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 Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:05 pm
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:10 pm
Jalil
Devaena
Prompt Response #1:
 Devaena was irritated when she sensed the first watcher shadowing her, but paid them little more mind than to note they were there. She was currently going nowhere nor doing anything which she felt the need to hide. Certainly she had considered striking first in case this was some repercussion from her recent...activities on Serendipity, or worse some hidden political agenda considering the atmosphere throughout the city since the challenge at Eclipseon, but one lone shadow would have struck while they had the element of surprise, not hung just out of her vision as if taunting her.
She focused on her peripheral vision again to see if the watcher was still there and saw two instead. Another flicked gaze to the opposite side showed two more waiting just outside her vision, and the prickling sensation on her neck likely meant there were more waiting behind her. When the whispers started, her greatsword left its sheathe and came to ready.
Deciever, they taunted. Defiler...beguiler...murderer...monster...daemon...fiend... She was these things, yes, so why should it faze her? This game was growing tiresome though. She turned to face her tormentors, outnumbered though she was, and found instead a scroll left before her which she began to read. So, her mysterious benefactors from Eclipseon finally named themselves. She was somewhat unsurprised to find out which faction had chosen her, but she was surprised at what they offered. Equality, a place amongst them...except, didn't that contradict with everything she had seen and heard of their faction's agenda? They were right in that certainly, amongst the factions of Serendipity, they were the ones she as a 'loth could most identify with and be considered a part of, but by that same token she was unsure how much she could trust their word. Would she, an Outsider, really be welcomed amongst them with open arms? She doubted it. Like any new person in a hierarchy she would more than likely be at the bottom of the totem pole at best.
Still, she had to look at things from the other side. She was for all intents and purposes stuck here. Would she rather be stuck here as an Outsider? Or be counted amongst the Planesborne, even if she would be lower ranking. A bitter, barked laugh escaped her throat. She would basically be trading her position among the 'loth hierarchy for the same position amongst these people, the least amongst the greatest. If she was to be stuck here, at least becoming part of one of the Great Nations would give her the chance to build her status and power and perhaps afford her the opportunity to see and learn things she might not otherwise. She would be turning her back on everything she knew though. Essentially becoming an altraloth, a traitor to her kind, except without the usual power that treacherous bargain usually brought with it...but supposing she did somehow return home, would she really be able to pick back up where she left off? Did she really think she would gain that promotion now or anytime in the foreseeable future? And that was assuming she ever got it at all. Until she could remove him from the equation she was certain Askovan would balk her at every step.
So what if she could change that? The things she could potentially gain if she could tap into this plane of existence and call it her own were tantalizing. If she ever did get to go home, she would potentially be backed by a power unknown to any of her kind. Askovan wouldn't stand a chance. It would also solve a dilemma Devaena'd had since she arrived on Serendipity. Like any 'loth she didn't have any need for sleep, but she did have a need to replenish herself. This was accomplished by occasionally merging herself with the essence of her home plane, something she was supposed to have done after the ritual Askovan interrupted. She had slowly felt herself dwindling in this place, a painstakingly slow way to be driven to madness if ever there was one. She'd held on since she arrived by the small acts of malice she'd arranged or perpetrated. Perhaps if she bound herself to this plane and became one of its denizens she could properly replenish herself before she got to the point of crazed desperation. Devaena knew that making desperate decisions was unwise and was the quickest way to dig yourself into a pit you'd never get out of (it was, after all, a tactic she often used on others). So it seemed that for the time being she would play the Celestials' game and see where it took her. After all, she had no qualms with representing them to their Senate, and if they truly intended to offer what they said in return it could be well worth it.
She continued reading. Ah, an assignment already. Well now, this intrigued her and brought a fiendish smile to her face. She recalled that when she had met the sky captain he had shown a tangible if vague interest in a certain white-haired warrior woman. She supposed now that interest was about to come full circle. Devaena was nothing if not a mercenary, a hired blade to be directed towards whatever purpose her employers deemed necessary so long as the price was right for the job. And if the price wasn't right well...alternate deals could be made.
So it was that she picked up the scroll and tucked it safely away on her person, then took to the skies to scout out the skyship. It was time to renew her brief acquaintance with Captain Laresh.Les Cousins Dangereux Colter Grady AndrewsPrompt Response # 1: Some sort of mistake had definitely been made.  I mean, I’d expected someone to become my patron of sorts—made me the champion of their cause, whatever it might be. But Great Gullimor’s Balls! This? This wasn’t what I’d had in mind at all. Granted, I was rather chuffed, being summoned by the Lady of Cerxes herself! That’s what you call a powerful ally! And physical reward or no, I’d pretty much do anything she asked if it meant that she would owe me one. Crediting in on that favor would be reward enough. But for the love of all that's holy in wars and riches, why had she chosen me? I would estimate there to be…forty-two million people better suited to this task than me, and that’s only counting the people in her immediate grasp, on Plane of Serendipity. I’d seen a chum the other day who was half-man, half-dragon. Yeah, that’s right—half- dragon. This guy had claws that would rip me in half if he tried to give me a back massage. Now that’s someone who could do some major protecting! And I’d seen a woman who hit a target with her knife from 150 feet away… while doing a handstand…with one arm…with her eyes closed! Now that’s skill! And if lack of physical superiority or super-human skill wasn’t enough, there’s still the matter of my rather… weak mental constitution. Because, really, let’s face it, protecting people isn’t exactly my forte. I’d sooner use one of my protectees as a human shield than risk the hand injury that might result when pulling them to safety. Yeah, I know. I’m the worst. The Great Lady must know all this, though. And she certainly wants me to succeed in my task—peace in her lands is always a good thing; she gets to stay in charge that way, I guess. But for some reason, she’s giving me a job of a Very Important Nature, which I am, in no way, qualified for, and, if I fail, it will probably result in some sort of massive revolution/war/equally unpleasant sort of carnage for her and all her peoples. Which begs the question: does this woman have a death wish? But hey, maybe I’m just worrying for nothing—maybe our little ship’ll be totally safe, majestically soaring through the air towards its destination, without any out of the ordinary happenings occurring, and no protection will be necessary. Ahahahah. Oh, it feels good to laugh. Yeah... This trip is going to be a complete disaster. le misanthrope  ________________BROTHER ANTON VALESCAprompt [ one ] response____Emerging from Eclipseon unscathed (relatively) but with the knowledge of his sacrifice looming over his head, Anton finds he has time - he's unsure of how much -- to really, truly acknowledge what he's given up for a second chance at his life. He's got time to realize what he's put up for the ante of a dangerous and stupid but necessary gamble...
