Introduction
As the new millenium unfolds ancient forces awaken. Some grasp at power, others seek oblivion, but some wish only to exist peacefully along side us. All around the world people are developing strange powers and horrifying creatures are beginning to appear, shrouded in urban legends. Ancient creatures, dormant for centuries, frozen beneath the artic tundra and the earth’s crust stir as demons and spirits fight to break the barriers between their world and ours. It is a world where the real meets the mythical as modern day sorcerers battle alongside vampires and the creatures of the night to protect our world from lovecraftian horrors and demons of myth.
In the year 1999, on the eve of the new millennium a secret battle raged between the forces of mankind, led by the Mage’s circle and the church, and the forces of darkness under the control of the Prince of Darkness. This battle was brought to a swift and decisive conclusion when the Prince was slain by a small band of unlikely heroes led by the Saviour and his forces scattered. Mankind was saved, for the time being. Soon after cults of demon worshipping humans began to surface, proclaiming the return of the Prince of Darkness. This Dark Messiah they believed would plunge the world into chaos of the end times. Now, the Saviour has disappeared and the forces of darkness stir in the night.
The year is 2019 and in the city of Tokyo the second battle to decide the fate of the world is about to begin.
Factions:
The Mage’s Circle (The Circle of the Moon)
The Mage’s circle, (Also known as the ‘Circle of the Moon’) are a world wide organisation of sorcerers bound by a strict set of laws that govern the use of magic by its members. The circle also act as a police force for the supernatural world, ensuring that dark forces do not threaten the world. Every Mage belongs to the circle by default, though some have been known to go rogue, resulting in them becoming excommunicated by the Circle. Each Mage has a vote in matters decisions passed by the circle, but as with any form of politics those with more influence are given more weight. They are presided over by a ruling council of the oldest and wisest among them, many of whom are heads of the Magic society in their region. The ruling council of the Circle do not always agree and each of them has their own motives. They are generally opposed to the church, however they appear to be united by a common goal of protecting mankind from supernatural forces.
The Inquisition
The Catholic church is devoted to the eradication of occult elements in the world and for that reason they have often had need of force. The Inquisition acts as the church’s occult investigation branch, seeking out and eliminating those elements deemed by the church to be too dangerous to allow to wander. At various times this has extended to encompass vampires, mages and ‘heretics’. They employ a number of specially trained assassins and soldiers versed in traditional and more ‘esoteric’ forms of combat and warfare as well as scripture and rituals. The organisation itself answers only to the Pope, with a network of handlers taking care of intelligence and strategy throughout the world, coordinating the Inquisitions members on a grand scale as well as a micro scale.
The Order of the Dragon
Vampires, though disparate and fiercely independent have had to rely on each other’s strength in times of need for their survival. For that reason the Order of the Dragon exist. Descended from a certain historical order of the same name and bound by a common goal the Order of the Dragon keep watch over the vampire community in much the same way as the Circle of the Moon keep watch over that of mages. More akin to a secret society than a real governing body, they maintain a shadowy secrecy, rarely meeting and often bickering and engaging in petty politicking and plotting when they do. They are fragmented and prone to violent disputes. It takes something of true importance to get them to act as one.
Pandora (The Apostles of the Sun)
Pandora have devoted themselves to the creation of ‘paradise on earth’ by eliminating mankind from the face of the world. They seek the awakening of a being they refer to as the ‘Dark Messiah’, who they claim will lead them into the future with his power. They believe that mankind is inferior and is a harmful parasite on the world. They come from all over the world and all walks of life, united by their common goal. Some hate mankind, others merely believe that they are begin guided by fate. Others simply have nowhere to turn, allying with Pandora out of necessity. They have gained power by entering into a pact with demons, in effect allowing themselves to become possessed in return for power. Some are subservient to their demons, others have utterly subjugated them, others have entered into a strange symbiosis and others still are in a constant mental struggle with their other. They have not yet revealed themselves to the other factions, though they and the Arcana are aware of each other‘s existence. They believe that the Dark Messiah is humanity’s natural enemy, a force of nature that will protect the natural order by eliminating humans harmful presence.
Arcana (The Apostles of the Moon)
If the Apostles seek death, Arcana wish for life. They are devoted to protecting mankind to that it may ascend to a higher state of being, regardless of the effect it has on the world at large. For that reason they will stamp out any and all threats to human life and to do so they seek the Dark Messiah’s power. Arcana consist of many members, a veritable army under the command of the ‘Major Arcana’, humans of powerful paranormal ability and power who take on the role of protectors of humanity. Each of them has assumed a second identity, that of the Major Arcana of the Tarot that best suits their powers. These powers have come into being thanks to the advances in human evolution, superhuman strength, clairvoyance, mind control and other psychic abilities as well as paranormal powers beyond traditional classification. As with Pandora members come from all walks of life and locations, united by their emergent powers and the will to protect mankind. They see the Dark Messiah, who was once human as being the ultimate representative of humanity and its potential. They believe the Dark Messiah is humanity’s guardian and seek to ressurect him so that he can continue to protect humanity.
The Illuminati
The Illuminati, favourite of the conspiracy theorists of the world have secretly been guiding history with a gentle hand. They possess no supernatural powers of any kind, armed only with knowledge, they have manipulated governments and nations according to their whims. Guided by ancient prophetic writings and studies of their enemy they seek to maintain the status quo and the shape of the world under their rule. They are headed by the wise man’s council, a group of the greatest scholars, mystics, scientists and leaders of our time. However, due to their nature they often spend more time deliberating their plans then putting them into action. Chief among their arsenal is the dead sea scrolls, which they believe hold the key to the outcome of the monumental events that face the world.
The Demon Kings
In the depths of the underworld the Demon kings plot their next move. They plot and fight among one another, waging endless wars in which monarchs are overthrown and usurped on regularly. But now, with the gateways to the mortal plane opening many of the demon kings have turned their gaze towards our world. A world they see as rightfully theirs. Their goals are many. Some seek the subjugation of the mortal world under their rule, others seek only war and destruction, there are even those who care not for the affairs of humans and their world, preferring to live in blissful peace. But common among them is the fact that we humans are of no consequence, a minor distraction to be discarded at a whim, and our world little more than another realm to be fought over.
The Old Ones
Deep in the depths of the earth’s surface, in the darkest oceans and within frozen ice caps the Old Ones lie dormant. Old gods who once roamed the stars and were worshipped as deities by our primitive ancestors. The Old Ones have no interest in the affairs of man, they sleep in the farthest corners of the earth, occasionally stirring to toy with mortals, perhaps gifting them with power beyond imagining, perhaps simply to drive them insane with their mere presence. Cults of followers worship them still, tending to their ‘gods’ and offering up sacrifices.
Guardians:
Every species has its heroes. Those beings whose actions have elevated them to the status of legends. These heroes act as representatives to their species, serving to protect it in times of great need. Their main duty is to prevent the extinction of their species when it is threatened and to ensure its survival. Guardians may not necessarily choose their fate, instead one can say that they are chosen by fate.
Character Types:
Humans
Self explanatory. They have no extraordinary abilities to speak of.
Alters
Nineteen years ago a cataclysmic battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of humanity occurred. This battle ended when the Pprince of Darkness himself was slain. Since that time people with supernatural abilities have begun to emerge. These people, known as Alters, are kept secret from public knowledge, hiding their abilities. The nature of an Alter’s power can range from the simple such as superhuman strength, flight or mind control, to the exotic, such as the ability to travel through shadows, or see through reflective surfaces.
Demons
Ancient beings who roamed the earth long before mankind. They possess tremendous power and take many forms. The most powerful among them are venerated in myth as deities. Their existence is a secret outside those who have come into direct contact with them and the organisations listed above. The most common kind of demon possesses no real intelligence, being like animals for the most part, the most powerful among them possess intellect and knowledge far in advance of any mortal and wield arcane power of monstrous proportions. For the most part they are trapped in the ‘underworld’, a hellish plane where chaos reigns, ruled over by the Demon Kings. However a few have broken through to the mortal world where they pursue their own ends. Some have blended in with the human population, living amongst them. Others prey upon humans for their own purposes and others still seek to fulfil the orders of their masters and pave the way for more of their kind. They are cold and calculating, caring very little for humans, seeing them as disposable tools and amusements at best. At worst they see them as inconsequential. A demon interacting with a human is akin to a human tormenting an insect. The insect cannot truly understand what is happening to it or the reasons behind it due to the difference in their minds.
Angels
Demons who masquerade as benefactors to humans. They have altered their appearance to be less terrifying, though their intentions are not necessarily any more benign. As with demons, they seek their own ends and for the most part have little real affection for humans.
Psychics
Human beings who have developed highly attuned mental powers. The exact reason behind their powers is not known, some have theorised that they developed as part of the next step of evolution. Psychic powers include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance, pyrokinesis and cryokinesis. Psychic abilities typically develop around puberty and it has been known for a psychic to lose control of their powers, typically with horrific results.
Mages
Human beings who have turned to ancient esoteric knowledge as a means of harnessing tremendous occult power. Magic itself is varied, ranging from protective barriers, enchantments, attack spells, curses and divination by way of talismans, incantations and lengthy rituals. The various schools of magic are in constant disagreement with each other, resulting in considerable tension within the Mage’s circle. Persecuted throughout history mages and sorcerers have hidden themselves among the population the world over. Magic requires tremendous effort and skill to understand, taking many years of hard study to truly master.
Revenants
Revenants are the souls of the dead summoned by a mage, usually to serve the purpose of a guardian or ally. A revenant bound to the mortal plane can take physical form if supplied with enough power by its summoner, otherwise it remains incorporeal, unable to affect the world of the living. Revenants retain the memories, personalities and in many cases skills and abilities of their previous lives. The spirits of ancient heroes are prized among sorcerers who use them as servants and bodyguards due to their spectacular powers and abilities. If a Revenant’s link to its summoner is cut it will begin to fade, likewise if it expends its magical power then it will disintegrate, unable to maintain its presence on the world any longer.
Ghosts
Unlike Spirits, who have been summoned to the mortal world from their rest in the afterlife, ghosts are forced to wander the world by their own tortured souls. Unable to find rest they haunt the living in incorporeal bodies. With time they can learn to manipulate objects through telekinesis and become poltergeists. Ghosts retain their personalities, but none of the memories of their former lives.
Spectres
The tortured souls of the vengeful dead. A person who is murdered or dies an unjust death will be unable to rest, their vengeful thoughts and emotions festering during their imprisonment in the limbo of undeath. As these emotions grow stronger so do their powers until they can manifest themselves on the mortal plane through sheer force of will. These spectres are driven to avenge themselves through any means necessary, sometimes without even realising the reason for their actions. They have incredible physical abilities and occult powers and the ability to become incorporeal at will. Many are doomed to wander the world forever unfulfilled, the object of their vengeance having long since passed away.
Wraiths
Often mistaken for demons, these bizarre creatures exhibit powers far greater than most of mankind and have preyed on them since ancient times, devouring the souls of other creatures to sate their never ending hunger. Wraiths can move between the planes at will, however most prefer to remain in Purgatory, a realm within the Spectral plane where lost souls wander, finding little reason to cross over to the mortal plane. A spectre, once it has wandered for long enough will eventually adapt to their new existence and develop a hunger for other souls. They will begin to devour other souls, growing in power. They are a mass of tortured souls who will never find rest, their identities soon becoming lost amongst those of their victims, forming a gestalt entity formed from the minds and souls of those they have devoured.
The Wraiths themselves have no hierarchy, wandering alone, though weaker Wraiths often crowd around stronger ones, living off their cast offs like parasites. The more powerful a Wraith grows, the further from human its form becomes, with the oldest Wraiths (classed as ‘Tyranno’ by the Magi) resembling horrific creatures of bone and shadow the size of skyscrapers.
Contractors
Through history it has been known for humans to sell ones soul to demonic entities for great power. Those who enter into these Faustian pacts become cold hearted and callous, walking shadows of their former selves. Their personalities are blank as they no longer have the capacity for emotion. They know no joy, fear sorrow or anger, instead they act purely on self interest and cold logic. These people are often employed by magic organisations across the world for clandestine operations and often coming into conflict with each other. Their contracts often contain restrictions or clauses in return for the use of their powers, ranging from feeling the pain of their victims, completing a drawn out ritual to losing their senses. Contractors never work alone, but are often employed by a parent organisation for use as mercenaries or assassins.
Erratics
Contractors who have been driven mad by their powers. After an certain amount of time without a soul a Contractor will begin to develop odd personality traits and quirks in their behaviour, eventually derailing into full blown psychosis. The reason for this madness is not known at this point in time, and the amount of time it takes varies from case to case. One theory goes that a human mind cannot cope with existence without the presence of emotion and will begin to deteriorate as a result. One thing is for certain though, and that is that an Erratic is a truly dangerous foe to confront.
Monsters
Residents of the world of beasts, in ancient times some of these creatures managed to cross over to the mortal world, becoming part of the myths and legends of ancient cultures. Beasts like the Hydra, medusa and Ifrit. They can be summoned from their world by experienced sorcerers. Those who become trapped here hide in remote regions where they can prey on unsuspecting humans.
Werewolves
The cursed offspring of an unholy union between man and monster. Werewolves are cursed to transform into a large, unnaturally strong wolf on a full moon and in times of extreme stress. This change is often involuntary, and the victim remains unconscious throughout as their instincts take hold over them. Werewolves by birth have much greater control over their abilities, remaining conscious of their transformation Werewolves live in close knit communities traditionally, however their dwindling numbers have caused them to become remote, hiding amongst humans and in many cases unaware of the existence of more of their kind. A werewolf’s senses are extremely sensitive and their physical abilities are far above a human’s even while they retain their human form. They are highly resistant to damage, being able to shrug off mortal injuries like they were flesh wounds leading them to be known for their ‘immortal bodies‘. However, as with other regenerating species, if one can cause enough damage to their bodies, their regenerative abilities can be overpowered. They are also vulnerable to silver and mercury as well as decapitation.
Vampires
Offspring of the prince of Darkness himself. Vampires are vile unnatural creatures, cursed to walk the mortal world as a supernatural monster, devouring the blood of the living. Vampires do not procreate in the traditional manner, instead passing on the curse to victims of their choosing. Since vampires exist only as undead corpses they cannot crossbreed, as a result there are no half vampires.
A vampire gains the ability to shape shift, allowing them to alter their appearance to pass for a normal human being or take the form of a wolf, bat or mist. Vampires have no specific allegiance to either good nor evil, generally being completely amoral. A typical vampire wields their power like a tyrant, acting in their own interests with their own unknowable inhuman logic.
Abilities include strong psychic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy, hypnotism and illusory powers. They also possess extreme physical prowess, granting them strength and speed beyond the norm as well as advanced regeneration. However vampiric abilities vary greatly between the individual, some develop strong affinity to magic while others are granted more esoteric abilities. Vampires are feared due to their immense power, however this is not to say they are invincible. They are susceptible to decapitation, silver, fire and magic. While a they possess strong regenerative abilities they can also be slain through conventional methods. They are weakened by sunlight, their strength only just above that of a typical human during the daytime and it causes them some discomfort.
Homunculi:
A homunculus is a man made living being created through the arcane sciences of alchemy and magic. They appear human for all intents and purposes, but lack a soul, leaving them blank, emotionless shells much like Contractors. Like living computers they are used primarily for intelligence gathering due to their highly powerful innate psychic powers and ability to store information like a database. Some have been ‘programmed’ to affect a personality of their owner’s choosing and some Mages use them as companions.
Gods/Spirits:
While not Gods in the traditional sense, these spiritual beings govern the workings of the world. According to the Shinto faith everything, even inanimate objects, has its own spirit. These spirits are concerned with the natural order of the world, and as part of the celestial hierarchy are involved in rectifying imbalances and disorder within the world. This task involves a vast bureaucracy of various spirits who manage the minutiae of the world, from a small army of Death Gods who are tasked with guiding the souls of the departed to their final destination to Wind Gods whose job it is to manage the weather patterns. However, in recent years the world has been increasingly thrown into disarray for mysterious reasons, causing a great deal of concern between the Gods. The Gods are largely unconcerned with humanity, and leave them alone, only stepping into the fray when the world at large is threatened by malevolent forces as was the case in the war of the Eclipse at the end of the Millenium.
Gods vary greatly in power, being blessed with control over a specific element or a power that aids them in their allotted task (A God of a forest being able to control plant life etc). However, their powers are not limited to only their field, as they also possess a number of general purpose magical abilities. Their strength also varies greatly, with older Gods generally having had longer to accumulate and develop their power and being more proficient in its use. Their society is largely based around the celestial hierarchy, with older and more powerful Gods in charge of the overall cosmos and handing down tasks to those below them. While Gods cannot be seen by regular people in their normal forms they can be sensed by animals, young children and those with particularly keen spiritual or magical or psychic abilities like mages or psychics. On the rare occasion that a God takes mortal form they can assume a form of their choosing, shaping it to their liking. However this makes them weaker and more vulnerable. If a God dies in their mortal body they die for good like any other creature.
