Estylwen

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

North Ehlm, Val's Safehouse

@SporkoBug, @Herald, @rabidbacon, @Qia, @Abstract Proxy

---

“Who are you?”

A

Le Frey's eyes narrowed in the darkness. His voice was a measured whisper. ”That don't matter right now. What matters is that you do what I-”

A gunshot.

VV's eyes opened, and she shot up.

Le Frey cursed under his breath, their eyes meeting. The gun in his hands seemingly criminal now.

But, before VV could attack with her darkness, or A could respond. Two scaled objects slammed into both girls, wrapping around their necks and pinning them to the floor. Closer inspection revealed them to be tails, one emerging from Le Frey's tailbone, the other from his arm. The one from his arm, in particular, had a greenish aura around it.

"Nae cael-laen. (Don't be foolish.)"

Another otherworldly voice rumbled through Le Frey’s lips. Inu, his Wild. Wise and majestic, and wholly prepared to impose his will.

The ghost in VV's head translated the Wild language in real-time, and she struggled under the tail closing around her throat.

That was when the roof started to crumble. Le Frey, cursing under his breath again, yanked his tails, dragging A and VV out of the tent and in front of the campfire. Just in time to see Val de-transform back into himself, and surrender to Wren.

Ley Frey, looking at Wren and his foe in alarm, seemed to relax a bit. Wren had it under control, after all. So, with the two girls still pinned by his tails, he walked to the third tent, tails extending after him. In a couple seconds, he had Teresa by the arm, and threw her in the direction of VV and A, where she stumbled and fell.

Le Frey stood over them, glancing at Val, before crossing his arms, his voice crisp and commanding. ”I am High Captain Le Frey of the Ghost Corp, my partner is Captain Wren. We were sent here to apprehend you lot and bring your back to our base. Your… Connection with Umbra needs to be ascertained.

“Come quietly and you won't be harmed. Resist…” His eyes flashed a brilliant green as claws formed on his one hand. “And I will subjugate you myself.”

No sooner had he spoken, however, before the safehouse was flooded with hooded, masked scavengers from all entrances. Dogs on chains among them barked and howled, snapping at Val, VV, and A as if they wanted to devour them whole. And with the way these hooded intruders looked at them, with their mundane pistols, there was certainly a… ravenous quality to them.

The leader, dressed similarly to the rest, emerged at the front, one hand on his hip. He regarded the Ghost Corp captains snidely, before he spoke gruffly.

“Surrender your hearts.”

He gestured to his men, brandishing their guns.

“Or we open fire.”

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

Dex, Leader of the Ravagers

Dex

39 | Human | He/him | Lawless, Leader of the Ravagers

Abyssal Connection: None

---

Description: Dex has always been the leader of the Ravagers, the one reason why humans with a Possessive Subjugation are few and far in between. However rare to find, Dex owns tracking dogs that are able to sniff out hearts with a Possessive Subjugation or Forced Subjugation in humans.

The Ravagers elicit cold fear in most Lawless for a good reason. Dex and the Ravagers don't let anyone get in the way of them and their target. However, they differ wildly compared to the Bears, Red Embers, or other factions.

Dex never sells the Wild hearts he finds. Never pursues Wilds, only humans. Humans that dare to even look at Dex the wrong way… Well, just like the Wild hearts, they end up on him and his mate's plate.

Yes, they are cannibals of the heart. They'll eat any human heart, but they prefer ones touched by Wilds.

Iris Ascendis

Ciara Ventura

Iris Record, Second Floor -> The Door -> Wingram Clinic
_@Nanaya

---

“I gave you a potion, which you drank.”

Otis

Ciara spluttered drunkenly as she was picked up like a wet kitten. ”B-but-”

"Rest easy, Ventaura. Arillo did not lie. Opioids help ease pain by triggering the brain to release endorphins. Although you received a higher dosage compared to mine or Kyrios's, you should save your grievances for tomorrow. Now is not the time to fight, again.”

Chunji

Opioids… Opioids. The name bounced around in Ciara's mile-wide head, but it only brought up visions of doctors in crisp clothing and wide, sterile smiles.

Before the world swayed as Otis stepped through the door a beat after Chunji. Within, Ciara found her eyes drawn up. The stars caught her head, floating as it was like a balloon, and cradled it. She felt as if she were on a boat, swaying serenely with every step Otis took, a mote among infinity.

Chunji… Chunji said something about the drugs being opioids. She didn't quite know what that meant, but. But she wasn't left behind. Otis could have left her behind, alone in the ivory tower, leave her to the screams. But he picked her up, and carried her through the nebula of stars. Surely, that meant, on some level, he cared?

Chunji's words were reassuring. Reassuring enough that Ciara stopped fighting the ride she was on, fighting the euphoria that threatened to split her mind, and instead… leaned back, and let the stars embrace her. It seemed he too, was not adverse to her breathing, to her living, free of the screams. Perhaps he too, was like Otis.

