Fatebreaker

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

I for one never understood why we have something that's not even remotely related to Sanderson's works in this RP...

"Family can cause a person to make strange decisions." Voidus replied quietly. The Stranger blinked. A... family? The Stranger could count on one hand the number of times he had been caught completely off guard. This had just topped the list. "That... that's..." Unbelievable. Dangerous. "wonderful." A grin found it's way back on to his face. "I hadn't even an inkling. It appears you still have a few tricks yet." He shook his head ruefully "I'd say it's impossible, but I know you better than that. Family. Who would have thought? The one thing I can never have." He gave a short barking laugh, as he stood and walked towards the barrier. He stared outwards, not seeing what was in front of him. "I can almost remember family, but that was a coppermind I lost long ago. Perhaps I traded it away, perhaps I used it in an experiment..." He turned back towards Voidus. "You are truly fortunate, my friend. I will do all I can to protect you and yours, though I have no doubt you'll need any help. But I must ask," and he looked him dead in the eyes, "How do you get that close to someone, when you carry the weight we carry? How do you avoid crushing that which you hold dear? Did you create a family? Pick the perfect strains and genetic traits? Create powerful constructs that can withstand the pressure? How do you hold something so fragile?" @Voidus

The Stranger looked into the eyes of his friend with a gaze that could shatter minds. The world around them seemed to fade for a moment, and time stood still. There they were, a man and a monster. The Stranger cold and alien, a detached shadow of the man he had once been. Voidus tired but hopeful, an image of the best and worst of humanity. Their limitations, and their capabilities. When did I start thinking of humanity as them? He dropped the lightweaving that he constantly maintained, and his form changed. His spikes were visible now. All of them. He was a mosaic of spikes, some large and intimidating, but many of them were needle thin. He looked down at his hands, at the innumerable small spikes running through them, forming an intricate pattern. The weight of them pulled him down with every movement, but he had always remained unbowed, unbroken. This was eons of sacrifice, of loss and triumph. He should feel nothing but pride for his unparalleled triumphs! But all he felt was cold. Standing in front of his only friend, he felt like he was a galaxy away. Voidus had held on to his humanity, could the Stranger say the same? Had he become exactly that: a stranger to the universe? "How do you do it?" He whispered softly. "How do you hold on to that which makes you human? I feel the pull of oceans of power, of the song of the stars and the screams of stolen souls. I am stretched and expanded beyond the ken of mortals. I have become the embodiment of the pursuit of Science. How to you regain that which I once lost? How do you do it, Voidus?" @Voidus

The Stranger nodded, remembering that day with crystalline clarity. “It was an unprecedented advance, nothing like it had even been conceived of. But I didn’t think it would exact such a heavy price.” He walked forward and placed a hand on the Worldspike. “We should have known better, everything has a price. Sacrifice remains a constant, no matter how great our ability or skill. It is one of the first lessons I ever learned, you would have thought I would have remembered it better.” He turned around and rested against the Worldspike, feeling a sense of fatigue that wasn’t physical. He closed his eye and let out a long breath. “I did it, Voidus.” The Stranger grinned wryly as he spoke, “I made a new Worldspike, one that not only rewrites a planet, but the preexisting life on it as well. I refined our formula and narrowed the focus. I was able to rewrite the spirit webs on an entire planetary population. And not a single soul perished. But they were no longer themselves. I changed the geography, which meant I had to change the cultural developments, which led to changes on the individual scale. The people that once lived there no longer exist, they have new identities, families, new souls.” He gave a short, sharp laugh. “So in a way I killed an entire planet without a single person dying.” He looked at the barrier and contemplated the world beyond it. “And I could do it again, here. I could refine it, mold the formula to accommodate the Prime Worldspike and rewrite this planet’s history. We could start over, without the guilds, without the interlopers, without the godhood they have ascribed to you. We could remember what it’s like to be people, not arbiters of the world. We could be unknown, free to work in the labs without the distractions of running a planet. No one would know, no one could tell that anything had ever been different. We would lose everything, but...” The was no smile on the Stranger’s face, not so much as a grin. His countenance was solemn and his eye was darker than the void. “We could start this experiment anew.” @Voidus

