Vanq

The Court of the Gods

The majority of my CS is up, now that other character sheets are more centralized, I am having an easier time of reading through with notes to add for Demeter's. Hoping to be wrapped up on that today.

The Court of the Gods

Name(s):
Demeter
Deo - Sito

Titles and Roles:
Goddess of the Harvest, Agriculture, Growth, and Cycle of the Seasons
Maintains control of the original systems that ensure proper agricultural production on Hellas.
Within Olympus, runs genetic labs focused on flora.

Artifacts/Powers

Artifacts and Powers:

GAIA Device:

Subsurface grid to ready and maintain the planet's crust for optimal agricultural endeavors. Built to turn rocks to dirt, infuse the correct nutrients, balance soil pH. Humans were expected to maintain the land, with GAIA as a fail-safe once initial ground preparations were completed. The grid-network has the ability to self-replicate it's structure and expand to new lands as humanity spread across the planet. Part of the initial colony, Demeter brought software and hardware upgrades.

• Overgrowth - targeted release of short-term extreme growth chemicals; can be used to provide extreme surpluses in the short-term, or completely overrun a grid
• Famine - reverse the bioengineering mechanism to cause swift and utter depletion of the land’s capability to produce
• Loose Earth - ability to cause sinkholes through extreme use of the nanobots that breakdown rocks, can swallow entire buildings or individual beings

GMO Labs:

A pristine lab, a true clean environment due to Hades' cleaning drones, in the basement of Demeter's Olympus palace. If she is not at temple or making ever more infrequent visits to the mortals, she is in the lab.

• GMO Crops: blight resistance, calorically and nutritionally dense produce, biosignatures to interface with BEES, antibiotic/antiviral properties for humans and livestock
• Godly Fare: specialty, small-scale productions of unique food-stuffs only for the residents of Olympus - modified fruits to induce temporary delirium or extreme virility, aggressive mycelium to reduce organic materials to sludge, etc
• Enviro-kits: small seed kits that with minimal water and time grow to fill a manse with a collection of greenery, shrubs, and flowers; highly customizable
• Flora-horrors: While the rest of her productions fulfill necessities or trivialities, this collection is about satiating the need to discover. The full collection was deemed too dangerous after a few early incidents, so while Demeter toils away at her lab, testing is done on Hellas and successful experiments are locked away in a vault within Hades domain. The collection includes creations like sentient ivy that seeks out flesh, parasitic fungi that subverts higher brain functioning leaving only base instincts, GMO crops that over-trigger cell growth or immune responses.

BEES:

Bio-Environment Engendering System - micro drones coded with group-mind behavior to pollinate crops. One of the hardware upgrades that Demeter brought to Hellas. She genetically bonded them to her, so while they typically run their standard sub-routines to pollinate crops, this can be overridden directly by Demeter either in whole or in specific sub-systems.

• Sting - self-contained automatic defense mechanism which injects a painful, though typically not fatal, toxin to any creature that interrupts its prime directive
• Malicious Swarm - When triggered by Demeter, the hive - or part of the hive - can become exceptionally aggressive, overriding even the coding for self-preservation.
• Entourage - When triggered by Demeter, part of the hive will separate to attend to her. Largely a gimmick, but one that has always been viewed favorably by the mortals.

Arion

Personal antigravity travel device, shaped like a small chariot drawn by a carbon fiber equine in full stride. Arion was a gift from Zeus when Demeter complained about the amount of time travelling across Olympus took her away from work.

Lotus Staff

Small, personal control for GAIA, originally designed as a small portable controller to maintain the GAIA Device, Demeter altered it to its current form. The staff must be in her possession to function as it is neurally linked with a limited range of function. It allows her to perform small miracles - returning life to dead plants, plants to wither on the stalk, create a carpet of flowers for her to tread, etc.

