Ramjammer
Confirmed Memelord
Back at it again with this nonsense. When will I ever learn?
Relevant characters (You need to only read the first post.)
Plot points are of course, simply ideas. But the basic premise is a Character growing through their interactions with a very scary world and trying to decide how they'll face the abyss if they even can at all. There's the end of the world thing too and some rather frightening revelations about the company you've been keeping on that end. I'm personally fond of globe trotting adventures so expect to be going out of town more than a few times. I'm always open for hashing out new storylines.
If you are interested in this RP after reading please DM me. I don't want to clutter the page with replies.
The tldr is that I have a modern fantasy setting that's not getting much use. The last iteration of this story ran for a year with my previous partner before depression got a hold of me.
A sole organization is responsible for wrangling, rehabilitating and containing these monstrosities. Most of them find a combat application. Others are put down for being a little too ill tempered.
And by organization I mean multi-billion dollar arms dealer, because WHO ELSE would want to mount guns on a Dragon and make it fight? It's not all bad, they're committed to keeping the public safe, and the monsters out of sight because who needs the stress that come with managing that shit show, right? And there's the matter of the encroaching apocalypse, so these guys aren't all bad. But Human politicking, Corporate espionage and being proxy to a slew of war crimes committed just to get the situation under control in other countries pushes them firmly into "Morally Dubious" territory. Depending on who you ask.
The setting is cosmic horror based given the nature of the entities involved, but I'm a sucker for humor because let's be real, you have to appreciate the absurdity of a literal God insulting your choice of clothing. You chose to astral project in sweats and a hoodie. You deserve this.
Also your supervisor might end up being a talking dog.
What's your character's role in this mess? That's for you to decide. Maybe you're not exactly the best person and are okay with assassinating politicians in their sleep because you get to hang out with a ghost wolf. Maybe you're a govenment official trying to figure out where this company's funds are being funneled to, because let's face it. They're not paying taxes.
Maybe you're a pencil pusher who saw something they shouldn't have and have and now you're on the run because this company takes the word 'Termination' quite literally. You could be an orphan pulled off the streets for recruitment, because you have a set of useful talents, and an even more useful friend.
Or you could be that one background character who's car gets totaled during a shootout with Godzilla and the entirety of your story is you trying to get insurance to cover it. (Maybe not that one, but you get it.) Go wild. I'm able to adapt and I like talking these things out beforehand.
What I'm looking for.
'Magic' falls heavily into the realm of science in this setting. All things pertaining to magic or the Supernatural stem wholly from Daemons. It's not even called Magic. Merely referred to as Power or Energy in relation to Daemons.
Daemons have existed since before the dawn of Humanity, but are deeply entwined with Human history and myth. It's not sure when it first started, but simply put; Daemons aren't very imaginative. When Humans first told stories, created Gods, and spirits and began to dwell on their own mortality, it seemed to resonate deeply with Daemons. Suddenly they were able to take on shape and form, using Human myth as a template of sorts. It started simply enough. A forest spirit here. A ghostly animal there. The stories were simple, and so were the Daemons. But as Humans expanded on their own myths and religions, it gave Daemons more to interface with. After a while, though, they learned to mimic animals that they came across as well.
Things really only got weird when Humans performed the first rituals to contact their Gods. A Daemon can pull themselves from the Void and into our reality, and despite what countless Occult manuals will tell you, rituals are NOT required to contact them. Daemons cannot be summoned, banished or bound in the manner we associate with otherworldly beings. Almost all of Humanity's knowledge concerning dealing with supernatural entities is wholly attributed to Daemons, and most importantly, a complete farce. When Daemonkind first started making contact with Humans, they noticed that overwhelmingly their presence was attributed to Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and so they just kind of went with it. Humans had essentially made a very convenient cover for the existence of Daemons and naturally, they went along with it. They would agree to banishment and binding simply because it made their dealings with Humans easier.
However. The use of rituals, offerings, and holy writings did something strange. Save for a select few individuals, projecting a form of any kind was beyond the capabilities of Daemons at the time. It's why they were so eager to latch on to Human storytelling. It gave them a basic outline. But once Humans became aware of them, and started forming religions and other spiritual experiences around their presence, it somehow solidified those forms. What were once vague flitting shapes, and ghostly forms became living figures with real weight. Where Daemons had merely existed before, they could now truly LIVE for lack of a better word.
So, of course, a bunch of them started taking advantage of this arrangement.