Sorcery:
There are two major branches within the magic Eastern and Western magic, with the main branch of Western magic being based in France and the main branch of Eastern magic being based in China. Within these branches are regional bodies, such as the Albion Magic association, based in England. And even further down the chain there exists countless other minor schools. As practitioners adapt their teachings they eventually come to develop into a unique style of their own. Magic from one country may differ significantly from that of another and different people will adapt these further, becoming unique to a particular family.
Western magic:
Based primarily in Europe.
Places much emphasis on the will of the magician. Power is drawn from within and focussed through the will of the caster. They tend to use their own bodies as circuits for the power they generate though some are known to use focussing objects like wands, staffs etc. Incantations and hand seals are used to focus the caster’s will by use of key phrases which can be different for each caster. These phrases are used to remind the caster of how to perform the required ‘spell’ in a similar way to a mnemonic.
A typical example of western magic is the creation of a bolt of lightning to attack ones enemies. Other more esoteric uses include the manipulation of time or the creation of a defensive barrier.
The philosophical belief behind western magic is that one should be able to stand alone. They do not believe in a unifying force, rather that every person stands alone as a source of value and power within the universe and that improvement of the self is the path to enlightenment and true perfection. There is a strong a posteriori element to western magic, believing that knowledge can only be gained through the senses and experience. Western magic is far more rational and logical in it’s explanations, believing that the magic is simply another form of science and that the force behind it is simply a part of nature.
Eastern magic:
Based primarily in East Asia.
In contrast to western magic, eastern schools place more emphasis on the use of naturally occurring magical forces, drawing power from the world around them. They make extensive use of talismans and charms, allowing them to bypass the natural resistance of the human body to magical energies. Magic in the east is tied intimately to religion, with many priests being magicians and vice versa. Eastern magicians tend to use invocations to call upon spirits and the forces of nature. Will power is still required to tame these force to ones will. Small spells like a fire bolt are simple for even inexperienced magicians whilst calling upon the elemental spirit of fire itself requires one to bring it completely under ones will, a feat achieved by only a handful.
A typical example of Eastern magic is the creation of small talismans that can be used to summon orbs of flame for offensive purposes. Other uses include the enchantment of an object to enhance it’s abilities.
The philosophical aspect of eastern magic is deeply ingrained within it’s teachings. It teaches that all people are part of a whole, that every person and every inanimate object, from a grain of sand to the great vacuum of space is as one, unified by the binding life force known as ‘Chi‘. As such there is a strong emphasis on a priori philosophy, the belief that there are some truths that can be gained without the senses through deep contemplation and meditation.
Sub schools:
Outlined below are a few sub schools of magic that focus on specific aspects.
Necromancy:
The raising of and control of the dead. A necromancer has the power to reanimate dead matter, controlling it as he sees fit. They can command this reanimated matter to do their bidding, zombies can be commanded to attack independently for example. They will perform their duties to the best of their understanding and will not stop until they are unable to do so (being destroyed or trapped for instance) or have achieved their goal, at which point they will become mindless and wait for the next order from their master. Since they lack higher brain functions the corpses have a limited understanding and any orders must be given clearly and precisely to prevent them from acting wrongly. The act of genuine ressurection is impossible, though with considerable effort on the part of the summoner one can draw the soul of the recently departed and bind it to the mortal plane.
Illusion:
The creation of imaginary constructs through the manipulation of raw magical energies. Depending on the caster’s will power these constructs can range from small, intangible simple objects to large, complex scenes with many independent entities that look, sound and feel real. However, these illusions are only that, illusions. They are not real and cannot affect the real world in any way, though they can trick the observer into believing so if used correctly. For instance, an illusory sword cannot cut someone, though it can create a further illusion that the recipient of a wound has been cut as well as the sensation of pain and even death if the illusion is realistic enough. With enough will power one can see through an illusion.
Chronomancy:
The manipulation of time is an incredibly rare and difficult power to master. Time travel itself is considered an impossibility by most, though some still research it, hoping to make a breakthrough. Practitioners of Chronomancy can shift and manipulate time to their whims. They can cause an object to age or de-age and create a field that freezes others in place while they move normally amongst other things.
Summoning:
Summoning is an integral part of many schools of magic, due to it’s complicated nature it has been given a section of its own.
The summoning of and bargaining with spirits from other planes of existence is a difficult skill to master, it requires not only great willpower but great discipline and in some cases a certain cunning. Whilst some of the more benign entities will be happy to lend help or enter into an arrangement with the caster others will require more convincing. Certain malign beings may try to deceive or harm the summoner. More neutral beings will require some mutually beneficial arrangement or compensation.
Amongst the creatures that can be summoned are Demons, spirits or mythical beasts (such as Orochi, Cerberus, Fafnir etc). Demons will only appear to a select few whom they deem worthy and only if they feel they will benefit from the arrangement. If one knows the name of a specific entity one can try summoning them in particular, with varying degrees of success. An entity can be summoned against its will.
To summon the spirit of a dead person requires particular ability due to the difficulty of the act. Due to the nature of the cycle of death and rebirth a spirit must be either recently departed, trapped in the spectral plane or residing in paradise. To draw the spirit of one who has become part of the circle of fate the practitioner must forcibly extract the spirit before it reaches the void and becomes stripped of its memories and sense of self. This takes extraordinary skill and strength of will to prevent the practitioner losing themselves in the torrent of souls.
One typical use for summoned entities is for use as a guardian spirit. The summoned entity and the summoner enter into a contract whereby the spirit acts as a protector or companion to the summoner in the mortal plane. These contracts require the summoner to lend a portion of their power to the entity for as long as they remain on this plane.
When summoning a magician will enter into an arrangement with the summoned entity, this contract or pact must be agreed to by both parties of their own free will and will usually but not always leave some token of sorts, either a mark on the bodies of each participant or an item of some sort. Once the pact is finished or broken this mark or item shall disappear.
Summoners are advised to use a seal of some sort to house themselves whilst the deal is being made. While within this seal the summoner is safe from the influence of the summoned entity, though leaving for any reason will nullify this protection.
If for any reason a summoning is not completed it can have disastrous consequences such as the loss of power or memory on behalf of the summoned entity.
In the year 1999, on the eve of the new millennium a secret battle raged between the forces of mankind, led by the Mage’s circle and the church, and the forces of darkness under the control of the Prince of Darkness. This battle was brought to a swift and decisive conclusion when the Prince was slain by a small band of unlikely heroes led by the Saviour and his forces scattered. Mankind was saved, for the time being. Soon after cults of demon worshipping humans began to surface, proclaiming the return of the Prince of Darkness. This Dark Messiah they believed would plunge the world into chaos of the end times. Now, the Saviour has disappeared and the forces of darkness stir in the night.
The year is 2019 and in the city of Tokyo the second battle to decide the fate of the world is about to begin.
Factions:
The Mage’s Circle (The Circle of the Moon)
The Mage’s circle, (Also known as the ‘Circle of the Moon’) are a world wide organisation of sorcerers bound by a strict set of laws that govern the use of magic by its members. The circle also act as a police force for the supernatural world, ensuring that dark forces do not threaten the world. Every Mage belongs to the circle by default, though some have been known to go rogue, resulting in them becoming excommunicated by the Circle. Each Mage has a vote in matters decisions passed by the circle, but as with any form of politics those with more influence are given more weight. They are presided over by a ruling council of the oldest and wisest among them, many of whom are heads of the Magic society in their region. The ruling council of the Circle do not always agree and each of them has their own motives. They are generally opposed to the church, however they appear to be united by a common goal of protecting mankind from supernatural forces.
The Inquisition
The Catholic church is devoted to the eradication of occult elements in the world and for that reason they have often had need of force. The Inquisition acts as the church’s occult investigation branch, seeking out and eliminating those elements deemed by the church to be too dangerous to allow to wander. At various times this has extended to encompass vampires, mages and ‘heretics’. They employ a number of specially trained assassins and soldiers versed in traditional and more ‘esoteric’ forms of combat and warfare as well as scripture and rituals. The organisation itself answers only to the Pope, with a network of handlers taking care of intelligence and strategy throughout the world, coordinating the Inquisitions members on a grand scale as well as a micro scale.
The Order of the Dragon
Vampires, though disparate and fiercely independent have had to rely on each other’s strength in times of need for their survival. For that reason the Order of the Dragon exist. Descended from a certain historical order of the same name and bound by a common goal the Order of the Dragon keep watch over the vampire community in much the same way as the Circle of the Moon keep watch over that of mages. More akin to a secret society than a real governing body, they maintain a shadowy secrecy, rarely meeting and often bickering and engaging in petty politicking and plotting when they do. They are fragmented and prone to violent disputes. It takes something of true importance to get them to act as one.
Pandora (The Apostles of the Sun)
Pandora have devoted themselves to the creation of ‘paradise on earth’ by eliminating mankind from the face of the world. They seek the awakening of a being they refer to as the ‘Dark Messiah’, who they claim will lead them into the future with his power. They believe that mankind is inferior and is a harmful parasite on the world. They come from all over the world and all walks of life, united by their common goal. Some hate mankind, others merely believe that they are begin guided by fate. Others simply have nowhere to turn, allying with Pandora out of necessity. They have gained power by entering into a pact with demons, in effect allowing themselves to become possessed in return for power. Some are subservient to their demons, others have utterly subjugated them, others have entered into a strange symbiosis and others still are in a constant mental struggle with their other. They have not yet revealed themselves to the other factions, though they and the Arcana are aware of each other‘s existence. They believe that the Dark Messiah is humanity’s natural enemy, a force of nature that will protect the natural order by eliminating humans harmful presence.
Arcana (The Apostles of the Moon)
If the Apostles seek death, Arcana wish for life. They are devoted to protecting mankind to that it may ascend to a higher state of being, regardless of the effect it has on the world at large. For that reason they will stamp out any and all threats to human life and to do so they seek the Dark Messiah’s power. Arcana consist of many members, a veritable army under the command of the ‘Major Arcana’, humans of powerful paranormal ability and power who take on the role of protectors of humanity. Each of them has assumed a second identity, that of the Major Arcana of the Tarot that best suits their powers. These powers have come into being thanks to the advances in human evolution, superhuman strength, clairvoyance, mind control and other psychic abilities as well as paranormal powers beyond traditional classification. As with Pandora members come from all walks of life and locations, united by their emergent powers and the will to protect mankind. They see the Dark Messiah, who was once human as being the ultimate representative of humanity and its potential. They believe the Dark Messiah is humanity’s guardian and seek to ressurect him so that he can continue to protect humanity.
The Illuminati
The Illuminati, favourite of the conspiracy theorists of the world have secretly been guiding history with a gentle hand. They possess no supernatural powers of any kind, armed only with knowledge, they have manipulated governments and nations according to their whims. Guided by ancient prophetic writings and studies of their enemy they seek to maintain the status quo and the shape of the world under their rule. They are headed by the wise man’s council, a group of the greatest scholars, mystics, scientists and leaders of our time. However, due to their nature they often spend more time deliberating their plans then putting them into action. Chief among their arsenal is the dead sea scrolls, which they believe hold the key to the outcome of the monumental events that face the world.
The Demon Kings
In the depths of the underworld the Demon kings plot their next move. They plot and fight among one another, waging endless wars in which monarchs are overthrown and usurped on regularly. But now, with the gateways to the mortal plane opening many of the demon kings have turned their gaze towards our world. A world they see as rightfully theirs. Their goals are many. Some seek the subjugation of the mortal world under their rule, others seek only war and destruction, there are even those who care not for the affairs of humans and their world, preferring to live in blissful peace. But common among them is the fact that we humans are of no consequence, a minor distraction to be discarded at a whim, and our world little more than another realm to be fought over.
The Old Ones
Deep in the depths of the earth’s surface, in the darkest oceans and within frozen ice caps the Old Ones lie dormant. Old gods who once roamed the stars and were worshipped as deities by our primitive ancestors. The Old Ones have no interest in the affairs of man, they sleep in the farthest corners of the earth, occasionally stirring to toy with mortals, perhaps gifting them with power beyond imagining, perhaps simply to drive them insane with their mere presence. Cults of followers worship them still, tending to their ‘gods’ and offering up sacrifices.
Guardians:
Every species has its heroes. Those beings whose actions have elevated them to the status of legends. These heroes act as representatives to their species, serving to protect it in times of great need. Their main duty is to prevent the extinction of their species when it is threatened and to ensure its survival. Guardians may not necessarily choose their fate, instead one can say that they are chosen by fate.
Character Types:
Humans
Self explanatory. They have no extraordinary abilities to speak of.
Alters
Nineteen years ago a cataclysmic battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of humanity occurred. This battle ended when the Pprince of Darkness himself was slain. Since that time people with supernatural abilities have begun to emerge. These people, known as Alters, are kept secret from public knowledge, hiding their abilities. The nature of an Alter’s power can range from the simple such as superhuman strength, flight or mind control, to the exotic, such as the ability to travel through shadows, or see through reflective surfaces.
Demons
Ancient beings who roamed the earth long before mankind. They possess tremendous power and take many forms. The most powerful among them are venerated in myth as deities. Their existence is a secret outside those who have come into direct contact with them and the organisations listed above. The most common kind of demon possesses no real intelligence, being like animals for the most part, the most powerful among them possess intellect and knowledge far in advance of any mortal and wield arcane power of monstrous proportions. For the most part they are trapped in the ‘underworld’, a hellish plane where chaos reigns, ruled over by the Demon Kings. However a few have broken through to the mortal world where they pursue their own ends. Some have blended in with the human population, living amongst them. Others prey upon humans for their own purposes and others still seek to fulfil the orders of their masters and pave the way for more of their kind. They are cold and calculating, caring very little for humans, seeing them as disposable tools and amusements at best. At worst they see them as inconsequential. A demon interacting with a human is akin to a human tormenting an insect. The insect cannot truly understand what is happening to it or the reasons behind it due to the difference in their minds.
Angels
Demons who masquerade as benefactors to humans. They have altered their appearance to be less terrifying, though their intentions are not necessarily any more benign. As with demons, they seek their own ends and for the most part have little real affection for humans.
Psychics
Human beings who have developed highly attuned mental powers. The exact reason behind their powers is not known, some have theorised that they developed as part of the next step of evolution. Psychic powers include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance, pyrokinesis and cryokinesis. Psychic abilities typically develop around puberty and it has been known for a psychic to lose control of their powers, typically with horrific results.
Mages
Human beings who have turned to ancient esoteric knowledge as a means of harnessing tremendous occult power. Magic itself is varied, ranging from protective barriers, enchantments, attack spells, curses and divination by way of talismans, incantations and lengthy rituals. The various schools of magic are in constant disagreement with each other, resulting in considerable tension within the Mage’s circle. Persecuted throughout history mages and sorcerers have hidden themselves among the population the world over. Magic requires tremendous effort and skill to understand, taking many years of hard study to truly master.
Revenants
Revenants are the souls of the dead summoned by a mage, usually to serve the purpose of a guardian or ally. A revenant bound to the mortal plane can take physical form if supplied with enough power by its summoner, otherwise it remains incorporeal, unable to affect the world of the living. Revenants retain the memories, personalities and in many cases skills and abilities of their previous lives. The spirits of ancient heroes are prized among sorcerers who use them as servants and bodyguards due to their spectacular powers and abilities. If a Revenant’s link to its summoner is cut it will begin to fade, likewise if it expends its magical power then it will disintegrate, unable to maintain its presence on the world any longer.
Ghosts
Unlike Spirits, who have been summoned to the mortal world from their rest in the afterlife, ghosts are forced to wander the world by their own tortured souls. Unable to find rest they haunt the living in incorporeal bodies. With time they can learn to manipulate objects through telekinesis and become poltergeists. Ghosts retain their personalities, but none of the memories of their former lives.
Spectres
The tortured souls of the vengeful dead. A person who is murdered or dies an unjust death will be unable to rest, their vengeful thoughts and emotions festering during their imprisonment in the limbo of undeath. As these emotions grow stronger so do their powers until they can manifest themselves on the mortal plane through sheer force of will. These spectres are driven to avenge themselves through any means necessary, sometimes without even realising the reason for their actions. They have incredible physical abilities and occult powers and the ability to become incorporeal at will. Many are doomed to wander the world forever unfulfilled, the object of their vengeance having long since passed away.
