Seven Day War for AlleyCity

[BitBitio he/him]

Kane walked over to Rashan and pulled out a bracer out of his coat. 

"This is filled with Determination and is unsealed. If you're going to make a speech, might as well do it right. 

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Skipping conversation with Death. 

Rohan let Arrow carry him as he stored weight and landed in front of Rashan. He looked solemn. He stood quietly. 

My death draws near. He thought, based off of the information Death had given him. He looked to the horizon and saw the Phoenix. And that will be its cause. 

He took his place beside Rashan and watched as the Phoenix drew closer.

[I think I am here. he/him]

Caer took a deep breath, accepting the bracer from Kane, ignoring that he was alive and how he'd gotten to Caer. It was time to make a speech. One that would be heard all over the Alleyverse. As Caer stepped to the edge of the skyscraper, he took one last glance at the city beneath him, and one last glance at the orange horizon, not a cloud in sight. In the distance, he could barley make out a flaming figure rushing forward. He had limited time.

So with Mace, Devaan and Kane at his side, Caer tapped his Aon card, enhancing his voice to a booming call, and signalled to Li TaiRu down below, who projected his voice to every ruby in the Alleyverse via his sparking technique. Everyone could hear him. Everyone could hear his words. Better make them good, then. Tapping determination, he began.

"Men and women of the Alleyverse!" Caer called, surprised by the intensity of his own voice. When had he, a simple twinborn, become so confident? It seemed like ages since he had first stepped into the Alleyverse, just a youth. Times had changed, and Caer had too. Some would he developed as a person. Shaking his head of the distracting thoughts, Caer continued.

"As you know, our city is under heavy attack from the things we're now calling Abominations, creatures of unimaginable viciousness and powerful. These things are not human, and if we lose this war, they'll spread to the whole of the Alleyverse, if they haven't already. Men and women, Homeless from all over, the time has come to UNITE!

"No longer shall we be leashed by the common squabbles of infighting, no longer shall we kill each other like animals! For there is a greater threat, and if we don't cast aside our differences, we'll lose. Not to the war, not even to the Abominations. No, men and women, if we still let each other be murdered in cold blood without reconsideration, we'll have lost to ourselves.

"Now is not the time for TUBA. Now is not the time for the Ghostbloods. Now is not even the time for the Liebrary, Sticknaughts, Canton of Combat or the Black Crusade or any other guild! For we are not defined by our organisation! We are defined by being human! And being United!"

Caer took a break. But there was more, a deeper aspect to his speech. It kept pulling at him. And finally, Caer let out his true side. At last.

"You know, I remember when I first stepped onto the stone ground of the Alleyverse. It was a truly marvellous feeling of unity. And I fought, I'm sure, and I joined guilds, and soon enough, I became my own person, my own little part of the bigger puzzle. For we were not meant to be separated. 

"And then I got amnesia. I was plagued by thoughts of inferiority, I didn't think I could match up to the previous Rashan, and all of the friends he made. I didn't know what to do, I felt helpless! And now I understand! It was never that I couldn't live up to the previous Rashan that bothered me. It was that I didn't have his friends, I didn't have his enemies, I didn't have his mentors, or students or anything else! I was alone! Alone.

"Men and women, you should all remember when you first walked upon this land. You were apart of the Alleyverse, not one of its guilds! You were United! Not divided! And this is just a reminder! You are one of us, a part of the greater community. It doesn't matter whether you're a DA acolyte or a Ghostblood council member.

"When Mac died, it was a shock to all of us. I saw it. I saw you all unite, for one moment, to share the pain between you all. And that, men and women, that was the spark of humanity that will win this war. For I can say my words, but I am one person, and I am powerless without you all.

"So, I ask, to each and every one of you, to cast aside the childish differences you've put on yourself! For it doesn't matter whether a person is a TUBA member or a Liebrarian, all it matters is that they're your ally! They'll fight with you to the end, and you will too, and that's the only way we'll ever win!

"And even if people die, then so what? We'll rebuild together, we'll fight together, we'll die together! Even if we have to rebuild this world from ashes and embers, we'll do it together! United as ever! And no matter how many monsters, or how many hemalurgic creations there are, as long there are allies, there is teamwork. And with that, WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!

"Yes, the rumours are true. Yes, I peered into the Worldspike itself. And I saw everything there was. I saw Beyond, I saw both good and bad. I saw all the outcomes of this war, and let me tell you, not all of them are great. But I'll tell you one thing I saw. I saw that where there was teamwork, there was triumph. And we will triumph!

