RezonanceV

Empire of the Empty Throne

Ironclaws

Name and Title of Vassal State:

Ironclaws

Ruler:

War Chief, Egron "Wolf Rage” Argoz.

Lineage:

Descendant of Argoz; the strategic advisor to Nu’kal during his rise, the teacher of Barrag the Great Red, and father to Lagruk the Warmaker. Lagruk became father to Gar and Kordal, who became Generals, and fathers to Dralzar, Ungdar, and Har’hai. The children of Gar; Dralzar and Ungdar would later become Generals of their own. Har’hai, the daughter of Kordal, would birth a son, Raga, who would become a Warlord to the War King, Nurkal. When Nurkal died, Raga, retreated into the deep recesses of the wilds to continue the legacy of what made their goblins great. Egron is the great-great-grandson of Raga, descendant of Argoz, and War Chief to the Ironclaws; a band of hobgoblins who equip gauntlets with reinforced steel claws that can be used as a supplemental weapon in close-quarter combat. Their banner is a red flag with three claw rips through the center of the banner.

Race:

A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess. Five to six foot goblinoids with dark orange or red-orange skin, and hair ranging from dark red-brown to dark gray. Their eyes can be that of a cat-like Yellow or dark brown. If one were to get too close to a Hobgoblin, the blade is not all they would need to fear, their mouths open wide with sharp teeth capable of puncturing and crushing human bone. Male’s sometimes have blue or red noses. The hobgoblin’s lifespan can measure anywhere from 80-120, but often times because they have an affinity for war and conflict, they live on average to about 40. Hobgoblins are born into a military culture, training to fight with a variety of weapons and have mastercraft skills in blacksmithing arms, armor, siege engines, and other military devices. Hobgoblins are organized in war tribes, eventually these tribes can evolve into legions. The last mighty legion to have existed was Nurkal’s. The ranks of a tribe and legion are as follows; War King (there only has ever been one, Nurkal), Warlord, General, Captain, Fatal Axe, Spear, Fist, and Soldier. Hobgoblins are no novices to tactics and discipline, in fact, they can carry out sophisticated battle plans under the direction of a strategically minded leader. Hobgoblins have zero problems with supplementing their forces with humans, ogres, giants, lesser goblins, bugbears, orcs, and wargs. They dislike elves greatly, and if the Gaulletic were not a superior force by a landslide, there would be an imminent fight happening everytime they locked eyes. Hobgoblins are master beast trainers, using horses and oxen to transport goods and weaponry over long distances. They use ravens for communication and position wolves to protect camps, watch guards, and ride the bigger ones into battle. There really is no limit to the types of animals hobgoblins will train, it just depends on the ecology they are in, and what makes sense for what purposes. Hobgoblins look for wood, metal, and slaves. There are small pit arenas where hobgoblins watch gladiator matches, and participate in the arenas themselves, this form of entertainment has grown since their subjugation by the Gaulletic, since they cannot leave the island.

Location:

The large island to the left (West) of the Castle.

History:

The Rise of Nu’kal

Nu’kal rests on Kaos Island, North West from the Dacori Til Peninsula and directly West across the straight from Castle Arillanco. Before the Gaulletic’s arrival 800 years ago, the Nu’kal’s power on Kaos was not to be trifled with. Their war chief, Nu’kal, stood at an unaverage height of 7’9”, wielding a long two-sided battle axe and Daghata (top and bottom “V” cut construction capped at the center with steel for reinforcing it’s strength when catching weapons) shield. Nu’kal’s rise began when he killed his rival Daghata with his own weapon (the Daghata shield). After killing his rival, he was crowned War Chief, and the tribe was renamed after Nu’kal’s own. His first gift to the Nu’kal hobgoblins was a campaign to the east, their target, the Drax; another rising hobgoblin tribe which had united lesser goblins and bugbears under their banner. The Drax posed to be formidable enemies, but in the end, Nu’kal reigned supreme with the beheading of Drax, the Spine Taker. After the Drax were absorbed into the Nu’kal ranks, they moved to the human port city, Caelum. Before arriving, they were met 15 miles out from the city while marching through the wilds. An order of religious zealots swearing to protect the faithful city of Caelum battled the toughened Nu’kal ranks and even took a few strategic victories on the battlefield across four days. In the end, the zealots fell, retreating where they could run, or standing to die on the soil they vowed to protect. Nu’kal pushed toward the city and met mild resistance from Caelum’s small standing army and trained guard. Two days after their fight with the zealots, Caelum was under Nu’kal’s rule. The humans were enslaved and transported back to the heart of Nu’kal’s original territory where they would work to keep the war machine alive. The young and strong who would obey Nu’kal were integrated into the ranks with temporary titles, and given some freedom within zones of the camp, but ultimately were used as fodder when it came time for battle. The final test to Nu’kal’s might were the Orc war bands in the West, it would take Nu’kal eight months to bend the knees of every Orc in the region, but eventually they did, and were enslaved to be used as gladiators for entertainment and tests for the young Hobgoblin military units.

The Red Tides

Nu’kal bore a son and daughter, albeit his daughter received little storytelling attention, and so her records are only shared by a few who were ever close to her. However, Nu’kal’s son, Barrag the Great Red, received many appraisals from the Hobgoblin society. Barrag was as mighty as his father, possibly mightier, and maybe it would not be a question had Nu’kal decided to keep his son around long enough. Instead, Nu’kal ordered his son to learn under his strategic advisor and commander, Argoz, and the two of them were sent to the mainland for expanding Nu’kal’s supremacy. Across the water, Argoz and Barrag land just above where Castle Arrilanco is standing today. Argoz would spend the next 20 years teaching Barrag, and Barrag would spend an additional 60 years marching up the shores of the mainland. Nu’kal settlements flourished as more slaves were added to each one bolstering economic and military growth. Several generations from Nu’kal, to Barrag, and his sons, and his sons, kept the Nu’kal tribe connected and strong. Eventually, the Nu’kal came in contact with the Lyndenstrath dwarves, but before much came out of the few skirmishes that left both sides licking small wounds, the Gaulletic arrived, ending the Age of the Red Tides.

The Great Sunder

The Gaulletic’s arrival started off as a frustrating surprise. Arriving on ships, the Gaulletic swiftly took the unprepared shorelines of the Nu’kal, who primarily focused their might on land. Once the north and south settlements were divided on the mainland, they began fighting amongst themselves, and eventually ripped apart by the Gaulletic. The War King in the Age of the Great Sunder was Nurkal, or “Might”, and closely resembling the origins of his great ancestor Nu’kal. Nurkal back at the capital on Kaos island had been dealing with the Gaulletic on home terf, while receiving news of his divided nation on the mainland. Consolidation was in order and the commands were given to all Nu’kal that they return to Kaos to reinforce the island and return to the mainland once the Gaulletic were suppressed. Unfortunately, the Gaulletic had converted some of the Nu’kal to their own side, which created small Hobgoblin war tribes to begin emerging out of thin air on the island and on the mainland. The urge for strength and power during a time of obvious weakness is never passed up by the worst of the opportunistic hobgoblins. The fight for Kaos ended in the death of Nurkal, the last of the Nu’kal dynasty.

Thralled by the Gaulletic

The history of the Nu’kal were left to the remaining orators who dare speak of the ancient myths before the Gaulletic. Reduced to a fraction of it’s original power, the Gaulletic had subjugated much of island with pockets of resisting Hobgoblins that would not bow without being cut down. Most of these pockets were left in the center of Kaos, in the thickest brush of the island. There never really would be a way to stomp out every fire, but for the most part, either you were a Hobgoblin society serving the Gaulletic, or being cut by a Hobgoblin serving the Gaulletic. There are more than a dozen small war tribes of hobgoblins serving the Gaulletic empire, and only a handful that continue to be a nuasence. Some hobgoblins on the mainland have been successful in their ability to hide, others fleeing North, and the rest converting to Gaulletic rule and serving in their military. Many in the first few days of the Gaulletic invasion were shipped back to the island to fight their own kind into controlled regions for the Gaulletic to sweep in with few casaulties and assert their control with greater ease.

Today

The news of Mormer’s death and the plague that sticks to the Gaulletic like glue has passed through the ears of those hobs who serve closely. Their mouths gabbing to the others about a shift in power, and as the hobs before them, the worst of the opportunistic begin to scheme. The hobgoblins of Kaos Island albeit ready to kill each other to prove their might in battle, are also not to be mistaken as dumb or weak when there is a sign of weakness in those who hold a temporary chain to their necks. There are some tribes who whisper ideas of revolt, and even deeper in the wilds, a tribe who has always been free, preparing to spread it to the shores of Kaos erupting like a flame from the center. But, right now, these whispers…are only stories.

Religion: The First Flame

Nu’kal’s origins stretches back to the “first flame forced from the dark mouth of Ozgoth, the god of depths and darkness. Ozgoth formed many sons and daughters out of darkness, all who were slain, except for a sister and brother, by his strongest son, Akuroth, the god of war and leadership. The two who Akuroth let live were, Gresh, the god of cooperation and territory; Hargoth, the god of alchemy and knowledge. Akuroth following his geneological slaughter, took the world as his prize, and awarded Gresh and Hargoth to sit as rulers of the goblinoids with Akuroth. The descendants of the Nu’kal, no matter what they call themselves today, will know of this story, and worship Akuroth as their god who will return their mighty empire back to its former glory.

Imperial Census on the Ironclaws/Prefecture of Kaos

Population
1,800,000

Hobgoblins 40%
Lesser Goblins 15%
Human 10%
Gaülletic 10%
Bugbear 5%
Dwarves 5%
Myr 5%
Other Races 5%

Average life expectancy
29 years

Causes of death

Malaria
Typhoid
Influenza
Clan Warfare
Plagues

Economic Production

Domesticated animals
Olives
Copper
Salt
Fish (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, bogue, cod, sea bass, halibut, salmon)
Tin
Shellfish (oysters, clams, lobster, crab)
Barley
Iron

Tribute production

Olive Oil
Salt
Shellfish (purple dye)
Saltpeter
Gold
Cattle and Horses
Copper

The Ironclaws/Prefecture of Kaos also has the Minister of Spies and the Minister of the Mines in the official service of the Empire.

Empire of the Empty Throne

Ironclaws

Name and Title of Vassal State:

Ironclaws

Ruler:

War Chief, Egron "Wolf Rage” Argoz.

Lineage:

Descendant of Argoz; the strategic advisor to Nu’kal during his rise, the teacher of Barrag the Great Red, and father to Lagruk the Warmaker. Lagruk became father to Gar and Kordal, who became Generals, and fathers to Dralzar, Ungdar, and Har’hai. The children of Gar; Dralzar and Ungdar would later become Generals of their own. Har’hai, the daughter of Kordal, would birth a son, Raga, who would become a Warlord to the War King, Nurkal. When Nurkal died, Raga, retreated into the deep recesses of the wilds to continue the legacy of what made their goblins great. Egron is the great-great-grandson of Raga, descendant of Argoz, and War Chief to the Ironclaws; a band of hobgoblins who equip gauntlets with reinforced steel claws that can be used as a supplemental weapon in close-quarter combat. Their banner is a red flag with three claw rips through the center of the banner.

Race:

Hobgoblin [40%]
Lesser goblin [20%]
Orc [10%]
Bugbear [10%]
Human [15%]
Other [5%]

Location:

The large island to the left (West) of the Castle.

History:

The Rise of Nu’kal

Nu’kal rests on Kaos Island, North West from the Dacori Til Peninsula and directly West across the straight from Castle Arillanco. Before the Gaulletic’s arrival 800 years ago, the Nu’kal’s power on Kaos was not to be trifled with. Their war chief, Nu’kal, stood at an unaverage height of 7’9”, wielding a long two-sided battle axe and Daghata (top and bottom “V” cut construction capped at the center with steel for reinforcing it’s strength when catching weapons) shield. Nu’kal’s rise began when he killed his rival Daghata with his own weapon (the Daghata shield). After killing his rival, he was crowned War Chief, and the tribe was renamed after Nu’kal’s own. His first gift to the Nu’kal hobgoblins was a campaign to the east, their target, the Drax; another rising hobgoblin tribe which had united lesser goblins and bugbears under their banner. The Drax posed to be formidable enemies, but in the end, Nu’kal reigned supreme with the beheading of Drax, the Spine Taker. After the Drax were absorbed into the Nu’kal ranks, they moved to the human port city, Caelum. Before arriving, they were met 15 miles out from the city while marching through the wilds. An order of religious zealots swearing to protect the faithful city of Caelum battled the toughened Nu’kal ranks and even took a few strategic victories on the battlefield across four days. In the end, the zealots fell, retreating where they could run, or standing to die on the soil they vowed to protect. Nu’kal pushed toward the city and met mild resistance from Caelum’s small standing army and trained guard. Two days after their fight with the zealots, Caelum was under Nu’kal’s rule. The humans were enslaved and transported back to the heart of Nu’kal’s original territory where they would work to keep the war machine alive. The young and strong who would obey Nu’kal were integrated into the ranks with temporary titles, and given some freedom within zones of the camp, but ultimately were used as fodder when it came time for battle. The final test to Nu’kal’s might were the Orc war bands in the West, it would take Nu’kal eight months to bend the knees of every Orc in the region, but eventually they did, and were enslaved to be used as gladiators for entertainment and tests for the young Hobgoblin military units.