Wraiths
Often mistaken for demons, these bizarre creatures exhibit powers far greater than most of mankind and have preyed on them since ancient times, devouring the souls of other creatures to sate their never ending hunger. Wraiths can move between the planes at will, however most prefer to remain in Purgatory, a realm within the Spectral plane where lost souls wander, finding little reason to cross over to the mortal plane. A spectre, once it has wandered for long enough will eventually adapt to their new existence and develop a hunger for other souls. They will begin to devour other souls, growing in power. They are a mass of tortured souls who will never find rest, their identities soon becoming lost amongst those of their victims, forming a gestalt entity formed from the minds and souls of those they have devoured.
The Wraiths themselves have no hierarchy, wandering alone, though weaker Wraiths often crowd around stronger ones, living off their cast offs like parasites. The more powerful a Wraith grows, the further from human its form becomes, with the oldest Wraiths (classed as ‘Tyranno’ by the Magi) resembling horrific creatures of bone and shadow the size of skyscrapers.
Contractors
Through history it has been known for humans to sell ones soul to demonic entities for great power. Those who enter into these Faustian pacts become cold hearted and callous, walking shadows of their former selves. Their personalities are blank as they no longer have the capacity for emotion. They know no joy, fear sorrow or anger, instead they act purely on self interest and cold logic. These people are often employed by magic organisations across the world for clandestine operations and often coming into conflict with each other. Their contracts often contain restrictions or clauses in return for the use of their powers, ranging from feeling the pain of their victims, completing a drawn out ritual to losing their senses. Contractors never work alone, but are often employed by a parent organisation for use as mercenaries or assassins.
Erratics
Contractors who have been driven mad by their powers. After an certain amount of time without a soul a Contractor will begin to develop odd personality traits and quirks in their behaviour, eventually derailing into full blown psychosis. The reason for this madness is not known at this point in time, and the amount of time it takes varies from case to case. One theory goes that a human mind cannot cope with existence without the presence of emotion and will begin to deteriorate as a result. One thing is for certain though, and that is that an Erratic is a truly dangerous foe to confront.
Monsters
Residents of the world of beasts, in ancient times some of these creatures managed to cross over to the mortal world, becoming part of the myths and legends of ancient cultures. Beasts like the Hydra, medusa and Ifrit. They can be summoned from their world by experienced sorcerers. Those who become trapped here hide in remote regions where they can prey on unsuspecting humans.
Werewolves
The cursed offspring of an unholy union between man and monster. Werewolves are cursed to transform into a large, unnaturally strong wolf on a full moon and in times of extreme stress. This change is often involuntary, and the victim remains unconscious throughout as their instincts take hold over them. Werewolves by birth have much greater control over their abilities, remaining conscious of their transformation Werewolves live in close knit communities traditionally, however their dwindling numbers have caused them to become remote, hiding amongst humans and in many cases unaware of the existence of more of their kind. A werewolf’s senses are extremely sensitive and their physical abilities are far above a human’s even while they retain their human form. They are highly resistant to damage, being able to shrug off mortal injuries like they were flesh wounds leading them to be known for their ‘immortal bodies‘. However, as with other regenerating species, if one can cause enough damage to their bodies, their regenerative abilities can be overpowered. They are also vulnerable to silver and mercury as well as decapitation.
Vampires
Offspring of the prince of Darkness himself. Vampires are vile unnatural creatures, cursed to walk the mortal world as a supernatural monster, devouring the blood of the living. Vampires do not procreate in the traditional manner, instead passing on the curse to victims of their choosing. Since vampires exist only as undead corpses they cannot crossbreed, as a result there are no half vampires.
A vampire gains the ability to shape shift, allowing them to alter their appearance to pass for a normal human being or take the form of a wolf, bat or mist. Vampires have no specific allegiance to either good nor evil, generally being completely amoral. A typical vampire wields their power like a tyrant, acting in their own interests with their own unknowable inhuman logic.
Abilities include strong psychic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy, hypnotism and illusory powers. They also possess extreme physical prowess, granting them strength and speed beyond the norm as well as advanced regeneration. However vampiric abilities vary greatly between the individual, some develop strong affinity to magic while others are granted more esoteric abilities. Vampires are feared due to their immense power, however this is not to say they are invincible. They are susceptible to decapitation, silver, fire and magic. While a they possess strong regenerative abilities they can also be slain through conventional methods. They are weakened by sunlight, their strength only just above that of a typical human during the daytime and it causes them some discomfort.
Homunculi:
A homunculus is a man made living being created through the arcane sciences of alchemy and magic. They appear human for all intents and purposes, but lack a soul, leaving them blank, emotionless shells much like Contractors. Like living computers they are used primarily for intelligence gathering due to their highly powerful innate psychic powers and ability to store information like a database. Some have been ‘programmed’ to affect a personality of their owner’s choosing and some Mages use them as companions.
Gods/Spirits:
While not Gods in the traditional sense, these spiritual beings govern the workings of the world. According to the Shinto faith everything, even inanimate objects, has its own spirit. These spirits are concerned with the natural order of the world, and as part of the celestial hierarchy are involved in rectifying imbalances and disorder within the world. This task involves a vast bureaucracy of various spirits who manage the minutiae of the world, from a small army of Death Gods who are tasked with guiding the souls of the departed to their final destination to Wind Gods whose job it is to manage the weather patterns. However, in recent years the world has been increasingly thrown into disarray for mysterious reasons, causing a great deal of concern between the Gods. The Gods are largely unconcerned with humanity, and leave them alone, only stepping into the fray when the world at large is threatened by malevolent forces as was the case in the war of the Eclipse at the end of the Millenium.
Gods vary greatly in power, being blessed with control over a specific element or a power that aids them in their allotted task (A God of a forest being able to control plant life etc). However, their powers are not limited to only their field, as they also possess a number of general purpose magical abilities. Their strength also varies greatly, with older Gods generally having had longer to accumulate and develop their power and being more proficient in its use. Their society is largely based around the celestial hierarchy, with older and more powerful Gods in charge of the overall cosmos and handing down tasks to those below them. While Gods cannot be seen by regular people in their normal forms they can be sensed by animals, young children and those with particularly keen spiritual or magical or psychic abilities like mages or psychics. On the rare occasion that a God takes mortal form they can assume a form of their choosing, shaping it to their liking. However this makes them weaker and more vulnerable. If a God dies in their mortal body they die for good like any other creature.
Sorcery:
There are two major branches within the magic Eastern and Western magic, with the main branch of Western magic being based in France and the main branch of Eastern magic being based in China. Within these branches are regional bodies, such as the Albion Magic association, based in England. And even further down the chain there exists countless other minor schools. As practitioners adapt their teachings they eventually come to develop into a unique style of their own. Magic from one country may differ significantly from that of another and different people will adapt these further, becoming unique to a particular family.
Western magic:
Based primarily in Europe.
Places much emphasis on the will of the magician. Power is drawn from within and focussed through the will of the caster. They tend to use their own bodies as circuits for the power they generate though some are known to use focussing objects like wands, staffs etc. Incantations and hand seals are used to focus the caster’s will by use of key phrases which can be different for each caster. These phrases are used to remind the caster of how to perform the required ‘spell’ in a similar way to a mnemonic.
A typical example of western magic is the creation of a bolt of lightning to attack ones enemies. Other more esoteric uses include the manipulation of time or the creation of a defensive barrier.
The philosophical belief behind western magic is that one should be able to stand alone. They do not believe in a unifying force, rather that every person stands alone as a source of value and power within the universe and that improvement of the self is the path to enlightenment and true perfection. There is a strong a posteriori element to western magic, believing that knowledge can only be gained through the senses and experience. Western magic is far more rational and logical in it’s explanations, believing that the magic is simply another form of science and that the force behind it is simply a part of nature.
Eastern magic:
Based primarily in East Asia.
In contrast to western magic, eastern schools place more emphasis on the use of naturally occurring magical forces, drawing power from the world around them. They make extensive use of talismans and charms, allowing them to bypass the natural resistance of the human body to magical energies. Magic in the east is tied intimately to religion, with many priests being magicians and vice versa. Eastern magicians tend to use invocations to call upon spirits and the forces of nature. Will power is still required to tame these force to ones will. Small spells like a fire bolt are simple for even inexperienced magicians whilst calling upon the elemental spirit of fire itself requires one to bring it completely under ones will, a feat achieved by only a handful.
A typical example of Eastern magic is the creation of small talismans that can be used to summon orbs of flame for offensive purposes. Other uses include the enchantment of an object to enhance it’s abilities.
The philosophical aspect of eastern magic is deeply ingrained within it’s teachings. It teaches that all people are part of a whole, that every person and every inanimate object, from a grain of sand to the great vacuum of space is as one, unified by the binding life force known as ‘Chi‘. As such there is a strong emphasis on a priori philosophy, the belief that there are some truths that can be gained without the senses through deep contemplation and meditation.
Sub schools:
Outlined below are a few sub schools of magic that focus on specific aspects.
Necromancy:
The raising of and control of the dead. A necromancer has the power to reanimate dead matter, controlling it as he sees fit. They can command this reanimated matter to do their bidding, zombies can be commanded to attack independently for example. They will perform their duties to the best of their understanding and will not stop until they are unable to do so (being destroyed or trapped for instance) or have achieved their goal, at which point they will become mindless and wait for the next order from their master. Since they lack higher brain functions the corpses have a limited understanding and any orders must be given clearly and precisely to prevent them from acting wrongly. The act of genuine ressurection is impossible, though with considerable effort on the part of the summoner one can draw the soul of the recently departed and bind it to the mortal plane.
Illusion:
The creation of imaginary constructs through the manipulation of raw magical energies. Depending on the caster’s will power these constructs can range from small, intangible simple objects to large, complex scenes with many independent entities that look, sound and feel real. However, these illusions are only that, illusions. They are not real and cannot affect the real world in any way, though they can trick the observer into believing so if used correctly. For instance, an illusory sword cannot cut someone, though it can create a further illusion that the recipient of a wound has been cut as well as the sensation of pain and even death if the illusion is realistic enough. With enough will power one can see through an illusion.
Chronomancy:
The manipulation of time is an incredibly rare and difficult power to master. Time travel itself is considered an impossibility by most, though some still research it, hoping to make a breakthrough. Practitioners of Chronomancy can shift and manipulate time to their whims. They can cause an object to age or de-age and create a field that freezes others in place while they move normally amongst other things.
Summoning:
Summoning is an integral part of many schools of magic, due to it’s complicated nature it has been given a section of its own.
The summoning of and bargaining with spirits from other planes of existence is a difficult skill to master, it requires not only great willpower but great discipline and in some cases a certain cunning. Whilst some of the more benign entities will be happy to lend help or enter into an arrangement with the caster others will require more convincing. Certain malign beings may try to deceive or harm the summoner. More neutral beings will require some mutually beneficial arrangement or compensation.
Amongst the creatures that can be summoned are Demons, spirits or mythical beasts (such as Orochi, Cerberus, Fafnir etc). Demons will only appear to a select few whom they deem worthy and only if they feel they will benefit from the arrangement. If one knows the name of a specific entity one can try summoning them in particular, with varying degrees of success. An entity can be summoned against its will.
To summon the spirit of a dead person requires particular ability due to the difficulty of the act. Due to the nature of the cycle of death and rebirth a spirit must be either recently departed, trapped in the spectral plane or residing in paradise. To draw the spirit of one who has become part of the circle of fate the practitioner must forcibly extract the spirit before it reaches the void and becomes stripped of its memories and sense of self. This takes extraordinary skill and strength of will to prevent the practitioner losing themselves in the torrent of souls.
One typical use for summoned entities is for use as a guardian spirit. The summoned entity and the summoner enter into a contract whereby the spirit acts as a protector or companion to the summoner in the mortal plane. These contracts require the summoner to lend a portion of their power to the entity for as long as they remain on this plane.
When summoning a magician will enter into an arrangement with the summoned entity, this contract or pact must be agreed to by both parties of their own free will and will usually but not always leave some token of sorts, either a mark on the bodies of each participant or an item of some sort. Once the pact is finished or broken this mark or item shall disappear.
Summoners are advised to use a seal of some sort to house themselves whilst the deal is being made. While within this seal the summoner is safe from the influence of the summoned entity, though leaving for any reason will nullify this protection.
If for any reason a summoning is not completed it can have disastrous consequences such as the loss of power or memory on behalf of the summoned entity.
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 7 authors
Setting
0.00 INK
"Yes, then... to happy things!" Leo laughed and tossed back his third drink, forgetting his troubles and moving on in the conversation. "A pretty lady? Of course! Who the hell do you think I am? She's dressed in black, has a 1349 cc, supercharged in-line 4 cylinder engine and will go 212 miles per hour with the right encouragement! I got her parked in the campus lot." Leo got ready to finish his fourth drink. "Her name is Sasha and she's my one true love," he finished with a bit of a feigned whimsical air.
"I did have a flesh and blood woman once..." he continued, going on to tell the tale of a woman he met during an assignment in Seattle. Of course, as with any of Leo's stories, there was a fair bit of embellishment, some of which was even quite obvious. He stayed and told stories for Kage (and anyone else who would listen) until the very second that the bar closed and he was asked to leave. Tonight, he didn't even start a fight, which was a little unusual for a night out with Leo. Today, he just seemed content to chill and weave his stories... sometimes to nobody at all.
He left the bar surprisingly lucid for as much alcohol as he appeared to consume; not that he wasn't drunk, just that he functioned surprisingly well all things considered. It wasn't an unknown fact that he was something of a functioning alcoholic, especially among those that he frequently drinks with. Being quite drunk, in spite of his appearance, however, that night he decided he would take a walk about the campus to sober up a little instead of riding straight home. He was almost positive he wouldn't have been able to get the bike up off its center stand. There was supposed to be an interesting exhibit in history building... a mask of some sort. Maybe they were open at night? Leo couldn't reason why he was going there, but at the time it seemed like a great idea.
"I did have a flesh and blood woman once..." he continued, going on to tell the tale of a woman he met during an assignment in Seattle. Of course, as with any of Leo's stories, there was a fair bit of embellishment, some of which was even quite obvious. He stayed and told stories for Kage (and anyone else who would listen) until the very second that the bar closed and he was asked to leave. Tonight, he didn't even start a fight, which was a little unusual for a night out with Leo. Today, he just seemed content to chill and weave his stories... sometimes to nobody at all.
He left the bar surprisingly lucid for as much alcohol as he appeared to consume; not that he wasn't drunk, just that he functioned surprisingly well all things considered. It wasn't an unknown fact that he was something of a functioning alcoholic, especially among those that he frequently drinks with. Being quite drunk, in spite of his appearance, however, that night he decided he would take a walk about the campus to sober up a little instead of riding straight home. He was almost positive he wouldn't have been able to get the bike up off its center stand. There was supposed to be an interesting exhibit in history building... a mask of some sort. Maybe they were open at night? Leo couldn't reason why he was going there, but at the time it seemed like a great idea.
Setting
0.00 INK
Kyo winced at Tsukiko's voice, cursing under his breath that he had been found out. And by her of all people. He seized the girl by the arms and dragged her into the alleyway, away from where prying eyes might see them.
"Listen." He whispered. "This isn't what it looks like..." He struggled to finish that sentence before realising that yes, it was indeed exactly what it looked like. "Look, just... go home. OK? I'll explain later." He turned away from her and moved cautiously into the bar's basement. His footsteps were loud against the metal steps of the staircase and he gritted his teeth, slowing his pace with gentle footfalls. The darkness was suffocating down here, the silence, deafening.
Kyo had always possessed a sort of natural danger sense. A result of the constant threat of beatings that came with his undeserved reputation. Now that sense was ringing like mad. The alarm bells in his head were sounding like never before and he had to fight with all his will to keep from bolting back up those steps and back to his apartment. something down here was not right. He reached into his pocket for his flashlight and switched it on, casting the bright beam across the dank basement.
"You feel that?" He asked Tsukiko under his breath. He knew full well that she would follow him no matter what he said.
***
"What did you say you lil twerp?" One of the heavies snarled. The young man at the pool table turned back to his game, leaning over the table once more.
The pool cue came down hard over his back and head and the boy's face slammed down onto the table. The other thug grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and lifted him up before smashing a brick like fist across his jaw. The boy spun into the wall behind him with the momentum of the attack. He slid down the wall, sprawled out. However the expression on his face was not that of a man defeated or even a man in pain. Indeed, he never stopped grinning. As though he found the whole thing... amusing.
Kojiroh looked over to Yuki, who nodded at him. It was time for him to show these guys the door.
"Listen." He whispered. "This isn't what it looks like..." He struggled to finish that sentence before realising that yes, it was indeed exactly what it looked like. "Look, just... go home. OK? I'll explain later." He turned away from her and moved cautiously into the bar's basement. His footsteps were loud against the metal steps of the staircase and he gritted his teeth, slowing his pace with gentle footfalls. The darkness was suffocating down here, the silence, deafening.