Humans that gave the best offerings were gifted with portions of Daemon power. The oldest stories of great warriors and demigods are really nothing more than stories of normal men that caught the attention of one Daemon or other. Oddly, Daemons had no need of these sacrifices or offerings. They don't need food or water and have no use for anything we would deem valuable. (But shiny objects are amusing to nearly every creature.) Somewhere along the way Daemons had also begun to pick up Human vices like greed and avarice. The most common disputes were over who among them deserved the most worship and attention, so it wasn't uncommon for them to undercut what was deemed competition by any means necessary. Crusades leading to forcible conversion and assimilation for the losers were the result of powerful Daemons wanting more adoration and more offerings for themselves. Daemons, in turn, began to wage war with each other. Consuming their brethren and stealing the power of the fallen. This led to a variety of Daemons branching off and focusing solely on preying on weaker Daemons in an almost feral state. Power really is the only law that Daemons pay any heed to, and the most powerful of them received the greatest respect.
Human History took its natural course, with Daemons either meddling heavily for their own reasons Or simply choosing to ignore it. But the effects of contact with Humankind couldn't be denied or reversed. Infighting even in the Void became common and so volatile that the first of their kind, the Qliphoth Rasteva felt forced to intervene but ultimately failed. At the time of the story's beginning, Daemons are nothing more than myth and legend. The vast majority of the population aren't aware of their existence. But as the Void becomes a more and more violent place to live, greater numbers are starting to slip into our reality. The weakest Daemons tend to cling to the poor and downtrodden, offering a small bit of power in exchange for safety from their hungering kin. More powerful Daemons either remain hidden due to the chaotic and paranoid nature of present-day Humans or to avoid unwanted attention from rivals. But a fair number are finding kinship with Humans that share the same goals. The most powerful of Daemons remain hidden away from the prying eyes of man, all but oblivious to the changing state of the world around them.
The problem is however, that those Daemons, first of their kind and first to be made gods have forgotten who and what they were. Their identities so entwined with the stories that Humans made for them, forms written before they were first projected have become the crux of their existence. This poses a problem for literally everyone as these Daemons now believe that they should usher existence along a preordained state they've forgotten was made up by humans in the first place. This includes most distressingly, the end of the world.
Daemons have existed since before the dawn of Humanity, but are deeply entwined with Human history and myth. It's not sure when it first started, but simply put; Daemons aren't very imaginative. When Humans first told stories, created Gods, and spirits and began to dwell on their own mortality, it seemed to resonate deeply with Daemons. Suddenly they were able to take on shape and form, using Human myth as a template of sorts. It started simply enough. A forest spirit here. A ghostly animal there. The stories were simple, and so were the Daemons. But as Humans expanded on their own myths and religions, it gave Daemons more to interface with. After a while, though, they learned to mimic animals that they came across as well.
Things really only got weird when Humans performed the first rituals to contact their Gods. A Daemon can pull themselves from the Void and into our reality, and despite what countless Occult manuals will tell you, rituals are NOT required to contact them. Daemons cannot be summoned, banished or bound in the manner we associate with otherworldly beings. Almost all of Humanity's knowledge concerning dealing with supernatural entities is wholly attributed to Daemons, and most importantly, a complete farce. When Daemonkind first started making contact with Humans, they noticed that overwhelmingly their presence was attributed to Religious and Spiritual Beliefs and so they just kind of went with it. Humans had essentially made a very convenient cover for the existence of Daemons and naturally, they went along with it. They would agree to banishment and binding simply because it made their dealings with Humans easier.
However. The use of rituals, offerings, and holy writings did something strange. Save for a select few individuals, projecting a form of any kind was beyond the capabilities of Daemons at the time. It's why they were so eager to latch on to Human storytelling. It gave them a basic outline. But once Humans became aware of them, and started forming religions and other spiritual experiences around their presence, it somehow solidified those forms. What were once vague flitting shapes, and ghostly forms became living figures with real weight. Where Daemons had merely existed before, they could now truly LIVE for lack of a better word.
So, of course, a bunch of them started taking advantage of this arrangement.
Humans that gave the best offerings were gifted with portions of Daemon power. The oldest stories of great warriors and demigods are really nothing more than stories of normal men that caught the attention of one Daemon or other. Oddly, Daemons had no need of these sacrifices or offerings. They don't need food or water and have no use for anything we would deem valuable. (But shiny objects are amusing to nearly every creature.) Somewhere along the way Daemons had also begun to pick up Human vices like greed and avarice. The most common disputes were over who among them deserved the most worship and attention, so it wasn't uncommon for them to undercut what was deemed competition by any means necessary. Crusades leading to forcible conversion and assimilation for the losers were the result of powerful Daemons wanting more adoration and more offerings for themselves. Daemons, in turn, began to wage war with each other. Consuming their brethren and stealing the power of the fallen. This led to a variety of Daemons branching off and focusing solely on preying on weaker Daemons in an almost feral state. Power really is the only law that Daemons pay any heed to, and the most powerful of them received the greatest respect.
