Vertigo

Epyllion: Beyond Moonlight's Reach

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Long gone. That thought brought Fellwing some relief, the wings she'd practically glued to her sides relaxing the slightest bit. "Oh— I see, that... makes sense," she mumbled, embarrassed by her jumpiness. It did not become her. Thankfully, Runa's confidence was contagious, and so was her smile. "Thank you, the Moons themselves would have a difficult time finding a better bodyguard."

A sentiment that was reinforced the deeper they ventured, as Runa turned out to be very apt at navigating even the narrowest of tunnels despite her size. For the first time in quite a while, Fellwing herself felt quite thankful for her own lithe frame, even though the walls were nowhere close to touching her — yet, anyhow.

Each time Runa glanced back at her, Fellwing did her best to offer her a wide, confident smile and a nod to confirm she was indeed still fine.

Then they heard a thud. So sudden and so loud that for a moment Fellwing mistook it for her own heart, trying to leap out of her chest. Even Runa, who she'd taken for a beacon of confidence, seemed shaken, her body tense. Fellwing held her breath, then nearly let it slip when another thud sounded ahead of them. They weren't alone. Moons, they were not alone.

And this time, it was up to her to help Runa.

Fellwing's eyes darted to the darkness that surrounded them. Ever so slowly, she closed her eyes, peered into another kind of Dark, and sought answers.

ooc

Fellwing rolls to Touch the Darkness for a vision of what awaits them in the dark, and with an 8 chooses:
- ... show you what you need to do; take +1 forward to do it.
- ... corrupt your soul; mark a Shadow (will decide which Shadow is appropriate after the vision)

The Wild Beyond Witchlight

Hullo I have brought a snek

The Wild Beyond Witchlight

Sshizna

Yuan-ti | Alchemist Artificer_^「lv3」| Hermit

Personality: Distant, cold and arrogant, Sshizna seems very much the typical Yuan-ti at first glance. As one gets to know her however, it becomes rather clear that she possesses curiosity and thirst for knowledge uncharacteristic of most of her kind. She does also seem capable of feeling emotions, though only occasionally, and often in a very stunted, diluted manner. Logic and self-involvement seem to guide her decisions most of all - which is to say, hope you prove yourself useful, if you'd like the benefit of her brews.

Backstory: Sshizna speaks little of her past, and not much can be easily gleamed. Only that it seems she once studied under a powerful magic user of some sort, and that she seems to be knowledgeable when it comes to hags - and, certainly, their brews. Incidentally, she refers to herself as a witch.

Symphony on High

The more Pax Septimus changed the more it stayed the same, year after year, the cycle always continued. Fresh faced Espers would come and go, those that survived long enough never ended up being the same. Sokaiya had learned that early on in her career as a long time free lancer, at her age she had seen it all.

It had been quite some time since she had gone out and about like this to stretch out her old legs. It sure did beat sitting around watching old reruns all day and night. At this point she could recite them word for word. Retirement had its perks, but its drawbacks made her consider throwing her hat back into the ring. Despite her age she still felt she had something left to offer and it wasn’t like she had a long life ahead of her. She may as well enjoy it and do whatever she wishes at this point.

Hobbling down the street as she reached a local park that had seen better years. Her old eyes scanned the landscape finding a bench that was still in working order as she slowly took a seat to take it easy on her back and knees. Overlapping her hands over the top of the handle of her cane, she gazed up at a partially intact statue situated in the center of the debris strewn park. It was a peaceful place, but she knew that usually didn’t last long in Pax.

One moment, the statue depicting a now featureless person of past note stood tall amidst the debris, having survived whatever force had turned its accompanying fountain to dust.

The next, it didn't.

Ciri collided with the statue like a rocket, the impact scattering another wave of dust and debris about the park. She coughed and hacked, standing up amidst the destruction, eyes narrowed at the vulture-like monster in the sky. It screeched out a response to her question of whether it could please calm the fuck down, and it looked like a resounding no.

Figured. No one ever said yes the first time around.

Ciri was just about to pick up her fallen gun, when she realized she wasn't alone with her target. She was startled, for more reasons than one. Holy shit, thank fuck the old woman hadn't been struck by anything. ... Had she? Duh, of course not, she'd be dead!

"Oi! Gram! You might wanna move, there's a… situation going on here. Got it under control, but would rather not protect a civvie right now."

Sokaiya’s eyes didn’t leave what remained of the statue after its destruction. Showing no acknowledgement of what had just happened, or the looming vulture-like monster above. It was just another relaxing day at the park.

It was only when Ciri tried to get her attention did she finally turn her head towards the source of the commotion. Slowly but surely lifting up an old wrinkled hand to cup her right ear as she tilted her head to the side to better hear Ciri.

