Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Jan 31, 2017 5:11:32 GMT
Meanwhile the actual 'kitty' in the rescue team is setting things on fire outside, Edelweiss slowly made her way to the door, making sure to keep some attention on the vague silhouette advancing in her trail. This person was far too silent to be part of the simple house staff, silent enough to have been a worker of her guild even. Better bet on it being a hired watchman then.
She continuously leaned against the wall panels and then the door, dark wood against her dark attire. She could vaguely hear a man's voice coming from behind it - and from what it hinted of the earlier she could lockpick that locker open, the better.
In the corner of his eye, Sayvahn watched Amon order his machines around—which, made the older man chuckle. Somehow it suited him— not actually doing labor, but having other people do it. Sadly, though, Sayvahn didn’t have the luxury. However, he did have magic. Though, his “magic” plan would take some time. It required him opening one of his portals which stored his “Flammable” material— the things he collected and so forth, which included various fuels that he may or may not have siphoned in his free time (something he had picked up from a crowd that a feline like himself had introduced him to). Setting the path around the tree took a little time, but once the counter fire was set, burning the tree would not be an issue. Except when Amon fired the gun. The feline let out a mild hiss, instinctively crouching down, eyes darting around only to see that it was— Amon. “Hey, Tin-Man, next time you fire a blasted weapon, warn me!” The feline growled at the other, but any retort was bound to be drowned at by his constant firing. Really? Really? They were supposed to gather attention, but not be idiots. Besides, the gunshots could easily be lost to the wind or mistaken for a hunter. Regardless— “Great, yes, waste ammunition. You know you could use that, since, last time I check— you can actually wield technology, unlike me.” Despite his quip, however, the feline appreciated the kindling— and noticed Amon’s hurt arm. Sayvahn gazed across him, tilting his head some— a mixture between concern and amusement. Was the man just an overgrown child? “You should be careful. Best not to hurt yourself with something so trivial.” Yet again, consoling words were limited with the mechanic’s grin. Storming the castle? Was this what they were doing? The mirth behind Amon’s lips, although not unfamiliar— was distant from Sayvahn’s. Though, that didn’t mean he couldn’t experience his own mirth. With swaying hips, he approached the tree, its roots drenched in flammable material. With a flick, he launched a match into the mass, stepping away as slowly the flames rose, smoke, curling upward. With little effort, he hummed a light tune as he dropped another match into the outer fray, clapping his hands together to get rid of any excess wood and flame. “Frankly, I’m more of an after dinner wine kind of guy.” Sayvahn hummed, approaching Amon to give him a pat on the back, his opposite hand, flowing with the purple green magic. “So, if the girl is the princess, and you’re the knight— does that make me the ase?”
"In more ways than one..." Amon replied dryly, observing the estate in the distance as the power went out. Must be their doing. Better act fast.
He made a series of clicks and with a snap of his fingers, the dolls quickly made their way towards the estate.
===
Gunshots. Faint, but unmistakable. The head butler looked out a window, facing the dark forest where he had sent six men to accompany the two...suspects. Should they try something, the guards were ordered to end them on the spot. Nothing personal, but with the shady work the master was up to, it was just business.
He continued on, and was about to check up on something when the power suddenly went out. He didn't have enough time to process what was happening, for a moment later, he noticed a much brighter spot in the forest.
"What are those fools doing?" he growled, seeing a maid run up to him from the corner of his eye.
"Head-" gasped a maid, catching her breath.
"I know!" the head butler exclaimed. "Get half of the staff to go out and treat that fire and have the other half stay behind on high alert! Go!"
With a nod, the made dashed back to let the others know. Within a few seconds, the staff were divided into two teams, with those trained in combat staying behind to protect the estate, while the more...expendable personnel were sent out to deal with the fire. Unfortunately for them, they did not get very far...
===
"Well now...that should be enough..." Amon said, listening as the screams of terror were drowned out by the deafening screeches of the dolls before being ultimately silenced. "Let's go."
And with that, he quickly advanced forward, ignoring the unconscious bodies of those who were caught up in the resulting attacks, the dolls quickly tying them up to prevent them from moving. There was oddly enough, very little resistance...which could only mean that the more combat ready personnel were waiting for them inside the manor.
Upon reaching the porch steps, he paused, observing the darkened estate, the dolls poised to strike the moment the command was issued.
"...Got anymore of those smoke bombs?" Amon asked, staring into the darkness of the house.
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
Post by Jackson R. Willbert on Feb 3, 2017 6:20:47 GMT
"Crap onna stick..." Jackson mentally swore. His target was pretty much blending in with the door up ahead, leading to where the song bird was being kept.
It was then that he got a beautifully, nasty idea. As soon as his target opened the door, he would fire.
But there was a risk.
