Announcements: Cutting Costs (2024) » January 2024 Copyfraud Attack » Finding Universes to Join (and making yours more visible!) » Guide To Universes On RPG » Member Shoutout Thread » Starter Locations & Prompts for Newcomers » RPG Chat — the official app » Frequently Asked Questions » Suggestions & Requests: THE MASTER THREAD »

Latest Discussions: With Chat currently offline... An alternative » Adapa Adapa's for adapa » To the Rich Men North of Richmond » Shake Senora » Good Morning RPG! » Ramblings of a Madman: American History Unkempt » Site Revitalization » Map Making Resources » Lost Poetry » Wishes » Ring of Invisibility » Seeking Roleplayer for Rumple/Mr. Gold from Once Upon a Time » Some political parody for these trying times » What dinosaur are you? » So, I have an Etsy » Train Poetry I » Joker » D&D Alignment Chart: How To Get A Theorem Named After You » Dungeon23 : Creative Challenge » Returning User - Is it dead? »

Players Wanted: Looking for a long term partner! » JoJo or Mha roleplay » Seeking long-term rp partners for MxM » [MxF] Ruining Beauty / Beauty x Bastard » Minecraft Rp Help Wanted » CALL FOR WITNESSES: The Public v Zosimos » Social Immortal: A Vampire Only Soiree [The Multiverse] » XENOMORPH EDM TOUR Feat. Synthe Gridd: Get Your Tickets! » Aishna: Tower of Desire » Looking for fellow RPGers/Characters » looking for a RP partner (ABO/BL) » Looking for a long term roleplay partner » Explore the World of Boruto with Our Roleplaying Group on FB » More Jedi, Sith, and Imperials needed! » Role-player's Wanted » OSR Armchair Warrior looking for Kin » Friday the 13th Fun, Anyone? » Writers Wanted! » Long term partner to play an older male wanted » DEAD! »

1
followers
follow

Appollonia

" An Aschen Adept Of War."

0 · 1,481 views · located in Victory Square

a character in “The Multiverse”, as played by Ersatz Creed

Groups

The Aschen Empire, a massive collection of semi-sovereign provinces that reigns over a great portion of the Milky Way Galaxy, paranoid, arrogant, and cruel, a once prosperous nation spirals into poverty, and self-destruction.
Division of the Office of Imperial Affairs, Special Projects is tasked with the recruitment, training, and indoctrination of supersoldiers, both citizen, and foreigner.

Description

Image

Once known as Jacqueline "The Blue Switch" Nightingale, she was given the name of Apollonia after being re-educated by the Aschen (her captors). She accepted this name and became The Destroyer that her new Masters had named her to be. The effectiveness of her re-education and indoctrination could not be doubted. Apollonia was obsessed with the Aschen culture, history, and mostly Emperor Prince. Looking into the mirror, she saw a woman...a foreigner. Someone who was not Aschen. It left a bitter taste in her mouth to see someone who would be perceived as a foreigner when she looked at her own reflection. Her disgust was such that she took a knife to her face but her recent augmentations prevented the knife from being able to do any noticeable damage... Unsatisfied she liquidated her assets to correct her appearance. A stray, perverse thought almost caused her to seek the perfection of appearing like a woman worthy of Prince's admiration but this she interpreted as arrogance and had immediately snuffed it out. The surgeries had her look Tauron and she acquired various tattoos which detailed her achievements and failures.

This was the first step in her campaign to becoming someone worthy of being at the Emperor's feet. Her missions were given and completed with a cold and calculating efficiency yet they were at time not without hiccups. Some hardwired bad habits from her previous lifestyle had caused Apollonia to not use various equipment because they did not fit her own personal preferences. Though this had never caused any major fault, it was a habit she did not outgrow until it nearly proved fatal. When deployed to investigate and eliminate an anomaly, she encountered a Chaos Sorcerer. Using outdated gear and possessing no anti magic weaponry, Apollonia nearly died at the hands of this Chaos Sorcerer. Her death was avoided due to the intervention of allied Taiyou, to include a Steel Ronin, and the involvement of the Goddess Athena.

Scarcely escaping with her life, Apollonia put in a request for leave. During this approved period of absence from her usual missions, she took to isolation and contemplated her previous mannerisms as well as the fight between the Chaos Sorcerer and herself. Her personal preferences had nearly caused her to die. It would be of little consequence if she died, she was but one out of many but Apollonia was not thinking of herself. Had it been a scenario where failure meant Prince could be harmed, her lack of preparation would have meant Prince's death. Apple saw that her obsessions, while a fountain of determination and strength, had been used against her. So the question lingered, how could she become stronger for her Emperor's sake...How could she reach that goal of standing next to her Emperor's side as his most trusted sword?

Originally she thought that the solution lied in external pursuits. That success alone would propel her to his side yet the distance now made sense. Despite her efforts, she was still a weapon that might harm her wielder. She was volatile, unstable. Apple was not yet worthy of her Emperor...and that frustrated her but it was not a permanent flaw. Afterall, recalling that distant hell the Confessor and Ayla had salvaged her from...how could she say that she was unsalvageable? Surrender was a sin she could not commit because it meant that the mercy extended to her was meaningless. Apple believed she was saved because she could become something great and that greatness, in her mind, was outstanding and unblemished service to the Emperor and his Empire but to do this she must abandon what old habits and preferences still lingered from the times she was the Blue Switch.


Choosing to embody the characteristics of Athena in order to reach her goal of standing at the Emperor's side, Apple returns to serve the Aschen Empire.

So begins...

