I'll be making the first official neutral grounds so to speak for this in the coming days to start things off. Have a pretty good idea of the prefect kind of place for it. Also as Skall might have mentioned, you don't have to be involved in the war or factions. It exists mostly as a backdrop for the MV (especially for people who want more violent story archs), just like in the real world, things and events flow naturally creating possible plot hooks for people to get involved with but they don't have to.
I've spent a few years more or less as a DM in similar Sand-box Rp's, so I know the importance of having a number of varied plot hooks for people who don't already have an idea of what to get involved with in the MV.
I'll also leave some bread crumbs relating the the Last MV relating to the crucible as another major quest of sorts. More on that later though. Atm I'm thinking about at least one other Co-GM of sorts to keep track of things. Also a map which will help a ton. :K
The world heaved and spun simultaneously before reforming again from the perspective of the Cardinal. Some ten meters away from his opponent a ball of electricity appeared in mid-air no larger than a golf ball at first, before it began expanding violently as it discharged sparks of electricity around it until it finally burst apart and dissipated altogether. The dust born from the bending of reality settled slowly-- in its place revealing a single man of average height. A long dark cape enveloped his compact figure. Much like his body the man's face too was obfuscated by a black masked helm shaped vaguely like that of a skeleton.
A light breeze blew from the west clearing much of the dust in the air granting greater clarity of the surrounding terrain. Tablurath breathed in slowly and exhaled, clearing his thoughts and centering his mind. His eyes snapped first to his opponent. A young man by the looks of it, yet he was certainly much more than what his appearance would suggest. He held a rather unusual entropy about him not unlike that found in the living dead. Once more he did not possess one strand of fate...but six intertwining threads with little variations and branching paths. How was that possible?
Armed with sight beyond that of a normal man; Tablurath saw ‘into’ his opponent. The task made simple thanks to the lack of Aesr in his opponent's form. Interestingly enough he saw a number of strange spherical objects within the construct. Their purpose? Currently unknown. A rather peculiar specimen to be sure. Turning his attention to his surroundings he absorbed the information near instantly.
Noting first the truck off to his right just 4 meters away then a utility pole some distance to his left a little further ahead nearer to his opponent. The road seemed no more than 30 feet wide, about twice the length of either the car or truck. He saw the small hints of running current within the power lines above. Tucking it away to the back of his mind for later. His initial observations took in his opponent’s height then choice of weapons. Estimated calculations based on average arm reach gave Tablurath a slight edge in his favor.
It was too soon and rather foolish, however, to believe that weapon his opponents only means of attacking. He would need to test the waters so to speak. His experience with constructs told him that he would be best served not fighting in his usual nonchalant manner. There was too much riding on this anyway, failure was not an option.
For Mirra’s sake he needed to prevail.
First and foremost, he needed to gauge his opponent’s abilities. All the while measuring his strokes least he reveal too much of his own for those who watched. The situation called for a rarity. Two swords.
In a single practiced, yet fluid motion he unsheathed Serenity and Mercy from their respective scabbards. The motion sweeping his cape open to reveal the light compact modern vest he wore beneath as armor, its cloth a mix of dark grey and black. The armor surprisingly light, flexible, but granting a comfortable degree of protection. Should all go well Tablurath wouldn't need its protection. At his belt aside from his sheaths, several cylindrical objects were attached and visible to the observant.
He knew the seriousness of the event yet, a side of him could not help but begin with a simple introduction. One of his many quirks. “Well mystery warrior, so here we are. I feel it amiss if I do not at least give you the name of the one who will defeat you today. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Cardinal Tablurath of the Angar-Rylla’s Ninth Fleet. A pleasure to meet you.”
The masked man did not respond right away as he seemingly turned his attention back to the throne. “What you ask is the ‘scope’? Why the prize of course! I can’t imagine such a weapon being of any interest you to one such as yourself. You don’t strike me as one stupid enough to release such a being as the Lord of Nightmares.”
It was then that the great hall shuddered as the area vibrated with power. The only clear warning that the festivities were about to begin. Edbon sighed, “Well it seems things have come under way. Perhaps we shall finish this conversation another time?”
The man turned to leave, his cape rustling behind him as he left eventually walking through the great doors. He suspected Faoesia and Aquilan had already began settling in. They'd be watching his and the matches of the other contestants from the safety of this pocket dimension. Gathering valuable Intel all the while. The static babble of his inbuilt comm unit alerted him to the coming call.
“Tablurath can you hear me?” Came the stuttering voice of Aquilan.
The man gave a grunt of acknowledgment.
“Good was afraid you had already left, I doubt the quantum link will work very well across dimensions. Get a look at your opposition?”
“I did, no vital signs interestingly enough. He possessed basic Aesr flow reminiscent of a machine, likely a construct of some kind. I’ll know more when I see him again. For now monitor the others fights and learn what you can.”
“Will do, just be sure to come out of this in one piece otherwise I won't hear the end of it from Faoesia.”