The Red Tides

Nu’kal bore a son and daughter, albeit his daughter received little storytelling attention, and so her records are only shared by a few who were ever close to her. However, Nu’kal’s son, Barrag the Great Red, received many appraisals from the Hobgoblin society. Barrag was as mighty as his father, possibly mightier, and maybe it would not be a question had Nu’kal decided to keep his son around long enough. Instead, Nu’kal ordered his son to learn under his strategic advisor and commander, Argoz, and the two of them were sent to the mainland for expanding Nu’kal’s supremacy. Across the water, Argoz and Barrag land just above where Castle Arrilanco is standing today. Argoz would spend the next 20 years teaching Barrag, and Barrag would spend an additional 60 years marching up the shores of the mainland. Nu’kal settlements flourished as more slaves were added to each one bolstering economic and military growth. Several generations from Nu’kal, to Barrag, and his sons, and his sons, kept the Nu’kal tribe connected and strong. Eventually, the Nu’kal came in contact with the Lyndenstrath dwarves, but before much came out of the few skirmishes that left both sides licking small wounds, the Gaulletic arrived, ending the Age of the Red Tides.

The Great Sunder

The Gaulletic’s arrival started off as a frustrating surprise. Arriving on ships, the Gaulletic swiftly took the unprepared shorelines of the Nu’kal, who primarily focused their might on land. Once the north and south settlements were divided on the mainland, they began fighting amongst themselves, and eventually ripped apart by the Gaulletic. The War King in the Age of the Great Sunder was Nurkal, or “Might”, and closely resembling the origins of his great ancestor Nu’kal. Nurkal back at the capital on Kaos island had been dealing with the Gaulletic on home terf, while receiving news of his divided nation on the mainland. Consolidation was in order and the commands were given to all Nu’kal that they return to Kaos to reinforce the island and return to the mainland once the Gaulletic were suppressed. Unfortunately, the Gaulletic had converted some of the Nu’kal to their own side, which created small Hobgoblin war tribes to begin emerging out of thin air on the island and on the mainland. The urge for strength and power during a time of obvious weakness is never passed up by the worst of the opportunistic hobgoblins. The fight for Kaos ended in the death of Nurkal, the last of the Nu’kal dynasty.

Thralled by the Gaulletic

The history of the Nu’kal were left to the remaining orators who dare speak of the ancient myths before the Gaulletic. Reduced to a fraction of it’s original power, the Gaulletic had subjugated much of island with pockets of resisting Hobgoblins that would not bow without being cut down. Most of these pockets were left in the center of Kaos, in the thickest brush of the island. There never really would be a way to stomp out every fire, but for the most part, either you were a Hobgoblin society serving the Gaulletic, or being cut by a Hobgoblin serving the Gaulletic. There are more than a dozen small war tribes of hobgoblins serving the Gaulletic empire, and only a handful that continue to be a nuasence. Some hobgoblins on the mainland have been successful in their ability to hide, others fleeing North, and the rest converting to Gaulletic rule and serving in their military. Many in the first few days of the Gaulletic invasion were shipped back to the island to fight their own kind into controlled regions for the Gaulletic to sweep in with few casaulties and assert their control with greater ease.

Today

The news of Mormer’s death and the plague that sticks to the Gaulletic like glue has passed through the ears of those hobs who serve closely. Their mouths gabbing to the others about a shift in power, and as the hobs before them, the worst of the opportunistic begin to scheme. The hobgoblins of Kaos Island albeit ready to kill each other to prove their might in battle, are also not to be mistaken as dumb or weak when there is a sign of weakness in those who hold a temporary chain to their necks. There are some tribes who whisper ideas of revolt, and even deeper in the wilds, a tribe who has always been free, preparing to spread it to the shores of Kaos erupting like a flame from the center. But, right now, these whispers…are only stories.

Aesthetic

A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess. Five to six foot goblinoids with dark orange or red-orange skin, and hair ranging from dark red-brown to dark gray. Their eyes can be that of a cat-like Yellow or dark brown. If one were to get too close to a Hobgoblin, the blade is not all they would need to fear, their mouths open wide with sharp teeth capable of puncturing and crushing human bone. Male’s sometimes have blue or red noses. The hobgoblin’s lifespan can measure anywhere from 80-120, but often times because they have an affinity for war and conflict, they live on average to about 40. Hobgoblins are born into a military culture, training to fight with a variety of weapons and have mastercraft skills in blacksmithing arms, armor, siege engines, and other military devices. Hobgoblins are organized in war tribes, eventually these tribes can evolve into legions. The last mighty legion to have existed was Nurkal’s. The ranks of a tribe and legion are as follows; War King (there only has ever been one, Nurkal), Warlord, General, Captain, Fatal Axe, Spear, Fist, and Soldier. Hobgoblins are no novices to tactics and discipline, in fact, they can carry out sophisticated battle plans under the direction of a strategically minded leader. Hobgoblins have zero problems with supplementing their forces with humans, ogres, giants, lesser goblins, bugbears, orcs, and wargs. They dislike elves greatly, and if the Gaulletic were not a superior force by a landslide, there would be an imminent fight happening everytime they locked eyes. Hobgoblins are master beast trainers, using horses and oxen to transport goods and weaponry over long distances. They use ravens for communication and position wolves to protect camps, watch guards, and ride the bigger ones into battle. There really is no limit to the types of animals hobgoblins will train, it just depends on the ecology they are in, and what makes sense for what purposes. Hobgoblins look for wood, metal, and slaves. There are small pit arenas where hobgoblins watch gladiator matches, and participate in the arenas themselves, this form of entertainment has grown since their subjugation by the Gaulletic, since they cannot leave the island.

Religion: The First Flame

Nu’kal’s origins stretches back to the “first flame forced from the dark mouth of Ozgoth, the god of depths and darkness. Ozgoth formed many sons and daughters out of darkness, all who were slain, except for a sister and brother, by his strongest son, Akuroth, the god of war and leadership. The two who Akuroth let live were, Gresh, the god of cooperation and territory; Hargoth, the god of alchemy and knowledge. Akuroth following his geneological slaughter, took the world as his prize, and awarded Gresh and Hargoth to sit as rulers of the goblinoids with Akuroth. The descendants of the Nu’kal, no matter what they call themselves today, will know of this story, and worship Akuroth as their god who will return their mighty empire back to its former glory.

Deadlands: Tales o' the Weird West

One of Many Hunts: Somewhere in New Mexico

The sun settled on two black dusters worn by Vic Godspeed and Don Grinz. The two were prone observing over a ledge on top of a ridgeline above a small camp. Below their height parked two wagons with a family of four and two wagon drivers bound to large wooden stakes in the ground. Surrounding the family and drivers were 6 outlaws and their gang leader who appeared visibly taller with a black vest fashioned from leather. Gold buttons adorned the center of the vest as each reflected light from the setting sun off the dome surfaces. The leader was bent forward examining one of the young girls with his index finger and thumb, touching her jawline he measured her features with a grotesque smile. There was no question in the mind of a right person that this evil hovering over its prey reveled in the young girl's discomfort.

Vic never liked waiting around when there was action to be taken, but he knew timing was important, even if everything in his gut told him to go. Vic turned his head toward Don asking, “What do you think?” Vic paused as Don met his eyes, Vic continued, “Is that our mark?” Don mindful of keeping low from the gang’s sight as he moved, slowly tipped to one side pulling out a brass Gregorian telescope. Don laid back on his belly situating his large burly self into a comfortable spot as his elbows extended slightly forward but flat. He closed his right eye as a left eye dominant man, he scanned with the telescope for any features that were noted in the Ranger report.

There it was on the neck, a mark, a scar, it was something that distinctly told Don this was their mark. The mark was just peeking out from the folded red collar of the gang leader’s shirt. Don took his eyes off the telescope handing it over to Vic, “Yup, collar line, you’ll see.”

Vic took the telescope, looked through, and confirmed the sign, “When do we move?” He passed the telescope back to Don who packed it away back into his duster, “Midnight, when the full moon is at it’s highest.”

The two slowly pulled away from the ridgeline to prepare for the upcoming hunt.

4 Hours later…

The fire was cracking below Vic and Don as the two made their preparations in the dark. The gang chattered loudly as the frightened family of four would scream every so often when played with by one of the members. Vic and Don both knew nothing was going to happen to any of them so long as the gang leader’s master had not yet awoke to fill it’s drink, never the less Don could tell Vic was biting at the idea of waiting for something to happen if he weren’t the one initiating it. Don reached into his side jacket pocket pulling out a pocket watch, “Vic, it’s time.” Vic got up from sitting against a rock 10 feet from the ridge line they were observing from earlier. He dusted off his clothes and made his way below.

An outlaw, as Vic was making his way down, walked over to one of the young females in her early 20s. He cut her free from the stake she was bound too as she tried fighting him off but to no avail. The outlaw dragged her to the back of one of the wagon throwing her in and hopping in behind her. Don was surprised, if their monster showed up while that outlaw was defiling it’s meal, he’d be ripped apart and fed on instead. But, these were outlaws, men with no honor, no discipline, no self-control, and will be justly punished as a consequence to their evil.

Not seconds later, one of the outlaws keeping watch sighted Vic as he approached the camp, “Boss, we got some idiot coming through!” Don from above watched as the gang leader hopped off the stage wagon in between the stakes bounding the family and drivers,. He walked up to the East of the camp where Vic was entering from. Don was perched on the South side which provided him a profile view of the entire camp giving way to each outlaw’s position as they reacted to Vic’s emerging presence.

“What you doin’ here boy? Best you scat before we make you scat.” The gang leader spoke up as Vic continued his advance. The four outlaws began tightening their formation to meet to Vic reinforcing the Eastern line of the camp, all but two, one was still in the back of the stage wagon while the other remained watching the hostages.

“Are you deaf?” The gang leader drew his pistol, BANG BANG BANG BANG.

Vic stopped. Don watched three of the outlaws and their gang leader drop to the floor like bricks tossed from a building. The gang member watching the hostages yelled to warn the other, “He killed the crew!” Drawing his gun, the outlaw fired three rounds at Vic’s advance but missed each time as Vic trained his revolver firing one shot which hit the carotid of his attacker. The outlaw fell back with a reflex reaction to bring his hand to his neck, but the blood was too loose, too quick, and too much to stop.

“You can come on out, leave that girl alone and maybe I’ll let you die quick!” Vic yelled at the outlaw still in the wagon. He was positioned to take a quick shot if the outlaw came out, which he did, and as he leapt out Vic’s bullet punched the outlaw’s left breast sending him to the floor. Vic then quickly moved over the wagon to see if the girl was safe, as he looked into the back of the wagon he saw the young girl passed out, still clothed, but her breath was shallow. Vic climbed back checking her for any mortal wounds, but only saw bruising around her neck. Then he realized…the monster wasn’t coming, it was already here. Vic was ripped from out of the back of the wagon and tossed several feet as his shoulder hit the ground hard.

Don watched as the thought-to-be dead outlaw from the back of the wagon rose as if never shot, before he could react, the outlaw had thrown Vic clear across the camp. It began to move with speed about to finish Vic off leaving a small window that Don took. The Whitworth Rifle fired an 11.5mm bullet at 100 yards smacking its target between the rib cage. The gravitational force sent the monster to a knee but not to it’s back. Reorienting his senses, Vic drew his other revolver firing three shots, each punching a hole in a small grouping around the left side of the monster’s face. It fell to the floor as Vic retreated to a better position.

As Vic and Don reloaded their weapons, the outlaw-monster rose again.

The monster turned it’s sights toward Don, Vic yelled, “Don! It’s coming for you!” The monster dropped its gait launching toward Don’s location with a fierce stride. Don finished reloading turned back to face the monster down range, “Shit!” Just as the monster leapt from a 15 yard distance Don fired his rifle aiming for the head, but punching the shoulder. The monster dropped short of Don’s position. Don scrambled to get up but the monster was quick taking a second lunge colliding into Don as he stood. Don fell back 3 feet, but the monster now standing where Don was began to burn at the skin. Crying out in pain it tried to move but was incapable.

Vic took this chance to fire, BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG. Four out of the six shots punctured the monster, one in the rib, two in the hip, and two down the side of it’s left leg. Vic was approaching from the left profile of the monster, and it dropped to a knee. Vic dropped the dead revolver, drawing his second as he approached, BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG, and used his free hand to draw his sword. All six shots hit their target, three in the left shoulder, two in the torso, and another in the hip. The rounds were not meant to kill it, but to slow it down. As the monster recovered Vic was now arms reach about to plunge his sword into its neck, but before he could the monster mustered up enough power to turn as swipe Vic’s arm cutting it clean across, he dropped the blade, and the monster hit him with the other hand sending Vic’s face to one of the rocks.

The monster found strength restoring in it’s body as it began to move from its locked position to finish Vic off. Stammering over as the bullet wounds slowly healed it raised it’s hand to cut Vic’s head clean off. SHLUK! A blade stabbed through the back of the monster’s head. Don standing behind it with his Whitworth’s bayonet equipped to the end. He used his entire body to send the blade from the back of the skull to the front of crown. Vic regaining consciousness watched in a haze as the monster dropped to its knees still breathing. Quickly, he reacted with his sword somehow still gripped in his hand. He raised himself up and with one strong cut decapitated the monster. The body of the beast fell as the head was still suspended by Don’s Whitworth which he dropped not seconds after. Vic and Don both crashed to the floor.

Don taking a deep breath, “Are you alright?” Vic tried lifting his cheeks for a smirk but settled with, “Yes.” Don took another deep breath, “I’m gettin’ too old for this.” He then proceeded to lay down on his back. Vic leaned up against the rock he had hit earlier, “Ha, not yet old man, I’m just getting started.” Don groaned following Vic’s remarks, “Let’s get the family free and get back home for a debrief.” The two took their time getting up, placing the decapitated head in the bag, “Hey, Don…that vampire was the strongest we’ve run into, what gives?” Don paused, “It’s a Upir, the damn thing is nearly impossible to kill.” Vic processed for a moment, “A Upir? Why’d they only send us then!” Don kept moving along toward the family, “Because ain’t nobody else who wanted the job.”