"Survivors have holed up in shelters, and are awaiting protection from the monstrosities outside. Think of them! Of you wont unite for yourselves, at least keep in mind the children who you'll save because you worked together. There's one last thing I need to address, though.

"Elkanah, when I saw the spiritual realm, I saw an event of power. The Alleystorm, as you will call it. It will bring great aid to our cause, but the Abominations grow stronger by day! So I've thought of something, and hopefully it will help.

"I'm going to Riot the emotions of every Abomination in the Alleyverse, sending them in a fury after me. I know it's dangerous, and I know it'll probably end up in my death, but when I'm the bait, the Abominations won't bother anyone else. You'll be free to make the Alleystorm, Elkanah, and any other survivors will have the chance to escape.

"Men and women, when I saw the Worldspike, I saw UNITY. So let us join hands with one another, to pool our resources. No man can win this battle alone, and the day our forces kill the last of the Abominations, that is the day WE'll KNOW WE'VE SUCCEEDED!

"Let us unite, for United, we stand! And we'll stand for centuries, men and women!

"We'll stand for centuries."

 

[+Sorana she/her]

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That's beautiful. I can't even find another word for that.

Syen closed her fingers around the ruby she'd taken out, and thought about the words. They touched something deep inside of her. She had only entered this place a few weeks ago - she had none of this deep friendships, but she was here to help. And maybe she could do more than helping the refugees. Closing her eyes she breathed, then looked over at the man standing next to the table, waiting for his reaction.

@Jehoiada

Edited August 9, 2018 by Sorana

[I think I am here. he/him]

21 minutes ago, Sorana said:

That's beautiful. I can't even find another word for that.

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Thanks. That means a lot.

Caer, no, not Caer, Rashan turned towards Devaan, Kane and Mace, awaiting their response. "Not bad, eh?" He said, his voice strained and a weary smile creeping up his face. Then, Rashan turned back around, partly to cover his teary eyes, partly to see the Pheonix approach closer, inevitable, unstoppable. "I only hope it's enough."

Brining out the four cards of emotional Allomancy he'd gotten from Devaan, Rashan supertapped them all at once, sending a wave of emotion throughout AlleyCity. Powerful emotion, and Rashan made sure to keep it all isolated to the monsters. Hate. He made them hate him. Slowly, monsters from all over turned, and charged.

They coalesced as a wave, a massive crowd of thousands rushing in a stampede towards him. Hopefully, it would buy time for the others, with the monsters off their backs. Rashan was the bait, and hopefully, he could distract these monsters for enough time for the others.

"You should probably leave right about now," Rashan said to Devaan, turning around again. "And take Mace and Kane with you. You don't want to be here when this stampede gets serious." Overhead, the Pheonix flew just a little bit faster, enraged.

Hopefully, it was all enough. Rashan made a prayer to the Heralds, Harmony, and the God Beyond for good measure.

[Nohadon he/him]

“Rashan. My friend. Please, get out of this alive, send out one final message, tell the alleyverse that the canton is a safe location for any survivors” Devaan said

”If you’re going to die. Do it with Sethamir in your hand, and that Phoenix dead at your feet”

Devaan grabbed Kane and Mace, and tapped the tia ring he had on, transporting them to the canton

[I think I am here. he/him]

"Very well," Rashan said, and just when they were going to leave, he said "Wait!" and rushed over to Mace, and held him close.

"I know what you did," he whispered. "But I forgive you."

And he let the trio go, watching them disapearing from the roof, leaving Rashan alone yet again.

[Voidus]

The Phoenix glided slowly towards the tall, angular structure. She took her time, enjoying her freedom from the cave, the wind beneath her wings, the flames above her feathers. She exhilirated in the feeling of life, amplified even further by the dark storm she held within.

Something tugged at her. Pulling at her mind and soul, urging her on, drawing her towards the building, stoking the storm inside her to a frenzy. She blinked her amber eyes, shifting their focus from the air above to the building below. Expression changing from fierce predation to raw, boiling hatred.

The hunk of earth and rock within her talons began to softly grow a dull orange, waves of heat roiled off it, shimmering in the air. She clutched it tighter still, sending a few chips to the ground below, and began feeding light into it. Within an instant it was almost too much for her to hold but she used a little extra light on herself, pulling in the opposite direction to balance it out.

Finally, she grew close enough to see a small figure at the very peak of the building, the source of her burning fury. This was no longer simple prey. This was something else.

Enemy.

She released her grip on the boulder, the edges had begun to liquefy under the heat and the core glowed with a cheery orange hue. With the speed of a cannon the boulder flew from her talons, its acceleration magnified many times beyond anything in nature. It flew towards the base of the skyscraper, instantly obliterating the lower quarter of the building, and with it some of her Kindred. But the Pheonix paid them no mind, it wanted to topple this building bring this hated enemy to the ground and show it that the skies belonged to her.

