Lugubrious

Pokemon: New World

“See ya!”

“Have a good night! And come back soon!”

One wave to the greeter later, Olivie was out of Electrode Eatery and back in the blanket of night. The attitude of the man behind the counter of the energetic fast-foot place sparked instant camaraderie; after all, those who lived boisterously -wearing their hearts on their sleeves and placing great value on strength and fortitude- always understood one another and could get along easily. Without wet clothes, she discovered that the slight breeze actually felt quite nice. It ruffled both the brunette's hair and her Bidoof's fluffy fur, but even though it scoured some of the fatigue from their eyes, Olivie knew that the time had come to wrap up the eventful evening and return home with her partner. One final rest awaited her at the abode of her parents before her journey truly began, and the prospect of introducing her scrappy new buddy to her dad, knowing that he'd been a trainer in his heyday, excited her. What would someone with a thorough understanding of Pokemon have to say about her friend? Olivie endeavored to imagine what glowing praise might issue from his mouth. He's deceptively harmless-looking, but he's got a vital spirit, the true heart of a warrior. Secretly, Olivie was proud of the little guy already, though he'd neither won a battle or displayed any courage. The sight of him walking dutifully alongside her as she made her way back toward her family's condo confirmed in her heart that she'd picked the right partner.

Ten minutes later, she'd already passed into familiar territory and unconsciously picked up her pace, eager to lay her head down and sleep. Around her, the darkness had settled peacefully, neither too black thanks to the streetlights nor too quiet thanks to the chirping of insects tucked away in the trees that sprouted from squares of dirt along the sidewalks. In the yellow light of one lamp, Olivie spotted a flash of orange among one tree's branches. Her curiosity piqued, she slipped out her Pokedex to find out exactly what it was. Although she couldn't see the whole animal through the leaves and their shadows, her device displayed an image of a Pokemon called Kricketot. Silently she read over its entry, walking again before she finished. ”Huh. These things really are everywhere.”

The familiar outline of her family's condo lay only two buildings away now. Somehow, the Bidoof sensed that home was nearby and picked up its pace. ”Wanna sleep, Buck?” she asked absently, expecting to hear him chitter in reply. Instead, she received only silence. Caught off guard, Olivie stopped in her tracks to look around and spotted her Pokemon padding slowly over to a trash can on the opposite side of the street. Already rooting around in the overturned can was a little red and cream animal with a swirl of fur on its head. Dirty and disheveled, it looked a lot like a rat, but it stood upright like a person as it used its hands. Olivie watched it pick up a rotten berry and spew a steady stream of fire from its mouth, burning away the brown flesh to reveal a mostly-intact fruit beneath. At that moment Buck drew too near, and the Pansear hopped backward, whooping and shaking its free fist at the intruding Bidoof. It's dangerous flashed through Olivie's head, and she began to walk forward.

”Buck!” she called. The Bidoof craned its fat neck around as far as it could to glance her way. Wearing a cold look, Olivie continued, ”It might be late, but diamonds are forged under pressure. Your first Pokemon battle will be to get rid of that vermin!”

Almost imperceptibly, Buck's eyes widened. He refocused his attention on the Pansear, who clutched her fruit closely and slapped the trash can noisily with her free hand. Buck didn't flinch—in fact, he didn't do anything for a moment. Olivie figured that he was preparing himself to attack until he looked back at her with eyes that looked almost sad. ”What's the matter with you?” she demanded, eyes narrowed. ”I'm your trainer, so you do what I tell you!” Still, the Bidoof didn't move a muscle. Crossing her arms, Olivie began to walk forward, and her fighting gloves appeared out of her back pocket. ”I know you're not disobeying me on purpose. Guess you're just tired, or maybe haven't fought before. That's fine. I'll show you how it's done for next time.” In response, the Pansear leaped onto the overturned can to make itself seem taller, and jumped up and down to cause a racket that might drive these newcomers off.

Steeling herself mentally and physically, Olivie went closer instead.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

I thought so. We'll just be moving into the weekend then.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Hey @harinezumikouken @lucius cypher @eklispe @ryonara @SevenStormStyle @Pyrodash888, I think it's been just about long enough for our little pizza adventure. Needless to say, we didn't accomplish everything I think we would have liked to, but for the sake of the others we ought to move forward in short order. Another day or so and we'll go ahead and move forward.

Which reminds me: where are we moving forward to, again? Just the next day, or the end of the weekend, so that the day of fun may begin and the team whose mission extended across several days can return?