Texas Ranger Outpost: Somewhere in New Mexico

Vic and Don were sitting on a bench, Don chewing tobacco spat up some unwanted juices as Vic sharpened a dull edge on his Bowie knife. A commanding officer of the Texas Rangers walked over to the two handing Don papers. Don replied to the man handing off the papers, “What’s this, Greeves?” The man Don called, Greeves, was in charge of the outpost in New Mexico. He was a veteran, about as old as Don but with less hunts and chose administrative duties over hunting monsters. Greeves sat down next to the two, “Well, I wanted to give you two some R&R after the Upir almost took ya’ both out.” Greeves cracked a smile as the two almost detested had they not seen the bait coming a mile away, “Deadwood.”

Greeves paused, “They got ghost rock in Deadwood.” Don dropped his head slightly, “Damn, how much?” Greeves pointed to the paper that Don placed next to him, “Too much, check the telegram.” Don moved his hand to flip the sheet over, “Yeah, too much, are we headin’ there then?” Greeves nodded, “The assignment comes from the top chariot of our greater ambitious organization, the mayor…a Mr. Farnum contacted one of our connections in the Confederacy who reported to our boys upstairs who assigned it to me to assign to you.” Vic laughed, “We get it, it’s important, why all the sighing big fella?” Vic stretched his arm out patting Don on the shoulder.

Greeves answered for him, “Because ghost rock wherever it pops up, draws attention, death, and some of the most twisted characters this world has to offer.” Vic smiled at the response, “Good, it’s about time we met a match.” Don turned around to face Vic, “No kid, there is no match…it will be a blood bath, and we are being sent as a sacrifice to get any good information the clean up crew can work from after the fight has died down.” Vic sat back a little, “Hmm…then I guess we better make it a good show.” Greeves chuckled a bit, “I can see why you like him Don.” Don snorted, “Eh, he’ll do for now.” He spat once more releasing the tobacco onto the desert floor of the outpost, “Pack up boy, we are heading to Deadwood.”

Shattered Stars - A Space Opera [Open for more players - Someone please join Karbana Kinnis... it's lonely there]

The Grand Conduit of Vitrium.

Desa lurked in the shadows of Vitrium. She had been formerly contacted by Mayven Reigns for a sensitive mission within the Grand Conduit. Her target was a puppet of the Dominion, an outskirts senator named Mac Reed. A frail man hid under the thin facade of a decadent failing empire.

The job had been addressed by Mayven Reigns herself. The details of her target took her to the theater in the Grand Conduit of Vitrium. Apparently, the OPAO through an informant of the Dominion was notified about this senator breaking down in the middle of his colleagues. Mayven saw it as an opportunity to lead a frightened mouse searching in the dark hungry for answers into the cat’s bed. Former Dominion officer Williams pulled some strings to get the next destination of Mac Reed, a theater where Desa kept a low-profile.

It was not difficult to spot Mac, he made the fatal error of surrounding himself with 6 beacons of attention. The beacons were an exosuit escort team, a junker force shod up in rusty old Dominion technology toting their poor defense weapons. Before Desa could get herself over to Mac discreetly, he had already signaled his team to leave.

Damn. Where is he going? Desa thought as she kept a far enough distance away while still maintaining a direct line of sight on Mac. He exited the theater and she made her way upstairs peering out of a window.

Typical…thirsty dogs, why am I surprised? Desa reflected as she watched Mac Reed enter the nearby bar. There were four windows across the theater on the second floor, it was a hall that had several pieces of furniture for lounging. The space was designed for the theater’s intermission moments. The people who could afford the box seats would hang here as servers walked around with refreshments. The show staged today was not one of their most celebrated at the highest class, which meant Desa was safe to hang as her view allowed direct sight to the bar.

30 minutes later…

A drunk Mac Reed came fumbling out of the bar with his escort team. He was moving back to the theater as the first show finished wrapping up. Desa made her way back down into the dark theater room where Mac was last, her eyes trained on the door, Mac entered, and she moved into position. The team was ill-equipped and ill-trained, their gaze as was Mac’s was on the stage and not their surroundings. Desa, if she had cared too, might have been a little insulted by the Mayven Reigns assigning her to this job. Approaching the team from their left profile the alien on stage was making a loud noise which drew in their attention. Except Mac, he appeared more like he was about to fall asleep instead of being entertained. Then there was a brief pause. She could not move, yet she sensed something shifted. Desa was an Anubi, an Iyesi of the Anubi system where Princess Valshehk originated. Some Iyesi although not magical in nature, exhibit a form of psychic prowess, a sense beyond the five for the typical human, and her mental awareness cued in on the disturbance that interrupted her stream of consciousness.

An apparition of some sorts, a form, a subtle, yet indistinct shape appeared close to Mac…then it was gone. Her body moved as intended but she fault exhausted. Before she could carry out her plan her legs gave out, quickly two men came to help which cut off her direct line of sight and as she regained her footing from the help of the two patrons…Mac Reed was gone.

Desa slowly made her way out of the theater in hopes to catch a glimpse of the direction Mac would be heading in. As she fumbled outside, a car sped up to the curb and she got inside.

A dark brown man looked over to her as he drove off, “I know where they are going, I put a bug on their vehicle, but how did he get away?”

Desa took a deep breath, “I don’t know, there was something else there.”

The Empire Strikes Back.

The stream of communications across the galaxy came pouring in from the OPAO’s central intelligence office up the ladder to the Executive Strategic Office. The state of current affairs was complex as Solis managed to squeeze through Oros and OPAO space, take a city on Thera, begin mounting strongholds on Ibirius, and advancing into the “Yanna” system to take Ibirius. The same momentum of force shocked the Dominion across the Saxony borders who pushed their arms forward attempting to meet the Solis lines in Yanna. The three powers were at war, and the OPAO stood idly by waiting for their time.

One of the officers in the ESO slapped a letter down on the table of General Bernard’s desk, “General Bernard Sir, my apologies for the forwardness but this is timely!” General Bernard looked up from reviewing the preparation logs of the OPAO gearing for entering the war, “Well, then what is with the formalities officer?” The officer relaxed from an attention stance, “Of course, I received this information from one of our contacts in Beau, it appears a large fleet headed for Othae has been sent by the Dominion to reinforce their lines to crush Solis and Saxony from meeting their lines.” The General nodded, “Is there more?” The officer continued, “We are not sure but these reports claimed that they are not going to Othae to reclaim any lost ground…but to completely waste the surface of any life and resistance.” The General leaned back in his seat, “My God, get me General Octavia on comms in my office, now!” The General stood up from his seat in the command deck of the ESO Headquarters.

Upon entering his private office he walked over to a short ledge containing a bourbon bottle. Picking it up, he opened the cap and tipped the substance into a clean short class next to the bottle. A small elegant steel ice cooler was next to the bottle half opened from the last drink he poured. Lifting the lid off the cooler he used his fingers to pick up a square block of ice and dropped it into the small glass. General Bernard then sat down at his desk, he situated himself before a ping rang through the office. The old General waved his hand across his desk which immediately responded to his motions by projecting a holographic vision of General Octavia on the surface.

“Greetings General Bernard, you requested my attention?” General Octavia asked before Bernard could brief her.

General Bernard always admiring Prime General Octavia’s demeanor began to report the recent details. She responded, “Well, I guess it is time for us to make ourselves useful then. Try to make connection with Solis and warn them about the incoming threat. I need Commander Nyx to be ready, he will be spearheading the defense of Othae. Also, have Nyx contact Major Baesili, I want her team fitted into SOL suits. I will meet Nyx at the front in three days, is there anything else General?” Bernard recorded his orders, “No Prime General Octavia, that is all.” Octavia signed off, Bernard looked down at his glass picking it up for a small taste of the good stuff, a nice warm feeling caressed his insides, “Time to become useful again.”

Deadlands: Tales o' the Weird West

I have been working on IC Post #1, I am about 75% finished - it will be up today! (Edit: Posted!)

Deadlands: Tales o' the Weird West

Vic Godspeed

Virgil Vincent Hunt

"I came to march with giants." - V.V. Hunt

Aliases (if any): "V" and Vic "Godspeed"
Allegiance (if any): Texas Ranger
Occupation: Monster Hunter

Physical & Mental Attributes

Physical Attributes

Vic is quick on his feet and on the draw, capable of hitting his mark with dead sight accuracy from the hip at 30 paces. His fine motor skills are practiced every day while working his lungs against the most formidable of monsters. However, don’t rely on him for lifting heavy objects. Also, he ain’t good for scentin’ much, but some have noticed he might have those ears from a rabbit attached to both sides of his head and some think he found a way to replace his eyes with a hawk’s.

Sex/Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Age: 31
Build: Lean and athletic
Distinguishing Features: None

Mental Attributes

Vic is a speedy thinker with an intuitive nature. He doesn’t always reason through each decision, but he can adapt quickly to the consequences. Vic does not shy away from his weaknesses, knowing his limitations he tries not to extend his hand too far out without being absolutely sure of the timing. His biggest struggle is matching his feet and hands with patience.

Positive Trait*Negative Trait (choose at least three of each)

Positive: Honest, Charming, Perceptive
Negative: Deceptive, Impulsive, Scatterbrained

Education (if any): The Good Book and the Ranger’s Bible.
Likes: Horses, coffee, chili, dogs, women, and his mentor (sorta).
Dislikes: Cats and the supernatural.

Important Life Moments:

Vic was born in 1846, his father was Lewis Cass Hunt, the brother of Henry Jackson Hunt, a Brigadier General and Artillery commander in Ulysses S. Grant’s army during the Civil War. Vic grew up a Christian with the word of God close to his ear. Vic, a great listener to this voice, has intuitively followed the messages. Unfortunately for Vic, he was pulled into the Civil War by blood. He joined at the ripe age of 15 in 1861.

Vic and his uncle Henry both fought at Gettysburg, Vic was only 17 at Gettysburg, 1863. During Gettysburg a frightening moment for Vic happened changing his life path completely, he witnessed General Meade raise the dead as a measure to secure victory against the Confederates. Vic was caught between his enemies and the undead. His company of disoriented comrades in action were savagely overrun. He too would have died that day if it not for a cloaked man named Don Grinz. Don saved Vic bringing him off the battlefield. A brief discussion between the two led Vic to join Don’s group of Texas Rangers, an organization of professional law bringers and monster hunters in the southwest.

Vic could not go back to an army willing to raise evil to win its war, and he certainly could not fight his Union brothers in battle. Instead, he would follow Don through various assignments in hunting monsters across the southwest region in the Confederacy, leading him farther and farther into the Weird West.

Special/Supernatural Abilities (if any):

+ The Blessed

Supporting Characters (if any):

+ Don Grinz & his Whitworth Rifle (named: Paris).
+ Camille Chamberlain (Agent of the North, Vic calls her Cece.)
+ 2x Great Danes named Bear and Liberty (Liberty is called, Elle).

Signature Weapons/Items:

+ Infantry saber
+ Bowie knife
+ Journal
+ 2x revolvers and a sawed-off shotgun
+ Ranger’s Bible w/o the 13th chapter.
+ Cross connected to a rosary and a copy of the Good Book.

Shattered Stars - A Space Opera [Open for more players - Someone please join Karbana Kinnis... it's lonely there]

Lilith's Descent Series

Collab with theKeltz and Rezo

Drifting to somewhere

Lilith's Descent: Drifting to somewhere

Lilith was pushed between a rock and a hard place. Once the crime lord of Dadaelous. Somehow she went from being the queen of the underworld to a betrayer of it, to now a pawn of the OPAO principality. Never in her life had she felt so used...except when she was left by her first boyfriend in high school for her best friend, a boiling point in Lilith's descent into crime, but that event between her first criminal act was not directly connected, more psychologically influential. Lilith was sitting in a seat aboard a small personal spacecraft given to her by Neema. The one-person craft was equipped with state of the art navigation systems and technology to make it fast, agile, and tremendously smooth. Lilith was not a spacefarer. In fact, space gave her anxiety, the ship however was already loaded up with the coordinates that were identified on the drive she stole from the database back in Dadaelous. Neema made sure the spacecraft was also idiot-proof with the help of some of her top engineers.

In the distance, she saw through the large space glass window a black energetic source that looked otherworldly. A black hole? Lilith thought. It wasn't a black hole, but a wormhole, one of the gates left behind by something beyond Lilith's capacity of knowledge. All she knew was the ship she was riding had instructions to head right toward it. Panicking, Lilith tried to override, fumbling with keys and the A.I. assistant on-board but to no avail. Her clearance was obsolete, she literally was a passenger on a ship being controlled by her puppet master - Neema.

Instead, Lilith took deep breathes as her seat became closer to the phenomenon which seemed to go into an endless black void. Lilith without much confidence she survives screamed as her ship was pulled in. The wormhole crushed her sense of orientation ripping her through deep space like a driver smashing a golf ball down the fairway. Lilith felt as if the ship's exterior was being crushed like a tin can against hydraulics. Soon she couldn't feel the difference between herself and the ship, she was somewhere between her mind and a place in space completely foreign to her human senses. Then...it was over.

Lilith simply arrived. The rest of her felt existence catching up smoothly with her. What had felt like being compressed between compactors, ended as quickly as it began. The terror filling her body when being ripped through the wormhole subsided. Immediately a screen took up a portion of the large glass space window, "Lilith do you copy?" Neema had appeared on the screen.

Lilith yelled, "You ****ing b****, where am I! WHAT IS GOING ON?" Neema absorbing Lilith's energy with ease replied, "You went through what is referred to as a gate. You survived and have now entered a completely new region of space the OPAO or the Dominion if my information is correct has ever been." Lilith wanted to kill Neema, wrapping her fingers around Neema's little throat was the only thought keeping her focused, "I almost died, how do you plan on getting me back!" Neema nodded, "Of course, once you get eyes on the destination, we can turn your ship around and jump using the gate again."