Naturally, he spends much of it out-of-Phase, sitting on a small bed in a small room in the Worldspanners Inn in total silence broken only by his own breathing. Meditation and prayer have always come harder to him than any of his holy brothers, but now Anton finds that they are all he can do to keep the rising panic at bay. (Has he truly given a promise to leave behind his ability to phase for a broken Celtic cross -- has he really fallen so low, to be so idiotic?)
His thoughts are circular when he's out-of-Phase, and when he returns to reality -- rather, this plane of reality -- both his attempts at prayer to God, who probably doesn't even exist on this plane, and staying out of Phase for so long exhaust him.
The brother is grateful that in his wearied, over-fatigued sleep he does not dream and does not think.
Except this time, it is different. ____God damn your souls to hell, is the first thing Anton thinks when he wakes. It is quickly followed by, I hate dreams.
He bristles at the unwanted invasion of his dream, and is even more furious with the offer made. It forces him to make a choice between the reason he first immigrated to America and the ability which gave him the opportunity to immigrate. Two equally important -- two things which are so integral to who he is -- lay on the table before him, and to damn one means to keep the other... While saving one means giving up both. He isn't so sure he can deny his Phasing ability twice, not when doing so once has dragged him so deep into turmoil. Anton can only imagine how little moral fibre someone who's offered this to him can actually possess.
Yet still the brother knows what his choice will be; what Anton doesn't know is if it was actually ever really a choice at all, because in his deepest heart, he's selfish.
"Let me tell you something, boyo," his grandfather's voice echos in his head. "It sucks to suck, but suck it up and tough it out."
Wise words from a wise man; Anton slips out of bed and straightens out his habit. He rolls his shoulders like the physical motion will ease out the stress of the choice he's made. Anton heads out the Inn and towards wherever it is he's supposed to going.
May you never have a hearth to call your own, he curses silently, and may the devil take your last shilling and swallow you sideways. Blast you all to hell -- but I'll do it.
LadyFox  The dream was a prison Lurp couldn't escape, and there seemed no end to the tortures it presented her. When at last her eyes opened, freeing her, Lurp rose shakily to her feet and leaned out the window, purging not only yesterday's accumulated dust and dirt as she did every morning, but last night's dinner as well. Something had found her. For all her care and caution, for all she hid from view, something had seen to the core of her and turned it against her. Even as the dream faded, Lurp could still feel the hands on her skin, the burning, the pain. She wished she could purge the lingering remnants of the dream as easily as she had dinner. Instead she was being promised an eternity of it. This wasn't what she had expected when she'd left Eclipseon. The figure there had promised, in exchange for her testimony, a chance to gain her token and return to where she was meant to be. This... voice... hadn't sounded anything like that. For her testimony now the elementals—primes, as they called themselves—promised her “the mercy of a quick end.” What the hell kind of reward was that? If Lurp thought her death would sever her from Serendipity she would have died already, by her own hand. On the other hand, if she failed to represent them the dream had simply been a taste of what they intended for her. Lurp shuddered. What did any of this mean? Were the primes changing the terms of the bargain they had already agreed to? Had the figure in Eclipseon been from a different faction? Lurp hadn't asked them which they belonged to, thinking it unimportant. She cursed herself now for her short-sightedness. Either way, the primes wanted her to argue their case before the senate. It was true she was a born deceiver, something certainly required for an outsider to argue their case convincingly. But surely there were others gifted with lies? They must have chosen her for her weakness then, their ability to manipulate her through her fears. How could she do anything but what they demanded? She had known in Eclipseon that she could not relive even two years of her torture, let alone the eternity they threatened her with. They had known her fears so intimately... could they truly read her thoughts as they said? But if they had the power to both read thoughts and implant them, why did they need her at all? Clearly they had no love for outsiders. If they could do all that they claimed, why not simply rid themselves of all the outsiders by playing on their fears? Lurp imagined many would commit suicide after just a short time of such treatment. Or could it be that the primes lied? But if so, how could they have known her thoughts? Then it occurred to her, perhaps they had been watching her in Eclipseon and seen what it revealed of her inner workings. If they had been watching in Eclipseon and chosen her, that meant they needed her didn't it? Maybe that provided her some small bit of leverage. Lurp decided a test was in order. She didn't target the words that came into her mind (sometimes beings that otherwise couldn't read thoughts could hear those targeted at them). Instead she let the words form into individual thought clouds and simply float inside her head. “I was promised my token, and the chamber of worlds.” “I want off this plane as much as anyone wants me off it. If death would accomplish that, I would die gladly, 1000 times.” As a further test, Lurp let the last thoughts form in Arvul, her first language. “My death doesn't benefit either of us if my connection to this plane remains.”
“I will do all that is asked of me and more, but I want what is mine.”
“I want to go where I should have gone when I died the first time.”
The thoughts hung in the nothingness of her mind for a few moments and then she let them dissipate. Perhaps this could still work out. Lurp didn't like being bullied, but she wasn't going to be stupid. She didn't need to make any moves yet; she would watch and wait and see how events played out. She would be careful. She would bide her time. But if the archives of her thoughts were truly open to the primes, they should already know what became of those who had bullied her in the past. Madoneko  Robin Banks[Prompt Response #1]
0101
Robin regretted not eating breakfast.
It was the first time she had neglected breakfast in a very long time, and her body was feeling quite sluggish because of it.
But still, thinking of food even now made her stomach churn. Her whole body had been on the fritz since last night... and Robin knew why. She was pretty sure the technology itself was causing the upsetting in her stomach, but another part of her knew that she was sick to the stomach just over the thought of it.
