Part 1: Black Gold
Faeya Duncan ~ Divided We Fall~ Location: Venel Dregs; an oil-rich desert
It's already a surprise how a daughter from a rich family would just leave the safety of a fortress, much less survive out in the wilderness. Faeya was already, perhaps, accustomed to this way of life: Slay and be slain, break and fall... It was already normal for Faeya; perhaps even for all humanity. The young girl, in her wanderings, was already in the Venel Dregs, a famous land for oil. This desert was never penetrated by the humans because the thick sands of this place was enough to dent even the strongest of their weapons.
The desert in particular wasn't all that hot, it wasn't even hot. The sulfur in the sky was enough to reduce the sun's ultraviolet rays, making this desert no different than any other landscapes; except for the sand.
Faeya would notice that the scent of machines was in the air... This smell of sulfur and ash... It was an omen of what was to come: the Choir of Angels.
Zenon Drewziak ~ He who works in the dark to serve the Light ~ Location: Babylonian Tunnel leading to the outskirts of the Venel Dregs
Babylon was indeed a sullen and dark place. The sun's rays would only pierce through cracks and crevasses, but the people would never receive sunlight as much as the other fortresses would. These harsh conditions hardened these veteran warriors into the determined soldiers they are now... Zenon is an example of that hardened warrior. The lad had made one of the worst fortresses in this god-forsaken world as his home... It was not much, but it was home.
Zenon was fond of the secret tunnels that defined Babylon as it is... However, even through the darkness of the tunnels, not even Zenon could avoid feeling the rumblings of the earth... It seemed like a whole battalion was marching on the battlefield... It wasn't an earthquake; it was a battle formation. Would the young Zenon leave these ominous signs or will he risk the secrecy of Babylon and scout the world above?
Dr. Charles Richardson ~ PhD in Survival? ~ Location: Junalok Woods; razed forest that leads to the Venel Dregs
The desecrated forest loomed around one of the world's last geniuses. Traces of animal and human carcasses were splattered around the tainted grounds. The angels had left a parting gift, literally, parts of the humans here, and there. The attack was just recent as evidenced the stench of sulfur that was still attached to the charred trees; luck was on Dr. Charles' side or is it? Charles would notice that a trail of black fluid swept through the forest ground, the trail was leading the path to the Venel Dregs, one of the shortcuts towards the Church... It would now be a hard decision...
Would he follow that trail and risk detection or would he skirt around the danger and possibly encounter problems by using the longer way around?
Jack and Ryan ~ Bolts and Courage ~ Location: Fortified Bunker on a hill, overlooking the Venel Dregs
It was truly a miracle how these two robots were able to work together. Jack was definitely fine, but Ryan still had the Kill Code within him; hopefully it won't cause trouble for them in the future. The view from their fortification was quite a sight to behold and admire; not that these two robots had the code to admire such views.
The electromagnetic waves in the air had increased in intensity... almost as if it was amplified exponentially. Jack had encountered this sign before... when the robots conducted a siege on his former bunker. From the duo's fortification, they would see a timid female trudging through the Venel Dregs; oblivious to the incoming destruction that was fast approaching her. There was a benefit to having a higher ground... The duo could see the incoming Choir: Fallen Ones, Adjudicators, and a Guardian...
Alexander Price ~ A Heart that Bleeds ~ Location: Venel Dregs
The scent of sulfur would already be strong at this point... Alexander, a young man with grim determination was seen trudging through the Venel Dregs. It would seem that in his wanderings, he had come across this oil-field as well. This scent of sulfur was already an obvious omen to everyone: A choir was approaching. The young Alexander would be able to see a silhouette of a girl at the farther end of the Venel Dregs... He could leave the Venel Dregs now, escaping the incoming Choir, or would he go forth and try to assist this young lady before the Choir would sing her a chorus?