A blanket fluttered over Ciara's face, blocking her view of the stars. But that was alright, they lived within her now. The blanket had a warming effect, doubling the euphoria curling through her insides. Everything was soft and fuzzy, and with Otis’ measured footfalls, there was a lull, a serenity, a blanket of safety as her mind wheeled and whirred somewhere high up in the sky.

Yes.

Yes, perhaps she could talk with them. Negotiate. With the screams, that was. When they stopped screaming, when they found her, perhaps she could convince them that she was worth it.

Otis and Chunji seemed to believe so. And Iraleth had the opportunity to exact revenge, but… perhaps… she believed so too.

Shapes of light moved against the blanket as Ciara drifted through the air. She had no desire to move the blanket. Couldn't, anyway.

“My friends were attacked by the Umbralist in the tower. First aid was done, but one of them needs more medical attention, and the others need a room to rest in. Which rooms are open?”

Otis

"What my classmate said is true, and the one in my arms needs urgent care. It would be prudent to take him off my arms as I will soon collapse from hypovolemic shock, approximately in one minute, after losing at least 25% of my blood from today's events."

Chunji

Ciara stirred limply under the blanket, trying desperately to listen to the conversation. But the blanket was too soft and fuzzy, and her head too light and disembodied. Scraps of conversation floated around her head, while most of it sailed away to the skies, far away from her. Far away from her properly grasping it and embedding it within her short term memory. Far away, within midnight stars.

So she hung there serenely over Otis's shoulders, and let the stars wash over her.

Magic in the Park

The opening post was a true wonder for the senses. I've written up a little something-something! :)

Magic in the Park

Phonk Drift

Asher Estate, Realspace

_@Asuras

---

Reina gave a look to Cygni as she languished in her seat. He was trying to get her killed, the sooner the better. Yes, send her to deal with the Anomaly, alone. If he wasn't so powerful, she would have stripped him of his position and exiled him long ago. But House Asher needed strength. And he knew this.

She'd deal with him. But first-

Reina glanced up at the servant beside her, then gestured with her chin towards the double doors. The servant, Isabella, with her ashen hair and wary eyes, understood immediately, and left through the doors. She returned momentarily with a prison inmate in tow, cuffs still on his hands. He was made to stand beside Reina's seat. The look on his face was aghast, with darkness brimming around his eyes. He knew what his fate was, as a death row inmate, but the nondescript woman seated beside him, was she really the one who'd-

She looked up at him, her red eyes flashing, and she smiled.

Before taking up one of his cuffed hands, she kissed the back of it. Nothing would appear to happen in real-time there except for the magically adept. Well, they were all magically adept after all, weren't they? There was a draw, a suction, like hungry jaws clamping down on the sinews of the soul, and eating them up like a hearty stew. Minutes passed…

Before the man's breath hitched, and he fell backwards, collapsing dead on the floor.

Reina had let go on the hand a second before, and brushed fingertips to her lips, savoring the taste. Her insides were enlivened, and her mind sharp. A much better state of mind, a much better… atmosphere.

Her eyes glanced cooly at Cygni, and she spoke in a crisp voice. ”I think a Dungeon is a brilliant idea. However, I will not be entering it alone.”

Her hand gestured to Cygni, ”You will be joining me.”

A chin rested on a curved fist as Reina glanced over at Erina. ”And you.”

If any House member was looking carefully, they'd realize they were both chosen for what they said. Cygni daring to even breath a hint of a plan that could get their precious head killed. And Erina, spouting opinions instead of facts at her table.

Of course, it was a small correction. Reina would be present, and would ensure nothing happened to her enemy, and her faithful. They were both skilled, exceptionally so, making her command more like a slap on the wrist than a true punishment.

Alas, she had her own ulterior motive. She wanted to bring Cygni with her so he didn't make a mess of her House while she was gone. And Erina would be a witness so Cygni would have a harder time trying to kill Reina. Apostles knew Cygni coveted her position, but she would thwart him at every turn.

As the servants lifted the body of the prison inmate out of the room, Reina continued. ”We will discuss with Lord Yusei, and we will ascertain this Anomaly with our own eyes. I will not rest until this threat to our shores is dealt with.”

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

I'll give Rabid one more day, and I'll have a post up tomorrow. :>

Dark Beyond: Voices of the Past

Very sorry to hear that, Days. Yep, just take it easy, and no rush. :)

Iris Ascendis

Awesome, I think I'll wait on @ERode before my next post.

Magic in the Park

Ohmaigosh yessss. My muse is ready.

Thanks, ERode.

Magic in the Park

@ERode Hehehe, I'm sure there's a cult book somewhere where it says Ashers welcome death. Regardless, I'm very intrigued to see how the two shape up. :>

Speaking of which, was an IC date dropped yet?