The building began to tilt, the supports incinerated and crushed by the falling ball of fire and earth.

She descended, following it as it began toppling to the ground, and screeched at her enemy in a burst of searing heat.

[I think I am here. he/him]

The building bucked as a crowd of tens of thousands of Abominations charged right at it. Right at him. Bringing out the Aon Tia card he had taken from Devaan's deck before, he held it in front of him. It would take him right to Devaan's base, it was preprogrammed that way. He could tap it, and save himself. As he hovered his thumb over the card, ready to press, he saw something.

Wait, that's not right.

There it was, a couple blocks ahead. Was that... yes, it was. Two children, they couldn't be over 8, lay hugging each other as the monsters rushed by, distracted by Rashan's antics. But they wouldn't last long, and so the children were in serious danger. So little, so pure, no one deserved to die, least of all them. As he saw the kids, crying their hearts out, Rashan knew what he had to do.

Good idea, a soft male voice inside of him said. Sethramir. Devaan had told him that if he was true enough, the sword would unlock its full capabilities. Twisting its hilt, Rashan turned the sword into a spear, one that could control the wind, or so Devaan had said. It'll be hard getting to those children, though. There can't be less than at least a hundred Abominations between you and them. And not the easy-to-kill type.

"But I have to try."

Very well, Sethramir said. Very well.

At that moment, something clicked inside of Rashan. Resolve.

Taking a running start, Rashan leaped off of the collapsing skyscraper, grabbing ahold of a Sentry and driving it into the ground, relying on stormlight to heal him. So, there he was. Rashan Caer, Twinborn, Truthwatcher, prophet. He had to save those children. He had to, more than he had to do anything else in his life. As a Kolassal charged at him, Rashan concentrated.

See, understand, eliminate, use. His mantra for using Spiritual Sight. See all that you can, then understand what you've seen. Eliminate all of the unessecary details, and then use what you have left. This time, Rashan concentrated on the Kolossal. He saw a flurry of images come off it, and then he understood he was seeing all of its futures, every movement it could possibly make. He eliminated all of the unessecary information, he only wanted to see its future in a short time. Then, as he was left with a shadow of what the beast would do next, Rashan dodged.

He could recreate atium sight. Storms, he could see atium shadows! He tried to hold back his grin as this time, the first time in the whole war, he charged at the enemy, yelling.

[Nohadon he/him]

Devaan was in his canton, pacing. Had the Phoenix killed Rashan? What was happening? He itched to get back into the fight, tear the spikes out of the Phoenix and tear it into pieces with Atius. But he couldn’t, he needed to stay alive for his friends plan to work.

For the first time ever, Devaan borrowed a glyphward from one of the survivors, tapped heat, and began to pray.

[Grey Knight]

With a tiny pop, barely audible from the city, a speck appeared in the air. 

It started falling, appearing to drift through the air like dust. Only a Tineye could have noticed the strange jets of air shooting out the object, pointing it directly towards the phoenix.

[I think I am here. he/him]

AonDor

As Rashan supertapped the card Devaan gave him, it coursed through his body, making him invincible, very fast, incredibly strong, and extremely durable.

Stormlight

As Rashan breathed the rest of his pouch's worth, he felt the invigorating tempest within him. With it, he could use Progression on the demons.

Steel

With it, Rashan was hundreds of times faster than any man who'd walked the earth.

Shardblades

Sethramir, his trusty aid who could shape the wind, as well as Veo, his Truthwatcher spren. Catatonic, but Rashan still felt she would be proud.

Chromium

To leech the enemies.

Spiritual Sight

An infinite atium-sight.

And most importantly of all, DETERMINATION.

Rashan was the monster now.

---

Rashan wiped through the abominations like a hot knife through butter, or more like several hot Shardblades through several enraged monstrosities. As he saw a spirit-shadow of a Kolassal arrive from behind him, Rashan dodged before punching the beast into building. All Rashan could see was the monsters, they clouded every aspect of his vision. Above, he saw the Pheonix wreak havoc downwards, spraying the alleys with flame. But Rashan was not scared, not now, finally. Swiping Sethramir around, he directed the wind, literally deconstructing thousand year foundations as he sent them flying towards his enemies.

A squadron of hazeslayers jumped at Rashan but he used Progression on them, turning them into a depowered shadow of themself. As he dodged between the ranks of a Shoggoth and a Strikeshot he brought Sethramir into an unsuspecting Stranger before bringing it back around to blast the Shoggoth with a blast of wind and the Strikeshot with Veo. The Harmonium core of Sethramir was also helping out now, as every time Rashan swung, the area got leeched by his Chromium, before he converted Sethramir into a spear and sent them all flying back to the cage they were born in.