Human History took its natural course, with Daemons either meddling heavily for their own reasons Or simply choosing to ignore it. But the effects of contact with Humankind couldn't be denied or reversed. Infighting even in the Void became common and so volatile that the first of their kind, the Qliphoth Rasteva felt forced to intervene but ultimately failed. At the time of the story's beginning, Daemons are nothing more than myth and legend. The vast majority of the population aren't aware of their existence. But as the Void becomes a more and more violent place to live, greater numbers are starting to slip into our reality. The weakest Daemons tend to cling to the poor and downtrodden, offering a small bit of power in exchange for safety from their hungering kin. More powerful Daemons either remain hidden due to the chaotic and paranoid nature of present-day Humans or to avoid unwanted attention from rivals. But a fair number are finding kinship with Humans that share the same goals. The most powerful of Daemons remain hidden away from the prying eyes of man, all but oblivious to the changing state of the world around them.
The problem is however, that those Daemons, first of their kind and first to be made gods have forgotten who and what they were. Their identities so entwined with the stories that Humans made for them, forms written before they were first projected have become the crux of their existence. This poses a problem for literally everyone as these Daemons now believe that they should usher existence along a preordained state they've forgotten was made up by humans in the first place. This includes most distressingly, the end of the world.
Relevant characters (You need to only read the first post.)
Daemons that look like regular animals up to and including extinct/prehistoric animals. Most of them seem rather normal, though sometimes they choose to take on colors and patterning outside of the norm for their chosen species. Any and all animals work, but some work better than others. So you'll find an abundance of terrestrial life forms.
Daemons that take on an almost speculative evolutionary form. Taking cues from nature and altering their form somehow to better suit their needs. This family of Daemon tends to overlap with the Mythological family so there's a lot of cross referencing between the two.
Daemons that bear more than a passing resemblance to creatures recorded in Human Myth. Most of them have had some involvement in Human history. Normally, some recording of the Daemon in question by Humans is the best way to have them set into this category. Otherwise their appearance, location of origin, and window of activity is used to create a rough timeline and then checked against any local legends concerning their appearance. Obviously some, like Dragons and Wyverns, are easier to place than others, like perhaps Fenrir as large wolves are pretty common.
A family of Daemons with more humanoid shapes, but rather beast like features. Gestalt Daemon are notable for their manageable size and shape, and they tend to work well with Apex's equipment. I guess you could call them furries, but I've always been strict on their appearance. So it's less fursona, and more beastfolk. Unsurprisingly, a lot of them tend to be as fastidious about the clothes they wear as they are about everything else.
There's a great deal of overlap between the families, with some Daemons being unable to be be placed at all due to the forms that they take. They're typically classified as 'Shen'. A Chinese word taking on a variety of meanings related to the supernatural and spirituality, this is in reference to the varying forms that these Daemons take. They're further broken down and categorized based on what their form most closely resembles, avian, reptilian, insectoid, bipedal and quadrupedal. The list goes on for a while and so Apex really does what it can to give Daemons a solid classification
Daemons are usually categorized by phenotype and power threshold, but two very notable instances exist.
Egregores- Egregores are an interesting kind of Daemon. Harkening back to mankind's earliest attempts to make contact with their gods, an Eregore is a Daemon that's form is born from a collective desire of a group of Humans. They are few in number, but obvious to the trained eye. Egregores only slip from the void and project themselves in the event of extreme need. Human communities under extreme oppression and duress. Notably, these same communities tend to practice what is considered 'primitive' religions. And hold beliefs, not in line with modern day worship. They are usually secluded, and small in number. A few notable exceptions have been found. One, in particular, being an Egregore brought forth by a group of children suffering abuse in their foster home. Egregores are a notably benevolent example of Daemonkind, valuing justice and protecting the weak and defenseless. As a result, Egregores do not stray far from the area that they're needed most in. Out of necessity, Egregores rank high on Power Threshold.
Less kind or downright evil Egregores do exist but they're even rarer among an already rare type of Daemon. Their existence hinges on a community having the same goals and ideals. A community of individuals where every person only looks out for themselves has a harder time calling forth and Egregore due to the broken nature of the community.
Qliphoth- A term appearing in Jewish Mysticism meaning 'shell' or 'husk', the Qliphoth are only a handful in number. Five total with a rumored sixth to exist somewhere. Qliphoth are the pinnacle of Daemonkind, and are exceedingly powerful beings. Little if anything is known about them, each one surrounded in a multitude of Creation Myths. What few can be observed and monitored closely show signs of extreme age. Carbon dating suggests at least one to have been in existence on Earth since the Devonian Era. It's surmised that almost all have had a hand in the shaping of the very planet, but to what degree remains unknown. Daemons respond violently to the presence of a Qliphoth, often turning on their handlers or fleeing altogether. Prolonged exposure seems to put them under extreme stress, and being in close enough proximity causes their forms to dissipate completely. The resultant energy left behind has been observed to be drawn to the Qliphoth and assimilated into their forms.
