GrandDM2

Diving into the Abyss: A Shattered World

I'm back. Sorry I've been away, stuff happened. Did I miss anything important?

Government: Friend or Foe?

The installation of Supplemental Public Safety Devices, while on the surface appearing to be a move by the government to ensure the safety of their citizens, was in reality the doing of Omicron. The SPSDs' were eyes and ears all across the city. Omicron was inside every camera, every satellite, every transmission. No piece of information, no query or confirmation or message, passed through established channels without Omicron knowing of it.

For instance, a rather excellent picture of one of the Resistance members.

Hitting a button on the keyboard, Omicron opened a call on the private line to the Mayor.

"Sir, they've made the move. I'm beginning the Gambit now."

Terminating the call, a second key press opened up the Broadcast window. From here, every single television transmission could be controlled.

Omicron started typing.

---

Earlier today, a member of the terrorist group known as the "Resistance" bombed a public area. Though there were no casualties, there has been expensive damage to both government and private property. We urge all loyal citizens to contact us on the following number should you see the following individual responsible for the bombing.

The newsflash, simultaneously shown on every screen in the city, ended with a picture of the Resistance member and a phone number. It lingered for a good ten seconds before normal programming resumed, often with a babble of chatter about the unscheduled broadcast that had hijacked their channel.

---

Sitting back in the chair, Omicron smiled.

"Your move."

Government: Friend or Foe?

Let the Chessmaster Duel begin!

Sorry I've been away, stuff happened. I'll be back to my normal daily visits now.

Sanctuary

I have returned! Sorry I've been away, stuff happened. Did I miss anything important?

Shadows of the Ancients [GDM & mandachan]

ooc

Sorry I've taken so long to respond; stuff happened. I should be back to my normal posting rate now.

Also, sorry, I have a bit of writer's block right now, so the post isn't as long as I'd like.

"Perhaps I should talk to people more, but I don't know how to talk to people. To learn how to talk to people, I have to go and talk to people. You see the problem there?"

He sighs. He appears to have completely ignored the comment about girlish charm, although if Ren's paying attention she might notice that his mouth twitched ever so slightly when she said it.

"If you'd like to follow me, I'll take you to the food."

He leads her through a door and up a flight of stairs. It comes out in a middle-sized room with another spectacular view out over the ruins. A table is set near the window. On the other side of the room is yet another Ancient Device and a large number of cupboards. Tom rummages through said cupboards with an efficiency that indicates he knows exactly where everything is, preparing a meal in very short order and then sliding it into the Ancient Device. He shuts the door and rapidly hits a few buttons.

"That should be ready in half an hour. I think I've exhausted my repertoire of small talk, so it's up to you to keep the conversation going, I'm afraid."

Part of Your World [LunaGrey & GrandDM2]

The hand hovers for a moment, flexing its fingers gently. Then it's followed slowly by an arm, a shoulder, and suddenly, all at once, a being steps through the portal.

The creature stands around six and a half feet tall, with deep red skin the colour of old blood. The hooked claws on its fingers are a deep black, glinting in the light. Sculpted muscles ripple as it stretches, opening up great, batlike wings at least twelve feet wide. A face too perfect to be human looks over the lab, solid blue eyes glowing slightly. From the temples sprout magnificent, curling horns ending in wicked points. Sharp fangs are revealed as the lips part slowly into a grin.

"Nhash k'zor! Thu'aar'khell valikz okhs!"

A guttural language spills from the creature's mouth in a deep, rich voice. The portal shudders as it speaks, and four more things come scuttling through. None of them even come close to the stature of the first, all deformed and ugly, though each carries a sense of menace and power. They quickly disappear from the lab, crashing out through windows and in one case just walking through a wall as if it wasn't there.

Folding its wings back up, the creature steps slowly towards Gwen, still grinning unnervingly. The air around it ripples and shimmers in something reminiscent of a heat haze and the floor cracks under its footsteps, though they're soft enough to be silent.

"I thank you. For too long I have been unable to find a path into this world. I am the Demon Lord Ar'khash. Think yourself fortunate that you have performed a service for me; if you had not been so instrumental, you would find yourself sharing the fate of the others."

He puts one hand on her shoulder. His touch is hot, far too hot for a human hand, though strangely pleasant. He raises his other, and a flash of sickly red light illuminates the room. Everyone except Gwen begins to disintegrate, dust slewing off them to a chorus of screams and flying to Ar'khash, sinking into his hand. White light begins to glow from inside their head, and then one after the other, in quick succession, each light pulses and flies along with the dust. Each pulse signals the complete collapse into dust of a scientist.

It's over remarkably quickly, the whole process taking not more than a few seconds. When the Demon Lord removes his hand from Gwen's shoulder, the room is spotless and quiet.

His grin widens.

"Genii. I like genii. There's a tang to their souls you just don't get anywhere else. Mages are better, of course, but there haven't been any of those since the idiots up in the Astral Realm decided all the Higher Planes were to be closed."

Ar'khash sighs, rolling his head on his shoulders.

