Lurking Shadow

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

Gavin O’Brien

Kilbride Sawmill

Darkness on the Edge of Town

_{Interaction with @Ferrocerium}

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Gavin exited from the shroud of the forest, heading for the sawmill. All the while formulating a plan, and figuring out possible paths. He begins to sprint, but keeping an eye out for anyone else. If anyone is in the raging inferno, they certainly are running short on time. However, Gavin needs to avoid contact with others if possible. Minimal contact reduces any the likelihood of fatal injuries for the other party. Fortunatly, the small delay he is creating gives him all the more time to plan.

‘About 150 meters. Don’t see an entrance. Fire likely damaged integrity of wall, possible to make new entrance. Limit exposure to five minutes. The less time on fire, the better…’

‘This fire… something is not right. It has an unusual energy source. I doubt this was accidental.’

’so… someone brought s few matches? What does it matter? Do you see anyone inside?’

‘I sense something unnatural about this inferno. The heat is not being transferred from one source to another; it seems to be emanating from a source. Something I do not recognize.’

‘Well, that is comforting. Are you trying to stress me out? I have not given up control for weeks now, and I’ll be damned if you trick me into another ríastrad, even if the immediate area is barely populated…’

Gavin stopped when he noticed a lone individual walk on the side of the building before disappearing out of view. While too far away, and facing the wrong direction, to glean many characteristics. The individual was dressed rather dapper, walking towards the building more calmly than any sane individual heading towards their death.

Now breaking into a full sprint, Gavin neared where he lost sight of the individual and found a door. While taking a brief moment to decide whether to venture in after the individual, he could vaguely hear a voice coming from inside, barely more audible than the crackling of the fire. Lost in thought, Gavin did not notice his blood begging to gain luminescence. His body began to build tolerance to the heat. What would be painful for most was merely uncomfortable to him.

After deciding to breach the threshold; locate the individual and any survivors, bring them outside to safety, and then interrogate the lone individual, Gavin began to open the door.

‘Wait!...’

Gavin paused.

‘… The guy is behind us. Not sure how he got there so fast but I can feel that unusual energy around him, though I am not sure if he is behind the fire.’

All this was thought silently by Beithíoch as Gavin quickly turned around. There indeed was someone behind him, about 5 meters away. Fortunately facing away from him. The well-dressed individual was with another, this one injured. It was then that his mask, expanding from the heat, fell to the ground, exposing a series of thin orange lines that glowed on his face. Gavin’s luminescent blood along with the sound of the grass crunching from the mask might gain Gavin the attention of the man.

‘Shit. Well, I need to make first contact, look intimidating, hopefully avoid a violent confrontation and find out what is going on here…’ Gavin quickly reached for his leg and produced a Howdah pistol concealed in one of his pockets. Hoping it would deter any aggression, he pointed it towards the well-dressed individual. “HEY!” Gavin yelled, waiting to grab his attention. ”Who the hell are you and what are you doing here around this fire?” Gavin said, mentally preparing for a fight.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

@FantasyChic I've spoke to several players on the Discord channel, so I know there's a couple posts in the works.

@Lord Wraith

we have a discord?

anyways, working on my post now. can't think of a whole lot to advance a plot in it besides character meet @Ferrocerium character, and description only adds so many words. Will prob be shorter than my already relatively lacking posts. Not going to have a backstory in it like my previous one's either, still trying to figure out how I'll write that one.

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EDIT: got it posted. I decided to make contact with @Ferrocerium's character. Had the opportunity so I took it, otherwise it might've been a handful of posts before Gavin did anything with another person.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

I'd like to apologize for not posting when I said I would. Some personal stuff came up that is taking some I my time. Should back to my draft by Monday and post shortly after that.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

Gonna try to bring another post up tonight, got distracted trying to learn to play Wargame: Red Dragon. So far I can tell the unit type of roughly half of the 1470+ units (not sure how many were added in the expansion). Now to reread the Art of War, memorize NATO military symbols, study Cold War era military doctrines, watch 20+ hours of people much better than me play it. After all that, hopefully I will be good enough to play the 'EASY' solo campaign. This is what I get for wanting to play a more realistic RTS, days of study and questioning if I am having fun yet.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

G M A N N O U N C E M E N T:

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◼ WEEK 07: A writers inspiration for character ideas can come from many places. Many times, we find our characters influenced by our experiences and preferences. Whether that be favourite published works or perhaps a situation you wish had turned out different. In character, even our characters have inspirations, Batman was inspired by Zorro (who no doubt influenced Bob Kane during his creation). What inspired you to make your character? Whether it be their personality, backstory or powers, this week's discussion is all about your influences.