Qliphoth cannot be placed on Apex's Power Threshold reliably given their nature. Apex's head of research and development has worryingly used the term 'Apocalyptic' in reference to their theoretical strength.
As per the orders of Apex Implementation's CEO, contact with the Qliphoth is to remain limited to observation only in the wake of the Izu-Ogasawara incident.
Egregores- Egregores are an interesting kind of Daemon. Harkening back to mankind's earliest attempts to make contact with their gods, an Eregore is a Daemon that's form is born from a collective desire of a group of Humans. They are few in number, but obvious to the trained eye. Egregores only slip from the void and project themselves in the event of extreme need. Human communities under extreme oppression and duress. Notably, these same communities tend to practice what is considered 'primitive' religions. And hold beliefs, not in line with modern day worship. They are usually secluded, and small in number. A few notable exceptions have been found. One, in particular, being an Egregore brought forth by a group of children suffering abuse in their foster home. Egregores are a notably benevolent example of Daemonkind, valuing justice and protecting the weak and defenseless. As a result, Egregores do not stray far from the area that they're needed most in. Out of necessity, Egregores rank high on Power Threshold.
Less kind or downright evil Egregores do exist but they're even rarer among an already rare type of Daemon. Their existence hinges on a community having the same goals and ideals. A community of individuals where every person only looks out for themselves has a harder time calling forth and Egregore due to the broken nature of the community.
Qliphoth- A term appearing in Jewish Mysticism meaning 'shell' or 'husk', the Qliphoth are only a handful in number. Five total with a rumored sixth to exist somewhere. Qliphoth are the pinnacle of Daemonkind, and are exceedingly powerful beings. Little if anything is known about them, each one surrounded in a multitude of Creation Myths. What few can be observed and monitored closely show signs of extreme age. Carbon dating suggests at least one to have been in existence on Earth since the Devonian Era. It's surmised that almost all have had a hand in the shaping of the very planet, but to what degree remains unknown. Daemons respond violently to the presence of a Qliphoth, often turning on their handlers or fleeing altogether. Prolonged exposure seems to put them under extreme stress, and being in close enough proximity causes their forms to dissipate completely. The resultant energy left behind has been observed to be drawn to the Qliphoth and assimilated into their forms.
Qliphoth cannot be placed on Apex's Power Threshold reliably given their nature. Apex's head of research and development has worryingly used the term 'Apocalyptic' in reference to their theoretical strength.
As per the orders of Apex Implementation's CEO, contact with the Qliphoth is to remain limited to observation only in the wake of the Izu-Ogasawara incident.
The Threshold system is admittedly a little muddy since there's a wide variety of powers and ways to use them. So Apex simply sticks to raw power output, and the amount of power they themselves can theoretically be condensed into. This is measured not only by the feats the Daemon can preform, but the size, shape and complexity of their physical form. While a powerful Daemon can choose to manifest a smaller form if they so please, manifesting and projecting a form requires a base level of energy. So Daemons don't like to overexert themselves by projecting a form they can't maintain.
A Daemon that can control the flow of water on in a small bowl is significantly weaker than one that can create ocean Riptides. But the weaker Daemon can still potentially drown another person if they take the time to perfect that flow and shoot it up someone's nose and into their lungs.
Each individual Tier isn't a static thing, and more of a sliding scale in their category. Some Daemons can rank higher or lower on a given threshold based on their abilities.
Daemons can also 'Rank up' if given a portion of power that allows them to become stronger. Like any promotion, it requires hard work and good performance in the field if they want to be considered. Feral Daemons can and will consume each other to get stronger. Sometimes ripping off part of another Daemon in a fight and running is the best they can do. Apex forbids Daemons from harming each other in this matter, and those attempting to do so will face incredibly harsh punishments.
D-Class: The Weakest, these Daemons have almost negligible power. They can preform minor feats like briefly confusing a person for a split second to make their escape, or summon a sudden a gust of wind to kick up dirt and blind someone. They're not able to do sustained things, and most of them don't have the energy to project a real form and instead stick to objects out of necessity. They're the basis for stories about poltergeists and mischievous sprites in folklore. They don't really have much if, any use in the field though particularly skilled handlers can use their momentary powers to turn the tide in a fight. Usually this Class of Daemon is relegated to research and tend to posses a wealth of historical knowledge.
C-Class: More commonly, these Daemons can project a physical form, albeit a small and weak one. Typically, they take on the shape of small animals, like birds, cats, dogs, lizards and rodents. They're the basis for stories about Witch's familiars and more than a few have enjoyed that distinction through the ages. Not particularly powerful, a lot of them are oddly predisposed to Cognitive powers wether through coincidence or practice it cannot be said. They're typically capable of charming people, or filling them with feelings of unease when at a close enough range. Some can simply give their Handlers enhanced sight or hearing, or perhaps greater agility and jumping ability. Otherwise, they are no more capable of anything beyond what their physical form allows. Handlers with these Daemons tend to have recon and intel gathering based duties.