Appollonia's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Jacqueline "Blue Switch" Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Despite the scene before her, a masked surgeon with many cruel and otherwise interesting tools, she was calm. Whatever came was for the better... Jacqu_ No...Appollonia was convinced of this. The sedative kicked in and her perception of the world went numb. There was no resistance...She let herself fall, trusting that she would rise again.

"Goodnight." Mantrid said quietly, and the spell was cast. Appollonia slept.

The wake was sudden. The reaction was involuntary... There was a shriek, an inhumane howl of anguish. Every fiber of her being was aching. Her bones were burning, each muscular spasm brought another wave of unaccustomed and expected pain. It only escalated. But it was not only the vessel that was being ripped asunder...No Appollonia even felt a pain beyond that. A spirit within her was screaming too... And that made her happy.

In her mind she stood over a dying Blue Switch...thinking of how she should have died back in the Aurora chair room. Both were being put to the flame now, but one was melting into order so that it may harden into a stronger metal and the other was evaporating. There was no pity in her gaze as she looked down at the apparition before her. It was not worthy of inciting emotion in her and so she bid it farewell with one final statement, one final observation.

"Your weeping...groaning...gnashing your teeth. This hurts you no..not just that...this is killing you? Despite the misery this incites in the vassal, my ears hears something. A rallying cry. A Champion Sound. Believe! Believe!..."



"Yes... the body is taking to the enhancements quite well..." Mantrid said quietly.



"Your godsleave you to die. My Gods reassure me, guide my steps, and urge me forward...Now die in silence, treasonous aspect of a weak and false god .".

The outward appearance of the body, and vessel, had not been altered but the identity that resided inside was no longer Jacqueline...Appollonia was taking her first breathes of air, the tears she shed now were like those shed by a newborn, and much like a newborn she could not fully understand her body...

But this too would pass, eventually. In her mind, Appollonia saw all the efforts that they had taken to awaken her, to let her be birthed into the world, as debt. As she was now she could not repay them, living up to her oath of allegiance was impossible. And that thought seemed cruel to her...tormented her. She rejected it, a fire igniting within her. As one of the Emperor's tools...she would not permit herself to be worthless. For him, she would prove her value and pay the debt back tenfold. If he was the swordsmen, she would be the sword, an extension of him. Yet as she was now...
Prince had no need for such a dull and worthless blade!


Her hands balled up into fists, the fingers dug into her palms, her nails dug into the flesh. Blood flowed and bones fractured and even broke to be healed moments after. A revelation crept into her mind. She was not too weak...It was the opposite. She was too strong. Even breathing seemed to make her ache. Had she tried to stand, she would have launched herself and crashed into the wall. It was relieving that she was not worthless in that since but... Still such a blade, one that could not control it's cut, would be dangerous to the Emperor as well. That thought angered her as well. An image flashed in her mind. Ayla's disappointed face, her voice confessing disappointment in her failure to live up to her expectations, for admitting aloud that she believed in her and for having dove into the pit to drag Appollonia out...Ayla would regret having made such efforts wouldn't she?

" I will not cut him should he wield me. I must gain control. Calm yourself...this is your body...this is your strength...own it!"

Her face became devoid of expression, empty eyes looked at mantrid. A monotone voice reached out to Mantrid. "I am thankful for this blessing, the power bestowed upon me. However I fear as I am now, I would harm even you if I were to attempt standing. Harming servants of the Emperor whom perform their task as he willed is contradictory to his wishes...and my own...".

After explaining her sudden restraint and lack of effort, despite the persisting but slowly diminishing pain. She pondered for a moment and asked the Doctor. "I need to fully grasp what I am capable of... Down to even how many calories my resting heart rate would consume per minute...even the blinking of my eyes...I need to know so I can control this...I need to know so I may properly serve. Please...tell me all that you know of me until it is etched into my memory. Unless such is forbidden? Have I mis-spoken Doctor?".

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Jacqueline "Blue Switch" Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Mantrid quietly took a few readings with his medical probe, finishing the injections into her muscles, which meant the pain would inevitably die down, and the muscles would become far more conditioned.

"I grafted a Ceramic-Carbide compound to your bones..." Mantrid said, tapping a few keys in his portable computer. "I'm injecting you with a dose of growth hormone and combat nanites, they will enhance your musculature, and condition your new body." Mantrid said, turning a screen to face Appollonia.

"You'll be given enhancements to your blood, and you'll be given some other conditioning treatments in the coming weeks." Mantrid said, undoing the restraints.

"You'll have to learn your new body though, slowly, and one step at a time." He added.

With a swift movement, Mantrid moved to undo Appollonia's restraints, snapping the trinnium restraints open, and allowing the woman to step out of her bed, what she would find was that her legs moved with little effort, and without proper control, like Ayla before her, she was liable to propel herself forward and launch herself into the wall if she wasn't careful.

"Easy..." Mantrid said, slowly trying to ease Appollonia out of the bed, while a news report was on the screen, detailing the most recent events, showing that Ayla had been killed by Terrans.

Mantrid simply frowned, he had invested so much time, and energy into that woman.

"Those damn terrans..." He muttered to himself, before returning to the task at hand.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Jacqueline "Blue Switch" Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Calm and in control. That was what Appollonia focused on being and as the Doctor spoke, he unknowingly reinforced those two guiding principles. She had a small test of her own strength when she had clenched her own fists, her nails dug into her flesh and she even caused some fractures, but this was nothing now. With knowledge from this and the words of the Doctor to base her assumptions off of, Appollonia figured it would be best to start from 0 and increase the effort necessary until the task of standing up could be executed efficiently and without causing harm to herself and others.