The Stranger had travelled far this day. He had visited horrors untold, awoken monsters of madness, and summoned the terrors that lurked in the unknown. And they were all still deathl afraid of him. But it was not the creatures in his laboratories that preoccupied his thoughts. It was his colleagues. Machad grown so much, and he was running things differently, even as his power increased. Lita was a glimpse of a potential future, a reminder of days past. Of a time when the basics of Hemalurgy were a prize to be discovered, when things like time and resources mattered. It had been so long ago. So very long ago. Only Voidus would remember. His friend had changed, beyond losing a significant portion of his power to a blasted sentience mishap. The Stranger could see it in his eyes. There was a sadness, a deep melancholy that lurked behind the joy of their reunion and the rage of the incursion. The fatigue made it harder to hide away, though Voidus had done a good job of it. But what could be bringing him such consternation? The Stranger left an Alley that was full of floating boomslangs and Alleytravelled to Voidus’s office. But it was empty, his friend nowhere to be found. He focused, searching for that unmistakable Investiture signature, until he picked up a trace signal. He immediately followed it and found himself staring at the barrier that surrounded the Worldspike. The Stranger considered the ramifications of what this meant, then decided to enter quietly. He opened a minimal portion of the barrier and slipped inside. As he adjusted to the change in light, The Stranger noticed the Gaurdian moving along its designated route. Making sure to avoid it, he continued to move quietly and quickly. He saw Voidus and stopped, watching him for a moment. The sadness was more pronounced, flowing though him like a river of strife. His hand traced the lines of the the Worldspike And The Stranger gained a mote of understanding. Voidus was bearing so much responsibility, so many expectations. When was the last time he had been allowed to just spend time in a lab? Voidus was at heart, a scientist. He had never desired acclaim or worship. And yet here he was, deified by opponents and colleagues alike. He was trapped in a cage of his own achievements. The Stranger looked at his friend for a moment longer, then spoke softly. “I remember the day this spike was forged. Had we only known then what would come of it, perhaps we would have hesitated...” He snorted “but I doubt it.” @Voidus

I'd like to be added to the pm as well!

It was a dark quiet sea. It was calm, for no wind blew here. There were no lights in the sky, no shore within sight. Only a massive mountain, a lone island reaching up out of the dark water. The Stranger walked across the surface of the sea, blocks of ice forming under his feet before they hit the water. The spike in his left eye glowed with an eerie light as he looked up at the tower of stone and earth. He reached out a hand towards the island and spoke, “Bravoranoth, awaken.” For a moment, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then the island moved. It rose higher out of the depths, sending cascades of water off in every direction. The sea roiled and churned with violence, creating waves tall as buildings. The Stranger remained unmoving, and the water seemed to part around him. He looked on the rising landmass, as if daring it to look back. And it did. A pair of eyes larger than houses gazed back at the Stranger. They were deep with alien wisdom and intelligence, as if looking into the soul of the sea itself. And they were angry. A booming voice spoke directly into the Stranger’s mind, seeming to echo with powerful reverberations. Taker of Souls, have you come to kill me? The Stranger grinned, “And waste a millennia of experimentation? Come young crab, you must know me by now. Ancient greatshells don’t grow on trees.” Then why have you come? I was dreaming of a time when my Soul did not scream, when my mind knew the peace of silence. When I was as I should be, and not an abomination! A massive claw burst from the water, raised aloft as if to strike the Stranger. He didn’t so much as blink. “Come now, I have not the time to indulge your philosophical despairing. You are to be the herald of my wrath, the symbol of my might. You can rage against your existence later.” The greatshell let out a guttural roar that shook the air. It swung down it’s massive claw with the force of an avalanche. And The Stranger caught it. He was lashed upwards a hundred fold, and was burning through centuries of metalmind storage. But the claw stopped, sending out a massive shockwave. The Stranger’s grin stretched grotesquely and his right eye seemed to suck in light. The shadows of souls lashed out around him, their wails and roars audible. “Oh Bravoranoth, I thought you knew better than this.” He reaches out and soothed away all emotion within the creature, taking it’s rage, it’s despair, and it’s fear. It became a still, empty thing, lacking the will to do anything but listen. The Stranger released the claw, and it slowly sank beneath the waves. He nodded approvingly and stopped his soothing. The creature regained itself, and it felt only one thing: Resignation . What is it you require of me, oh breaker of life? “As the head of PR, I’ve decided it’s time to make a public statement.” The Stranger replied. “As of late the Dark Alley has been laying low, trying to let others have their fun. But they’ve taken our grace for weakness, and flouted our kind attitude. I shall give them a reminder of what the Dark Alley really is. It’s my new marketing campaign: The Historical Hemalurgic Hullabaloo!” He laughed with maniacal glee. “And you’re part of the finale.”

Well, it’s your decision, but personally I would go with the echidnaquisitors.