A-Class: Daemons that tend to run a little bigger in the physical category. Ranging in size from an average Human to slightly bigger than a Draft Horse. These Daemons are the most versatile and you'll see a great variety here. Their powers are typically of the physical augment kind and are harder hitting than those ranked below them, granting Handlers increased strength and durability as an example. Within this tier consistent power channeling becomes more prevalent. Creating fire, throwing ice, that sort of thing. Most of these Daemons prefer to be in the thick of things rather than sitting on the sidelines and train consistently with their Handlers. Others not open to a combat role will do jobs around Apex and helping in warehouses and offices. This is considered a typical, or baseline power Threshold for most Handlers. These Daemons are the basis for most tales of powerful heros, or even Demigods as the powers they granted their Humans during their specific time period allowed them to preform incredible feats of heroism, or villainy if they were so inclined.
S-Class: The top of the pile, these Daemons start to edge into forms and abilities that have granted them a distinct place in Mythology. Dragons, lower gods and angels, and very notable Demons find their place here. These Daemons also vary in size and can run from anything you'd find among A-Class Daemons and bigger. The larger of them tend run at 30 feet long and above, and that is before considering their height along with their theoretical mass based on the shape of their form. These Daemons can cause mass hysteria, create localized weather events, and even gravitational pull based on their power type. Notoriously difficult to take down, Apex has to take extra care when wrangling this class of Daemon, and these hunts typically end with the loss of more than a few people. Containment of these Daemons, rare as they are, is a priority given the inherent danger they pose to humanity at large. And if not that, they draw too much attention to themselves to let them run wild.
A Daemon that can control the flow of water on in a small bowl is significantly weaker than one that can create ocean Riptides. But the weaker Daemon can still potentially drown another person if they take the time to perfect that flow and shoot it up someone's nose and into their lungs.
Each individual Tier isn't a static thing, and more of a sliding scale in their category. Some Daemons can rank higher or lower on a given threshold based on their abilities.
Daemons can also 'Rank up' if given a portion of power that allows them to become stronger. Like any promotion, it requires hard work and good performance in the field if they want to be considered. Feral Daemons can and will consume each other to get stronger. Sometimes ripping off part of another Daemon in a fight and running is the best they can do. Apex forbids Daemons from harming each other in this matter, and those attempting to do so will face incredibly harsh punishments.
D-Class: The Weakest, these Daemons have almost negligible power. They can preform minor feats like briefly confusing a person for a split second to make their escape, or summon a sudden a gust of wind to kick up dirt and blind someone. They're not able to do sustained things, and most of them don't have the energy to project a real form and instead stick to objects out of necessity. They're the basis for stories about poltergeists and mischievous sprites in folklore. They don't really have much if, any use in the field though particularly skilled handlers can use their momentary powers to turn the tide in a fight. Usually this Class of Daemon is relegated to research and tend to posses a wealth of historical knowledge.
C-Class: More commonly, these Daemons can project a physical form, albeit a small and weak one. Typically, they take on the shape of small animals, like birds, cats, dogs, lizards and rodents. They're the basis for stories about Witch's familiars and more than a few have enjoyed that distinction through the ages. Not particularly powerful, a lot of them are oddly predisposed to Cognitive powers wether through coincidence or practice it cannot be said. They're typically capable of charming people, or filling them with feelings of unease when at a close enough range. Some can simply give their Handlers enhanced sight or hearing, or perhaps greater agility and jumping ability. Otherwise, they are no more capable of anything beyond what their physical form allows. Handlers with these Daemons tend to have recon and intel gathering based duties.
A-Class: Daemons that tend to run a little bigger in the physical category. Ranging in size from an average Human to slightly bigger than a Draft Horse. These Daemons are the most versatile and you'll see a great variety here. Their powers are typically of the physical augment kind and are harder hitting than those ranked below them, granting Handlers increased strength and durability as an example. Within this tier consistent power channeling becomes more prevalent. Creating fire, throwing ice, that sort of thing. Most of these Daemons prefer to be in the thick of things rather than sitting on the sidelines and train consistently with their Handlers. Others not open to a combat role will do jobs around Apex and helping in warehouses and offices. This is considered a typical, or baseline power Threshold for most Handlers. These Daemons are the basis for most tales of powerful heros, or even Demigods as the powers they granted their Humans during their specific time period allowed them to preform incredible feats of heroism, or villainy if they were so inclined.