The signal disconnected leaving the former Lord Cardinal to his thoughts. The Dreamer had said too merely think of battle and you would be translated to your arena. A strange if vague way to go about things to be sure, but the Dreamers were an odd lot. He closed his eyes and focused, he could recall the last sortie he had taken while in the Empresses Legions. However, those wounds were still fresh and he found he’d rather not dwell on them.
His mind thus inevitably wandered to one of the reasons he had agreed to this incongruous tournament in the first place…
Eight Earth Years Prior….
The smell of smoke, soot, and burnt wood was heavy in the air. The rubble and clutter of debris that now made up most of the large hive city of Boevis stood as reminder of the wars fought through the oversized city. The realm of Blassemar had existed as a place of constant fighting between the various races that inhabited the planet. The coming of the Angar-Rylla had changed that almost overnight, however. The many factions that had stood in power had fared terribly when the Empire arrived with more than a few siding with their would be invaders after coming to realize their eventual victory.
The realm now existed in a fragile state of on and off skirmishes, with sizable regions kept under the iron fist of the Empire. Boevis, however, had recently been lost despite Empire's best efforts. There a band of Urkia, large bipedal creatures with brutish features and vicious teeth sporting wicked tusks, held a sizable sector of the city. Subjecting the people there to their cruel mistreatments. With the Urkia on constant vigil no sizable force could be sent in to dispatch them without them merely going into hiding.
It was a perfect chance to test out the Angar-Rylla’s newest weapon.
The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the large complex industrial building. Uzgadan hefted his large pump action shotgun as his fellows boarded up the only entrance. The humans kept captive here in one corner were already cowering in fear. He grimaced then spat to one side. How in five hells had this happened? The province had been easy pickings, his clan knew the dangers of course, but as long as they kept an eye out for Ryallin portals they should have been able to avoid any interference from the Empire. Somehow despite their caution they had come under attack, and no one had even seen the enemy coming!
It had to be a small team the clan warlord decided. Maybe no more than ten or twelve skilled individuals. As the remainder of his war clan backed away from the door the sounds of gunfire outside died down and the air became eerily quiet. One urika got spooked when he knocked over a can and unleased nearly a full clip at mere shadows before he calmed. The poorly lit storage room held several drum barrels and crates, and little else in the way of cover. Still with more than eight guns aimed at the entrance they’d make quite a last stand using the door as the prefect choke-point. None of the brutes noticed the dark figure moving quickly but silently among the rafters. No one saw that same figure land on a larger container only a few feet behind their rear most sentry.
In a flash of movement the head of the Urkia rolled past Uzgadan’s feet to the center of the group. They’re eyes bulged in shock almost comically before they whirled around almost as one and fired a barrage of lead in the direction of the shadowy figure. Sparks sang out as the rounds seemed to veer away and around the figure. In another instant a blade sprouted from the chest of one of Uzgadan’s enforcers a few feet behind him. He stumbled back as he gurgled and coughed blood before he fell to his knees.
The figure ran forward in a blur of motion than sharply to the right, avoiding a molotov cocktail thrown by one of Uzgadan’s subordinates. Another urika was cut down, his arm hewn from his body with a single swing, before the figure dropped low and then spun as he kicked out the legs of another urika before bisecting him in mid-air. The man moved too fast for any of them to have the hope of landing a blow on him. Weaving a dance of deadly steel through the ranks of Urkia as if it was nothing.
Uzgadan had been warlord of his clan for more than ten years, a significant amount of time in their violent culture. Yet he had never seen such skill or ferocity-- for the first time in his life he knew fear. He immediately broke for the slave pen deciding on one last desperate attempt to stave off defeat. As the last Urika fell to the ground in a bloody heap Uzgadan pulled forth one of the humans, a young girl by the looks of it, and pushed her in front of him hoping to use her as a human shield.
“Argh’t you! Don’t move Or I’l-”
The Urkia never got a chance to finish his threat, dark blood spraying forth from his throat as his now ruined shotgun fell from his dying hands. Blood fell upon the small girl who remained mute with apparent fright as she watched her once captive choke on his one blood. The man responsible already sheathing his sword.
“Did you really think a little girl would protect you from me?” He looked down at the dying Urika with contempt. “So naive.”
Since the IC here states: <Snipped quote by GreivousKhan>
Would it be appropriate to provide a flavorful re-imagining of the events that transpired, as well as a link to the actual RP?
Basically, the archives works by allowing you to store canon story lines, like say, your fight(s) with Fury/Melon. It's a place to allow an easy way for people to store their story archs or other major events so other people can easily find them if they want to know why X and B hate each other or so and so. Also events like NoW can be sorted there. They'll often cite the important characters involved and if one wants add a short description of what happened along with the link. Which can be from your characters point of view.
That makes sense. Either way I'm fine with a challenge, this should make a good warm up then. How's the terrain or is that left up for out interpretation?
(also how large does the force assaulting us look? Hmm, actually my character probably can't see over the battlements. )
