Blackhoof

15 months ago, Shepparton: Wendigo Natali looked up from her books as her husband barged into the study, carrying a newspaper. "Natali! Natali you need to see this!" He held the front page for her to see. EPICS GIVEN FREE REIGN! PARLIAMENT PASSES SURRENDER ACT MILITARY REFUSES TO OBEY: VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING Natali's eyes widened as she read. Accompanying the story was a picture of the Prime Minister, grimfaced, as he delivered the news. She couldn't believe it. No, she would not believe it. Geoff paced in front of the desk, leaving the paper in her hands. "Natali, I told you, we need to get out of here! Its over, don't you see? These supervillains can do whatever they want now! They've even taken over Melbourne- tens of thousands of people are dead, Nat! Don't you get it!?" Natali dropped the paper, her shaking hands unable to hold it. "I.... I thought that the good ones would have come by now." She whispered. Geoff scowled. "Good ones? Good ones!? Every single one of them kills people! Some lunatic with superpowers melted an entire street, just a few blocks over! We need to take the kids, and leave, like everyone else is doing!" Natali took her head in her hands, saying nothing. Geoff's face softened, and he leaned on the desk. "Its... its ok honey. I know this is hard. I thought that we could win too. But.... there isn't any force left to stop them. The generals talk tough but if they could control those... things then the bloody government wouldn't have fallen over like this." Neither of them said anything for several minutes. Finally she raised her head, and nodded. "Ok... ok, we'll go somewhere else. Get out of the city, go out to the country. We'll go to my parent's farm, we should be safe there." Geoff smiled, and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Thank you honey." Geoff left, and Natali began packing up her things, moving like a robot. She was numb, utterly numb. How could this have happened? Just like that, her hopes for superheroes or the defeat of the villains were dashed. It was over. What would the world be like now, with governments everywhere falling, surrendering, allowing psychopaths to kill as they pleased? Suddenly she saw a red glow from above, as if her ceiling light had turned red. But it had not, nor was it on. Looking up, she thought that she could see... Calamity. The red star, even through her roof. It transfixed her, calling to her... whispering to her. The light began growing, until all she could see was red, and all she could hear was that divine, angelic voice. She didn't know how long she stood there, looking skyward, Calamity calling to her. She did not remember, although she later surmised, what happened next. Natali shook her head, and she felt the air around her go suddenly cold. Geoff walked in. "Wow, it got very cold all of a sudden. How are you going with the packing?" She didn't answer. "Honey?" He approached her, stretching an arm out to take her shoulder. "Natali?" Before he reached her, she spun around, grabbing his arm, eyes filled with anger and rage. He gasped at her ice cold touch. With a gesture, she had formed a large icicle in her hand, and with another she had impaled him in the chest with it. Geoff was too shocked to say a thing as he fell to the ground, another icicle finding his throat. She killed her children next. They barely had time to register their mother's sudden anger before they too were impaled with ice. Natali left her house, and snow began swirling around her. The air cooled, a warm day turning cold as she formed ice out of nothingness. Some people screamed, but she heard them not- all she heard was the sound of snow and ice whirling faster and faster around her, forming a vortex of cold. Clouds gathered as she extended her powers, and the whole of Shepparton felt a sudden bite of cold air. Then they felt a frostier bite, as the temperature plummeted and snow began to descend. People realised that something unnatural was happening, but it was too quick to even panic. The wind picked up speed, and within a few minutes, a warm spring day had become a snow storm. Several more minutes passed, and the snowstorm became a blizzard, fierce wind causing tonnes of snow to rain down almost horizontally across the city. The wind changed direction constantly, rotating around Natali as she slowly buried Shepparton. Specks of snow soon became jagged chunks of ice, moving fast enough to smash windows and tear apart buildings, cars and people alike. People were buried alive in the snow, or trapped in their cars or houses, sealed behind metres of snow. And at the centre of it all stood Natali, rising on a pillar of ice, the entire storm rotating around her as she wiped Shepparton out of existence.

what a bizarrely specific and convenient weakness Yeah, an alan would be cool thanks I still haven't read the entirety of portland, but I have been trying to get through Corpsemaker's posts. I see references to some big plan CM is drawing up, in multiple phases. Was it ever revealed in-thread what it would entail, or did Jo ever discuss it with anyone? Or is it just an unknown at the moment? Jesus christ that was dark. Just as it should be, but damnation welcome! Would you like to join our RP? Do you have an idea for a character, or for a place you would like to RP in?