But still, no grisly demise at the hands of someone she trusted? No cursed eternity of emptiness, brought on by her own misguided actions? No freak echidnaquisitor maulings?

A life of peace? In the Alleyverse??? Is that, legal?????

The Stranger delved deep into his labs, descending ever deeper into the scientific abyss that was his lair and playground. He moved with speed and determination, for he had no time to dawdle. He moved with caution and precision, for one misstep down here could mean instant annihilation. He moved with a spring in his step, for he was home. He stopped briefly to inspect the mobile oven-golems, considering their applications before shaking his head and moving on. He tarried with his Killer Cassowary Convoy, scritching wattles and polishing spikes. He almost stopped by Alley M5H09900-9, but then remebereb what it had looked like last time he had been there and decided to skip that stop on the tour. Better to come back with a dimensional torque wrench and a basket of rambutans. As he traveled deeper and deeper into the Alleys, his step became less springy and more measured. He observed the sky whales, watching them swim almost lazily through the air. Their long winglike fins were graceful, and their eyes were filled with a haunting beauty that would make any sane person weep. They were a relative success, but he still hadn't figured out a way stop the telepathic barrages that they often used for hunting. he'd lost too many assistants to treat them with anything other than caution. He innspected unspeakable horrors, checking details across dimensions and realms. He marveled at the Herald Beasts and the shape they were in. He analyzed titanoboa biometrics, took notes on things he wanted to adjust in the Deinosuchus containment unit. This was a wonderland of abominations, but he didn't have time to enjoy them all. He reworked old security details and containment procedures. He cataloged, diagrammed and annotated the bizarre surroundings and the occupants therein. He would return to the surface, and soon at that, but first he needed to make sure that any extreme power surges on the outside wouldn't result in some of the occupants getting free. That would be a serious disaster.

The Stranger turned to Voidus and Mac with a satisfied expression. “She shows promise, that one,” gesturing towards Lita, “hungry without being foolhardy. And she’s surrounded herself with capable individuals. Perhaps they’ll become lab partners, ey boyos?” They all smiled, remembering with fondness days past spent in the labs. Mac was the first to break the silence. “Well, Stranger, what do you plan to do first? You’ve been away for quite some time, and I imagine you’d like to check up on some things. Is there anything I can assist you with?” Mac’s voice was calm and professional, but the Stranger could hear his heart rate increasing with excitement. He smiled, Mac remained a perfect professional, always thinking a step ahead. It was no wonder he had risen through the ranks so quickly. With his combination of talent and learning ability, there seemed little he couldn’t surmount. “I’ll want to check on it on a few Alleys, see how they’ve fared in my absence. Let me know what your intelligence turns up, I’m eager to hear your assessment of the situation.” His countenance took on a serious expression and he looked at his two friends. “In the interest of self control, I shall delay my full intervention for a maximum of one day, or until one of you give me the go ahead. I will spend this time studying the phenomenon, but after time is up I shall act with extreme prejudice. I shall make an example of the pretenders and leave a lasting impression that shall not fade for a long, long time. Consider evacuation of the city, for I will throw open the gates of my domain and release the terrors that dwell within. And then,” His grin stretched across his face once more. “it will be my turn.”

As if hearing her thoughts the Stranger said, “Also, as an up and coming Denizen with newly acquired power, you’re gonna want to watch out for both the messiah and mad genius complexes. At least until you really do go mad, at which point you’ve earned it.” He grinned a little wider and looked her dead in the eyes “I see potential in you, Little Lita. There is hunger and there is pain. There is curiosity, and there is fear. Such a balance is rare. You could accomplish great things, but you could so easily fail. The Dark Alley can build on weakness, but it will devour the weak.” “It has become increasingly apparent that Voidus and I are no longer enough to keep everything running smoothly. Mac does an incredible job, but even he has his limits. We need Denizens we can trust to handle things if Voidus or I disappear for an extended period of time. Times change, and the DA or even the world we built is no longer the same. They have grown and changed and with that comes new challenges and opportunities. I can no longer galavant around, conducting experiments and offering cookies to passers by. Now is the time to look to the future afar, not the one within easy reach.” He held up a hand and the air above his palm seemed to swirl and condense, and a duplicate of the coin Lita held appeared. It spun slowly in the air, the globe on one side and the scales on the other. “Let that coin be a reminder to you. Of potential, both for failure and success. Of consequence and capacity. And most importantly,” the coin spun faster and faster till it became a blur then shot into the air. Without shifting his gaze the Stranger casually flicked his wrist and a spike flew through the air and went straight through the coin. They fell to the floor and the coin’s faces showed a single image: a skull with a spike through the left eye. The Stranger’s grin was wide and terrible and the void of his eye grew deeper than the abyss. “...of Sacrifice.”

