main plot All Lights Quenched

[Sherlock Holmes]

6 minutes ago, bees? said:

Talost pointed at the ground to the three adults. "Kneel and don't resist. This will all be over soon." Talost's brothers and sisters pushed the three to their knees. Talost turned away, walking towards the front door of the house, his father waiting in the wings to speak with him. 

"You did well. I am proud to have you as the heir to this great lineage. Of all those I could have chosen, you were by far the most obvious choice. Wise, but raised to be ruthless and not hindered by emotions. Talost was always there beneath the calm surface of Silas, and all that was needed was some tampering to bring out... perfection. I am proud of you, but you must stay true to your chosen path. End them without mercy."

Talost nodded, then turned around and walked back to the adults, Shardblade removed from the sheath on his back and now in his right hand. 

"Any last words from you three fools?"

@RayOfSunshine @Sherlock Holmes

Tena looked up at him and cocked her head. He was still her kid, wasn't he? Well... "Yeah. Remember when you were twelve, and I'd just adopted you? So you got in a fight with a bunch of bigger kids, and came back home all beat up. Then I got their descriptions out of you and made 'em do whatever you said?" She grinned. "You're still my little kid, Silas. I have all these memories with you, and they make you a person. I don't know what happened, but..." She stared him in the eyes. "You're still my son, kiddo." 

[Fatebreaker]

It brought the Stranger no small amount of pleasure to see the despair on his opponent's face. It was like a fine whiskey: sharp, sweet, and meant to be savored. He detected notes of dismay, with strong undertones of terror. Ordinarily he would draw this out, use time dilation to make an instant last a lifetime, but out of courtesy to his peers he would make it brief.

He was about to add a few more touches when his allomantic bronze detected a resonance he was unfamiliar with. He put up a speed bubble around himself and tapped steel, to allow time for analysis. Ajax seemed to freeze, the look of terror on his face becoming a macabre mask. The Stranger focused on the pulse of investiture and discovered it was similar to that of someone burning chromium, but with a stronger resonance to it. Likely to be an externalized form, and judging on the spiritual displacement it would affect a wide area. He burned some atium and saw the pulse sweep out from Ajax in a translucent wave. It extended approximately thirty feet from him before it dissipated. The Stranger frowned and burned electrum, so as to see the effect it would've had on him. It appeared that it destroyed investiture, which would have been irritating, though unlikely fatal. Still, there was no reason to allow such a thing.

The Stranger snapped his fingers and soulcast the air around Ajax into an aluminum sarcophagus, effectively mitigating the bast and holding Ajax in place. He then let the cage fall, not bothering to catch it. As it plummeted towards the earth, the Stranger spoke again in the voice that could be heard in every corner of the city,

"Look up you people, and see how the 'mighty' have fallen."

With that the coffin hit the ground with a BOOM! and another, albeit smaller crater was formed. The Stranger opened an alley and disappeared into it, reappearing next to the coffin, which had twisted and cracked. Ajax, was pulling himself from the rubble, healing as best he could from the significant damage he had sustained. As soon as his head emerged the Stranger renewed his mental assault, rioting despair and soothing all else. Ajax gave one more desperate attempt to use division to burn him, but the Stranger swatted his hand away with a careless gesture. He reached out and cupped the face of the insurrectionist in his hand and smiled.

"I tried to warn you, child. But it seems that wisdom is wasted on the foolish."

The shades began to pour from him, washing over Ajax anew. With that he flicked his wrist and three spikes seemed to appear in his hand. He punched them through Ajax's torso with quick succession, using so much force that they went straight through the armor. The placement was precise and in an instant he had freshly charged spikes for soulcasting, aonic ability, and division. He stood and turned to walk away.

"He's all yours, old friend."

@Voidus

@RayOfSunshine

Edited September 8, 2019 by MacThorstenson

[I think I am here.]

15 hours ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

"Hi!" Seom called to the spren.