Lilith screamed, "IT ALMOST KILLED ME NEEMA!" Neema let Lilith silence which was unusual, typically, Neema wouldn't tolerate the temper, but she needed Lilith to get eyes on whatever Dizzy was willing to sacrifice her fortunes and networks over. Once Lilith stopped yelling, Neema responded, "I understand, the ship will be fine, you will be fine." ..until she wasn't. The alarms of the ship began sounding. Neema's face went from composed to concerned, "What's going on?" Lilith's worry increased, "I HAVE NO F***ING CLUE, YOU SAID I'D BE FINE!"

The screen disconnected. Lilith was now alone and a sudden jerk of the spacecraft jostled her body hard. The A.I. Assistant turned on, "Emergency landing. Emergency landing. Coordinates detected. Prepare for impact. Keep buckled until landing is successful." The A.I. prompted, Lilith questioned, "What is the success rate?" The A.I. pinged on the screen potential damages, existing damages, location for landing, and percentage of success, "37% success." There was over 60% of exterior damage and 45% of interior damages done during the travel through the wormhole. Without much time to think after her question, terror built up into her gut and chest, the ship then jerked her again. Steel reinforcement descended down outside of the space window and in front of it to seal the glass from causing further damage during impact. Lilith was now in a one-manned spacecraft with no visibility or control as she careened through foreign space.

The Arrival

Lilith's Descent: The Arrival

Lilith felt an amazing amount of gravitational force pulling her in all directions as her ship crashed into something hard. If not for her full suit of buckles she would have crushed every bone in her body. It was as if she was inside of a ping ball that had just been launched by the player and smacking into all of the bells earning the player big points without having to once use the pinball arms. Lilith had fallen unconscious a few times, each time waking up to the continuous rattling, free fall, and scraping of exterior walls against something outside. Until finally the final jerk of the ship happened. Lilith disoriented and unsure of where she was or which direction she was facing, raised her hand to unbuckle her straps. Instead of being seated, she immediately dropped from the chair down onto the steel-reinforced wall which protected the space window.

The impact loosened the ship from its position as it dropped again sending Lilith backward hitting her shoulder against the chair she had just fallen from. Her rib snapped against the side of a corner behind the chair where her body went from falling back to down on the ceiling. The ship was now wedged between something upside down giving Lilith a moment to collect a sense of direction. She rolled onto her stomach pushing herself up onto her knees until finally on her feet. Without knowing how much time she had, she moved to where a space helmet was located next to the door. She called for the A.I. if it was still operational to open the emergency pack for spacecraft evacuation. The A.I. responding opened the small door containing a space helmet and gear. Lilith got to her knees to grab it since the ship was upside down, the gear was closer to her feet.

After equipping the gear necessary for safely traveling outside of the spaceship depending on where she was, she asked the A.I. to open the side door. The side door opened but as it did, the ship loosened once more. Lilith with an immediate sense of impending doom lunged outside the door as the ship fell below her. She entered a space devoid of light but her hands were wrapped up into something that felt like wiring. Her right hand as she fell had caught enough of whatever "wiring" there was which responded by entangling her from shoulder to forearm.

Hanging by "wires" she swung from side to side, Lilith never did hear the ship hit bottom, it just kept falling. Lilith's helmet after recognizing the absence of light switched on revealing a small picture of where she was and what she was holding onto.

Lilith from her perspective was hanging in between an extremely deep canyon with black cords which appeared to have been once transferring some form of energy as electric wires would. The crevice was teeming with wiring stretched between one side to the other. Her ship had been heavy must rip through until enough entangle it to keep it from falling. For her, if she were to fall, odds were one of these wires would wrap her neck and snap it. The good news was she could use these wires to cross from where she was to the other side.

She took her left hand and reached for the closest wire while trying to unravel her right. Lilith after wrestling with the wire which wrapped around her right arm got it loose. Lilith then one hand crossing the other made her way to the other side. Once across she felt a physically flat surface beneath her feet strong enough to support her weight. After some mental arguing, she decided to trust the floor beneath her letting go of the wire and she dropped completely onto the flat surface. Her lights were only able to illuminate an edge and small corridor between two walls that reached up forever.

She took a second, deep breath, the only way forward was through the corridor. Lilith wanted to go home, she wanted to turn back, but she knew there was nothing to turn back too. This was the end of the line and each step only started a new point of no return, from here on, she was alone, and her only goal was to survive. About 10 minutes into her walk between a corridor big enough for her to only walk sideways, one of her lights went out. Lilith was alarmed by the HUD on her helmet that the other battery had about 2 minutes of life left. The crash wouldn't kill her, the fall wouldn't kill her, but being unable to see with no food or water in a place she didn't know up from down, north from south, east from west, would kill her. The second light turned off leaving her to the imagination and the sound of her own breathing to focus on.

Feeling with her hands and feet sliding inch-by-inch, there was a faint sound that cut into her rhythm of breathing. A sound similar to that of a snake hiss, maybe it was her mind creating its own stimulation. Lilith remembered back in high school she had a neurology class that stated some kind of science where the brain if not given enough stimulation would begin creating its own. The explanation was attached to the eye witness accounts of ghost encounters and how ghosts encounters were more prevalent during a specific time of human history when humans didn't have the technology to occupy them at night.

This line of recall had Lilith begin to think maybe she was already dead, and she was actually a ghost searching its way back to the world of things. If she were a ghost, would she know it? Lilith was cut short from her thoughts as her foot caught a hard object sending her down onto the ground. The helmet hit the floor cracking a piece of the glass. Lying there she tried finding a reason to continue, Lilith felt frustrated and hopeless...maybe if she took the helmet off there would be no air for her to survive...maybe suicide was the best option...but that faint sound was heard again...

*hiss*

*Some time earlier*

Sera’nae was exasperated. It’s been long since she had a meal. Though food could easily be gained in trade, by promising a future favor, not everyone got the same value. Her station meant she would have to do something menial and degrading at best. No, she preferred to find alternative means to survive.

By chance, she overheard some interesting news near the Ves’ix district. Two figures belonging to one of the great clans, though she could not tell which, were careless and whispered something of note aloud. A ship in decay. A ship falling in the sky. A ship that crashed through the surface. And with a crashed ship came cargo. Perhaps food. Perhaps something worth food. And the pilot, perhaps dead, perhaps an easy meal.

Though the pangs of hunger weakened her, the pain slowing her, the promise of food (as she convinced herself) seemed to ease the burden if slightly. Slithering through the maze of corridors was no easy task, Serekin rarely ventured to where heat was lacking nevermind mapping, she explored the outsides of Serekin society often enough. Enough to dot the walls every so often with lichen and fungus to either light the way or to satiate the hunger if briefly. After making several turns, going up a bit, then down, then back up. Open up a few fake walls. Navigate through some rubble. Get turned around for a bit then reorient herself. She began to wonder if what she overheard was accurate. The ship should be around here within a few hundred feet or so. But it wasn’t. Was the ship never here or was she lost?

Running low on hope, and the pain beginning to set back in, circumstance seemed to favor her yet again. Lost in thinking, only for pain to reel her back to reality, she noticed something amiss. Tracks in the ground that did not match Serekin, either slithering or walking. She saw prints that were strangely oval-ish. It led back to Serekin territory, somewhere these prints did not seem to belong. The owner seemed to realize this as the prints budged closer and closer together. As panic begins to set in, they likely found it difficult to step more than a few inches at a time.

Finally, the scent hit her. A mix of anxiety and fear. She was getting close and could barely help but let quietly announce her joy in, what she assumes, will either be food or worth food.

“⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒” she whispered.

She was rewarded with a thud and the sound of glass breaking. The scent grew stronger, as if the thing grew resigned to what gloomy fate it assumed awaited. Then, at last, her quarry could be seen. “⎎⟟⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬” she hissed. This was no creature she recognized, definitely a xeno. Human if what she heard was accurate. Poor thing could barely fit in between the walls and seemed to be afraid. Sera’nae sympathized somewhat, but she was starving and food is just lying there. The hunger is not a patient master to serve. It demanded death, and the reward was life, at least for a time… but what if… if it need not be this way. Yes, she could bring this xeno to one of the elders of a Great Clan. The xeno would provide some food, but to trade the xeno might be worth more food. Besides, it would be a pain to remove the wrapping this creature is in.

Lilith heard what sounded like a hiss again. Her eyes attempted to adjust but with almost zero light there was nothing for her eyes to catch. She heard the flicking again, were there snakes on Karbanna? She thought. Lilith tried getting up from where she had fallen. Her hands slipping on the wall surfaces between the corridor she could barely maneuver in. Lilith’s hand while trying to find an edge to help the rest of her body up caught a rough layer of something on the surface which illuminated in bioluminescence revealing the silhouette of a large creature which was weaving back and forth quickly. Lilith feeling immediately terrified attempted to orient herself to run the other direction but the corridor did not allow for her to adjust cleanly. She made a few more steps before tripping again over her feet but this time falling backward in the middle of transition. Breathing heavily from the adrenaline and fright, she believed the creature would soon be dragging her to the depths of wherever they took their prey to feast. Lilith wanted to shut her eyes and wished it all to be over, but after a few passing seconds, longer than she anticipated it would take for the creature to grab her, she opened her eyes, only to see the snake hanging above her as if it were figuring out what to do with her.

As Sera’nae slithered closer to her prize, the creature grew more terrified as she smelled the fear and worry envelop her like a shroud. The horror culminated in one final flight, halted at it’s apex when Lilith lost her footing and fell backwards. The scent of Lilith became almost intoxicating for Sera’nae. The fear subconsciously reminding her of her diet, that she is a predator. And before her lie prey who made a fatal mistake. Her body, or more specifically her stomach, reminded her of the urgency with the pains of hunger. Her mind however considered forgoing this meal now with the possibility of more later. Sera’nae knew one of the elders of a Great Clan would likely offer much for this creature. Sithax in particular is known to have queer curiosities and desires. Might be willing to offer enough food for Sera’nae to forget hunger. At least for quite some time. After a brief moment of deliberation, Sera’nae decided to follow her mind. She would need to calm the xeno down though. Though she felt sympathy, she did enjoy the feeling of being a preadator if for a time. Being Clanless, she rarely has such an opportunity and is often forced to scavenge.

“⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍ ⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⋏⍜⏁ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊬⍜⎍. ⟟ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⏁⍜ ⏁⏃⌰☍” Sera’nae hissed. A bit of a longshot to calm the creature, but hopefully it can tell the truth in her words. Hopefully. Sera’nae detected a shift, a scent of confusion, but still shrouded in fear. Then Sera’nae realized her mistake. This creature is not Serekin, why would she expect it to know her language? Then how would she show she means no hostilities? Recede her fangs and hold her mouth open, to show no threat? No, probably not. Mouth is for food, and it would probably assume she intends to eat it. Offer it a morsel of something to swallow, wait no. She has no food, that was the point of this. Ah! Perhaps wrap herself around the xeno, slowly and gently. Perhaps if it felt itself in her embrace alive and unharmed it might get the intent. Thinking no other alternative, Sera’nae opted to envelop Lilith within her. A simple task since the xeno seemed to accept its fate. Even though Sera’nae was small for a Serekin, she was large enough to entrap Lilith, and after almost a minute of slow movements Sera’nae and Lilith came face to face and now Sera’nae waited for the Xeno to react.
Fear took a big bite out of Lilith’s flesh and began gnashing it’s teeth inside her stomach. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Lilith could barely see other than the faint light disbursed from the bioluminescent lichen that covered parts of the wall. She began to feel the meat of her fate begin to wrap around her waist and legs. It was a snake, Lilith thought. It felt like the beginning to the end of her story, a story long-time coming, and she thought she had more time than now.

It wasn’t long but the snake did move slow, gentle almost, before completely wrapping itself around Lilith and staring directly into her eyes. The snake was so close, it had hissed a few times, maybe trying to communicate? Maybe trying to simply sense surroundings? Lilith wasn’t sure what the hissing was for - maybe tasting the scent of her? Lilith didn’t fight the end, it seemed to her a hopeless fantasy to survive wherever she was in pitch black darkness. Instead the snake face-to-face and now all Lilith could do was close her eyes.

But nothing happened. Lilith’s eyes opened up as a reptilian features gazed back at her. She wasn’t creeped out by snakes in particular, and for some odd reason being in the grips of death instead of anticipating death felt less tense. Lilith questioned, “Well, aren’t you going to eat me?” She didn’t understand why the snake just stared at her. She would rather get this next part over with than be played with.

Lilith opened her mouth but Sera’nae heard no words, just guttural sounds. Is this their speech? Is this how these humans communicate? So… alien. Communicating would be nigh impossible, but at least the human seemed less fearful. Less desperate, more predictable. She came here on a ship, presumably now in ruin since it crashed. Is she looking for light on the surface? Or shelter in the depths? Beyond that, why did she come to this planet? How did she find this planet? Just stumbling here blindly is of such a low chance it might as well be impossible. No, she came here for something. For a secret, and secrets remain so by being buried. Sithax would be interested in a xeno, even more in one that came here on purpose.

Lilith’s fear was replaced with confusion, something the Serekin sensed. ‘I think it understands I do not intend to eat it. For now at least.’ Sera’nae thought. Then an idea came. Though words are not suitable to communicate, perhaps she could use pictographs. Luckily, she had just the instrument to draw on the walls, if a bit rough. Reaching into a pouch tied around a band around her neck, she procured a chalk stick. Thankfully a black color to contrast against the whitish color of the wall. It was only a few minutes of quickly sketching where Lilith could see before Sera’nae finished. Grabbing some nearby lichen, she slowly moved it across the drawing so that it’s light can illuminate the drawings for Lilith.

The first set was of two figures. One a straight line, with a circle on top and four other straight lines attached, representing the head and four limbs) to the center line to represent the Human. The other, a squiggly line with four straight lines attached to represent the Serekin. The two figures were located underneath a curved line representing the planet, indicating they are underground. Below the two figures was an arrow pointing down, further underground. This is to represent that Sera’nae wishes for them both to venture further into the depths of Karbana.