Personality

Persona:

In the time before her ascension, Demeter had been aloof, an introvert, preferring to spend time in a lab with her assistants over anything else. Work was life - there was no distinction, nothing to balance. There was never an end goal to achieve, just more, more. Push boundaries, prove the impossible, consequences were of no concern. Money, accolades, recognition, all of that just served to give her more opportunity. Perhaps in her youth she had been an idealist, feed-the-world sort. But the journey was everything and each time she accomplished something, the high of it dissipated ever quicker.

In the immediate aftermath of the ascension, Demeter was lost, a shell of a woman, a ghost. She would disappear for weeks at a time, only to return frantically scurrying to and fro in the fledgling Olympus. The goddess does not remember this time, it comes in glimpses in infrequent nightmares. Yet while it seemed at the time that Demeter would be another who disappeared, the terraforming on Hellas seemed to self-correct and again allow the land to flourish. A few decades after Zeus had declared himself as Zeus, Demeter returned in splendor, declaring herself as goddess - Hellas' prosperity and stability as the proof.

As it was, so it is. There remains no memory of who Demeter once had been. It is likely some few remember those days and remember her troubled ascension. Her life is her work. Sowing life where there was none, a dying planet saved by her hand. The need for more married with a savior complex has allowed the delusion to be complete. Demeter is and always was, a god. Should anyone forget that, she has no qualms about guiding them back to the truth, whatever means necessary.

The hand that takes also gives, in an unhealthy, abusive pattern. She wishes to save the mortals, sometimes from themselves, sometimes against their will. The goddess abhors malicious intent against anyone who she deems as being undeserving of such action. However, even a small slight against her or the pantheon waives this beneficence. She is a fickle goddess, steadfast only in the rigid logic of her mind.

Background and Relationships

Background and Relationships:

Once upon a time, there had been a mortal woman of great ambition - Dr. Meredith Quinn. She toiled away seeking discovery at the expense of anything else in her life. Her interests were multi-faceted but focused on horticulture and gene modifications. When Old Arith left nothing else for her, she journeyed to the stars.

Captain Logan Fletcher ran his ship and his crew in a way that left Meredith alone to work uninterrupted and without question. For that he had her respect, even with his personal foibles. The call to change mission scope seemed ludicrous at first, but it did not take long for Meredith to reconsider. She had brought considerable upgrades to correct flaws within the terraforming system and with no oversight, she could pursue her own projects unhindered by stodgy ethics.

Perhaps she had been too eager, too out-of-touch, or too naïve. No one but Logan and Meredith could know the truth of what happened next, but something did happen. In the time immediately after they disembarked, and in the chaos of taking and consolidating power in what would come to be known as Olympus, Meredith disappeared. Ostensibly it was to implement changes that required physical interaction with terraforming outposts. Meredith though, was running. Something had broken and there were months, years, where it seemed likely she would not be seen again.

But Meredith toiled and word made it's way back to Olympus; the doctor's work had been successful. Though there had been long stretches of no communication And in her return, she was reborn. Meredith had died, Demeter emerged - no memories of being mortal. At least, none in the waking world.

In the centuries since then, Demeter kept busy with work. Hades, the god who would become perhaps her closest friend - if such a word could describe any godly relationship - was her first collaborative effort. The Elysian Fields were a fine endeavor. Her more dangerous creations are also now kept locked away in the underworld god's lair - better for gods and mortals alike. Hades, in many ways she considers an extension of herself; there is no life without death, no beginnings without endings. They are two sides of the same coin and all Demeter causes to thrive, Hades will someday claim.

While she is not as close to any other gods as she remains to Hades, she remains cordial with most - if for no other reason than practicality. She has a soft-spot for Hermes, viewing him as a scamp, too often in trouble but never malicious to her or her creations. More than once he's had to be the one to help deliver her creations to Hellas or to Hades' vault. She makes sure to always make an appropriate offering.