A swarm of CopperCrows descended on Rashan, and he could see Dreads in all directions tugging his mind, but he wouldn't be tugged. The Determination bracer, which he was now tapping heavily, aided to that. Rashan saw a shadow of a spear thrust into his side, then pre-emptively dodged the Sentry attack, throwing the winged demon into the path of the Crows as he shot Progression in every direction, taking care of the Dreads.

Suddenly, the floor became coated with fire as a Flamebringer ran at him, ghouls as support. But Rashan had the aid of precognition, and so he dodged every attack as it was made, and moved his arm with every dodge. His speed was really helping him, too, as his arms became a flurry of strikes in all directions, taking down more Strangers that were trying to sneak up on him in the confusion, and some of the ghouls, who were shooting coins directly at Rashan. He didn't dodge, but instead let the coins bounce off of him, turning Sethramir into his spear form, impaling them all through one another and sending a truly magnificent shockwave of wind through the other side. How could a weapon be so powerful?

A dark blob resided in the distance. A Kolossal Commander was swinging at him, a Shardblade in each arm. Even if they hit Rashan, they would do no damage, but that was a flawed statement, for Rashan was not letting himself get hit. He couldn't get hit. He saw the shadows of multiple winged beings slamming on top of him from above him, but Progression reduced them to humans. Turning back to the Koloassal Commander, a simple swipe with Sethramir sent him into the stratosphere.

He was invincible. He was on a mission. The kids, he had to get them to safety. Rashan thought about what their names would be as he sliced another Strikeshot. Maybe something Vorin, like Dathad for the boy, and maybe a Scadrian name for the girl? Rashan pondered the possibility as he impaled two Kolossal at once, then used the bodies as maces for the rest of the Abominations.

Just a bit longer! All this time, Sethramir, or Jezer the Windshaper, as he liked referring to himself, was acting as Rashan's eyes, seeing the children from above and directing him. After all, it was hard looking for children in a crowd full of bloodied monsters. Speaking of Sethramir, he was handling like a dream. Twisting the hilt and transforming him into a sprear, Rashan struck the artefact in the ground, forming a tornado, expanding like a shockwave. As Rashan twirled the weapon, skyscrapers and castles came ripped apart by the force of the wind and came tumbling into monsters. He swung some more, and almost 50 feet (Roaharan feet, that was) of monsters came flying in the air, carried by sole power of one of the 17 Artefacts. Rashan thrust the spear back in the ground, and the shockwave sent every Monster in sight flying backwards.

For a moment, the entire Alley was empty, and Rashan could truly see horror, for every inch of uncovered rock was painted bright pink. The walls were literally coated in blood. Just as haunting, where twisting alleys once were now lay an at least 1000 foot wide crater. Sethramir had really done its work. Spotting a building, Rashan tapped steel to run, and found the two children, bawling their eyes out. Seeing his reflection in their eyes, he was surprised. He looked like an Abomination himself, hair frizzed, eyes wide, glowing with unimaginable power, and coated in blood.

They continued crying, but Rashan tried to get them to stop, wiping the blood from his face and poking his tongue out. "See, not scary?" He said with a smile. Eventually, they calmed down.

"You're here... to s-save us?" The girl said, still wiping tears off her sleeve. Hearing a boom in the distance, Rashan knew the Abominations would soon return. They seemed endless. But Rashan didn't care. Not now. "Yes," he said with a smile, handing them a Tia card, the one that would transport them to Devaan's base. He knew it had only a two-person charge, and saving both of these kids seemed... like the right thing to do.

As he handed the kids Sethramir and a note he had just written to take to Devaan, he asked, "What are your names?"

"Max," the boy said, sticking a thumb to himself, "And Mara." Ah, Sacdrian names it was.

"Well, Max and Mara, take this sword and note to Devaan, say it's from me." Rashan began to turn around, but Mara called after him. "Wait!" She yelled, though it was a soft yell, the yell of a child. "What's your name?"

A smile twisted up Rashan's face. "Rashan. Rashan Caer. You're going to remember it for me?" The kids nodded.

"Very well. Good luck on your adventures, for your life is beginning just as mine is ending." He tapped the Tia, sending the kids to Devaan's base. Hopefully he would understand, why Rashan had to do what he did. Storms, was he crying? Bringing a palm to his face, Rashan could confirm that yes, not only was Rashan crying, he was sobbing. Friends would be lost. He knew that, as a side effect of his resurrection, if he died a second time, he would go straight to the Beyond. No resurrection.