S-Class: The top of the pile, these Daemons start to edge into forms and abilities that have granted them a distinct place in Mythology. Dragons, lower gods and angels, and very notable Demons find their place here. These Daemons also vary in size and can run from anything you'd find among A-Class Daemons and bigger. The larger of them tend run at 30 feet long and above, and that is before considering their height along with their theoretical mass based on the shape of their form. These Daemons can cause mass hysteria, create localized weather events, and even gravitational pull based on their power type. Notoriously difficult to take down, Apex has to take extra care when wrangling this class of Daemon, and these hunts typically end with the loss of more than a few people. Containment of these Daemons, rare as they are, is a priority given the inherent danger they pose to humanity at large. And if not that, they draw too much attention to themselves to let them run wild.
-Physical Augmentation: Pretty straight forward. These powers make you stronger/faster/sturdier etc. It's the easiest power to channel, but has a high skill cap due to the fact that handlers need to perfect how they use and apply it. Yeah you're super strong but you're more likely to put your whole foot through a metal door rather than kick it off the hinges. A 20 foot vertical leap is useless if you don't have a target and then fail to stick the landing. The drawbacks are pretty obvious. Muscle strain and tearing. Hairline fractures and outright bone breaking if you're too overzealous or overestimate your own abilities.
-Cognitive Altering: Simple in nature, but dangerous to apply. Cognitive Altering abilities can manipulate a person's mental state to a specific degrees. Hallucinations, sudden feelings of dread and helplessness, making people dizzy or tired. That sort of thing. They have some positive applications, such as convincing people to be braver, and inspiring them, or granting them a sort of 'second wind'. The drawbacks of this power aren't as immediately apparent as Physical Augmentation, but shouldn't be understated. Those under the more negative effects tend to see hallucinations or have nightmares is they suffer prolonged exposure. And even the positive effects can be dangerous, as they're strictly mental. You're not really energized, you just think that you are.
Note; there ARE Daemons that can coerce people into talking, but the ability is particularly tricky to use when channeled by a Human. The CEO of Apex can essentially coerce or intimidate people into doing what she wants but it comes with a lot of caveats. She has to maintain constant eye contact so sunglasses are out of the question. Looking away or blinking breaks the coercion, and using it gives her pretty intense headaches. It's usually more trouble than it's worth, so it's either used to make a point, or used sparingly in combat when her back is to the wall. Daemons typically don't have to worry about headaches, or blinking, but breaking eye contact in any manner cancels the effect.
-Spatial Manipulation: Not quite as common as the other two, and somewhat more difficult to use effectively. Spatial Manipulation as a power essentially utilizes the laws of physics as we know them to preform. Creating gravitational pull, drawing the oxygen out of a room, or using Thermal Equilibrium to alter the temperature of an area or object. This power isn't the same as channeling the powers of a Daemon with elemental powers. For example a Daemon that uses Spatial Manipulation would be able to freeze the moisture in the air (Or a person). Whereas if a Daemon has the power to create ice, their handler can simply channel it.
The difference is that if one learns to use Spatial Manipulation correctly, they're not in danger of harming themselves with it the way other would if channeling a Daemon's power. Channeling a Daemon's fire is easier than using the laws of physics to create it in controlled areas, but it carries the risk of being burned alive by it if not used carefully. It requires a great deal of practice to be able to use with precision, and a certain level of knowledge the effects on the environment to use to it's full potential, but it can be an extremely devastating power. Daemon's strong enough can create localized weather anomalies and cause targets to spontaneously combust.
There is one Daemon employed by Apex that is capable of creating a small, localized black hole if the correct conditions are met, however it will assuredly result in the death of the Handler channeling it, so it's considered to be a very last resort.
-Cognitive Altering: Simple in nature, but dangerous to apply. Cognitive Altering abilities can manipulate a person's mental state to a specific degrees. Hallucinations, sudden feelings of dread and helplessness, making people dizzy or tired. That sort of thing. They have some positive applications, such as convincing people to be braver, and inspiring them, or granting them a sort of 'second wind'. The drawbacks of this power aren't as immediately apparent as Physical Augmentation, but shouldn't be understated. Those under the more negative effects tend to see hallucinations or have nightmares is they suffer prolonged exposure. And even the positive effects can be dangerous, as they're strictly mental. You're not really energized, you just think that you are.
Note; there ARE Daemons that can coerce people into talking, but the ability is particularly tricky to use when channeled by a Human. The CEO of Apex can essentially coerce or intimidate people into doing what she wants but it comes with a lot of caveats. She has to maintain constant eye contact so sunglasses are out of the question. Looking away or blinking breaks the coercion, and using it gives her pretty intense headaches. It's usually more trouble than it's worth, so it's either used to make a point, or used sparingly in combat when her back is to the wall. Daemons typically don't have to worry about headaches, or blinking, but breaking eye contact in any manner cancels the effect.