She had never felt comfortable around Nyx, and the striking resemblance her daughter shares was initially off-putting. Yet Apate had done nothing but make cordial outreaches, and Demeter had done nothing to interrupt her ascension. The goddess fulfilled a need and seemed competent, the lowest bar needed to at least gain Demeter's indifference.

Where Demeter reigns over flora, her counterpart, Artemis' mastery of fauna interests her. The goddess of the harvest has deep respect for Artemis' work, even if there is a personality discordance preventing the same closeness she shares with Hades.

The Horae

Demeter's daughters - though their origin is rather mysterious. None can recall ever seeing the goddess pregnant nor any record of having given birth. While reclusive, Demeter is not known to have ever cloned herself or used other labs to grow new human life. Rumors swirl that the daughters - manifestations of the seasons - were a bold experiment performed on the mortals of Hellas. They attend Demeter in court and temple and act as her voice, her high priestesses.

Thallo - High Priestess of Spring: Lithe and petite, the youngest of the daughters. Crisp green eyes, her body is covered by young shoots and blooming flowers. Light and carefree when not performing her duties, and frequently into mischief. Mothers seek her blessing for easy childbirth and strong babies.

Auxesia - High Priestess of Summer: A full figured, muscular woman, at the seeming peak of youth and life. Warm hazel eyes with sunkissed hair. She is adorned with sunflowers and a cape of woven grass. She is adventurous, the most likely sister to explore Hellas rather than stay in the comfort of Olympus or her mother's temples. Young girls seek her blessing as they enter adulthood.

Xarpo - High Priestess of Autumn: A plump, robust woman. Golden eyes and deeply auburn hair. She clothes herself with the decay of a forest floor - moss, fallen leaves, mycelium. She is quiet, contemplative, preferring reflection and meditation. Women seek her blessing as their families grow and new generations are born.

Chione - High Priestess of Winter: A tall but gaunt woman. Blonde hair so pale it is nearly white, cool blue-gray eyes. Where Autumn is quiet, Winter is reclusive. Old women seek her blessing that their passing into the afterlife is quiet.

The Court of the Gods

Name(s):
Demeter
Deo - Sito

Titles and Roles:
Goddess of the Harvest, Agriculture, Growth, and Cycle of the Seasons
Maintains control of the original systems that ensure proper agricultural production on Hellas.
Within Olympus, runs genetic labs focused on flora.

Artifacts/Powers

Artifacts and Powers:

GAIA Device:

Subsurface grid to ready and maintain the planet's crust for optimal agricultural endeavors. Built to turn rocks to dirt, infuse the correct nutrients, balance soil pH. Humans were expected to maintain the land, with GAIA as a fail-safe once initial ground preparations were completed. The grid-network has the ability to self-replicate it's structure and expand to new lands as humanity spread across the planet. Part of the initial colony, Demeter brought software and hardware upgrades.

• Overgrowth - targeted release of short-term extreme growth chemicals; can be used to provide extreme surpluses in the short-term, or completely overrun a grid
• Famine - reverse the bioengineering mechanism to cause swift and utter depletion of the land’s capability to produce
• Loose Earth - ability to cause sinkholes through extreme use of the nanobots that breakdown rocks, can swallow entire buildings or individual beings

GMO Labs:

A pristine lab, a true clean environment due to Hades' cleaning drones, in the basement of Demeter's Olympus palace. If she is not at temple or making ever more infrequent visits to the mortals, she is in the lab.

• GMO Crops: blight resistance, calorically and nutritionally dense produce, biosignatures to interface with BEES, antibiotic/antiviral properties for humans and livestock
• Godly Fare: specialty, small-scale productions of unique food-stuffs only for the residents of Olympus - modified fruits to induce temporary delirium or extreme virility, aggressive mycelium to reduce organic materials to sludge, etc
• Enviro-kits: small seed kits that with minimal water and time grow to fill a manse with a collection of greenery, shrubs, and flowers; highly customizable
• Flora-horrors: While the rest of her productions fulfill necessities or trivialities, this collection is about satiating the need to discover. The full collection was deemed too dangerous after a few early incidents, so while Demeter toils away at her lab, testing is done on Hellas and successful experiments are locked away in a vault within Hades domain. The collection includes creations like sentient ivy that seeks out flesh, parasitic fungi that subverts higher brain functioning leaving only base instincts, GMO crops that over-trigger cell growth or immune responses.