The spren didn’t seem very open to communication. It seemed more like a flamespren or rainspren: mindless, not nearly as intelligent as some of the others. It bounced around, and when it approached Wes at a speed he couldn’t dodge he threw up his hands and the spren hit his bendalloy bracer.

The spren seemed to burn a little and then scream, speeding up its movements. It saw Mike was alone and homed in on him.

“Magic is its weakness!” Wes said. “I think. Please don’t die because I said that!”

[+Sorana]

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

“Magic is its weakness!” Wes said. “I think. Please don’t die because I said that!”

Mike stumbled backwards, his back hit a wall. The spren zipped towards him, fast, too fast to escape, too fast to get away from. He would die.

Heart beating quickly from fear Mike threw another rock and missed again, edged away, along the building, the spren slowing down, now that he had no way too go. Not sentinent, but able to perceive where he was. Spren. Useless, stuipd things.

"Magic is its weakness!"

Wes said, added something about surviving, but Mike stopped listening. Magic. He was no hero with a large magic sword, no mage to throw a fireball. He was nothing, but a boy. A teenager trapped in a nightmare. The spren trundled closer and he stabbed at it with his knife, unsure if he'd missed again or if nothing had happened. Magic. Of course. It was only a normal blade. Everybody knew, that you had to kill some monster with a magic weapon. A laugh escaped his lips, sounded too loud for the street, almost crazy, when he opened his shirt. Wolf made him move faster, urged him on. Protect his pack. He had to protect his pack. Mike touched the cool metal, felt the crusted blood around it. He'd touched them, touched them so often, he knew them well. Too well. Contrasting his earlier demonstration, he had no idea which animal sat where, he hadn't paid that much attention, back in Ko'Tiel's room, laboratory, whatever. The only thing he knew, was that they were magical. And not that far away from a knife. He closed his fingers around the spike and pulled, screamed at the pain, when he felt something break, torn away from him, from his sould not only from his body. Porcupine, he knew it, when the silent, calm presence vanished, when her touch of fear, of looking for an escape left his toughts. Fox moved forward, closed the gap, took control and he felt his ears change, but Wolf was there. Wolf made him ignore the pain, the loss, made him stab the bloody spike right through the spren. Kill it. Protect his pack. Blood ran down his chest when he moved and he screamed again, wished for Porcupine to come back, when he felt Fox stir again.

@Sherlock Holmes

[Sherlock Holmes]

1 hour ago, Sorana said:

Mike stumbled backwards, his back hit a wall. The spren zipped towards him, fast, too fast to escape, too fast to get away from. He would die.

Heart beating quickly from fear Mike threw another rock and missed again, edged away, along the building, the spren slowing down, now that he had no way too go. Not sentinent, but able to perceive where he was. Spren. Useless, stuipd things.

"Magic is its weakness!"

Wes said, added something about surviving, but Mike stopped listening. Magic. He was no hero with a large magic sword, no mage to throw a fireball. He was nothing, but a boy. A teenager trapped in a nightmare. The spren trundled closer and he stabbed at it with his knife, unsure if he'd missed again or if nothing had happened. Magic. Of course. It was only a normal blade. Everybody knew, that you had to kill some monster with a magic weapon. A laugh escaped his lips, sounded too loud for the street, almost crazy, when he opened his shirt. Wolf made him move faster, urged him on. Protect his pack. He had to protect his pack. Mike touched the cool metal, felt the crusted blood around it. He'd touched them, touched them so often, he knew them well. Too well. Contrasting his earlier demonstration, he had no idea which animal sat where, he hadn't paid that much attention, back in Ko'Tiel's room, laboratory, whatever. The only thing he knew, was that they were magical. And not that far away from a knife. He closed his fingers around the spike and pulled, screamed at the pain, when he felt something break, torn away from him, from his sould not only from his body. Porcupine, he knew it, when the silent, calm presence vanished, when her touch of fear, of looking for an escape left his toughts. Fox moved forward, closed the gap, took control and he felt his ears change, but Wolf was there. Wolf made him ignore the pain, the loss, made him stab the bloody spike right through the spren. Kill it. Protect his pack. Blood ran down his chest when he moved and he screamed again, wished for Porcupine to come back, when he felt Fox stir again.