Capes of Denver: A Worm RP

Of all times for condescension, why in the heat of the moment? The Margrave cast a dubious glance at Messiah as she foolishly attempted to stretch her hand out in front of his view. As if he were some child that needed to be protected from the sight of violence! The sight of staggeringly bright light by his dark-adjusted eyes, however, almost sent him reeling. Yet, his growl of frustration caught in the striker's throat; he could not afford to reveal his exact location now that his general position had been compromised. With his ally's attack, the battle had become joined. You do realize this means war? he found himself wanting to ask, but sarcasm wouldn't do anyone any good at the moment. Any second now, the Margrave expected to hear the tramp of many footsteps down the tunnel, just begging for a good puncture on his caltrops.

First, he heard the distinctive bellowing of the the enemy boss—the big cheese, the head honcho, the number-one bad: Eyeblight. Before the villain even finished, the Margrave had already forfeited his composure to give a derisive smirk. Having little regard for subordinates totally befit a cruel ringleader, and the Margrave could -as an antihero- sympathize with the need to make sacrifices to get the job done, but did this foo truly believe he could capture the Wards? No bonds could ever dream to restrain him. He was the smoke to slip between the foe's fingers...or to choke their lungs. In the Margrave, this Eyeblight would find a formidable opponent indeed.

That said, he did not exactly anticipate the psychopath's unnerving transformation. Transfixed in fear and fascination, the Margrave witnessed his flesh become straw, his mouth become a jagged opening, and his eyes become portals into a world of nightmares. A sudden, inexplicable terror, different and far greater than his own surprise, washed over him, and instinctively he recoiled. The instant he did, he felt some of the horror drain away, but the cold sweat now making his pits, chest, and lower back clammy did not, unfortunately, disappear. Something clicked in the clever boy's head. Hypnotism? It must be! As long as I do not look into his eyes, I cannot be lulled into a trance. So thinking, he turned back and straightened up, but made sure to regard Eyeblight out of the corner of his eye rather than head-on. Some of the fear returned, but it paled in comparison to what Margrave genuinely felt when the scarecrow used Tulpa's evil spirit as a springboard to charge straight at him. He gulped, knowing that unfeeling straw would not care much about pointy spikes on the ground. Some of his horror stemmed also from his conviction that the array of tiny weapons currently in his palm wouldn't work, either. His only choice was to apply force—a lot of it.

The Margrave's adrenaline kicked in and time seemed to slow down. From his hand, the bundle of plastic pieces fell, and like a gopher into its hole the and dove into its owner's coat in a desperate quest. Eyeblight closed the distance at a frankly worrisome pace, and neither Tulpa nor Messiah appeared to be doing anything to help him despite the fact that he was clearly the scarecrow's target. Rage sparked in his mind. Trying to get me killed, are you? Well, I'll show you! His fingers closed around a single plastic toy pulled off an action figure, special enough to warrant its own pocket. A wild, near-maniacal grin spread across his features as he whipped it out. ”Yes!” he shouted. In his hands, the tiny armament grew to full-size in a flash, and Eyeblight would find himself staring down the barrel of a Military Armament Corporation Model 10. ”Victory to the swiftest!”

The tunnel lit up with muzzle flash, and over the loud whine of automatic gunfire the Margrave could barely be heard shouting, ”Ahahah! This MAC-10 fires a thousand two hundred rounds a minute, but without much penetrating power, you're gonna be blown back to the stone age even if it doesn't rip ya to stuffing! Consider it the last present you'll ever receive from the brilliant Margrave, Eyebliiiiiiiight!”

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Pokemon: New World

@lugubrious Leaders get extra points and whatnot, and it's kinda like being a mini-GM? Gah what's the main barrier right now--that you don't wanna spend the points? But where else would you spend them--to make another location? Or a character?

You can just refuse haha--I won't take offense. Only difference to me is time taken to make the organization.

@Dusksong

My 'barrier' is that I don't understand what you're selling me. If I think it's a good deal, I'll pony up the points. If I don't, though, yeah I'll make a location or a character or something. That's all I can do with them. Are you thinking that I'd just hoard them up and never use them?

Organization leaders are IC. Look at Balthazar's example, the battle league. He says its leader is currently some non-playable character, but if some PC becomes a Master, then can then become the battle league's leader and reap the rewards. Why would my character be the leader of your organization?

On closer inspection, it seems that CPs are non-transferable anyway...

Creative Points are non-transferable.

Balthazar007

...so, given that the idea of splitting costs means someone transfers you points and then you buy the thing, this entire conversation is moot.