BEES:

Bio-Environment Engendering System - micro drones coded with group-mind behavior to pollinate crops. One of the hardware upgrades that Demeter brought to Hellas. She genetically bonded them to her, so while they typically run their standard sub-routines to pollinate crops, this can be overridden directly by Demeter either in whole or in specific sub-systems.

• Sting - self-contained automatic defense mechanism which injects a painful, though typically not fatal, toxin to any creature that interrupts its prime directive
• Malicious Swarm - When triggered by Demeter, the hive - or part of the hive - can become exceptionally aggressive, overriding even the coding for self-preservation.
• Entourage - When triggered by Demeter, part of the hive will separate to attend to her. Largely a gimmick, but one that has always been viewed favorably by the mortals.

Arion

Personal antigravity travel device, shaped like a small chariot drawn by a carbon fiber equine in full stride. Arion was a gift from Zeus when Demeter complained about the amount of time travelling across Olympus took her away from work.

Lotus Staff

Small, personal control for GAIA, originally designed as a small portable controller to maintain the GAIA Device, Demeter altered it to its current form. The staff must be in her possession to function as it is neurally linked with a limited range of function. It allows her to perform small miracles - returning life to dead plants, plants to wither on the stalk, create a carpet of flowers for her to tread, etc.

Personality

Persona:

In the time before her ascension, Demeter had been aloof, an introvert, preferring to spend time in a lab with her assistants over anything else. Work was life - there was no distinction, nothing to balance. There was never an end goal to achieve, just more, more. Push boundaries, prove the impossible, consequences were of no concern. Money, accolades, recognition, all of that just served to give her more opportunity. Perhaps in her youth she had been an idealist, feed-the-world sort. But the journey was everything and each time she accomplished something, the high of it dissipated ever quicker.

In the immediate aftermath of the ascension, Demeter was lost, a shell of a woman, a ghost. She would disappear for weeks at a time, only to return frantically scurrying to and fro in the fledgling Olympus. The goddess does not remember this time, it comes in glimpses in infrequent nightmares. Yet while it seemed at the time that Demeter would be another who disappeared, the terraforming on Hellas seemed to self-correct and again allow the land to flourish. A few decades after Zeus had declared himself as Zeus, Demeter returned in splendor, declaring herself as goddess - Hellas' prosperity and stability as the proof.

As it was, so it is. There remains no memory of who Demeter once had been. It is likely some few remember those days and remember her troubled ascension. Her life is her work. Sowing life where there was none, a dying planet saved by her hand. The need for more married with a savior complex has allowed the delusion to be complete. Demeter is and always was, a god. Should anyone forget that, she has no qualms about guiding them back to the truth, whatever means necessary.

The hand that takes also gives, in an unhealthy, abusive pattern. She wishes to save the mortals, sometimes from themselves, sometimes against their will. The goddess abhors malicious intent against anyone who she deems as being undeserving of such action. However, even a small slight against her or the pantheon waives this beneficence. She is a fickle goddess, steadfast only in the rigid logic of her mind.

Background/Relationships

Background and Relationships:

Zeus:

Demeter's feelings towards the mortal Zeus had been ambivalent, if respectful. He was the captain after all, and had left her alone to complete her work on the journey to the colony. That she was often completely preoccupied with work allowed her to ignore his more obnoxious and questionable behaviors.

