main plot A Shadowed Dawn

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

1 minute ago, Invocation said:

"She is the only reason I knew it was there in the first place. She noticed it on her own and slipped away to check it out, drawing my attention."

@ZincAboutIt

"Right," Lita said. "Well, it doesn't seem to be coming our way, so let's just keep an eye on it." She took another sip of her wine, frowning, then turned  to Laurelai.

"There's some kind of incorporeal... thing hanging over the party," she said, nodding her head toward the shape while trying to appear at ease, like they were merely chatting. "Do you have any idea what it might be? Okame's spren caught a look at it just now. I've already reported it."

@Voidus

[little wheel he/him]

Allak walked out of the elevator.

[+Ark1002]

Project: Smelter, or Forge, entered Floor 23, Section 6, Room A, Security Clearance Level 11, a dark look on her face. As she stomped up, the scientist within paled, his face now resembling that of a ghost. Which was fitting. Considering he was experimenting with Shades. She slammed her fist into his desk, and the automatic small burst of division left a pattern burnt into the desk. The symbol of atium. The symbol of Ruin. She was Security Clearance Level 12, and the scientist knew that. So, not only was she able to be here, she was higher ranked than him. And she was just at the level she could kill lower Clearance people, if she deemed them a "threat".

And she was known for being... unpredictable.

"Project-" His face paled even further, if that was possible, as her eyes starting glowing a deep red. "Forge, please. I have to work on my assign-"

A faint tendril of smoke surrounded his throat, emanating from Project: Smelter's cloak.

He whimpered, and she leaned in close. "I'm here to tell you something. A secret." His eyes widened in fear, and he tries to push himself back, but the smoke encircled his entire throat, and he found himself unable. She approaches, and the whimper becomes louder, almost a scream. "I'm supposed to tell you, you're being moved up to Security Clearance Level 13."

He gasps, smiling in pure joy, at the promotion, and at his apparent survival, a tear falling from his face.

A grin twists her face. "That's what I'm supposed to tell you." And fear filled him again. But the smoke fell back into her cloak, and the man let out a sigh of relief.

He opened up his computer, research page after page covering the screen. All of his research.

"That would make you come to your execution faster, easier." His eyes go dull, then the spark becomes a flame. He scrambles backwards, a scream building in his throat. But it was too late. She touched his leg, and it began bubbling. His eyes went red for a second, and then the rest of the skin followed.He collapsed, his skin a mess of hellish bubbling and burns. She grins, grabbing his computer, putting in a chip, and downloading it all. Then she shut it quickly.

The shade in the corner, surrounded by silver, watched the whole thing. But it couldn't tell anyone.

As she walked calmly out the door, troops in black sprinted up. "What happened?"

She shook her head. "He knew too much."

As she left, she caught sight of herself in a mirror. In her haste at leaving, her cloak had come unfastened, showing her clearly to the world. Eyes a sickly yellow, the white bloodshot, that was horrifying on its own. But the rest was worse. Her skin burnt worse than the corpse, strange bubbles. A shroud of smoke covered her in place of a dress, but, as it was smoke, it was slightly translucent. What it did reveal was burnt as well, and worse. Massive scars made the whole appearance even more jarring. Her fingernails were cracked, blood specks on them. Each was yellow. Metal spikes stuck out at random locations, and little plates were installed in the more damaged areas. But the most jarring feature was the mouth. A gaping hole, skin on the edges messed up, it was still bleeding. And there was no tongue within, that has been shredded as well. There was a few metal shards within, not spikes, shrapnel. And, curled deep within, a strange green blob, smoke coming out of it, into the throat.

~~~

Within the room, the corpse started shaking. The soldiers backed away. It coughed , and a strange green was visible. Then the tongue was spat out, bleeding. The whole body shook. The men sprinted, fearful, away.

~~~

10 minutes ago, JacobClaessen said:

Allak walked out of the elevator.

The woman, silvery armor shining, looked back at him. "Put away the phone and hand it to me if you wish to continue."

[little wheel he/him]

Allak held up a finger, to signal he had to finish the call. "You won't interfere unless you want your daughters to die. Have a good day." And with that, Allak crushed the phone and handed it to the armored woman.

