Sigil

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

Oasis: Resistance HQ

The noise out front could be heard by those gathered in the meeting room inside HQ. The term "Meeting Room" was a bit gracious; it was a smaller room adjacent to the main, featuring a sizeable table, chairs, maps and the like. It was serviceable for its intended use - in this case being the briefing of information pertinent to their mission at hand and storage of light goods. Hoping the disturbance outside was unrelated to the business at hand, Gerik raised his voice slightly to reassert his monopoly over the attentions of those present, wrapping up his orders in a gruff, businesslike manner.

"The Gerudo have kept us secret and safe for a while now. We need to return the favor. Twenty-four Moblins, one Lizalfos. Caravan under attack, right at the Fortress gates. The chests behind you contain skins of good, clear water. Tale as much as you need, and beat a hasty path to assist our benefactors. Time is a factor."

The Commander stood and moved to the door, opening the wooden portal and holding it there, waiting for those present to file out. He didn't have to wait very long before a hulking, obviously perturbed mass creaked the main door slightly ajar, and then slowly open. The mass is in dented and blackened armor, carrying a sword of questionable origin on its back. The form didn't seem overtly hostile, but Gerik wasn't going to let a minor detail like that keep his stomach from twisting into a knot and adrenaline lance through his veins, telltale of his combative instincts kicking in.

The hulking creature was followed quickly by Rath and a small contingent of Sheikah. Probably more than this place had seen at one time in quite a while; the Shadow Folk were something of an endangered species at this point in time, thanks to the efforts of the man they had all come together to oppose. Gerik relaxed just a little, and quietly spoke to Rath.

"Is there something we need to discuss, Rath?" he questioned. The Shiekah chieftan nodded. Apparently, they were all quiet in varying degrees. He crossed the room to join Gerik, exchanging low tones with the veteran Guard.

Meanwhile, all parties bearing a Shard felt a somewhat familiar thrum of power originating from the back of their hand. It was a feeling, but not their own. Mostly, it was camaraderie. A sense of belonging that old friends might have, or at least people who were very accustomed to one another. Brothers of millennia that rarely spoke, but knew everything about each another. The people experiencing this shared the sensation, but understood that it was not their own. It was more of a suggestion of companionship. And it suggested that they needed to come together.

Join together, and become stronger.

The glow that usually accompanied this flow of power began to illuminate them all in the telltale triangular pattern commonly associated with the Triforce. This glow had been showing itself too often as of late. Though it was symbolic of the trust that this powerful artifact of the Goddesses had allotted them, the recent frequency of its activation was a looming portent of things to come. Perhaps this was one of those things.

Rath and Gerik quietly conversed. The tone of their discussion pitched and lowered, but the words remained quiet and forcibly respectful as they continued. When they were quiet, Rath approached the group with a small, silvery flute in hand. "When you are all ready," he began with a smooth, dangerous sounding voice, "I can move you to the Colossus. From there, head east to the Fortress."

The Shiekah Lord turned his attention to his clansman, the slender, silent one with the Deku Staff. While he wasn't quite sure what to make of him, he was one of Rath's people, and as such was a person he could place responsibility upon. "When I perform the music, little Cricket, I want you to join me with your violin. The experience will be... useful, later on."

"The rest of you - if you require anything or anyone, you have two minutes to locate and return."

---

INTERMISSION

---

Gerik and Rath motioned for the group to gather in a circle. Holding hands wasn't quite necessary, as they were all of one purpose on their intended destination. Still, if some felt more comfortable in manual embrace, it would earn them just the slightest of odd looks, and nothing more.

When everyone was close, Rath began playing calm, melodic notes on his flute. It was accompanied by the dulcet tones of an expertly pulled violin bow, courtesy of the group's token Sheikah, which seamlessly transitioned into the Requiem of Spirit. The stringed instrument seemed to take in a portion of the incandescent brilliance swirling about the group of Shard Bearers, their surroundings blurring and being replaced with a windy location of stone and sand, a great monolith of carved desert rock providing them protection from the red, rising sun.