Hahaha indeed, I have no clue

Portland people: any plans that Jo had for Corpsemaker that you know of? Or plans with other players?

15 months ago, Melbourne, Division Day Laserbolt breathed an internal sigh of relief as she took Quakezone and Foundry's hands and held them aloft, a subdued, but applauding, crowd gathered before them. Quakezone raised his voice. "From this day forth, we stand united as one! Melbourne, now named Tribourne as a testament to our accord, will continue under our rule! Safety, security, and peace will not commence, after the chaos of this past year!" The crowd grew slightly more enthusiastic at the prospect of an end to the hell that their lives had become over the past few months. Foundry addressed the crowd, "Humans have proven incapable of governing themselves. War, famine, poverty, unemployment.... these are woes that we, the Triumvirate, will address. All humans in my section of the city will have shelter, food, and a meaningful job. None shall be left behind, none shall be excluded from the chance to serve me." Laserbolt smiled outwardly, and barely hid her distaste for her new allies. Raising her voice, she said, "And those who serve will be rewarded well, as in my section, where luxuries will be given to all who are loyal. Those who resist, or who foment chaos and disorder.... they will be punished." Quakezone spoke back up. "Order is important to the Triumvirate, and so from now on, no Epic who is not loyal to our rule and this city shall be permitted to remain here. Furthermore, no Epic who has not received special permission will be allowed to kill any human, the punishment to be decided on a later date." More applause. "To further our goals of peace, all old laws, while they do not apply to Epics, still apply to humans. New and harsher penalties for these crimes will be introduced, effective immediately. Our primary goal is keeping you all safe, and allowing our great city to rise and rise in the future." As the crowd applauded, Laserbolt cursed inwardly at these developments. While she was relieved that that hellish, never-ending conflict was over, she had wanted Melbourne- Tribourne- for herself. She could still have that, hopefully. Time would pass, and this... alliance would continue. She could observe, watch, try to find a way to undermine and eventually subdue or kill these two buffoons. Tribourne, and all its people, would be hers. Unbeknownst to Laserbolt though, the other two were thinking the exact same thing. Present day, three years after Calamity Laserbolt smiled, eating a grape and lounging on her throne as a petitioner came to her, begging her favour and attention. "What is it, my subject?" The petitioner cowered and bowed before her. "My mistress, I beg your pardon with my trivial complaint! But my neighbourhood is experiencing shortages of food, and-" "Enough! Please," Laserbolt cut him off. "Everyone is complaining about food shortages! I think that there is only one way to solve the problem that you are having." She turned to her clerk, Roger. "Roger, be a dear and have this petitioner choose about 50 people from around his suburb. Then grant them the honour of being permanent farm workers, to grow more food for their city and do the work that the unfortunately broken machines formerly did." The petitioner looked uncertain, but thanked her and left. Laserbolt frowned and turned to one of her advisors, a wind Epic. "Windstorm, what on earth is going on here? Everyone is reporting food shortages." Windstorm scowled. "It is Quakezone, or Foundry perhaps. Someone sabotaged many of our machines, and yield is way down. We'll need to put more people on the job to replace the-" Laserbolt cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I know that, but surely those machines could not have made such a difference? Didn't we already set more subjects farming?" "Not enough, I think, my mistress." "Hmm... well make sure that Quakey and metal-head both pay for this. I want a storehouse each poisoned, and try to make it look like some small-time gang did it. Let's see how they like that." Windstorm smiled. "I think that Anthrax would be perfect for such a job. I will handle it, my lady." Laserbolt chuckled, and gestured for the nest petitioner to be sent in.

Thanks for giving me Corpsemaker guys I will begin reading his posts to get a feel fro him as a character.

And I can probably take Corpsemaker.

That sucks Jo, hope things get better!