When Rashan turned around, he was greeted by yet another mob of monsters. All waiting, silent. Waiting for what? Their leader? Suddenly, a break in the sky signalled a massive bird appearing, a 100 foot wingspan, landing on the ground in front of Rashan with a snarl and a show of its flames. It's powerful, blazing flames.

"Hello," Rashan said, voice slightly shaking, cracking his knuckles and meeting the bird's vicious, predatorial eyes.

"How do you do?"

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by I think I am here.
So, yeah. Rashan saving his successors. Wholesome, right?

[Voidus]

Soaring over the wreckage of the skyscraper, the Phoenix kept her eyes to the ground, moving constantly to find her enemy. Even now she could still feel a faint pull on her minds, though whether this was a supernatural ability or her own emotions was unclear.

A few times she spotted him amid a horde of her kindred, but as soon as his figure appeared it was gone, leaving only destruction behind him. A few of her kindred were holding themselves together, either through healing or sheer hardiness and determination. But when she looked at them, she saw the wounds created by the enemy, an unsightly, horrible reminder that he yet lived.

She sent a scorching wind through the alley, igniting it and destroying the bodies both the living and dead of what remained there.

She launched herself skyward again, old hunting instincts kicking back in as she sought her quarry. She needed height to see, to spot some kind of track.

More and more of her kindred gathered in the area, other creatures with strange, alien powers came too but they were no kindred of hers, they were something else entirely. Finally, she saw him. The hated one. In a place where creatures gathered thickest, a whirling tempest of wind, blade and power.

She dove.

The combined force of weight, enhanced speed and light-enhanced gravity accelerated her to tremendous speeds as she slammed into the ground like a falling star. Wings ablaze with fire, eyes ablaze with hatred she faced him.

Lowering her head to the ground to see him better, she watched the enemy speak in one of the human tongues. Asking her something. She ignored it, this was life, not a time for talking. This was a time for screaming, for roaring victory or pain, for rending with talon or searing with flame. This was a time for the enemy to die.

She sucked in the cold air of the alley, felt it warm, turning to fire within her lungs, and unleashed it in a tremendous screech that shattered windows and shook buildings.

The storm within her calmed for a moment as she collected herself, not releasing her hatred, merely holding onto it temporarily. The eye of the storm.

You will die well. She thought to the enemy, both eyes fixed on his, giving him one last moment before she unleashed a furnace of flame and fury.

[I think I am here. he/him]

"I'll take that as you doing well." Rashan said, trying to keep his balance after that tremendous scream. Remembering Max and Mara, he smiled fondly. The tears had still not stopped.

"Me too, actually," he said, responding to the Pheonix, a blazing symbol of power. His end. It was beautiful, in a way.

"Me too."

Then he was gone, wiped away in a flash of heat and fury, obliterated from the Alleyverse.

He was gone.

---

Max and Mara stumbled through the crowded confines of this strange building, big people everywhere walking. They had to find the person called Devaan. Collectively, they carried the big sword the funny man had given them, as well as a note.

Finally, they fixed eyes on a praying man, wearing a metal leg brace. Someone had called him Devaan before.

Calling his name, the man turned towards the children, before resting eyes on the sword. He kept staring at the sword for a while, before the kids gave him the note the funny man had given them and said it was from Rashan Caer. The man who'd saved them. The note had a tear stain in the bottom right corner.

The note read:

Dear Devaan, my old friend,

It seems the time has come where we must let go of the old, to cultivate the new.

I know you told me that if I was going to die, to bring down the Pheonix down with me. Unfortunately, this is not the case. But believe me when I say this: I did something better. Instead of killing something, like I have killed so many of these monsters, I have brought something new. Something that will grow.

The children you see in front of you (and presumably the ones who delivered this note to you) are named Max and Mara, I do not know their last names, nor do I know where their parents are. For all itents and purposes, these two were orphans, and I couldn't just let them die, Devaan. I know you'll hate me for sacrificing myself like this, but it had to be done. 

The kids have no parents or guardians I could find. I would raise them myself, but as you can see, I'm a bit dead. I'd like you to raise them. If it helps, consider them my successors, in a way. I died to give them life. Ever since I duelled you, I knew you'd make a great leader, and maybe even a father figure for some. You simply seemed like the best option.

Now, I'm standing here, writing this note, in front of the children, in a crater. Your Sethramir certainly had quite the punch! I gave it to the kids so they could hand the sword back to you, leaving it next to my corpse would be a waste.