@Sherlock Holmes

Seom jumped, then took one of her Goldminds and threw it at the little spren.

[I think I am here.]

The spren screamed and it burned and fizzled up when the spike hit it. It fell to the floor, decaying the ground, and the gold metalmimd from Seom in addition with the spikewas what finished it off for good. It puffed away in a red haze. Wes looked from the spren to Mike, gasping.

“Mike!” He yelled and ran to Mike. He’d taken the spike out, there was blood everywhere. He looked to Seom, silently pleading for her to use a metalmind on Mike. He didn’t know either her metalminds could heal damage from removed spikes, but they needed to try.

[+Sorana]

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

“Mike!” He yelled and ran to Mike. He’d taken the spike out, there was blood everywhere. He looked to Seom, silently pleading for her to use a metalmind on Mike. He didn’t know either her metalminds could heal damage from removed spikes, but they needed to try.

"She's gone, she's gone, she's gongeshesgoneshesgonegongegonegonegone..."

Mike sagged to the ground, his pressed the spike to his chest. Porcupine. She had been easily frightened, but also steady. A good balance to squirrel and fox. He curled up from pain, the feeling of loss so strong, so consuming, that he started to cry. His friend was dead, dead and now he had just killed another one. He'd hated them, wanted them gone, but not like this.  now that she was gone, he realized he had lost more than just a voice in his head. He had lost a part of himself. Back, he had to get back. Ko'Tiel. Ko'Tiel would know. But he could never find them. He could never even try. Because they would kill him.

@Sherlock Holmes

Edited September 7, 2019 by Sorana

[Sherlock Holmes]

6 hours ago, Sorana said:

"She's gone, she's gone, she's gongeshesgoneshesgonegongegonegonegone..."

Mike sagged to the ground, his pressed the spike to his chest. Porcupine. She had been easily frightened, but also steady. A good balance to squirrel and fox. He curled up from pain, the feeling of loss so strong, so consuming, that he started to cry. His friend was dead, dead and now he had just killed another one. He'd hated them, wanted them gone, but not like this.  now that she was gone, he realized he had lost more than just a voice in his head. He had lost a part of himself. Back, he had to get back. Ko'Tiel. Ko'Tiel would know. But he could never find them. He could never even try. Because they would kill him.

@Sherlock Holmes

Seom scrambled over and went to her knees next to Mike, then pressed an unkeyed goldmind to his chest and tried to make him heal. "Hush..." she whispered, feeling herself start to collapse but holding up anyway. She hated it when people cried.

[I think I am here.]

“Mike,” Wes said and sat down next to him. He fished in his back pocket until he found a handkerchief and gave it to him. He looked at the hole where the spike had been taken out, and tried to remember when Mike had pointed them all o7t to him, told him which was which.

“Porcupine,” he whispered in understanding, patting Mike on the shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting way. He liked Porcupine. Porcupine had crawled next to him comfortingly when he’d thrown himself at Syndicate, injured himself badly.

“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay...”

[MacThorstenson]

Mac watched as the Stranger danced with Ajax, keeping him close and occupied.

Did he realize the protection he was offering the rest of the city? He was saving them from years of torture and pain, and while he wasn't undoing the effects of the invasion he was certainly stopping it from getting worse.

All the Stranger was doing was helping his friend. Trying to take some of the burden away from him. It was interesting how both actions were completely different yet still exactly the same. The Stranger couldn't care less about the city, but he was protecting it all the same. The rest of the city couldn't care less about the stress their god was under, yet he still bore it all the same.

It all depended on your perspective. 

