[table= //////= EXIT'S POST DESIGN v5 =\\\\\\][row][sub][h1][right][sub][sub][sub][sub][sup][color=2e2c2c]_[/color][/sup][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/right][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img=/// TOPIMAGE \\\]https://i.imgur.com/aGz6APD.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][sub][color=0b0d11][sub][sub][color=2e2c2c][sub]...[/sub][/color][sup][b]▇▇▇[/b][/sup][/sub][/sub][color=2e2c2c]_[/color][sub][color=white][sup]TEAM[/sup] K Y O S H I[/color][/sub][sub][sub][color=2e2c2c]__[/color][sup][b]▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇[/b][/sup][/sub][/sub][/color][/sub][center][sup][sub][sup][sub][color=888888]A TLA Collaboration[color=2e2c2c]-----------------------‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [/color][/color][/sub][/sup][/sub][/sup][/center][/h1][/sub][/row][row][cell][sup][center][b][color=0b0d11][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] 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[sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][sup][h2][sup]█[/sup] [sub]█[/sub][/h2][/sup][/color][/b][/center][/sup][/cell][cell][color=888888][color=2e2c2c].[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=coral]"What's under the last tarp?"[/color] she called, her voice easily carrying over the sound of the crowd. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Tan-ming’s eyes immediately snapped over to the woman. [color=white]”Ah. That.”[/color] Setting aside his other trinkets, he made his way over to her and stood between her and the covered box in question. [color=white]”This,”[/color] he began, holding his hand up to it with mock reverence. [color=white]”This took great pains to capture. A sacrifice, in fact and as such, it is quite valuable. I’d let you see it, maybe even take it off my hands… but first I’d like you to answer a question.”[/color] [color=white]”Is it true that a large number of Benders have recently arrived here?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=coral]“Most of your wares are fairy-tales and wishes,”[/color] Ziotea said, with narrowed eyes. [color=coral]“How do I know this is any different?”[/color] She immediately did not trust this peddler -- not only were his mystical goods questionable, but he wanted to know about benders. For all she knew, he was reporting to Ba Sing Se. Then again, just walking around town would reveal the answer, by way of gossip. [color=coral]“How do I know it’s worth any information at all?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”It is, I can assure you…”[/color] he replied quickly, his eyes suddenly fixated on her hair. [color=white]”But more importantly, where are you from?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=coral] “Nope, you get [i]one[/i] question,”[/color] Ziotea said. [color=coral]“I’ll answer about the benders, or I’ll answer about me, but you have to pick which one you want to know more.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Tan-ming's eyebrow raised as the corner of his lip twitched upward comically. [color=white]”You sound like you’ve done your fair share of haggling.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea shrugged. [color=coral]“Pick.”[/color] She wasn’t going to volunteer unnecessary information. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Tan-ming turned the mic in his hand off and with a subtle flourish, it disappeared. [color=white]”The truth is, I want to hire a Bender. I [i]need[/i] to hire a Bender. For protection, but also because they would make me so. Much. Money. Word is, some have recently arrived here, many in fact. If you happen to know one, well… I can pay them very well.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea considered. [color=coral]“Yeah, okay. A bunch of benders recently came into town. Ask around; I’m sure you can find one that will sign on with you.”[/color] She smiled slightly, a slim curve of her mouth. [color=coral]“Now: what’s under the tarp?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Tan-ming remained silent for a moment, but his eyes on Ziotea’s hair spoke volumes. He was fascinated. He was also beholden to their agreement, so although he kept his eyes on her, he moved to where the mystery item was still concealed beneath the tarp. [color=white]”Tell me, have you ever been to the great cities of the past? Seen with your own eyes the deepest scars the war of the world left behind?”[/color] He placed his hands over the corner of the tarp and curled his fingers underneath. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] She folded her arms. [color=coral]“Can’t say I have. You saying this came from there?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”That’s right. There are untold mysteries hidden among the ruins of the old world. Treasures buried beneath the rubble and guarded by death itself. Exclusion zones. Every bit as dangerous as you’ve been told, but I, Tan-ming, have braved the depths of the unknown to bring to you–!”[/color] Falling again into his overly-dramatic performance, Tan prepared to pull back the tarp, but as he yanked on the edge, a strap caught on the clasp it was resting against. [color=white]”Ah–... One moment…”[/color] He reached down and began prying the two apart just as a young girl approached, shadowed by two strange looking dogs. Ziotea would recognize them as having been in the same group of refugees she had escaped Ba Sing Se with. Chosah, the girl, ignored the other two and simply stared at the drone curiously. