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| Prologue: Henry | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 26 2013, 19:33 (616 Views) | |
| FalseHumanity | Jun 26 2013, 19:33 Post #1 |
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There's a long scream, a squealing of rubber against something altogether unprepared for it, and then you're surrounded by the blaring of car horns. All around you, metal boxes streak by. You're headed right into them. The car is around you, responding to you. It's warm against your fingertips. It's resistant against your toes. You throw the wheel to one side and spin out of the lane and into the blacktop of a large strip mall. You wait for a few seconds, the car occupying multiple parking spots. Nothing is following you. You take a deep breath, exhale, close your eyes, open them again. Nothing. You can feel your heartbeat, taste the air. You're free. And then from around the corner you see it. Something moves in the crowd that distinctly is not human. It has to be your Keeper. It HAS to be. Fuck. It is. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck- You've got to do something. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jun 26 2013, 23:45.
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| Riggs | Jun 26 2013, 21:47 Post #2 |
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Riggs is primed to run. Before he can even collect his thoughts, he's already dropped back into first, wrapped the engine up to six grand and dumped the clutch. Fourteen inch slicks howl in protest and cough up a thick white smoke as they struggle to grab hold of the asphalt. Finally, after several agonizing seconds, the tortured rubber finds purchase and with a deafening roar the 500 horsepower monster lunges into motion and away from the loathsome fae. Spoiler: click to toggle Riggs blazes across the packed lot, under a pair of ominous red orbs, and narrowly avoids striking a strange metal beast, before rocketing out onto a wide thoroughfare. He weaves around the creatures traveling along the road while continuing to accelerate. At first the sense of detachment between himself and his former body was disconcerting, but as he spends more time using it's arcane controls distant memories begin to return. Riggs recalls the feel of racing stolen cars through the LA canals, and before long he feels right at home again. Amidst the muscle memory and myriad associations that flood him as he screams down this unfamiliar road, a single word stands out, one that provokes a different sort of fear: COPS. His first real enemy, the reason he ran his races in the canals and far from city streets. He remembers what happens when cops catch you driving too fast, and knows he can't afford that any more than he can afford his keeper catching him. With great effort, Riggs manages to get his terror under control, and brings his speed down to more reasonable levels. The initial adrenaline rush now spent, Riggs allows himself a moment to plan his next move. Ultimately, Riggs decides it would be best if he keeps driving, to loose anyone who might be following him. He drives for hours, taking random turns and occasionally even backtracking. If he'd had any idea where he as to begin with, he'd be horribly lost by now. Eventually he grows certain that he isn't being followed, and his focus shifts to a different problem. Hunger. Riggs hasn't been hungry in almost 30 years, but he still knows what to do about it. With no resources, though, his options are limited. Riggs pulls up to a gas station, and shuts off the motor. He walks in and begins searching the aisles for something edible, and small enough to pocket. He quickly finds a display of Butterfinger bars and while the clerk is distracted with another customer, he pockets three of them and heads out the door. Spoiler: click to toggle |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 26 2013, 23:36 Post #3 |
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A tall bearded man in a shirt with an arrow pointing up and an arrow down with the caption "the man" and "the legend" respectively bumps into you as you're leaving. He stares you down for a second before grinning widely. "Is that your ride, dude?" He thumbs back at the gleaming charger waiting patiently in the parking lot. "Very nice! Hell of a car." He leans in closer, momentarily, and you feel something slipped into your hand. "I'll see you around," he says, and pushes past you into the store. You look down, bewildered, to find a small business card in between your fingers: Marcus "Gigs" Rollins Road Boss - Beat the Badge 515-766-0023 |
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| Riggs | Jun 26 2013, 23:57 Post #4 |
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Riggs stares perplexedly at the card for a moment. Soon, though, the words begin to have meaning for him, specifically the word "boss". If this man is a "boss"... and he's advertising this... then he must have work. Work means money. Money means I can buy things to help hide from the keeper, and the cops. Riggs sits down on the hood of the silver charger and waits for Marcus to come out. When he does, Riggs holds up the card to get his attention and says "You have work?" Edited by Riggs, Jun 27 2013, 00:00.
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 27 2013, 00:23 Post #5 |
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Marcus stares at him for a second, and then starts laughing. "I guess you're new to the area, huh? No harm, no foul. I'm the coordinator for the races here. I figured you'd be in on that, with that 6-71 you're rocking." He glances around quickly before continuing. "Tell you what - if you want to meet me some time down the line, we can talk over the options. I've got a few slingshots I've been meaning to show up, and that thing looks like a ringer." |
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| Riggs | Jun 27 2013, 00:27 Post #6 |
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"Street Races?" Riggs muses "Sure, I'll race if there's good money in it" |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 27 2013, 00:34 Post #7 |
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"Whoa, whoa, dude." Rollins raises his hands up, palm out. "I'm reformed. My hooning days are behind me. You a digger?" He watches you carefully with washed-out hazel eyes. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jun 27 2013, 00:35.