-Spatial Manipulation: Not quite as common as the other two, and somewhat more difficult to use effectively. Spatial Manipulation as a power essentially utilizes the laws of physics as we know them to preform. Creating gravitational pull, drawing the oxygen out of a room, or using Thermal Equilibrium to alter the temperature of an area or object. This power isn't the same as channeling the powers of a Daemon with elemental powers. For example a Daemon that uses Spatial Manipulation would be able to freeze the moisture in the air (Or a person). Whereas if a Daemon has the power to create ice, their handler can simply channel it.
The difference is that if one learns to use Spatial Manipulation correctly, they're not in danger of harming themselves with it the way other would if channeling a Daemon's power. Channeling a Daemon's fire is easier than using the laws of physics to create it in controlled areas, but it carries the risk of being burned alive by it if not used carefully. It requires a great deal of practice to be able to use with precision, and a certain level of knowledge the effects on the environment to use to it's full potential, but it can be an extremely devastating power. Daemon's strong enough can create localized weather anomalies and cause targets to spontaneously combust.
There is one Daemon employed by Apex that is capable of creating a small, localized black hole if the correct conditions are met, however it will assuredly result in the death of the Handler channeling it, so it's considered to be a very last resort.
-Seekers: Like the name says there're responsible for gathering Intel on different targets be they Theoretical or Biological. Possible Daemon sightings or the usual dirty laundry almost everybody has. Tends to require a lot of travel. While all active agents at Apex have combat and firearm training, Seekers need to avoid notice at all times. Open combat is a last resort and it's best to make an escape.
-Sirens: Responsible for creating cover stories and subverting the Media to avoid being exposed. If Apex wants a certain story to be told, they do their best to make it happen. Bribery and coercion typically. Though Sirens can and will poses as experts on a subject to turn people's ear and get them believing what they need to believe. Typically charismatic and really good liars.
-Harpies: Typically thieves and Assassins, though they do kidnap a lot of people too. Harpies are responsible for making people and things of value disappear quickly and efficiently. Apex generally doesn't steal things of monetary value, but research, Intel, and equipment are in high demand. And if they have no use for it, it's quickly sold.
-Brawlers: Brawlers specialize in close quarters combat with Daemons. They channel Daemonic power, but will also go toe to toe with them. Because anti-Daemon ammunition is difficult and costly to make, they rely on tactical blades coated in Daemon energies. Sort of like teflon. They're cheaper and easier to make. Swords, knives and riot shields are used the most but there is one agent notable for using a Polearm with lethal efficiency.
-Shieldbearers: Responsible for defending agents from any and all threats in the field. These agents and their Daemons are usually doing a lot of heavy lifting as well. They specialize in defensive capabilities to shield agents from Daemonic threats specifically, be they physical, cognitive or spatial. Think of them as interference on the battlefield. They're also responsible for maintaining Security at Apex buildings through patrols, maintenance and programming.
-Wranglers: Sort of a jack of all trades. They specialize in capture and containment of Daemons. This job requires some level of creativity and intimate knowledge of Daemon types and behaviors. Usually responsible for assembling teams and making a game plan.
-Templars: Fairly new and somewhat experimental. Templars combine the effective abilities of both Shieldbearers and Brawlers. They are very few in number and their orders are vague and come directly from the CEO. They're oddly predisposed to fending of cognitive assaults and assignments place them at a handful of vaults and bunkers of unknown purpose.
There can be a lot of overlap, and of course you have things like snipers, drivers for transport and the like. Research and development is relegated strictly to that, though Researchers often go out into the field if the subject is of some interest.
Anyone with a Daemon is listed as a Handler regardless of station. It's a means of separating them from employees that don't have one.
-Sirens: Responsible for creating cover stories and subverting the Media to avoid being exposed. If Apex wants a certain story to be told, they do their best to make it happen. Bribery and coercion typically. Though Sirens can and will poses as experts on a subject to turn people's ear and get them believing what they need to believe. Typically charismatic and really good liars.
-Harpies: Typically thieves and Assassins, though they do kidnap a lot of people too. Harpies are responsible for making people and things of value disappear quickly and efficiently. Apex generally doesn't steal things of monetary value, but research, Intel, and equipment are in high demand. And if they have no use for it, it's quickly sold.
-Brawlers: Brawlers specialize in close quarters combat with Daemons. They channel Daemonic power, but will also go toe to toe with them. Because anti-Daemon ammunition is difficult and costly to make, they rely on tactical blades coated in Daemon energies. Sort of like teflon. They're cheaper and easier to make. Swords, knives and riot shields are used the most but there is one agent notable for using a Polearm with lethal efficiency.
-Shieldbearers: Responsible for defending agents from any and all threats in the field. These agents and their Daemons are usually doing a lot of heavy lifting as well. They specialize in defensive capabilities to shield agents from Daemonic threats specifically, be they physical, cognitive or spatial. Think of them as interference on the battlefield. They're also responsible for maintaining Security at Apex buildings through patrols, maintenance and programming.