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea stifled a laugh as the dramatic reveal was foiled by a recalcitrant strap. The sound of soft footsteps to the side had her glancing over her shoulder. It was the child who’d been at the front of the escaping group, and the two dogs. The girl seemed interested in the wasteland drone. Ziotea didn’t really care about the kid, or her attendant dogs. She stiffened as the thing under the tarp made a noise. It almost sounded like it said “Die” -- was there a person under there? Despite her caution, Ziotea took a step closer. [sub][sub][u][b][color=firebrick]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Standing a few feet from Ziotea, a quiet Chu Hua ran her fingers over the fraudulently signed stickball sticks. Despite it all, they brought a smile to her face- even the one signed [i]Kanna Wu[/i]. Her fingers ran over that name, although it wasn’t her penmanship, particularly reverently. She might have bought it, if she had the money to waste on these outrageously priced fakes. But she didn’t. Her stores of cash had been running preciously low- and so had people’s generosity. Chu had what she could earn with her two hands, which wasn’t much… her marketable skills were few and far between. Being a celebrity didn’t net you much when no one recognized you. Chu had been broke before, though it had been a long time, and she hadn’t missed the feeling. She either needed [i]work[/i]- or she needed to get out of here. The expedition they were going on would fulfill both. So she hoped. So she really should’ve been looking at the guns (not that she knew how to use one) or the food. But here she was. Sticks and dead women. She sighed, and her eyes wandered to the red-haired woman and the tarp. And the man struggling with the tarp. She snorted. [color=firebrick]“Need some help with that?”[/color] she asked the man, putting her hands on her hips. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”Oh no, it’s quite alright. This happens all the time and is an easy– fix–”[/color] he said, grunting the last two words as he tried to tug at the strap on each syllable. It would not budge. [color=white]”But also, it is probably best if you keep a little bit of distance.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=yellow]Theyra   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Reman was in the crowd, watching from afar and while he was initially curious about the old drone. Wondering if he could get to work or get something from it. He moved closer to it, to get a better look. Just about in the front row and he knew what the drone was. A old drone that is no longer in service but maybe still useful to him. If he can afford it that is. But, as he was done inspecting the drone, Reman’s eyes wondered to the last remaining tarp still covering something. Curiosity got the better of him and he was curious what else this merchant had. Which he heard a familiar voice and found Chu. It was nice to see her and he has not seen much of her or the rest of the group since being kicked from the tavern. Still, he stayed where he was but kept a eye on the tarp. So far, this merchant had some valuable goods. Even if a snake oil salesman and waited to see what was under the last tarp. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”I saw one at the museum. My dad took me,”[/color] Chosah said. She was standing near Reman but did not linger long and began to approach the old drone. [color=white]”He said they kill monsters.”[/color] [color=white]”...SC–zzrttt–rRRING…”[/color] A single miniscule bulb of light began blinking rapidly and from beneath its metal shell, the muted sounds of shifting gears could be heard, barely audible among the noise of the crowd. Tan-ming immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at the machine curiously. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea heard the little girl’s statement, and the noise of the drone. Her heart dropped. [color=coral]“Those drones kill [i]benders[/i] -- kid, get back!”[/color] She lunged for the child and scooped her up just as the drone chimed a confirmation. It sounded awfully similar to the chime used by the Vanguard units in the City. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”FIR–Zzzzrkkkaaa–DET–zzttzzt.”[/color] Because of the way the drone was laying on its side, the mounted gun that was supposed to be ‘beneath’ it was actually positioned to its left. The barrel was angled slightly up and away from the crowd but was also pointing directly at the edge of the still concealed shape. So when it suddenly discharged a single round, the bullet it fired tore through the canvas tarp and severed the troublesome strap. The bark of the shot was loud enough to silence the crowd. Tan-ming hit the ground as did much of the crowd. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea swiftly moved away from the drone, far enough that it wouldn’t detect them. Only then did she set the child down. [color=coral]“You okay, kid?