Iconoclast opened his eyes. Pain had awoken him. He found himself in the sewer, exactly as he had expected. A pack of rats watched him from nearby, likely confused as to where their meal had gone. His whole body tingled, random stabbing pains and aches coming and going as if he was being attacked by a hundred knife-wielding assassins. He gritted his teeth, but even altering his body to temporarily dull his nerves would be fruitless- he had tried. No, this was a pain he would always feel upon full regeneration. At least, he thought to himself through grunts, its the only pain I feel. Minutes passed, and the pain slowly subsided. He groaned, and heaved himself towards the sunlight. He crawled out of the dark, filthy place of his pain, and into the midday sun. Looking around, he saw that no-one was around. "A pity," He growled to himself. "All this dying has made me quite hungry." He looked down at his filthy body, and grimaced. "And I am naked. Hmm... need clothes." Iconoclast Abruptly turned around, and stalked towards the front door of the nearest house. He knocked loudly. "Open up! This is the Corvallis Police Force!" He heard movement from inside, and a few seconds later, the door opened. "What can I do for you Offic-" The servant gasped as he saw his jagged smile, and in a burst of action he bowled inside, knocking the servant out of the way and slamming the door behind him. The servant cried out, and he punched him in the throat, an audible crack resulting. The servant gasped for breath, and Iconoclast turned around, seeing another servant holding a laundry basket. The laundry maid screamed and tried to run, but he was too fast. In seconds, he had broken her leg over his knee. Suddenly a tall woman dressed in an immaculate dress emerged from a doorway, rage and arrogance in her face. "You DARE attack me!?" The woman raised her arms and lightning shot towards him. He barely felt his body burn and blacken as the bolts of electricity coursed through him. He stood his ground, and as her attack ended, her arrogance turning to confusion, he healed. "I'm sorry dear," He said, charred skin regaining its colour and knitting back together. "But I DO dare... very much so." He strolled towards her purposefully, and she started backing away, throwing more lightning at him. Despite the damage it wrought, he ignored it and grabbed her throat, lifting her off of the ground. Her eyes were wide discs of fear, and she gasped for breath. "Now, you are going to help me, my friend." Her face began turning red as she suffocated. "I will not kill you, because I have determined that I have need of you. Gather your servants, and will someone GET ME SOME CLOTHES." With that, he threw her to the ground. Turning, he strode back to the two injured servants, gifting them both some healing. The suffocating servant, face purple and on the edge of death, gasped as breath returned to his lungs. Iconoclast crouched in front of him. "Now, I have an extra special job in mind for you." The servant regarded him with terror. "I am going to give you some of my power. And then, you are going to go to some populated place, I don't care which, and use it on people. You following me, my friend?" The servant's eyes were wide, and he nodded slowly. "Excellent," Iconoclast grinned. "Now, I'm sure you'll want a demonstration about what this power does. Let me show you." With that, he reached out and grabbed the leg of the fallen laundry maid. She jerked and tried to escape but her struggled ceased quickly. Then they began again. Iconoclast let her go, and she climbed to her feet, rage in her eyes. She stared hungrily at her former colleague, and began staggering towards him, arms outstretched. Just before she reached him, Iconoclast stilled her with his mind, wild eyes losing focus. The male servant, still on the ground, looked sickened, horrified and shocked all in one. Iconoclast turned back to him. "See? That is what you will do to people. Looks fun, doesn't it? Don't worry though, they won't attack you- you set them free, after all. If you are stronger willed than you look you might be able to give them some suggestions, too." The servant looked sick. Iconoclast tussled his hair. "Now don't worry, just free people until you run out of power. Then get away and you are free to go! I won't trouble you any more. You have my word." Iconoclast sharpened a nail and scratched a bloody tear into his palm, holding it out to shake. "Do we have a deal?" The servant looked like he was about to throw up. But eventually, he took the Epic's hand and shook it. Iconoclast smiled to put a crocodile to shame. "Perfect."

Not much for me. Just a 21st and a day-long game of Game of thrones Risk! I'm honestly stuck for an idea for a High Epic to rule my home town of Geelong. Anyone have any High Epic ideas that might inspire me?