Kyo had always possessed a sort of natural danger sense. A result of the constant threat of beatings that came with his undeserved reputation. Now that sense was ringing like mad. The alarm bells in his head were sounding like never before and he had to fight with all his will to keep from bolting back up those steps and back to his apartment. something down here was not right. He reached into his pocket for his flashlight and switched it on, casting the bright beam across the dank basement.
"You feel that?" He asked Tsukiko under his breath. He knew full well that she would follow him no matter what he said.
***
"What did you say you lil twerp?" One of the heavies snarled. The young man at the pool table turned back to his game, leaning over the table once more.
The pool cue came down hard over his back and head and the boy's face slammed down onto the table. The other thug grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and lifted him up before smashing a brick like fist across his jaw. The boy spun into the wall behind him with the momentum of the attack. He slid down the wall, sprawled out. However the expression on his face was not that of a man defeated or even a man in pain. Indeed, he never stopped grinning. As though he found the whole thing... amusing.
Kojiroh looked over to Yuki, who nodded at him. It was time for him to show these guys the door.
Setting
0.00 INK
Tsukiko was summarily hauled into a darker corner of the alley, and quite honestly if this weren't Kyo, she probably would have drawn her sword on him right then. Or at least punched him in the nose. Nobody dragged a lady to a dark corner in a dark alley without so much as a by-your-leave. Especially not when the 'lady' in question was herself.
She scoffed at his plaintive explanation. Wasn't what t looked like? What, did he think she was stupid or something? She yanked her wrists out of his grasp, rubbing at them absently. "You have an annoyingly strong grip," she muttered as he turned away, probably telling her to get lost or something. As though I've ever done anything you've told me to before, idiot.
So instead, she followed him into the decidedly-creepy basement, grip tightening on her umbrella. she still thought this was a dumb idea, but by this point she was in it for good, so she might as well make herself useful and watch his back, even if she was still a bit offended. Honestly, why was it that people never treated her like she had any idea what was going on? Always being underestimated... A flashlight flipped on, and she shielded her face when she accidentally looked straight into it.
"You feel that?" Kyo asked, and Tsukiko rolled her eyes. Why go through all the trouble when you knew you were just going to fail. It was either an admirable level of tenacity... or just him being difficult.
"What? That spine-tingling creepy someone-is-definitely-here feeling? Yeah... yeah, I feel that." Tsukiko's eyes strained against the dark, as did her ears. She had no idea why Kyo had even wanted to be down here in the first place, but she was getting the distinct impression that they were not alone. A pale hand adjusted its grip on the umbrella, and she thumbed the blade loose just a fraction of an inch. She could draw it faster that way, but nobody was going to notice it if she didn't end up needing to.
She scoffed at his plaintive explanation. Wasn't what t looked like? What, did he think she was stupid or something? She yanked her wrists out of his grasp, rubbing at them absently. "You have an annoyingly strong grip," she muttered as he turned away, probably telling her to get lost or something. As though I've ever done anything you've told me to before, idiot.
So instead, she followed him into the decidedly-creepy basement, grip tightening on her umbrella. she still thought this was a dumb idea, but by this point she was in it for good, so she might as well make herself useful and watch his back, even if she was still a bit offended. Honestly, why was it that people never treated her like she had any idea what was going on? Always being underestimated... A flashlight flipped on, and she shielded her face when she accidentally looked straight into it.
"You feel that?" Kyo asked, and Tsukiko rolled her eyes. Why go through all the trouble when you knew you were just going to fail. It was either an admirable level of tenacity... or just him being difficult.
"What? That spine-tingling creepy someone-is-definitely-here feeling? Yeah... yeah, I feel that." Tsukiko's eyes strained against the dark, as did her ears. She had no idea why Kyo had even wanted to be down here in the first place, but she was getting the distinct impression that they were not alone. A pale hand adjusted its grip on the umbrella, and she thumbed the blade loose just a fraction of an inch. She could draw it faster that way, but nobody was going to notice it if she didn't end up needing to.
Setting
0.00 INK
Rey was waiting in the dark basement sitting behind his counter with his finger right on the light switch. He heard the two come into the basement, not that it was hard to notice due to the metal stair. It was that reason that he had replaced the one that lead to the outside with a wooden one, so it wouldn't get realy noisy with all the customers using it. He heard Kyo ask: "you feel that?" which almost had made Rey chuckle. Quickly he turned on the light before he feared that he would give himself away. There was a small click and suddenly the lights went on. Now the entire basement was well lit and you could see Rey's merchandise and Rey who was sitting behind the counter was also in plain view.
Rey stood up and smiled at Kyo. He slided over the counter and spoke. "Look who we have here, Kyo, and you brought a girl along. Not realy somewhere where I would go on a date, but then again I ain't a delinquent. Anyways, I think I'll have some explaining to do. You remember Rodriguez right? Well, he set you up. He knows what's going on down here, in fact he is one of my favourite customers, and I asked him to get you pay me a visit here. I heard the made up story later, I laughed quite a bit about it. He went quite far didn't he? Making you break and enter, all he needed to do was tell you to go here after sundown, that would have been enough." Rey looked at the basement door that was still open. "On a side note, Kyo next time close the door will you. About what this place is, very simple actualy it's a magic store. Not of the kind with cheap card tricks on the shelves, this magic is real. I sell supplies and tools to the magicians that keep themselfs hidden under the population." He said wilst still smiling a bit.
Rey stood up and smiled at Kyo. He slided over the counter and spoke. "Look who we have here, Kyo, and you brought a girl along. Not realy somewhere where I would go on a date, but then again I ain't a delinquent. Anyways, I think I'll have some explaining to do. You remember Rodriguez right? Well, he set you up. He knows what's going on down here, in fact he is one of my favourite customers, and I asked him to get you pay me a visit here. I heard the made up story later, I laughed quite a bit about it. He went quite far didn't he? Making you break and enter, all he needed to do was tell you to go here after sundown, that would have been enough." Rey looked at the basement door that was still open. "On a side note, Kyo next time close the door will you. About what this place is, very simple actualy it's a magic store. Not of the kind with cheap card tricks on the shelves, this magic is real. I sell supplies and tools to the magicians that keep themselfs hidden under the population." He said wilst still smiling a bit.
Setting
0.00 INK
The lights flickered on and Kyo immediately stepped in front of Tsukiko defensively. He winced, shielding his eyes from the glare with his arm. He gripped the torch tightly in his hand, ready to defend himself if need be.
"Look who we have here, Kyo, and you brought a girl along. Not realy somewhere where I would go on a date, but then again I ain't a delinquent." When the man called him by name Kyo responded gruffly.
"And who the hell are you?" He growled, demanding an answer. But the man continued.
"Anyways, I think I'll have some explaining to do. You remember Rodriguez right? Well, he set you up. He knows what's going on down here, in fact he is one of my favourite customers, and I asked him to get you pay me a visit here." Kyo gritted his teeth, of course it had been a set up. He never should have trusted that wierd looking old guy. He briefly considered how he was going to make the man pay next time he saw him. "I heard the made up story later, I laughed quite a bit about it. He went quite far didn't he? Making you break and enter, all he needed to do was tell you to go here after sundown, that would have been enough." Kyo's scowl deepened.
"On a side note, Kyo next time close the door will you. About what this place is, very simple actualy it's a magic store. Not of the kind with cheap card tricks on the shelves, this magic is real. I sell supplies and tools to the magicians that keep themselfs hidden under the population." Kyo's frown contorted into a sneer as he barked his reply, cutting the man off.
"My god, don't you ever shut up?" He snapped. "What is this bull****?" He shrugged in emphasis. "Magic? You expect me to believe this?" He turned on his heel. "Come on, we're going." He said, grabbing for Tsukiko's wrist as he made for the door.
"Look who we have here, Kyo, and you brought a girl along. Not realy somewhere where I would go on a date, but then again I ain't a delinquent." When the man called him by name Kyo responded gruffly.
"And who the hell are you?" He growled, demanding an answer. But the man continued.
"Anyways, I think I'll have some explaining to do. You remember Rodriguez right? Well, he set you up. He knows what's going on down here, in fact he is one of my favourite customers, and I asked him to get you pay me a visit here." Kyo gritted his teeth, of course it had been a set up. He never should have trusted that wierd looking old guy. He briefly considered how he was going to make the man pay next time he saw him. "I heard the made up story later, I laughed quite a bit about it. He went quite far didn't he? Making you break and enter, all he needed to do was tell you to go here after sundown, that would have been enough." Kyo's scowl deepened.
"On a side note, Kyo next time close the door will you. About what this place is, very simple actualy it's a magic store. Not of the kind with cheap card tricks on the shelves, this magic is real. I sell supplies and tools to the magicians that keep themselfs hidden under the population." Kyo's frown contorted into a sneer as he barked his reply, cutting the man off.
"My god, don't you ever shut up?" He snapped. "What is this bull****?" He shrugged in emphasis. "Magic? You expect me to believe this?" He turned on his heel. "Come on, we're going." He said, grabbing for Tsukiko's wrist as he made for the door.
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
The abrupt flash of violence prompts her to set her glace down. She's really uncomfortable with unneeded violence. There are so many other ways to go about doing it. Besides that, violence can lead to blood and blood leads to her Legion chomping at the bit to come out to play. Which can bring on unsettling events and grotesque episodes if not kept in check. In a way she is a full blown valetudinarian when faced with violence. Still that young man is disturbingly pleased with the beating. It reminds her of a few wretched Japanese horror movies she's seen. Everyone in them is just crazy.
Crazy or not the kid is outnumbered and that doesn't seem fair. She needs to stop this before any bloodshed takes place. Unknowingly beating Kojiroh to the punch Leigh leaves her drink at the bar, walking swiftly towards the scene. Nothing would deter her now that she has made up her mind to attempt to stop the beating prematurely before it can escalate. She only hopes they speak English or know enough to understand the gist of what she will say. "What's the meaning of this? Are you all proud, swarming like sharks? Stop this. Just go enjoy a few drinks amongst yourselves and leave him be." the small woman stands between them and the scrappy, possibly psychotic smiling youth. Her eyes level the men sternly and her pupils appear to shift into minuscule skulls. Already it Calls to her but she's using the message to her own advantage, trying to get the thugs to stand down.
Crazy or not the kid is outnumbered and that doesn't seem fair. She needs to stop this before any bloodshed takes place. Unknowingly beating Kojiroh to the punch Leigh leaves her drink at the bar, walking swiftly towards the scene. Nothing would deter her now that she has made up her mind to attempt to stop the beating prematurely before it can escalate. She only hopes they speak English or know enough to understand the gist of what she will say. "What's the meaning of this? Are you all proud, swarming like sharks? Stop this. Just go enjoy a few drinks amongst yourselves and leave him be." the small woman stands between them and the scrappy, possibly psychotic smiling youth. Her eyes level the men sternly and her pupils appear to shift into minuscule skulls. Already it Calls to her but she's using the message to her own advantage, trying to get the thugs to stand down.
Setting
0.00 INK
Rey looked at Kyo with a strong expression of dissapointment. He began speaking in a mumbling manner. "Fire I command you, destroy everything in your path and protect me from the destruction. Fire barrier."
As his mumble stops flames sprout out of the floor creating a wall of fire inside the doorframe that lead to the bar. Rey made what could be interpretated as a serious smile and asked: "Do you believe it now? Or will you foolhardingly keep believing in the lies and propaganda that hides this world from the normal humans."
"And if you don't recognise me, then maybe a name would refresh your memory. Does the name Rey Arclight ring any bells?" He said to answer Kyo's question. He walked towards the stairs and stopped right under a lamp in plain sight of Kyo.
As his mumble stops flames sprout out of the floor creating a wall of fire inside the doorframe that lead to the bar. Rey made what could be interpretated as a serious smile and asked: "Do you believe it now? Or will you foolhardingly keep believing in the lies and propaganda that hides this world from the normal humans."
"And if you don't recognise me, then maybe a name would refresh your memory. Does the name Rey Arclight ring any bells?" He said to answer Kyo's question. He walked towards the stairs and stopped right under a lamp in plain sight of Kyo.
Setting
0.00 INK
Really? He's going for the whole 'ominous-lightswitch-flicking' angle? This guy's been watching too many bad horror movies... Tsukiko rolled her eyes as he spoke, and spoke... and continued speaking. She noted Kyo trying to be all heroic and smiled slightly. That was kind of cute, but thoroughly unnecessary. She'd been taking care of herself for quite some time now, and there were worse things to run into than a guy who fancied himself some kind of two-bit movie villain.
Wait... was he talking about magic now? Oh boy... this had just crossed the line from annoying to crazy, and she eyed the door a few seconds before Kyo told the guy to shut up and informed her that it was time to depart. Not that she had any issues with that particular decision, mind. She was more than happy to leave, especially since she'd been trying to stop this thing in the first place.
Unfortunately for them, Crazy-san mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like an incantation, and their exit was promptly blocked by a wall of very real fire. She could feel the heat on her face, and took a step backward, gently working her wrist from Kyo's grasp. Turning to face the man, she leveled a glare that would have frozen most thugs on the spot. Tsukiko had no idea what was going on, but she did know a few things about how to handle a possible imprisonment situation. The drills her father had insisted she run usually involved attempting a phone call at this point, but she knew this guy could easily say that she and Kyo were breaking in (which they were) and there was no way to prove he'd actually pulled off whatever weird parlor trick this was.
It was time to skip to step four: extortion. Tsukiko smiled winningly and bowed. "Please excuse us, Arclight-san. I'm afraid my friend and I were expecting something else indeed when we came here. I think it would be to everyone's benefit if you simply let us go now." When the flames in no way diminished, the girl sighed and placed a second hand on her parasol, adjusting her footing slightly.
"Why does everyone always want to do things the hard way?" she wondered aloud, and slid the odachi from her parasol, dropping the rest. Her smile never did fade, but her eyes were hard, squarely resting on the face of their captor. Nobody took Tsukiko Kobayashi captive, and nobody attempted to lord their power over any friend of hers, no matter the circumstances. "Let us out. Now."
Wait... was he talking about magic now? Oh boy... this had just crossed the line from annoying to crazy, and she eyed the door a few seconds before Kyo told the guy to shut up and informed her that it was time to depart. Not that she had any issues with that particular decision, mind. She was more than happy to leave, especially since she'd been trying to stop this thing in the first place.
Unfortunately for them, Crazy-san mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like an incantation, and their exit was promptly blocked by a wall of very real fire. She could feel the heat on her face, and took a step backward, gently working her wrist from Kyo's grasp. Turning to face the man, she leveled a glare that would have frozen most thugs on the spot. Tsukiko had no idea what was going on, but she did know a few things about how to handle a possible imprisonment situation. The drills her father had insisted she run usually involved attempting a phone call at this point, but she knew this guy could easily say that she and Kyo were breaking in (which they were) and there was no way to prove he'd actually pulled off whatever weird parlor trick this was.
It was time to skip to step four: extortion. Tsukiko smiled winningly and bowed. "Please excuse us, Arclight-san. I'm afraid my friend and I were expecting something else indeed when we came here. I think it would be to everyone's benefit if you simply let us go now." When the flames in no way diminished, the girl sighed and placed a second hand on her parasol, adjusting her footing slightly.
"Why does everyone always want to do things the hard way?" she wondered aloud, and slid the odachi from her parasol, dropping the rest. Her smile never did fade, but her eyes were hard, squarely resting on the face of their captor. Nobody took Tsukiko Kobayashi captive, and nobody attempted to lord their power over any friend of hers, no matter the circumstances. "Let us out. Now."
The setting changes from Episode 1: After Dark to Dark Messiah
Setting
0.00 INK
Kojiroh rubbed his hair furiously in frustration as Leigh approached and tried to talk to the troublemakers.
"Grrrrr! Here I'm trying to woo a hot babe, and a bunch of morons just have to get in the way. This is so frustrating!" He calmed down, heaving a sigh as he tucked one hand in his pocket, and wandered up next to Leigh, looking at the group. His goofy nature seemed gone with the wind, and left was only an annoyed, lazy, distant and sarcastic stature. He ignored Leigh's attempts at mediation, instead taking a direct, and, as usual for him, rather rude approach;
"Oi, you bastards..." He said, in a calm, but slow and annoyed voice. "Does this look like a friggin' boxing ring to you? You see that babe behind the bar? She's my friend, and this is her place. And you're messing up her place. Which means, if you don't take a hike right now, I'm going to mess you up. Badly." As he said that, he took his hand out of his pocket and clenched it so hard the whitening knuckles made a cracking sound. He added: "I don't make empty threats, and it was not a request. I was trying to woo this gorgeous lady right here, and since you retards went and interrupted us, I'm in a very shitty mood."