Mac surveyed the destruction of the city again. Keeping an eye on Ajax's lackey's, he watched them destroy building after building, life after life. It was in these types of situations that Radiants were created. Carefully, he looked closer at the city, trying to see if maybe... Aha! There two were!

Unlike Roshar, spren were rarely seen in the physical realm unless a prospective Radiant was nearby, but now he could see both a Cultivationspren moving along the wall of the building, and a Lightspren floating through the rubble.

When his eyes were drawn back to the fight, he noticed a blue-white streams of light curling around the stranger, then leaving him and flying closer to Mac and Voidus on the sidelines. 

Either an windspren, or an Honorspren looking for a bond. Why would they be flying around the Stranger and Ajax? Was it due to their actions? It couldn't be.

From what they knew of his motives, Ajax wasn't doing anything worthy of a nahel bond. The Stranger wasn't worthy of one either. Furthermore he certainly didn't care for a bond in the first place. So why was it there?

Maybe it was the Sprens perception. When it flew out there the spren didn't know anything about why they were acting. It just saw that they were protecting the city.

Yes, that was probably it. After all, there was no way a spren was investigating the Stranger, or any other DA member. The first part of the First Ideal, Life before death, took away any chance of that happening.

Suddenly, the Stranger threw Ajax into the ground, Unwittingly protecting the city from danger, doing more than any windrunner Mac had seen, yet at the same time doing absolutely nothing.

[+Ark1002]

Quote

Could someone please give me a list of what I need to respond to so I can wrap this up?

in the meant time, post not really relating to anyone. Or relating to everyone. Depends.

Creatures had left the city, with Ajax captured, hurt. Massive bugs, borrowing things, a person with eight arms, and more. Five Ghouls had left as a back, crawling over buildings and corpses to get away.

No one would find them. They would scatter into the wild, and had no plan for what to do next.

[kenod]

12 minutes ago, RayOfSunshine said:

Creatures had left the city, with Ajax captured, hurt. Massive bugs, borrowing things, a person with eight arms, and more. Five Ghouls had left as a back, crawling over buildings and corpses to get away.

No one would find them. They would scatter into the wild, and had no plan for what to do next.

On 9/1/2019 at 4:11 PM, kenod said:

Back in the city KanMien left the alleys, standing at the edge of the field cleared by the armored soldier, watching the rubble around them. Face resolute they lifted the grenade launcher, looking at the holes their bullets had left in the armor. They doubted the grenades would do any damage beyond superficial damage, but if they managed to hit one of the holes...

They started tapping their zinc, aiming for the hole, calculating the angles and wind direction, and then fired off two shots, and started running sideways, ducking behind the mounts of rubble. They couldn't die here, no matter what. After all, they had a promise to keep.

On 9/3/2019 at 4:39 PM, I think I am here. said:

“Sure,” Max said. He looked to the mechanical monster in front of him and ran forward, sending forth a barrage of Rioting, not supertapping but trying to enhance any little emotion of restraint, fear, depression in the monster, of it could even feel that. Stopping in place he used the momentum to throw Sethramir like a spear, his aim directly for the monster’s chest.

On 9/3/2019 at 10:07 PM, kenod said:

Fragarach ran along the rooftops, sword in her hands, looking down at the streets below. Some parts of the city had already collapsed during the fighting, but other buildings were still standing. She summoned a gust of wind beneath herself to launch herself over a particularly long gap, then continued running. In the distance she could hear sounds of fighting. Smiling she rushed towards it, hands tightening around the hilt of her sword.

Standing on the rooftop she watched the fight below her. A man wearing what seemed to be power armor fighting a second man using a staff, wearing an animal-like mask. Grinning she waited for a break in their fight, gathering up wind around herself. When the break came she jumped down the side of the building, releasing the wind when she reached the bottom, focusing most of the wind outwards in large shock-wave. Twirling around her sword she smiled. "Well," she said, falling into a fighting stance, "this looks like it's going to be fun!".

