The Harbinger of Ferocity

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

I suppose all in time it might make sense, but for now, the winds of change are in my favor for once.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

Because I feel comfortable enough to speak freely for once on the matter and as I have said elsewhere, I have not felt so positive in a long time.

B!tchfest: a healthy release for our non-roleplay annoyances.

Because today is one of my few and far between days to speak freely, I will just speak my mind about this entire ordeal and people's reaction to it. Nothing new, just my opportunity to use this topic for something.

Enough with the petty fearmongering and how this is some how another end of the world. We have had far worse and more destructive, ideologically at least, persons in power in places that were far more unrestricted. If anything this turning point should be an indicator of how the pendulum swings; you lean too far to one extreme, it becomes imbalanced, people become reactive and eventually they become active. Your two reason options, for those directly involved in the voting process, could be narrowed down to the classical argument of "Which is the lesser of two evils?" at its worst and at its best evidence of the ability to overcome a system that was being consistently rigged from the start. From a personal standpoint, the fact I saw so much enthusiasm and patriotism for the first time in my life since the acts of terror on the 11th of September; it is proof enough to me that a lot more people felt more strongly than ever; some of us have paid great prices since then and to see people that passionate and devoted reminded me why I even made some sacrifices.

A fair number of people are acting like they need to "band together" against this as some sort of statement. You know a statement I do not like and am really tired of? "Civil unrest" and "civil disobedience". If all the evidence you have seen fronted throughout this past year and beyond have not helped rouse you out of whatever stupor the modern world has put most of us in and constantly lulls us to, there's really nothing that can be said or done to change your mind. I will, for the record, not lie and say either of the two options were perfect, but I personally find direct threats to national security and laughable cybersecurity a larger issue than any number of others, but maybe that is only of my opinion.

If you are serious about the "going to Canada" or "going to wherever" mentality, get out. No, I am entirely serious. If you really do not like your circumstances be them your day to day life or the politics of your nation, go somewhere else. If you can't do that? Work toward it and then act. Make a plan, do something, otherwise you are just being dramatic for the sake of looking for attention. Granted you are getting it, but that's pretty loathsome and low. Do you really want to be viewed in that lens?

To the rest of the world abroad not directly involved in the politics of the United States, while I understand your concerns and your investment in it all, it really is not your battle. Just because "it works this way in my country" does not make it applicable to the United States by direct virtue and vice versa. The feigned and even actual panic, as with the markets, is nothing short of proof of how broken the international community has become; the priorities as a whole are so out of whack that I doubt anyone will ever successfully wrangle them back in. The United States is a strange animal and has almost always been that way since it gained momentum and probably will be until it eventually dies out as all superpowers do.

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

You have my attention, @Mag Lev. I might need to draw together a few pieces to submit for this.

There Are No Heroes

"We sound crazy? You're the one who came to us." Piper's voice grumbled, a slight personal note tainting the words.

One could not blame her as she wasn't inherently wrong, just that the whole matter was just that - crazy. They were talking about vampires as if it was some form of serious business, that all the media and lore about them had some bizarre root of truth, maybe even more than just a shred of it. That was crazy. The worst part of it all was that everyone present to some extent seemed to have some reason to believe it. Memories were one thing but... actual evidence? An expert on veterinary medicine? A police cover up attempt? The alarms could not be going off any more loudly, yet calmly - barring Chris - the conversation kept moving. In fact, Carver did nothing to even acknowledge Piper's comment; the man seemed to be barely listening to the other company, the obviously quick to anger sort of company no less.

Carver let the fires of the other man's underlying rage cool some, accepting of the answer with his now characteristic nod; there was not a thing he could have done to settle Chris' spirit, short of sate the urge of violence. It all made for an unstable cocktail of emotions, especially as they awaited Cutter's arrival.

"However long it takes a drunkard to drive himself to a police station." Carver answered idly, his attention assumingly placed on Chris who took a methodical step forward.

"Try, yes. That's the best part about this entire thing - we are going to try and do something. There's other ways of trying, but personally I am not too fond of those." The man stated, placing his hand to his hip and withdrawing the metal profile of a handgun; his finger rested calmly against the side of its slide, far from its trigger.

The weapon was worn-in with its matte finish displaying a number of imperfections, even a few portions now reduced again to steel and blackened plastic.

Releasing the magazine from its base, Carver quietly and methodically rotated the weapon over atop the table and ejected the round that had remained in its chamber; it clattered to the metal and rolled slowly, stopping against one of the photographs before he took it up and seated it once more in the magazine it had been drawn up from. They weren't large bullets, certainly not what one would think you "hunt" vampires with, but the outsider continued talking as he set the firearm down.

"This won't help us much. I am not even sure how many of these it takes to solve that issue. I never bothered, but this..." He pocketed the magazine before reaching into his battered olive overcoat, drawing out a silvered cross after upon a small string necklace, "Will do well."