When he presented the idea of declaring themselves gods - to take advantage of the situation and take complete dominion over the population, Demeter had been easily persuaded. On Arith there had always been limitations, even on the ship, there had been regulations. The colony would allow her to create and experiment in a way like never before. It took little time for her to eagerly agree. Perhaps too eagerly or perhaps in a way easily misread. Something happened between them, something Demeter would agonize over for years afterwards. In the decades of her time away from what would become Olympus, Meredith died and was reborn as Demeter. Upon her return, she bore no ill-will towards Zeus, no memory of Logan.

In the centuries they spent together, Demeter would occasionally find herself at odds with the god. Yet they always seemed to make amends. The goddess relied on him, particularly for his mastery over weather. While GAIA could provide the majority of the earth's needs, it could not generate water or temperatures needed to maintain crop production.

She turned a blind eye to his countless liaisons and love children. He was a god and could do as he pleased and it never seemed to interfere with his duties. In turn, she had utter freedom to do as she wished without intervention from Zeus. It was however, after several unfortunate incidents that had at last convinced Demeter that her more dangerous work had no place in Olympus.

Hades:

Prior to the ascension, Demeter was perhaps one of the few who did not outright shun the sanitation officer. She had always appreciated people who threw themselves fully and completely into their work, no matter the work at hand. Once Demeter had settled into her new life as goddess, she sought out Hades and was pleased by a fellow god who was so dedicated to his calling. While she is not particularly close to many, she finds her time with Hades fulfilling and dare she say, enjoyable. Even if they spend their time in silence, they are kindred souls. The god of the underworld in many ways she considers an extension of herself - there is no life without death, no beginnings without endings. They are two sides of the same coin and all Demeter causes to thrive, Hades will someday claim.

Hermes:
Apate:
Isaac/Typhon:

There's joy not far from here, I know there is [1x1 Search]

3 sketches of story ideas - very open to discussion. Please feel free to post here or PM.

There's joy not far from here, I know there is [1x1 Search]

I've done PbP/forum rp'ing since I was 16, and I'm now 35. I walked away about 6 years ago, but find myself now really missing it as a creative outlet. Given my age, I would strongly prefer to partner with someone mid20s+ but absolutely someone 18+ is non-negotiable.

While I also have a tendency to get long-winded, I'm thinking of trying something new (to me) with this - take turns setting the scene, but then aim to have more quick exchanges for dialog/moving the scene. I'd also be good with tossing dialog exchanges "live" and then translate that to a post. Too often in the past I realize I'd have spent a week for an event that would have maybe lasted 5 minutes. There would be plenty of wonderful prose to read, but not much that my character would have gained from it.

Additionally, I am good with romance (most of these plot ideas lend well to that) but am not looking to write explicitly.

I am fine with writing via PMs but would want to keep the rp on site. I have discord and happy to chat off site there (or toss dialog back and forth if incorporating it into a post onsite).

So far it seems that most of my ideas simmering are all related to songs, please do not judge my taste in music :) no apologies for my absolute love of snow patrol

The Lightning Strike

what if this storm ends and I don't see you - as you are now ever again
the perfect halo of gold hair and lightning - sets you off against the planet's last dance
just for a minute the silver forked sky - lit you up like a star that I will follow
now it's found us like I have found you - I don't want to run just overwhelm me
I want pinned down I want unsettled - rattle cage after cage until my blood boils
painted in flames all peeling thunder - be the lightning in me that strikes relentless

-- Snow Patrol

Setting wise this could cover modern, historical, future, etc. I am leaning more towards vaguely historical/light fantasy.

I envision the two primaries as a (definitely) woman leader of some kind - cult, small nation, rebellion - and an unexpected follower of any sex/gender. Story-wise, I expect this be more personal journey with details on the why and how She leads the group and other character very open to discussion. The macro issue at hand will play out between our characters. There's plenty of room to bring in bigger plot arcs or adventure.