It started as...nothing...then tremors all throughout her body as Appollonia activated the muscles in her body to perform the task. No doubt in Appollonia's mind she must have seemed ridiculous. The amount of concentration required for her to exert this little amount of energy and increase it little by little was exhausting...mentally exhausting. By the time she was able to sit herself up, she felt drained. Who knew that tasks she could execute previously with her subconscious could be so arduous? Still even this insignificant amount of success was progress and something she was proud off. She had sat up without harming herself or Doctor Mantrid, in her mind she was smiling. Physically she reflected no emotion...it was almost as if she was an AI given a body and was still processing the world around her and her own body with the sensors it had.

When the news came on the monitor, Appollonia was fixated with placing her legs on the ground and having them support her body weight. It was of little concern to her until they mentioned the attack on the Emperor and how Ayla died. Her legs gave out from under her and she slammed into the floor, her arms moved instinctively to dampen her fall which resulted in a small crater from the amount of force she used.

Her heart felt pain. It ached and she wanted to cry but she knew better. Now she knew better. A part of her wanted to be able to tell Ayla of the feelings she harbored, a part of her wanted to become something she could confess being proud of but even if she were alive, this may not have been possible. Still this did not mean she could not rise to the occasion. Ayla died to protect the Emperor. Appollonia would cherish her memories of this woman, few they may be, and honor her by striving to do the same.

Ayla lost her life defending the Emperor. Appollonia must also be willing to do this...an easy task but no one would ever need to sacrifice themselves for the Emperor, if his enemies were bloody smears on the floors. That is what Appollonia must become...a shield able to withstand any blow meant for Prince...A sword capable of striking down any foe that came for him. Slowly Appollonia resumed to her ardous task of standing.

"I apologize, Doctor... I will do my best to master these gifts so that I may be of some actual worth to the Aschen Empire and to Our Emperor.".

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

"In time..." Mantrid said. "You will serve this empire with honor and distinction." He said, backing up several paces to allow the woman to stand.

"Your file says that you learn by watching others, you mimic their movements, and make theirs your own." Mantrid said, wheeling a cart with a holographic screen, only to be interrupted by the clack of high heels, there was an ominous silence that seemed to suffocate the room with which Mantrid, and Appollonia were in.

There was a blonde at the other end of the room, a rather attractive woman who moved with purpose, like a well attuned dancer. Each sway of her hips, each movement of her legs was planned, and executed.

"Ahh... M... I was wondering when Isambard was going to send you." Mantrid said, while Marlene turned to face Appollonia.

"Ayla is not the path to ascension." The woman said coldly. "The Emperor has instructed me to train you, and train you with everything I know.." Marlene said calmly, before gesturing for Appollonia to stand.

"I want you to attack me, and I want you to not hold back, use all of your strength." The woman ordered.

"Mantrid... please stand back." Marlene said, moving swiftly into a fighting stance.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

The order was simple.

"I want you to attack me, and I want you to not hold back, use all of your strength."

Yet as Appollonia took her time to stand herself up, a thought roamed in her mind. Is she certain of this? It was clear that this Marlene was Appollonia's senior...and her being here was the will of the Emperor. Yet she asked Apple to strike her. In her current condition that would be impossible? Can I do this?

"Your file says that you learn by watching others, you mimic their movements, and make theirs your own." Mantrid said.

The words echoed in her mind and from them she gained confidence. Of course she could do this! She just needed to review what she had seen and use this as her foundation. Appollonia who still struggled to stand, suddenly rose to her feet. With eyes closed she envisioned Marlene coming into the room, her mind's eye fixated on how her legs moved so fluidly, purposefully, effortlessly. Then she opened her eyes and took in her stance, analyzing it. The martial art which this stance originated from was foreign to Appollonia...but without hindrance, she absorbed it too. Her movements flowed like water, what was originally described by Mantrid as mimicry showed it's true form. How Appollonia stood was not an imitation of Marlene's stance, it was a perfect mirror reflection...the only thing missing was Marlene's Goddess like appearance.

The foundation had been laid out. Now to build on it. A flash of memories from her past life flushed through her, the repetitive beatings from Lochlyn, from Red, and how she beat her enemies. A boxing match she watched while hunting someone. A Kung Fu Demonstration she saw while passing down a street.... Appollonia adapted a Boxing Stance but her hands were not balled up into fists, they looked more like claws. There was an intensity in her eyes that she had not previously shown to the Doctor, that she was showing to Marlene.

The look a Predator focusing on the Prey before it. Nothing else existed but Marlene and Appollonia. Mantrid was not even in the room, as far as she was concerned. It was a dangerous look and accompanying it was a smile. It was faint but it was present...and it was malevolent.

Appollonia looked like a professional when she struck at Marlene. Drawing power from her feet and transferring it up, her entire body was thrown into motion to throw this open palm strike. Her fingers were pointed forward and the target was Marlene's throat. The smile grew as an image came into her mind, it was Marlene's beautiful body...lying on the ground...the only thing missing was her throat. Apple was already picturing in her mind what would happen when her strike connected. Fingers, strengthened by micro fractures she had made and healed over years, dug into her throat like a actual claws and once in she would close her hand. Whatever flesh was caught in her grip she would rip out as her arm instinctively retreated to bring up her guard. This was what Marlene had ordered her to do...to attack with all that she had and all that Appollonia had was killing intent and blood lust. Fortunately this was kept on an unbreakable leash that was her indoctrination to follow the Emperor and her oone sided reverence of Ayla's affection.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Mantrid
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Time literally seemed to slow down from Marlene's perspective the moment she ordered Appollonia to attack her. She watched muscles tense, and flex in what seemed like real time in Marlene's mind, slow motion from her starting point, to her lunge to attack.

The IIA Operative didn't flinch, she didn't recoil, and she most definitely didn't allow the hit to connect.

