Setting
A walled off block apartment buildings and businesses on Main Street, The Courtyard became home to the infamous Invictus after they purchased old and abandoned properties in the wake of several attacks on Terra.
The Courtyard soon became home to The Palace, the Invictus HQ and a very high-class hotel. Eventually the Invictus rebuilt many of the buildings, they also built new ones and a the fortified wall that closes the area off from the rest of Wing City.
Today it serves as a safe zone in Wing City protected by the Invictus and a loose militia of citizens, former police officers and Terran soldiers.
The Courtyard soon became home to The Palace, the Invictus HQ and a very high-class hotel. Eventually the Invictus rebuilt many of the buildings, they also built new ones and a the fortified wall that closes the area off from the rest of Wing City.
Today it serves as a safe zone in Wing City protected by the Invictus and a loose militia of citizens, former police officers and Terran soldiers.
The Courtyard
Housing the infamous Invictus HQ called The Palace, The Courtyard is a plaza surrounded by large walls made of the finest alloys and stone.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
| "in" to The Palace » | ||
The Courtyard is a part of 
The Palace.
1 Places in The Courtyard:
13 Characters Here
Fahim Alfarsi [33] Once a great and powerful warlord, now a shadow of his former self. Succumb to pride and drugs.
The Invictus [32] A mercenary organization attempting to shed much of their past for money, power, and movie deals. Easier said than done.
The Erebari [26] Mortal servants of the Dark Emperor and denizens of the Erebon Empire.
Thalgan Vash [20] "To fear death is to know what it means to live."
Zoraka Du'marr [6] "Give me all of your hatred."
Athena Ivanova [6] The General of the Entire Forces Vankoryth Comprised of the Union of Two Armies
Taco Nicks [5] Rifleman and medic for Team Ripper, known for his horrible sense of humor.
Myles Lancaster [3] "I want everything you got... on yourself!"
Xyraehn_BlackKnight [2] Someone who entirely keeps to himself.
Start Character Here »
"This sorry sack of shit right here." Kane said, gesturing to his brother. Kazen was still face down, glancing up at the woman for a quick moment. "You look like someone..." He said, putting his head back down. "I'm hallucinating, clearly." The Irishman said.
"You ain't hallucinatin', this lass is right in front of us." Kane told his brother, "What do ya' want?" Kazen asked, "You aren't Yanni's long-lost, chestier, twin, are you?" Kazen asked.
"You are kind of busty, lass." Kane said, "I say this as a gay man. Nice tits."
"You ain't hallucinatin', this lass is right in front of us." Kane told his brother, "What do ya' want?" Kazen asked, "You aren't Yanni's long-lost, chestier, twin, are you?" Kazen asked.
"You are kind of busty, lass." Kane said, "I say this as a gay man. Nice tits."
"Ah, so she's at least on your mind," the woman said, lifting her hands to her hips. "No, I'm not Yanni's sister. We're not related." She crossed the distance between them and sat down across from both men at their table, propping her ankle up onto her knee.
"It's good to see you're both focused on all the right things," she remarked sarcastically. "I need to know a few things, and I'll be out of your way, leaving you to-" She gestured to the alcohol flippantly, "-all this, and-" She gestured to Kazen, "-all that you're doing there."
Which was important, she was sure.
"Where is Yanni?"
"It's good to see you're both focused on all the right things," she remarked sarcastically. "I need to know a few things, and I'll be out of your way, leaving you to-" She gestured to the alcohol flippantly, "-all this, and-" She gestured to Kazen, "-all that you're doing there."
Which was important, she was sure.
"Where is Yanni?"
"You're asking the wrong two people." Kane told Barada, "Awhile ago Yanni, along with many other people, got snatched by some evil... demi-god kind of bloke, or somethin'." Kane explained.
"We don't know where she is. We don't have many leads..." Kazen said, his tone clearly that of someone bordering on depressed, desperate and angry. "The only real leads we have is this god's, or whatever the fuck he is, son. Jacob Haley. A spoiled Brit brat." Kane said to Barada.
The elder Horne brother nudged Kazen, trying to get him to liven up at least a little bit. "Jacob's at Fort Veritas gettin' worked over by intelligence agents and our very own Mary Munroe. Even if he won't spill the beans, we'll enjoy fuckin' up his life to make up for his role in her disappearance. Yanni's, that is." Kane told Barada with confidence.