Best case, he kills or at least grievously wounds them, making for a nice sight for the awaiting song bird.
Worst case, he misses, leading to a very nasty fight in this tight corridor.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 3, 2017 7:17:17 GMT
The first sign was pain. The second was blood. And only then came the sound of shooting in third.
Edelweiss' mind registered what happened before she looked, and in fact she barely glanced down as her body automatically continued the forward motion it had initially intended. Once the door was comfirmed unlocked, she had imediately turned to rush in and analyse the new area - for any places to hide and operate from, and also looking for Sienna and her own target; the bullet hit the back of her raised knee, digging its path to come out clear in the front. Black liquid oozed from there without ceremony. In better lighting, a piece of white cracked bone would be possibly spotted in certain angles. Half of the kneecap was gone. She felt like screaming, although no voice came out.
"Wimpy crybaby. Falling already?"
Her unharmed foot propelling the ongoing step, there was no choice but to let it finish its course. Her leg wouldn't support her weight. But it had to.
"You can. Heal. This."
But there was no actual time. Healing would take at least several minutes, and she only had one of those very odd split seconds when thought perception seems to stretch into slowmotion. She needed a different measure--- "Later."
The frigid sensation of ice climbing and coating the wound and leg as her foot stomped the ground. Searing pain jolted through the frost like a lightning strike, spreading up and down the whole limb having the teared hole as its core. But the bloody ice clasped tight against her leg kept everything stuck together in place and sustained her weight and steps as she darted forward, pushing the door back as she went. A blond man holding a knife entered her field of view. She needed a shield. He would do.
Well, it didn’t make Amon laugh, though, this wasn’t a laughing matter. Not as the lights went out. Sayvahn straightened, glancing over the horizon and again, the melody of clicks. The dolls rushed away, called into the darkness, slowly to be illuminated by the rising fire at their backs. The heat welled, and already, smoke filled the air. Sayvahn breathed it in, but it didn’t taste like the fires he remembered. Lowering his eyes, Sayvahn took a step forward. There, he waited, knowing that they were listening, were waiting for the echoes of shrieks. When at last they rang, Sayvahn still did not move, waiting for Amon to call for them to move. It took until the wails were silenced for Amon to let them move forward. “Alright then.” Removing his gloves, Sayvahn tossed them into his coat as he walked alongside Amon’s side, struggling slightly to keep up with his fast pace. Although a feline ander, Sayvahn still had trouble keeping up, with moving. He wasn’t old, but he was worn— and not even magic could cover that up. Bodies littered the ground, like a remnant of Catamere, but cleaner. Sayvahn did not want to dwell on the memory— not as it made his side ache— or was that from lack of oxygen? He couldn’t place the feeling but instead swallowed, running slightly to keep up with Amon. Until, the estate. There, the tall man stopped, surveying the scene. When asked a question, Sayvahn held a hand up, asking for a moment. Once that moment was over, he nodded. “Yeah. And some other tricks.” Following Amon’s glance toward the Manor, Sayvahn chuckled dryly. “Because you may want something more than just smoke, dearie.”
“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Feb 7, 2017 5:31:47 GMT
As she spoke of the décor, Lasair moved his eyes away from her ever so slightly, glancing around the room. They returned to her a moment later before drifting downward…they were looking at the sofa she sat on, yes, certainly not anywhere else. His eyes quickly returned to hers as she continued talking again. Her pride showed through her face, as well as her speech, and Lasair found himself smiling as he listened to her. It was always a pleasure to see someone revel in something they prided themselves in, even if it were just a few simple tasks.
He was still in the process of thinking about her answer when the lights flickered off. In that moment, he was pleased that he were not a feline ander. His cover would certainly be given away. But with that thought aside, he stood up and stepped towards the madam, reaching out to try and grab her arm. “Are you alright?” he asked gently, even thought he knew she most likely was. “Is there a candle nearby we could light?” He could just use magic to illuminate the way, but it might be better to continue his façade of humanity, if only for now.
The head butler stopped. He had heard a noise amongst the screams outside. It was faint, but easily recognizable.
Gunshots.
From inside the house.
"Get the Master's bodyguards to the study stat!" he shouted. "And while we're at it, find the Mistress as well!" he added as a pair of maids made rushed out to fulfill the head's orders.
===
"Well then, surprise me," Amon said, making a series of clicks. "At your signal, I'll have the dolls move forward."
As the dolls poised themselves, he stepped aside, gesturing Sayvahn to the porch. "After you."
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
Post by Jackson R. Willbert on Feb 9, 2017 5:13:17 GMT
Jackson swore under his breath as his target was still able to dash forward. Fracking stubborn beasts. As soon as he fired, he quickly reloaded, rushing forward, the door delaying him for but as second as he kicked it down to see his target rush at his boss.