The second was of several large ovals connected with sets of parallel lines, to indicate caves. Inside were many more figures indicating Serekin. Of note was one particular figure in one particular cave that was surrounded with a circle, and a long arrow leading from the other caves. Sera’nae hopes Lilith can recognize that she seeks to bring her to a specific Serekin.

The third and final showed a rough profile view of a Serekin, mouth slightly open and emitting small lines. Adjacent and facing the Serekin was a profile view of the Human. Also with its mouth open and emitting the same lines. From this, Sera’nae hoped the Human would recognize that she intends to communicate that there is a Serekin that can communicate to Lilith. Though Sera’nae was not sure if this was true, she felt that if anyone would know how to speak the human’s language it would either be Hathax or Sithax, if not both. Hopefully the human would believe this lie.

After giving the Human some time to view the drawings, she held out the chalk for Lilith to take and attempt to communicate if she wished.

Lilith observed as the snake did not choose to eat her. Instead, it tried communicating using the lichen’s bioluminescence as a way to create symbols on the wall. An ancient technique humans used on cave walls in their earlier primitive days, but the psychological significance of such an evolutionary tool never did lose its power even after the time that had passed for human life. The symbols appeared to Lilith with ease. It was her, the snake, the world, and their orientation - where they’d be going or where the snake was directing them to go. Lilith without much room for negotiating erased the snake and her. Then redrew them holding hands to symbolize an agreement.

Discovering the Serekin Mind

Lilith’s Descent: Discovering the Serekin Mind

It was, thankfully, a short journey void of conflict. Sera’nae knew these passages well. She knew every twist and turn, and though Lilith had occasional trouble with the difficult terrain, Sera’nae aided her and they both came to the final cavern. The markings and banners indicating it was Yuklas territory, the Great Clan led by Sithax and responsible for the tonics, tinctures, potions, poisons, venom, etc. that the Serekin ingest and employ.

This cavern had many amenities whether artificial or real. The proximity to Karbana Kinnis’ power generators in an adjacent cave provides plenty of heat for the Serekin. Underground springs provided fresh water to drink and moisten dried scales. A pen of Zoogs for whenever a Serekin needs to feed. There was much here to make a Serekin comfortable.

“⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⟟⋏☌ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⊑⊬ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⍀⟒⏃⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⊬⍜⎍?” A Serekin slithered up to Sera’nae. He wore ornate silver armor, with intricate inscriptions and designs indicating he belongs to the Tatzu Great Clan. The Serekin was certainly out of place, the Yuklas are typically at the forefront of style but they forgoe armor in favor of robes. ‘Perhaps a guard on loan.’ Sera’nae thought. “⟟ ⌇⟒⟒☍ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖. ⟟ ⍜⎎⎎⟒⍀ ⏃ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒.” Sera’nae replied, ignoring that the other Serekin was sizing her up. He had a few feet and maybe fifty pounds on her, if it came to a fight she would not fare well. The Serekin responded with a stare, as if deciding between several different ideas, before glancing at Lilith.

Getting another idea, the Serekin opted to observe her. Aggressively. The Serekin slithered around Lilith several times, occasionally touching here and there to get a feel for her as well as her scent. Though he gripped Lilith roughly, jolting her around a bit in his inspection, Sera’nae did not worry. Or at least not a lot. She knew that a common trait many of the Tatzu shared was a dominating one. They liked to show they were in charge in any situation, but not here. This is Yuklas territory. Sithax held much influence, his words held great weight. Especially here in his domain. The male Serekin would not dare be so foolish as to risk harming this Human, Sera’nae was sure of it. “⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍜ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟟⋔.” The male Serekin said at last, before slithering away.

Sera’nae was thankful Lilith was able to hold her composure, at least physically. Unfortunately, scent can betray one’s feelings to those perceptive enough. Now all they needed to do was wait for the Serekin to fetch Sithax. With nothing to do, Sera’nae led Lilith to one end of the cave where they could rest, and give Lilith a moment to gather her thoughts.
Lilith was unsure of the snake people and the world she was on, or rather, in. The maze that was Karbanna Kinnis eluded any mental constructs she had developed this far in her life. Before she realized, Lilith and her snake guide approached a cavern where they walked only to be approached by a larger snake who decided to violate her space. There was a potent smell that wafted into her nostrils that made them want to run off Lilith’s face, unfortunately her nostrils stayed put. Lilith was brought back to the end of the cave. There was enough light illuminating a place for her to sit after all this travel. Still uncomfortable and uncertain of her fate, the exposure to her snake guide had dissipated the fears she once held onto. Instead, Lilith was more passive about her potential doom, she also thought that if she were going to die, they wouldn’t have brought her this far...then again...a meal carrying itself is a lot less taxing on the back.

Ruminating on her situation she kept coming back to, how could she help these snake people? If she could answer that, then feeding on her would be less enticing.

A dozen or so minutes later, the two were approached by a few robed Serekin figures. The one in the center could clearly be identified as Sithax. Though he was only a little larger than the average Serekin, he tended to hunch over more than other Serekin when standing, giving him a more diminutive appearance. He wore a blood red robe with accents of yellow. Several bands of various precious metals were worn around his neck and tail, each band was inscribed with different symbols. Several golden rings were pierced through the throat, from each hung an odd trinket from golden chains an inch or two from the rings. Sithax also had with him an ornate silver staff. The staff was fully covered in odd symbols engraved in the staff. The most discerning feature of the staff was a golden serpent coiled around the top third of the staff. The figure lacked arms and legs like the Serekin and instead had several pairs of large feathery wings, and from the top of the staff protruded it’s head, mouth open as if to swallow something.

The two Serekin to Sithax’s side were not as decorated as him and only half as eye catching as Serekin. Their robes were simpler and indicated they were of the Yuklas Clan. “⏃ ⏁⍜☍⟒⋏ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⏃⋏☍⌇ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖.” One hissed before tossing something towards Sera’nae. Quickly recognizing it as a Zoog, Sera’nae snatched in the air and swallowed it whole and finally satisfying her hunger. “⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ☊⌰⏃⋏⋏⌰⟒⌇⌇, ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⋏⍜⏁?” Sithax questioned Sera’nae.

“⋏⍜, ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⋏⍜ ☊⌰⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⋏⏁⟒⎅ ⋔⟒.” Sera’nae replied. Confused as to why he asked that question.

“⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏, ⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⍜ ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒?”

“⏃⌰⌰ ⟟ ⎅⟒⌇⟟⍀⟒ ⟟⌇ ⎎⍜⍜⎅. ⟒⋏⍜⎍☌⊑ ⌇⍜ ⟟ ⍙⍜⋏'⏁ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⍜ ⍙⍜⍀⍀⊬ ⟟⎎ ⟟'⌰⌰ ☌⟒⏁ ⏁⍜ ⟒⏃⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏃ ⍙⊑⟟⌰⟒.”

“⟟ ⌇⟒⟒... ⟟ ⍀⟒⌇⌿⟒☊⏁ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍀⟒⌇⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏⏁. ⏁⍜ ⏃⎐⍜⟟⎅ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⌇⎍☊⊑ ⏃⋏ ⟒⏃⌇⊬ ⌿⍀⟒⊬ ⏃⌇ ⏁⊑⟟⌇. ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⍜ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍙⟟⌇⎅⍜⋔ ⏁⍜ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒ ⟟⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒ ⏁⊑⏃⋏ ⟟⏁ ☊⍜⎍⌰⎅ ⌿⍀⍜⎐⟟⎅⟒ ⏚⊬ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍀⏃⋏⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃☊☊⟒⌿⏁⏃⋏☊⟒ ⟟⋏⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⌰⏃⋏, ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏ ⊬⍜⎍ ⌿⟒⍀⌇⍜⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬ ⟟⋏ ⍜⎍⍀ ⏃⍀⏁⌇. ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⍜⍀⌇⟒⟒⋏ ⎐⟟⌇⟟⍜⋏⌇ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎎⎍⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⟟⋏ ⋔⊬ ⎅⍀⟒⏃⋔⌇. ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⏃⍀⟒ ⏚⌰⎍⍀⍀⊬, ⎍⋏☊⌰⟒⏃⍀ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒ ⏚⎍⏁ ⟟ ⎎⟒⟒⌰ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⎎⏃⏁⟒ ⊑⏃⌇ ⏚⍀⍜⎍☌⊑⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⍜⏁⊑ ⊑⟒⍀⟒.”

Sera’nae was surprised by the offer, it was more than she was expecting. She needed a moment to ensure that, yes, that is what Sithax said. She asked for food but Sithax offered real opportunity. She need not be a scavenger any longer. It was, in all senses, an offer she could not refuse. “⊬⟒⌇ ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⍙⏃⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⎎⍜⍀ ⎎⎍⍀⏁⊑⟒⍀ ⟟⋏⌇⏁⍀⎍☊⏁⟟⍜⋏. ☌⟟⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟟⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ☊⍜⋏⎐⟒⍀⌇⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏. ⏁⊑⍜⎍☌⊑ ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⟒⌰⏁...⌇⊬⋔⌿⏃⏁⊑⊬. ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⌇ ⌇⍜ ⌇☊⏃⍀⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ ⏚⟒ ⌇⏁⍀⏃⋏⎅⟒⎅ ⊑⟒⍀⟒. ⟟ ⏃⌇☍ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⟒ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⋏⍜ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏁⍜ ⍀⟒⋔⟒⋔⏚⟒⍀ ⋔⟒.”

Sithax then turned to Lilith, eyeing her for a moment and decided on the words to use. They would be historic and would play a large roll in shaping the future for the both of them. At last, he spoke.

“Apologies Human, I needed a word with your ssss map? No, guide. I smell your confusion and I will explain more in my ssss well, I think office would be the closest word. There we can hiss ssss converse where eyes do not pry. This way please ssss.” Sithax ledled Lilith to a dark corner of the cavern, certainly just nigh of pitch black to her but for the silhouette of Sithax. At the end of the cave, Sithax interacted with something in the dark, mechanical clicking and sliding were her only clues, some sort of puzzle lock? After a few seconds, the sounds of gears whirring and mechanical clicking answered her question, then the wall split inwards revealing a hidden room. The room was lit enough for her human eyes to see. Before she had much of a chance to look around, Sithax demanded her attention.

“You have come far from your home human. For someone to come here by accident is nigh impossible. No, I know you come here seeking something. I have dreamed of it. You accessing our wormholes. Crashing, being found by ⌇⟒⍀⏃'⋏⏃⟒, your guide. I have seen our meeting; I have seen the two of us looking for secrets long dead. Most of the pieces I have seen, but still the puzzle is incomplete. Let me be the first to introduce myself, in your tongue, you can call me Sithax. Let me ssss dissuade your fears, I mean no harm. Our fates, at this moment, are intertwined so believe me when I say that I will come to regret impeding you. What I want to know now is, who are you? Who sent you here? And why have they sent you?”

Lilith was confused. There was no other explanation of her feelings. All she could do was follow her story, at this point, there were no controls, fate gripped it’s paws around her waist moving her along. Lilith was led by a much more regal looking snake, the presence of this one stirred the others, kept them “upright”. Then the regal snake spoke, IN ENGLISH! Lilith couldn’t believe her life anymore…it would have made more sense had she fallen with her ship. Lilith, surprised by the regal snake’s politeness, followed as it gestured the way.

Entering a room after a mechanical door opened the regal snake left no room for small talk. Lilith thought, Sithax? Intertwined fates? Impeding her? What was this snake trying to do? Befriend her? Lilith went from believing she was food, to now being treated as a friend? What was the angle of this thing? AND WHY COULD IT SPEAK ENGLISH? Lilith silenced her mind and responded, “My name is Lilith, I discovered coordinates of a location that led me to this world. I was only supposed to report back, not come down to investigate...unfortunately the wormhole damaged my ship. Before falling my suit pinged the coordinates to be even further than expected, but the suit has no more battery life, so I don’t know where to find what I was looking for. Now I am here.” She paused, “I have a question?”, she paused again, “What do you mean you’ve seen our meeting and looking for secrets long dead?”

“Ah yes, I was told your arrival wassss. Met with a sudden end. By now your ship will likely have been disassembled by the planet’s automatons. It did not arrive in good shape and they tend to remove what issues they can not fix. As for your question, I mean what I said. I have foreseen events present and future in my dreams, if but only glimpses. These dreams are not as your kind sees them, Lilith, for my people have learned how to travel to ssss. The land of dreams. We all have dreams. Whether to guide us, to remember, to experience, or perhaps another of a myriad of reasons. This ssss, realm, if you will, is where we all go. Though, we each have our own spaces. Sometimes we have ventured into your kind’s dreams, sometimes your kind ventures into ours. But unlike you Humans, we have learned to come and go as we please, and how to traverse past the surface, to where strange things are possible and, in this case, glimpse into the future. I have seen parts of what is to come for the both of us, I hope you are ready. The only advice I can give, is to remember who you are and most importantly, why you are. Any more questions?”
Did she hear this thing right? The serpent was an astral projecting dream walking guru? If she were back home, she’d have burst in laughter. But, she was talking ENGLISH to a walking snake which spoke to prophetic dream dramas, “Only one,” Lilith replied, “Where do we go from here?” she asked.

Sithax chuckled. “To find your path, we must visit the past. You claim to not know where the co-ordinates lead, but you do. Ssssomewhere in your mind lies that which was forgotten. Perhaps the trauma of the crash hazed your memory, or maybe you only got a glimpse at the co-ordinates, to brief to consciously register. But it is in there somewhere. “Sithax gently pressed a claw against Lilith’s forehead to illustrate his point. “To the dreamlandssss, we must venture, there I can make you remember. There I can lead us to our fate. All you need to do is sleep, and I will join you in your dreams. I will control your dreams to find those co-ordinates, then we can go from there.”