It would seem, through Appollonia's move towards Marlene, gravity became less, and less perceptible, it was becoming more difficult to secure her footing, with less gravity meant her foot had less traction.

When she struck, Marlene's form seemed to be as if smoke, the fist moving through smoke unimpeded.

Marlene was standing just to the side of Appollonia, casually watching as she sailed past Marlene, driving her fist into thin air where Marlene once stood.

The minds eye began to envision some things, exerting it's will on the fabric of reality which twisted and turned around the Adept, sending her careening into an adjacent wall.

"Are you blind?" Marlene said coldly. "Hit me." She demanded, while feeling something nagging at the edges of her astral consciousness.

Her lips pursed, but she retained her focus back on Appollonia, while actively projecting her mind elsewhere, interceding on external forces, keeping Appollonia grounded into the here and now, grounded into reality in front of her.

"The true nature of a man is decided in the battle between his conscious mind and the desires of the subconscious." Marlene said smoothly.

The setting changes from Special Projects HQ to The Æthereal Plane

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Byron Samuel
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Things changed instantaneously. The moment Byron's "hand" retracted, it was a different world. A different existence. He eyes, still ablaze with Void's Flare, they blinked once, almost a wink.

Everything went dark.

A Pact was now struck, a bargin began. Voodoo off it's leash. The air became thick, and damp, not a single sound existed. It was corpse still, until...

"Once a light burned," Byron's voice exploded into the nothingness. A fierce bonfire came into being at the Realm's core. "Like a heart in the void," The fire began to thrum, it pulsed with each word.

"From Aletharska, my blood flows.." His voice was liquid gold, each note a heart-rending beauty. Even Marlene wouldnt be fully immune to its charm

From the base of the fire, a roilling, snapping black goo seeped. It spilled forth slowly, consuming the ground below it. An Ascendant would recognize it, by name, and sight.

Aletharska, the primordial ooze that birthed the first life, a trillion multiverses ago. There was nothing it could not reclaim, its danger unimaginable. The situation was beginning to esclate. At present, Byron Samuel controlled The Song.

As the vile beast spread across the floor, Byron came into sight. A cloud of black smoke suspended above it.

"My bones, tables, and chairs/ silverware for lost souls/ a chandelier, lit with my soul, glasses! Glasses for each hand of damned!"

Each word slowly came into being, rising from the Ooze, falling from the ceilings. This was no magic, no parlor trick, these things didnt materialize, it didn't just exist. By now the gravity of Mytheopia was setting in. This was no trick at all.

Behind all creation, every reality, every soul, lays the Song of Creation. Set into motion by the first builders. It was the Deep Magic, the source of all essence, power.

And right now, as was the laws of the Song itself, Voodoo was in charge, for as long as the pact took. He now write the immutable.

"Like a real ball, fibers of my fall, drag the strings across my sinew! Set the table with my flesh!"

A feast came into being, along with the haunting cries of mourning violins.

"Light my eyes, the void, the end with hatred!"

Massive fissures fire through the ground beneath the Ooze, red, screeching spirits exploded out as clouds of mist. They flew around like wild, bathing the massive longtable in chaotic flickers. The cloud that was Byron pooled at the tables head.

His eyes still blazed, and his smile was Eldritch.

"Come now, one and all," his voice was a mere whisper, but it's force created a pleasant breeze.

[I]"Come to the call of Voodoo, to me. Fill yourselves witg serpant's blood.. Come Ayla! Come Jacqueline! come now, to Destiny.."

The universe would bend itself over backwards. No matter where the two girls where, their essence would be violently ripped away, and deposited in chairs near Byron.

Voodoo looked up, his unholy gaze resting on Marlene.

"You're invited too, baby. Pull up a chair."

It was a divine command. Byron had no doubts Marlene could resist with easy, but she would still feel the power in his words.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Byron Samuel
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

The moment the bargain was struck, and the voodoo magic was unleashed, Marlene had intended to depart, but something made her change her mind, she wanted to witness the outcomes.

The moment the pact was struck a little owl manifested itself upon the branches of the tree that they had been playing cards under. The Owl didn't seem threatening, intimidating in the least, but it's big golden eyes were affixed on Byron, it picked at it's feathers for a moment, but resumed watching the pact as it unfolded.



Marlene pulled up a chair, not because she was complying with the divine command, but because she wanted to see how this was going to go down.

Marlene was a woman of contingencies, and briefly cast a knowing gaze to the little owl on the branch.

Strangely enough, this little owl seemed to not respond to any attempts by Byron to be rid of it, as if it was totally immune to his magic.

What was this owl? A manifestation of Marlene's creation, or something else?

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Byron Samuel
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

"Unbelievable.." Byron's whisper was too soft for mortal ears. Like an empty sigh it echoed through his realm. Those who had intimate knowledge of him would have alarm bells going off. His voice, now thrumming with power from beyond the omniverse, had slipped back to an old world Haitian acent.
Something he fought desperately to push down.

But when he began tapping into the core of his power, the beings that comprised his history bleed through.

He paid the Owl little mind outwardly, his once blazing eyes now extinguished, and fixated on Apollonia. The entire realm started to feel off the second she was pulled in. The air around her seemed to vacuum with each breath, even the Ooze ignored her. Byron knew immediately, she had no soul to give. He might have let it slide, but it was one too many, too many.

He shook his head softly, warily, each movement seemed to make his painted face look a little more real. A little more gruesome. He stood up slowly, like a tired old man, his empty eyesockets bouncing from "guest" to "guest". He was almost in shock, really.

After all these damn Aschen had no...