Jacob was going to suffer and he was going to suffer for a long time.
"We don't know where she is. We don't have many leads..." Kazen said, his tone clearly that of someone bordering on depressed, desperate and angry. "The only real leads we have is this god's, or whatever the fuck he is, son. Jacob Haley. A spoiled Brit brat." Kane said to Barada.
The elder Horne brother nudged Kazen, trying to get him to liven up at least a little bit. "Jacob's at Fort Veritas gettin' worked over by intelligence agents and our very own Mary Munroe. Even if he won't spill the beans, we'll enjoy fuckin' up his life to make up for his role in her disappearance. Yanni's, that is." Kane told Barada with confidence.
Jacob was going to suffer and he was going to suffer for a long time.
Barada's fingers very slowly curled in towards her palms, and, one by one, they cracked. Her fingers went limp again, and she twiddled them to loosen the joints. It wasn't a tough-girl act; it was to release some frustration.
"Ah." Despite the earlier gesture, the woman's smile remained from the time she first gave it to the two men. "I see. Well." She cleared her throat, then nodded. Her hands braced onto the table, fingernails tapped onto its surface. An unreadable emotion- some weird mix that could have been anger and self restraint, despair and regret- washed across her face. She nodded again, smaller this time. One of her hands vanished into her pockets, and she got up to disappear inside the pub.
"You've got the right idea. I'll be right back, if you don't mind further company."
"Ah." Despite the earlier gesture, the woman's smile remained from the time she first gave it to the two men. "I see. Well." She cleared her throat, then nodded. Her hands braced onto the table, fingernails tapped onto its surface. An unreadable emotion- some weird mix that could have been anger and self restraint, despair and regret- washed across her face. She nodded again, smaller this time. One of her hands vanished into her pockets, and she got up to disappear inside the pub.
"You've got the right idea. I'll be right back, if you don't mind further company."
"Don't mind it at all." Kane told Barada, "Take your time, lass." Kane added, turning his attention back to his brother. He didn't like seeing his younger brother this way. But, it wasn't like investigating was their strongest ability.
The Hornes punched shit, kicked shit, shot shit, and stabbed shit. Sometimes in the same motion.
"Maybe we can go pay Jake a visit." Kane suggested, "Mary wouldn't mind us stoppin' by and puttin' some Irish heat on that kid, eh?" Kane asked, "Maybe not, but what would that do if what's been done hasn't worked yet?" Kazen asked, "Don't we have like... anyone who can like... do some mind control crap on this kid and tell us something? Even if it's something he doesn't know he knows?" Kane asked.
"Like, something he might have seen that didn't render as important before?" Kazen asked, "Exactly." Kane answered, "Some shit like that, boyo."
The Hornes punched shit, kicked shit, shot shit, and stabbed shit. Sometimes in the same motion.
"Maybe we can go pay Jake a visit." Kane suggested, "Mary wouldn't mind us stoppin' by and puttin' some Irish heat on that kid, eh?" Kane asked, "Maybe not, but what would that do if what's been done hasn't worked yet?" Kazen asked, "Don't we have like... anyone who can like... do some mind control crap on this kid and tell us something? Even if it's something he doesn't know he knows?" Kane asked.
"Like, something he might have seen that didn't render as important before?" Kazen asked, "Exactly." Kane answered, "Some shit like that, boyo."
Barada came back out of the pub with four beers in her hands. She sat down in the seat she had occupied previously and sat down three of the beers, the one already in her mouth. She did not take sips.
When she set it down, her expression was both despondent and wry. "Hmph. So who is this Jacob guy and his father... this god? They sound like right morons." Her tone was burning. She rose the beer to her mouth again and gulped. "The fuck's he doin' with Yanni if he's so powerful? S'not like she's good for anything, right? She do something to piss them off? Because that sounds like her." She paused, wiping the edge of her mouth. She looked straight at Kazen.
"And you. Why is it you're so concerned? What're you to her?"
When she set it down, her expression was both despondent and wry. "Hmph. So who is this Jacob guy and his father... this god? They sound like right morons." Her tone was burning. She rose the beer to her mouth again and gulped. "The fuck's he doin' with Yanni if he's so powerful? S'not like she's good for anything, right? She do something to piss them off? Because that sounds like her." She paused, wiping the edge of her mouth. She looked straight at Kazen.