He looked at the kid that was the target of the beating, and added:
"And as for you...what the hell, dude? Are you some kind of masochist? Why don't you at least wipe that freaky smile off your face? It creeps the hell out of me."
"Grrrrr! Here I'm trying to woo a hot babe, and a bunch of morons just have to get in the way. This is so frustrating!" He calmed down, heaving a sigh as he tucked one hand in his pocket, and wandered up next to Leigh, looking at the group. His goofy nature seemed gone with the wind, and left was only an annoyed, lazy, distant and sarcastic stature. He ignored Leigh's attempts at mediation, instead taking a direct, and, as usual for him, rather rude approach;
"Oi, you bastards..." He said, in a calm, but slow and annoyed voice. "Does this look like a friggin' boxing ring to you? You see that babe behind the bar? She's my friend, and this is her place. And you're messing up her place. Which means, if you don't take a hike right now, I'm going to mess you up. Badly." As he said that, he took his hand out of his pocket and clenched it so hard the whitening knuckles made a cracking sound. He added: "I don't make empty threats, and it was not a request. I was trying to woo this gorgeous lady right here, and since you retards went and interrupted us, I'm in a very shitty mood."
He looked at the kid that was the target of the beating, and added:
"And as for you...what the hell, dude? Are you some kind of masochist? Why don't you at least wipe that freaky smile off your face? It creeps the hell out of me."
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
Sho steadied himself against the wall, rising to his feet, still smirking smugly, he rolled his neck. "Don't worry. Nothing to see here. You two go back to your drinks." His apparent apathy only angered his attackers more and one of them grabbed him by the collar, hauling him out of the back door.
"Don't worry. We were leaving anyway." The remaining thug said, backing out of the bar after his companion, eyes still fixed on Leigh and Kojiroh as he closed the door behind him. Outside Sho was thrown roughly into the brick wall and staggered. He lifted his head, only for it to be met with the downward swing of a fist, which sent him stumbling to the ground. He started to laugh. A light chuckle at first the sound soon built to a raucous crescendo as the men continued to pummel him with fists and feet, every attempt to stand up answered by the brutal crack another strike.
"What's up with you, kid?" One of the men asked, spitting at the floor with emphasis as Sho rose unsteadily to his feet, swaying a little as he righted himself. "You some kind of psycho?" Sho tilted his head back cockily. A laugh shrugged his shoulders.
"You're gonna have to try harder than that if you wanna hurt me." The boy replied, a twisted grin of amusement splitting his face.
***
"The hell?" Kyo jumped back as the flames erupted across the floor. After a second he looked back at the man and frowned. "So you know some tricks with lighterfluid, big deal." He said. But Tsukiko was already there, making her ultimatum known. Kyo started in surprise when she unsheathed the blade from her parasol.
"Tsukiko! What the hell!?" He gawped in shock. What was she doing carrying something like that around? It started to dawn on him that he had gotten way out of his depth.
***
A single bored guard patrolled the corridors of the museum, yawning aloud as he scanned the gallery. Happy that there was nothing out of the ordinary he continued with his rounds.
In the center of the room, atop a pedastal circled by red rope stood an innocuos looking mask. Its milky white surface was shaped in a stylised skull, a grille of 'teeth' opening up and then rejoining along the lower jaw.
Ein prised open the ventilation shaft's grate and lowered himself down into the room, the mechanical whirring of his piton's motors the only sound to be heard as he unwound the wire and set himself down on the ground with a light pad. He looked up, his own white mask shone in the light, the smooth, rounded surface tapering down into a pointed chin, giving it a shield like shape. The only features were two dark eye holes, black pits against its white surface. He reached into his long, blak overcoat and removed a dagger. Lifting the ancient mask from its pedastal he readied the knife to pare off a part of its surface.
"Don't worry. We were leaving anyway." The remaining thug said, backing out of the bar after his companion, eyes still fixed on Leigh and Kojiroh as he closed the door behind him. Outside Sho was thrown roughly into the brick wall and staggered. He lifted his head, only for it to be met with the downward swing of a fist, which sent him stumbling to the ground. He started to laugh. A light chuckle at first the sound soon built to a raucous crescendo as the men continued to pummel him with fists and feet, every attempt to stand up answered by the brutal crack another strike.
"What's up with you, kid?" One of the men asked, spitting at the floor with emphasis as Sho rose unsteadily to his feet, swaying a little as he righted himself. "You some kind of psycho?" Sho tilted his head back cockily. A laugh shrugged his shoulders.
"You're gonna have to try harder than that if you wanna hurt me." The boy replied, a twisted grin of amusement splitting his face.
***
"The hell?" Kyo jumped back as the flames erupted across the floor. After a second he looked back at the man and frowned. "So you know some tricks with lighterfluid, big deal." He said. But Tsukiko was already there, making her ultimatum known. Kyo started in surprise when she unsheathed the blade from her parasol.
"Tsukiko! What the hell!?" He gawped in shock. What was she doing carrying something like that around? It started to dawn on him that he had gotten way out of his depth.
***
A single bored guard patrolled the corridors of the museum, yawning aloud as he scanned the gallery. Happy that there was nothing out of the ordinary he continued with his rounds.
In the center of the room, atop a pedastal circled by red rope stood an innocuos looking mask. Its milky white surface was shaped in a stylised skull, a grille of 'teeth' opening up and then rejoining along the lower jaw.
Ein prised open the ventilation shaft's grate and lowered himself down into the room, the mechanical whirring of his piton's motors the only sound to be heard as he unwound the wire and set himself down on the ground with a light pad. He looked up, his own white mask shone in the light, the smooth, rounded surface tapering down into a pointed chin, giving it a shield like shape. The only features were two dark eye holes, black pits against its white surface. He reached into his long, blak overcoat and removed a dagger. Lifting the ancient mask from its pedastal he readied the knife to pare off a part of its surface.
The setting changes from Episode 1: After Dark to Dark Messiah
Setting
0.00 INK
Kojiroh watched as the men dragged the young boy out the back door. He lowered his fist with an annoyed "Tch", tucking it back into his pocket as he turned to Leigh, and gave an apologetic smile: "Sorry about that. Let's go back to our drinks, shall we?" He made a gesture towards the bar, and then returned, sitting down and sipping his whisky. Yuki looked at him from across the bar, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
"You can't be serious... You're just going to let them take him away?!" She exclaimed at him in disbelief. Kojiroh looked up at her, and then towards the door through which the men had left. After a moment, he shrugged, as if it wasn't any of his business. "They're going to kill him if you don't help!" Yuki prodded him onwards. "The police will be all over this place if that happens, you know." Then, she leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear: "Besides... Chou would have helped the boy." Kojiroh looked up at her with an annoyed frown on his forehead.
"I guess you're right. Too bad I'm not Chou." He replied, muttering. Finally, he heaved a sigh, emptied his glass and stood up. "Damn this "good samaritan" bullshit to hell... If he was still alive I'd kick his ass just for the hassle." He muttered with an annoyed grunt. He then turned to Leigh again, and sighed. "Sorry. I'll be right back." While still muttering curses, protests and the like under his breath, his hands tucked in his pockets, he wandered off towards the door out to the dark alley behind the bar. With a single solid kick, he made the door swing open as he stepped outside.
It wasn't hard to find the men, as the sound of fists and laughter quickly led his eyes to them. They were still pummelling away at the boy, all the while he retained his masochistic laughter. Kojiroh pointed a finger at them.
"Oi, you two! I'm not going to pretend to have some noble reason or moral code or bullshit like that. And I'm not saving that masochistic kid, either. Make no mistake about it. The only reason I'm going to completely crush you two right here and now..." He took his hands out of his pockets, and assumed a fighting stand. "...is because in less than two minutes, my mood has gone from great, to extremely shitty, and I feel like taking it out on someone."
He shrugged, twisting his neck a bit so that it made a cracking noise.
"I guess you idiots just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
With that, he took two quick steps that brought him within proximity of one of the thugs, and aimed a quick sideway kick towards the man's diaphragm area, starting the real fight.
Lau hummed to himself on an old Chinese song as he worked the lock to the museum. It wasn't that difficult to unlock. The alarm wired to the door, he had already dealt with. That left only one more thing between him and his objective, which was the mask of Xuelmahatl, and that thing, was the museum's guards. When the door swung open, he casually tossed the lockpick aside and unholstered his Makarov. Cocking it, he opened the door and stepped inside, into the darkness beyond it. He carefully closed the door again, still humming, this time on "Rule Britannia", as he stepped into the shadows and wandered down the corridor.
He followed the signs towards the Mayan exhibition, as if he was a regular tourist there to visit. Of course, he wasn't - the fact it was in the middle of the night, or at least after closing hours and with guards patrolling, was enough to compromize him and land him in jail - if he got caught. Lau never got caught, no matter how dirty his hands got during a job.
A whistling sound made him step into the shadows. His dark suit, hair and beard stubble helped conceal him as a guard walked past him. Lau was safe from discovery, but even then, he cleared his throat, and spoke out loud. "Excuse me, Mister Guard, yo..." The guard stiffened visibly before spinning around in shock. Just as he did, his eyes wide open in fear when they saw Lau, Lau grinned psychotically at him: "Can you tell me the way to the Mayan exhibition?"
Before the man could reply, Lau grabbed his face with a single hand, and using his considerable strength, smashed the back of the man's head into the wall behind him, several times, as hard as he could. When he let go, the body fell to the ground, unconscious, or more likely, dead, with blood splattered on the wall where the head had hit. Lau searched the man's pockets until he found a pack of stick matches and some keys. He placed the keys in his suit pocket, and used a stick match to light a cigarette. Throwing the burnt out match at the man's corpse, he wandered down the corridor, gun back in hand, towards the exhibition.
Finally he found the door leading to the exhibition, but during the night it was closed and locked. He had the keys, however, and simply unlocked the door, kicking it open as he stepped into the darkness beyond. There, he stopped for a moment, looking at the mask and its pedestal. The problem was, the two were separated by another man, holding the mask and a knife in his other hand. Lau stopped, showing no surprise, but instead speaking out as he pointed his gun at the masked burglar:
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that mask belongs to me. Why don't we be friends and you hand it over without me having to maim and kill you?" He playfully let the barrel of the gun wander down towards his enemy's stomach area, considering whether or not to let the burglar suffer. Then he added with a shrug: "Actually, forget I asked. You see, hehehe, I kind of like the idea of maiming and killing you, Mr Phantom of the Opera." His gun pointed at the man and a psychotic grin spreading on his lips, he waited, prodding the thief for a reaction to the situation he had become involved in.
"You can't be serious... You're just going to let them take him away?!" She exclaimed at him in disbelief. Kojiroh looked up at her, and then towards the door through which the men had left. After a moment, he shrugged, as if it wasn't any of his business. "They're going to kill him if you don't help!" Yuki prodded him onwards. "The police will be all over this place if that happens, you know." Then, she leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear: "Besides... Chou would have helped the boy." Kojiroh looked up at her with an annoyed frown on his forehead.
"I guess you're right. Too bad I'm not Chou." He replied, muttering. Finally, he heaved a sigh, emptied his glass and stood up. "Damn this "good samaritan" bullshit to hell... If he was still alive I'd kick his ass just for the hassle." He muttered with an annoyed grunt. He then turned to Leigh again, and sighed. "Sorry. I'll be right back." While still muttering curses, protests and the like under his breath, his hands tucked in his pockets, he wandered off towards the door out to the dark alley behind the bar. With a single solid kick, he made the door swing open as he stepped outside.
It wasn't hard to find the men, as the sound of fists and laughter quickly led his eyes to them. They were still pummelling away at the boy, all the while he retained his masochistic laughter. Kojiroh pointed a finger at them.
"Oi, you two! I'm not going to pretend to have some noble reason or moral code or bullshit like that. And I'm not saving that masochistic kid, either. Make no mistake about it. The only reason I'm going to completely crush you two right here and now..." He took his hands out of his pockets, and assumed a fighting stand. "...is because in less than two minutes, my mood has gone from great, to extremely shitty, and I feel like taking it out on someone."
He shrugged, twisting his neck a bit so that it made a cracking noise.
"I guess you idiots just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
With that, he took two quick steps that brought him within proximity of one of the thugs, and aimed a quick sideway kick towards the man's diaphragm area, starting the real fight.
****
Lau hummed to himself on an old Chinese song as he worked the lock to the museum. It wasn't that difficult to unlock. The alarm wired to the door, he had already dealt with. That left only one more thing between him and his objective, which was the mask of Xuelmahatl, and that thing, was the museum's guards. When the door swung open, he casually tossed the lockpick aside and unholstered his Makarov. Cocking it, he opened the door and stepped inside, into the darkness beyond it. He carefully closed the door again, still humming, this time on "Rule Britannia", as he stepped into the shadows and wandered down the corridor.
He followed the signs towards the Mayan exhibition, as if he was a regular tourist there to visit. Of course, he wasn't - the fact it was in the middle of the night, or at least after closing hours and with guards patrolling, was enough to compromize him and land him in jail - if he got caught. Lau never got caught, no matter how dirty his hands got during a job.
A whistling sound made him step into the shadows. His dark suit, hair and beard stubble helped conceal him as a guard walked past him. Lau was safe from discovery, but even then, he cleared his throat, and spoke out loud. "Excuse me, Mister Guard, yo..." The guard stiffened visibly before spinning around in shock. Just as he did, his eyes wide open in fear when they saw Lau, Lau grinned psychotically at him: "Can you tell me the way to the Mayan exhibition?"
Before the man could reply, Lau grabbed his face with a single hand, and using his considerable strength, smashed the back of the man's head into the wall behind him, several times, as hard as he could. When he let go, the body fell to the ground, unconscious, or more likely, dead, with blood splattered on the wall where the head had hit. Lau searched the man's pockets until he found a pack of stick matches and some keys. He placed the keys in his suit pocket, and used a stick match to light a cigarette. Throwing the burnt out match at the man's corpse, he wandered down the corridor, gun back in hand, towards the exhibition.
Finally he found the door leading to the exhibition, but during the night it was closed and locked. He had the keys, however, and simply unlocked the door, kicking it open as he stepped into the darkness beyond. There, he stopped for a moment, looking at the mask and its pedestal. The problem was, the two were separated by another man, holding the mask and a knife in his other hand. Lau stopped, showing no surprise, but instead speaking out as he pointed his gun at the masked burglar:
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that mask belongs to me. Why don't we be friends and you hand it over without me having to maim and kill you?" He playfully let the barrel of the gun wander down towards his enemy's stomach area, considering whether or not to let the burglar suffer. Then he added with a shrug: "Actually, forget I asked. You see, hehehe, I kind of like the idea of maiming and killing you, Mr Phantom of the Opera." His gun pointed at the man and a psychotic grin spreading on his lips, he waited, prodding the thief for a reaction to the situation he had become involved in.
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
Ein turned suddenly at the sound of Lau's voice, and seeing the barrel of the gun pointed towards him dived out of the way, launching himself sideways into a cartwheel. He landed softly on his feet behind another of the display cases, ducking into a crouch before he darted out to the side, launching the wired dagger at Lau's throat as he broke cover. In one swift movement he rolled behind another display stand and yanked on the wire, pulling the dagger back into his hand. The Mayan mask was still clutched tightly in his hand.
***
Sho laughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
"Look old man, no offense but I don't need your help." He said, and he looked around to see several more men approach from the ends of the alley, hemming them in. From their silhouettes one could tell that they were armed. Baseball bats, chains, steel pipes, each holding another vicious looking improvised weapon. "Besides, it looks like things just got fun." He said, cracking his knuckles. They broke into a charge, swinging their weapons at Sho and Kojiroh with all the fury and finesse of enraged animals. The boy lashed out, his knuckles shattering the jaw of one man as he charged, his feet continuing to run even as his head arced towards the ground. Sho ducked and sidestepped lazily around the clumsy swings, replying with long, swinging punches and sharp elbows and knees that splintered teeth and cracked noses.
He didn't notice the man behind him until it was too late and the bottle shattered over his head, the glass splintering with a shrill shriek and clattering to the floor with a ring. Sho stumbled forwards. And then it began. Like a pack of hyenas the men descended upon him, dull clubs crashing against his ribs and skull as he fell into a heap. The broken bottle stabbed downwards, burying itself in his belly and the men turned their eyes to Kojiroh.
***
Sho laughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
"Look old man, no offense but I don't need your help." He said, and he looked around to see several more men approach from the ends of the alley, hemming them in. From their silhouettes one could tell that they were armed. Baseball bats, chains, steel pipes, each holding another vicious looking improvised weapon. "Besides, it looks like things just got fun." He said, cracking his knuckles. They broke into a charge, swinging their weapons at Sho and Kojiroh with all the fury and finesse of enraged animals. The boy lashed out, his knuckles shattering the jaw of one man as he charged, his feet continuing to run even as his head arced towards the ground. Sho ducked and sidestepped lazily around the clumsy swings, replying with long, swinging punches and sharp elbows and knees that splintered teeth and cracked noses.