 

On 9/3/2019 at 10:07 PM, kenod said:

Aylitha rushed forwards with Max, running past him when he stopped to throw this sword. Really? she thought. Throwing away your weapon already? Mentally she shrugged, he probably had some way to get it back. Running forwards she started going in a slight curve, keeping an eye on the many guns and weapons her opponent carried. At the same time she also noticed a familiar figure hiding behind the rubble, holding a grenade launcher. Again, she shrugged. As she ran she got closer to the ground, running on hand and feet, her form changing into that of a man-sized fox.

 

On 9/3/2019 at 10:07 PM, kenod said:

KanMien ran between the mounts of rubble, firing another two grenades in the direction of the robot. They weren't aimed properly, but they hoped the explosions might take out some of the robot's sensors. Looking to the side they saw other people coming as well. They shook their head and kept running. They couldn't get distracted now. Seeing one of them run in to fight hand to hand she sighed and rolled behind a larger mount of rubble, looking at what was happening, keeping an eye on any of the robot's guns. They blinked when they saw one of the fighters change shape into a giant fox. Shaking their head they opened up the grenade launcher, taking the opportunity to reload the empty magazines.

 

On 9/4/2019 at 7:27 AM, Sorana said:

Althea saw Aylitha and Max storm forward, attack the guy and she touched the air around their enemies body. The spren perked up at her presence and she was glad, that, just like the lamp, it didn't like the sprenless being on the street. She soulcasted the air around the armour into a thick and sticky mud, hopefully covering sensores and possibilities to perceive the world outside of the armour. She had no idea where such sensonrs might be, so she simply covered everything. In the best case, that would help Max and Aylitha to land some fatal blows.

 

On 9/6/2019 at 0:57 AM, bees? said:

Talost pointed at the ground to the three adults. "Kneel and don't resist. This will all be over soon." Talost's brothers and sisters pushed the three to their knees. Talost turned away, walking towards the front door of the house, his father waiting in the wings to speak with him. 

"You did well. I am proud to have you as the heir to this great lineage. Of all those I could have chosen, you were by far the most obvious choice. Wise, but raised to be ruthless and not hindered by emotions. Talost was always there beneath the calm surface of Silas, and all that was needed was some tampering to bring out... perfection. I am proud of you, but you must stay true to your chosen path. End them without mercy."

Talost nodded, then turned around and walked back to the adults, Shardblade removed from the sheath on his back and now in his right hand. 

"Any last words from you three fools?"

 

On 9/6/2019 at 4:07 AM, Fatebreaker said:

It brought the Stranger no small amount of pleasure to see the despair on his opponent's face. It was like a fine whiskey: sharp, sweet, and meant to be savored. He detected notes of dismay, with strong undertones of terror. Ordinarily he would draw this out, use time dilation to make an instant last a lifetime, but out of courtesy to his peers he would make it brief.

He was about to add a few more touches when his allomantic bronze detected a resonance he was unfamiliar with. He put up a speed bubble around himself and tapped steel, to allow time for analysis. Ajax seemed to freeze, the look of terror on his face becoming a macabre mask. The Stranger focused on the pulse of investiture and discovered it was similar to that of someone burning chromium, but with a stronger resonance to it. Likely to be an externalized form, and judging on the spiritual displacement it would affect a wide area. He burned some atium and saw the pulse sweep out from Ajax in a translucent wave. It extended approximately thirty feet from him before it dissipated. The Stranger frowned and burned electrum, so as to see the effect it would've had on him. It appeared that it destroyed investiture, which would have been irritating, though unlikely fatal. Still, there was no reason to allow such a thing.

The Stranger snapped his fingers and soulcast the air around Ajax into an aluminum sarcophagus, effectively mitigating the bast and holding Ajax in place. He then let the cage fall, not bothering to catch it. As it plummeted towards the earth, the Stranger spoke again in the voice that could be heard in every corner of the city,

"Look up you people, and see how the 'mighty' have fallen."