It was the Desert Colossus, and true to their word, one could see the Gerudo Fortress in the distance. It wasn't a massive length of space to have traveled, but it was a start. Moreover, anyone attempting to view them would see them start from an already known location, further protecting the safety of the Oasis.

Much to do, little time to do it. Let's hit the ground running.

---

CoGM's Note: All action taken in this cycle will happen during the INTERMISSION. If you need anything, if anyone has an excuse to find their way back to the HQ, if you're doing a Meet & Greet with Sir Knight, then's the time. If I'm handling the transition to the Desert Fortress after this rotation, we will discuss other actions then. Questions: tag me or Double in the OOC, or shoot me a PM. Thanks all, and I hope we're good to go now. Good hunting.

---

Cricket

Location: Oasis, Resistance HQ, INTERMISSION

Interacting With: The Knight

Cricket stepped from the meeting room, laying eyes upon the sight unfolding before him. He cocked his head to the side, not unlike a very confused dog. The Shiekah's first instinct was to ready his staff or grab for one of his larger blades to combat this obvious threat, but was overruled by a dash of common sense. This thing, person, wasn't actually being threatening. That was unexpected. He was unsure as to whether he could take such a person in a stand-up fight without resorting to Deku Nuts or Bombs, anyway, and it would be a shame to waste them upon a potential ally. Unstable, possibly. But potential ally nonetheless.

That's when the power of his Triforce shard let itself be felt. Not merely felt, but seen, as well. Just as when he met others possessing a piece of divinity, his gift from Nayru glowed from the back of his hand, radiating power. As it did with the others in the room from earlier. As it did with this warrior before him.

Cricket cautiously leaned his staff against a nearby table and raised his Triforce illuminated hand. He smiled, and slowly approached the behemoth. Locking eyes (at least, what he thought were his eyes), the mute Sheikah smiled with a sense of wonder, ad nodded once. He bowed, keeping his glowing hand visible and eyes raised to the newcomer. As he rose, a flourish of his free hand demonstrated the finesse of his sleight-of-hand work, seemingly pulling a loaf of date bread from nowhere. He winked twice, drawing attention to the tattoo around his eye; a mark proclaiming him as one of the Shadow Folk, a clan known for their undying loyalty to the Royal Family of Hyrule.

He nodded again, and wordlessly offered the bread to the battered and traumatized Hylian Knight.

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

If a segue into the fun and adventure isn't forthcoming, I will be posting one by tomorrow evening. That's U.S. EST, if you're counting the minutes.

That being said, let's review:

We've got Yuri, Etzo, and Cricket in Gerik's company back at HQ. Sigurd is waiting outside for us to get a move on, and Rath (NPC) and small contingent of Sheikah are escorting/carrying The Knight back to HQ, where I assume we'll all meet up, get orders from Gerik, and run like hell to the Gerudo Fortress and engage in an unholy Hylian smackdown. Did I miss anybody?

Would have done a bit more with it tonight, but I find that I am slightly under the influence of single malt scotch and chocolate ice cream.

🦄 Duplicity - D&D Style Fantasy Rp Adventure (Completed)

Keystone

Location: Road North of Salarn, Camp

Interacting With: Calanon

The wagon kept moving up the road, along with the rest of the people associated with Cremwise's guard. Far from caring, Keystone's stood in the pouring rain, eyes staring hard into the Elf. He took a second to memorize the details of the new guy's face, but also used the moment to look for indications of anything ulterior or shady. Convinced, at least for the meantime, the brawler nodded and let his face soften somewhat.

"Right then. That'll do for now. Yeah, warzone. Men an' Orcs've been under a treaty for a while. Somebody decided they didn't like it, an just recently the town south of 'ere got attacked by a bloody war party. Dunno why. Not my issue. What is: Getting Cremmy's wares next town over."

'Member, if you're with us, you're a guard. You got other obligation, get to steppin'. Not full certain how a single Elf's gonna fare in Orc claimed lands during wartime, though. Best to stick close. I like the name though; Colcannon. Good, starchy name, that."