She wanted to force herself to believe that last night was a dream, that nothing had changed, but something had. She could feel it. It was a change that made her skin crawl and her nerves shiver, unsettling to the core.
Technology... she never had been very good at embracing it. It had always been her mortal enemy, a ultimate antagonist in her life's struggle.
And now... to think...
Robin retched a little more as she forced her feet to come to a stop at the edge of the platform that led up to the Sky Ship.
This was it. This was where she needed to be, according to what she had been told. Now, she just had to take a deep breath and step onto the vessel and go from there.
Because she had to do this to get back to her world. She had come this far, she could keep going.
She bit her lip. She had to keep going. Even if it changed the fibres of her very being. Even if it meant she would have to assimilate into herself that what had taunted her and belittled her very existence.
Because the goal was worth it.
She just had to keep reminding herself that.
So, inhale.
Things would change.
Things would get better.
So Robin exhaled, smiled a little, and boarded the sky ship.
The only direction from here was up.
Jaudaran “…I’m sorry?” Fred’s voice was slightly shrill. Something big and important had obviously just happened to him, but damned if he knew what. It happened so fast—what did the man say? Dragons? Back in the labyrinth, a mysterious figure had approached Fred, asking him to represent the cause of some organization…but Fred had declined. Yet, the blonde man that just addressed him seemed to be under the impression that Fred was indeed going through with it. And he left before Fred had a chance to correct him. Oh god, what now?Fred glanced nervously at the guards. How was he supposed to explain that this was all a mistake? He had been willing maybe to endure this if it would get him home, but the other price of returning had been too high, and Fred had accepted that that choice meant he was doomed to stay here in this bizarre place—and had assumed he’d made it clear that he wouldn’t be representing anything after all. He…had made it clear, hadn’t he? Suddenly Fred’s stomach turned, and his head was full of doubt. Maybe he hadn’t. Did he not actually say it? Had he left them with the impression he would still do this? Oh god, he probably had. They were still counting on him to be their representative, and it was because he’d been too stupid and distracted to clarify. How the hell could he back out now? He would let them down, it’d be too late for them to find someone else, they’d be furious… Pale and vaguely mortified, Fred considered what the blonde man had said—at least it sounded like the cause was just. But why him? Of everyone in the world, in all of ever, why him? He didn’t want to get involved in the politics of this place, and he definitely didn’t want to do any public speaking. But there was no way out. There was no way he could bring himself to explain the misunderstanding. So he just stood there, feeling feverish and on the verge of a panic attack. Inescapably stuck between a rock and a hard place, Fred waited and worried and stressed, and in the back of his mind, wished fervently that he could be eaten again.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:48 pm
Prompt Two:Due Date: Saturday Night (Late: Sunday Noon PST) Note: The initial prompts are going to have more time between them so everyone can settle in. One we get moving though, there will be less time between prompts. Rulings:Everyone: Please assume your character has boarded the skyship and it has undocked from the Common Plaza launch area and is moving up and forwards toward the Greater Platform and the Court. Description of Skyship:The skyship is a metal beast, similar in shape to a shuttle with wings - pretty futuristic looking. Shiny, smooth and sleek. It has several levels to it, like any ship... but importantly it does have a deck where the nautical stuff goes on. The upper deck is open with huge shield like siding about 20 feet away from the edges of the deck. Anyone can jump off... there are bays for two smaller skyships near the back of the launch deck, doors leading below deck. Everyone is on the upper deck. Jalil: Your character was unable to find Laresh before boarding the skyship. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Side View of the City  Top Down (*totally* accurate and to size) View from Above --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The assembled on board the sky ship, Elysian, were a quiet group. The captain issued orders to his crew, and his men stood ready for any command. All of the Outsiders the Lady and the Faction Leaders had requested were shuttled on board - Laresh wasn't sure how this had been accomplished, but he doubted it had been eventless. He would get the report from Xalite later.
Tension. The air was thick with it. Below the gracefully moving Elysian, the city spread out beneath. All around there were still pockets of violence in evidence - plumes of smoke and the smell of fire or magic carried on the winds. Through his resources Laresh had confirmed that the shyship would be attacked and the Outsiders the target. His mouth pressed together firmly as he recalled his argument with Ros... she had given him nothing. This was serious. But he would be neutered and caged before he snuck his charges in through a backdoor like a cringing squealer.
Let it come, his men were ready and Lady Luck would see him through as always.
When the first rumblings of activity began, Laresh tried not to show his anxiousness to his men. On the edge of the city, huge bursts of dust gathered and erupted into billowing clouds of red tinged smoke. Something very large was happening over there.... the first screams from the city could be heard. They were far off and distant, and only their combined voices made them audible.
Suddenly, out of the smoke burst several quick moving forms - small sky ships which shot off several rockets with thundering roars before turning and speeding straight for the Elysian. Just as they turned, another rumble sounded from the distant cloud, and then a loud crack ripped through the air, so loud it made thunder sound like a gentle patter in comparison. The awesome sound was so deafening many of the crew on board clapped hands to their ears or flinched backwards. Laresh could not even begin to imagine what could cause such a noise. Fortune's Dice... It had sounded almost like the platform had been torn and he half expected to see a piece of the city go careening off into the skies - but all it did was seem to shift and shake as if being inundated with a fierce energy current.
Motioning to his men to keep the Outsides from making any sudden moves... Laresh barked a few orders to the crew and then yelled, "Starboard and Hard!" There was no way he was running straight into that thing. It was time to move. Being a coward was one thing, being stupid was another. There would be a fight, but it would be on his terms.
As soon as the ship began shifting upward and right, another explosion rocked the platform and more smoke spirals upward. Jalil  Devaena
Devaena had hoped to have a chat with Laresh before boarding the airship, but it seemed that was not to be the case as the airship was not to be found until she and what she assumed to be the other factions' chosen outsiders were ready to board. She found herself instead stepping aboard the airship in her more fully human disguise, the one Laresh would be more familiar with, as she took stock of the situation. It seemed the dissident planesborne were still intent on causing trouble, and today the very airship they rode on was the target. Well, Devaena had seen first hand what an airship crash could do. She wasn't keen to go for another round of that.