Depending on specifics agreed upon, the follower may be a skeptic, member of the opposite/warring group, etc.
I have ideas for both the leader and the follower, so no strong preference either way for me.

Run

I'll sing it one last time for you - Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right - In all I've done
And I can barely look at you - But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere - Away from here
Light up, light up - As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice - I'll be right beside you dear
Louder, louder - And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand - Why you can't raise your voice to say
To think I might not see those eyes - Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes - I nearly do
Slower, slower - We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way - To get out of our little heads

-- Snow Patrol

For this I could see a pairing of any gender/sex. Two people on the run from something - maybe something one of them did. Maybe something they got themselves tangled up into. They likely aren't innocent but do not deserve whatever is coming after them.

Leaning more towards modern/non-fantasy for this but I could be convinced otherwise.

Empress

You're angry but you don't know how to be that yet - It seems too much went wrong and all at once
Resistance seems impossible from down this low - And surely no one else can feel like this

But on the streets - You can see them gathering
And in your heart - You know they feel like you do
Sound and pulse and volume - Hands just reaching out for hands
This is almost overload - I said almost overload
Friends and foes and princes - Are all just human in the end
This is so damn simple, yeah - It's so damn simple

So standing in the steady throng of restless hope - You don't feel like an outcast anymore
And something deep inside of you has wakened up - And you know that nothing's gonna be the same again
And on these streets - You can see for what seems miles
Because in your heart - You know they feel like you do

-- Snow Patrol

No doubt, all of these have a lot of fluff. But I think this may be the fluffiest. Definitely leaning towards a generic medieval world. A young-ish woman is the only blood relative able to inherit the kingdom. Yet blood alone is not enough. She has the love of the people, but is that enough? The nobility and clergy are against it for various reasons. Fluffy yes, but I do love a good political intrigue. Perhaps she is more adept at subterfuge? Angst, betrayal, love lost and love found.

Once again here I am open to the other character being of any gender/sex and I do not have any strong inclination to either character beyond what I've outlined.

The Court of the Gods

Thought I'd toss in the rough idea I have here for any other feedback.

God: Eris
Other Names: Discordia, The Discordant One, Strife

Her grandmother was originally the Quartermaster on the ship, but died or disappeared some years ago. Eris' mother has been out of the picture longer for reasons I'm still mulling through. I thought it'd be good to have a character who wasn't part of the initial journey. I do see her as having had many years "studying" under her grandmother before taking on the mantle.

Eris relies on a few forms of technology that would have originally been modified and developed from implants meant to make space travel and colonization "easier" on the human psyche. Increase work output (even to the detriment of the person), suppress certain emotions, increase others, etc.

Also envisioning that grandma would have built up an actual cult that has decreased in more recent times but still exists in some form today.

Still thinking through on what granddaughter Eris thinks about it all.

The Court of the Gods

Consider me interested~ This sounds good after my too-long hiatus.

Am I New?

I feel like I've made a handful of these over the years but am very reluctant to see when my last one occurred. Based on my last post dates, it has somehow been 6+ years since I was last here.

It's been way too long since I've put pen to paper, but many ideas still swirling around. Not sure what I'll fully jump back into, and it seems unlikely I'll recognize very many names at this point, but I will at least enjoy lurking around for a bit before making any decisions.

In advance - nice to meet you all - and in case there are any familiar faces, so nice to see you again.

Staring Back With Chrome Eyes [Vanq x HeySeuss]

Paul, duly chastised so it stung, backed off. He was aware of the Lady Klotho, and her peculiarities in politics. Regardless of his own feelings, she was not one to cross and, by extension, neither were her underlings. There was little he could do but silently seethe at the effect it would have on Nima, and his relationship to her. Paul was decidedly old school with his progeny and his role as sire.

Satisfied that Alexei seemed to be of a mind with her, Nima grew more bold. She would likely pay for that later, in a private moment with her sire, but it would be simple jealousy on his part. She was tied to him, and would remain tied to him, for as long as she needed to. Nima had decided on that early on. She always had been the ambitious sort.