He didn't notice the man behind him until it was too late and the bottle shattered over his head, the glass splintering with a shrill shriek and clattering to the floor with a ring. Sho stumbled forwards. And then it began. Like a pack of hyenas the men descended upon him, dull clubs crashing against his ribs and skull as he fell into a heap. The broken bottle stabbed downwards, burying itself in his belly and the men turned their eyes to Kojiroh.
Setting
0.00 INK
Rey saw how the girl unsheathed the blade from the parasol. It didn't even make him blink. His smile grew a slight bit and then he mumbled with his left hand in his pocket, touching a particular page of his spellbook. "Light I command you, come forth and seal the darkness before me. Seal of light."
As the words stop Rey points to the girl and three circles of pure light appear around her, followed by a circle of rune lettering on the floor hardly broader than the girls footing. Rey knew that it would stop any movement the girl would make outside of the circle.
He looked at Kyo and then back to the girl. "Miss... I don't recall you telling me your name, it doesn't matter. You actualy were free to go, but since you pulled a weapon on me I would have to ask you first to sheathe it again. Then I'll disspel that seal." He said as he pointed to the parasol. "After which you can use the wooden stairs over there."He said as he pointed to a the wooden stairs in what could be called the front of the shop. "I only have business with Kyo and it would be in both Kyo's and my benefit if he believed me." He then said, looking him almost straight in the eyes.
As the words stop Rey points to the girl and three circles of pure light appear around her, followed by a circle of rune lettering on the floor hardly broader than the girls footing. Rey knew that it would stop any movement the girl would make outside of the circle.
He looked at Kyo and then back to the girl. "Miss... I don't recall you telling me your name, it doesn't matter. You actualy were free to go, but since you pulled a weapon on me I would have to ask you first to sheathe it again. Then I'll disspel that seal." He said as he pointed to the parasol. "After which you can use the wooden stairs over there."He said as he pointed to a the wooden stairs in what could be called the front of the shop. "I only have business with Kyo and it would be in both Kyo's and my benefit if he believed me." He then said, looking him almost straight in the eyes.
The setting changes from Episode 1: After Dark to Dark Messiah
Setting
0.00 INK
Kojiroh looked as the boy fell, and one of the many assailants stabbed a broken bottle into his stomach. As a result, Kojiroh heaved a sigh.
"Great. He went ahead and died after all." He sent a glare to the kid, and muttered: "'I don't need your help', eh? That's what you get for being arrogant, you little shit." Then, suddenly, realizing something he clenched his fist at the boy, and added: "Hey, wait a sec - 'old man'?! I'm not that old, you little bastard! When I'm done with these losers I'm going to give you the spanking of your life for that one." He spat angrily sideways as he turned to the assailants.
"Whatever. Looks like we're going to have to take this to the next level. Didn't you idiots ever learn that cheating in a barfight only piss your opponent off?" He stuck his hands into the pockets of his blazers. When they came out again, each of his two fists was adorned with a glimmering set of brass knuckles. He looked at the men for a moment, and then watched as several of them approached him slowly, as if trying to corner him.
Kojiroh had learned many things in his life. One of the first was, when somebody tried to corner you, you attacked. Not a panicked attack, but precise, exact attacks. Kojiroh did just that. Quick as a snake slithering on the ground, he took several fast steps that brought him up on and kicked him off the wall in a kick that brought his foot right onto the right ear of one of his assailants, felling the man to the ground like a lumberjack felling a tree. Kojiroh landed on him, his feet and full body weight snapping the man's spine. Before the man next to him could react, Kojiroh's right hand and brass knuckles plowed a field of blood through his face, throwing him backwards against the wall.
Kojiroh jumped off the unconscious or dead man, quickly turning to face another horde of attackers. As the first of them reached him, swinging a large steel pipe, Kojiroh crouched, dodging it as he fell on his back, kicking upwards and hitting the man in the groin. Rolling back on his feet, he watched as the man folded over, vomiting. Kojiroh finished him off by letting his left hand smash into the back of his head. But he was a moment too slow, as when he turned around, a fist hit him straight in the face, making him stumble backwards and take support against the wall, his face aching painfully.
Recovering, Kojiroh barely had time to dodge before a wooden club of a home-made variety came for his face. He crouched, and as he avoided the club, sent a kick with the full sole of his shoe at the man's chest, forcing him back and buying Kojiroh some distance. He realized he stood right next to the boy that had tried to take them all on by himself. Kojiroh, annoyed, spat out a loose tooth, right into the face of one of the assailants, and made a circular motion with his shoulders, as if they were stiff.
"You know..." He said, looking down at the young man. "If you don't wake the hell up, you're going to owe me big time for saving your ass. And since you've probably cost me my date for the night, you better pay me back by introducing me to some hot school girls."
Lau smashed the knife sideways with the barrel of his gun as he ran after Ein, firing his gun several times. He heard the metallic noise when the gun was yanked backwards, and fired off another few bullets in that direction before starting to walk openly through the hall, searching for Ein fearlessly. As he did, he took out the clip of the gun and checked it, then changed it for a fresh one. He snickered as he called out:
"What's wrong, Mr Phantom of the Opera? There's nowhere to hide, so why don't you just show yourself and give me the mask? You don't want to make me angry, trust me." He walked up to the light buttons on the wall, and, with a snicker, turned them on. Within a second, the entire hallway was flooded with sharp, bright, white lights. Lau snickered as he punched another button, and museum music started to play in the speakers. He turned it up to almost maximum volume. He was certain it wasn't long before the uniersity's security staff, and the police, would be attracted to the scene.
"You see, when I get angry, I tend to get very violent." He searched his pockets until he found what he was searching for - an incindiary grenade. It was a bit of a wildcard he had brought, just for the heck of it. He pulled the pin. Then, catching sight of what he was looking for, a shadow, he tossed the grenade. As a giant cloud of fire erupted where the grenade landed, he fired several shots with the Makarov as well.
He stopped and listened, then called out:
"Oh, did you die already? That's a shame. I was looking forward to putting you through some electric torture to find out who you were working for." His footsteps echoed across the hallway as he walked through it towards the black spot where the grenade had exploded. The walls were burning hungrily, and there were still small fires burning on the floor as well. It wouldn't take long before the museum was completely enshrouded in fire.
"Great. He went ahead and died after all." He sent a glare to the kid, and muttered: "'I don't need your help', eh? That's what you get for being arrogant, you little shit." Then, suddenly, realizing something he clenched his fist at the boy, and added: "Hey, wait a sec - 'old man'?! I'm not that old, you little bastard! When I'm done with these losers I'm going to give you the spanking of your life for that one." He spat angrily sideways as he turned to the assailants.
"Whatever. Looks like we're going to have to take this to the next level. Didn't you idiots ever learn that cheating in a barfight only piss your opponent off?" He stuck his hands into the pockets of his blazers. When they came out again, each of his two fists was adorned with a glimmering set of brass knuckles. He looked at the men for a moment, and then watched as several of them approached him slowly, as if trying to corner him.
Kojiroh had learned many things in his life. One of the first was, when somebody tried to corner you, you attacked. Not a panicked attack, but precise, exact attacks. Kojiroh did just that. Quick as a snake slithering on the ground, he took several fast steps that brought him up on and kicked him off the wall in a kick that brought his foot right onto the right ear of one of his assailants, felling the man to the ground like a lumberjack felling a tree. Kojiroh landed on him, his feet and full body weight snapping the man's spine. Before the man next to him could react, Kojiroh's right hand and brass knuckles plowed a field of blood through his face, throwing him backwards against the wall.
Kojiroh jumped off the unconscious or dead man, quickly turning to face another horde of attackers. As the first of them reached him, swinging a large steel pipe, Kojiroh crouched, dodging it as he fell on his back, kicking upwards and hitting the man in the groin. Rolling back on his feet, he watched as the man folded over, vomiting. Kojiroh finished him off by letting his left hand smash into the back of his head. But he was a moment too slow, as when he turned around, a fist hit him straight in the face, making him stumble backwards and take support against the wall, his face aching painfully.
Recovering, Kojiroh barely had time to dodge before a wooden club of a home-made variety came for his face. He crouched, and as he avoided the club, sent a kick with the full sole of his shoe at the man's chest, forcing him back and buying Kojiroh some distance. He realized he stood right next to the boy that had tried to take them all on by himself. Kojiroh, annoyed, spat out a loose tooth, right into the face of one of the assailants, and made a circular motion with his shoulders, as if they were stiff.
"You know..." He said, looking down at the young man. "If you don't wake the hell up, you're going to owe me big time for saving your ass. And since you've probably cost me my date for the night, you better pay me back by introducing me to some hot school girls."
****
Lau smashed the knife sideways with the barrel of his gun as he ran after Ein, firing his gun several times. He heard the metallic noise when the gun was yanked backwards, and fired off another few bullets in that direction before starting to walk openly through the hall, searching for Ein fearlessly. As he did, he took out the clip of the gun and checked it, then changed it for a fresh one. He snickered as he called out:
"What's wrong, Mr Phantom of the Opera? There's nowhere to hide, so why don't you just show yourself and give me the mask? You don't want to make me angry, trust me." He walked up to the light buttons on the wall, and, with a snicker, turned them on. Within a second, the entire hallway was flooded with sharp, bright, white lights. Lau snickered as he punched another button, and museum music started to play in the speakers. He turned it up to almost maximum volume. He was certain it wasn't long before the uniersity's security staff, and the police, would be attracted to the scene.
"You see, when I get angry, I tend to get very violent." He searched his pockets until he found what he was searching for - an incindiary grenade. It was a bit of a wildcard he had brought, just for the heck of it. He pulled the pin. Then, catching sight of what he was looking for, a shadow, he tossed the grenade. As a giant cloud of fire erupted where the grenade landed, he fired several shots with the Makarov as well.
He stopped and listened, then called out:
"Oh, did you die already? That's a shame. I was looking forward to putting you through some electric torture to find out who you were working for." His footsteps echoed across the hallway as he walked through it towards the black spot where the grenade had exploded. The walls were burning hungrily, and there were still small fires burning on the floor as well. It wouldn't take long before the museum was completely enshrouded in fire.
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
Ein rolled to the side as the bullets whizzed past his body, one of them catching the mask and knocking it from his hand. He was about to retrieve it when the sudden glare of the lights surprised him and he looked up. And then the music started. His enemy was trying to distract him, and at the same time trying to cover his own movements. Ein could no longer passively wait to trap his opponent, he would have to hunt them actively. He would need to be more mobile than them. The tell tale clink of the grenade alerted him and he flicked his wrist upwards, sending a wire hurtling up to the ceiling where it coiled itself itghtly around a support beam. Ein ascended quickly, the grenade bursting below him and he felt the explosion rattle through his body. Any slower and he would have been caught by the blast radius. As the man came closer Ein dropped, free hand extended outwards to grab the man's face as a distraction, his dagger drawn back for a killing blow.
***
"You're wasting your time with the kid." One of the thugs said. "He's not getting up, now or later." He dropped the bloodied bottle to the floor where it rolled over to Sho's legs. He was lying still on the ground, bleeding profusely from his abdomen. It was apparent from the wound that he wouldn't be getting back up. It was a mortal wound if ever Kojiroh had seen one. Dark red blood was pooling in the ground around the man's feet. "That'll teach him not to mess with us." A ripple of sinister laughter ran through the pack and they advanced at Kojiroh, stepping over the lifeless body and forming a ring around Kojiroh and the wall behind him. "The punk had it coming..."
"Hey." A voice called out behind the men. A few of them turned in disbelief as Sho dragged himself to his feet, swaying as he pulled a shard of green glass free from his stomach. "That it?" He sneered. "Is that all you got?" He threw the jagged glass to the floor and crushed it underfoot. He growled in pain through clenched jaw. "I f******* hate it when people pull that kinda s***." He pulled out another splinter, smaller this time, and threw it behind him.
***
"That so?" Kyo cocked his head in suspicion as he eyed the strange man. "Well if you've got something to say then spit it out. I've not got all night." He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Rey.
***
"You're wasting your time with the kid." One of the thugs said. "He's not getting up, now or later." He dropped the bloodied bottle to the floor where it rolled over to Sho's legs. He was lying still on the ground, bleeding profusely from his abdomen. It was apparent from the wound that he wouldn't be getting back up. It was a mortal wound if ever Kojiroh had seen one. Dark red blood was pooling in the ground around the man's feet. "That'll teach him not to mess with us." A ripple of sinister laughter ran through the pack and they advanced at Kojiroh, stepping over the lifeless body and forming a ring around Kojiroh and the wall behind him. "The punk had it coming..."
"Hey." A voice called out behind the men. A few of them turned in disbelief as Sho dragged himself to his feet, swaying as he pulled a shard of green glass free from his stomach. "That it?" He sneered. "Is that all you got?" He threw the jagged glass to the floor and crushed it underfoot. He growled in pain through clenched jaw. "I f******* hate it when people pull that kinda s***." He pulled out another splinter, smaller this time, and threw it behind him.
***
"That so?" Kyo cocked his head in suspicion as he eyed the strange man. "Well if you've got something to say then spit it out. I've not got all night." He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Rey.
The setting changes from Episode 1: After Dark to Dark Messiah
Setting
0.00 INK
A wry smile spread on Kojiroh's lips as he watched the kid crawl on his feet, even in the face of dark blood pumping through the wound. It was true, such a wound was mortal if the kid didn't get to a hospital. But for a man such as Kojiroh, who had lived through the Hell that was the Killing Fields of Cambodia, even a killing blow wasn't enough to cause death. Even if you were dying, there was only one hope for you to survive; to keep fighting. No matter what. Few people had the strength to do such a thing. As much as he hated to admit it, he was starting to like the boy, if not for his stubbornness, then for his smart mouth. And for a man like Kojiroh, who had no interest in any humans of the male sex, that said a lot.
"About time you got up, you little runt." He said as his smile quickly disappeared before the kid had noticed it. "I didn't come here to save your ass. You better damn well introduce me to some hot babes after this is over." He looked at the thugs, and added: "And since we're already playing a cheating game, allow me to crown myself the king of cheating..." With a swift move of his hand, he unholstered the Glock 20 from his shoulder holster, and pointed it one-handedly at the men.
"I'm tiring of this game. Now f*** off, or I'll blow you away like Mary Poppins."
After all, no matter how stubborn, even if he had gotten up and back into the fight, the kid would need medical attention soon and fast, or he would die. There was no more time to trade fists. Kojiroh had to end the fight right away.
As Lau walked towards the burnt scene, a whirring sound from the ceiling made him look up, only to see the palm of a hand coming down towards him quickly. A wicked grin appeared on his lips, and he growled: "That's right! Dance with me, baby! I'll send you straight to Hell!" He threw the gun up, aiming it towards the head of the man rapelling down at him, and emptied the magazine of his gun at his enemy. The loud gunshots echoed like thunder across the exhibit hall and the museum. And the fire was spreading along the walls, rapidly. The museum was becoming engulfed in flames.
Then, he saw the shining of steel, and retracted the gun in an attempt to block the incoming knife. He only partly succeeded, as he felt a sharp burning pain along his right arm as warm blood began to seep out from the shallow cut. The psychopathic Lau, however, barely took notice of it.
He stepped back quickly, keeping the gun pointed towards his opponent as he laughed, a silent and bloodthirsty laugh.
"Not bad, Mr Phantom." He snickered as he looked at the wound on his arm. "But didn't you ever learn not to bring a knife to a gunfight? This isn't some Bruce Lee movie. If you're going to kill me, you better bring something larger than that shank." As he spoke, he crouched on the ground, and picked up a white object with his left hand - it was the mask. Holding it up, he added: "And you dropped this, by the way. Thank you very much, Mr Phantom." His grin grew broad as he met Ein's eyes, an idea growing in his mind. "Heh." He snickered, moving the mask closer to his face.
"Aren't you curious?" He looked up, still grinning. "Why everyone seems to want their hands on this mask so badly? What do you think, should I try it on, see what happens?" He pointed the gun back at Ein, and added: "I think I will. You just shut the hell up and watch." With a broadening smile, he moved the mask closer to his face.
"About time you got up, you little runt." He said as his smile quickly disappeared before the kid had noticed it. "I didn't come here to save your ass. You better damn well introduce me to some hot babes after this is over." He looked at the thugs, and added: "And since we're already playing a cheating game, allow me to crown myself the king of cheating..." With a swift move of his hand, he unholstered the Glock 20 from his shoulder holster, and pointed it one-handedly at the men.
"I'm tiring of this game. Now f*** off, or I'll blow you away like Mary Poppins."