Keystone turned and trudged back to the still departing wagon, moving to retake his place near the front. Along the way, he glanced back at the newest addition to the team, motioning to the Elk at his flank. "Ah yeah, many thanks for bringin' supper with. Not sure if we can get a fire goin' tonight, though. It was not clear whether the broad pugilist was serious, or trying at humor.

The merchant, Cremwise, was driving the wagon as usual. Just prior to taking position near him, Keystone poked his head over at their two semiconscious companions. They seemed ok. Hell, they seemed to have the best spot all to themselves, minus the large wolf. Yeah, they'd be fine, for now anyway. Hood still raised against the pressing elements, Keystone hoped that the weather would keep the Orcs' overland travel to a minimum. The rain was an irritant. Getting pincushioned by black hafted arrows or surrounded by a clan of pissed-off greenskins would be much more upsetting. Still, nothing to do but keep moving forward, engage in light conversation, and remain watchful for anything out of place.

🦄 Duplicity - D&D Style Fantasy Rp Adventure (Completed)

@POOHEAD189

Need to get a post out of you, before I can continue with Keystone's overbearingly protective snarkiness. Our time limit is almost done to get one up.

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

@Sho Minazuki

I said "a little". Not "life story". But thank you for acquiescing and giving us a post.

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

Other RPs I've run or Co-GMed, there's a minimum amount of posts per period of time. Case in point, the D&D RP I'm in demands that I post once every four days, with a secondary rule stating that I must wait for two other posts before posting again.

Now, in order to make that happen during slow periods, it is encouraged that we post about character thoughts, feelings, or small actions in their down time. I had one post where my character farted in a bathtub. It was regarded by many as art (sadly), but it kept interest up in a slow period, even kickstarting others' posts. There's always something to write about, even if you're just waiting out front.

Describe a scarab beetle crawling by. Does it make little swishy tracks in the sand? Quiet scraping sounds against a stone? Is it carrying anything? Trying to hide from the broiling sun? Are you going to step on it? Maybe you're picking your nails with a knife, and/or tapping your foot impatiently. Perhaps you, too, need to let an unstable trouser-growl fly.

Speaking of which: roleplayerguild.com/posts/3214659 Enjoy.

Yes, I believe that the RP needs to progress. In the meantime, a little "getting to know you" or "flavor text" posting isn't going to hurt matters any. May even let our benevolent GM understand that we're still in play, active, and ready to move. Doing nothing says the opposite of this.

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

I'm still about.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

@Lady Amalthea

Animal Husbandry skill? Bravo.



Red Mage, for the win!

The Legend of Zelda: Fragments of Hope

Get the band together, kill some bad guys, eventually realize our fuller potential as heroes of multiple backgrounds become greater than the sum of our parts.

And kill more bad guys. Also, there's a Triforce involved.

@Double - I'm pretty sure that the ones who have responded are the ones that will be active in this. I submit that we're ready to proceed with our current group.

🧚🏻‍♀️ The Walking Dead - Year 6 Part 1

---

Black James!

---

Location: Newnan Courthouse Clocktower
Interacting With: The Dead, and the About To Be Dead

---

The empty clip ejected, the fresh one inserted as quickly as James's hands could insert it. A second, or just a hair over. The problem was, that second was another span of time he wasn't aiming and shooting. The skilled marksman raised the rifle just in time to see his friend and fellow agriculturist take a nasty bite to her arm. "Damn, girl..." escaped his lips as he took aim on the offending Dead Guy's cranium. His finger tensed on the trigger, and the undead melon exploded into a gelatinous canoe shape. Strangely, he had not actually pulled the trigger yet.

He pondered possible answers to this seeming miracle. Perhaps in this moment of extreme stress, coupled with the canned meat that was somewhat past its recommended consumption date he had spread on crackers earlier, some manner of psionic awakening had occurred. Not dissimilar to the comic book superheroes he enjoyed reading about in his youth, possibly a thing that, especially in this dark era, was extremely necessary.