"It doesn't matter what faith it is - any symbol of faith works." Carver looked to them both, not searching for a reaction but only their attention, "Cutter doesn't know it yet, but the bastard is right sometimes. I just need to know more."

@RedXCross@Kidd

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

The only matter I am curious to is if the phrase "Weary eyes, the wolf strikes." is a common or unusual saying among elves and if the language being spoken indeed is that of elves. Mostly because the character I am playing should have some general knowledge of them and their culture as well as proficiency in their language, nothing too specific otherwise.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Observing as discerningly as he could muster, the warrior wondered what it was that Orchid had been referring to. The kobolds had made off with something? It was not beyond their mettle to flee when overcome, but the way the man-orc portrayed it suggested there was more than just that to the matter. He trusted, as much as he could with how little he knew of Orchid, that the tale was true; the man seemed too honest and direct to have made such a specific detail up. It did warrant a greater question as to why this was all transpiring yet, but it would need wait until they acted on the governor's direction - hopefully something that would provide greater insight.

What Brannor was not ready for was the dwarf's change of heart, but this was not nearly as surprising; the sturdy man with his red beard had been flustered the entirety of the time. He imagined him to have been the kind that would've been pacing and muttering under his breath between his work. Not the restful sort in the slightest.

With a wave of his still functioning hand, the head of the townsmen and city of Greenest prepared to send them away... at first. Just as Brannor was more than willing to be dismissed, turning at point to prepare himself to delve again into the keep, a familiar figure emerged from its hiding place and loudly spoke its presence. It was neither quite human or quite giant, something of a bit of both with its pronounced features and its humble clothes.

"Sir, Lord, I'd like to volunteer for your search efforts."

The newcomer's arm raised adamantly as a pledge along with his words; he was obviously unsure how to profess his investment in the endeavors to come but had not a shred of shame. Whatever the giant's motivations were, they were determined to say the very least of them. This did little to change Brannor's reaction however, as he came to idle uncomfortably observing the exchange that was now unfolding before the three remaining members of the caravan. As while the governor did not seem to be the sort so forward and dedicated to formality, or have the luxury to select those his people so needed in this invasion, the intrusion was still a bit surprising; was the man watching them the whole time?

Brannor, gritting his jaw ever so slightly, refrained from making any other judgment until he knew better. Either way, the golden eyed man was not fond of being watched in secret...

@Phoenix@Hekazu@Ryonara@Lucius Cypher

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

Not my best work, but the most I could do on a small screen and with very limited time. My apologies.

The Manacles of Destruction - Loosely Based Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

Rolls

The aggressively alert animal companion, will act on initiative 23. Geraint will act normally on initiative of 9, neither quite ready or unprepared.

"Weary eyes, the wolf strikes." Geraint proved to mutter the same words as he kept the beast beside him under his control.

"I take it for whatever reason, elves might have something to do with this - as to better or worse, I do not know. The scrawling is a bit unexpected. I take this as forewarning not to be so trusting of our environment as we delve deeper."

The robed man cast a sigh, stroking his stubbled cheek with a few fingers before shaking his head. He had no issue with elves, be them wood or wild, but men oft found them opposed for one reason or another. Then again, mortals had proven content to war with one another for most any reason, going so far as to call upon terrible powers to these ends. At least such seemed unlikely here; whatever danger lied in wait was probably not quite of that unabashed vileness...

It was for a time the man followed, his fingers flexed ever so slightly in alert - ready to call upon nature's otherworldly power if it was so needed. Yet, in fact, it had not between the various chances matters had to go poorly. Jaeger seemed more comfortable in this dark, musty den than the outsider did; at least someone had that sort of experience. The thief-woman, or whatever she actually was, proved quiet but watchful, perhaps more so when Jaeger pocketed a few rogue coins.

"Plate? Strange..."

But before Geraint could continue further, the mercenary man that seemed to be Jaeger's character paused with alertness abounding, referring to a noise that might have fallen on less observant ears - even the druid's. It was likely only because the man pointed it out, and the tongue itself familiar, that he was able to determine it at all.

Rolls

Geraint, having been spurred to listen for elven words by Jaegar's sudden pause, rolled a 21 to listen. (Request translation of spoken words.)

"Those words are familiar-"

But it was not the man of the wilds to interrupt, but the subtle snark of the tiger, whose curved ebony ears drew back. Its jowls flashed with tremendous, pearly fangs and it's footing maneuvered it back once more to defend the cadre of three from a nearing sound from behind.

A man with strange tabard, armor and weapon in tow, spoke; "Are you here on behalf of the king as well?"

With a staying motion, the druid silenced the grand cat's concerns and motioned to his own ear with his free hand while the other rested on the beast itself. The quieting gesture suggested something else was afoot and certainly to listen; after all, a man bearing priestly ordained armor and seemingly serving the land was not so much the danger as potentially ambushing elves...

@Aristo@ELGainsborough@Yamazaki

There Are No Heroes

I will be posting tomorrow and moving the story along all the same.