No time wasted, she’ll do well. “That, was a kind of feruchemical medallion, containing both Chromium, duralumin, and a few other things. In laymen’s terms, a literal lucky charm. I’ve fine tuned it to act as a kind of warning system and indicator of crucial moments. And if you’ll let me see it,” He reached out with a controlled Iron pull and the coin zipped out of her fingers into his hand. Then the area around him seemed to blur and his figure became hazy. A moment later it stopped and he was holding out the coin. “I’ve added some upgrades. In addition to it’s previous functionalities, it will now serve as a Feruchemical gold medallion. If things get bad, you can use it to transport directly back to the Alleys, though which one may be variable, depending on your focus. You can also use it to communicate with me directly, though when I’m in the Alleys the connection may fluctuate. Don’t use it if you’re standing in an information kiosk, or if there is a binturong within ten meters of you. It could melt a hole in your spirit web.” He grinned. “I’m just messing with you. It wouldn’t melt a hole in your spirit web.” He chuckled. “It would just melt you.”

Voidus, Mac and the Stranger spoke in hushed tones, outlining various strategies. “Yes, the Chrono Unit should be ready, but I’d rather use the Dreadbeasts. The collateral damage would be exponentially higher, but this would be a perfect excuse to run field tests.” Voidus gave him a pointed look. The Stranger sighed. “Maybe not in the first wave then. At least let me send out the autonomous fabrials I’ve been working on.” Voidus nodded, “All execpt the mark 004, you know they had a tendency to rampage. We need to remain focused on our priorities here, if we’re to maintain maximum efficiency.” The Stranger had to agree. Voidus has always been better at prioritizing and organizing than he. He inclined his head in deference, then noticed the new Denizen looking at him with a mixture of determination and terror. Good, that showed she was brave without being stupid. An admirable combination. “Excuse me, gents, I’ll be right back.” He strode towards her and tried to keep his grin from growing too wide, as that seemed to unnerve people. “Lita, was it? Coin bearer, Sercret Snatcher, and Denizen debutant? From what my Shadow has told me, you’ve had an eventful time as of late. I’m sure you have questions, but we’re rather short on time, so let’s avoid any ‘Who are you?’ ‘What happened to your eye?’ or ‘Did you really kill a great shell by eating it’s brain?’. Let’s stick to questions relevant to current and or recent events.” @ZincAboutIt

At that moment the eye reappeared, this time fully visible to everyone. It had no iris, and the pupil was rectangular, like a horrific goat. The eye appeared to be looking through a tear in reality, but nothing more of the entity could be seen. It's baleful gaze seemed focused on the glowing shardblade. It shifted it's attention to the blade's wielder, and the reddish light emanating from it intensified, bathing Hellbent in it's reddish light. Hellbent felt something caressing his mind, an internal warmth that seemed to build within him. He was hungry. So very hungry. And there was food right here in front of him. The girl he had just killed, meat freshly butchered. He felt his body lurch forward, as if it had a mind of it's own, reaching for the burning corpse.

The Stranger mentally chastised himself. That had not been professional, he really had been in the lab a long time. He had only served to exacerbate the situation, and that was not what the DA needed right now. What was needed was cold, clear rationalism. The spirits around him vanished and he regained his composure. “This isn’t a matter of discarding an experiment, we’d simply be disposing of a dissatisfactory end product. We’d be able to start a new trial, with perhaps better results and more efficient methods. But perhaps I was being a bit excitable, please forgive my lapse of control. When creating worlds, one tends to forget how trying it is to interact with those who lack the big picture. I suppose I must try to look at things from another point of view. Many Denizens have voiced their concern for the city, and so for the sake of the DA I shall restrain myself. I will limit abomination usage, and try not to level too many city blocks. But you had best stay out of my way. I won’t seek out your people, but don’t expect me to give them special treatment. After all, the greatest abomination in the Alleys,” His grin stretched to horrible proportions, his eyespike glowing with a faint luminescence. A single image floated next to him: a man weeping with despair in his eyes. The Stranger turned towards the silent figure and inhaled deeply through his nose. The figure slowly dissolved into a stream of light that was sucked in with a ghostly wail. The Stranger turned back to Sudiov and spoke softly, “is me.”