"Takin yer time ain't ya?" Jackson thought regarding the boss' personal guards as he fired once again, aiming at the target's other leg.
===
It took the maid but a moment to locate the Master's bodyguards, who, just moments ago, were reclining in a nearby lounge. The moment they heard the gunshot, the three men rushed towards the study and, upon seeing the hidden door completely open, rushed down the stairs.
Victoria glanced around in alarm at the sudden outage. Whatever she was being distracted from was going down. The man who was keeping her company asked if she was alright and if there was a candle nearby they could light.
“No, well yes but I see no point.” She muttered softly. The sound of gunfire inside the building made her jerk out of her seat and she grabbed ahold of the stranger's arm.
“I know you are here on false pretenses. After something I am sure. Whatever it is I will not hinder you. I…” She paused mid sentence, glancing to the rooms left entrance. “I know it was all a lie but thank you for saying the things you said. I can show you out now though, the guards will come looking and I do not wish them to harm you. Or you may take your chances es and aid your friends. I only ask to know what it is you came for.”
She'd have liked to ask that they not kill her husband but he was never hers to begin with so why continue to believe the lie.
_______________
Sienna was fighting for her life. Clarence had tried to stab her once already but she'd narrowly dodged the deathblow and had kicked him hard in the groin. He'd not liked it by any means but recovered quickly to attempt again. She began hurling things at him. Lamps, her myriad of hair accessories and brushes he'd purchased for her over the years. Anything with any weight to it. She was hurting him but he seemed impervious to her attacks. Partly due to her weakened body and partly due to his blood lust. He was going to kill her.
Gunfire and the sound of shouting as well as gunfire was prevalent now. Her friends. She bit down a sob as something bubbled up from the depths of her soul. Hope. But she couldn't cry, not yet. She tried to slug him with a stick he often used on her but she missed and he caught her by the wrist. He lifted her up and slammed her against the wall and just as he was about to drive the blade into her something from behind jostled him. It only took that moment of unbalance and Sienna took the opportunity to kick him, her leg flying straight up to hit him under the chin. He staggered back reeling and in pain and primed and ready to be taken down.
The guards as well as Edelbrock all seemed to come in at once and the poor captive woman dropped to the ground. All she'd had left had gone into that kick and she wilted to the floor.
One of the guards ran to aid Clarence, the others turned on the intruder.
Surprise him? Well, challenge accepted. “You’ll know my signal. Trust me.” Stepping down, Sayvahn adjusted his glasses, smiling wickedly as he reached into a bag at his side. From it, he grabbed two metal orbs, and with his other hand, he struck a match. “Fire in the hole.” Sayvahn whistled, and first he lit one, tossed it on the porch then lit the other, tossing it to the other side. And then, there was a delay. A moment where things were quiet— where on the wind, the smoke from the forest fire was carried. And then, bang! One explosion seemed to rip, and the other, a moment later, seemed to shriek at the other. The two clawed the front of the house, exposing the entrance and more so, dust filling the air as the lights inside quivered once more, trying to repair itself from the damage. “That enough of a signal?” Sayvahn called, putting a hand on his hip as he got up from his cover. “Because I can’t go much bigger than that, deaire, without doing anymore damage.”
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 12, 2017 12:25:39 GMT
Another shot followed the first, though thankfully it barely grazed a leg of her trousers this time. She didn't have the luxury to stop while a deranged idiot was brandishing a knife at her friend. If anything, it was relieving to see Sienna was still resisting her agressor despite her state (then again the room was still darker than would allow to gauge her state very clearly too), although with her tossing anything she could put her hands on at random one of the itens almost hit Edelweiss in the face too. The redhead batted it back, and it hit the blond man in the back of his head - which was soon followed by Sienna high-kicking him in the chin. Wow, nice combo... Edelweiss would have been impressed at the other girl if they had actual time to dwell in it.
Standing between Sienna and Clarence as the guards flooded in, The first impulse Edelweiss had was to check on her lost-and-found friend and heal that ungodly amount of bruises, but if she did so likelihood they were never going to leave that place, and so the choice was obvious: grab Clarence before that one runner reaches them, and use him as a shield between her and the guards while herself was the shield between them all and Sienna. A hand went under his chin, the other on his forehead, keeping a stance a split second away from snapping his neck.
"No. One. Moves." She warned. And Clarence was only useful alive if they obey, so if they don't listen she might as well just kill him and have one eyesore less to deal with. Of course, the not moving order did not apply to the woman slumped on the floor at her back. "Sie, are you ok enough to move? Anything broken?"
The speed at which everything collapsed around him was maddening. Clarence had been ready to plunge his blade into her, mere seconds from thrusting downward. And then the door had opened with almost an explosion of sound behind them. The gunfire, the yells of the guards all of it was like a flood of action. He felt himself get hit from behind, unsettled and staggering. And his Sienna, his darling little bird whipped up her leg to kick him.