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chosah was about to reply when blurred movement from right behind Ziotea caught her eye. She quickly threw out a hand signal at Archer and Dutchess and both of them stopped in their tracks only a foot or two away from the woman. Their teeth were bared and a growl bubbled in their throats but they remained where they were. [color=white]”I-... Th-thank you,”[/color] she said, trying to catch her breath. Her rescue had been so sudden, Ziotea’s movement so quick and sudden that by the time Chosah had heard the warning and understood it, she’d already found herself in the air with her world spinning unnaturally around her. She barely had time to register what was happening before her feet found the ground again and it was only when she realized the loud sound she’d heard was a gunshot that she recognized the danger she had been in. [color=white]”I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was–”[/color] Her voice caught in her throat. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=coral]“S’okay, kid. You’re safe; that’s what matters.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] With little else holding it in place, the tarp slid easily off its mysterious cargo revealing to the crowd a cage. Within it stood several individuals that, although not dead, looked as though they had not slept in ages. Their eyes were blood shot and rolled into the back of their heads. Their jaws were slack and their heads hung at awkward angles. Even more strange were their clothes: Torn, caked in many layers of dirt and of a style and design unfamiliar to anyone surviving in the wilds. Despite the grime, the clothing itself was impractical anywhere in the wilds, even within the settlement itself. One of them wore an orange jumpsuit and was bound in hand and ankle cuffs with a chain linking the two. Another was in a skirt and a half torn shirt. Another was a large man with jeans and no shirt at all. The last three were a trio of men in faded business attire, each one of them covered in dirt and mud and dried brown stains. [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea’s eyes widened at the sight of the cage’s contents. [color=coral]“You keep [i]people[/i] in there?!”[/color] she cried in disgust. [sub][sub][u][b][color=firebrick]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=firebrick]“[i][b]HOLY SHIT![/b][/i]”[/color] Chu’s shout was [i]loud[/i]. She backed a few steps away from the cage, her mind reeling. He had [i]people[/i] in there?! In the cage?! Her first instinct was to be sympathetic to their plight, but then… she saw that cold look in their eyes. She shivered. [sub][sub][u][b][color=steelblue]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Jin, who had been looking through the selection of weapons and ammunition with Sumire, turned as he heard the commotion. Jin didn’t know what he expected to be under this fancy secret tarp, but he certainly wasn’t expecting people. Jin thought he’d imagined it before, but now that he was looking at them- he remembered. Back at the SynEn headquarters, when the operators went crazy and attacked Sumire- when he had to reveal his airbending. Their eyes were glazed over, vacant. [sub][sub][u][b][color=yellow]Theyra   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The thing Reman did not expect was more of those, [color=yellow]How…[/color] Luckly, Reman did have his pistol on him. When he saw the cage, he felt like doing something but once he saw their eyes. He had a flashback to the SynEn HQ. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Those slightly more perceptive would have noticed that the locking mechanism to the cage had been destroyed by the mounted gun going off. The cage door very slowly began to swing open and although Tan-ming was rather quick to scramble to his feet and attempt to shut it, the first of these [i]things[/i] managed to throw itself into the door and knock the man onto his back. When the door swung open again, the chained one fell on top of him. The other's heads suddenly straightened, their eyes snapped to people in the crowd and they immediately began clambering out of the cage. [sub][sub][u][b][color=steelblue]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=steelblue]”Woah! Back, back, back!”[/color] Jin called out to anyone in earshot, pushing Sumire behind him. He gathered his hands together and threw them forward, airbending a massive gust of wind to slam the cage shut. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] It closed in time to catch the last of the creatures as it tried to escape with enough force to throw it onto its back. The rest spread out while the one in the orange jumpsuit found Tan-ming's throat and began to squeeze the air out of his lungs. [color=white]"DiiiIIEEEEEEE!"[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=steelblue]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=steelblue]”Shit- Reman! Shoot him!”[/color] Jin said as he gestured with his chin towards the one on top of Tan-ming. [color=steelblue]”It’s like those weirdos back at SynEn HQ. They got this weird- uh- aura about them!”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=coral]shylarah   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Ziotea hadn’t noticed more than their abysmal state, at least not until the chained prisoner attacked Tan-ming. The way he moved was wrong. Damn, and her without her spear! [color=coral]“Kid?”[/color] she said slowly. [color=coral]“Run.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=firebrick]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu Hua's eyes snapped to Jin Wei. … And then to the little girl and the redhead woman behind her. [color=firebrick][i]Shoot him.