@Ark1002

[+Ark1002]

She grinned. "Seems nice." She threw the phone over her shoulder, and walked to a nearby elevator. "Who ya talking to?"

@JacobClaessen

[Voidus]

49 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

"Right," Lita said. "Well, it doesn't seem to be coming our way, so let's just keep an eye on it." She took another sip of her wine, frowning, then turned  to Laurelai.

"There's some kind of incorporeal... thing hanging over the party," she said, nodding her head toward the shape while trying to appear at ease, like they were merely chatting. "Do you have any idea what it might be? Okame's spren caught a look at it just now. I've already reported it."

@Voidus

Laurelai's gaze wandered over the crowd, trying not to miss anyone in her notes as newcomers arrived. She noted down the appearances of the servers as well as they wandered about offering food and drink to the guests.

Lita had returned a short while ago and was also watching the crowd, that was good, she hadn't wasted time in getting to the job at hand. With this many people Laurelai wouldn't be able to see everything herself, she needed another set of eyes. But after speaking to Okame for a moment, Lita addressed her.

"There's some kind of incorporeal... thing hanging over the party. Do you have any idea what it might be? Okame's spren caught a look at it just now. I've already reported it."

Laurelai started for a moment before directing her gaze upwards, she kept her head still so it wouldn't be as obvious but whatever it was was high up, which didn't give her much choice. She slowly turned her head, as though in a stretch, until her eyes caught sight of a dim outline, the same shape that the others had spotted.

It wasn't anything she immediately recognized, anyone using Lightweaving would just be able to do the same to the dust around them so it shouldn't be leaving an outline. An Epic perhaps?

"Could be anything." She said with a touch of irritation. She hated not knowing something. "But as long as it's just waiting there then we should probably leave it be. If it moves directly over us or it seems threatening then we'll see what we can do."

She spared another frustrated glance for the shape. Invisible enemies were not something she was well suited for, but luckily she'd seen Lita's proficiency with tin, she should be able to keep an eye on whatever it was.

"Can you keep an eye on it?" She asked Lita.

Now, to see if anyone else has noticed it. I wonder what our hosts reactions will be if they see it there?

[little wheel he/him]

Allak laughed. "An old student. He thinks that I can't hurt him due to my inability to inflict harm, but he doesn't think I would hire assassins."

@Ark1002

[+Ark1002]

"Interesting." She steps up the elevator, puts in a code, then let it scan her spiritweb. The door opens. "Please, follow me."

@JacobClaessen

[little wheel he/him]

Allak smiled. "Yes, ma'am."

@Ark1002

Edited April 1, 2019 by JacobClaessen

[+Ark1002]

She clicked a button somewhere in the middle. It would take them to Floor Fifteen, Section 3, Clearance Level 15. As the doors closed, a eerie tune starts playing, screaming mingling with the music.

@JacobClaessen

Edited April 1, 2019 by Ark1002

[little wheel he/him]

Allak cocked his head and listened to the music. "You really should get more jazz. Herbie Hancock is always a good decision. Though, I guess it has been a few thousand years since I've been able to torture someone, so the sounds are quite pleasant."

@Ark1002

[+Ark1002]

"I wish it was my choice." Her blood red glasses glint.

[little wheel he/him]

"Well, I'll take it up with the manager. Good jazz never lets anyone down, especially if they're being hung."

[I think I am here. he/him]

Quote

Experimenting with Shades! Sounds fun, Alask will be horrified.

“Oh, no, I don’t need anything,” he said to Lena, then leaned forward in a whisper. “I can control it — him, now. Sort of.”

“I remember her,” Shez whispered to Alask. “She... poisoned me.”

Poisoned us, Alask reminded him. And it was for a good purpose. You were going to kill everyone on that plane.

“Is she dangerous?”

Yes, but to us, right now.

***

The Haunt hovered, attracting more dust to its outline. Slowly, it began gliding over the tops of the heads of others, slowly listening, observing. Suddenly, the dust disapated, like whatever keeping it in place had left.

A moment later, a chill came through the air, and a hushed whisper was heard in Laurelai’s and Lita’s ears.

“Well, I must say I love the attention.”

@Sorana

@Voidus

@ZincAboutIt

Edited April 1, 2019 by I think I am here.

