Lugubrious

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Hey @shadowkiller912, you've seen Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders right? I don't want my entry to be based on it only for all of the references to fly over your head.

@Guess Who

Keep in mind, Connor: make sure to properly introduce us to the universe in question and its norms, rather than take it as a given and throw out the references. If Shadowkiller doesn't know JJBA, it's up to you to get him acquainted with the world.

I will be throwing my lot into this contest.

In Hunting Beasts and Monsters

We both must have been working on our posts nearly nonstop since KOL's went up, @Lucius Cypher. But in the end, you were beaten by a mere man.

In Hunting Beasts and Monsters

As Bishop fell to his back, blood welling up in his mouth like a clogged drain, the trepidatious light afforded Highball a look past the hood that made the man seem more ravenous ghoul than human. Beneath the black fabric and the shadows of anonymity it cast, there lay a face nonetheless. Truth to be told, this discovery filled Highball more with disappointment than anything else. One's imagination always seemed to provide a more fascinating view of the unknown than it ever turned out to be once explored, and in this case Highball had craned her neck to see if some sort of uncanny wraith lay beneath that ebony cloth, but she came away disappointed. Of course, the grotesquely silent spread of blood over stone, sinking into its pitted surface and sliding through its cracks like miniature canals, did manage to set her on edge. In a dream, however, she needed not be too concerned with the details.

Looking away from the pitiable, twitching corpse-in-the-making, Highball found her view returning to the strange woman once more. A closer examination of this figure, now only a couple meters from her, made the hairs on the back of Highball's neck rise. Venomous words flew from the fancy mannequin’s bloodless lips, and with a start Highball realize the scrap of moist rubbish just now tossed with palpable contempt on the floor to be none other than the ripped-out tongue of the newly-drowned. My word. How intense! I did not imagine otherwise, but this realm is not one to be taken any sort of lightly! Now thoroughly unnerved, Highball averted her eyes from Maria, having concluded her to be a loathsome entity with only a cursory facade of humanity.

At that moment, one of the others approached Highball. His sudden appearance momentarily filled her with surprise, as if Kenji's visage was a slap in the face. The next instant Highball realized that in the few short minutes she'd been a part of this dream, her only conceived expectation thus far was that she'd be a spectator for the dream's events, coasting along for the ride. Being singled out for interaction did not, in light of the wretched act of violence just now performed, lift Highball's spirit. While her muscles went tense, she kept her face stonily impassive, and listened. At first, she surmised the strange strings of noises uttered by her new companion to be some nonsensical, insane utterance. Only after Kenji's question drown in the thick, ripe silence that followed did it pluck the strings of memory in Highball's mind. His alien language suddenly appeared weirdly familiar, but its grasp eluded her. Tantalizing...it's like remembering a the tune of a song, but not the words. Why does it strike me so...? She continued to answer the inquiry with a blank hazel stare, the upturned corners of her mouth hinting at both bemusement and a somewhat patronizing intrigue. Actually, Highball felt rather infuriated that there might be some greater meaning she was too stupid to get. If I feel so obligated to answer, it must be that he asked me a question. What would someone in a dream ask? Who am I? Am I alright? Do I really need my tongue? The best response she could think of was a shrug, slight smile, and nervous laugh, as if to say, Um, I guess so? “Heh?”

The bloodthirsty mannequin saved her from the awkward situation. Wary, Highball turned to listen, and with the others she followed Maria into the chapel. On the way, the tension seemed to diminish, its noose around the hunters' necks inexplicably loosening. Immediately she noticed the altar, and her eyes lit up with curious fire. Dead, am I? Ooh, existential. To make me wonder what's real. Recalling this idea from somewhere, Highball rolled her eyes in a disinterestedly quick and nondramatic manner. Pitch-lack? Hm. Perhaps she meant pitch-black. The comment about memories did not unduly intrigue her. Right, right. Had to be explained somehow. This is the most meta dream I've ever had. Lucid, even. Maria's pause wore on her patience, though the detail that follow brought a smug smile to Highball's face. Hunting beasts! Sounds like a blast. Do I get a shotgun? Or, considering the time period, some kind of pitchfork? When Maria mentioned 'all that you need' behind the altar, Highball practically leaped at the chance, only to freeze stiller than a statue at the sight of Rotting Bone.