"And you. Why is it you're so concerned? What're you to her?"
"Jacob? Yeah, he's an idiot. But, his da' seems more... from what Mary's sister told us he's brains and brawn." Kazen told Barada, "A dangerous combination, lass." Kane added, grabbing Kazen's beer and pulling it over to himself. It wasn't like Kazen was actually going to drink it.
"She's good for more than you know." Kazen told Barada, finally lifting his head to address her. "Before I tell you why I'm so concerned and who I am to her, how about you tell me the same. You're just some stranger as far we know. You've never told us your name, HT." Kazen said to the woman.
"HT means Honey Tits." Kane explained, "I would've went with Sugar Tits, personally. But, that's just me." The elder Irishman said.
"She's good for more than you know." Kazen told Barada, finally lifting his head to address her. "Before I tell you why I'm so concerned and who I am to her, how about you tell me the same. You're just some stranger as far we know. You've never told us your name, HT." Kazen said to the woman.
"HT means Honey Tits." Kane explained, "I would've went with Sugar Tits, personally. But, that's just me." The elder Irishman said.
"I prefer buttertits, but I don't like sweet things, so it figures." The woman put her cheek in her hand, wryly smiled, and circled her thumb around the lip of the bottle. "Barada-Cai Karmi. I was Yanni's mentor before she disappeared. For the last year or so I've been searching for her." Barada leaned back in her seat, hands gripping the edge.
"And back to you. Who is Kazen Horne, hm?" She changed her attention to Kane. "And perhaps, who are you, as well?"
"And back to you. Who is Kazen Horne, hm?" She changed her attention to Kane. "And perhaps, who are you, as well?"
"I'm Yanni's fella." Kazen told Barada, "The bloke she goes to bed with." He added, "Or did before she got kidnapped." Kane said, "Thank you, Sean. I know that." Kazen told his brother.
When addressed Kane turned his attention to Barada, raising an eyebrow. Did it matter who he was? He wasn't the guy boning Yanni, he barely knew her and wasn't even sure if he'd actually met her in person before.
"Sean Horne. Most call me by me middle name. Kane." Kane said to Barada, "Pleasure ta' meet'cha so far, lass." The elder Irishman said.
When addressed Kane turned his attention to Barada, raising an eyebrow. Did it matter who he was? He wasn't the guy boning Yanni, he barely knew her and wasn't even sure if he'd actually met her in person before.
"Sean Horne. Most call me by me middle name. Kane." Kane said to Barada, "Pleasure ta' meet'cha so far, lass." The elder Irishman said.
"Ah. Well, she can certainly pick them, can't she?" The tone had just a hint of sarcasm that could presumably of been for humor. It was hard to pick up. She tilted the bottle in the direction of Kane. "Likewise. Truly." He seemed leagues more pleasant than his brother. She mumbled, in a volume barely audible, and quickly, "Shame."
"So, tell me, what'll I have to do to get access to this...Jacob fellow?"
That tone darkened. Became sour at the end.
"So, tell me, what'll I have to do to get access to this...Jacob fellow?"
That tone darkened. Became sour at the end.
"Blow a TIB agent, blow a soldier, go down on Phinx, scissor with Stryfe, or join the TIB yourself." Kane, "The fuck, man?" Kazen asked, "I'm groing progressively bored and fucked, I'm sorry, boyo." Kane said to his brother, nodding apologetically to Barada.
"I've been out of work these days. I asked Phinx, Mary, to see if any contracts or job postings come up that could use someone like me." Kane said, "An irate Irishman who knows how to kill, fight and blow things up."
"I've been out of work these days. I asked Phinx, Mary, to see if any contracts or job postings come up that could use someone like me." Kane said, "An irate Irishman who knows how to kill, fight and blow things up."
"And I'm guessing both of you are out of the question for that?" commented Bara, sounding completely serious, after finishing her first bottle. She went on to the second fluidly. "I mean, if it's all his fault then there's no way I can't let this guy go without knowing who I am. I see you're probably both dangerous men, though. You're part of this-" She gestured to the place around them, "Invictus and everything, yeah? You've had anything to do with this fellow?"