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| Riggs | Jun 27 2013, 00:46 Post #8 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle "Used to be. Back in LA... years ago" Riggs responds almost wistfully. "The races you do run... good money in those? |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 27 2013, 12:50 Post #9 |
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"Back in LA? Hella good circuits down there. Don't know why you'd leave that." His eyes narrow slightly. "But then, I don't want to know either." He smiles again, breaking the pall on the conversation. "Tell you what, bud. Give me a call tonight and we can talk shop. I've got a few tournies that could use a huffer like the one you got." |
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| Riggs | Jun 27 2013, 17:58 Post #10 |
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"Sure, sounds good." Not for the first time, Riggs suppresses a flinch. He's still unused to the sound of his own voice, it's been something like thirty years since he's heard it. Talking again after so long makes him a bit uncomfortable, but he forces himself to add "I'll call ya tonight". Then he's back in the charger and off again in search of his next necessity. Shelter. Spoiler: click to toggle For a moment He ponders where he'd be most likely to find an abandoned building to hole up in. After a while he comes to the conclusion that here, as in any city, the east side is probably the best place to start. Riggs puts the setting sun to his back, and heads east, toward what he hopes will be the most fertile ground. After nearly an hour of driving around the east side aimlessly, Riggs spots a cluster of dilapidated buildings that look promising. He pulls the charger off the road and gets out to investigate... |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 27 2013, 19:47 Post #11 |
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You try the front door and the handle breaks off in your hand. You shrug, push it open, and poke your head in. It seems deserted, at least at first glance. The floors are covered in decaying shreds of wallpaper and the walls are stained and chipped. It's a shelter from the elements, at least. Most of the building is unreachable - either the doors are bolted, or in a few cases the staircases collapse. You're able to track down a mostly-salvageable couch, at least. |
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| Riggs | Jun 27 2013, 22:17 Post #12 |
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"Well," Riggs says aloud, attempting to get used to the sound of his voice "It's a shithole, but it beats being a statue in the keeper's court." Having made the decision to spend the night here, he begins scattering some of the broken glass around he entrances to the building. Once his makeshift intruder alarms are in place he heads out to find a phone. As he approaches the charger, Riggs stops to really look at it for the first time. Two hundred stone of metal that was once part of him in a very real sense has taken on almost a caricature of the typical muscle car. From the double wide drag slicks on the back axle, to the massive supercharger thrusting up through the hood, to the roll cage and racing seats, the whole car screams speed. The paint, or lack of it, is what's really striking however. The body of the car looks to be made of polished stainless steel, with strange designs etched across it's entirety. The etching almost seems to move as one looks at it, giving it a dreamlike quality. Riggs feels a odd sense of pride in what his former "body" has become. "Since you're no longer part of me," Riggs muses to the car "you'll need you're own name. We made a real mess on our way through the hedge... how about Hedgehog?" He pauses for a moment and awaits a response. When none is forthcoming he adds "Since you don't seem to mind, we'll go with that. C'mon, let's go call 'Gigs', Hedgehog" He drops into the seat, starts the engine, and the pair head off toward the nearest convenience store. It's a simple enough matter to borrow the store's phone from the disinterested clerk. Riggs dials the number on the card and identifies himself to the person on the other end. Hi this is Riggs, we spoke outside Scott's Shoppe earlier... I'm the guy with the silver 6-71. I figured now'd be a good time to talk shop. What've you got goin' on?" |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 27 2013, 23:07 Post #13 |
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"Riggs, huh?" Rollins laughs. "Nice to meet ya, Riggs. I got in contact with a few people, and yeah, I think I might have a slot open for you. Tell you what, though - I don't know what you're capable of. You've got a nice huffer, but a nice car and fifty'll get you nowhere in a race. How's about you meet me at the Loop tomorrow night? I'll be waiting at the Locust street bridge with a few of my boys. You give us a good showing, I'll pull some strings." He pauses. "After that, well, we'll talk prize money." |
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| Riggs | Jun 29 2013, 13:44 Post #14 |
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"Tomorrow night, Locust Street bridge. See ya there" Riggs hangs up the phone and returns it to the clerk. He heads back to the car and starts the engine. Before he leaves to head back to his hovel, though, one of the strange dials catches his eye. The meaning of that small orange needle, and its proximity to a little red "E" suddenly comes to him. Hedgehog is hungry. Riggs, having seen other divers doing so, drives over to one of the pumps. He puzzles over it for a minute or so, trying to remember how it works, but a few random button presses and a bit of spilled gas later, he's got it working. Hedgehog drinks for almost two solid minutes, it was even hungrier than Riggs had thought. His phone call made, and his car fed, Riggs heads back to the abandoned apartment building to get some rest. |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 29 2013, 15:11 Post #15 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle You hear something moving in the next room over. It's hushed, quiet movements, but there's a tinkle of glass that drops ice into the pit of your stomach. The only light in the room is the streetlight shining through the window, leaving little patches of light where the cardboard has fallen from the window. Whatever it is, it sounds big. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jun 30 2013, 00:33.