“Huh? What was that deary? You will need to speak up, I forgot my hearing aids somewhere…”

Oblivious to the danger above, she remained perched atop her bench as casual as can be with no sign of moving or getting out of the way of the action.

"W-what?!" Ciri must've needed hearing aids too, because there was no way she'd heard right. "Lady." She enunciated slowly, carefully, jabbing her hands up towards the (still screeching) monster, her tone full of utter exasperation. "There. Is a vulture. The size. Of an elephant. Right. There."

She groaned. "I won't be responsible if y-- gyahh?!"

Before she could finish, the bird of prey in question had swooped down, caught her in its talons, and flung her back into the air.

A pigeon, much less threatening than its gigantic cousin, landed close to the grandma's feet and started searching for crumbs.

Sokaiya’s attention shifted away from whatever the crazy lady was trying to shout about and towards the Pigeon. “Huh? A vulture the size of an elephant? I think you need to get your eyes checked deary, it looks like a regular sized pigeon to me…” squinting her eyes as she tried to get a better look at the bird as it searched for its prized crumbs. Ciri being flung around in the background by its much larger and more dangerous cousin, not pulling her attention away from the pigeon as she reached into her bag. Pulling out a few bread crumbs as she tossed them out for the pigeon to enjoy.

Ciri couldn't decide whether it was a blessing or a curse that her esper form allowed her to hear the old woman's ramblings, even when the Maverick herself was flung about in the air far beyond normal earshot.

"Get MY eyes checked?! Are you shitting me?!" she screeched, almost as loudly as the beast she was fighting. A summoned shadow broke her fall, as Ciri sent another melody up towards the bird. "You son of a... I said I'm not here to kill you!"

“If you want, you can have some bread crumbs, I have plenty if you would like to feed the birds as well deary” staying seated upon her bench enjoying another peaceful day at the park. Soaking in the sun and finding the company of the pigeon a nice relaxing addition to her day.

Ciri glanced back over at the old woman, who was now, from the looks of it, feeding the world's bravest fucking pigeon. "Does it look like I need your crumbs?! I'm trying–"

A blast of energy exploded from the vulture's mouth, scorching Ciri, her shadow, and her general vicinity black. She coughed. Great. Apparently, it could spit fire, or plasma, or something. At this rate, fighting would get one of them seriously hurt, but it wasn't listening to reason, either. So what other choice did she have, than–

Ugh.

She wiped her face clean and turned to the old crone in defeat. "... Sure. Thanks. I think I’d– I'd like to feed the fucking bird."

Sokaiya turned her eyes up from her friendly pigeon after hearing Ciri curse with a scowl on her face “Watch your language young lady, that is no way for a lady to speak, now get your rear over here if you want to feed this fine feathered fellow…” gesturing with her right hand full of crumbs for Ciri to come and take it while reprimanding her for her language. In the meantime she tossed a few more crumbs to the pigeon.

The epic battle between Esper and fire breathing vulture still unnoticed by the old hag who was quite engrossed with her bird watching and feeding. It was only Ciri’s language that had pulled her attention from her friendly pigeon pal as she continued to relax upon her bench like it was any other day at the park.

"Seriously, that's what you're gonna bitch about?!" Ciri nearly choked on her words, all the while trying to desperately measure the distance between the vulture and the hag. Would she actually make it in time to run up and grab those damn crumbs before the thing swept down again?

... One way to find out.

Ciri dashed. The vulture's gaze followed her, and so did its open beak, already aglow. Shit, shit, shit. At this rate–

“I told you once, I won’t tell you again young lady, if you keep using that foul language, I’ll have to get out the belt…”

With a sharp inhale, Ciri summoned a creature from underneath her foot, using it to give her just a little push to reach her target faster. She flailed, swooping a handful of crumbs with one hand, grabbing the old woman's wrist with her other – then turning her intangible just as the vulture's flames reached them.

The pigeon, having sensed the danger, had flapped out of range in time, the lucky damn bastard.

The moment Ciri grabbed her wrist, and the pigeon was disturbed by the vulture, Sokaiya’s peaceful day at the park full of enjoyment was over. “Why I oughta get the switch right now, scaring off my pigeon like that, you just wait I’ll deal with you later young lady” Scolding Ciri as her squinted eyes lifted up towards the fire breathing vulture above as they narrowed when they locked onto the beast above.

Ciri inhaled so sharply she nearly choked, unable to decide what to even say to the old crone; no words came to mind that adequately expressed her anger, bafflement, and-- huh?!

“As for you…you're blocking the dang sun, good for nothing flying rat…”

Rat?!

Shaking Ciri’s hand free from her wrist with surprising strength for her age, she stood up and immediately leapt up into the air with greater speed and force than any senior citizen should be capable of. Moments later she disappeared before reappearing above the vulture itself.

