VitaVitaAR

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP

The remains of the beast-class demons that had been slaughtered broke down, dissolving into a smoky haze that slowly rose from the spot the corpse had fallen and disappeared. All that was left behind as a faintly glowing, spherical red shape. But a demon soul of this low-class didn't need any further interaction, passively absorbed into the body of the the one who slew it.

While Kaeru had suffered a blow hard enough to knock the currently-female operative into a nearby wall, her quick response took down the Beast-class that was responsible, tearing through it like a bolt of lightning.

Needless to say, the extermination was going well.

Unfortunately, the unnatural, echoing growls from deeper in the tunnel heralded more of the canid-human demons, their fiery eyes glowing in the darkness.

This time they weren't along.

"Hah, contractors?!"

The cocky tone was just as unnatural-sounding as the growls of the dogs.

"Me and my hunting hounds will tear you to pieces!"

The figure that emerged from the darkness was tall, With lengthy arms. Its form was masculine, angular, and while little detail could be seen of its dark form, there appeared to be the clear shape of defined muscles. While it was largely humanoid, its somewhat elongated neck ended in a skull-like, fanged head, its three eyes glowing orange and two horns curling once and then pointing sharply upwards on either side of its head.

"I'm sure all your souls will taste just delicious!" it howled, pointing and sending the Beast-class demons charging once more.

"Signature lock," came Shiro's monotone voice, "Commencing analysis... Analysis complete. Target is a Monster-Class Demon of high grade. Use caution, but do not fear engaging the enemy."

@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist@RolePlayerRoxas@Quartz@Emeth@LuckyBlackCat

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP Interest Check

@VizRiel: The OOC was posted already and the IC's gone up as well, so yes. ^^;

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

A... shard of Angroron...?

For a few moments, Fanilly was entirely taken aback by the news. Certainly, the description of the pitch black, glasslike relic fit, but did such things even exist anymore in this world?

It was no use dismissing it as a simple myth, of course. As sure as the gods existed, so to did Black Blade Angroron. The Empty Sword, wielded by the successor to the vile Hidroroth, Orodrunn. The fortress once inhabited by the fallen divine spirit still existed in a ruined state, to the North.

There was no reason to doubt its existence, but the fact that it could be present here? How? Why?

The mere thought was like some kind of nightmare.

Fanilly didn't want to believe in such things, but at the same time she couldn't think of anything else that could adequately explain the fate of the fortress's inhabitants. Especially given the description of the object in question.

"You're kidding, right?"

Alette's red eyes widened as she spoke.

"That's... ugh, it does sound like it but..." she trailed off for a few moments, pinching the bridge of her nose with one hand, "No wonder we were paid so much. No wonder we were told not to touch it. Damn it!"

She glanced towards Clarice, as if hoping that the parasol-wielding mage would offer some sort of assistance, but she simply shrugged.

"It would explain why this place didn't feel like a curse, even if it does still feel awful," Clarice commented, drawing a sigh out from the pigtailed mercenary.

"Ah, Alette in distress is lovely, too..." came a comment from Abigail.

"You hush," Alette addressed her for only a moment before her attention returned to the knights.

Fanilly took a deep breath.

"If it truly is a shard of Angroron, regardless of how it found its way here we must recover it," the Knight-Captain insisted, "If it devastated the soldiers in this fort by driving them to madness, there's no telling what else it could be used for."

She had to remain calm and composed.

"This entire fort must be searched. Sir Fionn, since you volunteered to search the captain's quarters I shall leave that to you and Sir Fleuri. For the rest of you, it's probably best to start with the barracks and move outward from there. If it was taken here with the intent of handing it off to Alette's company, then it was probably in the possession of someone posing as a soldier."

She paused for a moment, glancing towards Alette.

"You won't get an argument from me," the mercenary captain responded with a heavy sigh, glancing towards the knight who had asked her about the Boars, "Sir Fleuri, I think? We've only found this one so far, and he was dead when we go here. Lying sprawled out in the dining hall."

She gestured to the dead Golden Boar.

"If we can find any others, it's not impossible we'll find out who hired these shitheads. Anyway, Abigail."

She turned towards the pallid, knife-wielding woman.