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| Riggs | Jun 29 2013, 15:33 Post #16 |
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Riggs comes to full awareness almost immediately, and quickly scans the room for a large enough deposit of metal. He spots an old, broken television set. Reaching inside the TV, he grabs hold of the metal framework within, and through it, calls up elemental metal to aide him. Spoiler: click to toggle Wicked spikes erupt from his metallic skin, and his knuckles harden into dense plates. He scrambles toward a darkened corner and awaits the intruder. Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Riggs, Jun 29 2013, 21:15.
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 29 2013, 23:12 Post #17 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle A large, towering form appears in the doorway, and it freezes. Eyes flash in the darkness as its head moves back and forth, scanning the room. The thing snuffles- that's the only word you can think of to describe the sound. Long gnarled fingers wrap around the threshold and whatever-the-hell-that-thing-is leans into the room. "Don't be afraid, chrome brother. I come not as a hunter but as a guide. Reveal yourself and let us speak of half-remembered truths." Edited by FalseHumanity, Jun 30 2013, 00:33.
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| Riggs | Jun 29 2013, 23:29 Post #18 |
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Riggs gets a sinking feeling. He's no random bum, this intruder. Whoever, whatever this creature is, it's looking for him specifically. Furthermore, it's somehow tracked him here. Riggs had been careful to use different routes, to cover his tracks, and he'd hidden the charger where it wouldn't be visible from the road. And still this thing had found him. And if it found him once, it could find him again, no point in running. But his stalker was also quite large, and, it would seem, a fae to boot, not much point in fighting either. Best then to let it talk, buy time, wait for an opening. When Riggs does speak, he does so without leaving the shadows, "I can hear you just fine from here. Say what you came to say" Edited by Riggs, Jun 30 2013, 00:08.
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 30 2013, 00:08 Post #19 |
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"Be at peace, brother. Hostility will gain us nothing." The creature's - man's? - head swivels towards you. "I come to extend an invitation to you. There are more like us, fae-touched who have returned to the waking dream. The day's sun is setting, and there is much work to be done before the light dies. It would be an honor to count one more amongst the number of the Lost who have been found." His other hand stretches out towards you with a scrap of paper crumpled between hairy fingers. "Safety cannot be guaranteed, but our defenders are vigilant. Such mutual benefit argues for friendship." |
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| Riggs | Jun 30 2013, 17:55 Post #20 |
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Could that be true, were there really others who had escaped the keeper? Or was this some sort of trick? It doesn't really matter. One way or another, he expects he'll be leaving with this... beast. Riggs decides that it might as well be on his terms. And, in the event that the intruder is trustworthy... well, he'd be a fool to turn away from his first potential ally in three decades. "Okay." Riggs begins, as he stands and steps out into the pool of light spilling in through the window. "I'll go with you." he dismisses the elemental armor and the spikes withdraw "But I want some answers. You talk, I'll drive." With that, Riggs pushes past the thing, and heads out toward the charger. |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 30 2013, 22:49 Post #21 |
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The beast shrugs, and stuffs the scrap of paper back into the pocket of his loose-fitting jeans. He follows you outside, to where Hedgehog is parked, and climbs in the passenger seat. "I am known as Esau," he says, pronouncing the 'u' distinctly. "I belong to the Dusk, of which I am the singular emissary. It is my duty to find and bring to heel the oathbreakers of this city. To you, I was tasked with bringing the invitation of our people. We are the Freemen of the Hold, the Lost who have come back from the dreaming." He peers curiously at you for a few seconds. "I will take you to Ulysses tomorrow. He will wish to speak truth with you." "What other questions can be answered?" |
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| Riggs | Jun 30 2013, 23:18 Post #22 |
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Riggs ponders all of this for a moment. He starts the engine, and releases the parking brake, then realizes he doesn't know their destination. "How about where we're going?" Riggs asks, then adds "Also, how did you find me?" |
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 30 2013, 23:37 Post #23 |