An insane child's ragdoll come to life, this man stood before Highball like a scarecrow in the field. She could see nothing but a yawning void beneath his hood, and so swept over his garb with her eyes for horrific inspiration. He seemed an amalgamation of different rags, each abandoned by some unaware fool to coalesce into a single, ghostly being. Looking at him, Highball felt indisputably that Rotting Bone was very, very old; it seemed an ominous coincidence that her mind jumped to the phrase too old to be alive. When his withered lips parted to speak, Highball flinched, and her heart pounded with equal parts terror and excitement.

He asked that she kneel, and the woman's mind conjured up images of graven idols. Hoping it would suffice, Highball bowed to him, gingerly but deeply, but kept her eyes on him the whole time in the fashion of the martial artists. Not looking back to see if the others followed suit, and not remotely caring, Highball waited while he trundled into the darkness before returning to her full height. When Rotting Bone returned, his arms clutched a bounty of death and dignity. He laid it before his fresh congregation, and invited with gesture for them to choose. Highball's eyes shined as she dashed nimble forward, like a weasel darting out from its safe burrow to snag a morsel. Her fingers closed around a night-black handle, and from the pile she withdrew a vicious rake. When she yanked it free, one of its tines snared a red-banded top hat, and taking this as an omen of good fortune, Highball slipped it on her head before stepping away to examine her weapon. Though emaciated and tough as metal, it looked like the torn-off limb of some gargantuan bird. Some huge raven's claw....what's this lever? Out of the three settings, the lever lay in the middle. Highball tentatively pulled it down, and the rake's tines swung together, turning the weapon into a large, intimidating cane. Feeling very dapper, she leaned upon the cane and snickered, watching to see what the others picked. The words of Rotting Bone she thought she understood well enough. Go out, slay monsters, bring back any trophies to this place, snark to some woman, have the time of my life. Easy as pie.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

It looks about as fun as other beat-em-ups, but fifteen dollars? I bought Ark for twice that (and I don't usually buy early access games), and Ark has entertained me for ninety-six hours total and receives multiple updates monthly.

That said, I'm not always an intelligent consumer. I might get it after all.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

It's strange watching the RWBY: Grimm Eclipse Let's Play. Is that Lindsay talking or is Ruby? Is that Ryan talking or is it Professor Port? If not for subtitles it'd be so hard to tell.

@Guess Who

It wasn't too bad for me, since to me the voices each actor uses are different compared to their everyday voices. I found it particularly funny when Lindsay actually did the voice she uses as Ruby once.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

Done.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

Indigo Afina – Frenzy Camp

Indigo observed, impassive, at Isla's stunned silence. After a moment of savoring it, she continued, ”I see you're beginning to see the bigger picture. I'll leave you for now to think about what you've done and what you can do to fix it. Later, when the troops have returned, I will come back to you to hear your response. Might I add, even if you do choose to defy us, losing your ability to paint will not be your only punishment. You will still cooperate with us one way or another...psychopath.”

Leaving that charged word to hang in the air like a miasma, the sorceress left Isla to ponder her predicament in solitude.

Chester Graham – Frenzy Camp

@Oblivion666

Ike's apology and subsequent explanation deserved nothing more than a shrug from Chester. ”No problem.” He gave a short huff of effort. By now, the streets' incline had become mildly unpleasant, though this change heralded the half-way point of the two soldiers' trip to the arena. The beastmaster caught his breath and, in response to Ike's next question, stated, ”Yes, I do think there was. While I was at the Doma Flau at the time, the Camp was attacked by two strange creatures. One was this seafood-pirate-ghost kind of monster, and the other was some prettyboy with a huge, two-headed snake. We captured the last one, and his snake too, but the first one vanished. Apparently it's the same monster that screwed with Akane Resort a few months back. Weird, huh? Guess it's got a beef with us.”

Jane Putcher – Frenzy Camp Perimeter

@lmpkio@oblivion666@raijinslayer

A new applicant to Frenzy Plant? Jane nodded in approval. It always felt gratifying to hear good things about one's guild. Such remarks helped ease any possible insecurity one felt that they might have made the wrong decision. ”Lady attacks be no common occurrence, lass. As fer depression, a fellow of ours named Ike recently escaped from a terrible curse. When he returned to us, he wasn't quite at full sail, if you catch my drift, and there was some fightin'. Most of it's fine now, however.” She turned her eyes on the fighting duo, watching with increasing worry. This seemed more like a deathmatch then a rivals' dispute, and neither showed any signs of holding back.