"Respect," Byron's voice was legion, every conciousness he possesed in every realm, reality, beyond even that. The world didn't tremble, it's blood ran cold, the temperature dropping. This was more dangerous than the ignorant Aschen would realize. His voice now drove the song. It was not safe to interfear with.

"Is something you Aschen know nothing of," as he spoke the table dissolved, the Ooze retreated. "From your leaders, to your 'heroes', and your peasants." The chairs collapsed.

"You come in here, to my house," A unique thing would occur, at the moment of the last syllable the realm would be utterly destroyed, and rewritten. The reality around the Owl, and it would be sung to a new, random location.

If the Owl was what he thought it was, it could fight, but if it chose to fight the Song, it would end, along with everyone else. Those laws bound all, and it would know it. He took the risk, he didnt care anymore.

Assuming everything wasn't frozen in injunction by angry Builders, and Chosin, I turned to Marlene.

"You barta wit what'chu do not posses." He jabbed a finger towards Apollonia. "She's got no soul to give." He waved Marlene away, a mere guesture only. "The deal is off, and for wasting my time," His countless voices snarled.

He turned, a strange thing happening. With each step he grew a few feet. His power was swelling.

'You little ants, tink because ya can bend nature around, 'cause ya think ya 'everything'.." He now towered above the bonfire, stooping to light a cigar. "Puffed up chests, howlin' about respek. Don't know a damn thing about it."

The sounds of doors locking echoed, sung shut.

"Ya can bend nature, but nobody breaks it." He exhaled a cloud of smoke.

It rose, mixing with the bonefire's, slowly a scene began to emerge. It was Langara, a massive space port. "You come here, to my house, waving yourselves in my face.." the fire grew, and with it the smoke. Out of nowhere ships began to shudder, go inert, and fall to the planet below.

A montage of on world destruction played. One horrifying jump cut to the next.

"Its time you learn why you're bettas, are betta." He motioned to the scene, and it switched. The same destruction, but now it was Molecay.

"This is half my price for this dissrepek, the other," he exhaled again. It showed Prince, tortured to death.

"Go ahead and try. Call your Chosin. Stop me. Wake the Builders." His empty eyes locked onto Marlene, expressionless. "We'll see who gets removed from existance. I've had fun, you?"

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Marlene Angel Character Portrait: Ayla Kayama Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Byron Samuel
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

No soul to give; this thing was getting angry, Marlene had upheld her end of the bargain, and produced the girls, she pulled the veil from Appollonia, and from Ayla so that Byron could offer them a choice.

Something was unsettling; it was Marlene's distinct lack of fear, rising to her feet at the chairs collapsed, the Owl had gone, but not to wherever it was to be taken.

The reality shattering rules, and powers Byron was capable of stopped where the owl's influence began, but it indeed left as his power grew, his tantrum increased ever more.

"I upheld my end of the bargain, and produced those which you seek, and you call the deal off because one doesn't have a soul?" Marlene asked, tilting her head.

There was a hooting, the owl made it's call.

"You are not the governor of all of reality, your influence ends where those of other deities begin; perhaps you need to learn your place." Marlene said, her voice echoing through the reality.

"I've enjoyed our little foray, and you can have them." She said, gesturing to Appollonia.

The montage would likely suddenly go black, as Athena made her move. Her actions meant that it was the Aschen would no longer perceptible to Byron, as Athena was now actively shielding them from him, his magic, his influence, everything was to end where an Aschen soul began. They were to be untouchable by him, imperceptible.

"I had hoped you would be an entity of honor, I was willing to uphold my end of the deal, and you betray me; and now, you lose everything." Her voice grew cold. "Other gods don't like you stepping on their toes, Byron... When you want to continue our dialogue; you know where to find me." Marlene said, before she, like the Aschen before her, vanished in an instant.

They were in Athena's hands now.

The setting changes from The Æthereal Plane to Orion Spur

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Haruko Makibi Character Portrait: Tidus Khaine
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Somewhere in the Orion Spur
Aboard the Command Carrier; Rosa de Maius


Sailing silently through the void of space, the Rosa de Maius was preparing for an operation, an operation assigned, and sanctioned by the Aschen High Command, to rescue Agent Connors from her holding location in Wing City.

The low hum of the ship's systems filled the interior, a large briefing room had been set up by the Aschen command staff for three people, two Adepts of War, and a Galaxy Police detective.

Haruko Makibi, Detective second class was sitting near the center of the briefing room, going over the notes from Kathryn's case, as well as the verdict delivered by the AXIS international court. While the Imperium wasn't a member state, and the AXIS Couldn't compel them to release Kathryn, the AXIS Could support the Aschen in their attempts to secure the woman's release.

They were going to Terra via the Bifrost.

Sitting next to Haruko was a hulking figure, decked head to tow in Adept power armor, the stench of fumerella leaf filling the briefing room, while a whisp of smoke wafted up from where he sat.

Khaine didn't like all this diplomacy, all this waiting, and he offered a disapproving grunt while pushing himself off of his desk.

"This girl better be worth something." He said, his Aerilonian accent thick, his voice deep and rugged.

Turning his attention to the door, he shouldered his 20mm heavy magnetron, and moved the fumerello to the other side of his mouth.

The setting changes from Orion Spur to Perseus Arm

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: The 6th Order Character Portrait: Imperial Taiyou Navy Character Portrait: Vrosh tattersoul Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Appollonia laid on the bed in her rather simplistic quarters. Though she could afford some luxuries, her position permitted her to do so. What stopped her from doing so what was the humbling knowledge she had been given. The truth the Aschen had bestowed upon her. What she once wa_ no...the Apparition that haunted her, that taunted her by declaring "I am you!" is no more. No longer was she bound by those chains. By the mercy of the Emperor, she was freed from that cruel pre-existence and rebirthed, remolded, into what she was always meant to be. An Aschen.