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"We will travel to my station of service. It will suffice both for rest and asylum until the sun rises again." He begins directing you at each intersection with slight gestures from one finger. "As for your discovery, I was trained as a hunter while I was asleep. It was expected for me to track a rabbit through the moon's eye; even without the dream-sense, finding you was not as difficult." He casts a quick glance towards you. "The roar of your chariot proved quite distinct." After a few minutes, he nods towards a bland white storefront with a large garage door built into the wall. "Restoration happens inside, so I would beg you to leave your vehicle in the lanes of parking." |
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| Riggs | Jul 1 2013, 00:01 Post #24 |
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Riggs laughs, and muses "I guess that's true". He finds a suitable place to leave the car, kills the engine, and follows Esau inside. The first glimpse of the shop is overwhelming. One look at the lifts, the tool chests, and the cars in various states of disassembly and restoration, and he's right back in Sphinx's chop-shop. It's familiar in a very profound way. Being here, in Esau's workshop, it feels like coming home after a long absence. Riggs is finally sure he's made the right decision. Whatever else might change along with this new life, Riggs at least knows one place he fits. "I don't suppose you could use a hand around here?" He waves his hand to indicate the shop, and continues "I remember I used to be pretty good with a wrench." |
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 1 2013, 23:55 Post #25 |
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Esau looks apologetically over his shoulder. "I am afraid that your offer must be rejected - not due to lack of skill, it must be understood. Instead, it is my surfeit of fine workers that must deny your labor. It is not busy enough; of yet, at least. Should I have need of talent, such an offer would be gladly accepted." "Instead, allow me to shelter and feed you - tomorrow we will meet with Ulysses. He will take pleasure in meeting the present you. He will speak with you regarding the truths you have forgotten, and the ones you did not learn." He leads you into a back room that already has a futon set up with blankets. "A warning, though-" His eyes glisten slightly, reflecting just a touch of the ceiling light. "Ulysses the Summer King is much like his namesake. A lack of respect will earn you great heat of wrath, but a presentation of brotherhood will earn you abiding truce." |
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| Riggs | Jul 2 2013, 21:59 Post #26 |
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Riggs is rather disappointed at being turned down, but he's still got reason enough to feel optimistic. "I get it. If you ever need another grease monkey, just let me know... And, hey, thanks for givin' me an actual bed to sleep in." He really means that last bit. After all he's been through today, Riggs could really use a good night's sleep. He lays his head on the pillow, and is out like a light within seconds. He's running. He's been running for days. He's sure he's not in LA anymore. There are no people on the streets, and the signs are in a language he's never seen before. At first, he was running from LAPD, but now, something much worse is chasing him. He's only glimpsed it once, all gnashing teeth and black chitin, but he can hear its footsteps, right on his heels, he feels its foul breath on his neck. And he knows in his bones that it wants far worse than to simply eat him. So he runs. Through twisting back alleys, and warped department stores. He runs though streets filled with something almost entirely unlike cars. He will never be able to stop running. He knows this. He knows that the demon will never stop chasing him, that eventually he'll falter, or make a wrong turn, and it will be upon him. Where is everyone? Why can't anyone hear him yelling for help? He is utterly alone in this alien landscape. His terror slowly changes into desperation, and tears stream down his face and soak his shirt. He begins to think about simply stopping, letting the monster catch him. But just as he does, a silvery creature twelve feet tall, humanoid, but flowing like quicksilver, steps into his path, and extends a beckoning hand. His terror is renewed tenfold. Riggs wakes up screaming. His heart is beating two hundred miles an hour. His first encounter with his keeper, or any of them for that matter, are things he'd greatly prefer to forget. He will get no more sleep this night. Riggs gets up and goes out to the shop. Seeing the engines and the tools again begins to calm his frayed nerves, and gives him an idea. Riggs tries to find a project to work on. A brief look around the shop is enough for him to locate an old Holley four-barrel in dire need of a rebuild. A more detailed search reveals that all the replacement parts he'll need are at hand. Riggs gets to work, and a little less than an hour later, he has the carb polished like new, re-synchronized, and reinstalled. Spoiler: click to toggle Riggs passes the whole night this way, finding little half-finished projects, and completing them. He's so caught up in his work that he doesn't realize the sun has come up until Esau comes downstairs and greets him. Edited by Riggs, Jul 3 2013, 01:01.