@Lord Wraith

For my character Gavin, I based him somewhat off of Cú Chulainn. Legendary hero and badass from the Ulster cycle in Irish mythology. Cú Chulainn has defended the town of Ulster from an entire invading army through rite of single combat in a stand-off lasting months (the men of Ulster were conveniently disabled by a curse). He knows how to use the Gáe Bulg (Spear of Mortal Pain/Death Spear), this impales a man and then barbs come out from the sides of the spear meaning that the only way to remove it is to tear the flesh from the unfortunate target. Unfortunately, he met an early end when he was tricked into violating his geasa and was mortally wounded in battle and tied himself to a rock so he may face his foes standing until he dies. due to his ferocity even when near death, no one knew he died until a crow (possibly The Morrigan?) landed on his shoulders.

Cú Chulainn has the ríastrad (warp-spasm) ability much as mine does though altered a little to work in this RP. I did note on the CS he is mildly deformed, much as Cú Chulainn when he has a warp-spasm. Gavin gets a boost to strength in durability when he has a warp-spasm but gets increasingly hostile to others similar to Cú Chulainn.

I also take some themes from Lovecraftian lore. Notably, in this case, The Rats in the Walls. In this short tale, a man slowly goes mad as he learns more and more about the deeds his ancestors have done climaxing when he attacks and eats a friend while exploring a cavern beneath his ancestor's house that he was restoring (supposedly cursed or something like that). He however claims that it was the rats that did it. the rats in the walls the he hears even now in his cell.

Similarly, Gavin is a bit traumatized from what he thinks he may have done in the past and (in what's probably pseudo-scientific) invented an alternate personality to deal with the trauma.

Lovecraft is generally my go-to source for inspiration so normally my characters are 'dark', even whan they are the good guy. You don't have to be 'good' guy to be good guy in a twist of a line from a certain animated movie.

I also like the good lovecraftian games like Arkham Horror or Elder Sign. It is some of the most challenging Co-Op board games I've ever played, I only win about one in five games. Most of the wins against Ithaqua, the Wendigo in Lovecraftian lore. Sadly I don't get a lot of chances to play it as barely anyone can set aside five or so hours to play a medium that usually takes one.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

@Ferroceriumjust want to make sure. I don't want to write your char in a direction you don't like. Currently traveling back from DC so I'll either post tonight or tommorow.

@Lord Wraith So it seems the weather would make Arial missions difficult if not impossible. I'll restrict all (if any) to the outer regions of the city. Namely the forest and the desert where the weather would be at least somewhat less violent.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

@Ferrocerium I am new too, so this'll be a learning experience for the both of us.

Hider

Hopefully I'll learn quite a bit as I constantly feel like my writing is adequate at best. I constantly rewrite everything, but I never really feel satisfied with my writing. I still have a series on deviant art that I barely started but have not worked on for months because of the aforementioned reason. If anyone wants to give me some writing tips, I'd appreciate it. Specifically on dialogue as I think that is my weakest trait.

Personally, I elected to do a more of a passive role initially. I was going to write a post after @Utrax, But I'll follow your lead. I'll write another post in a day or two, though a quick question. Did Anton and the other guy teleport to the immediate vicinity outside the building or to a different location entirely? I'd need to know whether or not my char, Gavin, would see a person blink spontaneously into existence or not.

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@Lord Wraith for future reference, how bad is the weather around the city in general. As I mentioned in my CS, Gavin has an aqaintance who occasionally airdrops supplies and I'd like to know the practicality of say a SnowGoose bringing medical supplies or armaments.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

Might as well get in on this too.



TA SNTDA HC TRA ISS HTWT TAG EN VNDAHMYDEHTI O EDWIHEENLLE OTA IHSRNEAOSEE ET A I

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

<Snipped quote by SgtEasy>

Talk about abusive relationships.

@BlackSam3091

The real ending to The Darkness 2, is still the worst I've ever seen. Not sure if it is considered abusive per se, but is still pretty messed up.