Oh.

Her trusty cane was held in both hands as it emitted a bright glow as Sokaiya brought it down into the back of the creature's skull causing an explosion of great force and fire the moment it impacted as Sokaiya was propelled away from it.

OH.

Falling from above, she landed on the ground below with a graceful bit of cat-like agility “Dang thing made me go and hurt my knees now…” Scolding the vulture she just tried to cave the back of its skull moments before.

She was an Esper!

Made sense, all Espers were more or less insane. This one just also happened to be senile. And violent.

Edging away from the woman and her mighty cane, Ciri peeked at the vulture to check whether it was still alive. It was, thankfully, though it looked like a little part of its soul might've just died, getting its feathery ass handed to it by an old fart so easily.

With a sigh, Ciri picked up what crumbs she could find from the ground, walked up to kneel in front of the prone vulture, and offered it a handful. "Change your mind yet?"

It let out a pitiful croak. Ciri nodded, turning to the woman in hopes of putting a cork on her scolding - and preventing her from assaulting the poor damn thing again.

"I think it gets it now. And is… really sorry about the sun, or whatever."

Hobbling over, her cane tapping against the ground as she made her slow approach, she lifted her cane from the ground before giving Ciri a small whack atop of her head for good measure.

“Ow, what the f-”

“And that is for that foul mouth of yours young lady, don’t think I forgot in all that ruckus, serves that featherbrain right for disturbing my peaceful day at the park and scaring away that pigeon” Scolding Ciri and the Vulture both one last time for good measure as she let out a sigh as she hobbled to Ciri’s side.

Ciri rubbed at her head, eyes narrowed at the crone and her goddamn cane, but she didn’t dare say anything else. Wasn’t worth it. Old people couldn't be reasoned with in general. Much less when they held an actual deadly weapon in their hands.

“Besides, what are you wearing, did you just leave a funeral young lady? Youngins these days wearing all of that new fangled fashion, ain’t no real class anymore, you know I’d have you fixed up in no time like a proper lady of class” Not understanding the choice of clothing of the young folk these days, as her eyes slowly turned towards the vulture as it ate at the breadcrumbs.

Not worth it, Ciri, not fucking worth it, the oni hissed to herself, exchanging glances with the vulture – only for the latter to freeze up once the old coot shifted her focus to it.

“As for you, I hope you have learned your lesson, if you behave yourself, granny will feed you more crumbs later, but if you act up again, I’ll have to give you a good ole whack with ole hickory again.”

The vulture let out a pitiful squawk.

Hobbling over back to a bench as Sokaiya took her time settling down upon it with a sigh. Crossing her hands over her cane as she kept it propped in front of her.

Seeing as things had calmed down, the pigeon from earlier made its grand return with a coo, strutting over to the old woman with an expectant look.

Ciri’s eyes shifted to the vulture. She extended a hand, brow raised. “... So. Truce?”

The vulture reached over with its talon.

“You better come with me as a witness, don’t think the Boss’ll believe this one otherwise.”

Tossing out a few breadcrumbs to the returned pigeon, Sokaiya went back to her relaxing park time. “There we go, won’t let that dang ole vulture ruin a relaxing day at the park, eat up lil fellow.” Tossing a few more crumbs as she looked over towards Ciri and the Vulture.

“About time you learned how to feed a bird, that dang thing stirred up a tussle for nothing on this fine sunny day, take as many crumbs with you as you’d like young lady, I’m sorry for your loss since you just came here from a funeral, youngins don’t seem to live until they are old as me too often also here is a little treat for the road,” extending her right palm which had a small bag of crumbs and a few cinnamon, peppermint and butterscotch hard candies for Ciri to take before she went on her way.

Unfortunately, the second Ciri saw the old lady reach a hand towards her, she hurried atop the bird like she’d been offered poison. God she’d better not live to be old like her.

Planescape: Search for Tir na Og

Ditto!

Nameless

I've no prior knowledge of the Warhammer 40k setting, but always been interested in dipping my toes into it. So if lack of experience on that front isn't a problem, interested!

Shoujo⁴: Hatsukoi Reunion

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It was noon by the time Ryuu reached the school gates.

His arrival was heralded by heavy, exhausted cursing and the incessant, high-pitched squeaking of a bicycle on its last legs — or wheels, as it were. He'd 'acquired' the cursed thing a few kilometers into his run, once he'd realized just how damn far the school was and how long it'd actually take to run all the way there. He wasn't quite stupid enough to keep going on foot after that.

He was, however, still too stubborn to just take the damn bus.

Ryuu hopped off his vehicle and stumbled, unprepared for the ache in his legs. The bike clattered to the ground and was promptly abandoned there, as Ryuu made his way towards the main school building, trying not to wobble. He soon found that the faster he walked, the easier it was to pretend his legs weren't about to give out from under him — so as long as he didn't stop until he reached... wherever he was going, he figured he'd be fine.