Sithax then slithered to the end of the room, to a metal panel that resided within the cavern walls. After fumbling with something out of view the safe replied with the sound of mechanical clicking. As the plate slowly budged to the side, a thin fog wafted out from the chamber, the cool temperatures within colliding with the moisture in the room. Sithax plucked a sort of ‘box’ made out of ornate golden serpents shaped in a way to hold the glass vials upright. Within the vials were viscous liquids with a consistency similar to ketchup and of various colors. “This potion should help ssss. Sleep find you quickly.” Sithax hissed, giving a red one to Lilith. “Sorry about the taste but it was not made with a palate in mind, never mind a Human’s. Once you pass into the other realm, stick with me. Some of those around here have queer nightmares and I’d hate for you to get lost in one. You won’t come to any harm but psychological. Waking with a fright is not very good for your health. With our ssss waking selves in the same room, it will be a breeze for me to shift through your memories and project them as a shared dream, I will need you to help me to identify relevant memories though. So drink up now, it’s this or I inject venom into you with my own fangs. I’ll let you choose which way to get you to sleep.”
Lilith did not quite understand the mystic tongued serpent with its various riddles of pasts, dreams, and memories. She also didn’t have much of a choice, according to Sithax, her fate had already been preordained. Lilith was assured by Sithax there would be no imminent danger, but his reassurance was of no comfort, she reached out to take the red vial Sithax provided. She was asked to drink up or else...so she drank the putrid filth that seemed to stick in her throat. The substance was awful which led to her gagging, then coughing, falling to her knees she puked, rolled over, and blacked out. For a moment she thought to be dead. There was a humming in her ear, then kaleidoscope shapes and colors appeared twisting in harmony. The shapes became closer and the humming raised louder until her awareness popped through the other side...vast illuminated-darkness...and then it all came rushing to her with Sithax in mind.

Dreamer

Lilith’s Descent: Dreamer

Sithax was pleasantly surprised that Lilith willingly drank the concoction, he thought he would have to get her to sleep with his venom. He was, however, disappointed in the Human retching up most of the potion she ingested. ‘Perhaps it was too much a dose? This Human is smaller than most Serekin, I will need to learn the average Human size later so as to figure a effective dosage.’ Sithax thought as Lilith began to slumber. Once she fully succumbed to sleep, Sithax positioned her sitting against the wall. Being passed out on the floor like that is unbecoming, at least for a Serekin. He wondered for a moment if all Humans were this ungraceful, before coming to a coiled position next to Lilith and slowed his mind. He knew a few tricks to fall asleep fast, one tends to figure out these things when the alternative is that file potion.

Sithax has travels to the realm of dreams so many times that the passage is a quick affair. Little more than simply being in one place, blinking, then finding oneself somewhere else. Or, at least it would if Serekin had eyelids. Sithax waited for Lilith to fall asleep first, so he can bring himself to Lilith’s dreams and, well, it looked almost the same as where he just once. A few imperfections here and there as Lilith probably had not gotten a good look around the room while she was awake. One more noticeable difference was that Lilith was still on the ground, partially in her vomit.

“what are you doing lying in your own bile?” Sithax hissed, slightly upset. “Are you Humans normally this ⎅⟟⌇☌⎍⌇⏁⟟⋏☌, this disgusting? Regardless I’d rather not have your recent meal stick with us” Sithax said, before tapping his staff to the ground a few times. Suddenly, the vomit was no longer there, not even the smell. “Now, please visualize where you might have last seen the coordinates, or at least the room you were in. Don’t worry about when, we don’t need to be that specific. Once we have a location of where the coordinates once were, we can isolate the frame of time and with some help from me, figure out where we need to go next.”

Lilith raised her eyes to meet Sithax who stood above her. He tapped his staff 1-2-3 and the vomit she had not even realized was on her disappeared. She shrugged off his question about Humans, it was his gross vial that created the mess, her being a Human had no connection with being disgusting other than the disgusting vial. Sithax asked her to visualize where she might have seen the coordinates, the reason for her even having crashed here in the first place...she tried recollecting...where would she have - I got it! Lilith thought which actually bellowed out into the room since she was in her own dream. As soon as she thought of the place, the dream shifted quickly, both her and Sithax stood inside of her spaceship just before it came crashing down onto Sithax’s world. The coordinates were saved on the navigational HUD of the cockpit, Lilith pointed to Sithax as she approached the HUD, “these are the coordinates.”

“These are the coordinates? How could Humans have gained this information…” Sithax wondered aloud.“This is a very intriguing development. And very controversial information.” Sithax hissed, turning towards Lilith. “You seek the resting place of the ⏚⟒⌰'⌇⊑⟒⋏. The exiled clan. What is our part in this? What secrets are to be found? Knowledge? Or something more tangible? Nevertheless, I am guided to aid you. Don’t make me regret it.” Sithax pondered for a moment, reflecting on where fate would guide him. “It seems we are done here, hold still and this will only be a slight discomfort.” Sithax announced, barely giving Lilith time to react before he sprung at her like a coiled spring, intending to waken her through fright or by killing her dream self.

Lilith sprang out of sleep. She gasped for air catching her breath as fright smacked her heart. Lilith rolled to her side and picked herself up off the floor about 6 feet from Sithax. The two had the coordinates of Lilith’s purpose. Sithax was going to bring her there.

The Exiled One

Lilith’s Descent: The Exiled One

Sithax led Lilith what felt like even deeper into whatever construct Sithax’s species lived in or on. The two arrived at a large cryptic door with engravings of a language foreign to Lilith’s eyes. Most of what she encountered recently was foreign to her eyes. Sithax approached the large door briefly waving his magic of wisdom that initiated a sequence of events that opened it. Lilith followed Sithax cautiously, she was feeling the end of her journey was a lot closer than she may have hoped. Inside contained a large pod hanging in the center suspended mid-way in the room. Lilith tried observing the room but again it was much too dark to gain any sort of understanding of what this place might be. Lilith looked to Sithax, “Where are we and what is that?”

“This is where our paths diverge.” Sithax replied, taking in the scents of the room deeply. “That pod contains the hibernating body of one of my species. Judging by the inscriptions on the wall, the Elder for this exiled clan. Or at least it should. Something smells… off.” Sithax knew all too well about this technology inherited from their ancestors. In fact, it was pioneered from one of his forebears. The pod itself was nothing special, just some synthesized leathery substance. No the real key was the liquid inside. The chemical reagent is capable of preserving a body long after it naturally should have expired, as if in frozen in time, it also revitalizes and enhances the occupant. This later become the basis for Sithax’s own Viper serum. But, the master of alchemy has a sort of sixth sense for this sort of things. Something was off. It smelled…potent. Concentrated. There is something odd about this room.

Slithering to the walls, Sithax decided a little further exploration was wise. The walls were written on in a different dialect than he knew, but it made sense. Clans often invent new ways to say some words, and forget others compared to other clans. The writing itself was odd, part history and part prophecy. But it did confirm some of Sithax’s suspicions. This room is meant to keep something preserved. Something important, but it does not mention the names of any Serekin Sithax knew of. ⌇⟒⌰'☌⏃⍀. An unfamiliar name, probably who is in the pod. The text goes on about the deeds of this individual, some of which seemed familiar to Sithax, like he was around. Or maybe he heard of them and is misplacing time and place. As the text continued, it only raised more questions.

“I think the clan’s last, and perhaps current, Elder is in that pod. But I can’t be certain, nothing in this room is giving me any clues. I think I am here to awaken whatever is in it.” Sithax said, eyeing an alchemy station against another wall. With just the right ingredients to create a reagent to counter the one in the pod. “Give me a few minutes, I need to make a reagent.” Sithax said to Lilith, slithering to the table where he began the process.

The reagent is a very precise mixture, it is all to easy to mess it up. But for Sithax, it was child’s play. He knew it was just right when the resulting liquid had a faint green glow. “Got it just right. ⋏⍜⍙ ⏁⍜ ⟟⋏⟊⟒☊⏁ ⏁⊑⟟⌇” Sithax hissed. “Now I just need to inject this in the pod and let it do its work.” Sithax said, putting the mixture into a syringe. Sithax then slithered a few feet from the pod before coiling and springing into the air. Catching the side of the pod and slithering to the top where the container was the thinnest. He paused for a moment to make one last gleam into the pod. The pod itself was made of a partially light green leathery material. It was egg shaped and was suspended from the ceiling by a thick strand of the same material. The body of the pod was thin enough to be seen through but the dark red liquid within made it hard to see anything else but some vague form of…something within. Sithax then injected the reagent into the pod before Slithering back to the ground, waiting for the reaction.

As the reagent was introduced, the green liquid mixed with the red, creating a black liquid. This liquid reacted violently, the pod bulging in and out at places like bubbles were forming on its surface. Over a period of roughly 30 seconds the black liquid spread and seemingly consumed the occupant of the pod before settling still. Then the pod began stretching and ripping as the thing inside started to make its way out. From top to bottom a large tear formed as the liquid inside spilled out onto the floor. Then the figure inside began to pour out while at the same time, coincidentally or not, what light illuminated the room was extinguished. Unable to see, Sithax still had other senses to rely on and they sensed something moving along the ground towards Lilith. The thing moved with such speed Sithax had no time to say anything.

Lilith observed her guide who seemed to be well learned in the art of mixing chemicals. Sithax injected the leathery pod that hung above their head as if he was always destined to do so. There appeared to be no hesitation in Sithax’s line of movement and Lilith completely feeling herself in the dark could only make guesses at what was really happening here. Once the injection was complete she watched Sithax retreat slightly to gain space from the ancestral pod technology which began to react to his mixture. The pod ripped open violently. The room went black. Lilith could not even scream. She felt like her neck viced shut, her body reacting with an intensity of energy that felt like she was being shocked, an overload of mental stimulation gave her no bearing of a proper orientation as the intensity only raised in volume. Just as the lights of the room went out, the mental lights of her own mind ceased too. Lilith collapsed onto the floor and all was silent.

Building Bridges

Collab with DX and Rezo before the invasion of Dominion begins.

Building Bridges: Katrin of Saxony and Mayven of OPAO

*ping*

Mayven laid in bed as her Arcnaught flagship swam through the vast depths of space within the OPAO limits. Wearing only what was necessary, her long slim legs rolled over the edge as she raised herself into a seated position. She had been reviewing her daily notes on a clear tablet that seemed to effortlessly blend in with her environment except for the illuminated words emanating from the screen's interface. The tablet was brought with her when rising gracefully to walk over to a fixed hologram at the center of the room with a couch wrapped around it.

Her high socks meeting the steel surface of the vessel with each soft step, she slid down onto a large leather-free white synthetic fabric wrapped around a seated area with the hologram table at the center. The deep silence of her cruise was cut by the introduction of the holographic message. It was the response to her request for a meeting with one of the faction leaders of Saxony, Katrin Siegel Von Wenhausen.

Upon accepting the request a holographic display of Katrin was shown in colors, albeit some blue imagery as the hologram attempted to display her. She wore her usual noble suit, a white vest with black pigment arms, black pants with gold accented lines, her long hair seemed a little more messy from the usual images of her. Seeing Mayven she smiled saying “Good to meet you miss Mayven i believe and good morning as well... i am sorry we cannot meet in person but our declaration kind of cut our means of travel without brining troubles to your state i hope this doesn't bother you miss”

Mayven smiled back at Katrin, “I understand. I want to thank you for taking the time to receive my message and answer back as promptly as you have. I am sure with the evolving events in Saxony you are a busy woman.” Mayven paused to let the silence punctuate the acknowledgement of Katrin’s importance to her nation, “I wanted to make contact with you as I understand it, you are a rising name within Saxony’s political scene. After your declaration the Orbital Principalities had success in retrieving a high-level executive of Octo Smith’s strategic defense forces. This individual has agreed to cooperate with us to weaken the Dominion.” Mayven paused again to let the revealing of a strategic source process in Katrin’s mind, “Due to Saxony’s most recent stance against the Dominion, we thought you may find interest in this executive’s information. He will be divulging locations, supply lines, and other various pain points that if hit could significantly weaken and create collapse for the Dominion in half the time, would you be interested in such information Ms. Wenhausen?” Mayven was leaning back on the couch, adjusting her crossed legs by switching leg position, she awaited her acquaintance's response.

Katrin smiled as Mayven told her about her job while it was true she had to work a lot from day one to today a small faint of sadness could be seen as she looked to her left for a moment she remember of her father on how she could barely mourn his passing, as she heard Mayven talkings of political and conspiratory natures she maintained her usual blunt stare and analysation of the date after she finished Katrin answered after she got acquaintances on her couch “This could be very useful miss Mayven our state has been depending alot on our head of informations while not having a lot of internal saboteurs available...” she leaned back on her couch in her side of the transmission it was not able to be seen but it was obvious she relaxed on something through the hologram she then proceeded letting Mayven understand her words “Even though it's good what you are offering us i must understand you wish something in return don't you?” she said bluntly almost like its experience and expecting that at this point.

Mayven nodded, “Yes, but first if you and your allies were to reach your goals of success against the Dominion, what happens after the Dominion falls?”

Katrin sighed she knew that question would be asked by one of Saxony's allies but the answer she knew she could give would satisfy no one she thoughted for a moment ‘risking exposing a dangerous truth or’ her mind thoughed after a moment of silence she sighed again and then said “I believe i am beyond the ability to speak out on what will happen once the dominion falls or politics are too much fragmented to come to an agreement at the moment especially since we began our offensive but many agree on one thing in particular the dominion staying intact is too dangerous to be allowed to exist” she thoughed for a moment and for once she smiled since the conversation took a serious tone saying “I think it's more on the wills of what our armies, our allies and some of us want rather than an overall goal”

Mayven listened closely as Katrin found her stance on the question. Mayven unfolding her legs and leaning toward the hologram replied, “Then we agree the Dominion is too dangerous to continue. It is unfortunate you cannot speak to the vision of your own political faction nor to the vision of Saxony other than the Dominion threat, however, I understand these are early days. In exchange for information, we ask for open borders to begin developing strong trade between our markets as our economies will need to thrive to fund the war efforts. I want to split strategic assets that are liberated from the Dominion to be split 50/50. Additionally, if we require aid or military support in the future, there will be no hesitation to answer. Do we have an understanding?”