VIGILANCE: Blood & Justice - A Superhuman Roleplay (Always Open)

Gavin O’Brien

Iraq, 2011. Night

Memory recollection Pt 2

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“I’ve seen enough movies to know this is the part where we get ambushed.” John said jokingly. Ever the clown of the group, he could always be relied upon to diffuse the tension or ease the anxiety the group would face on their runs. Unfortunately, fate decided to turn jest into reality.

“Much as I’d like to come back a war hero and with a purple heart, I’d prefer the usual clearing of ordinance that does not shoot back at us”

As the buffalo tore through the ground, slowly of course so as not to trigger the bomb, a device became visible.

A curious relic, the object was a metallic container about one foot wide and three inches long. It did not look like the usual explosives Gavin has cleared before, made much more apparent with an interesting marking. On the side, in some kind of illuminous paint, was labeled ‘Dr. Thrax’

Gavin paid little attention as he continued digging. After a little more effort, more information emerged. The device was not alone, it had wires connecting it to other unseen objects buried in the sand. Trusting in the durability of the vehicle, Gavin elected to continue yanking it out of the ground. As time judged, this was a deadly mistake. The removal of the device did not produce the thunderous sound of explosions as expected, but the distant hiss of a gas escaping a container.

This left Gavin, and the others, confused even as they noticed a malignant yellow cloud forming from the outside towards them. It was not until they breathed in the virulent air that the reasoning behind this trap dawned upon them.

Gavin began hacking violently as the gas irritated his respiratory tract, causing immense pain. His eyes began to water, in a vain attempt to stave off the gas. In an attempt to find fresh air, Gavin opted to make an immediate escape of the metal tomb that engulfed him. He didn’t make it far as he began to lose consciousness from the pain he felt. The last thing he remembered was a glimpse of movement in one of the structures and the crackling heat of the gas.

“… Wait a minute, mustard gas does not produce heat, or crack like a fire. Oh god, I’m dreaming it again!” Gavin realized as he woke up.

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Present day, Night

Darkness on the Edge of Town

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‘Remembering the event again? Do you remember ripping through their flesh? Do you remember the rage empowering us? I liked how they tasted. Say what you want about mustard gas, but it does add an interesting flavor. Or it might have been their fear.’

Gavin was silent; he does not like to think back to that point in his life. Time and trauma both have ways of mercifully blurring the past, but it still comes back to him sometimes. There are the occasional gaps in his memory; blank moments, skips, and inconsistencies. No doubt subconsciously made in order to protect what sanity he had left. It felt rather lovecraftian, but isn’t that what his life is now? Just one long tale of horror, a tale of man trapped in his body with a monstrous personality occasionally taking control. Lovecraft’s tales never ended well. All the notable characters would perish or lose their sanity, living only to ramble in a mental ward. At best the crises would merely be delayed, but never stopped.

Would Gavin’s tale end any better? For a moment, he pondered the idea of trying to remember the blanks, which is probably why he is dreaming. He must be trying to connect the fragments of his mind and form a solid picture. Maybe it would give him some sort of conclusion, maybe if he can remember; it could ease the torment he feels. He decides not to however, Gavin is ultimately afraid of what he might remember. Afraid of his fears being confirmed.

… I like how they tasted, Gavin found himself salivating at the thought of this. Horrified at the prospect, he diverted his attention elsewhere. He tried to find something to occupy his thinking when he noticed an unusual light in the distance. It flickered and wavered unlike man-made illumination, more like a fire. Briefly searching his brain, he remembered some sort of store or other in that direction. Probably a sawmill considering the proximity to the forest. Someone might need help extinguishing the flames. More importantly, the flames can’t spread through the forest. It might burn his refuge, the only other place far enough from the city he could hide (in the case of certain events), and close enough to go to the city in a reasonable amount of time would be the desert. Gavin didn’t much like the idea of going back to sand. Starting with a walk toward the source, as he was not sure he was commited, eventually became a run as he began to felt convicted in his ability to not harm anyone.
‘I don’t like the idea of fire…'

‘What, when has fire ever stopped you?’

Beithíoch made a sound that Gavin swore seemed like a chuckle ‘Despite not being the one with the organs, It seems I am the one of us two that can have a ‘gut feeling’, how does that make any sense?’

’Our skin occasionally becomes immune to bullets, we have an extra organ that produces a radioactive isotope in our bloodstream, AND our blood glows through our skin. When did things ever make any sense?’ Gavin thought, though he did began to worry a little. He could not deny that Beithíoch just had this instinct for certain situations. While it is true no natural fire has stopped him before, there must be something… unnatural?