[+Invocation]

3 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

The Haunt hovered, attracting more dust to its outline. Slowly, it began gliding over the tops of the heads of others, slowly listening, observing. Suddenly, the dust disapated, like whatever keeping it in place had left.

A moment later, a chill came through the air, and a hushed whisper was heard in Laurelai’s and Lita’s ears.

“Well, I must say I love the attention.”

@Sorana

@Voidus

@ZincAboutIt

Okame turned to the source of the sound. "Pardon me, mafah'liki, but what would your name happen to be? I would not wish to do you disrespect by referring to you incorrectly."

Quote

Ali'i'kamura Okame out of left field with an interruption

 

[Voidus]

Laurelai's eyebrow twitched in irritation as she heard the voice. She sighed internally before replying to it.

"I however, do not." She said softly. "But I must admit to some curiosity as to your exact nature."

She'd seen the way the dust suddenly dissipated, whatever this being was it wasn't simply some invisible creature. She'd heard of certain types of Epics that could disperse their material form and become incorporeal. Perhaps something like that? Or some form of cognitive entity that hadn't manifested fully enough to be visible.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

Lita nearly spat out her sip of wine at the sound of the voice in her ears. She flared her tin, narrowing her eyes at the floating shape, trying to get a better look at it, but the dust had gone. A chill moved through the air, weaving around her like a strange serpent; she shivered. Laurelai had already started talking to the thing. 

Wonderful, she thought. More shadowy, strange floating voices talking to me. She doubted this one would be as interesting as the Stranger's Shade was. Almost on reflex, she touched the coin where it sat in her other pocket, resting against her leg. Then, she nudged Okame, who had  begun speaking aloud to the spirit in his usual booming voice.

"By the Survivor, could you possibly talk any louder?" she said to him through clenched teeth. "This thing heard us whispering halfway across the room, I'm sure you don't need to shout at it."

@Invocation

[+Invocation]

23 minutes ago, ZincAboutIt said:

"By the Survivor, could you possibly talk any louder?" she said to him through clenched teeth. "This thing heard us whispering halfway across the room, I'm sure you don't need to shout at it."

"Bold of you to assume my voice goes as small as yours does, ha! My voice is just as loud as yours, only proportionally sized. Besides, it is funny to take people off guard with a booming voice."

@ZincAboutIt

[Voidus]

Laurelai felt a strain in the muscles around her face as she resisted an intense urge to roll her eyes at the large figure of Okame. Instead she tried to track his own gaze. She'd heard of some Horneaters having the ability to see spren even when they wished to remain hidden. Perhaps he was one of those, and if so he might be a benefit even in spite of all the trouble he was no doubt causing.

[+Sorana she/her]

5 hours ago, I think I am here. said:

“Oh, no, I don’t need anything,” he said to Lena, then leaned forward in a whisper. “I can control it — him, now. Sort of.”

“I remember her,” Shez whispered to Alask. “She... poisoned me.”

Poisoned us, Alask reminded him. And it was for a good purpose. You were going to kill everyone on that plane.

“Is she dangerous?”

Yes, but to us, right now.

"I see."

Lena nodded and then looked at her hands, unsure what else to say. She couldn't really think of anything, he hated her - and rightly so. She was probably more a monster then his shade. Falling silent she stayed where she was unwilling to leave. Lita had more or less told her to go away and standing around on her own was stupid. Feeling a bit lost she stared at her nails and tried to think of something to talk about.

[I think I am here. he/him]

The Haunt smiled, circling LauerlaI, though no one could see it. “Well, curiosity is good.” Mystery meant they paid more attention to him. “But there are some things which cannot be explained.”

Someone seemed to stare right at him, however. The Haunt stopped right in his tracks. A horneater. Who could see him? The Haunt floated forward, close to him.

“You can see me,” he whispered. To the horneater, he appeared as a lean man dressed in coats and scarves. A narrow face currently locked in surprise. “Oh, Harmony,”

——

Alask saw how Lena stopped, and just stood there, looking at her hands. “Uh...” Alask began, keeping his voice low. “Do you still steal? What do you do now?”

@Sorana

Edited April 1, 2019 by I think I am here.

[+Sorana she/her]

28 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

Alask saw how Lena stopped, and just stood there, looking at her hands. “Uh...” Alask began, keeping his voice low. “Do you still steal? What do you do now?”