"You go with those knights to check out the captain's quarters. Got it?"

"Of course, Alette!"

As if overjoyed even to be ordered by her captain, Abigail quickly hurried to accompany Sir Fionn and Sir Fleuri.

"Clarice, I know you're not just good at curses, set up a scrying circle and see if you can get anything from that."

The finely-dressed mage let out a despairing sight at the idea of remaining in the fort for any longer, but appeared to head for a cleaner spot before beginning to get out her tools.

It was only now it became clear that her feet hadn't been touching the ground the entire time.

"Bors, I think you'll understand why I ask you to keep watch?"

"Of course, Lady Alette."

"Great. And if the Boars show up..."

The Shark's razor grin returned as her eyes drifted towards Sir Fionn.

"I'll only play as much as they deserve."

@Rune_Alchemist@HereComesTheSnow@Raineh Daze@ERode@PigeonOfAstora@Conscripts@Crimson Paladin@Creative Chaos@The Otter@Krayzikk@Psyker Landshark@6slyboy6

The Lion's Banner: A Fire Emblem-Inspired Anime Fantasy RP

Kayliss's efforts bore fruit, and one of the doll's newly-acquired weapons was torn off the arm it was attached to at its base, far less durable then the larger doll itself had proven to be. And yet, it raised its arm and threw the one it was wielding down sharply, in a bid to hit the assassin with it.

Urden was of course able to block one of the thrusting limbs, but the other was swift to swing in from the side, in a bit to skewer the mercenary through his torso.

Sir Roger's timely intervention was key, clashing with the razor-edged blade and sending it off-course, the doll recoiling and shifting back with its two remaining weapons in order to resume its frantic thrusting, attempting to re-arm itself with another pilfered limb from a nearby doll.

Starshine blazed bright once more.

"Thank you, Sir Istvan," Velvetica responded, her blue eyes narrowing at the construct, "I shall indeed."

Her opening was in this very instant. With the remaining dolls distracted, and the monstrous one temporarily in retreat, she had only an instant to make her attack.

She would ensure the doll would be finished.

The blonde girl took one step forward, her cape fluttering as she moved, raising Starshine parallel to her head, the hilt in both hands. An opening, on the side where she removed one of its limbs, its arms lunging for Sir Roger and Urden.

The girl erupted forward. Strike swiftly. Strike truly. Pierce.

The light built, brighter now, along Starshine's blade, glowing more intensely by the moment, illuminating the chamber, the broken forms of the fallen dolls.

She reached the doll's undefended flank in an instant.

"Shatter!"

With Velvetica's command, Starshine's light grew brighter, casting the entire room in its glow, and with a flash it erupted forward. A chunk of the doll's waist was suddenly gone, evaporated in a single blow, the construct teetering, unable to hold up much longer as further cracks ran through its frame.

It was still a threat, but now its crumbling body had been sent off-course, its limbs flailing. A sold blow to the upper torso would finish it...!

"Finish it now!"

@Raineh Daze@Rin@AzureKnight@Psyker Landshark@The Otter@VKAllen@Eisenhorn@Crimson Paladin@Conscripts@HereComesTheSnow@Octo@PigeonOfAstora

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP

Ayako didn't enter the construction site with the rest of the operatives. Naturally, she hadn't been cleared to do so, and to be perfectly frank she was certain that the operatives wouldn't require her assistance anyway.

If they couldn't handle this, they had bigger problems.

From within the transport, Shiro was monitoring the situation to the best of her ability. The various readouts in the control station for the vehicle were linked directly to her psychic capabilities, but such things could not always be relied on.

At times, Shiro would be forced to exist the vehicle in order to provide proper support. Even enter the Denial Field.

Thankfully, especially given their new recruits, this was not one of those times.

---

In sharp contrast to the crowd outside, just beyond the perimeter established by the disaster response workers, the Construction Site itself was entirely empty. On one hand, this meant that evacuation procedures had gone smoothly.

On the other, it meant that the demons still hadn't been sighted.

Beast-class demons were effectively just animals in mentality, befitting their name. That made it unlikely they would hold out for very long.

Unless the stronger demon was somehow controlling them.