"Aye, Kazen's... that mess. And, I like men." Kane said, "So, there's that." The elder Irishman told his new 'friend', or whatever she was going to be while shat with him and his brother.
"We don't havy any power like that to get you close, but we can talk to someone." Kane told Barada, "Put you in touch with Mary, maybe. She's running lead on making this kid's life a living hell." Kane said.
"And, yeah, we're with the Invictus." Kazen said, "Any misconceptions you have about us won't make you friends if you believe them." He added, "It's true. We don't like people who believe everything they hear, it's like... grow a spine and question things for yourself." Kane said, starting and ending his mini-rant.
"Anyways," Kane began, "Kazen here got laid up trying to fight the kid. He was attacking Thousand Mountains, a restaurant we owned, to get to Kazen to get to Yanni. Killed a lot of people. A lot of good, innocent people. Children." Kane said, tone darkening.
The Irishmen both letting out a slight groan simultaneously.
Children were off-limits as far as they were concerned.
"We don't havy any power like that to get you close, but we can talk to someone." Kane told Barada, "Put you in touch with Mary, maybe. She's running lead on making this kid's life a living hell." Kane said.
"And, yeah, we're with the Invictus." Kazen said, "Any misconceptions you have about us won't make you friends if you believe them." He added, "It's true. We don't like people who believe everything they hear, it's like... grow a spine and question things for yourself." Kane said, starting and ending his mini-rant.
"Anyways," Kane began, "Kazen here got laid up trying to fight the kid. He was attacking Thousand Mountains, a restaurant we owned, to get to Kazen to get to Yanni. Killed a lot of people. A lot of good, innocent people. Children." Kane said, tone darkening.
The Irishmen both letting out a slight groan simultaneously.
Children were off-limits as far as they were concerned.
Karmi did her hardest to suppress a laugh, but it escaped as a low chuckle. "Ah, yes, well, I wasn't completely serious about the request, but I suppose I need to work on my humor."
Second bottle done. Third.
"Perhaps it might be worth it to take a shot. What do you look for? People who can fight, yeah? Capable people. Shouldn't be too difficult to show off a bit." Sip, sip. "Children?" Gulp. The beer was going down faster than the last. "Ah, children. So he's one of those types." Thunk. The bottle teetered on its side, then balanced and straightened. "And he managed to take you out. Now, I wouldn't have any idea, but I'm guessing that's a little hard to do?"
Her hand came to the neck of the last beer.
Second bottle done. Third.
"Perhaps it might be worth it to take a shot. What do you look for? People who can fight, yeah? Capable people. Shouldn't be too difficult to show off a bit." Sip, sip. "Children?" Gulp. The beer was going down faster than the last. "Ah, children. So he's one of those types." Thunk. The bottle teetered on its side, then balanced and straightened. "And he managed to take you out. Now, I wouldn't have any idea, but I'm guessing that's a little hard to do?"
Her hand came to the neck of the last beer.
"What do we look for?" Kane asked, "Like... you want to join the Inivuctus?" Kane asked Barada, "I don't handle that stuff. And, we don't only look for people who fight. What the hell makes people think an organization like this runs without brains to keep the brawn in check?" Kane asked rhetorically.
"I'll put you in touch with Nina. She handles stuff like this, recruiting or whatever." Kane told Barada.
Kazen ran his hands over his face,looking around the area for a moment before turning his attention to Barada again. "We're strong, but we ain;'t invincible." Kazen told her, "It's not hard for everyone to take us out, but we can get taken out. Especially by blokes with Zeus levels of fuckin' strength."
"Had. Apparently somethin' happened and now the kid is normal. Really normal. Squishy." Kane explained.
"I'll put you in touch with Nina. She handles stuff like this, recruiting or whatever." Kane told Barada.
Kazen ran his hands over his face,looking around the area for a moment before turning his attention to Barada again. "We're strong, but we ain;'t invincible." Kazen told her, "It's not hard for everyone to take us out, but we can get taken out. Especially by blokes with Zeus levels of fuckin' strength."
"Had. Apparently somethin' happened and now the kid is normal. Really normal. Squishy." Kane explained.
Vince did not like winter.