Anyway, I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of things, I'm not an Archivist, but I will say this: take care of them for me, Devaan.

Take care of them for me.

- Your good friend, even in death,

Rashan

[Life&Death]

Soul hovered 20 feet above the alleys, watching Rashan’s sacrifice. The battle raged on below him as hemalurgic abominations continued to rush to the tower, still driven by hate, but for once, Soul had no wish to return to killing.

”That man’s sacrifice was the greatest it could be.” He whispered to El. “He helped me remember why I went to war, and why I started killing. I had forgotten, gotten caught up in the thrill of fighting. I started fighting to protect people. To save them. To free them.”

”You can do that again. People need to be saved right now.” El replied. “You can be that man again.”

Soul remained silent, and then tapped Identity. He rushed back through many different times of his life, remembering pain, rage, death, and blood until he became someone he never thought he would return to. He became as he was when he was a child. An innocent child, who’s only wish was for people to be free, and happy. A person who knew no fighting or killing.

looking around the carnage with these new eyes, Soul was horrified at what he saw. The child in an old warriors body started to weep. Sobbing, Soul stopped tapping Identity, and instead stored it, saving this new part of him, the warrior with the ideals of a child, into his metalminds permanently. Returning to normal, Soul drew his swords.

”Now I will fight. Not to kill as I once did, but to honor Rashan’s final wish. I will protect innocents from the bondage of death.”

“The words are accepted.”

Soul spun around in shock.

”Did I..? Did I just....?”

”Yes. You just swore the fourth ideal of the Skydancers.” El replied, smiling wider the she ever did before. “That man’s sacrifice enabled you to swear the oath you could not swear before.” 

“Then let’s honor that oath.” Soul’s black combat armor disengaged, and black shardplate that flowed with purple light appeared in it’s place. It was the same style as the combat suit, and was less massive then traditional armor. 

“This seems less restrictive then I imagined El.”

”Well I am a freedom spren, what did you expect?”

Grinning, Soul pulled out his sword made from bone, and summon his Shardblade. If he died fulfilling this oath, then so be it.

[Archer he/him]

At the Canton of Combat building. 

From somewhere inside the Canton building came the sound of a wall smashing.

Then a chair splintering.

Then a vase shattering.

"STORM YOU, HARMONY! STORM. YOU."

The sound of a rack of weaponry being overturned echoed throughout the halls.

A couple destruction filled minutes later, Mace stumbled into the main room. His cloak was ripped, and his armour was covered in dents and bloodstains. His eyes flickered, glancing at the kids, their weapon, then Devaan and the letter he held.

"I should have been there," he grunted. "I left him to die alone. Nuttin' worse than that."

He walked over to Max and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, lifting him off of the ground. When their eyes were level, he leaned in close and whispered in his ear, "You left a brave man to die. Alone, without his weapon." Mace punched him in the face.

"Right now. Right. Now. Inside of you. All those feelings. The guilt. The pain. The anger. Take them, burn them. Stoke them like a fire, and never let them die. Those are the feelings that saved your life today. Trust your instincts, kid. Never forget how you got to where you are today. Living in the past will get you killed, but learning from the past will save your life again, and again, and again." He dropped the boy on the floor. "You've got big shoes to fill. Don't mess up." 

He then turned to the girl. "Always carry an aluminum knife." With that piece of wisdom espoused, he crashed on the floor for a nap. 

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Mace hasn't slept for... a few days. He probably needs a nap. 

 

[Grey Knight]

29 minutes ago, Archer said:

Mace punched him in the face

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That... you... what...

You just punched a kid, Archer! What the storms is wrong with you?!

Also, how on earth did you get to the Canton of Combat without getting caught by space mar...

*has realization*

A space marine in jet-black armor spun Mace around, picked him up by the shoulders, and headbutted him.

"I got him!" yelled Kerith from 4 pages ago, throwing Mace into the wall. "Mace Klasten is here! Get him!"

Every space marine in the hallway dropped what they were doing and ran towards Mace, dog-pilling on top of him in a pile of vibrant, battle-scarred colors.

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And to clarify, that's like 12 suits of very heavy Shardplate on top of Mace.

And yes, you did just walk in to the headquarters of the Black Crusade. Nice going, Archer 

 

[Archer he/him]

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7 hours ago, Nohadon said:

“Rashan. My friend. Please, get out of this alive, send out one final message, tell the alleyverse that the canton is a safe location for any survivors” Devaan said

”If you’re going to die. Do it with Sethamir in your hand, and that Phoenix dead at your feet”

Devaan grabbed Kane and Mace, and tapped the tia ring he had on, transporting them to the canton

I'm confused. Devaan brought me here to tCoC. And he's been saying that he brought all the civilians he could find here. 