Before long, the battle ramped up again, and both Riona and Jane stepped instinctively back. All the while, the former piratess struggled with the question of jumping in and ending the duel, lest the park suffer irreparable damage. A shockwave rippled through the landscape and the people atop it, causing Jane to let go of the Privateer to avoid falling forward. Soon after, a crystalline substance carpeted the earth. While smooth, the surface didn't turn out to be slippery, and Jane could only wonder about the point of the spell. As the intensity of the Crimson God Slayer's magic built up, however, the tension grew for her as well, like one who sees the tumultuous black cloud and feels the drop in air pressure heralding a disastrous storm. When the Hell's Retribution went off, she turned tail to run, but the second, more explosive half of the technique sent her sprawling unceremoniously to the dirt. A few seconds later she got to her feet, only to immediately notice the corrosive magical residue of the attack beginning to eat away at her clothes.

What a series of events! First damaging Cecilia's armor, despite her insistence otherwise, then turning two strangers naked in public, then embarrassing and getting Ni hurt, then getting buddy-buddy with Isla, fighting Ike, and now this. Something snapped within her; Jane found herself sick and tired of Argus, and after this latest attempt to disrobe her, her fuse had burned down. Perhaps the malevolent aura of the demon assisted this. Regardless, steam practically blew from Jane's ears as she sucked in breath, before she roared, I've had it with all this insanity! Ya bloody blaggards wanna tack about on Frenzy Plant turf, try and screw with me clothes? Ya best get ready to pay fer it! High-stakes Shells!” Her cannon's revolver barrel loaded itself magically with miniature warheads. Each one boasted enough concussive force to reduce a building to rubble, and in her fit of blind rage she leveled the Privateer at Argus and Marlene, and fired. A rocket-propelled bomb exited the barrel with a foomp and shrieked through the air toward Argus' crater. All eyes lay upon it as it approached the two fighting mages, promising to toasty them at best and obliterate them at worst. They watched in terrifying silence as a white spark shone from its tip.

Then the shell unceremoniously fell to the grass, completely nullified.

In the stunned silence that followed, akin to the crowd surrounding a defused warhead -and with every bit of the same tension- a purple shape dashed into the clearing. It skidded to a halt between the crater and Jane, and resolved to be Frenzy Plant's premier swordswoman, who only days earlier had been reborn from her broken dream: Hyun. Brown hair flowing in the gust of wind caused by her arrival, Hyun impassively slid a katana from its sheath and span around, saying, “Mundane sparks!” A flurry of glowing white embers like snow whirled around the clearing, and where they touched the magic of Argus melted away completely. Jane and Riona were left with only mildly-destroyed attire, though the same couldn't quite be said for the original victim of the attack, Marlene.

Hyun replaced her sword and looked around imperiously, though she avoided the nudity of the combatants. An S-rank as of yesterday morning, she carried the authority of the guild master on her shoulders. Jane earned her attention first. ”Corporal Putcher, you ignoramus. Calm your temper before you find yourself cooling off in another cell.” Jane subsided immediately, suddenly ashamed. Hyun glared at the other two, though not directly. ”Oh, it's you. And some stranger. You both will have much to answer for.”

Nero the Genie – Arena Stands

@yipeexd@hatakekuro@lmpkio@Expolar

Nero bobbed his head, pleased that Shujin would return a smile to someone who antagonized him not long ago. He liked the cut of the jib of anyone who could take a joke. ”I've been happy as a clam, and clammy as Hapi! A snort followed this wordplay; it wasn't often that he could work mythology into his clever remarks. Unfortunately, he did not expect the Dragon Fang metalsmith to get it. Shujin's fist-pump elicited a mirthful chuckle from the dark mage. ”Heh, good luck with that! If any of you need a magical pick-me-up, you know just who to call! Oh, and if you see Eve anywhere, tell her she's being sorely missed. Ta ta!”