With that the coffin hit the ground with a BOOM! and another, albeit smaller crater was formed. The Stranger opened an alley and disappeared into it, reappearing next to the coffin, which had twisted and cracked. Ajax, was pulling himself from the rubble, healing as best he could from the significant damage he had sustained. As soon as his head emerged the Stranger renewed his mental assault, rioting despair and soothing all else. Ajax gave one more desperate attempt to use division to burn him, but the Stranger swatted his hand away with a careless gesture. He reached out and cupped the face of the insurrectionist in his hand and smiled.

"I tried to warn you, child. But it seems that wisdom is wasted on the foolish."

The shades began to pour from him, washing over Ajax anew. With that he flicked his wrist and three spikes seemed to appear in his hand. He punched them through Ajax's torso with quick succession, using so much force that they went straight through the armor. The placement was precise and in an instant he had freshly charged spikes for soulcasting, aonic ability, and division. He stood and turned to walk away.

"He's all yours, old friend."

@Voidus

@RayOfSunshine

Quote

These are all the posts I know about, though I've probably missed a couple.

P.S.
Fragarach is currently at Genghis' position, the post doesn't really make that clear.

 

[AonEne]

Quote

Also I believe Darth had something for one of the Conquerers. 

@RayOfSunshine

[kenod]

Quote

Ah, right. Here's Darth's last post regarding that fight.

On 8/31/2019 at 4:45 PM, Darth Woodrack said:

The Jackal pulled back both segments of his staff towards him, both their blades pointed directly at Genghis’s head.

@RayOfSunshine

[+Ark1002]

Quote

*sighs and mopes around*

now I actually have to do something, instead of writing screenplays about not doing anything

Also... you quoted my latest post in that

Actually, I'll probably be leaving soon, so I'll edit this in section by section

The robot moved slightly, and a grenade hit it's side. A second hit, again two inches left of the hole it was aiming for. Both blew up, making craters in the Conqueror's side. If they had been two inches right though... that would have hurt. The tracking mechanisms had already gotten the location of the person who had fired, and, using heat sensors, the Conqueror knew where they were now.

A rack of missiles came from the back, rockets. Three fired at once, one directly at the heat signature, one to either side. All three would blow massive craters in the area, and each on it's own should be enough to down the target. A second later, he sent a smaller missile from his finger at the heat signature, so that it would hit where the middle one had been.

@kenod

Edited September 8, 2019 by RayOfSunshine

[Rushu42]

On 9/2/2019 at 1:50 AM, Rushu42 said:

Aln stumbled backward as he began to transform, her eyes growing wide with terror. She knocked over a mannequin in her frantic retreat as his words materialized in the air. "Nothing I do to you matters, not to the other, not to anyone." 

Wait, said a small part of her mind. Who's the other? But it was soon crushed under the rising wave of panic that overwhelmed all other thoughts.  Aln! cried her spren, and she reflexively sucked in Stormlight. As she began to glow, the abomination pressed a strange fabrial to her arm, and all she could do was stand the, paralyzed with fear, eyes closed.

@RayOfSunshine

 

Quote

If you could reply to this, that would be nice. It's kinda left me on a cliffhanger.

@RayOfSunshine

Edited September 8, 2019 by Rushu42

[+Ark1002]

Quote

1 minute ago, Rushu42 said:

 

it's next on the list in time order, thanks for reminding me!

John grinned darkly at her silence. "Enjoy." He activated the fabrial. The painrial. It would fill her body with pain, activating every pain receptor she had.

@Rushu42

[Rushu42]

9 minutes ago, RayOfSunshine said:

John grinned darkly at her silence. "Enjoy." He activated the fabrial. The painrial. It would fill her body with pain, activating every pain receptor she had.

