I die. The skills learned as a guard are deeply valuable, and such things need to be preserved. Ah, we’re here.”

The party had arrived at the New Hallandren garrison, just in the nick of time. Midas’ chromium reserved had nearly run out. He stopped burning chromium, recalled his awakened rope, and gestured for the rest of the party to do the same. Turning to face the prisoners, he issued a new warning. “You are now on New Hallandren official property, and will be treated as such under the law. While you are physically free, you are still under custody until you are questioned and released.” Midas paused for dramatic effect. “If you are to attempt to flee, you will be deemed guilty by the district of New Hallandren of whatever crimes are determined to have occurred at the explosion site, and will be dealt with accordingly.”

“Now if you will, I will see the first group for questioning,” Midas said, gesturing to the two radiants and the returned. And with that, he entered the questioning chamber.

@KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren @KnightSkye Reforged

 

Starseeker, New Hallandren, New Hallandren Garrison

Starseeker followed without saying anything.

@KnightSkye Reforged @Koloss17 @Ink and Embers

[Koloss17 She/They]

2 hours ago, Hoid Slayer said:

Ebonaryle, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Ebon hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Then the boy suddenly reeled backwards, falling down and staring somewhere past Ebon, past Perses, a crazed look in his eyes. That was enough for Ebon. In the past, he had been a killer. He had hated the Radiants, and destroyed everything and everyone that got in his way. And in this last year, he had also killed. But... but he was trying to do better.

He did not know what better was. But he would not stand by and watch as an innocent child was killed, Radiant or not. Not anymore. And so once again Ebon stepped between Perses and Lux, this time with purpose.

"No."

His conviction, the Rhythm of Command, shocked him. And though he felt fear, he did not waver.

"The boy is innocent. There must be some way to keep his silence." Ebon turned to the young radiant, hoping for some cooperation.

 

Perses, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Perses lowered his pistol, aghast. "Are you going soft on me, Ebon? You know as well as anyone I don't like killing just for the hell of it, but be sensible. This radiant knows we're colluding and knows about this," Perses said, gesturing to the empty void. "Sure, they probably aren't smart enough to put together the significance of it all, but if they talk to the right people, they can start connecting the dots. People are already beginning to look into Wickwillow Manor." Perses had worked with Ebon for a year now, and he knew Ebon was weak. He knew the guilt in his voice when Perses had told him to kill witnesses, and to torture information out of people. Hell, a part of Perses hated it too. He just wished Ebon had the strength to know when to prioritize power over morality.

[Born of Mist He/Him]

On 2/1/2026 at 2:49 PM, Akimikoisthecutest said:

Cecillia, Mistwarrens, Alleyways

Cricket doesn't hesitate. As the man, "Fire," closes in with the crackle of Stormlight, she reaches into her worn satchel and pulls out a heavy, glass bottle of ink. She flares her Allomantic Tin, the world around her sharpening into agonizing detail—she can pinpoint the exact sound of the air moving past his ears.

With a desperate cry, she hurls the glass vial directly at his face.

The bottle shatters against his jaw and eyes. 

Cricket doesn't wait to see the effect. She taps the last of her stored Fortune, not knowing what it will do, only that she needs out now.

Her body goes into chaotic motion. She scrambles backward, her feet tangling in the refuse on the ground.

Genali'poonulah'likum'kai, Mistwarrens, alleyways

Fire growls wiping the metal flakes from his eyes. But, by random chance, he accidentally rubs some farther into his eyes, cutting them. He cries out in pain as stormlight rushes heals his eyes.

"Fire! Are you okay?" 2752 asks

"Yes" he says once they're out, he looks around for the girl. Tapping his steelmind, he dashes out into the street looking for her. Nothing. He checks the alleyways next. Still nothing. He glances as 2752 came back from checking the buildings. 

"Nothing?" He asks

"Unfortunately not" she replied to him

He sighs "now what?"

"We could check on whatever that explosion was"

"Oh right!" He breathes in the rest of his stormlight and lashes himself in the air, looking around until...there! He spots some lingering smoke and lashes himself that ways.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

On 2/2/2026 at 1:47 PM, Hoid Slayer said:

Ebonaryle, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Ebon hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Then the boy suddenly reeled backwards, falling down and staring somewhere past Ebon, past Perses, a crazed look in his eyes. That was enough for Ebon. In the past, he had been a killer. He had hated the Radiants, and destroyed everything and everyone that got in his way. And in this last year, he had also killed. But... but he was trying to do better.

He did not know what better was. But he would not stand by and watch as an innocent child was killed, Radiant or not. Not anymore. And so once again Ebon stepped between Perses and Lux, this time with purpose.

"No."

His conviction, the Rhythm of Command, shocked him. And though he felt fear, he did not waver.

"The boy is innocent. There must be some way to keep his silence." Ebon turned to the young radiant, hoping for some cooperation.

 

On 2/2/2026 at 4:38 PM, Koloss17 said:

Perses, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Perses lowered his pistol, aghast. "Are you going soft on me, Ebon? You know as well as anyone I don't like killing just for the hell of it, but be sensible. This radiant knows we're colluding and knows about this," Perses said, gesturing to the empty void. "Sure, they probably aren't smart enough to put together the significance of it all, but if they talk to the right people, they can start connecting the dots. People are already beginning to look into Wickwillow Manor." Perses had worked with Ebon for a year now, and he knew Ebon was weak. He knew the guilt in his voice when Perses had told him to kill witnesses, and to torture information out of people. Hell, a part of Perses hated it too. He just wished Ebon had the strength to know when to prioritize power over morality.

Lux, Alleys, Belias' Domain

Lux shook his, snapping out of it. Lux sees the lowered pistol, braces himself, and dove back in.

It was terrible. Lux couldn't describe it if he tried. But he pushed through, ignoring as much as he could. He focused on the air right in front of him, and urgently yelled, CHANGE

Lux forced so much power into the word, and the pure chaos that was surrounding him, Lux pushed all of his fear, terror, and trauma into that word.

Lux pulled back out of the cognitive realm, and tried to make a run for it as a glass wall appeared inbetween him and Perses.

Quote

EDIT: Disregard

 

Edited February 4 by CoderDrag0n8