Still, she had an objective here if she chose to carry it out. Truthfully, she wanted to see if Laresh could offer her a better deal first - that was generally how she operated - but if she had an opportunity before she had a chance to chat with him, then such would be life. She certainly wouldn't shed a tear over it. There was still time though, and to play her hand too quickly would certainly end in failure. For the moment she do what she did best. Observe. So she observed the other Outsiders as they boarded the ship, she observed the smoke clouds and the small airships as they whizzed towards the Elysian, the explosions as they rocked the platform below, but most of all she observed Laresh as she steadied herself against the hard turn of the airship. Action would come in time, for now she needed to know better what she was dealing with.Les Cousins Dangereux Colter:
Several things happen at once: a bunch of rockets are shot off in our general direction, a terrible cracking noise fills the air, and the entire deck of the Elysian vibrates with an unseen energy.
And all I can think is: why the hell are we out in the open on the top deck? I do not feel safe. Can those shields withstand rockets? They look kinda flimsy. Kinda old.
Okay, so that’s not quite all I’m thinking. I’m also wondering why I don’t have a jet-propulsion pack on, but I don’t even know if they’ve invented those in whatever universe Serendipity belongs to. And also present, of course, is the standard whine of panic that seems to override any sort of logical thought I might otherwise be capable of.
This panic doesn’t seem to affect the captain however; he’s a capable man and takes action quickly. I thank the gods that he doesn’t attempt to engage… but I get the feeling we won’t be fleeing from danger from long. There is such a thing as being too capable… makes people think they can rush into danger and come out unscathed. And most of the time, he’d probably be right.
But what about me? I don’t think I’m that capable. And I’m definitely not going to come out of a sky battle with a bunch of ships firing rockets at us unscathed. Most of my companions look as though they could probably handle a rocket or two with their bare hands though. Maybe not that younger looking girl…or the guy with the extra eyeball coming out of his head… he looks pretty frail.
Maybe we could find a nice safe place to hide together.
A nice safe place sounds wonderful. Get us all together in one rocket-proof/scary-dust-proof room, and let the captain deal with the unpleasant things that are trying to kill us all.
No! I’m protecting! Protecting, protecting, protecting. Being the protector. Protecting.
Yes, I can do that. I can sit still. I can wait for the captain to steer us out of danger.
Until it gets too risky… In which case I’m going to have to figure out how to get safely to ground. And the chances of any plan I come up with actually working are slim, what with rockets flying all around.
Gods, I hope things stop exploding soon. le misanthrope ________________BROTHER ANTON VALESCA ____By the time Anton makes it onboard the airship ( airship, he thinks to himself, like bloody ships aren't bad enough) most of his anger is dissipated, though it's left him feeling oddly defeated. He'd rather be angry about the choice he's made than accepting, but accepting he is -- still, this isn't the first time Anton has disappointed himself, and if he's realistic it certainly won't be the last. He'll move on eventually -- he won't join another monastic order to do it, but he will move on. This is simply a means to an end, and the end justifies the means. That's how he's operated most of his life... though it's a life he regrets. The doubt settled deep in Anton shifts and raises its head as the monk follows the rest of Outsiders to the upper deck. He's determined to remain as invisible as possible, keeping the hood of his habit raised and scarcely sparing the others more than a cursory glance -- ____A loud crack nearly bursts Anton's eardrums, and then the airship shifts, making a hard right before it is rocked by some kind of explosion. The monk stumbles just as a crew member reached him, presumably to feed him some lie about how everything is okay and they are just experiencing -- what do flight attendants call it back on Earth? Turbulence. "Blood and bloody ashes," Anton growls under his breath, grabbing for the crew member's shoulder to pull himself upright and steady himself. He gathers himself in - his matter, something like taking in a deep breath and holding it. He won't "exhale" just yet - won't Phase dimensions and get himself the ******** out of there while he still has the ability to... but he's preparing himself for the worst. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best... I hope this whole place is smothered and drowned, and I get returned to Earth whole, Anton thinks. His oaths be damned -- stability and conversion of life and obedience and opus dei, the service of God, and all the rest of Benedict's Rule. Right now he just wants to live unscathed. Bloody airships. Madoneko Robin Banks 0101The tension was practically suffocating Robin. She viewed the group of other outsiders around her curiously, wondering about the factions they would be representing. By the look of it, most of them were present against their better wishes. She put a hand over her stomach to quell the nauseating feeling. She let her eyes flicker over each of their forms, taking everything in; absorbing every little detail. It was necessary to learn as much as she could, she had a feeling this group would be spending a lot of time together. She wished not to make enemies out of any of them, but her main goal was to return home. Yes, she just needed to be done with this, and then she could return home. But... was that okay? Was it okay to just go home at any cost? She mused over to importance of her own universe. Yes, her family resided there. Yes, she wanted to brighten their lives. But could she let another universe collapse in the sight of achieving of her own goal? She moved to the edge of the deck and viewed the city beneath her, eyes moving with the smoke and sparks, and suddenly she felt heavy. She had been chosen to represent a cause. She had been chosen to help resolve this. She had been chosen to assist the nations in finding a new direction. Her shoulders felt heavy and suddenly she felt connected to Serendipity as never before. She clenched the railing of the ship. This was something larger than her. And she doubted she could return home in good conscience knowing she hadn't tried her best to help this place find peace. Just because they were not of her universe did not make them less important. Everyone deserved to find peace. And if she could help achieve that goal... and then return home and achieve her own... Robin felt a sense of purpose like she never had before. Her shoulders were heavy but her goal was clear. Suddenly a rumble shook the skies and the ship trembled violently. Robin grabbed the handrail to keep from falling backwards or worse, off the side of the ship. The terrible unsettling feeling in her stomach rose to her throat and she felt lightheaded. It was most certainly a god-fearingly terribly awful idea to skip breakfast this morning. And on top of her anxiety and the new additions, Robin suddenly felt a wave of bitingly dreadful nausea overcome her. So this must be what her mother called "motion-sickness". Well then, wasn't it just perfect that she seemed to have taken after her? A painful noise followed after and she covered her ears and flinched, eyes tightly closed. The captain shouted