He was traversing down the courtyard wearing a black coat, thick black pants, with a black scarf and black gloves on his hands that he had cupped over his mouth, blowing hot air into them. Vince didn't like black at all. Really. It just matched his hair and his black eye. He didn't have another eye. The socket was covered by an eye patch of... what color? Bright pink, of course. The same color as his ear muffs.
His boots thumped onto the ground as he tried to make to the entrance of the Palace, shoulders hunched up next to his ears. His eye lifted up toward the sky, which was cast over. A chilly breeze stung his cheeks and made them red. He grumbled miserably.
"... it's that time again."
He was traversing down the courtyard wearing a black coat, thick black pants, with a black scarf and black gloves on his hands that he had cupped over his mouth, blowing hot air into them. Vince didn't like black at all. Really. It just matched his hair and his black eye. He didn't have another eye. The socket was covered by an eye patch of... what color? Bright pink, of course. The same color as his ear muffs.
His boots thumped onto the ground as he tried to make to the entrance of the Palace, shoulders hunched up next to his ears. His eye lifted up toward the sky, which was cast over. A chilly breeze stung his cheeks and made them red. He grumbled miserably.
"... it's that time again."
Anodyne was making her way outside when Vince was making his way in, the woman did her best not to run into him. But, her actions were futile as she tried avoiding a child and her parents. If she was going to slam into anyone it might as well be an adult man.
Anodyne reached out pre-emptively to catch Vince were he to fall, she was sure he wouldn't like to fall onto the cold, hard concrete outside of The Palace.
Anodyne reached out pre-emptively to catch Vince were he to fall, she was sure he wouldn't like to fall onto the cold, hard concrete outside of The Palace.
Vince felt himself bounced backward by some force that showed up all of a sudden. That same force grabbed him and stilled him before he hit the floor.
It was true that, as Biohazard, such a force would never have budged him, but as Vince, he was a fragile, clumsy man. He opened his eyes only to look up at Anodyne. The Ripper. Vince's expression brightened up into a wide smile.
"Anodyne!" he chirped, reaching up to pat her shoulder. "Ah, hi! Hi, how ya' been? Probably good, like always, right? Yeah."
It was true that, as Biohazard, such a force would never have budged him, but as Vince, he was a fragile, clumsy man. He opened his eyes only to look up at Anodyne. The Ripper. Vince's expression brightened up into a wide smile.
"Anodyne!" he chirped, reaching up to pat her shoulder. "Ah, hi! Hi, how ya' been? Probably good, like always, right? Yeah."
he Liberian woman raised an eyebrow, this didn't seem like the same Biohazard. Not one bit. It was facade, that's all it could have been. Biohazard had an alter ego, a secret identity.
Anodyne was always Anodyne.
She shrugged, things weren't exactly going the way she would have wanted. But, things weren't bad either. They were boring, if anything.
Anodyne gestured up and down Vince, inquiring in silence about his appearance.
Anodyne was always Anodyne.
She shrugged, things weren't exactly going the way she would have wanted. But, things weren't bad either. They were boring, if anything.
Anodyne gestured up and down Vince, inquiring in silence about his appearance.
Vince touched his fingers together as he stared at Anodyne. She really wasn't much of a talker. He took one of those fingers to point up at himself, quirking his mouth to the side. "M-me? Oh!" He smiled brightly all of a sudden. "Yeah." That finger came to his lips. "Keep it on the down-low? It's obvious to a lot of people, but I'm not always Biohazard. Sometimes I'm just Vince." He gave her a Colgate smile. "What does the Ripper do when she's not doing the obvious?"
Anodyne nodded, her fingers moving across her lips like she was zipping them shut. His secret was safe with her. Who was she going to tell anyways? Who would get her to talk?
The Liberian woman shrugged at his question. She didn't have much to do now that everyone was busy. She couldn't play videogames with Kazen because he was moping. John was missing. Fatin was busy. And the rest of her team only got together when something bad happened.
"Why can't we enjoy peace?" She asked Vince, deciding that question was important enough to be asked with her words.
The Liberian woman shrugged at his question. She didn't have much to do now that everyone was busy. She couldn't play videogames with Kazen because he was moping. John was missing. Fatin was busy. And the rest of her team only got together when something bad happened.
"Why can't we enjoy peace?" She asked Vince, deciding that question was important enough to be asked with her words.