Pokemon: New World

<Snipped quote by balthazar007>

@lugubrious Extra points, for one. Balthazar mentioned that he's fixing the mechanics, but organizations will soon become the "best way to earn points" (refer to balthazar's latest post), so I was thinking to make one asap haha

So, how about it? Just think of it as a cool RP group (other people can join) that gives you awesome perks for this RP. At least that's what it seems like to me?

@Dusksong

Points? But that's only if my character's in the organization. That has nothing to do with ownership or me as a player at all. It would only benefit me if my character was in your organization. My character can be in your organization without me having to contribute my points to make it. The point is that you offered me co-ownership if I gave you my points, and co-ownership doesn't mean anything. Unless I can only join your organization if I contribute trainer points to make it?

Pokemon: New World

@lugubrious Ummm co-ownership??? It's fine if you don't want to though--I'll just have to post ten more times before I can create a organization haha

@Dusksong

What good's co-ownership? The 'What is an Organization' section doesn't mention anything about ownership, let alone its perks.

Pokemon: New World

@balthazar007 Okay, I now have half the amount of CP required to create an organization, so I think I'll bring up the issue of co-ownership again. If I create an organization with someone else, can we split the cost? I'm fine with splitting leadership points too if required, or just be required to bank one extra point before distribution?
Also, how many points does an organization have to bank before it can distribute? From what I understand, if an organization only has one leader and they get a point for the organization, then they get it transferred to them?? So then... can't someone just have a one-person organization haha...

@lugubrious I was actually thinking of doing a co-ownership deal with you haha. Um, how about it?

@Dusksong

What do I get in return for this 'deal'?

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

Graveyard

Ni Rensa, Eliza, Edith Riggs, Kilo, Joakim Fortinbras, Heisty Beardo, Kumbha Yatta, Bytan Brass, Mercury Marowit
Argus Leandros, Ike Riven, Riona Ymir, Damian Gerard, Gabriel, Sengoku Enma
@raijinslayer@zarkun@oblivion666@caits@hatakekuro@lunarlors34

Rallied by the command of their master, the soldiers of Fiore's finest war guild did not disappoint. Ike's pitch-black fist of wrath bore down upon the stricken Flesh Giant as it vied to pull itself together, and when the abhorrent thing could not block in time, the massive fist struck its torso head-on. An optimist might have imagined the entire gruesome construct falling apart in a visceral shower from that attack alone, but even in this state the monster would not be so easily vanquished. The incredible cohesion of its despicable body held out against the Ebony Wrath's Blow just long enough for it to bend under the onslaught, like a tree in a storm, and not break. Chunks of gore flew as the Flesh Giant staggered backward, the explosive entropic energy preventing the crater in its torso from immediately healing.

Something hideous, not unlike rage, took hold of the thing, and it made as if to charge forward and crush the soldiers of Frenzy Plant underfoot. Before it could, a blazing green growth, aglow with the glamor of passion, snaked up from the desolate earth to ensnare it. A wretched howl echoed across the landscape as it found its progress stymied by the huge, searing roots, but even if they prevented it from moving forward they could not stop another volley of fleshy bone spears from shooting from its mass in a vile deluge. Even as the spears fell once more, though, a piercing white light emerged before it, and that radiant flame turned to ash every disgusting spike that threatened its maker. When the singularity of pure heat entered its hip, it immolated the noisome meat in the entire area, and with a sound like thunder it violently separated leg from giant. In that split second, it seemed, the battle was decided.

Yet, from the rims of the grievous wound, a surge of black smoke erupted and stretched the gap. Ashlyn's holy magic burned against the tangible darkness, but she beheld something most dire. The radiance cast a light on the nebulous fog itself, and in its glow Ashlyn could see that, rather than vapor, the smog appeared to be made of millions of tiny particles. Before her eyes, these particles swallowed the light—an ill omen of something darker than black.

All the same, this unexpected and worrying response formed only a stopgap measure to keep the Flesh Giant standing, and Frenzy Plant's warriors would not allow it even a second to heal. Each one, from the venerable Bytan Brass to the rookies like Nandy Rewman, put everything they had into projectile attacks meant to annihilate this foul behemoth where it stood. The attack that cut through them all to penetrate the horror, though, came not from a soldier but from an outsider. Flint's mighty Beam of Entropy, its power compounded by successive magic seals, ripped into the twisted colossus and cut jagged patterns straight through its body. His first strike paved the way for a maelstrom of earth, wind, and fire from the soldiers, their combined weight of magic crashing into the Flesh Giant to inflict more damage than the nightmarish fog could repair.