Haha welcome! Hopefully you decide to join us Make sure to read Firefight too though (and the short story Mitosis between them as well if you like), as this is basically a spoiler-ridden discussion board for all three unfortuntely, we simply cannot hide the spoilers given the nature of what we do.

Melbourne, 15 months ago. Division Day. Quakezone grunted as he was slammed through a skyscraper, smashing through wall after wall in a shower of concrete and rubble. Blinding red light filled his vision as Laserbolt's beam continued to push him, until he burst out the other side of the building. Temporarily out of her field of vision, he activated his flight and steadied himself, before flying around the side to flank her. There she was- a figure in a black jumpsuit alone on top of the rubble of another skyscraper, mountains of rubble surrounding her. "This nonsensical fight is destroying my city!" Quakezone thought to himself as he zoomed towards her, black cape fluttering around his white shirt. She turned and saw him, eyes glowing red in preparation for another shot. Suddenly she disappeared, a mere blur racing away as a blob of molten metal the size of a car splashed where she had been standing a mere moment ago. Her danger sense had saved her, without even realizing it. Quakezone cursed and redirected his flight, seeing Foundry in his overalls and oxygen mask standing not far away, suspending in a rolling surge of white-hot metal. Quakezone shot towards him, dodging blobs of metal. He snarled as he drew back his fist and threw it at Foundry, using his power to amplify the force of the blow a thousand times. Any mortal would have been obliterated. But Foundry was no mortal. As his fist connected with Foundry's chest, Foundry's flesh turned to molten metal, and his fist was buried and enclosed. With a growl Quakezone ripped his fist free, spraying globs of metal, and wrestled as Foundry sent tentacles of metal to grapple him. The tentacles were easily smashed aside, but they reformed instantly and kept coming, threatening to restrain him completely. Quakezone was well aware that he was not super strong, simply able to amplify the force of his impacts, and other impacts. No movement, no force. Foundry laughed under his mask as he lifted himself above Quakezone, but the other High Epic simply detached and flew backwards. He was not a moment too soon, as once he disengaged a blinding beam of red light shot into Foundry. Foundry was sent flying backwards, his metal falling to the ground. Quakezone wasn't distracted though, taking evasive action and flying through a nearby skyscraper to avoid Laserbolt's gaze. The building groaned, and trapped humans screamed as his violent entrance brought the ceiling down on top of them. Quakezone burst through the other side and angled upwards, re-entering the building in another brutal crash of glass and concrete. A beam of light, intense heat cutting through concrete, shot into the building, searching around for Quakezone as he emerged from the roof. Above Laserbolt's field of vision, Quakezone singled her out and flew above her. With an evil grin, he flew straight downwards, fist outwards, picking up as much speed as he could. His fast mirrored the tortured skyscraper's, as it finally began collapsing. Laserbolt kept firing her laser, scouring the building even as it turned to rubble, oblivious to the descending monster above her. The instant before Quakezone struck her though, her danger sense pulled her out of the way, her super-speed activating and dodging his fist. Quakezone missed her, and his blow hit the rubble she had been standing on. Quakezone amplified his blow as much as he could, a thousand, a hundred thousand times. The rubble disintegrated, exploding and sending out a huge shockwave. The earth itself shook and cracks opened up, bringing down whatever nearby buildings that had even been remotely erect. A full minute passed before the dust settled. Quakezone closed his eyes in exhaustion. This battle had been raging for two days, and they were barely closer to killing each other. "I'd like to see you.... Outrun that.... Heh heh". The High Epic stood, legs trembling, and looked around. Laserbolt was nowhere to be seen. He smiled in victory. "Hahaha! One down! Where are you, Foundry? Crawl out if the hole i buried you in and-" His taunts were cut off in an outraged gurgle as he saw Laserbolt, covered in dust but alive, zoom into view, looking as exhausted as he felt. A pile of rubble exploded nearby, and Foundry rose to his feet, blobs of metal rising around him. Quakezone had had enough. "Ok.... Ok this has gone on long enough. Clearly, we cannot defeat one another. How about-" Laserbolt cut him off by lasering him to the ground, and dodged Foundry's thrown blobs as she tried to laser him in turn. Eventually, he got them to listen once more. "Look, stop, stop! None of us can win this! I have a proposal. Instead of crushing this city into rubble, how about we rule it, together? I have no more interest in sharing power than you I am sure, but together, we can do mighty things! The whole country could be ours! What do you say?" Laserbolt looked considerate for a moment. "Hmm... Perhaps, but how about-" Her laser shot towards him and he barely dodged, throwing a rock towards her in what he knew was a futile attempt. More fighting ensued, but eventually he convinced the others that dividing the city and ruling together was the best course of action. And so the Triumvirate formed, and Melbourne became Tribourne. But that.... Is only the beginning.