The construction site itself seemed to be a large building early on in its development. Half-finished concrete pillars marked the supports, and various tools were strewn about from the swift evacuation. There were some walls and temporary structures in place, tarps draping over the freshest portions of the construction in order to protect them.

"Emergence Gate location is within twenty meters."

Shiro's soft, monotone voice came to life in their communications systems. Ahead, there seemed to be some sort of partially-constructed hallway, leading deeper into the most complete portions of the building.

No sooner then Shiro spoke, did it a low growl emanate from the hall. It sounded not unlike that of an angry dog, but with a strange echo, a reverberating undertone that made it sound unnatural.

And the creature it belonged to was no dog.

It was the height of a groan man at its shoulder, bulky, muscular frame bent and hunched to allow it to walk on its hands, a long tail trailing behind it. Its head appeared partially armored, upper jaw covered in what almost looked like a smooth metal structure terminating in a part of horns at the back, sharp teeth lining its maw. Four bright orange, burning eyes, two on either side of its skull, glared at them as its fanged jaws hung open.

It was not alone, six of the Beast-class demons emerging from the hall in total.

With a snarl, they came charging forward!

@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist@RolePlayerRoxas@Quartz@Emeth@LuckyBlackCat

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP

@LuckyBlackCat: Accepted.

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP

@LuckyBlackCat: Alrighty! Looking forward to it.

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fanilly took a deep breath. She'd nearly accepted the offer before learning anything about what they were actually looking for. It had almost felt like the eyes of her knights were boring into the back of her neck as she spoke with the mercenary captain.

Perhaps that's what reminded her to press a little harder than she had.

"... There's no reason to deny your offer," the Knight-Captain continued, "If you'll tell us just what you're looking for. You're right, it makes sense to work together if we're both trying to figure out what happened here. But it doesn't make sense to keep withholding details from us if you really want to work together."

Alette's crimson eyes narrowed.

Then they travelled. Across the knights, lingering briefly on Fionn, before drifting over her four lieutenants.

Abigail seemed to simply be admiring her. Bors nodded. Mathen said nothing. Clarice let out a sigh.

Alette's eyes returned to Fanilly after a few moments.

"You're right, it doesn't make much sense, does it?" the blue-haired mercenary suddenly grinned again as she spoke, "And I don't think it'll make our employer too upset regardless, it's not as if we know that much either."

She stepped forward.

"You're right, 'Sir Fionn', we did expect some problems. Turns out there might be some other parties interested in the item we're looking for. If you want quality protection for something valuable against some violent and unrestrained types, you hire the best," Alette continued, waving her free hand as she spoke.

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"The object we're looking for is black, and looks a bit like a shard of glass. Supposedly it's poisoned, or cursed, or something like that. Touching it is out of the question, at least with your bare hands, but wrapping it in cloth will keep you from coming into direct contact with it," explained the Shark, "So Clarice prepared some warded cloth specifically to add another layer of defense."

A smug expression crossed the parasol-wielding girl's features.

"When it comes to curses, there's no-one in this world who can claim they're better than I am."

That single comment made Fanilly feel even more wary.

"All of these dead, though... I can't think of a curse this strong, so something else must have happened..." Alette trailed off with a sigh, "Well, in any case, we were here to meet with a contact in the fort, acquire the object, kill the other party pursuing it, and return with it to our employer. Speaking of the other party... Bors!"

She looked back over her shoulder.

The hulking armored figure had already reached behind him, pulling out another corpse and tossing it to the ground. The dead man was wearing Thaln's colors, but...

"The mark on the back of his neck should tell you exactly who we're dealing with."

Indeed, tattooed on the deceased man's neck was the image of a ferocious gold and black boar.

"If we can't find it here, those bastards might already have it, but we can't walk away until we know it's gone."

@Rune_Alchemist@HereComesTheSnow@Raineh Daze@ERode@PigeonOfAstora@Conscripts@Crimson Paladin@Creative Chaos@The Otter@Krayzikk@Psyker Landshark@6slyboy6

Shadow Contract: A Demon-Slaying Action RP

Some DDF Branch Departments had multiple vehicles, simply due to the number of operatives that worked within them.

Branch 247 was not one of them.