@Rushu42

Quote

So, I don't how how holding Stormlight would affect this. Maybe it would heal her somehow. However, for the purpose of this post I'll say that it changes nothing 

Aln began to scream as the pain hit her. It overwhelmed everything. She couldn't think; she could barely even breathe. Through the haze of agony a voice somehow penetrated. Aln, her spren said urgently, It's a fabrial. It's powered by Stormlight. It took her a moment to realize the significance of this. Then she began to struggle, focusing on the device in his hand as her body jerked uncontrollably. She laboriously managed to take a deep breath, and watched as if in slow motion as the light left the gemstone.

Edited September 8, 2019 by Rushu42

[kenod]

31 minutes ago, RayOfSunshine said:

The robot moved slightly, and a grenade hit it's side. A second hit, again two inches left of the hole it was aiming for. Both blew up, making craters in the Conqueror's side. If they had been two inches right though... that would have hurt. The tracking mechanisms had already gotten the location of the person who had fired, and, using heat sensors, the Conqueror knew where they were now.

A rack of missiles came from the back, rockets. Three fired at once, one directly at the heat signature, one to either side. All three would blow massive craters in the area, and each on it's own should be enough to down the target. A second later, he sent a smaller missile from his finger at the heat signature, so that it would hit where the middle one had been.

@kenod

KanMien looked at the robot, seeing the missile launchers on it's back move. Ah, rust, they thought. They tapped their zinc, mind racing. Drawing a pistol with their left hand they aimed towards the rockets as they shot towards them, firing at each of them. Their zinc worked, improving their aim, letting them do all the calculations in an instant. Three bullets flew out, piercing the rockets, explosions shining around them. At the same time they noticed the robot's finger point towards them. They went through all the possibilities, jumping backwards just as the rocket flew out. Making a snap decision they fired at the rubble in front of them with their grenade launcher, blowing it forwards as a shield against the missile while using the blast-wave to propel themselves backwards, trying to get more space.

Landing, they rolled across the ground, ducking behind more rubble, body aching from the blast and the landing. They felt something burning in the back, where their spikes were located. They muttered a curse. The spikes wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer.

Quote

Edit:
Also, somewhat unrelated, but I think I found the perfect song/music piece for this fight:

Spoiler

 

 

 

Edited September 8, 2019 by kenod

[Voidus]

Voidus gave the Stranger a nod as they passed each other, the Stranger stepping back from the Aluminium cage as Voidus stepped towards it. His friend had managed to work out some of his frustrations it seemed, and if they were fortunate then the display he'd made of the fight would dissuade anyone else from trying something similar. But now the spectacle had come to an end, Ajax waited within the cage, out of options but still refusing to surrender. Voidus had already confirmed that the man seemed strangely resistant to being drawn back into the Void directly, but there were other ways to ensure a soul was destroyed.

He reached the cave and briefly matched eyes with Ajax, wondering what had motivated him to do all of this. Why all of this uncontrolled chaos? Why risk what had been risked? Was it simply a desire for power? To rule over others? Resources?

But in the end, motivations didn't matter, talking would only delay the inevitable. So, reaching forward, Voidus snapped a splinter of Aluminium from the bindings around Ajax, and with an almost casual flick he threw it towards Ajax's heart. Towards a small bindpoint, usually used only for an Essence Spike. But where other metals would steal the soul, Aluminium would destroy it entirely.

"Goodbye." He said simply.

[+Sorana]

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

“Mike,” Wes said and sat down next to him. He fished in his back pocket until he found a handkerchief and gave it to him. He looked at the hole where the spike had been taken out, and tried to remember when Mike had pointed them all o7t to him, told him which was which.

“Porcupine,” he whispered in understanding, patting Mike on the shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting way. He liked Porcupine. Porcupine had crawled next to him comfortingly when he’d thrown himself at Syndicate, injured himself badly.

“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay...”

Mike felt Seom press something against his body and the pain lessened, the blood stopped flowing. He felt better, as if something else healed as well, and closed his eyes. Porcupine. Wes word had him open them again and the other boy patted his shoulder.

"Porcupine."

Mike whispered as well, looked at the spike in his hand.

"She kept fox in check, toned wolf down."