A relief crossed the head of Katrin economically, Saxony existed in autarky to a very limited extent with the blockade of the sector many commerce ships stopped and the economy hurted itself, smiling hearing that she then said “We are brothers in arms aren't we?” a smile crossing her face she continued saying “Our economy will benefit quite well with trade between our states as for military aid Saxony is willing to help your state but we also ask of the willingness of your nation to also answer a call of aid in the near future as well as for strategic assets i belive i need to convene a convention with my partners some are not…” she paused thinking in a word “...comfortable with said split might take awhile if you it isn't a problem”

Mayven smiled back, “It appears more like sisters in arms, go through your channels and let us reconvene in two weeks. This should prove more than enough time for you to speak with your constituents and get your answers.” Mayven awaited for the recognizing gesture by Katrin and motioned her hand to turn off the hologram.

Katrin hearing that then said “Hopefully next time isn't through a hologram we shall meet later” she then did a salutation gesture to Mayven, a sign of respect from her culture before the hologram turned off.

Shattered Stars - A Space Opera [Open for more players - Someone please join Karbana Kinnis... it's lonely there]

Master Key Unlocked

Former Dominion Officer Williams sat in a cold steel room. His index and middle finger balancing a cigarette pursed between his lips. Inhaling the fumes and tobacco he shifted his eyes to Prime General Octavia. She sat in a chair across from his own, adorned with a fresh white admiral uniform with gold trim and tassels falling short from her shoulders. Her hands covered in white leather gloves while laced together and her elbows resting on the table. She leaned in, "Mr. Williams, do you know who I am?"

Williams pulled the cigarette from his mouth letting the hand which balanced it fall down to his side. He raised the opposite leg to cross over the other while leaning back, he replied, "I do not believe I have had the pleasure." Octavia nodded, "Good, do you know who we are?" Williams was unsure of the team who broke him out of captivity, "Guesses...but no answers." Octavia nodded again, "Very well, do you have ideas as to why we'd free you from the Dominion?" This was a question Williams knew. He was an extremely delicate asset to have if you were trying to find weak points in the Dominion's armor. He knew a lot of their activities, locations, and locations on worlds. He knew how they'd fight, who trained them, how they were trained, what technologies they had available, and the state of their infrastructure. There wasn't much he did not know when it came to the logistics and operations of the Dominion, that's why these people wanted him free, "Yes, you are already at war or are going to war with the Dominion...and you need the information of how best to win this war."

Octavia again nodded, "Are you willing to provide such information?" A pause of silence. Williams drew up the cigarette from his side. A slow drag after the cigarette met his lips. Williams uncrossed his leg, leaned forward and put out the cigarette on the steel table. His eyes displayed a thinking man's face, "I might be." He leaned back in his seat to look at Octavia, "How much do you think it's worth?"

Octavia knew there would be a negotiation and she was ready, "You will be in our protection until the war has ended. During this time you will deliver strategic information for our military to execute surgical strikes against the Dominion's infrastructure. Each successful piece of information leading to our mission's success will bank you 250,000 credits. 10% of these credits will be distributed after each mission's success. 90% of what is banked over the longevity of our campaign will be released when Octo Smith and the Dominion have fallen."

Williams took a moment, "I will agree on one more condition, the day we strike Octo Smith, I want to be there to pull the trigger." Octavia albeit didn't care if he was there or not was surprised at the gesture being put forward at all. None the less she dropped her hand to shake his, "Deal." Williams reached over shaking Octavia's hand and she stood up to leave, before exiting, "One more thing Williams...you will be quartered on this ship, your schedule will be prompted to you every morning and there will be one personal assistant to direct your needs, and two escorts for ensuring you remain in the properly authorized spaces. If we do discover you have been out of your ordered line, the deal will be voided, you will be detained, and we will not be so kind to keep you as long as the Dominion did, understood?" Williams nodded.

Denizen: Ghost Whisperer

"Lilith."

"Lilith."

"Wakey, wakey Lilith."

There was light shining from the corner of Lilith's eyes as darkness pulled to her peripheral. Her body ached. She tried turning her neck, nothing. She tried lifting her hands, nothing. She tried moving something, anything...nothing.

"Oh! She's awake. Hello sweetie, welcome back to the land of the living, I thought I lost you." The voice was familiar, "Neema?" Miraculously Lilith realized she had the strength and ability to at least speak. Neema was at the foot of her bed, "Neema, where am I?" Neema walked over to the side of her bed to give Lilith a better look.

"You are officially dead. You are unofficially alive on P-31. Thanks to you, the Martinet is crumbling, Dizzy and Gordon are both dead, and we received the data you collected. Good work." Neema placed her hand on the shoulder of Lilith, but it didn't feel comforting to Lilith at all. Lilith felt like a fly in Neema's web, except she wasn't a fly to be consumed, but toyed with.

Lilith couldn't remember all the details as her mind was still fuzzy, as to not get too deep too quick, she asked, "What happened to me?" Neema released her hand off Lilith's shoulder walking over to a chair and dragging it to the side of Lilith's bed, "The swap between you and Gordon went south, you were brought to Dizzy, and I blew up their plane once they were both on board and you were far enough away to not be apart of their deaths." Lilith shocked took a deep breath, "You bitch!" Neema passively tilted her head while nodding with her lips crunching. She didn't dismiss the name Lilith gave her, "Fair, I am a part of why you are laying in that bed...annnd...I am the reason why you are still alive...sooo...we are even." Lilith with an emotional burning boiling inside of her clenched the bedsheets, immediately her emotions defused realizing she was no longer paralyzed from being able to use her hands. Lilith tried adjusting her neck to look at Neema and she could. A slight piece of hope restored itself in Lilith's heart as she tried other limbs with little movement but movement none the less.

"Fine. We are even. You mentioned I am officially dead though, what did you mean?" Lilith was not in a position to fight Neema and if she was on P-31, it meant her network was far from reach, two things Neema ensured would be the case.

"I mean you no longer move unless I permit it. You are dead. You died with Dizzy and Gordon on that plane. To summarize...you are a ghost, an agent who if she succeeds with the next request, I will grant amnesty to the crimes you've committed. I will give you everything you need to live a long free life." Neema looked at Lilith awaiting her response.

Lilith's feelings were right, she was a fly trapped in a web, but to be toyed with. Could a fly really trust a promise from the spider salivating at the edges of their own web? Lilith rotates her head to meet Neema's eyes, "What is your next request?" Neema smiled, "The data you collected, the information Dizzy and Gordon died for, is a map to an ancient world thought to be long gone. Those who discovered it called the world, Karbana Kinnis. The map identifies a specific place within Karbana Kinnis, a place I need you to go and see why it was so important to your friends. I have a ship that will take you there, the map also gave us locations of gates. You will ride these gates to Karabana Kinnis." Neema paused for Lilith to interject if she had questions, "Why send me?" Lilith asked. Neema replied, "I need this to be silent. The details do not leave this room and if I were to send anyone else it would stir questions. You, on the other hand, have nowhere to go, if you run, you are easy to find as I've already gone ahead and made the necessary modifications to your body for self-destructing your biology on my call."

Lilith was at the beckoning of Neema, "If I do this then you free me and set me up for life?" Neema nodded in response. Lilith took another deep breath, "When do I leave?"

Phase Two: Debrief and Saxony Outreach

Prime General Octavia Kilborne and her trusted chief advisor Mason Ryser sat in her office.

"Patch me through to the Princes." Octavia ordered her advisor. Mason was a lean character with olive skin, dark hair, and blue eyes. He stood a little over 6 feet and weighed about 184lbs. His mind was quick, witty, and his soul was loyal to what he believed in. A squared away soldier at one point in his career who found himself next to Octavia after saving her life by chance during an escort mission. They had been ambushed by revolutionaries, scum who wanted to see the OPAO divide as the heads were cut down. One of those heads was Octavia. She was the backbone of the OPAO and wore her stripes well. Octavia had full trust from the Princes, complete autonomy to move the Orbital Defense Force, and she was extremely effective in everything she did. Mason tapped a few icons on the screen which responded to his combination by sending a call to the Princes.

Mayven picked up. Then Valiance. Followed by Nicole and Iman.

"Where is Neema?" Valiance asked. Octavia gave space for the Princes to deliberate, but none afforded an answer. Each denying having heard from her in some time.

"Let's not waste time waiting, she must be performing important matters in her region. I will follow up with her after this meeting, Prime General Octavia, how did the mission go?" Mayven prompted the meeting the begin.

Octavia stood up from her seat to show respect to her leadership, she was also proud to report the mission went well.

"Operation Master Lock was a success. Sgt. Baesili and her team were able to covertly enter the security prison, retrieve Officer Williams, and safely return him to my ship. I spoke with Officer Williams and he agreed to help with one condition added to our own. When we make our move on Octo Smith, he wants to be there for the execution, more or less, he implied, he wanted to be the one to participate in the execution." Octavia paused to give the Princes a moment to respond if they chose.

Valiance spoke, "First I want to say congratulations Prime General, what a job well done!" The others gestured their agreed feelings. Valiance continued, "If that is all Williams wants, then grant it to him, in all honesty, I was expecting something more resource taxing."

Mayven picked up from Valiance's comment, "Prime General, I have made plans to schedule a meeting with Saxony. We are going to inform them of our asset's value to their mission. I would like for you to get as much information as you can from Williams before that meeting. I want to know we have some substance before presenting negotiations. Can this happen?" Mayven asked politely.

Prime General Octavia nodded, "Yes, I believe we can get some leads from our new collaborator." Mayven smiled, "Great, I will get in touch with Saxony and deliver you further details after speaking with them, Nicole, Iman, Valiance, anything to add?"

The three did not have anything pertinent to share with General. The communications clicked off and General Octavia got up to get to work on Williams.

Shattered Stars - A Space Opera [Open for more players - Someone please join Karbana Kinnis... it's lonely there]

OP MK: Lights Out

The Dominion guards having been safeguarding one of their empire's most important assets were sure quite accommodating to the point of ushering their assignment without much questioning except at the door. It was quite a remarkable revelation, to see the inefficiency and lack of caution demonstrated by the empire itself. A true combination of their fragility and their loud ignorantly confident emperor perhaps, Baesili thought. The service elevator with everyone inside climbed each floor with speed, a significantly quicker way to get from where they were to where they were going, but it was without any checkpoints or security measures except a CCTV camera stationed in the corner protected by reinforced concealment glass. The elevator began slowing down in speed as it lifted near the top floor. A small jerk occurred as the elevator leveled signaling to everyone for departure. The doors opened with a Dominion security team ready for escorting them to their ship. Sgt. Donovan followed the team and their primary escort who nudged prisoner Williams forward. Down the long corridor, everyone walked with CO Tobias Jones at the gate.

When arriving at the gate, just before their ship's entrance, Tobias Jones held his fist up with his elbow at 90 degrees to gesture a "halt" order. His security team fell right in place as the two holding Mr. Williams took one more step forward. Tobias Jones approached Mr. Williams with a demeaning look in his eyes, "May they put you somewhere even darker than here, better yet, may our fearless emperor find it best to execute you from our line altogether." The prisoner for the first time looked up and began chuckling under his breath which evolved into strong overt laughter. Tobias annoyed and confused stepped aside motioning his men to continue moving him into the ship. Major Baesili and her team followed suit, Tobias placing his shoulder as Sgt. Donovan walked by, "show no mercy to that one, and let our commander-in-chief know what good work we've done here." Donovan was in slight disbelief as to how much trust this Tobias Jones gave them, he didn't really understand the best way to respond but he did, "he already knows." The light in Tobias' eyes glowed, he nodded Donovan off and took his leave down the corridor with his security team following.

The Bloodhounds all mounted ensuring their captive was strapped to his seat, the primary Dominion escorts disembarked and Major Baesili shut the door, pinging the intercom, "Alright boys, get us home!" Helios 4 disengaged connections from the port they were docked on shifting their transmission as they began gaining speed.

"Sir!" One of the security guards of Tobias Jones called out, "What is it, Pvt. Lovingstones?" The private extended his arm which in the palm had an envelope sealed with the Dominion's crest at the center. It was addressed specifically to Tobias Jones, "What is this?" Tobias questioned before pulling it from the private's hands. The private responded, "The female who was apart of that team who just picked up the prisoner, she gave it to me when we were strapping the prisoner into his seat, she said it was from Octo Smith himself!" Tobias Jones' face lit up a bit more, maybe he was recognizing his faithfulness, at last, he thought! Tobias had his doubts when this strange unannounced visit began, but he decided to trust in his empire and emperor, was it a reward for not questioning deeper than he had? Was it a promotion due to his ability to maintain and produce quality security professionals at their orbital maximum prison? Tobias was ready, he had been here longer than he wanted, but regardless of the sentiment, he would serve his leader faithfully.

"Thank you, back to your posts everyone, the field trip visit is over." Tobias retreated to his quarters.

Tobias walked into his office and over to his cold steel desk, a large dome window overlooked the nothingness of space to his right, "Ok Stewart, play my favorites." The A.I. pinged on confirming the request as a melodic score flooded into his office. He sat down and placed the letter on his desk, picking up his envelope cutter, he slid the blade from right to left. His fingers tucking between the cut, a thin piece of paper revealed itself as he captured it between his fingers. His heart was beating with excitation. The front was without any words, flipping the letter over, two words were printed neatly at the center, "Thank you." Tobias looked over at a picture of Octo Smith located on his desk, slightly disappointed, yet slightly relieved as well, "You are welcome." Tobias leaned back in his seat to take a minute, "At least I was recognized for a job well done," Tobias said out loud to himself before a call screamed over his personal comm at the corner of his desk.