While there was space for a second armored transport, only one stood in the garage currently.

The vehicle was large, and mostly black in coloration, with red and white highlights on the sides and a siren perched towards the front. It most resembled some kind of van, but more angular, emblazoned with the DDF letters on the side in the same red and white that adorned it elsewhere, their motto beneath it.

'For Humanity's Future.'

Atop the vehicle was another member of the branch's personnel. She was a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, her pink hair tied into low braided pigtails beneath a blue baseball cap. Her features were bright, and her green eyes seemed to shine behind her round glasses. She was wearing a white shirt, large gloves, and blue overalls, and had just finished loading a set of Demon Denial Field stakes into the top of the vehicle.

"Ah!"

She hopped down as the operatives entered the garage.

"Welcome!" she declared with a cheery grin, "Since this is going to be your first time riding my pride and joy, it's time to introduce you! This bad boy can-"

"We don't have time, Terada-kun," interjected Ayako, flatly, as she proceeded into the open rear of the vehicle.

The engineer looked completely crushed, as if the Department Head's words had instantly destroyed her soul.

Inside, the transport was fairly simple, two rows of seats on either side of the vehicle allowing a decent number of operatives to occupy it.

Ayako took a seat, but the Detection Doll did not. She proceeded to the front of the vehicle, the door sliding open.

It shut behind her.

Such a small girl couldn't possibly be intended to drive, right?

"As soon as Shiro-kun is ready, we'll be departing."

Moments later, the vehicle hummed to life.

The garage door opened, and the siren blared.

DDF Branch Department 247 was deployed.

---

The construction site was already empty when they reached it, though a crowd had formed just outside of it. It was only natural that people wanted to see what was going to happen, even if Ayako could only sigh at the sight of it.

The transport pulled up outside.

A few non-DF operative disaster response workers had already set up a perimeter, but that certainly wasn't enough.

When the rear of the vehicle opened, Ayako had already risen to her feet.

"Shiro-kun, deploy the Demon Denial Field."

A small, soft voice emanated from the vehicle's communications system.

"Deploying Demon Denial Field."

With a loud ka-chunk, the port at the top of the vehicle opened, and the stakes were launched into the air. Utilizing the psychic targeting system tapping into the Detection Doll's abilities in order to locate the perimeter.

In moments, a hazy purple-gold sheen surrounded the entire construction site.

Now it was on the operatives.

"Stick together. Locate the threat, determine the nature of the more powerful signature, and eliminate every demon," commanded Ayako, pulling a pack of cigarettes from her pocket as she spoke.

The construction site itself was clearly early on in its development, with only the base foundations in place, equipment scattered from a hasty evacuation.

The Emergence Gate couldn't be seen from here, so it had to be deeper inside.

@Raineh Daze@Rune_Alchemist@RolePlayerRoxas@Quartz@Emeth

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

It was never going to hit her directly, that much was certain.

She was able to move,still, even if it was clear her legs hadn't fully healed from her last impact yet.

The tail caught Aleksiya's arm.

The small girl's eyes widened, a sharp, hot sensation tearing through her shoulder as Kordelia's tail shredded muscle and shattered bone, tearing her left arm clean from her body.

It wasn't the first time she'd been hurt like this, but it was the first time that she'd felt like this since being revived.

She hated it.

Not to mention it ruined her dress...

Aleksiya clenched her teeth, bearing her fangs as she winced, a spray of blood erupting from the stump as the tail tore past her.

"Kordelia... I hope you can make this up to me," she hissed through gritted teeth, "I really did like this dress!"

Pouring her magical energy into the blood spewing from her left shoulder, the temperature around her lowered dramatically. Nearly instantly, the blood froze, crystallizing faster then it could emerge from the wound.

And trapping the transformed Lord's tail within it.

"This is for your own good, you know," she added, her voice still strained as her crimson eyes winced, "So you better help me find my arm when this is over!"

Her right arm snapped up, emanating white-and-blue light from its palm, swirling and growing as she condensed the moisture in the air, before letting loose a spear of ice aimed squarely at the undamaged hand. Thick, with a vertical blade, the aim was simple.

Cut it down the middle as the strings are severed.

@Click This@Rune_Alchemist