In the midst of that tumult, a single great blade came to be. The weight and sheen of its magnificent edge, wielded by Phoenix Wing's master swordsman, sawed diagonally through his repulsive adversary in more time than he might have liked. Even though it wasn't a clean cut, the blade forged its way through, and with the regenerative smog already pushed past its limits, this new terrible wound could not be undone. With all of the enormity of a collapsing building, the severed top half of the abomination began to fall away. All throughout the graveyard, the soldiers ceased their attacks, waiting with bated breath to see if the battle was ended here and now. None expected a secondary attack in the form of a mind-bogglingly massive eruption of magic swords to follow. When it happened, skewering the giant throughout its body and holding it in place, even Sanders thought that the move might have been overkill.

Then, from above, a volatile ball of fire flew from the mouth of Gabriel's dragon to detonate in a skull-rattling explosion in the crater left behind by Ike's Ebony Wrath's Blow. When the flames died in the swirling thunderstorm, all could see thanks to the surviving lights provided by Putcher that the Flesh Giant was threatening to fall apart. The black smog that sustained it poured off its deplorable surface like mud during a shower, and heaps of tissue, organs, and bones fell free of its mass. Not satisfied, the Oni called Enma rushed in with a Tremor-empowered club to deliver a mighty blow to its leg. The sheer force of the strike, compounded by the vibrations with which it quaked, sundered the limb completely. Only the blade geyser of Damian kept it off the ground now.

The amount of magical and physical force dealt to the Flesh Giant by now was nothing short of obscene, but even still, the story was not quite over. Foul energies lay within the faltering frame still, and melted flesh poured over its wounds in a renewed attempt to regenerate. Then, and only then, did the lacrima implanted by Argus finally detonate, blowing the abomination into smithereens in a riotous fireworks display. Time seemed to slow down as the horror flew apart, unable to hold together anymore, and -influenced by the positioning of Damian's great blades- tumble over the cliff edge and into the chasm below. The ruin that had come to Belka was gone.

In the moments after, the only sounds were leftover bits of flesh in the graveyard burning, rain falling, and heavy breathing. The soldiers dared not believe that this nightmare come to life was done with. After a few moments passed by, however, a haggard cheer arose among them. Those with the energy left danced out of sheer joy, or embraced one another. Tsubani Morimoto bent over the still form of Argus, applying the healing power of her Marsh Songs to bring him back to consciousness. Behind large headstone, the axelings Kilo and Ni Rensa wiped goo from one another's faces, growing closer and closer until they shared a brief but passionate kiss. The metal siege engine of Jillian Suede disappeared, and she heaved herself onto a rock beside her general as both caught their breath. Cormorant Sanders, having truly felt alive in the heat of the battle, was obliged to bestill his beating heart. His eyes fell on the black fog that thinly blanketed the ground and, suddenly curious, he swept into it with his walking stick and brought the tip to his eyes. Widening his peeper, he peered closely at the smidgen of black staining his staff. He increased the likelihood of being able to discern what exactly it was. His eyebrows shot up when he did discover this, and under his breath he murmured, ”An insect? Bizarre...not like any insect I've seen.” The minuscule creatures he initially mistook for particles suddenly flew away, joining a shadowy stream moving along the ground. Sanders' eyes followed the stream, as many of the others did, to a point above the destroyed chapel where they appeared to be converging.

Before anyone could take action, the cluster of smog flew upward, forming a dark pillar, then a swirling vortex high in the sky directly in front of the moon in a sky inexplicably grown clear. The synchronized movements of millions if not billions of tiny bugs, silhouetted by moonlight, seemed oddly hypnotic. That haunting symbol reappeared in the minds of all present, just as it had when the living fog first swept through the town. From the very center of the vortex an odd light shone, somewhere between red and purple, and it fell on a single corpse sitting against a tombstone in the graveyard. The body was clothed in the ragged remains of an old-fashioned suit, strips of beard still clung to its sallow skin, and a broken noose hung around its neck. Embers of the fires of Ashlyn and Riona smoldered around it. Awash in the chilling arclight, a voice came from this cadaver, though it did not move.

An invasive species, tiny and fanged, gnawing, gnawing, always gnawing. The gnawing brings the dead to life, makes things that should not be. How could you stand against them...how? But alas, you've seen only dipped a toe in the waters, and they go deep, deep down. Even as they abandon me...I, who brought the plague to Belka...they tell me: go to the drowned city. The gnawing, crawling, all-loving deep awaits.

As this last proclamation rang out, the corpse burst into green and white fire, and in seconds it was nothing but mundane ash.

Then the light went out, and the black cloud swept across the night sky, headed west. No fog remained. The pressure on the minds of the people faded, and at long last a quiet settled over Belka.