something she couldn't understand and the ship rocked again. Robin felt the bile build up in her throat and began to grasp for the rail in front of her as she felt her body tip backwards. Jaudaran The skyship was unlike anything Fred had ever seen. It was difficult to say which was more intimidating between the ship and its crew, and the battle still raging below them in parts of the city—but from above, it was becoming increasingly evident that this may not have been the best time to start a political career. Fred braced himself against the nearest solid object and tried to keep his panic as subtle as possible. That plan, however, fell to absolute pieces as the first cracking noise thundered through the air around them. Eyes wide with shock and fear, and ears still ringing, Fred stared at the red cloud and approaching ships with an increasingly surreal and distant feeling. Part of him wanted to scream “WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!” but somehow couldn’t do more than let his mouth hang open, dumbly. Whatever was happening was obviously not good, but Fred was powerless to help. Through his shock, he vaguely searched his mind for anything he could do, but realized to find a way to help he’d first have to know what in the world was going on. As much as he hoped the crew would take care of it…Fred suddenly found himself keeping his ears open, in case there was any way he could lend a hand (or hat) if they needed him. LadyFox Lurp boarded the ship with her hackles already up. Tired and on edge thanks to last night's dream, she was ready to kill the first person who so much as looked at her cross-eyed. She didn't want to be here. Not on this ship, not on this delegation, not on this entire damned plane. But what she wanted and what WAS were miles apart. The ship looked like no skyship Lurp had ever seen with its glistening metal shields and its absence of balloon or sails. Like the trained escape artist she was, Lurp ran her eyes over the upper deck, picking out important details and possible escape routes. She assessed each of her companions in turn, her gaze hardening when she saw Devaena among them. That was an unpleasant surprise. She had to remind herself the creature wouldn't recognize her in this form and that this was hardly the time or place for a confrontation. If and when Lurp next confronted Devaena it would involve someplace dark and isolated - and no mistakes this time. Her other senses were also on high alert, highlighting scents and sounds that might provide her with more important information about the ship and her companions. Unfortunately, these same heightened senses proved to be a disadvantage when everything went to hell. Her ears flattened along her skull in pain and she jerked back at the crack that ripped through air around her. The scent of smoke assaulted her, even at this distance. When her ears stopped ringing seconds later, Lurp lowered her stance, preparing herself for whatever might come next. She ran her eyes over the ship one more time. The crew looked like they were keeping the outsiders in more than keeping them safe. Bugger that, as Will would say. If worst came to absolute worst, Lurp was going to take to the skies and hope she could evade rockets long enough to get to safety. If a guard tried to stop her, they were going over the side.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:32 pm
Prompt Three:
Due Date: Friday Night (Late: Saturday Noon PST)
Note: This is the last prompt with a lot of time in between to think. Soon it will be fast so we can finish this up. If you are going to be unable to reply in depth you may consider writing a short one or two sentence reply of what your character is doing as soon as you see the prompt. We are behind the deadline, so I don't know when this will end precisely for judges.
Rulings:
Robin Banks - The location of the control room, and where Robin would upload orders is down through the engineering level. She knows the way through the memories implanted there. She also knows the entire layout of the ship, including how to activate the one emergency sky shuttle (will land on ground below) and she knows of the presence of the two sky fighters located on the launch deck.
Description of small Skyships:
The smaller skyships are metal, they are about the size of small shuttles (four man). They are geared for lots of damage but not a lot of protection.
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"Greetings Outsiders!" A voice booms louder than life. Its owner is not anywhere to be seen... "You who are about to set foot where no other Outsider should dare, fling convention to the Primordial, and in general disrupt the very fabric of everything that Cerxes stands for - the Doomnayers, as we call ourselves, greet you, and welcome you, to your deaths." Besides the rumblings along the platform below this pronouncement ends in silence.
The skyships do not get within range of the Elysian's weaponry, but they begin circling it - surrounding it like jackals waiting for the right moment to strike. Their colors indicate that they are formed of all of the factions... incredible. Even the dragons. Laresh gives the order to slow; although the assailants could cause damage they are more nuisances than any real threat. He frowns wondering how in Fortune's whimsy the speaker thinks he can accomplish the death of these Outsiders protected aboard the Elysian.
Warily, Laresh glances to the cloud of rust colored dust spreading across the sky and his frown deepens. "Stay our course." He says calmly, and nods to his Technoist, who he is sure is already tracking the source of the announcement. The man nods back to him, his eyes not leaving the screen while his fingers fly over the strange symbols which light upon its dark surface.
"Captain Laresh, you are hereby requested to hand over your charges or --"
Suddenly the mass of cloud is forced back as though some great pressure had at once burst from its center. The vaporous haze is flung through the air, like a tidal wave of dust. The source of the loud cracking noise is revealed - the arena, home of the Clockword monstrosity, has been torn assunder. Five hundred foot walls crumble with avalanche like destruction down onto the city. Laresh's eyes widen and his face pales as it comes to him that there is really only one explanation for this order - the Doomnayers, or whatever they were - to be so confident. The Contraption.
"Ah! There we are. Yes, as I was saying, hand the Outsiders over, now. And I just might be persuaded to undo what has been done before it is too late. By the way, he's heading straight for the Outsider's platform - you know, the lesser one. I'd give it about two minutes tops, depending on if he gets distracted on the way in or not."
'He' was the Contraption of Hullabaloo... a gigantic clockwork monster. It had plagued the city for a thousand years before it was finally defeated - or rather controlled. It was impossible to destroy, but by technoist invention, a timer was fitted so that it could be set to sleep. The timer allowed it to wake for two minutes, but no longer. It had been far longer than that... Never long enough to break down the walls that contained it. Which it had just done.
Long spindly mechanical legs bear the weight of the mechanical lunacy that the Contraption was. It was easily the size of an elder dragon, its body made of an indestructible metal, fitted with all manner of strange weaponry of the grandest variety in a hodge podge collection of doom - much of it arcane, but all of it deadly. Its first step onto the Greater Common's platform caused the area to shake.