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 3 2013, 00:56 Post #27 |
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Esau comes downstairs in the morning, and he stands in the doorway silently looking around his workshop at the number of projects you've completed over the night. He turns, leaves. After a few seconds, he comes back and hands you a small handful of bills - two twenties and a ten. "The nightmares will never relent," he says. "Eventually your mind will grow walls, but what has been will never stop bleeding. It is a rot, an infestation." He sits down at a small workdesk and picks up a little wooden box with small engravings on the sides. He runs his fingers along the etchings. "A second chance has been assigned to us, and only so much time remains." He stands, looks over at you with a wry smile. "And yet I must waste such time with petty remembrances. Ulysses will have been expecting us soon. To your silver beast, brother." |
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| Riggs | Jul 7 2013, 18:10 Post #28 |
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Riggs pockets the bills and watches Esau curiously. He almost asks about the box, but reconsiders before Esau has even finished talking. It's unlikely he would even answer such a question, and in any case, Riggs doubts that knowing the answers would make much difference. This Ulysses on the other hand, might have some useful information. Riggs follows Esau out the the charger. He remains silent as Esau directs him to someplace called called "Saraj Restaurant and Bakery". Riggs parks, and the two head inside. |
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 10 2013, 00:22 Post #29 |
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For a second, when you enter, it's like a world you had forgotten. It's so busy, so many people, so much noise, so alive... And then you take a breath, and the discomfort passes. The last thirty years of solitude still center everything you are, but you're starting to remember more and more about the life you had before. A stodgy older man wearing a neat suit and thin reading glasses glances briefly at you, nods wearily to Esau, and motions for you to head into the main area of the restaurant. All around you, the people just look - wrong? Right? You're not sure. They stand out here and there, one with iridescent black hair and a shadow like wings protruding from his shoulders, one an absolutely massive man with rippling muscles and little horns above his ears, one a young woman with lips like rose petals and a sharp cold around her despite her warm, down-to-earth appearance. As you walk past her, her peppermint fragrance wafts up around you and takes your breath away. And then Esau pushes through a back door into what must be a private room. In here, a large table is set up and at the head an older man glows. He ignites the room with light, a crown of flame hovering over his head. He looks a little frail, with white hair and just a few extra lines of age on his face. He sits talking with three others - a man with mottled gray skin that, while at first just looks sickly, actually shifts and grinds against itself like rock plates on a tectonic join. A woman with forearms as thick as your biceps, and biceps as thick as your thighs, with a burnished tan to her face and arms. A man who, every few seconds, looks just a little different, almost as if every time you look away he is changing some aspect of his clothing, or hair, or expression, or even his facial features themselves. The older man with the crown of flame looks up and smiles. "Esau, my friend. Is this our newest member?" "Glad tidings have been brought to our new brother, Ulysses. He wishes to speak truth with you, to discuss the waking thoughts he, in his dreamstate mind, was unprepared for." Ulysses nods and gestures to the table. "Sit down, please. There's more than enough to go around." On the table there are plates of breads and fruits you don't recognize. Esau sits at an empty spot and begins to wolf down food. |
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| Riggs | Jul 12 2013, 23:26 Post #30 |
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It isn't difficult to find an open seat, Riggs makes himself comfortable and examines the food suspiciously. He makes up his mind that if they're all eating it, it's probably safe enough, and picks up a dimpled orange sphere. He suppresses a grimace as he bites into it, the skin is unpleasantly bitter. He begins to peel away the skin to get at the sweet bits inside. As he absent mindlessly picks at the fruit, he speaks, "I know what you're not. And I'd die fighting before I'd go anywhere with a... keeper," Riggs pronounces the last word with a bitterness that rivals the strange fruit. He takes a bite, as if to get the taste of it out of his mouth, then continues "But I still don't know what you are, or why you give a damn about me, or what you want, or-" This isn't anger or suspicion. As he begins to run out of breath, he sounds almost desperate. The nightmare has really shaken him. Riggs takes a moment to compose himself, he buries the frustration and desperation. When he continues, he sounds detached once again. "Look, I want to trust you. But everyone here knows something I don't. What is it?" |
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 15 2013, 23:48 Post #31 |