The answer caused Vince's eyebrows to fly up. His chin tilted up slightly, and at the same time his lips parted in a light gape. He gave a small nod at first, then, after a pause, nodded again more confidently. "You're right. We should enjoy peace," he replied. "We're not often allowed to but we should."
After a few sparse seconds given to Anodyne with a dark expression, the man suddenly beamed. "So what do you do when you're allowed to do so, Anodyne?"
After a few sparse seconds given to Anodyne with a dark expression, the man suddenly beamed. "So what do you do when you're allowed to do so, Anodyne?"
Once again the woman shrugged, it wasn't much of an answer and she knew that. Anodyne took a moment to think about the question, deciding to answer it seriously for Vince. She liked him well enough to talk to him.
"I can do whatever I want to do." She answered, "The question should be, what can I do?" She asked Vince, her almost-English accent surfacing now that she was speaking more than a few words.
"The Irishman, Kazen, he's busy moping. John, the long-haired boy, is missing. Kidnapped by a madman. Fatin, Stryfe, is busy trying to fix the problems of people who'd throw her under the bus first chance they get." Anodyne began, "Matthew, Robert, Preston, Lionel, Nina, Christian and all the others are busy trying to assist the law."
"What can I do? Hope that things become less hectic, that my friends have good things coming their way."
"I can do whatever I want to do." She answered, "The question should be, what can I do?" She asked Vince, her almost-English accent surfacing now that she was speaking more than a few words.
"The Irishman, Kazen, he's busy moping. John, the long-haired boy, is missing. Kidnapped by a madman. Fatin, Stryfe, is busy trying to fix the problems of people who'd throw her under the bus first chance they get." Anodyne began, "Matthew, Robert, Preston, Lionel, Nina, Christian and all the others are busy trying to assist the law."
"What can I do? Hope that things become less hectic, that my friends have good things coming their way."
The front gates to The Courtyard slid open, several Invictus security officers stepping out to herd the homeless further out towards Main Street. "We need you to move. We've got something for you, but we need you to make room." One of the men said to the homeless, several men and women stepping out of the Invictus compound to bring out tables.
Others bringing out plates, bowls, silverware, napkins and drinks. No alcoholic drinks, the last thing they wanted or needed were drunk hobos with full stomachs running around. They'd have to get drunk elsewhere.
"What's going on?" Fahim asked one of the security officers, "Charity, man." The officer responded, shooing Fahim back away from the entrance while the others set up the tables and drinks.
"Ma!" Kane yelled as he and his family members began to bring out pots and contaners of hot food. "Ma!" Kane yelled again, "What?!" His mother yelled back from inside the compound, "I'm not stayin'. I have a thing!" Kane yelled, "You don't have a thing! Quit lyin' to me." Mama Horne yelled back.
"I'm guessing the Irish have never heard of inside voices?" A priest said as he and other members of his clergy began to walk by, they themselves having brought food to share. "That's racist, father." Kane said.
"My last name is O'Hara." The priest responded, smiling before moving to a table. He and the others began to prepare the food, it was ready to serve at a moments notice.
"The kitchen is open!"
The homless rushed the food, it had been a long time since a lot of them had a real meal.
Others bringing out plates, bowls, silverware, napkins and drinks. No alcoholic drinks, the last thing they wanted or needed were drunk hobos with full stomachs running around. They'd have to get drunk elsewhere.
"What's going on?" Fahim asked one of the security officers, "Charity, man." The officer responded, shooing Fahim back away from the entrance while the others set up the tables and drinks.
"Ma!" Kane yelled as he and his family members began to bring out pots and contaners of hot food. "Ma!" Kane yelled again, "What?!" His mother yelled back from inside the compound, "I'm not stayin'. I have a thing!" Kane yelled, "You don't have a thing! Quit lyin' to me." Mama Horne yelled back.
"I'm guessing the Irish have never heard of inside voices?" A priest said as he and other members of his clergy began to walk by, they themselves having brought food to share. "That's racist, father." Kane said.
"My last name is O'Hara." The priest responded, smiling before moving to a table. He and the others began to prepare the food, it was ready to serve at a moments notice.
"The kitchen is open!"
The homless rushed the food, it had been a long time since a lot of them had a real meal.