"Captain!" The technoist says, his voice tinged with controlled fear. "I have the location. The Moontide Docking Tower. Laresh's eyes travel over to the docking tower located on the Dragon's platform. It is just barely visible from this distance. So the voice came from there... too far for him to make it on the Elysian. And that was the point of their escort. Too far to warn the lesser Commons and evacuate. Too far to get to the Lady and request the Magi's assistance.
Of course, it would all happen, eventually - but not without these deaths - and Fates knew how they would stop the Contraption again, or if it was even possible. Death in Cerxes of the Outsiders was never permanent, everyone knew this. That is why their lives were so devalued by many.
But this was his duty, he served the Lady and he did it with pride. She would say it wasn't about their endless death cycle, it was about what was right... but would the Lady want him to hand over his charges? He had sworn to protect them. But wasn't he also sworn to protect all Outsiders, not just these ones. The Lady trusted him, that is why he had this position... and she would have chosen him knowing what sort of person he was and what decisions he would make. Yes, that had to be true. And with that, Laresh knew what he had to do.
"Defilers!! Heretics!!!!!" The voice screamed. "Hand them over!!! There will be no counsel of Outsiders, one way or another!!"
Turning to the Outsiders and his men, Laresh took them all in. "We don't have time to discuss this. The way I see it, we have little option." His gaze was hard and cold and he began counting off each point with his fingers to the sounds of death and destruction below them.
"One. The Lesser Commons must be warned. The contraption will not be easily stopped, even finding this madman doesn't guarantee that. Someone will need to find a way to get to them. There is a shuttle that will land below and there are two sky fighters - getting out of here won't be easy, but we will cover whoever attempts it.
"Two. The Lady could be in danger, or being held captive in some way. We need to request the Magi for defense. They aren't here, so something is wrong. Either someone will need to see what has happened or request the Magi themselves - Xalite, I know you can do this, but alone...
"No way, Boss. I'm not leaving the ship --" At Laresh's glare the dragon grows quiet but grumbly. He mutters something under his breath but then nods.
Three. That madmen is out there, at the Moontide Docking Tower. He may have the key to stop this. If someone could get over there... reason with him or force it out of him. We have to try.
"What are you waiting for!?? This isn't a game, Laresh!" The voice is snarling with fury now, and the Contraption is getting closer.
Laresh continues calmly, because to panic now, even though this is probably the day he will die, would give the enemy exactly what it wanted.
"Last. The Contraption. Slowing it... and by that, I mean getting its attention. I can't ask any of you to stay and help." And with those words he nods to his men... and the Outsiders. Wondering, hoping, that they had been chosen for their remarkable abilities or power. His men begin manning the weapons and Laresh starts giving the final orders for positioning to fight. He turned away from the group.
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 4:44 am
le misanthrope ________________BROTHER ANTON VALESCAprompt [ three ] response____ It's all Anton can do to not stare slack-jawed at the assembly of floating machine things -- the fact that the leader of them is demanding the Outsiders lives, and most importantly his life, helps him to keep his wits about him. Stumbling every time the ship so much as rocks as he is, Anton's hood has dropped and his expression is visibly serious when the captain address his crew, Anton, and the rest of the outsiders; Anton glances at the rest of his... 'colleagues', for lack of a better term, trying not to form judgements of them but hoping they can do something.
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth..." the monk mutters inaudibly under his breath, more out of habit than out of hope God will do anything. God is on some other plane of existence, if he exists, and it's Anton and the rest of the people here that are going to have to act if they want to live.
And Anton really, really wants to live.
____"I can get to your Moonthing Tower," Anton says before his mind catches up with his mouth. Frowning at the captain he actually pauses to think for a moment. In his experience, staying closest to the madmen can, in some instances, be the best choice. If they aren't suicidal madmen, then it's absolutely the safest place; many crusaders are cowards at heart, and unwilling to put their own lives on the line. If Anton reaches this madman supposedly on the Moondock-whatever part of the Elysian, he might be guaranteeing his own safety... But he also might be attacked and possibly killed on the spot, or die along with a suicidal lunatic. Another gamble.
Anton is starting to get sick of them.
"I'm not sure what I can do, but I will be able to get there," he finally adds.____Glancing up at the monstrosity aptly-named the Contraption with trepidation he manages to keep from showing, Anton 'exhales' and Phases into another dimension. The Contraption, the captain, the rest of his fellow Outsiders -- everything fades away except for the Elysian. Not even the array of metal shuttle-ships float in this dimension's jade sky; the Eysian is alone in the air, and Anton doubts there is any land below it. He's not entirely keen on looking -- there isn't exactly time to waste, not with lives on the line.
He makes his way through the ghost ship settled in another dimension, his heart in his throat as he travels -- the way it always is. Familiarity.
And then it's over, because Anton has reached the Tower and needs to return to reality and face the music. ____Inhaling, Anton Phases back onto the Elysian proper, with battle looming and a giant clockwork thing lumbering threateningly in the sky.
"Don't bloody shoot," the monk growls as he fades into view, steadily getting more tangible as he returns from the traveling dimension. His vision is filled with the afterimage of the jade sky, rendering him effectively blind as he tries to blink the color out of his eyes. "I'm here to help you," he lies instinctively, trying to buy time before someone attacks him until he can at least see properly again.