After all, no matter how stubborn, even if he had gotten up and back into the fight, the kid would need medical attention soon and fast, or he would die. There was no more time to trade fists. Kojiroh had to end the fight right away.
****
As Lau walked towards the burnt scene, a whirring sound from the ceiling made him look up, only to see the palm of a hand coming down towards him quickly. A wicked grin appeared on his lips, and he growled: "That's right! Dance with me, baby! I'll send you straight to Hell!" He threw the gun up, aiming it towards the head of the man rapelling down at him, and emptied the magazine of his gun at his enemy. The loud gunshots echoed like thunder across the exhibit hall and the museum. And the fire was spreading along the walls, rapidly. The museum was becoming engulfed in flames.
Then, he saw the shining of steel, and retracted the gun in an attempt to block the incoming knife. He only partly succeeded, as he felt a sharp burning pain along his right arm as warm blood began to seep out from the shallow cut. The psychopathic Lau, however, barely took notice of it.
He stepped back quickly, keeping the gun pointed towards his opponent as he laughed, a silent and bloodthirsty laugh.
"Not bad, Mr Phantom." He snickered as he looked at the wound on his arm. "But didn't you ever learn not to bring a knife to a gunfight? This isn't some Bruce Lee movie. If you're going to kill me, you better bring something larger than that shank." As he spoke, he crouched on the ground, and picked up a white object with his left hand - it was the mask. Holding it up, he added: "And you dropped this, by the way. Thank you very much, Mr Phantom." His grin grew broad as he met Ein's eyes, an idea growing in his mind. "Heh." He snickered, moving the mask closer to his face.
"Aren't you curious?" He looked up, still grinning. "Why everyone seems to want their hands on this mask so badly? What do you think, should I try it on, see what happens?" He pointed the gun back at Ein, and added: "I think I will. You just shut the hell up and watch." With a broadening smile, he moved the mask closer to his face.
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
The thugs started to back away warily, if a gun wasn't enough to deter them then seeing a dead man come back to life certainly was. They backed out of the alleyway cautiously before breaking for it, scattering in all directions, dropping whatever weapons they had brought to the floor. Sho watched them and grinned triumphantly, baring fang like teeth. He looked down at his stomach and rand his hand across his ruined shirt, now torn and dripping with thick, red blood that seeped across its surface in large droplets. "F****** a**holes ruined my shirt." He snarled. "What a waste of my time." He turned and made to walk away. For a man who had been stabbed nearly to death he seemed strangely apathetic about the whole matter.
***
The bullets scored past Ein, narrowly missing their mark and when his dagger failed to hit its mark Ein disengaged, hopping back into a crouch several feet away. He looked up at Lau, for the first time realising his opponent's identity. And as the man raised his hand Ein braced himself to move again. But Lau wasn't going to attack, no instead he was going to don the mask. Ein didn't know what powers it held, but it was likely that no good would come from it and he thrust out his hand, a cable shooting around Lau's wrist as Ein prepared to deliver a fatal shock.
***
The bullets scored past Ein, narrowly missing their mark and when his dagger failed to hit its mark Ein disengaged, hopping back into a crouch several feet away. He looked up at Lau, for the first time realising his opponent's identity. And as the man raised his hand Ein braced himself to move again. But Lau wasn't going to attack, no instead he was going to don the mask. Ein didn't know what powers it held, but it was likely that no good would come from it and he thrust out his hand, a cable shooting around Lau's wrist as Ein prepared to deliver a fatal shock.
Setting
0.00 INK
"Tch," Tsukiko scoffed when the light surrounded her. What the hell was all this hocus-pocus voodoo babble anyway? The glowing symbol on the floor was kind of weird, but who cared? This guy was really pissing her off with his superior attitude and his damn big mouth, and she was thinking it was about time someone taught him just how unacceptable it was to hold people hostage in your creepy basement. It was not as though any little light trick was actually going to hurt-
She tried stepping outside the circle, intending just to scare the living daylights out of him (the sword wasn't for show, after all), but something stopped her foot. It was like running into a wall she couldn't see. Muttering an impressive string of profanities under her breath, Tsukiko tried swinging her sword at it, only to find that while the object could leave the area, her hands could not follow.
That smug jerk started running his mouth again, but she simply glowered at him from behind his stupid little invisible wall. There was absolutely no way she was sheathing her sword, and even less chance that she was leaving Kyo alone with this creep. He had siblings to take care of, and he was her friend besides. If you were really of a mind, Tsukiko had a number of rather glaring flaws you could point out, but being disloyal or a coward were not among them. Instead, her grip only tightened, and she began trying to figure out how to beat this thing. It seemed like there might be one way to do it, but she'd only have one chance, and she didn't like the odds, what with this crazy bull**** this guy was pulling with the fire and whatever the hell he was doing right now.
Kyo was keeping him talking, which was a good idea. The more time he spent in self-important babbling, the more time she had to figure out just how many ways she was going to fillet him once she got out of here. Well, okay, she probably wasn't actually going to kill him, but honestly this was about as close as she'd ever come to wanting to.
She tried stepping outside the circle, intending just to scare the living daylights out of him (the sword wasn't for show, after all), but something stopped her foot. It was like running into a wall she couldn't see. Muttering an impressive string of profanities under her breath, Tsukiko tried swinging her sword at it, only to find that while the object could leave the area, her hands could not follow.
That smug jerk started running his mouth again, but she simply glowered at him from behind his stupid little invisible wall. There was absolutely no way she was sheathing her sword, and even less chance that she was leaving Kyo alone with this creep. He had siblings to take care of, and he was her friend besides. If you were really of a mind, Tsukiko had a number of rather glaring flaws you could point out, but being disloyal or a coward were not among them. Instead, her grip only tightened, and she began trying to figure out how to beat this thing. It seemed like there might be one way to do it, but she'd only have one chance, and she didn't like the odds, what with this crazy bull**** this guy was pulling with the fire and whatever the hell he was doing right now.
Kyo was keeping him talking, which was a good idea. The more time he spent in self-important babbling, the more time she had to figure out just how many ways she was going to fillet him once she got out of here. Well, okay, she probably wasn't actually going to kill him, but honestly this was about as close as she'd ever come to wanting to.
The setting changes from Episode 1: After Dark to Dark Messiah
Setting
0.00 INK
Kojiroh watched as the thugs left, but, holstering his gun, he wasn't about to let the young man leave as well. When he tried to, Kojiroh stepped up to him, grabbing him by the neck using his elbow, and pulling him in tight and low as he spoke:
"And where do you think you're going, brat? First of all, you've ruined my date, so you owe me an introduction to some really hot babes. Second of all, you've ruined my night, so you owe me a beer. And lastly, there's the small fact you're bleeding like a stuck pig from your guts, and by all accounts shouldn't walk around all tough and healthy like that. Since I intend to protect my investment, as well as this bar, which would go to hell if a corpse ended up in this alley, the only place you're going, is a clinic."
Then he suddenly caught sight of the fangs in Sho's face, and a frown appeared on his own as he added:
"....and maybe a dental clinic. What the f***, dude? I thought you were creepy when you laughed about getting your ass handed to you, but that's some real emo body mod shit if I ever saw it." He made a disgusted grimace as he came to think of something, and added: "You're not one of those freaky people who likes to wear fur body suits and pretends to be an animal, are you?"
Lau only snickered when the cable locked around his wrist, but then, his face suddenly flared up in anger, and he growled:
"I told you to shut up and watch!" He roared as he threw up the gun and pulled the trigger. It didn't budge, however. Looking at it he realized he hadn't yet changed the clip. He let out an annoyed, "Tch", before tossing it sideways, and grabbing the mask in his right hand instead. The psychotic smile reappeared, and he said: "I'm going to f*** you up bad, baby. Just you wait." With that, he moved the mask towards his face, first slowly, then, suddenly placing it over it without hesitation.
For a moment, nothing at all happened.
Then, suddenly, a blastwave of red light and black smoke seemed to erupt around Lau, completely swallowing up his body. The blastwave was so physical it blew away any objects situated around where he stood. The ground began to tremble, shatter, and crumble around the scene where he had stood. Glass shattered, the entire building seemed to shake violently, and dust and crumbled concrete fell from the ceiling. Even the fires that seemed to engulf the entire hall seemed to back away from the strange scene, which happened in less than a second. After the red light disappeared, only the heavy, black smoke remained. The air seemed to crackle with powerful energy of an unknown kind, making the skin crawl like an evil foreboding of a catastrophe.
When it stopped, the tremors that shook the ground, air and ceiling, and the sound of them, were replaced by a laughter. A cold, hollow, dead laughter, almost psychotic in kind. Then, footsteps began to echo throughout the museum. They weren't the footsteps of Lau - they were footsteps like gunshots. Slowly, an enormous visage appeared from out of the smoke, a giant of muscles and innate power, his face masked by the Mask of Xuelmahatl. There was orange fire in his eyes, and the floor seemed to crumble under not just his weight, but the sheer innate powerful energy of the mask itself, as well, when he passed.
We...have been awoken... A hollow, soulless voice spoke in Lau's head. We know you and your actions. You are a worthy carrier. What will we do?
Lau ignored the voice in his head as he turned to the masked thief.
"This is great." He snickered. "Now I understand why the Brotherhood wanted their hands on this mask. I can feel its power coursing through me. Haha....hehehe...hahahahahahaha!" His maniacal laughter echoed throughout the halls. He rolled his neck a bit, as if it were stiff. It creaked slightly. Then he turned back towards Ein. A snicker behind his mask, he suddenly hit the ground, hard. So hard, in fact, that the sheer pressure of the impact rushed through the floor, tearing everything in its path to dust, towards Ein in a giant tunnel-like path that would blow him to pieces if it hit.
"And where do you think you're going, brat? First of all, you've ruined my date, so you owe me an introduction to some really hot babes. Second of all, you've ruined my night, so you owe me a beer. And lastly, there's the small fact you're bleeding like a stuck pig from your guts, and by all accounts shouldn't walk around all tough and healthy like that. Since I intend to protect my investment, as well as this bar, which would go to hell if a corpse ended up in this alley, the only place you're going, is a clinic."
Then he suddenly caught sight of the fangs in Sho's face, and a frown appeared on his own as he added:
"....and maybe a dental clinic. What the f***, dude? I thought you were creepy when you laughed about getting your ass handed to you, but that's some real emo body mod shit if I ever saw it." He made a disgusted grimace as he came to think of something, and added: "You're not one of those freaky people who likes to wear fur body suits and pretends to be an animal, are you?"
****
Lau only snickered when the cable locked around his wrist, but then, his face suddenly flared up in anger, and he growled:
"I told you to shut up and watch!" He roared as he threw up the gun and pulled the trigger. It didn't budge, however. Looking at it he realized he hadn't yet changed the clip. He let out an annoyed, "Tch", before tossing it sideways, and grabbing the mask in his right hand instead. The psychotic smile reappeared, and he said: "I'm going to f*** you up bad, baby. Just you wait." With that, he moved the mask towards his face, first slowly, then, suddenly placing it over it without hesitation.
For a moment, nothing at all happened.
Then, suddenly, a blastwave of red light and black smoke seemed to erupt around Lau, completely swallowing up his body. The blastwave was so physical it blew away any objects situated around where he stood. The ground began to tremble, shatter, and crumble around the scene where he had stood. Glass shattered, the entire building seemed to shake violently, and dust and crumbled concrete fell from the ceiling. Even the fires that seemed to engulf the entire hall seemed to back away from the strange scene, which happened in less than a second. After the red light disappeared, only the heavy, black smoke remained. The air seemed to crackle with powerful energy of an unknown kind, making the skin crawl like an evil foreboding of a catastrophe.
When it stopped, the tremors that shook the ground, air and ceiling, and the sound of them, were replaced by a laughter. A cold, hollow, dead laughter, almost psychotic in kind. Then, footsteps began to echo throughout the museum. They weren't the footsteps of Lau - they were footsteps like gunshots. Slowly, an enormous visage appeared from out of the smoke, a giant of muscles and innate power, his face masked by the Mask of Xuelmahatl. There was orange fire in his eyes, and the floor seemed to crumble under not just his weight, but the sheer innate powerful energy of the mask itself, as well, when he passed.
We...have been awoken... A hollow, soulless voice spoke in Lau's head. We know you and your actions. You are a worthy carrier. What will we do?
Lau ignored the voice in his head as he turned to the masked thief.
"This is great." He snickered. "Now I understand why the Brotherhood wanted their hands on this mask. I can feel its power coursing through me. Haha....hehehe...hahahahahahaha!" His maniacal laughter echoed throughout the halls. He rolled his neck a bit, as if it were stiff. It creaked slightly. Then he turned back towards Ein. A snicker behind his mask, he suddenly hit the ground, hard. So hard, in fact, that the sheer pressure of the impact rushed through the floor, tearing everything in its path to dust, towards Ein in a giant tunnel-like path that would blow him to pieces if it hit.
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
The power of Ein's shock did nothing to the hulking behemoth that was once Lau and he sent another, and then another, each increasingly strong. But the effect was the same. The shockwave rushed towards Ein and the masked man barely had a chance to react before it obliterated the ground around him, ducking to the side quickly and sliding along the marble floor of the museum he pressed himself up off the ground and began to sprint through the gangway between the display cases. He assessed the situation briefly in his head. Those surges had been strong enough to kill a man many times over. The last alone could have felled an elephant. Whatever the masks powers it obviously granted its bearer tremendous physical endurance and strength. Ein felt blast after blast follow him, the display cases shattering into shards of wood and class around him and he shielded himself from the fragments, throwing a line up into the gallery above and launching himself up and over the railing onto the second floor. He didn't break his stride, running along the upper floor of the room in an attempt to lose his enemy and hopefully get behind him undetected.
***
Sho lazily let his head tilt to the side to regard Kojiroh. He rummaged around in his pocket and produced a note, holding it up for the man. "Here. Get yourself something to drink on me. As for girls I'm new in town so you're on your own there." He said apathetically. He grabbed Kojiroh by the wrist and lifted the arm from around his neck with disconcerting ease. He released the man from his grip and began walking again. "As for being injured, you must be seeing things, pops. As you can see..." He lifted his bloodstained shirt to reveal that his abdomen was now without even a scratch, though still caked with dried blood. "I'm fine. Must have been your imagination. Or maybe yous hould get your eyes checked. I hear its the first thing to go." He smirked again.
***
Sho lazily let his head tilt to the side to regard Kojiroh. He rummaged around in his pocket and produced a note, holding it up for the man. "Here. Get yourself something to drink on me. As for girls I'm new in town so you're on your own there." He said apathetically. He grabbed Kojiroh by the wrist and lifted the arm from around his neck with disconcerting ease. He released the man from his grip and began walking again. "As for being injured, you must be seeing things, pops. As you can see..." He lifted his bloodstained shirt to reveal that his abdomen was now without even a scratch, though still caked with dried blood. "I'm fine. Must have been your imagination. Or maybe yous hould get your eyes checked. I hear its the first thing to go." He smirked again.
Setting
0.00 INK
"Ffffffudge..." Leo had finally shuffled his way to the door of the museum, and after gazing at the posted hours for several minutes, he came to the conclusion that they were closed... not that the lack of lighting did anything to change his assumption. Functional meant 'able to walk and talk' to Leo, not that his judgment wasn't impaired.
Thunk. Leo let his head rest against the cold glass and nearly fell inside when the door swung open. He managed not to give a surprised wail, and instead stopped his fall by planting his cane into the floor and supporting his body with his considerable upper body strength. It was a long moment before he pushed himself back upright and actually took a step inside.
"Uh... hello?" He felt silly wandering around in the museum hallways with the lights off, but what else was he going to do after someone so considerately left the door open? The least he could do was find the guard on duty and let them know that one of the doors was unlocked. That's what a responsible person would do, right? Drunk logic at its finest led him through the darkened halls at a slow pace, as he had to feel about with his cane in some places to be sure he wasn't going to run into things, rather than use the miniature flashlight attached to his key chain. It was by that method that he found a body in the hallway, rather than tripping over it and landing in a heap.
"Hhey buddy... no shleepin' on the job. Thersa door unlocked, you need to go fixsh it." Leo prodded the body several times with his cane before he came to the conclusion that the guard had been sleeping on the job. It was up to Leo, the responsible citizen, to do the guard a service and lock the door for him. It was this, exactly, going through his head that made him sit down and wrestle with the keys clipped the the guard's belt. Leo had even almost gotten them free when a commotion from farther inside caught his attention. It was a commotion that Leo was all too familiar with: gunfire and explosions and...
"Augh shit!" Leo covered his eyes and staggered to his feet when the lights came on, suddenly no longer interested in the possibly dead security guard and making his way half-groggily towards the fighting... mostly with the intention of telling whomever he found to get off his lawn and keep the ruckus down. He half shambled, half stumbled into the room where Lau and Ein were fighting, and just sort of stood transfixed as Lau became a giant beast and began to sunder the floor with his sheer power.