Though it was not the Emperor's intent, she was certain, this kindness put her in debt. In debt to the Aschen people, to the Aschen way of life, and to the Emperor who extended such mercy to one as lost and savage as her. It was a debt she would repay tenfold. For every drop of Aschen blood she spilt in the past, she would spill gallons of the blood of those who stood against the Aschen. The Emperor's wishes were her commands. His Will would be carried out through her hands.

If anyone or anything rose to strike him, she would be his shield and take the blow in his place. At the same time, she would be the sword that would cut down his foes. The siren that warned him of an approaching foe, the vanguard for his entrance and the sacrificial rear guard for his retreat. Perhaps at this time this was not so but to become these things was her purpose in life. If she bled, if she sweat, or if she shed tears it must be for her Emperor.

These were the obsessive thoughts of the Adept Of War, as she waited the next order.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: The 6th Order Character Portrait: Imperial Taiyou Navy Character Portrait: Vrosh tattersoul Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

The hundreds of vessels surrounding the Event Horizon understood entirely what was going on, what would be happening, and why...and they were prepared. This display of force, had it not gathered anyone's attention, would have failed at its mission. Granted, what was next would be determined by the actions of the Taiyou's responses. It offered no hails, and that was entirely fine to those within The 6th Order's main command vessels. The Event Horizon continued its charging, various crackles of arcane electricity powered up as the focusing lens was filled with intense and raw magical power. It'd take just a bit more for the weapon's charging to be done...

As a courtesy, or rather as a distraction one of the main command vessels offered their own hail to the Taiyou ship approaching. Aschen or not, The 6th Order wanted to find out who this was that was coming to 'greet' their armada.

"Good evening." A harsh, mechanical voice spoke up. It was a male's voice for sure, but heavily distorted by cybernetic technology. "I am Antok Hasvek, the commander in chief of the Divine Scavengers. You are intruding upon The 6th Order's territory. Leave now, or--"

His words and hail was cut short, the ship stopping its distraction as it unleashed a small barrage of fire at the vessel. A couple plasma launchers and heavy laser cannons shot their rounds. The shots were not aimed all too well, and was merely fired at random to see, if it missed, whether or not the vessel would attempt to flee or...something else.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: The 6th Order Character Portrait: Imperial Defense Force Character Portrait: Imperial Taiyou Navy Character Portrait: Vrosh tattersoul Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Bryon Clegg
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

There was no hail from the Taiyou ship, rather it began to take evasive action as the Sixth order vessels opened fire.

It shot sharply to the left, and then to the right, struggling to take evasive action, but it was futile, as the lone Taiyou ship lacked the propulsion capabilities to dodge the incoming attack.

A barrier shimmered into view out of nowhere, stopping the weapons fire cold, and as the stars distorted, a 1,500km long vessel slowly shimmered into existence.

"Forces of the Sixth order, this space is under protection under AXIS Statute 12-9, cease and desist all military activities or you will be forcibly removed from this sector of space." The voice was calm, firm, soothing almost.

The massive alien craft made no outward moves to engage, rather a yellow barrier of light shimmered from bow, to stern, gravitic anomalies ripped along the length of the craft only to have an Aschen force jump in moments later.

"Hold here.." Admiral Clegg instructed.

"This is the Matokey's show, let's see if these Xenos are really as powerful as they say..."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: The 6th Order Character Portrait: Imperial Defense Force Character Portrait: Imperial Taiyou Navy Character Portrait: Vrosh tattersoul Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Bryon Clegg
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Antok's eyes narrowed, watching from the bridge of his vessel as the barrage he had sent upon the opposing ship was cut short. The attack had failed... Crossing his arms, the various knobs and knickknacks tied and fastened to his clothes. The clothing he wore consisted of heavy and baggy robes covering the assortment of metal underneath. Not armor, but cybernetics attached and molded to his skin. The only human parts about him at this point was the unmodified section of his brain, and the few scraps of internal organs needed to sustain his life. Other than that, he was made completely of cybernetics. The other 6th Order soldiers referred to him as a "Cyber Zombie", barely even a human being and little more than a machine holding together scraps of what used to be a man.

Still, seeing as he was their commander he had control over the vessel and thus the men aboard. The Event Horizon was his beauty, his masterpiece...and he wanted to show the Aschen, and whatever bloody allies they choose to scrounge up, that their might was superior. So far they've only been engaging non-Aschen...allies. This was unacceptable.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible at this very moment. We are claiming this sector of space. And soon...your home-worlds will be next. CHAOS will spread, destroying any semblance of order you hold dear. We will destroy tyranny, tyranny of all kinds. And when the tyranny of man is destroyed, we shall move on to destroy the tyranny imposed by the gods themselves." Antok's distorted voice crackled and sputtered from the sheer force of his voice and the vitriol behind it. The Event Horizon crackled with energy, and an indicator began to beep on the control deck. "Fire!"

Rumbling and shaking coursed through the Event Horizon, shaking violently while the energy from its reactor began to pour into the massive cannon. A purplish glow began to synthesize with a pure magical energy, until finally in a single explosion within the cannon, it blew out a line of the pure purplish energy. The line rocketed through space like a ship entering into hyperdrive. The beam was quick, yet imprecise, and became a large focusing beam for as far as the eye could see - like a fusion cutter in space. It began maneuvering slowly, trying to catch any enemy ships in its massive beam. Once it had been fired, the ships began to convene and speed forwards, careful to avoid the radius which was designated for the Event Horizon's beam.