Les Cousins Dangereux Colter:
Prompt #3: “Efinaeh.” The swear leaves my lips as though forcibly expelled by a punch to the gut. Though, I would definitely prefer even dozens of punches to the absolute monstrosity that is now tearing through the city. I watch as one of its long mechanical legs crushes a building… and continue to watch as it smashes a few more buildings, along with a couple of people for good measure. Gullimor’s blade! I am most definitely, most certainly going to die. And I don’t even know what it means to die here! Will I just reappear some time later? Or jump to another plane of existence? Or go back home? Or be trapped in my own nightmares or thoughts or emotions or fears? Or be reborn as a bug or a leaf or a Blergle or a giant metal beast OF DEATH? The part of my mind that is still calm (that very small part of my mind that is not now panicking over whether it would be better to exist as a blade of grass or a cockroach) recognizes that the Captain is going over options. Giving reasonable and logical solutions to our problem. But it is very hard to concentrate on the solutions when your problem is an INDESTRUCTIBLE DOOMSDAY MACHINE! I mean, come on! It has a spike shooter! And a big metal mashy thing. And, gods below… I don’t even want to know what that giant cannon thing does. How am I supposed to concentrate on other Outsiders or Magi or madmen or…. Oh. Okay, those are the different plans. Gotcha. Thanks, calm side of the brain. Okay. Okay. I can do this. I can help. Of course staying on the ship is 100% out of the question if they’re going to go swooping in after that EVIL MONSTER OF DOOM! No… no. Focus, Colter. Focus. Okay, other available options… the madman. Okay, the madman sounds good… So long as it’s not mad men, plural. I can handle one psychopath. They like to talk about their nefarious plans and stuff. Talking is good. "I can get to your Moonthing Tower." It’s the scary guy in black robes. I’d been keeping an eye on him because, until now, his face had been hidden, and that’s never a good sign. Plus, he looked like an Augur of Makrou, and those guys have always creeped me the ef out. So yeah. Suddenly, I’m not so sure that going after the psychopath is a good idea. "I'm not sure what I can do, but I will be able to get there.” The man in black states. And then he just vanishes. Are you kidding me!? This chum has super powers? He can just poof, no big deal? Why can’t I do something like that? The unfairness of life! The unequal balance of…. Focus, focus, focus. Okay, I could try to save the Lady. Bonus points for rushing in like a big hero saving the damsel in distress…but, yeah, that wouldn’t happen. I’d probably end up being the one in need of saving. So that leaves… warning the other Outsiders. My mind latches onto a certain phrase of the Captain’s: “don't try to be brave”. Yeah. Yeah, I like that. That sounds good. I’d be away (sort of) from the… you know… the monster… and I’d be protecting some Outsiders, which the Lady seems to be in favor of. And all I have to do is talk to people; convincing them to leave shouldn’t be so hard when there’s a terrible, colossal, horrific… don’t think about that. Don’t think about it. “I’ll warn the Outsiders.” I speak before my mind is completely up to speed on the situation. So how do you think you’re going to get there, wise guy? Teleport away like Super!Priest? “But… uh… Someone’s going to have to fly me down there.” I swallow heavily. “Preferably someone who’s rather adept at dodging rockets.” I am most definitely, most certainly going to die. LadyFox Lurp:Prompt #3What the HELL was wrong with this thrice-damned plane? In just the last week, Lurp's been killed, then bullied, harassed, and tortured, and now she is being threatened with death. Again. AGAIN! She's already dead damnit! That should mean she didn't have to deal anymore with lunatics trying to kill her. It's all beginning to feel vindictive at this point, as if the universe is personally punishing her. It wasn't as if she ASKED to be here in the first place. Lurp thought in exasperation. All she wanted was to go be dead where she belonged. Dying shouldn't be so complicated. Or political. When Laresh starts suggesting various tasks Lurp wonders for a moment if he isn't just attempting to get rid of them via a more circuitous route. End the fight but save face. Then again he said they didn't have to help, and anyway it's obvious that there is more to be done than the Elysian and it's crew can handle alone. If the outsiders don't pitch in they will probably wind up dying anyway. No place is safe and it's not like there are a lot of alternatives. She could stay on the ship and just lie low, but it's currently the target of a large-scale aerial attack. She could try to run away, but she has a feeling she wouldn't get very far on her own before someone thirsty for outsider blood turned their sights on her. No, it looks like the only way to survive is to get this resolved, and fast. Lurp is not brave, and she's not particularly selfless either. The last thing she wants to do is play hero. But in light of the danger inherent in her other choices, helping out is enlightened self-interest more than anything else. The shape-shifter quickly runs through Laresh's options in her mind. Going after the contraption is out of the question. No way in hell is she going to tangle with that thing, even just to draw its attention. For the same reason warning the Lesser Commons gets crossed off her list. It just seems counter-intuitive to go to the same place the walking-whirling-mashing-slicing-piercing-stabbing machine of DEATH is heading. The man in black disappears, crossing another option off her list. Just as well, she didn't want to show up on the doorstep of a mad man anyway. That leaves the best option of the bunch, and Lurp runs over to join.. what had Laresh called him? Right, Xalite. Normally Lurp prefers to work alone. Normally Lurp dislikes dragons because dragons breathe fire, and fire... fire is not Lurp's friend. But in this case she is willing to deal with both. Between skyships with rockets, oversized walking knife blocks and who knows what else is out there wanting her blood, it just seems smarter to have backup. Especially if that backup is as big as the blue and gold dragon currently stretching out on the launchpad. In comparison to Xalite, Lurp is a very small target, and she can use this to her advantage. Lurp has been careful in Serendipity to keep the fact that she can shift a secret, both because she is used to living places where merely having that ability could get her killed, and because she doesn't like to tip her hand before she has to. But both concerns seem secondary right now, and riding on the dragon's back instead of shifting would defeat the whole purpose of having a meat-shield in the first place. At 165 pounds, she can't just turn into a hawk, or something else unobtrusive, she has to shift into something big enough that the wingspan can support her weight, such as a young dragon. Right now though she wants to make as small a target as possible, so she does something she has only done a few times before. As she stands on the launchpad, she retains her shape, but a pair of wings unfurl from her back and shoulders. The wings dwarf her at easily 5 times her size. They look like dragon wings, but iridescent and in the light shining through the skin, the flesh looks strangely cross-hatched. The wings are feather light, but Lurp had based their makeup on spider silk, and they have the tensile strength and toughness to match, making them stronger than steel. Of course if something hits them, it could still knock her out of the sky, but the wings at least should stay intact. The rest of her stays the same, but her skin takes on some of the same irridescent quality and cross-hatched structure. "Ready when you are" she says to Xalite, and prepares to leap from the edge. Jalil Devaena
Round 3, Prompt #3
Well, this was just turning out fantastic. If Devaena was lucky arranging that little incident might be easier than she could've hoped. She knew she didn't want to stray too far from the ship. She preferred not to die, but hells...if she was gonna die, she might as well go down fighting. War was in Devaena's blood so it seemed fitting. Indeed amongst the other fearful, worried glances, Devaena almost seemed gleeful, anticipating the coming conflict perhaps. That was because Devaena had a plan.