@Sorana

"I don't steal anymore. Nobody left to go on a heist, and alone doesn't work for me."

She fell silent.

"Right now, I don't really do anything. I'm trying to earn some money, for,"

She repeated her earlier gesture, hoped he would understand.

"Apart from that, nothing. Met some guys who might help me make some money, but apart from that - nothing world changing."

"And you?"

[+Invocation]

1 hour ago, I think I am here. said:

Someone seemed to stare right at him, however. The Haunt stopped right in his tracks. A horneater. Who could see him? The Haunt floated forward, close to him.

“You can see me,” he whispered. To the horneater, he appeared as a lean man dressed in coats and scarves. A narrow face currently locked in surprise. “Oh, Harmony,”

"Is this not a common thing? I would think, with the amount of people here, you would have come across someone like me before. Do you want some Stormlight, perhaps? I think that is the customary offering."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

On 3/30/2019 at 8:50 PM, I think I am here. said:

“Galvris!” Alask exclaimed, looking to Nekorb as well. “I have to say, it’s great meeting you again, but, there’s bad news.”

“After the Union meeting Laonin dissapeared. And now, there’s only Amon and me to run the Forge and even now we’re slipping by. Sure, we fixed buildings but our territory of safety is shrinking. New gangs are coming.”

He put a hand to his head. “Some teenagers wanted to continue his work, made a deal with me and Amon but who knows if they kept it.”

[-]

The Haunt flew over the heads at the welcoming party, hovering, quiet. Dust began to float upwards and upwards, curling around his invisible figure to make a visible outline. Like a Mist Spirit made of dust, floating above the crowd, hovering there.

 

On 3/31/2019 at 0:31 AM, Sorana said:

Lena observed Lita walk away and grabbed something to drink herself. She walked around the room, looked who was there, searched for any familiar faces. Nobody. With a sigh she sipped her drink and then froze. There, she knew that guy. And the one next to him as well. Walking over to them she started grinning, tried unsuccessfully to hide her discomfort. Alask, should he ever choose to work against her, he had her easily in his hand. Better to be polite then.

"Hey Alask, Nekorb. I hope you are alright?"

She greeted them, waved in what hopefully was a cheerful way.

@I think I am here.

@xinoehp512

 

17 hours ago, Vargo Seldon said:

Galvris smiled in a little bit of an embarrassed way.  "Well," he started out, "At the Den of Thieves, I was severed, and Ciera––" he gestured to Ciera, "Healed me, but also made me a warder.  So I sort of have to do whatever she says."

Galvris listened intently to the problems with the forge, and grimaced when Alask finished.  "Maybe I could come and help, if Ciera would permit me."  He looked hopefully to Ciera, then addressed her, "We could probably actually go there.  We have no mission at the moment.  It would be for the good of Alleycity."

@I think I am here.

@xinoehp512

@Dr. Dapper

——

The receptionist had wandered away again, but Necromancer was tired of waiting.  He decided to take a little look around.  He went behind the desk, and walked hallways until he came to an elevator.  He pressed the button.  The doors opened to reveal... a completely normal elevator.  He stepped in, and looked at the extensive number of buttons.  He tentatively pressed the top button, and the elevator went up.  Listening to slightly formulaic elevator music, he saw it go up past the first seven floors.  You would think a rich powerful new company would have rich powerful elevator music.  He wasn't disappointed past that though, as gothic heavy metal began playing.  It was also formulaic, but in a different way.  Finally, the elevator reached the top floor.  The door opened, and Necromancer gasped at what he saw...

@Ark1002

"Den of Thieves, huh?" Nekorb was quiet for a moment. "I remember that. Almost died there. From what I understand, though, Lena here got me to the hospital in time for them to do something." He smiled slightly. "Nearly died there, too, but that's another story."

He turned to Alask. "Sorry I haven't been... around... for a while."

[+Sorana she/her]

8 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Den of Thieves, huh?" Nekorb was quiet for a moment. "I remember that. Almost died there. From what I understand, though, Lena here got me to the hospital in time for them to do something." He smiled slightly. "Nearly died there, too, but that's another story."

"You remember that?"

Lena asked surprised. She'd also bound his wounds to be able to transport him, had staunched the worst bleeding. But she hadn't expected him to remember, to know.