"Turning hunters could serve many purposes. You know my history, but did you follow what happened to my group after I was taken? My father killed himself. My sister tried to find me and met a rather disastrous end for it. Our larger group? Split apart. It was a rather brilliant decision. Hunters are not often victorious, and rarely take on meaningful targets. Still, taking a member of that community hits them hard. They dissolve. The story spreads and discourages others, or is hidden, allowing it to happen again." She knew full and well that had not been Paul's intent, but it was the outcome nevertheless. "Now we have another who has learned that, and added to the impact. Destroy the local hunters and set up an effective trap to take the territory." Her lips pulled back to an acknowledging smile. "Yet, they did not plan for those more intelligent seeing through the ruse."

Nima took pulled a chair opposite Alexei, smoothly seating herself. "I am sorry, let me be more brief. Anna was popular, but not overly involved. Giorgio was...past his prime. I doubt they were the targets the sire loosed his hunter - or hunters - on. It must have been Richard. We are still so emotional early on. It would have been easy for the sire to use that hunter hatred towards an Eternal that so enjoys the chase, particularly the chase of 'innocent' young girls." She paused, knowing Paul vehemently disagreed on this point. "I would also wager that the vampire behind this is young as well, stupid enough to threaten the natural order." But how would they solve it? That remained unanswered, and Nima was reluctant to admit that she partially agreed with Paul. "This was a test, they are not here, so they must be waiting to see the response, to see if they can steal territory in this way."

Paul interjected. "You believe they will try this again, given the chance. Alexei - if you agree to this, we must ensure we are the ones to select the territory they go after. We cannot allow chance to dictate their next move. I know there is a prime piece of real estate recently...freed up. There are many vying for favor to receive it." He pushed for his original plan, eager for the opportunity to prove that he was correct. "If these traitors believe they have won, they will be emboldened. It will be too tantalizing for them to pass up."

@heyseuss

Staring Back With Chrome Eyes [Vanq x HeySeuss]

It was dangerous business, being such a youthful Eternal. While she had kept herself useful to her patron, rarely would be brought in to speak directly to her knowledge. The greatest threat had always been themselves, until recently at least. She looked over the images, the reports that were scattered around the room.

Paul had discussed it with her, on their way to Dukewater. Though the higher ups would try to down play this travesty, he was certain they were desperate for answers. Desperation which could lead to scapegoating. The threat had been thinly veiled, as it had been when she was tasked with ambushing her imbecile sister.

It took her a moment to answer, long enough that Paul inhaled sharply. "No, I have never heard of such a thing. But you must know, hunter groups are such a varied bunch. It is a community in the loosest sense of the word - I had heard rumors of other groups who honestly thought this might be reversible." Perfectly ruby red lips pulled back in a sneer. "Purposefully storing Eternal blood, or using thralls against us...Most of them would find that too repulsive." Most, but not all. She left the door open to that as Paul had demanded. It wasn't what she believed, but Paul's instructions had been clear so she swallowed her pride.

Nima picked up the crime scene photo of Giorgio. It screamed of hunter tactics, except for the lack of any sign that he had been staked. And the overkill. "I was a hunter, and now I am Eternal." "If that is possible, surely it is possible for a hunter to be enthralled to do their "prey's" bidding." That was closer to her own belief. A vampire or small coven misbehaving. "May I speak bluntly?"

Paul nearly hissed, Nima had always been difficult to keep in line. There were times he almost appreciated that about her but this was not one of them. Any slight would be held against him as much as her, if not more so.

"Anna was a high profile target." Paul spoke over her, with a look silencing any protest she might raise. "Whether this was hunters or an Eternal behind the attack, clearly they meant to make a statement. Surely that can be used to draw out this group once more and settle what is at play. We know the tactics they employed, and that can be turned against them."

@heyseuss