"All men! Battlestations!"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: The 6th Order Character Portrait: Imperial Defense Force Character Portrait: Imperial Taiyou Navy Character Portrait: Vrosh tattersoul Character Portrait: Appollonia Character Portrait: Bryon Clegg
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

The purple beam of energy surged forward, while the lone Matokey shipmaster watched the displays that were superimposed into the sky above the forested habitat that he called home.

The beam surged fourth, striking the massive Matokey ship, and stopping against a shimmering white barrier.

The barrier flickered, fluctuated, and began to give way to the searing purple beam of energy.

The Aschen watched with bated breath, and the Taiyou watched on their displays as well at the sheer might of the singular Matokey vessel.

Energy readings were off the charts, Clegg was watching closely on both visual, and wide-spectrum displays at the show before them.

M'Zulf stood there in silence, as the entire sky was bathed in a blinding pink light, the entirety of the ship shuddered, shudders that felt like earthquakes among the pocket dimension in which he was controlling his vessel.

He concentrated, the ship concentrated, and the barrier began to grow, turning a brilliant pink to match the beam of light, and then it seared forward towards the Event horizon, likely leaving nothing in it's wake.

The counter-beam surged forward and into the blackness of space, the lone Matokey breathed a brief sigh of relief, and he awaited the response from the 6th order.

"This is your final warning, leave now or be forcibly removed." He said calmly.

The setting changes from Perseus Arm to Nirn

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Abrubhor The Corrupted Character Portrait: Arnok The Supreme Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

Reconnaissance and information gathering. There was reason to believe that a potential threat to the United Aschen Empire was amassing here on Nirn and so the Adept Of War, Appollonia had geared up and been matter streamed down to investigate. Subtle wasn't Appollonia's preference but it was necessary for her mission. Her primary weapon for this mission would be a T53C charged particle rifle with magnetic envelope. Good accuracy and exceptional stopping power in relatively small package. Her secondary was the Magnetron III. Firing in 4.55x13mm tungsten tipped steel cored fin stablized fletchette, this was going to be Appollonia's go to for more distanced scenarios due to it's better accuracy which came with little sacrifice to it's stopping power. The T65 augmented combat skin was supposedly a step below the T86 Adept Power Armor but Appollonia always felt that she was slower in the T86. The T65 felt sleeker and more practical than the bulk, shock and awe of the T86. The Energy shield emitted by the augmented combat skin's Aegis device was a definitive plus. Capable of withstanding most if not all forms of small arms fire, the shield would become crucial to her survivability should she be spotted...That along with the enhancements she was given when she was broken down and rebuilt as an Adept Of War for the Aschen Empir, there was no doubt in her mind that this mission would be a success.

The rest of her equipment consisted if the necessities for communication with the Stealth Corvette (which would be distancing itself from the planet to avoid detection), self concealment, microfusion cells and ammunition, and some limited explosive ordnance. She didn't need to bring along any device to record the things she saw, as an Adept of War, remembering, describing, and even recreating on paper or computer, the things she saw would be as easy as breathing.

Upon assuring herself that she had been successfully matter streamed down to the planet, Appollonia commenced to move as discreet and cautiously as she could. The few orbital snapshots that they were able to take of the area were her only knowledge of the geographical lay out of the area, that and some information about Nirn's weather and climate as well as local wildlife and vegetation. She assumed they would have a better grasp of the environment and that they would be prepared with fortifications, patrols, and traps. Her destination was a vantage point from which she could see the scale of their operation before attempting to get a closer look and possibly obtaining more sensitive information about what it was they were doing but identifying who was behind would have to come first. Perhaps Appollonia would discover reason to abandon caution and handle things in a matter more befitting the name she was given "The Destroyer" .

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Abrubhor The Corrupted Character Portrait: Arnok The Supreme Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

As the Chaotic ritual proceeded as planned, the very atmosphere of the planet began to change. The air was thick with the scent of blood, freshly spilt by the smell of it. The little fly buzzing closer to the ritual would note something. The surface looked like it was dying, being corrupted by some sort of foul energy. Of course the source of what possibly happened was walking around.

There were some people on their knees, dressed in tattered robes. They seemed consumed with madness, their bodies looked like it had strange symbols carved into their body with some sort of sharp utensil. Their robes with stitching of an eight pointed star...The symbol of Chaos. The followers of the Chaos Gods, and the ones that the Imperium has been fighting for a long time.

They were on some backwater planet, and for what reason? Of course none of these ‘cultists’ would be able to locate the well trained adept. It was made more so with their unholy chanting that filled the air. The skies were taking a blood red hue, and the clouds were darkened.

Of course...One person could easily sense an unwanted presence on the planet. The eyes of Chaos was far and wide after all...And sensing the presence of something was child’s play. “It would seem that...We have an unwelcome guest my lord...Worry not...” The Chaos Sorcerer proceeding with the ritual soon stabbed the knife in his hands into the center of the massive Circle causing it to howl in a demonic screech as it began to turn the ground around it blood red. ”I shall personally deal with this myself...Rest assured...Your...Ultimate power is at hand...” The man replied through his helmet as he began to walk away from the Ritual site.

All he heard was the cackling of his dark master. ”Excellent! Soon all will know of Chaos! And I will become greater than that dog Abbadon! And I will become warmaster!” The man laughed. A pity really...How blind he was to his true intentions. Then again, it made things far easier for him. Now...Was this a Space Marine in the area? Or was it something else? His fellow...’Brothers’...Should be long gone by now in this area...Still, if someone was making their way to the ritual site that meant they were either foolish...Or fearless enough to face them.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Abrubhor The Corrupted Character Portrait: Arnok The Supreme Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

On her ruck to the vantage point, Appollonia became more aware of the surrounding environment. It did not match any of the information that she had memorized prior to putting boots on the ground. The earth was crimson red like blood and there was the all too familiar foul stench of death lingering in the air. She could watch the nearby fauna wilt and wither, the animals seemed absent altogether. Something sinister was taking place here for sure. A smile crept unto her face as the possibility of combat increased. Her heart rate commenced to accelerate. Perhaps it was from her pace suddenly increasing, or perhaps it was more because the thought of combat excited her...