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"Straight to the point, I see." Ulysses stares at you for a second before sighing and putting his silverware down. "What we know, more than anything else, is ideology. You see, my good man, They don't think in straight lines. Part of learning how to be human again is to take an ideal, a worthy cause, and champion it with all your might without backing down. You can question, you can doubt, but you must never abandon that steadfast belief. The Fae cannot fathom holding to a thought when it becomes boring, or limiting." He smiles. "That is how we know that we are different." "We call them the Courts. Each of them was passed down from our ancestors, those of us who were taken and managed to return. Winter, the Court of Sorrow. Spring, the Court of Desire. Autumn, the Court of Fear. And Summer, the Court of Wrath." He indicates the flames wreathing his head. "I am Ulysses, the Summer King. It is my duty to bring unwavering fury down upon the heads of those who would shackle us." "Queen Anna, the Frost Maiden, rules when Summer ends. Her duty is to keep us hidden and blend us with the humans around us. You may not have noticed, but what you are..." He waves a hand in your direction. "Your time in Arcadia changed you fundamentally. It changed us all. But now, here, Reality doesn't take kindly to our changes. It projects a vision of who you could be, as a human, that covers you like a second skin. It hides us from the humans and keeps the Fae from tracking us easily." "There are many Courts, each espousing an ideal. We have many of varied allegiances in our freehold. Feel free to talk to each of them, to find the Court that best suits you. Summer and Winter rule here, but we accept all of the Courts without judgement." He smiles at you, with a sort of weary indulgence. "Don't feel rushed, son. It takes years to adjust and settle in, especially now. Just being taken is hard enough, but to be returned with such change... That is the point of the Freehold. That is why we care about you, about who and what you are. Because you are one of us now, and we all know the pain and loneliness that comes with being one of the Taken." "All we want is to be safe. And all of our gifts working in tandem, stone arms linked with living flame, we can keep the Fae from coming back." Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 15 2013, 23:50.
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| Riggs | Sep 24 2013, 09:43 Post #32 |
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Riggs listens intently, letting all this new information wash over him. Ulysses' confidence is contagious, and with each new revelation Riggs feels more at ease. By the time the Summer King has finished speaking, Riggs is more curious than ever, but he's also begun to feel the barest inklings of a truly alien emotion- hope. "I've got more questions now than I did before, but they can wait. For now," Riggs cracks a menacing smile "tell me more about this 'Court of Wrath" |
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| FalseHumanity | Sep 24 2013, 22:32 Post #33 |
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"I was hoping you'd ask that," Ulysses says. "Summer is the court of war. We are the hands that hold the iron spear. Our ideal, what binds us to our humanity, is that we will never go back. That we would rather die than go back. We defend the rest of the Lost from the Gentry. Everyone else does the politicking and the song-and-dance, but we're very straightforward." He begins picking at his food again. "We're nowhere near as strong as Them, but as I said- the Gentry only do something until it stops becoming fun, or easy. If we put up enough of a fight, They'll leave us alone because taking us back actually requires work." "We're the shield wall for the Freehold, the first in and the last out. The others may not always agree with us, but we're universally respected because we will die for them." Ulysses smiles. "The Freehold stands together, don't get me wrong. But we're the ones in front, guarding the rest." Edited by FalseHumanity, Jun 29 2014, 07:54.
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| Riggs | Sep 25 2013, 09:47 Post #34 |
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Riggs doesn't take long to come to a decision "Alright, what do I have to do to get initiated? Cause if you're gonna be fighting the keepers, then that's where I want to be." He laughs as he adds "Let's face it, that's probably what I'd be doing either way."
Edited by Riggs, Sep 25 2013, 09:47.
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| FalseHumanity | Sep 25 2013, 22:08 Post #35 |
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"Nothing too bad," Ulysses says. "Just a ten mile run, a sparring match with Phil the Ogre, and a quick trip through our obstacle course. Summer has always been about the physical, you see. We don't require excellence, just endurance and success." |
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| Riggs | Oct 3 2013, 16:59 Post #36 |
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"Sparring with 'Phil the Ogre', huh?" Riggs cracks his knuckles and smiles. "Sounds like fun, how soon can we get this started?" |
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| FalseHumanity | Oct 5 2013, 23:09 Post #37 |
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Ulysses smiles at you and the edges of his eyes crinkle. "I was hoping you'd say that. Phil?" A hand lands heavily on your shoulder. It's a friendly pat, of sorts. You glance over at it and the first thing you notice is the light dusting of dark brown fur that covers the entire thing. The second thing you notice is that the nails are glossy and black, worn with dirt and mud at the very ends. The man named Phil smiles down at you. He has little horns poking out from behind his ears. He's massive, both in height and sheer size. He nods towards a smaller door with 'Exit' stenciled on it. "Let's take this t'ing outside, friend. No reason ta damage anyt'ing in here." |