"I haven't been incarnate for a long time. This is going to take some getting used to, not to mention the fact that everything here has changed a lot since I was last around."

He turns back to Gwen with a sinister smile.

"Fortunately... I have someone to show me around."

Government: Friend or Foe?

Codename: "Omicron"
Real Name: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Gender: Unknown

Faction: Government
Area of Expertise: Hacker, strategist

Personality: Cold and calculating, Omicron will not hesitate to sacrifice the life of anyone under his control provided that the benefit outweighs the cost.
Appearance: Unknown. Omicron always gives orders from behind a computer-generated swirling kaleidoscopic pattern with a digitally distorted voice.

Strengths:
Hacker Omicron is the master of hacking. There is no system he cannot break into, no data he cannot retrieve and no communications he cannot tap.
Chessmaster If anyone is the Chessmaster, it's Omicron. He lays out elaborate plans and manoeuvres his pawns into place to checkmate the King. These pawns are often the government's troops, but can also be civilians, objects or even members of the resistance unwittingly manipulated.
Hidden Nobody knows what Omicron looks like or where he is. This is tolerated by the government because of his spotless record of both loyalty and mission completion. This makes it extremely hard for anyone working against him to find any way to stop him directly.
Sociopathy Omicron is not truly human. He is cold and unfeeling, caring nothing for the lives or happiness of others. He sees them only as pieces to be used in the completion of his goals. This makes it impossible to provoke him or draw him out with a hostage situation or other threat to people's lives.

Weaknesses:
Hidden Nobody knows what Omicron looks like or where he is. If he ever gets in trouble, then it's very possible that nobody will be there to help him.
Sociopathy Omicron is not truly human. He is cold and unfeeling, caring nothing for the lives or happiness of others. He sees them only as pieces to be used in the completion of his goals. This can breed resentment against him and means that he lacks true allies.
Distanced Because Omicron is never physically there, he relies on reports and messages to determine what's occurring. Cut off the reports and you render him powerless.

Background: Unknown

Shadows of the Ancients [GDM & mandachan]

OOC

"Broken, broken, hairdryer, bingo!"

From the 9th Doctor, going through a box of alien artifacts looking for a weapon..

"You're a survivor. That much is obvious. And would it be a good survival tactic to go around blabbing? I know I can trust you to keep your mouth shut, because you're smart enough to know what could happen if you didn't. I probably wouldn't do anything... but you don't know that for sure, and that's why you'll tell nobody. If you're wondering about the ridiculously long journey, that was to make sure you weren't going to try and jump me yourself. There are shorter routes, but I always take first-timers through the labyrinth to make sure they're not going to kill me at the drop of a hat."

He glances at her over his shoulder.

"I have to admit, I'm intrigued by you, though. There's something about you that I can't quite get a handle on. Normally I run through the best way to disable or kill a person as a matter of course, in case they're dangerous, but with you..."

He shakes his head.

"I don't know. There's probably a word for it, but my brain just doesn't seem to want me to do that. I suppose that must be the good vibe you're talking about. It's new to me, anyway."

Looking over at her again, he sees her admiring the Ancient Armour.

"Beautiful workmanship, isn't it? I've tried for weeks, but I can't even get close."

He blinks.

"Did I offer you a meal? I think I'm supposed to do that. I'm sure I read it somewhere in one of the Ancient treatises I have."

Promise of Riches - Tranditional Fantasy Adventure

Khoran wags a finger at him.

"Now, my good mage, why should I let you do such a thing? I am far more experienced in the art of deception than you, and I'm dressed the part of a rich idiot anyway. You'll be more use where you can't get chopped to bits as you're casting a spell."

He makes a playful stabbing motion before addressing the party as a whole.

"Among all of us, I have the least combat effectiveness, so it only makes sense that I'm expendable. Wait for my signal."

With a grin and a wink, he canters forwards on his horse towards the scene. When he next speaks, his voice and manner are completely different. He talks with the breathy, supercilious voice of an arrogant young nobleman, and his bearing is that of the same.

"Goodness gracious! Whatever is happening here? My good sirs, shame upon you for accosting a lady and her travelling companions in such a manner!"

Diving into the Abyss: A Shattered World

The Irish Tree said
Hmm...Not too sure about the Sauren race considering how similar the Fäldkrests are...I'll wait for Skryte's input on this.Also oh mang, so many WIPs

I'll admit they're close, but there are some key differences. Fäldkrests are of draconic descent, from giant magical lizards. The Saurans' ancestors are perfectly ordinary reptiles that happened to evolve. As far as I'm aware, Fäldkrests are warm-blooded, since it's not mentioned that they aren't, so that's a big physiological difference.

You could say that they're cousins, perhaps...

Skyrte said
I'd say that the Saurens can be a close relative of the Fäldkrests. Since the guy already made a character sheet on it, might as well take it.

And then, this. Didn't notice that at first. But yes, exactly what I was saying.

The Irish Tree said
Alrighty then, looks like the Saurens are now a thing! Also Longtooth is accepted!

Excellent.