In order to stay close that meant she couldn't go to the madman (even though the thought had crossed her mind to bargain with him), so when the priest (bah, holy men...really?) phased out (well now...interesting sort of priest...) well, that was alright by her. She didn't care to warn the outsiders, so when the man with the strange arm left to do that it suited her. When the woman who grew wings (well well now, there was one she'd definitely have to keep her eye on) left with the dragon, that was also fine by her. Devaena had her sights set on a much bigger, much grander target.
The Contraption.
It was big enough and dangerous enough that perhaps she could find a way to use it to accomplish her goal anyways, and if not well...either way she could use this little act of bravery to her same advantage she was sure.
"Well," she said fixing Captain Laresh with a look. "I guess that leaves big guy over there to me. You owe me a drink for this," she said with a wink and then vaulted off the side of the ship. Her cloak spread wide into a pair of fully functional wings and she sailed towards the Contraption. But her frail, human form would do her little good for this. As she glided towards the Contraption she let the magic fall which concealed her true form. The large warrior woman quickly gave way to an even larger monster as green scales cascaded across her skin, the face pushed outwards into a dog-like muzzle, an extra pair of arms grew each tipped with vicious claws. The nycaloth flapped its massive wings to gain lift and made a beeline for the metal monstrosity, a wicked grin curling on her lips. Jaudaran Sights, sounds, and information swirled about in the air around Fred, and he grasped at what little he could, but everything seemed just out of his reach, like he was witnessing it through a layer of glass. He tried to make sense of what was happening, but things were happening too fast, and everything he saw or heard was so unfamiliar still that it felt unreal. He was overwhelmed, and dazed. There were ships in the air around them, and a voice from nowhere—a voice that said they were going to be killed. What?! Fred didn’t even want to be there! The next thing Fred saw that he even vaguely understood was some kind of…not a hatbeast, they didn’t have those there, and this was far too big. He didn’t recognize any hats in its shape anyway. Whatever it was specifically, it was obviously some kind of huge metal killing machine, though, and the pointy bits gave Fred a feeling in his stomach that made him thankful he hadn’t eaten that day. And it was headed for some kind of city…? With increasing nausea, Fred had the realization in some part of his brain that this thing was on the loose because the captain of their ship wouldn’t hand over the representatives…including him. Guilt, helplessness, and terror washed over him, and then more guilt again. Why not?! Fred didn’t want to die again, but he was already dead, and even if he weren’t…it was ridiculous not to sacrifice a couple lives to save an entire city. But giving themselves up wasn’t even one of the options the captain was rattling off, and other passengers were already taking off to save themselves, leaving Fred alone in his hypothetical solution. Wait, what was that? OH. God, of course! The captain said something about magic, and Fred snapped back to the actual situation again, at least as much as he could (no matter how hard he tried, the whole thing still felt eerily distant and chaotic, like his eyes had glazed over and his ears were plugged). Trying to get the thing’s attention, draw it away from killing everyone, and do this by using magic—Fred had been searching for a way to help, and that was probably the best he could do, even if it were a long-shot. Running to get the best possible view of the monster, Fred stared at it, and concentrated on it as hard as he could. He tried desperately to block out everything else going on, all the chaos and noise, and focus exclusively and unwaveringly on the two horrible attachments in the front, the gnasher and spiky thing. Then, hard as he could, Fred pictured in his mind these two pieces just…stopping. He imagined them being pushed back towards the contraption, so they couldn’t be used. He visualized it as intensely as he possibly could, pushing at the attachments with his mind until it felt like it would break, and hoped desperately that the force would at the very least push against the monster enough to slow it down. Madoneko Oh my lord I totally did. I've just been so caught up with real-life traumas, just a lot going on... AHHHH. Hopefully you'll still take my entry. ;~; I'm really sorry.
Robin fought so desperately to keep from throwing up. Not now. She couldn’t right now. No. She swallowed slowly, breathing shallow and slow. She had to focus. This plane was counting on her—they were counting on her.
She knew where everything was on this ship. She had the power to help. They needed her help.
But everything… everything seemed to be fading in and out. She tried to keep her focus on the Captain, but he was getting blurrier. The sounds became muffled.
She could make out what she though he said… something about the lower commons, evacuation, magi, a tower … god-damn it all why did she feel so ******** weak?! Just because of some stupid implants and a rocking ship—
She bit back the bile, swallowing deeply. She held her breath and waited for everything to stop being so dizzy. She had to focus. Focus. It was so vital.
She had to help.
She had to stop feeling so ******** weak. She heard the tail end and watched the captains mouth move as he said something about stopping the contraption. <********. This was it.
Everything was fuzzy but godamnitt now was the time to stop being so weak and ******** she blinked and slowly took a breath in.
Out. She could hear the other outsiders.
In. They could help too.
Out. She wasn’t alone.
In. But now was the time to do her part.
Out.
She looked at the captain. “I’ll go to the control room.” She had orders to do. Maybe that would clear some things up. “And then I’ll take a sky fighter and evacuate the lower commons... and I'll take you..." She turned to Colter and smiled as confidently as she could. "...with me. If you want to first come with me to the control room...?"
She wouldn't tell him that she'd never flown before in her life.
Well maybe she would.
...later.
But taking the shuttle and scaling the ground below would be mad. They’d never get there in time.
The sky fighter would help. Maybe she knew how to fly it. Maybe it would fly itself. Maybe she wouldn’t throw up. Well, hopefully.
Robin wasn’t a fighter. She would rather save than kill. She would be doing something small, but hopefully it would save some lives.
And she would get there with technology.
The sky fighter.
...maybe. She guessed it would be better if they got there alive than dead. But...
She'd figure that out later.
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:13 pm
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