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| Riggs | Jun 29 2014, 21:38 Post #38 |
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Riggs is silent for a moment as he takes in the full measure of this wall of muscle. Presently, he pushes himself up from his chair. "Makes sense to me," he concedes, and turns toward the door. As the two head for the exit Riggs asks, "So, there any rules to this fight?" Spoiler: click to toggle
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 30 2014, 15:14 Post #39 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle You quickly size him up and realize that this is the sort of man who actually deserves the muscles he has. He moves gently, like he's afraid of breaking something, and the way that he speaks further reinforces the 'gentle giant' stereotype. Still, you notice the thickening of his knuckles and the blunt fingers of a man who spends his time punching things best left for building construction. He opens the door for you, and follows you out to the 'back yard', so to speak, of the building. It's a small, fenced in area with a clothes line hung off to one side. A couple of dish towels billow in the wind. The others form a little audience between you and the door. "All you need to do is stay on your feet for a bit. The longer the better, of course, but..." Ulysses laughs curtly. "Well, you'll see." Phil smiles at you. "Don't worry, friend. I'll take it easy on ya. At first." He produces a couple of long banners of cloth rolled into a ball, and throws them to you. "For your hands, if you want 'em." He produces a couple more and begins wrapping his own hands in them. "Obviously, we don't want anyone to actually get hurt," Ulysses says. "So fists only. Otherwise, as long as it's not dirty, you can call upon whatever you've got." Phil nods to you. "When you are, friend." |
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| Riggs | Jun 30 2014, 23:08 Post #40 |
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"Steel will heed your call Bend to suit your will But when called to war Steel can only kill" The Keeper's admonishing litany pins him to the spot. Riggs' terror is so great that fully fifteen seconds pass before Riggs realizes the words had come from him. A shiver of revulsion runs up his spine. Even now, freed from the Keeper himself, disconnected from his former body, and delivered from Arcadia, he is still not free of the Keeper's endless training and conditioning. There is a niggling doubt that, at least in this matter, he will never truly escape. A slight stirring in their tiny audience snaps Riggs back to reality. "No" he says, finally addressing Ulysses, "I'll fight this battle alone." Riggs rushes Phil, and swings. He pours every ounce of his despair, rage, and disgust into the blow. Spoiler: click to toggle
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| FalseHumanity | Jun 30 2014, 23:31 Post #41 |
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He sees you coming, and doesn't even bother to move. Your blow hammers into Phil's gut, and he staggers back with the force of the impact. He straightens back up, and he grins widely. The teeth seem strangely flat and wide in his mouth. "Nice shot, friend. My turn." He lifts his wrapped hands up by his face and starts weaving in towards you. For a man nearly seven feet tall, he moves lightly, stepping on the balls of his feet and flitting back and forth. He whips one hand out in a flash, drawing your eyes, and his other comes across in a harsh blow that slams into your guard, breaks through it, and leaves your ears ringing with the impact. Spoiler: click to toggle He withdraws slightly, the grin on his face even wider as he sees you still standing after that blow. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 1 2014, 00:13.
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| Riggs | Jul 1 2014, 00:45 Post #42 |
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Riggs runs his tongue across his teeth to check that they're all still in place, spits out a bit of blood, and sets his jaw. "Still standing" he's unsure whether he says it for Phil's benefit or his own, but he's not ready to quit the fight just yet. Riggs channels elemental energy directly into his body, hopefully enough to keep him standing a few more rounds, and lashes out once again. Spoiler: click to toggle
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 1 2014, 12:04 Post #43 |
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You manage to sneak through Phil's warding hands and deliver a hammerblow to his lower right side. He flinches away from it. His grin does not break. Spoiler: click to toggle He suddenly seems to swell, his skin starting to stretch slightly in places. His arms thicken like tree trunks and harden like bone. He darts in again with a strike that slams into your gut and doubles you over. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 1 2014, 12:04.
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| Riggs | Jul 1 2014, 16:46 Post #44 |
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The pain floods his senses, blasting the rest of the world away for a moment. In that void, the Keeper's conditioning finds him again. Found between the worlds There you would remain We are owed a debt Only war repays Riggs screams, drowning the voice in primal rage. He throws himself at the big ox with renewed fervor. Spoiler: click to toggle Edited by Riggs, Jul 1 2014, 16:46.