So when did the Crusade get here? Did I miss a post somewhere? 

 

[BitBitio he/him]

Rohan charged and leapt. Using systematic Steelpushes and the occasional short teleport. He got cuts, and he got scratches. But he kept going. 

He was a true Hazekiller, a Typhoon like none other. 

He killed hundreds of Abominations in less than 10 minutes. His Threnodite Swords had more kills than a Shardblade. Eventually, they were lost in the corpses of his enemies. He passed the body of Rashan Caer. With solemnity, he picked up the Shardblade, his Shardblade. The thing that had kept Rashan alive. He noted that Sethramir was gone, and Veo seemed to have become a spren again. He picked up the Shardblade. He charged and continued the fight. 

After a long time, having killed all sorts of creatures, he died. He sat in the Cognitive Realm for a moment. 

"I hereby grant my Teleportation Gem to Death. My Lurker Cloak to Voidus Prime. My Breaths to Solace. My Ferujewel Bracer to Kilo. My Leecher Abilities to Silphio. My Shardblade to Deras. My Aviar to Kane." All of the objects disappeared and reappeared in the hands of their new owners. 

Rohan turned and stepped into the Beyond.

[BringerofShadows she/her]

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Could someone sum up the Seven day war? ('Cuz I'm lazy and don't want to read through a bunch of posts.)

 

[Grey Knight]

11 minutes ago, Archer said:

I'm confused. Devaan brought me here to tCoC. And he's been saying that he brought all the civilians he could find here. 

So when did the Crusade get here? Did I miss a post somewhere? 

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I had a post a few pages ago that said the Salamanders were heading to the Canton of Combat.

I also had a piece (never posted, mind you) that specifically had a bunch of space marines in the Canton. But that's my fault for not remembering that I didn't state that.

So, I'll say it right now- the Black Crusade is currently at the Canton of Combat.

 

[BitBitio he/him]

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But Grey, you and Nohadon are allies. And we are with Nohadon right now.

 

[Grey Knight]

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Yes, me and Nohadon are allies. The Black Crusade is pretty battered right now, so the Canton is housing a lot of wounded space marines. 

Honestly, I kind of just acted on impulse here. Mace is leading the TUBA forces, and the BC is at war with TUBA, so it's a perfect opportunity to take the enemy leader hostage 

Also, he crossed the moral event horizon when he punched that little kid. I regret nothing.

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Grey Knight

[Archer he/him]

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OH YEAH?!?! I COULD BEAT YOU IN MY SLEEP, SPACE MARINES!!!!

There's a lesson here about never letting one's guard down. Well played, GK. Mace deserves whatever's coming to him. 

Stand firm. Stand still. Make the creator proud.

Wally the wall hummed to himself. He was pretty sure no one could hear him, but he didn't care.

I am a wall. Being a wall is fun.

Wally held up the roof. Unlike his lesser cousins, he was a load bearing wall. He was proud of that.

Stand firm. Stand still. 

Wally watched with curiosity as the People moved about in front of him. They were very fast, and had appendages for wiggling. 

That looks like fun. I wish I could wiggle. But I am a wall. Being a wall is fun.

One of Them attracted the attention of some others. They began to hug. 

Come this way! Feel how strong my bricks are! 

To Wally's delight, the People did come his way. The dog-pile slammed into him, then bounced off.

I have been useful. Woot. Being a wall is fun.

******

Mace was having a strange dream. In it, he was being licked by axehounds. They kept bouncing up and down on him, playfully smashing their fists into his armour... Mace awoke with a jolt. All around him, Crusaders were pommeling him. 

"Twosixfiveone," he grunted. "But you've got to rearrange the numerals-" exhausted, he fell asleep again.

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SOLACE and the GHOSTBLOOD ARMY were camped on the outskirts of the ALLEYVILLAGE. They were joined by MACE and the TUBA FORCES, and OTHER PEOPLE like the SENTINELS. They discovered that the ALLEYVILLAGE had been overrun by DARK DENIZENS. They attacked! over the walls and slew many DARK DUDES. A mysterious encounter with DRAKO, the leader of the BLACK CRUSADE, led one of the adventures to question if the CRUSADE was really on the side of the DARK ALLEY, as was first assumed. But there was no time to ponder that, for there was fighting to be done. The battle continued. It has yet to truly enter the ALLEYWAYS so VOIDUS PRIME has yet to react with much force. But when he does... IT'S GOING TO BE DRAMATIC. Will the attackers attempt to reach the WORLDSPIKE, thus earning the wrath of VOIDUS? Will the GHOSTBLOODS and TUBA FORCES be able to work together? Find out now, as the SEVEN DAY WAR continues! 