"N..." he started, almost struggling to grasp the words at first. "No more Absinth for me, thanks, I am f***ed up!"
Thunk. Leo let his head rest against the cold glass and nearly fell inside when the door swung open. He managed not to give a surprised wail, and instead stopped his fall by planting his cane into the floor and supporting his body with his considerable upper body strength. It was a long moment before he pushed himself back upright and actually took a step inside.
"Uh... hello?" He felt silly wandering around in the museum hallways with the lights off, but what else was he going to do after someone so considerately left the door open? The least he could do was find the guard on duty and let them know that one of the doors was unlocked. That's what a responsible person would do, right? Drunk logic at its finest led him through the darkened halls at a slow pace, as he had to feel about with his cane in some places to be sure he wasn't going to run into things, rather than use the miniature flashlight attached to his key chain. It was by that method that he found a body in the hallway, rather than tripping over it and landing in a heap.
"Hhey buddy... no shleepin' on the job. Thersa door unlocked, you need to go fixsh it." Leo prodded the body several times with his cane before he came to the conclusion that the guard had been sleeping on the job. It was up to Leo, the responsible citizen, to do the guard a service and lock the door for him. It was this, exactly, going through his head that made him sit down and wrestle with the keys clipped the the guard's belt. Leo had even almost gotten them free when a commotion from farther inside caught his attention. It was a commotion that Leo was all too familiar with: gunfire and explosions and...
"Augh shit!" Leo covered his eyes and staggered to his feet when the lights came on, suddenly no longer interested in the possibly dead security guard and making his way half-groggily towards the fighting... mostly with the intention of telling whomever he found to get off his lawn and keep the ruckus down. He half shambled, half stumbled into the room where Lau and Ein were fighting, and just sort of stood transfixed as Lau became a giant beast and began to sunder the floor with his sheer power.
"N..." he started, almost struggling to grasp the words at first. "No more Absinth for me, thanks, I am f***ed up!"
The setting changes from Dark Messiah to Episode 1: After Dark
Setting
0.00 INK
It proved too much when the hedonistic Kojiroh stumbled out after the kid and those thugs. Leigh's certain the bartender, Yuki?, knew English since the questionable detective had greeted her with it, possibly for the American's sake. Claiming to feel ill (which gods only knew she did) Leigh downed her beverage, paid for both drinks and left a generous tip as some apology for that fight breaking out and possibly for poor Yuki having to put up with Kojiroh. Cripes her head...everyone is screaming for her and that maddening Lullaby is playing again. Not that anyone else will hear It, no. It's the ticking time bomb inside of every necromancer and undead lover. Coat draped around her shoulders she made her exit a few minutes after Kojiroh had left, blood dribbling from her nose.
Leigh clenches a swiped napkin from the bar against her nose, brow flat and unamused as she navigates through unknown turf. She walks quickly but remains under the limelight of streetlamps. If she goes off a desolate street or wanders down an alley no doubt she'd find trouble. Young people are out tonight anyhow so she uses them for cover. Something knows about the fight at the bar. It writhes within her and is begging to come out and play. Her legs take longer strides with her hips snapping from side to side. She'll need to take her medication soon.
And it couldn't be soon enough. What street is this? Everything looks the same as colors begin to melt together. Leigh's nose has slowly stopped bleeding and she tosses the napkin away after dabbing and wiping her upper lip clean. She needs to stop panicking. Weaving through a large herd of lanky teenagers she leans against a building and pauses to pinch the bridge of her nose. The city pulsates in the distance, something is happening and...and someone is using magick. All she wants to do is crawl back into her apartment and rest. Or perhaps visit the local cemetery to allow her restless friends to have some fun. Neither option is appropriate. She must at least investigate why any mage is using magick within a city.
Mages are rather secretive and so rarely use their powers outside of their homes to ward off wandering eyes of citizens. Unless of course it is a life or death situation which must mean the mage whom is casting could be endangered. The street spirals and Leigh closes her eyes until she feels a cold, paper thin hand resting on her shoulder. A tall being of indiscernible gender hovers at her right shoulder, coming out from the alley. Its face is lowered so none can identify it but it makes Leigh feel heaps better. Taking the tall zombie's hand she begins to wander towards the sensation of magick as vexing as it feels. Her undead escort can barely be called a zombie. None of the flesh has rotted off yet and it still has white teeth. This body she found fresh down by the docks not too long ago.
Leigh clenches a swiped napkin from the bar against her nose, brow flat and unamused as she navigates through unknown turf. She walks quickly but remains under the limelight of streetlamps. If she goes off a desolate street or wanders down an alley no doubt she'd find trouble. Young people are out tonight anyhow so she uses them for cover. Something knows about the fight at the bar. It writhes within her and is begging to come out and play. Her legs take longer strides with her hips snapping from side to side. She'll need to take her medication soon.
And it couldn't be soon enough. What street is this? Everything looks the same as colors begin to melt together. Leigh's nose has slowly stopped bleeding and she tosses the napkin away after dabbing and wiping her upper lip clean. She needs to stop panicking. Weaving through a large herd of lanky teenagers she leans against a building and pauses to pinch the bridge of her nose. The city pulsates in the distance, something is happening and...and someone is using magick. All she wants to do is crawl back into her apartment and rest. Or perhaps visit the local cemetery to allow her restless friends to have some fun. Neither option is appropriate. She must at least investigate why any mage is using magick within a city.
Mages are rather secretive and so rarely use their powers outside of their homes to ward off wandering eyes of citizens. Unless of course it is a life or death situation which must mean the mage whom is casting could be endangered. The street spirals and Leigh closes her eyes until she feels a cold, paper thin hand resting on her shoulder. A tall being of indiscernible gender hovers at her right shoulder, coming out from the alley. Its face is lowered so none can identify it but it makes Leigh feel heaps better. Taking the tall zombie's hand she begins to wander towards the sensation of magick as vexing as it feels. Her undead escort can barely be called a zombie. None of the flesh has rotted off yet and it still has white teeth. This body she found fresh down by the docks not too long ago.
Setting
0.00 INK
Kyo looked around for another way out, quickly spying the wooden staircase at the other end of the room. He figured Rey wouldn't try another of his tricks unless he wanted to risk burning the entire place to the ground.
"What are you just standing there for?" He asked, reaching into the circle and grabbing Tsukiko by the wrist. Strangely his hand passed through unaffected and the circle strained and flickered before shattering like glass..
"Nice party tricks, but I'm not buying it." He said, dragging Tsukiko behind him. Though when he realised what he was doing he stopped suddenly, letting go of her wrist and thrusting his hands lazily into his pockets. "We're outta here." He said, marching up the wooden staircase that led to the bar. He unlatched the door and stepped outside, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Damn. I thought we were screwed for a second there." He relaxed his shoulders as he started to walk away into the night.
***
Kojiroh looked the young man up and down for a second. He had been certain the boy had been stabbed. He'd seen it with his own two eyes. And yet here he was, clear as day without a mark on him. The detective was dumbfounded and he could only look on as Sho turned on his heel and left with little more than a callous wave.
"See you around, old man." The boy chuckled to himself as he turned the corner and was gone.
Kojiroh pushed open the door to the back of the bar and looked around for Leigh. He muttered irritably to himself when it became apparent she was no longer there.
"If you're looking for the woman who came in with you she just left." Suki said, looking up from pouring a draught. Kojiroh hissed through clenched teeth and ran out the door after Leigh.
"What are you just standing there for?" He asked, reaching into the circle and grabbing Tsukiko by the wrist. Strangely his hand passed through unaffected and the circle strained and flickered before shattering like glass..
"Nice party tricks, but I'm not buying it." He said, dragging Tsukiko behind him. Though when he realised what he was doing he stopped suddenly, letting go of her wrist and thrusting his hands lazily into his pockets. "We're outta here." He said, marching up the wooden staircase that led to the bar. He unlatched the door and stepped outside, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Damn. I thought we were screwed for a second there." He relaxed his shoulders as he started to walk away into the night.
***
Kojiroh looked the young man up and down for a second. He had been certain the boy had been stabbed. He'd seen it with his own two eyes. And yet here he was, clear as day without a mark on him. The detective was dumbfounded and he could only look on as Sho turned on his heel and left with little more than a callous wave.
"See you around, old man." The boy chuckled to himself as he turned the corner and was gone.
Kojiroh pushed open the door to the back of the bar and looked around for Leigh. He muttered irritably to himself when it became apparent she was no longer there.
"If you're looking for the woman who came in with you she just left." Suki said, looking up from pouring a draught. Kojiroh hissed through clenched teeth and ran out the door after Leigh.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
There are no arcs in this roleplay.
View All » Create New » Quests
There are no quests in this roleplay.
Add Group » View All » 0 Factions to align with
Here's the current leaderboard.
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Game Master Controls
Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts from any location, allowing you to easily capture sub-plots which might be spread out across multiple locations.
Add Quest » Quests
You can create Quests with various rewards, encouraging your players to engage with specific plot lines.
Add Setting » 2 Settings for your players to play in
Settings are the backdrop for the characters in your universe, giving meaning and context to their existence. By creating a number of well-written locations, you can organize your universe into areas and regions.
Navigation
While not required, locations can be organized onto a map. More information soon!
Add Group » 0 Factions to align with
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Collectibles
By creating Collectibles, you can reward your players with unique items that accentuate their character sheets.
Once an Item has been created, it can be spawned in the IC using /spawn Item Name (case-sensitive, as usual) — this can be followed with /take Item Name to retrieve the item into the current character's inventory.
Mobs
Give your Universe life by adding a Mob, which are auto-replenishing NPCs your players can interact with. Useful for some quick hack-and-slash fun!
Mobs can be automated spawns, like rats and bats, or full-on NPCs complete with conversation menus. Use them to enhance your player experience!
Current Mobs
No mobs have been created yet.
Spawns
Locations where Mobs and Items might appear.
Events
You can schedule events for your players to create notifications and schedule times for everyone to plan around.
Orphanage
By marking a character as abandoned, you can offer them to your players as pre-made character sheets.
The Forge
Use your INK to craft new artifacts in Dark Messiah. Once created, Items cannot be changed, but they can be bought and sold in the marketplace.
Notable Items
No items have been created yet!
The Market
Buy, sell, and even craft your own items in this universe.
Market DataMarket conditions are Quick Buy (Items Most Recently Listed for Sale) |
Open Stores
View All » Add Character » 16 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Leigh Heike Ardal
No-nonsense American writer; darkly sweet necromancer.
Gimma Eva'ge
The new girl
Leonardo Phoenix
Retired Pilot
Calamus Valde
An archer with photokinesis
Kyo Kamiya
A University Student
Ein
A Contractor
Sho
A Werewolf
Trending
Calamus Valde
An archer with photokinesis
Ein
A Contractor
Gimma Eva'ge
The new girl
Kyo Kamiya
A University Student
Leonardo Phoenix
Retired Pilot
Sho
A Werewolf
Leigh Heike Ardal
No-nonsense American writer; darkly sweet necromancer.
Most Followed
Kyo Kamiya
A University Student
Gimma Eva'ge
The new girl
Sho
A Werewolf
Leonardo Phoenix
Retired Pilot
Leigh Heike Ardal
No-nonsense American writer; darkly sweet necromancer.
Calamus Valde
An archer with photokinesis
Ein
A Contractor
View All » Places
115 posts · 4 characters present · last post 2011-04-29 21:25:34 »
Dark Messiah ↪ Episode 1: After Dark Owner: RolePlayGateway
What stirs in the darkness?
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » Dark Messiah: Out of Character
Discussions
-
- Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Dark Messiah
1, 2, 3, 4by Mr D on Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:04 am
- 74 Replies
- 2637 Views
- Last post by XianEvermor
on Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:14 am
-
Dark Messiah
Most recent OOC posts in Dark Messiah
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Sorry about the lengthy delay: I had a crazy week last week. Two exams, plus a project turn in, and i have another two exams (in my other two classes) next week, but one is a take-home and the other I will ace without opening the text book so it won't absorb my time nearly as much. I'm crafting a post for Dark Messiah right now that should be very entertaining and should have it up up later tonight. My post for Altaea will probably get done tomorrow depending on how long it takes me to finish my homework.
The semester is almost over and I'm only taking one class over the summer so in a few weeks my ability to post frequently should go up. As always, thanks for being patient with me. :)
-x
P.S. Thought getting younger would be a walk in the park didn't you?! ;D And wouldn't it be an awful coincidence if they were in a hospital... like with other freshly awakened people and a magically sensitive mage? oh and the blonde lady too. I mean, how many hospitals can there be within limping, carrying injured friends distance of the campus area? *Runs with the plot hook*
The semester is almost over and I'm only taking one class over the summer so in a few weeks my ability to post frequently should go up. As always, thanks for being patient with me. :)
-x
P.S. Thought getting younger would be a walk in the park didn't you?! ;D And wouldn't it be an awful coincidence if they were in a hospital... like with other freshly awakened people and a magically sensitive mage? oh and the blonde lady too. I mean, how many hospitals can there be within limping, carrying injured friends distance of the campus area? *Runs with the plot hook*
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Don't push it, focus on irl work you need to get done. D: Try to take it easy~
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I have a project due AND an exam on tuesday. I will try and get something on the board tomorrow, but I probably won't be able to make a REAL post until tuesday night.
-X
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I went ahead and dropped Kage, just couldn't feel him in this RP anymore. Still using Leigh though since I'm loving her in here.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
So... I have no idea where this is going, which, while nice and interesting in one sense, also means that if I did something monumentally stupid in my post, you should tell me so and I can fix it.
EDIT: I just realized I completely failed to put my last post in Episode 1... this has been remedied, and the other post is now blank.
EDIT: I just realized I completely failed to put my last post in Episode 1... this has been remedied, and the other post is now blank.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
So I finally got thechance to write and I can't think of anything. Please accept this humble offering of a post that will at least serve to get us from A to B.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Definitely going to jump in. Just am going to need some help getting into the current flow of things and understanding what has transpired so far.
I read through the IC posts, but I am honestly going to have to read through it again because I found it a little confusing.
Mr. D, you already know what direction I am going in terms of a character. I just have to put it together, which I wont do until I understand what is going on better.
Thanks
I read through the IC posts, but I am honestly going to have to read through it again because I found it a little confusing.
Mr. D, you already know what direction I am going in terms of a character. I just have to put it together, which I wont do until I understand what is going on better.
Thanks
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
On that note, still waiting for Yoko to reply to Kojiroh, D-Man. ;)
I'll hopefully hav e some time to roleplay friday, though I won't be going home for the weekend.
I'll hopefully hav e some time to roleplay friday, though I won't be going home for the weekend.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Been trying to find a home for a new character I want to play out. I am considering jumping in here if its not too late.
Just a question: who are the active players now (besides D, Lox, Xian, and Machina)?
Will read up on this and get you a draft profile at some point soon D.
Thanks
Just a question: who are the active players now (besides D, Lox, Xian, and Machina)?
Will read up on this and get you a draft profile at some point soon D.
Thanks
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I'm sorry to say this, but I'm going to drop out of this one. I can't realy find anything to post anymore, so dropping out might be the only solution. Sorry guys.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
No need to be sorry. I know what it's like to be busy. Also I have a bad habit of grabbing plot hooks and just running around wildly with them like a chicken with it's head cut off... and then i'll get tangled up in the plot line and have to stop because it's wrapped around my ankles and i fell over. Then while i'm trying to get it all sorted out, sadistic DMs will dangle another one in front of me, and i'll hobble away with that one too (not quite as fast, being as my ankles are tied up.)
Like a ferret in a hallmark store... OOH SHINEY!
;)
-X
Like a ferret in a hallmark store... OOH SHINEY!
;)
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I know Xian, sorry. I've been busy with work and was a bit blindsided by all of the info you crammed into that last post. I'm planning out my post tonight.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Well I was waiting for other people to post but it seems everone is otherwise engaged, so I'll carry on.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Just waiting on Fammikins... or I could jump ahead without you, I have plenty of ideas buzzing around in my head now :P
-X
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Sorry for my delay, just pulling up a blank. Should get my post in this weekend~
edit; I'll be posting this week, friend needed me over the weekend.
edit; I'll be posting this week, friend needed me over the weekend.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Right, now the powers have been handed out everyone can get in on beating this fool down.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Right. Now we're all back on the same page we can get moving again. Returning to our regularly scheduled horror/action mashup.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I could've sworn I posted a reply on the RP before I returned to bootcamp. Oh, well, my bad. I'll have another reply up for y'all tomorrow. :D
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Kallas told me to go ahead and post sice he's having trouble coming up with something to write. So I'll be posting soon.