Atrophy watched intently as he applied the whirring saw to the dead creature's skullcap. Blood leaked out in stead of spraying, due to the lack of blood pressure- the creature being dead and all. Much less messy. Not that Atrophy minded mess, of course. It wasn't long before the small surgical saw had completed its rotation and Atrophy had gently removed the top of the skull, exposing the brain. Atrophy handed the skull fragment and saw to an attending nurse, and gently removed the brain from its protective shell. A small smile was the only sign that he was quite contented. The skeletal Epic placed the brain on a separate table and began gently cutting into it, recalling the passing interest he had had in psychology and neuroscience in high school and university. Hmmm... how curious. Atrophy thought to himself as he examined the frontal lobe. It seems.... altered in some fashion. I cannot quite ascertain the cause of my unease, but this lobe appears almost withered. Too withered to just be from its actual death. The creatures could not feel pain either, I will check their insular cortex.... Atrophy cut into the brain further, peeling back layers of brain matter, and exposing the insular cortex- centre of pain reception. He pursed his lips at what he saw. Completely shrivelled. Whatever power did this caused internal chemical changes that shut off these sections of the brain completely. They were not quite killed, but certainly damaged. One sample though, of course would not do. "Bring in the next specimen, and dispose of this one." The nurse obliged, and Atrophy continued his grisly examination.

I'll wait for Blaze before making any more Atrophy or Iconoclast posts

I can definitely do 2 or more times a week for Aus

I think it would rely on a commitment for players to remain pretty active, certainly a lot more active than we are all used to. Something in the realm of one post per week from each player would be the slowest we should aim for, I think (within reason, of course). Obviously RL can get in the way and we have lives outside this RP, but for a fast-paced game activity is just necessary. Maybe we should limit the number of players to just a small group, and only players who believe that they can personally fit such a fast pace of RPing in. If they can't, them sticking with Oregon would probably be for the best. It sounds mean as I say it :/ but I guess it is no different from games like Sanderson Elimination/Mafia where players need to dedicate time to post once a day or so (preferably much more) or the game just doesn't work. Its a precondition of joining.

5 highs or so and 484 Epics, roughly.

Yeah that is true.

I have a bit of an issue with again three epic sisters though. Still, Canberra is available? Should have 30 Epics or so, but no highs, and parliament house could make a nice temple

Considered it fanoned

A Chimera-like Epic who creates hordes of mutant monsters would be oh-so appropriate here

Perhaps our time could even be set much earlier? What if we started the RP when Australia passes its version of the Capitulation act (dammit Turnbull! ) and we depict the fighting to take control of the cities? Things can move more quickly without worrying about running out of time. @Mckdee: Well the US has become the Fractured States.... I'm not sure an Australian equivalent would work though. We don't have a three-word name like that. Well not a commonly used one at least. Knowing Australians, we would abbreviate "The Wasteland" to "the Waste-o" so yeah lets do that. And road bandits preying on those who have fled from the Epic cities? Yes!

We shouldn't overuse teleporters, we need to be careful about it I think.

I'll take Melbourne/Victoria

haha that is true, I was thinking more about two different things: 1) gangs: like modern gangs, but with Epics in charge, directing their minions in turf wars and gang fights over a single city 2) armies: where Epic despots create large forces of conscripted/recruited vanillas and send them against other cities, or use them to defend their own territory as Steelheart did. hmmmm...I wonder Yeah they are from Uluru, so they are basically the only Epics for a thousand miles in all directions.