It was a surprise as lights flashed behind his eyes and a sharp pain cracked through his skull. He only realized it was her that had hit him as he seen her foot just before it had made impact.
Reeling in pain for a moment all else ceased to exist as the explosions in his head went off. He felt his chin grabbed and pulled up at an angle that could only be described as uncomfortable as another hand held his head back firmly.
His attacker meant to break his neck. Through the fog of pain he could sense his impending doom. He’d expected death but on his terms. Not like this. His vision came back into focus as the pain ebbed to a tolerable level. His guards had held fast as their masters life hung in the balance. The young lord of his domain made no moves or pleas to be spared or for his men to do anything.
Blue irises flicked down to the prone form of his prisoner, her red, tattered dress fanned around her thin frame. Had she been caught in the crossfire? Surely no. Even with his own life on the line he felt his hand instinctively reach towards her. “Sienna darling… we can still go… together.” He hissed, trying to get her attention in the midst of all that was happening, struggling to some degree against the tight hold on him. His insanity laid bare for all to see.
______________________________________
Sienna was still conscious, just barely. Enough that she could respond to Edel’s inquiry. “Yes.” She mumbled, moving to grab the bed post that she might stand. Her motions shaky and her breathing labored.
As she seen and heard Clarence’s pained plea she felt a part of herself want to cry out to him, her hand did though, almost instinctively, her small fingers stretching out to graze the tips of his. The part of her that felt she’d never be happy again after all this was fine with dying. Just end it all.
But the other half, the part of her that was still fighting rebelled and her hand recoiled from his touch as if it was a roaring furnace. She looked away, burying her face into her hand while the other clutched Edel’s clothing tightly. Whatever happened she couldn’t watch.
_____________________________________
The moment she’d pulled away Clarence whimpered in defeat and any further rebellion was quickly snuffed out as he allowed himself to be dragged off.
Post by Edelweiss Fjäril on Feb 14, 2017 2:02:48 GMT
One didn't need to be a genius to know Sienna's physical state was really crappy at the moment, and Edelweiss could only hope she was fine enough to walk out on her own feet, even if she has to use the redhead woman as a crutch (which she's welcome to do if she finds necessary). Had the situation been slightly different she'd have offered to give the dark-skinned girl a piggyback - much like they did to Sarah all those years ago - but with one of her own legs being damaged and still holding Clarence that offer was simply not plausible to make.
Talking about the obviously deranged blonde in her grip, with the guards momentarily holding back because of him at the very least it seemed like he might serve as a decent hostage till they can safely leave, although she isn't about to lower her guard just yet.
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." - John Dalberg-Acton
The head butler flinched at the latest noise. An explosion?!
"You, you, and you, follow me!" he growled, picking a few servants to follow him, grabbing his own rifle as he made his way to the hallway leading to the study. He had faith that the master's bodyguards could handle the other intruder. All he had to do was to stop the others from joining.
He ordered the others to take certain positions in the hallway, then followed suit, aiming his rifle at the junction, waiting for someone to enter...
===
It took a little longer than expected, but the maid finally found the room the mistress was currently in, catching a glimpse of the head butler taking up his own arms.
Thankfully, the clouds were starting to thin, bathing the area in moonlight.
"Mistress, are you-" the maid started, but then saw a shadow of Lasair Landevier Lupen in the room.
"Who are you?!" she exclaimed, reaching for her own handgun.
===
"Yup..." Amon answered, blinking away the dust as he poked at his ear. "Well...at least my hearing is still okay..." he continued, as the screams from those that somehow survived the blast, mixed in with the sounds of panicked gunshots slowly became easier to hear.
"Now then."
As soon as the gunshots died down, Amon snapped his fingers, causing the dolls rushed on in, attacking anybody who was still moving, making their unholy screeches and adding further to the chaos as they proceeded to inject their targets with the paralyzing venom. Their speed, coupled with the darkened environment only served to increase the body count, as panicked servants tried to fire at the dolls, only to fell their comrades in friendly fire. It took only a few moments for the dolls to track down everybody that opposed them.
"Well..." Amon said as he finally climbed the porch steps and entered the room, surveying the carnage, a mixture of dead and paralzyed bodies littering the area. "A lot messier than I thought, but hey, it works," he said as he surveyed the dolls. A few grazes, and a bullet hole here and there, but for the most part, still intact.
"Just a little further ahead," he said as he nodded towards the hallway in front of them before taking off in that direction, the dolls following suit. If he remembered correctly, it was just a little ways ahead, then down a hall to the left.
"We're almost there..."
"I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible! And when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people!" - Taryn, Nerf This
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