*****

The TUBA CREW is in or near a UNDERGROUND LAIR. (SOLACE somehow knew about the base, despite never being in TUBA like RHAZIEN was.) With the help of SOLACE, ELKANAH intends to summon an ALLEYSTORM. Outside, a SHOGGOTH fights ROHAN. It was injured when MACE blew himself up. Elsewhere, HELLBENT and DEVAAN are dueling. VOIDUS PRIME and CAER are visiting the WORLDSPIKE. YZABET is trying to remember her backstory, which may be the key to discovering why she [REDACTED]. SYEN is doctorin', DEATH is singing, DRAKO is trying to convince people that the BLACK CRUSADE isn't the enemy. The TUBA basement is the scene of a pitched battle.

Will the ALLEYSTORM be successfully summoned? Has CAER really been DISINTEGRATED? Find out now, as the SEVEN DAY WAR continues!

*****

DEVAAN killed HELLBENT, but injured his leg in the process. DEVAAN has also gathered the civilians in the CANTON OF COMBAT. NAERMAN has joined the fight, attacking a TUBA SOLDIER. 
CAER touched the WORLDSPIKE, giving him a glimpse of the future. He has taken it upon himself to unite the guilds, lest they all be destroyed. Elsewhere, the CAGES were opened, releasing a hoard of DARK ALLEY ABOMINATIONS. The WORLDSPIKE was locked down as a result, becoming inaccessible. One monster to watch out for is THE PHOENIX, a big bird with fire stuff going on. Bigger than the Harry Potter one, but smaller than the one that hangs out with Jean Grey. 

ARE WE ALL GOING TO DIE? Find out now as the SEVEN DAY WAR continues! 

*****

No one could have predicted all these plot twists! Except DEVAAN, who had some atium! He used it to kill HELLBENT, but nearly lost his leg in the process. Shortly after, YZABET and SOUL were seen fighting some of the BLACK CRUSADE. Then, RASHAN CAER, DEVAAN, MACE and KANE met on the top of a skyscraper so RASHAN could make a speech calling for unity. A PHOENIX attacked afterwards, killing RASHAN as he saved two children, MAX and MARA. DEVAAN, MACE, and KANE teleported to the CANTON OF COMBAT building to rest, but MACE was ambushed by members of the BLACK CRUSADE! Meanwhile, ROHAN died in battle. Crazy BLOODBATH still roams the streets, out for blood, and SYEN is talking to the GHOSTBLOODS.

Will the Homeless unite, as RASHAN CAER wished? Will the PHOENIX ever be defeated? When will the ALLEYSTORM be summoned? Find out now as the SEVEN DAY WAR continues! 

@BringerofShadows here's a updated compilation of my summaries.

 

[little wheel he/him]

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Ark, you gonna do anything?

@Ark1002

[Ink he/him]

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Mraize has not responded in time. I am moving forward with the storm.

The storm in Elkanah's palm was growing. He was channeling all the strength he could into it. "Solace" he says to Anxiety, "I need that Investiture, and when I say, bond the Alleyspren to the storm" Solace opened the bag, and Elkanah drew most of it in. So... Much... Power... He couldnt think, couldnt do anything. It threatened to overwhelm him. Say the Words a voice seemed to say. You need to hold on! What were the Words though? Thinking was hard, the pure power wanted to rip him apart, to be free.

The Words! Hurry!

What were they?

Life before Death, Strength before Weakness, Journey before Destination

I will remember those who have been forgotten

I will listen to those that have been ignored

I will find those who have been lost.

The fifth Ideal! What was it?! The storm might kill him otherwise. It finally popped into his head, amidst the chaos of Investiture.

I will understand even those who wish me harm.

The power seemed to dull, and he could think more clearly. He focused again, pouring all of the Investiture into the storm. "Now!" He shouted, hoping Solace would understand. Suddenly, the cloud expanded, becoming bigger, wider, stronger, and started to move. It was working! The rest of the Investiture was flowing, and then... his Connection to the storm broke, something else taking its place. It had worked. The Alleystorm was now in motion. He could feel a supply of Stormlight flowing to him from it. Now, they had a chance against the Eldritch Horrors.

Elkanah was changing too, leaving Stormform to take up a different form. Nimbleform again. How he missed the presicion, the delicacy, the agility it granted. He would understand his enemies, why they fought, how they fought, how they came to be, and who they fought for.

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The storm originated in TUBA's base, but spread backwards a bit. It moves East to West.

 

Edited August 9, 2018 by Inklingspren