Now if only he knew where the hell to go.

In a moment he was running again, pushing past students lingering in the halls, breaking through groups of laughing friends and even accidentally kicking the shit out of a peeping-tom, crouched low behind a corner. He wasn't sure whether the girls he ran past screamed because of him or the creep that had suddenly fallen at their feet, but he sure as hell didn't have time to turn around and check.

The faculty office, right? That had to be the best place to go for now right now. The numbers hanging outside classrooms were all a blur, and he couldn't remember which one was supposed to be his anyway.

He rounded another corner, desperately searching for any sign he was even on the right side of the building, when the smell of food caught up to him from somewhere close by. In an instant Ryuu realized, as if hit in the stomach with a bat, that he was absolutely starving after his little athletic stunt. So, without even realizing he'd done so, Ryuu adjusted his path, his legs taking him towards the cafeteria, each step faster and more desperate than the last. He was actively shoving slower students aside now.

That was, until he rounded a corner — and ran straight into someone with enough force to knock them both off-balance. Which, considering the state of Ryuu's legs, probably meant he wouldn't be getting up... well, pretty much ever again.

Shit...

⇜ Deicide ⇝ [Dark Fantasy Isekai]

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To her surprise, she needed not fight alone.

In her peripheral vision, she registered movement. A solitary being running about; a distraction, stealing the avian's attention. A great and mighty thing, the avian must've thought itself without match to be caught so unawares — proof the bird was not of nature at all. Ask the cub of any mighty beast, and they could tell you so, could recite what their mothers taught them: that should the stars so align, even the mightiest predator could fall prey to another, matched, beaten, by her kin — or by something else. What else? She could not remember.

Her claws found purchase, her fangs sunk in. This, this if nothing else, she remembered. The sensation of something giving way under the pressure of her bite, the tearing of skin. But there was no snap, the telltale sign of a painless end. She would need to hold on then, hold, and bite, and wait, until there was movement no more.

Then it touched her tongue. Blood, she thought, except not — not the way she remembered it. It burned; a formless fire, filling her mouth, steaming out past clenched teeth, scorching her throat. The pain told her to let go, to draw in a breath of fresher air, yet she was not a beast who let go, when her prey still drew breath.

And so, she held on. She held on, as a burst of something bright collided with the bird, held on as it dove, focused, towards the erratically moving distraction from before. Held on as they landed, a second mistake on the bird's part. Monstrous as though it was, it was made for the sky; there someone like her, a being made to prowl upon earth, held less sway. She was dragged, now, as it struggled forth and consumed its target with magic both unknown and unnatural.

She would be dragged no longer.

Humoids rushed close, her eyes narrow with suspicion, an instinct from somewhere long ago. Part of her wanted to leap at them, too, the second wave, companions to the first evil, yet reason told her that this time alone, it would be foolish to do so. Their target, their prey was one and the same, the monster from up above, now ground-bound. They angled their pointed sticks and sought to skewer the beast's head, eager to take part in the kill, and so she too straightened, finding her form once more.

She let the claws of her hind paws dig into soil, relishing in its support, the shoulders of Mother, ever steady. Her front claws she sought to lift and shove down again, to pin the bird where it lay, claws readjusted in its flesh. She adjusted her bite, too, gathered into her mouth as much as she could of flesh and skin and whatever lay beyond, then pulled back with her entire being, muscle upon muscle tensing, as she sought to tear apart the bird's throat, not to suffocate as was customary, but to to tear asunder, and to leave its face better exposed for those who wanted the eyes. Go for the eyes, they had said, after all. And perhaps if the avian insisted, if it tried to pry itself free, her grip on its throat would only tighten, its own fanatic struggle ensuring its demise.

Further away she saw corpses twitch, move, rise, be struck down once more, by the Man Whose Face Was Fire.

Rite. Malachim. Words she did not know. Words that were for someone else to know, just as the feathered corpses were someone else's to fight. For now. A moment longer, perhaps two, perhaps more, the bird in her grasp insistent.

For now.

Camp Athens - Closed

@Vertigo Sorry about that. The RP did post with a fair bit of roles taken due to the RP being migrated from another site. Zeus is definitely open. Or, if you're heart is set on Ares, once more roles fill up I'm open to potentially adding more roles for a God.

@Mjolnir

All good! For now, I'll go ahead and reserve the son of Zeus, if that's alright.

Camp Athens - Closed

Ah, darn, looks like I was a bit too late; was also gunning for the son of Ares! I suppose being a son of Nike wouldn't fly? She would actually fit the character idea I had a little better, even.

Edit: actually, so might Zeus! So might go for that instead, if allowed.