Upon reaching the vantage point and disposing of some rabble along the way, Appollonia reached into her Backpack and retrieve a pair of binoculars and began to observe the operation in it's full glory. Strange, robed figures kneeling here and there with strange symbols adorning them. Ritualistic circles around the ground, emitting light. There were many strange sights now forever etched into her mind but one of them she kept seeing again and again. The 8 pointed star. The Symbol of Chaos. The War Adept knew little of this cult. The Aschen had some information about them, they were an enemy of the Imperium and users of magic who worshipped a pantheon consisting of Four Gods and many, many Greater and lesser Daemons. There was more detail in the Aschen files but Appollonia had not yet made herself familiar with it. Followers and Sacrifices were in too great a number for this to be a harmless religious ceremony. Her smile widened.

Her free hand reached up to her ear and dragged the holographic interface that appeared to her mouth. "This is Appollonia. I will be engaging with the enemy in earnest. Prepare me an escape route and radio it to me when possible.".

Without waiting for a response, not that one would be sent. She packed everything up and right on queue more cannon fodder appeared. Most likely, they had discovered Precisely why infiltration was not her strong suit. Appollonia cared too much about creating bodies and not enough about hiding them. Given who she was before and what the Aschen repurposed her into, by the infinite mercy of her beloved Emperor, it only made sense for her to.

Maybe she looked like a well geared morsel to them. It was not the first time her foes had made this mistake. The body she was given was pleasing and her face was rather pleasing to the eyes too. If this was the illusion they had let themselves fall for, it would disappear when they saw her childish eyes lit brightly with joy, when they saw the smile of a killer who found no greater joy in this life than to spill and bathe in the blood and entrails of those who opposed her Aschen and her Emperor. Appollonia did not know if the forces of Chaos knew how to feel fear but she did not care what it was that they felt...What mattered to her was the happiness she felt when she pulled the trigger of the weapon she wielded and watched the Plasma do the rest. What a beautiful piece of Aschen Weaponry she was!

With inhumane speed, she outmaneuvered them. Darting to cover, not that she needed to, before they could properly position themselves. Taking advantage of that fact and taking the initiative in the firefight by inflicting casualties. Pressing her advantage by swiftly repositioning to negate whatever tactical worth their positions had given them and mocking them by aggressively closing in on them. Conserving ammo and indulging in her own blood lust by taking care of them in close quarters combat, a specialty of hers made only more potent by the enhancements gifted to her by her superiors. Appollonia was certainly better than the lowly fanatic of the Chaos Gods...but it was not enough.

She continued on. During the debrief, it would be seen as an act of heroism. An attempt to delay the enemies operation and perhaps that is what her actions would accomplish. Yet anyone who had worked with this Adept of War knew that the one named Appollonia obssessed over killing the enemies of the Emperor as much as she loved the Emperor himself. Any action and emotion unrelated to the Emperor was just something she mimicked to not cause discomfort to her fellow Aschen, who did not share her "fascination" with the man.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Abrubhor The Corrupted Character Portrait: Arnok The Supreme Character Portrait: Appollonia
Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

The lesser cultist rabble would not be missed, Chaos would always carry fourth without such useless rabble around. The cultists however had their blood spilled upon the sickening soil, their very soul extracted straight from their body to further feed the ritual in progress. However with the woman’s bloodlust, and her contact with Chaos. She now knew of the existence of Chaos firsthand, which made it all the easier for one person to easily communicate.

”Ah...Welcome to Nirn...Or at the very least this ball of rock suited for what I plan to do...” A dark and eerily strange voice echoes in the depths of her mind. Psychic communication, it was known that Psykers could communicate with the minds of others if they had a presence in the warp. And humans indeed had a presence in the warp. Even the most holy warriors of the Space Marines were not safe from the whispers of Chaos.

Soon enough from up ahead, a figure cladded in ornate Power Armor walked into view on top of a hill. That was strange, she was certainly not spotted during her descent, but perhaps she might have found this more of a better stroke of luck then bad timing. This...Armored figure soon stopped on top of the hill, a Bolt Pistol strapped to his waist, a smaller hand held weapon famed in the Imperium. A rocket propelled, uranium tipped 1.0 caliber round. Many of the Astartes carried these around, even Imperial officers carried a different pattern of Bolt Pistol.

In his hand, was a Force Sword. He had...Found a new one from a certain Space Marine he has finished using as a pawn in his schemes. A sword that grew in power by the psychic connection. And he was a dangerously powerful Psyker. Of course he showed no hostilities yet. However the voice spoke again even at their range.

”Have you had our fill of blood yet? Perhaps not...The rabble you dispatched must have been...Unstatisfying...But let me personally greet you intruder...I am Abrubhor...Chaos Sorcerer of the Word Bearers Legion...” Once the voice spoke, the man gave a mock bow making it known that he was the one speaking. ”If you wish more bloodlust...Perhaps we can show you the right path for carnage...To slake your thirst in eternal war without restraint...To kill who you want whenever you want...” The voice began to tempt her, to try and...Convince her...Make these thoughts sit with her as the eternal whispers make their due over time...He corrupted people to see the power of Chaos. To show them the true path.