He continued on his way, but got only a little farther through his exploration before coming face-to-face with another aimless wanderer, this one moving quickly in a direction opposite to some colorful-haired, scantily-clad woman in white. In fact, Nolan nearly ran into Nero, who quickly slid to the side, saying, ”Whoa! Good morning, sunshine!” The very next instant, it seemed, that very woman appeared next to them, though her attention lay on Nolan alone. Nero seized the opportunity to wistfully imagine what Sayatachi would look like three hundred pounds heavier, before scooting along past them. The Rainbow Majesty's manner caused the Genie to laugh through his nose, a slight hissing sound, before commenting, ”Drink stand's up ahead if you're really thirsty.” He gave another merry laugh, beaming all the while, before proceeding.

The sight of Grane earned him a wide-eyed look from Nero, but for once the dark mage found no quips in his repertoire appropriate for a highly-intimidating lizardman. Instead, he merely shared his everpresent smile and passed by.

At that point, the first match of the day began. ”Ooh!” He leaned over the balcony to watch, not too far away from Grane so as to be out of his sight. A handful of minutes passed while the battle between Pakuna and Lazarus raged, and at the end, when the Light God Slayer stood above the Water Make wizard's unconscious body, Nero exclaimed to anyone in the vicinity, ”Man, who doesn't love a good, surprise ending? Because nobody saw that comin'. I'll never understand how some people have philosophical debates in the middle of fights. How weird. That Lazarus guy though, major butthead. What kinda person judges someone they never even met? Especially in a religious sense.”

Throughout all this, Nero somehow failed to notice that his little spark of light, Ayame, was nowhere to be seen.

Phoenix Wing (A Fairy Tail RP-Always Open, Open)

Currently working on a post that involves a whole heap of people. Don't ninja me please.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Defend a Caravan

The Taijitu stamped into the ground by Lilac, though stunned for a second, now seemed far more angry than hurt. It hissed and lashed out at her back as she faltered, ready to sink its swordlike fangs into her aura while she wasted time talking. Fortunately for her, a lightning blast from Estelle's blade swindled its progress, thundering through its skull. The enormous snake slumped down, but its black scales gave no indication of dissolving.

Where the first foe fell, its fellows swiftly arose to take its place. Taijitu heads, both black and white, loomed upward over the edges of the vehicle's roof from every angle, like a many-tentacled leviathan surrounding a helpless ship. Below, the caravan driver began to panic, and yelled through his intercom. “For God's sake, don't waste time fighting them! This is some kind of colony; we'll run out of ammo before it runs out of Grimm. Kill the ones in my way so I can get us out of here!” To punctuate his words, the five Taijitus bent on ripping apart Beacon's finest lunged as one.

Brewing Storm

The seven hunters-in-training each proved themselves credits to the team as they mustered their intelligence and deadliness together to fend off the unknown assault. Though the room was filled with wasted rounds and empty swings, a fair few of the students' attacks hit home, seldom targeted enough to instantly incapacitate an enemy but more than painful enough to convince those hit to retreat. With Cian's firm grasp on the group's rear, Jack watching its collective back, a former stripper managing the front, Lauren overseeing tenderness, Ben expertly handling the flank, and Sangue ready to give him a hand, the squad made its way down the tight hall toward the light at the end of the tunnel. The diminutive but numerous enemy, seemingly sensing the disadvantage of a choke point, did not follow the teenagers toward the light. Instead, they remained in the dark, the poor light barely illuminating their subtle red eyes. Upon reaching the door, everyone broke formation and entered the Traffic Center.

Within, the source of light proved to be a portable lantern, still tirelessly radiating a formidable yellow glow after however long it had been sitting, alone. No Grimm appeared to be making this room their home, but neither did there appear to be any sort of alternative exit. Instead, the Traffic Center, sported a veritable plague of charts, lists, forms, maps, and powered-off computer hubs. On one wall lay a facility map marked with safety directions should a fire break out. Most notable of these rooms was the Control Center, where Priscilla and other survivors currently resided, which lay past the Storage, Processing, Generator, and Supply rooms in the Distillery's bottom floor. Though it would be harder to make out, that path featured also two separate decontamination rooms. The upper floor held the living and dining quarters for the staff, where it could be assumed at least some survivors holed themselves up.

Before the group lay a choice. The darkness no longer presented a problem to them, but instead, the question of where to go lay ahead. Two distinct directions, up and down, awaited them; the team could split up and search both, or stay together and risk greater Grimm activity in response to their arrival.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Still better than that one guy's wolf name.