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 1 2014, 18:59 Post #45 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle Blood streams from his nose where your blow has cracked it, and Phil wobbles but stays on his feet. His grin is now streaked with red. "You're good," he says. He leans in closer, and his voice drops a couple levels of volume. "But I'm better." Spoiler: click to toggle With a roar in return, he puts one meaty fist somewhere a few feet behind your sternum. The sound echoes like a gunshot. |
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| Riggs | Jul 1 2014, 19:25 Post #46 |
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Spoiler: click to toggle Riggs is still standing, but barely. It hurts to breathe, something is definitely broken. Something important. He coughs, spatters the ground with blood. Between ragged breaths he laughs, it's been so long since he's seen his own blood. He pushes the pain to the back of his mind, and locks his eyes on Phil. Riggs raises his fist, takes a step toward, his leg buckles and he drops to one knee. He knows he's beaten, but Riggs can't quit. It is not allowed, the Keeper only accepts two outcomes: victory or death. With great difficulty, he struggles to his feet, wobbling slightly as he raises his fists. Blood drips from the corner of his mouth as he fixes Phil with a defiant gaze. Riggs assumes a guarded posture, and waits. |
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 2 2014, 02:08 Post #47 |
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Phil gives you a quick salute, his grin never changing, and he raises both fists above his head to end the fight. Spoiler: click to toggle There's a cough, and Ulysses steps between the two of you. "That's enough," he says. Phil lowers his hands slowly, his grin beginning to fade. "I'm quite impressed, sir. A quick fight, but more than enough to prove your resolve." Ulysses smiles at you. "I think you'd be a worthy addition to the Court of Summer. However, it's probably for the best if we call it a day." He turns to one of the others. "Sonja, if you wouldn't mind fetching Quinn? I think Phil and our new friend could stand to bear his ministrations." The woman with burnished skin nods and heads inside. Phil offers you a hand up, his skin no longer struggling to contain his muscles. "It's been a long time since I had to fight anyone like you. Pleased ta meetcha, friend. What can I call ya?" Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 2 2014, 02:19.
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| Riggs | Jul 2 2014, 14:53 Post #48 |
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His guard drops heavily and nearly pulls him along with it. Grabbing Phil's hand is the only thing that keeps him on his feet. "Riggs," a look of uncertainty crosses his face " I think...I was called Henry, too. Or, I used to be."
Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 3 2014, 22:00.
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| FalseHumanity | Jul 3 2014, 22:46 Post #49 |
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Phil pulls you up into a back-slapping hug, leaving you gasping for air as your poor abused ribs take offense. "Nice ta meetcha, Henry!" As you're still trying to catch your breath, the woman - Sonja? - returns with a young man with iridescent black hair, a strange shadow, and legs that end in gnarled, taloned feet. They're both holding compresses and bandages. He comes up to you, an easy smile on his face. "I see you've been officially introduced to Phil." He gives you a quick once-over with his eyes. "You'll probably live." Spoiler: click to toggle He presses a wrapped icepack to your side and instructs you to hold it there, as he cracks open a small bottle of water for you to rinse your mouth with. "So are we making friends today? Or arguing-" He stops short as a sparrow flutters down and lands on his shoulder. Immediately the smile drops from his face and he leans in close, the bird's beak almost inside his ear. "I have to make a phone call," he says. Ulysses sighs. Quinn doesn't seem to notice, or ignores him, and steps to one side. He flips open a silver phone and dials. "Hey- El, hi. How was work?" He listens for a few seconds, a smile playing around his lips. "Good, good. Hey, I just wanted to let you know, it looks like there's going to be some hard rains tonight, maybe a bit of flooding. Just in case you were gonna be out and about." He laughs. "I'm not- a little bird told me. Yeah, sure." His face softens. "I'll see you tonight. Take care." He flips the phone shut. "Right, anyway. C'mere, big guy, let me make sure you're going to survive the night." Phil smiles and lets the smaller man push a roll of gauze under his lip, in an attempt to stop the slow drip of blood from his nose. "Flooding tonight, huh?" Spoiler: click to toggle Quinn nods. "Storms coming in from the east." He stands back, looking somewhat satisfied. "Well, I can't do much more, but they'll be okay." He glances over at Ulysses as he speaks. "No need to get them to the hospital, at least." "Thank you, as always," the elderly man says. "I do appreciate it." Quinn turns to head back inside. Edited by FalseHumanity, Jul 7 2014, 21:12.
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| Riggs | Jul 3 2014, 23:06 Post #50 |
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"Thanks Quinn," the ice pack and the water help more that Riggs would have expected. His chest still aches, but it hurts a little less to breathe now. That was one hell of a slobberknocker for a simple sparing match. If Phil is any indication of what the rest are capable of, this "Summer Court" might just offer a fighting chance if- no, when then Keeper comes looking for him. It'd probably be best, then, if he finished these initiation trials as soon as possible. "So Ulysses," Riggs groans, still hunched over, "Where's the obstacle course?"
Edited by Riggs, Jul 3 2014, 23:10.
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