Now, costume selection would be a touch slim, give the situation. Little in the way of custom fitted unstable molecules with which to adorn himself. Perhaps his overalls and cowboy hat would have to suffice. A battle cry would also be a priority. Now, his superhero name would be easy. "Black James". Yes, that would inspire the necessary fear in those that required it, and hope to the downtrodden. Plus, most everyone already called him that, so hey, easy transition. Yes, this would be a good thing. Now, to use his newfound head-exploding power to liberate Newnan from the scourge of invaders and walking corpses.

And then he saw Zoie approach the scene, rifle in hand. Damnit.

Ok, so he didn't have powers. He did still have a big fucking gun, though. In his hands, that was powers enough. Luckily, or unluckily, depending, the Edenite he wasn't able to shoot earlier changed direction, beelining for Maria instead of the Courthouse. Fine with James - it meant he was still in line-of-sight. One pull of the trigger tore the back of the man's head off. Some meters away, the fresh and bloody skullcap spun around on the blacktop like a grisly beggar's bowl. His next few bullets were dedicated, as requested, to ensuring a clear path back into the Courthouse for both Maria and Zoie.

A glance back to the Armory gave him an instant boost of morale. James let the feeling of cautious hope wash over him, even accepting the smile forming on his lips. Captain Holloway, Ash, had secured the Armory. And he was rallying Newnan to him.

---

Ashton Holloway

---

Location: Newnan Armory
Interacting With: Tom, Meg, Newnan

---

People of Newnan began streaming in toward the Armory at a faster rate. They had enough guns and ammunition to pass out for everyone present, definitely enough in the way of melee weapons as well. Now, they weren't helpless. Every man, woman, and child old enough to train with a blade carried one; it was one of the rules every citizen of the Newnan Safe Zone pledged to follow. Everyone carried at least a good knife. But a knife was far less preferable than a machete, or a spear, or definitely a nice, reliable shotgun.

They didn't have forever, either. Zoie had left her perch to go help Maria, and without her there, her distraction would soon burn out and the Dead would be finding different ways to pass the time. Ash dearly wished he had a longer window to equip his people, but it was what it was. Do what he could for as many as he could, and trust that they could begin to take care of themselves. He took to personally passing out a series of handguns and clips of ammunition to the approaching people.

"Mark, here you go. Sophie, take this. Good. Marcy, Dennis, keep the line moving. Richard..."

That was Richard's cap, certainly. But that was not Richard under it. No sense asking questions at this point. A single gunshot sounded, Ash keeping a businesslike, nonchalant expression all the while. The Newnanites seemed startled to see someone's face concave and cervical vertebrae flap out of the back of their neck, but kept pressing forward to arm themselves. All except for one lady, who suddenly seemed very concerned with moving in he direction opposite of the group. Ashton looked to one Newnanite, this one the only obstacle between himself and a clear shot at the retreating invader, and posed a steady request.

"Um, Deb? Head to the side, please." The Newnan woman, confused for a quarter second, suddenly jerked her head to the right as Ash raised his .45 and took a shot. The bullet ripped into the invading woman's back and out of her sternum, dropping her like a sack of wet dog hair. "Someone get her brain for me? And... you, take a gun. Machete, too. Who's next?"

The fire began burning lower. It was now or never. "People! I need three more of you on my team. Two more teams of five, start clearing these buildings. Armory is clear, Courthouse is clear. We have new arrivals at the Courthouse, treat them good! Anywhere else, if you don't know them, they die.

Everybody else: CLEAR OUR STREETS. We're taking back the inner wall. If you can, save the bullets for those fuckers that don't belong here."

"We've got this, Newnan. MOVE OUT."

There was a sense of purposeful pride, a certain beauty to the sight of a community righting itself. Frenzied but organized violence, bent on reclaiming their home. Thusly began the painful, necessary work of the citizens of a post-apocalyptic Newnan, beating order back into the chaos that their home had become. They fought for their right to have a safe home of their own, a task to which they set upon with primal justification moderated by the human need to care for their own - evidenced by their willingness to provide support to the newcomer Zoie, helping her get her precious injured cargo to safety.