His voice was flat, empty.

"She wanted to flee, but she made me go on, never gave up."

His phone beeped and pressed a button, didn't pick up.

Busy. What's up?

He texted instead, hoped that whoever it was, would leave him alone. He wanted to curl up, do nothing but crawl beneath his bed and pretend nothing had happened.

"It's not okay."

Looking up at Wes he sighed.

 

"How am I supposed to keep them in check, without her? I, I am going crazy with all of them in my head, and fox, I can't control fox. Fox will eat me up, will take control. I have no idea what to do, I'm falling apart."

@Goldeneye63

@I think I am here.

@Sherlock Holmes

[Sherlock Holmes]

3 hours ago, Sorana said:

Mike felt Seom press something against his body and the pain lessened, the blood stopped flowing. He felt better, as if something else healed as well, and closed his eyes. Porcupine. Wes word had him open them again and the other boy patted his shoulder.

"Porcupine."

Mike whispered as well, looked at the spike in his hand.

"She kept fox in check, toned wolf down."

His voice was flat, empty.

"She wanted to flee, but she made me go on, never gave up."

His phone beeped and pressed a button, didn't pick up.

Busy. What's up?

He texted instead, hoped that whoever it was, would leave him alone. He wanted to curl up, do nothing but crawl beneath his bed and pretend nothing had happened.

"It's not okay."

Looking up at Wes he sighed.

 

"How am I supposed to keep them in check, without her? I, I am going crazy with all of them in my head, and fox, I can't control fox. Fox will eat me up, will take control. I have no idea what to do, I'm falling apart."

@Goldeneye63

@I think I am here.

@Sherlock Holmes

Seom looked at him, concerned. "Well... that's hard. But can't you try to magnify the good traits of the difficult ones to make up for her?"

[I think I am here.]

5 hours ago, Sorana said:

“It's not okay."

Looking up at Wes he sighed.

"How am I supposed to keep them in check, without her? I, I am going crazy with all of them in my head, and fox, I can't control fox. Fox will eat me up, will take control. I have no idea what to do, I'm falling apart."

Wes had no idea what to do. He was used to problems where there was just one uncontested solution. Stick a wire here, run a current through that. Something like this... the truth was Wes had no idea what to do either. But he knew saying so might put Mike in even more despair. Mike, not sir, he kept trying to remind himself.

“Do they like food?” Wes asked. “Maybe you can try and feed them, when you transform into them. Would that make them happy? Sorry, bad idea,” Wes’ face scrunched up.

[+Sorana]

"I don't know."

Mike whispered, slowly pushed himself back to his feet. He looked at the spike again, wiped the blood of the metal.

"I wanted them gone for years, but now that she's gone I wish I had her back."

Standing up he pocketed the spike, it felt right to keep it, it had been a part of him for so long. Leaning against a wall he took a moment to consider Wes words.

"It's not like I ask them to do something." He explained, " They just take control and then I have to watch whatever they do. I have no idea how to stress some attributes of them. I just try to stay in control. Squid is nice, Wolf protects they all are different. But maybe you can keep them in check with food. I don't mind, should you want to try one day."

He fell silent, smiled at his friends, felt Fox stir again. Fox. His hand formed a fist when fear surged again.

@Sherlock Holmes

@I think I am here.

[I think I am here.]

1 minute ago, Sorana said:

He fell silent, smiled at his friends, felt Fox stir again. Fox. His hand formed a fist when fear surged again.

“But there’s another strategy,” Wes said quietly, so only Mike could hear. Slowly he took out a small ring, one of his bendalloyminds. He gave it to Mike and gestured to the spikes.

“Investiture resists Investiture, so...” he paused. “Touching that ring to any spike will probably really hurt the animal it belongs to. You could hurt them if they challenge you, Mike,” he said. “Make them follow your commands, out of fear than friendship. It is probably the most efficient.”

He looked Mike in the eye as his fist clenched. “You don’t have to be afraid of them.”