[/i][/color] It was quick, her reaction. Chu braced herself and moved her hands, wide, in an imitation of what she had done with the worm. She felt heat in her core and hands, and then she released a stream of fire at the cage, and the man on top of that stupid fucking trader. [color=firebrick]“WATCH OUT!”[/color] A belated warning. [sub][sub][u][b][color=yellow]Theyra   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Reman went for his pistol as he heard Jin’s command. As he was going to aim for the man on top of the merchant, he heard Chu’s warning and he saw the fire she was unleashing. He was safe where he was and simply watched while keeping his pistol aimed at the man on the merchant. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The fire engulfed the cage, the chained man and every one of the strange and violent individuals that had leapt from the cage. Despite the heat and the flames, they continued to charge forward with an unhinged desperation, ignoring completely the flames licking at their pallid flesh and chewing away at their clothes. [sup][color=2e2c2c]_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/color][/sup] [/color][/cell][cell][sup][img=//////SIDE IMAGE HERE\\\\\\]https://i.imgur.com/IV74F9L.png[/img][/sup] [color=303030][table=bordered][row][/row][row][cell=active][sub][color=white]Time.[/color] Early Morning, SE+11 [color=white]Location.[/color] Settlement Square, [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5598604][color=303030]Tu Zin.[/color][/url] [color=666666]____________________________[sub]....[sup]......[/sup][/sub][/color] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/canaryrose][color=white]canaryrose[/color][/url] as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5181677][color=303030]Chu Hua[/color][/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/shylarah][color=white]shylarah[/color][/url] as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5651755][color=303030]Ziotea[/color][/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/theyra][color=white]theyra[/color][/url] as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5181678][color=303030]Reman Xuoshi[/color][/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/vietmyke][color=white]vietmyke[/color][/url] as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5181688][color=303030]Jin Wei and Sumire[/color][/url] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/Exit][color=white]Exit[/color][/url] as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5181680][color=303030]Sonam[/color][/url], [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5599002][color=303030]Chosah[/color][/url] and Tan-ming.[/sub][/cell][/row][/table][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/VKZUYkW.png[/img] [/cell][/row][/table][table=bordered][row][sub][b]Prompt:[/b][/sub][/row][row][cell][color=9f9f9f]One of the 'crazies' in a suit is trapped in the cage and is burning up. It's currently thrashing about, throwing itself against the bars of the cage angrily and screaming loudly but is currently unable to escape. [color=white]Theyra:[/color] The orange jumpsuit is ignoring the fire and continues to press into Tan-Ming's neck. The merchant is struggling to remove the hands choking him out. His legs are thrashing about. He's not on fire and as of now, it doesn't look like he's running out of oxygen... yet. [color=white]Canary & Shylarah:[/color] Two have charged through the fire in Chu Hua's direction, though one is really aiming for Ziotea. The closest one to Chua Hua, the second 'crazy' in a suit, is knocked to the side by a blast of air from Sonam. It's thrown against the side of the trailer and is currently trying to scramble to its feet. Flames are eating away the top half of his suit. The second 'crazy', this one wearing a skirt and torn shirt, throws itself at Ziotea in an attempt to tackle her to the ground. [color=white]Vietmyke:[/color] The third suit scrambles beneath the trailer to get to the otherside and pops up near Jin and Sumire. Just like all things in the desert, its clearly focused on getting to Sumire. This one has flames licking at his left leg. It throws itself slightly to the side of Jin in Sumire's direction with its arms out hoping to grab her. [color=white]Everyone:[/color] The largest 'crazy' is the slowest and most cumbersome. It originally rolls out of the cage first, effectively slowing the escape of the others and allowing Chu Hua to hit all of them with her fire attack. When it finally manages to find its feet after landing awkwardly on the ground, it begins lumbering toward the crowd. It takes the brunt of Chu Hua's attack, and although it is not engulfed in flames, its clear it's been severely burned. Flames lick at open wounds though it does not spread quickly across its body. Attacks on these assailants are auto hits and do not require checks from me. However, the result of each attack [i]will[/i] need to be described by me. If you decide to post directly to the thread this round, please leave the result of your attack open ended. Also keep in mind that these 'zombies' are not slow. They are fast and violent but their attacks are heavily telegraphed. [/color][/cell][/row][/table] [url=https://i.imgur.com/7o1Co0m.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/7o1Co0m.jpeg[/img][/url]