"Commander! We have a problem!" The caller screamed with panic, Tobias confused leaned forward from the chair pressing the button to respond, "And?" The caller taking a few moments before responding, "The transfer documents you handed over to me..." Tobias listening to the sound in the caller's voice told him it wasn't - "They didn't clear sir, we were tricked." Tobias' face dropped into shock, "Sir, what do we do?" Tobias knew the ship had more than found its way to safety by now, the letter was to ensure his mind was preoccupied, and someone in their department when running the screening of those documents failed at being urgent. There was nothing to do, "Thank you, I will let you know." Tobias clicked off the communication device stationed on his desk, he reached down pulling a drawer open drawing out a large cigar. The sounds of his favorite score filled his ears, he slowly inhaled the sweetness of his cigar. He thought of his life, his decisions, his loved ones, and those he believed he had served faithfully, a tear escaping his eyes he looked at the picture of Octo Smith, "You will not let this one go..." Tobias whispered. Leaning forward he placed the picture face down, leaning back once more closing his eyes, once again sifting through memories of his forgotten lives.

His right hand moved to the side of his hip unholstering the weapon given to him on the day of his assigned position, little did he think it would be the tool of his demise. The pistol was gripped with heavy hands, shaking hands. Tobias took out the cigar from his mouth, dropped it on his desk, and before he could turn back, raised the pistol and hammer firing one round through the silence of his mind, it was a good show...lights out my friends, were the last thoughts blown away from Tobias Jones and the tale of his life.

Denizen: Ignition

It had been two weeks after Lilith's visit from Neema. She was in a vulnerable position, stuck between two larger forces at play and she wasn't accustomed to feeling like a mouse in a science lab.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Rain poured from overhead on Lilith's black luxury sedan as her driver rolled up the privacy window before Lilith answered her call. Lilith a bit uneasy while also annoyed clicked the accept button, "Hello?" Gordon's voice emerged from the other end, "Good morning Lily my dear, are you ready?" Lilith had planned with her crew for weeks, now 600m from the location, "Yes, my crew moves in 5 minutes." There were two operations underway, the first was targetted at one of the central banks in the city, the second was a data center owned by a subsidiary company under Bastion Enterprise, whose headquarters had been bombed by the Martinet months ago. The bank would receive most of the response, with the data center receiving little at first until whoever owned this company realized what was stored there. This was what Neema wanted, the data, and this is what Dizzy wanted...the question for Lilith, what was in the data that was so important for both criminals and the OPAO? And why was the OPAO willing to deal with this criminally?

Gordon responded, "Good. I sent over the GPS coordinates for the drop, be there in exactly 1hr30min from kick-off. If you are not, we will assume you've been compromised and abort." The phone clicked and Lilith pulled it from her eat to view the coordinates, "The train yard." She grabbed a walkie-talkie sitting next to her on the black leather seats, "Bentley, Jax, and Kim, make your bank." The signal to execute the heist was confirmed.

Denizen: The Heist

Twelve people were accounted for by the security teams located in the CCTV monitoring rooms. Twelve people entered the Daedalous Central Bank storming the security checkpoints and holding the lobby hostage. Four more unidentified stormed from the rooftop after having been let in earlier that day as a third party contractor for site surveying new construction. Four more revealed themselves in different office areas of the bank as service workers. In total 20 criminals hi-jacked strategic points of contention quickly overthrowing any resistance from security personnel, all possible because of Neema's strings. Everyone was brought down into the lobby while high officials were used for opening secure doors to retrieve the money located in the basement vault. Security had achieved one successful feat of their job, notifying the authorities.

Only 5 minutes had passed, enough time for an organized crime syndicate to get its fortifications in order, but not enough to get them in and out without some of this ending in a shootout. The bank had been swarmed by police, helicopters were dispatched, and Daedolous' most elite tactical officers arrived on the scene for briefing.

Back at the data center, Kim, and three others of Lilith's crew were assigned to gain entry using employee ID cards pulled off workers while they slept cozily in their beds. They had gained incredible access up until a point, they were questioned when an ID pinged on the central system due to a denial of access. When an officer approached them about why they were trying to gain access, he was quickly dispatched with a bullet. His ID was then used to gain further entrance into the data center. The security was alarmed after one of their own went down, but by the time they alarmed the building, Kim and her crew had hostages while in the supercomputer room. Her crew began linking into the data center's supercomputer downloading all the information they were asked to retrieve. Security teams called for back-up by local authorities but their response time was slow due to the bank heist occupying much of their resources. By the time police arrived at the data center and security caught them up to speed for a tactical team to move in, Kim and her crew had rigged one of the walls with explosives. Blowing a hole through the wall, they exited after rigging the room with more explosives to detonate after escaping. The hole they exited from opened up into the warehouse of the data center, there were two trucks labeled Bastion Logistics.

Security informed the tactical team about the explosion and the criminals moving through their warehouse via CCTV monitoring. The tactical officers who already prepared to enter the supercomputer door rushed their response to move through and chase after them. One of the members of Kim's squad looked down at their forearm monitor, "They are inside." Kim stopped to look at the hole they'd just made and raised the detonator pushing the button as one of the officers began moving through the hole. The room shattered like glass throwing the officers and it's mechanical contents all over. The ceiling came crashing down in the room as it lost some of its structure sealing the hole as well.

Kim and her crew got into the two trucks, hot-wired their ignitions, and exited the warehouse. The security team monitoring the CCTV's were shocked as they reported to the tactical command center, and the mobile tactical command center also in disbelief reported to their authorities.

Meanwhile, the bank under siege became a blood bath, one of the vaults had been opened but there three more consecutive vaults within it that had to be opened before retrieving the money. One of the officials of the bank failed at disarming their captor and was shot in the head. During the conflict, a second official grew a pair and also tried to create confusion but was struck in the leg. The rest were tossed up against the wall after having been struck a couple of times to maintain order. Outside in the lobby, the shots could be heard which dropped hope for many of those bound together by their armed assailants. Eventually, the tactical teams made entry through a helicopter on the roof after negotiations failed and gunshots were heard. A brief shootout occurred on top of the roof with fire exchanging from three criminals and a team of officers. Losing only one officer in the fray to a shoulder shot, the criminals were neutralized. The team began clearing floor by floor moving to the lobby. The fourth vault was opened after two more officials were consecutively executed due to failures in cooperating. The last two saved themselves by forking over the last codes. Several hostages made a plan to overthrow their captives after hearing over the radio that tactical teams had successfully made entry from above. These hostages managed to kill an assailant but did not make it out with their lives.

The second tactical team used a ladder on the backside to move in on the middle floors after the top floors had been cleared. The second team met no resistance as they cleared the middle floors linking up with the first team who made entry minutes prior. The third and fourth teams were waiting to enter from the front of the lobby on opposite sides for the final showdown. The money in vault four was secured, packaged, and moved to the elevators located in the back of the lobby. Seconds later, four tactical teams popped smoke grenades from above and below quickly filling up the room. In the disorientation, officers were able to subdue several assailants, only having to shoot four, and chasing 4 who had escaped by elevators. Apparently, after the tactical teams cut the power to the bank to eliminate the use of utilities like elevators, the criminal masterminds had tapped into the back-up generator located inside the bank in its engineering room allowing them to use basic services including the elevator. Making their way to the roof with money bags, they began moving to the South West edge of the building. One of the police department helicopters intercepted with a marksman positioned inside of the hull. The marksman took their shots before each of the heisters leaped off the edge, one of the heisters feeling a piercing pain through the back of their leg which tripped them off the edge instead. The heister who was shot could not orient their equipment in time and hit the concrete floor below.

The other three heisters pulled chutes as they came down fast. They were going to land on Cantee Bridge which was under repairs with no traffic in sight. Upon landing, authorities had already assumed their LZ and caught up, the three tried escaping but were pinned down in a firefight. This was where Lilith was supposed to have more help and their escape vehicles. There were none...the three realized their roles and went out in a blaze of thieving glory.

Denizen: The Betrayer

Kim and her crew had lost the authorities, over the radio they were listening to the reports of chaos ensuing in the city around the Central Bank. Kim had switched the truck out for a low-profile sedan sitting underneath an overpass. Her crew had already split their own ways once the switch was completed. Kim drove up next to Lilith's vehicle as they both slid their windows down.

"Well done, Kim." Lilith looked across at Kim's eyes whose face remained stone cold. Kim extended her arm which contained a pack of USBs. The USBs contained all the important files asked to be retrieved by Lilith and all her different overlords. Lilith met Kim's hands embracing the pack pulling it into her car, then extended her hand once more to give Kim and her crew their dues. It was a code for accessing a large sum account of cryptocurrency, "May you choose a different path before this one swallows you up," Lilith said as she rolled up her window. Kim not yet processing the remark heard chattering over the radio about the Central Bank incident leading to the Cantee Bridge shootout where everyone apart of the heist had been killed. There were reports of at least 5 assailants apprehended, 4 shot and wounded, and 9 dead. Kim however remembered there were at least 20, two were unaccounted for.

Lilith's driver strolled her away to the GPS coordinates she gave to him. They were crossing to the other side of the city away from all the police activity. She was rather displeased that the bank heist had been set up to fail, to send her crews into a situation where there'd be no return, but as the criminal life cuts it, they'd have done the same. She arrived at the train yard with the pack in hand. A second car arriving at the other end of where Lilith was parked, her phone rang, she picked up, "Gordon?"

"Yes, drive to the open warehouse to our East." The phone clicked off, Lilith ordered her driver to follow the directions and they gradually rode into the warehouse where a second vehicle was stationed at the center with four armed men, including Gordon. The first vehicle kept its distance positioning 18 car lengths from the warehouse entrance. Lilith was blocked in, she wasn't sure if Gordon had intentions of letting her leave today. Lilith exited her vehicle with her driver gripping his rifle at the dash in case things went south. Approaching Gordon she stood face-to-face her heels clicking on the pavement echoing her masked confidence, "I have what you asked for, am I to assume you do too or are you planning to make sure I don't leave?" Lilith asked. Gordon chucked, "No Lily my dear, you are not to be harmed so long as everything I need is exactly where it should be." Lilith albeit disliked Gordon, he was a man who kept his word, a word that has been used for quite some evil deeds, but none the less he said exactly what he'd do without much coating. As she was about to hand over the pack to Gordon a shot split the moment, Gordon was shunned to the floor, and Lilith ducked for cover moving toward Gordon's armed men, "What the f***!" The armed men quickly secured Gordon pulling him into the vehicle while throwing Lilith in too, a second shot clipped one of the protection agents, a third clipping another. Gordon's courier pressed on the petal to escape as a fourth shot ended Lilith's driver's life as he attempted to exit the vehicle to support her.

"Who was that!" Lilith screamed as Gordon applied pressure to his wound, "I don't know." His breath was shallow, "Driver get us to Dizzy." Lilith was pinned by Gordon's security team unable to move as two agents occupied the vehicle with them. Gordon looked at Lilith, "Were you followed?" Lilith quickly responded, "No, I don't think so, we were careful about how we got here." Gordon crunched his teeth in pain, "Dammit it's cold." One of the agents interrupted, "7 minutes ETA!" One of the agents had been preparing a blood clotter, he injected the clotter into the wound releasing the foam which quickly expanded and hardened to shut the wound up. They laid him down on his back across the seat, an agent called out, "ETA 3 minutes!" Gordon looked at Lilith again as her face was shifting into all kinds of emotions, "It looks like you will be meeting Dizzy in the flesh then." Lilith collected herself, "I wish it had been on calmer terms." Gordon chuckled, "She doesn't like you Lily, but your ability to get things done impress her." Lilith smiled, "Yeah, she certainly won't be impressed you were shot over me." Gordon chuckled again, "Stop with the jokes, it hurts, I wasn't shot over you, this package you got, it's bigger than all of us, I got shot because of what is contained inside...we aren't the only ones after it."

The car stopped, Lilith was brought out onto an airstrip with a single jet. A well-dressed woman with blue slacks and a blue buttoned-up coat stood at the base of the jet's steps. A security team standing by with one of the agents holding a black umbrella over their client. The rain had been coming down all-day, a fitting atmosphere to the events from which just unfolded in Daedalous, then again it rained in Daedalous quite often, it wasn't really a rare occasion, but fitting nonetheless.

An injured Gordon and nervous Lilith were escorted from their car to the jet, the well-dressed woman waved one of her security members to fetch Gordon and bring him up the jet steps. She then introduced herself, "Lilith, I am Dizzy Martin, the principal of the Martinet, a pleasure to have finally made this opportunity to meet such a skilled woman as yourself. There just isn't enough of us out here really showing the world what a woman is capable of when unleashed from the coils of our indoctrinated roles, thank you for bringing Gordon home safely, and meeting our needs." The rain pouring down on Lilith's face as her makeup began dripping from the water mixing in, Dizzy thought Gordon had the package, he didn't since she never had the chance to hand it over, but here was the moment Neema said she had to decide on, "Of course, but what's next! We were attacked at the warehouse, I lost my driver, and I still haven't received my payment." Dizzy waved her hand again and a member of the security team from Gordon's crew walked over handing Lilith keys.

"Everything you need is in the trunk, the car is yours, and your services are no longer needed. After today, the Martinet will be in your hands, our accounts and dealings are all located in the back of that trunk, call Simon, he will be able to get it all set-up for you." Lilith was confused at what was being offered before she could ask as to why they were giving it all to her Dizzy continued, "Our time here is over, we appreciate all that you've done, I was never a fan of you and I am sure Gordon let you know, but your work speaks for itself, and I know what we've built here will be in the hands of someone who can keep most of the chaos we've summoned contained. Dizzy turned away from Lilith and began ascending the jet's staircase, Lilith turned to make her way back to the car, until a delayed sound of a jet passed overhead followed by an explosion from behind throwing Lilith into the side of the car door knocking her out.

The Shadowed Throne

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