-Wranglers: Sort of a jack of all trades. They specialize in capture and containment of Daemons. This job requires some level of creativity and intimate knowledge of Daemon types and behaviors. Usually responsible for assembling teams and making a game plan.
-Templars: Fairly new and somewhat experimental. Templars combine the effective abilities of both Shieldbearers and Brawlers. They are very few in number and their orders are vague and come directly from the CEO. They're oddly predisposed to fending of cognitive assaults and assignments place them at a handful of vaults and bunkers of unknown purpose.
There can be a lot of overlap, and of course you have things like snipers, drivers for transport and the like. Research and development is relegated strictly to that, though Researchers often go out into the field if the subject is of some interest.
Anyone with a Daemon is listed as a Handler regardless of station. It's a means of separating them from employees that don't have one.
-Daemons have the effect of scaring animals, and they don't like to approach them for any reason. Most animals can detect a Daemon to some degree. Think dogs barking at nothing, or cats staring off into space, or a flock of birds taking off suddenly for no real reason. Typically a Daemon's range of influence on animals is small and they really don't like being noticed so they try to avoid animals when they can. Daemons have the capacity to sense each other at a close enough range, but that can vary by power level and general ability. Typically smaller and weaker Daemons fly under the radar. Whereas a significantly stronger Daemon would be very noticeable to another of their kind.
-All Daemons can manifest a form, but it runs the gamut from pretty mundane like dogs and cats, to things like dinosaurs mythical beasts or simply exotic animals far from their usual habitats. As a result those employed at Apex must follow strict guidelines about where and when they can manifest. A stray dog wandering around might not draw much notice, but a random Alligator will and so Daemons employed by Apex are required to inhabit an inanimate object of their choosing if they need to be off site for any reason, though Feral Daemons can do it too. They can be rather picky about what they reside in, much like they're highly particular about the forms that they take and it can be an arduous process to find something that a person can reasonably keep on them. Jewelry is popular among older Daemons, like necklaces and rings and it's not uncommon to find family heirlooms passed down through the generations that are possessed by a Daemon. They can even possess the ink in tattoos, but the Handler it's on needs to get the ink touched up regularly. It's rather stylish, but it takes a lot of practice to manifest a Daemon without ruining your clothes, and it can be somewhat uncomfortable to do.
-All Daemons have a singular form. Typically when they're inhabiting something or in containment, they're like a cloud of smoke. A solid body is them manifesting. Some can alter or warp their forms with practice, like flattening it to get between gaps or seeping through a grate. They don't suffer injury the way living things would, and repairing damage takes a concentration of energy and rest. But it's typical to patch wounds up with various types of caulk and bandage them to keep them clean. Some Daemons prefer to only heal the wounds marginally so that they have scars as proof of how many fights they've had.
-'Wild' or 'Feral' Daemons don't tend to stick together as it's too noticeable. But the Daemons at Apex can be rather sociable, barring any severe attitude problems. They will gather in small groups to socialize and some will pair off though they don't bear offspring or have any real biological functions, much less a concept of gender. Typically if a Daemon is referred to as 'He' or 'She' it's because the people around them do and they just roll with it. Despite being sentient they follow a 'might makes right' rule of thumb pretty closely and will sometimes fight for dominance. Being that Apex has devised a means of capturing and killing them, most aren't eager to step out of line and will follow the rules set in place....Usually. Scuffles between Daemons are left for them to sort out provided no one gets injured and there's no property damage.
-Daemons don't need to eat as they're not biological in any sense, but they like to as for some reason they have a sense of taste. Their idea of what's good can vary wildly however. They'll eat anything from regular fruits and vegetables to things like motor oil, sulfuric acid and salt. Just regular salt. One is notable for her fondness of eating solid gold, and so her intake is limited severely based on performance. Typically Daemons at Apex are allowed to eat more readily available things without issue. But if the price becomes too steep, it's considered a special reward, like a yearly bonus. Feral Daemons have a habit of stealing things they develop a taste for, but there are more than a few that have taken a liking to hunting and eating people. One in particular says it's not the taste of blood that drives him, but the taste of fear. No word on if that's true or not however.
-Daemons still need to be mentally stimulated, and will become either highly destructive out of frustration, or fall into a sort of paralysis and will not respond to outside stimuli without severe effort from other parties. Their intelligence runs across a spectrum. Some are quite intelligent and devour human knowledge as fast as they can gain it, requiring things like specialized books on the subjects of their liking. Some aren't very bright, and can be occupied with simple toys and hobbies. Gardening is popular. Some like to paint and draw, but as with all things artistic their levels of talent are subjective. Daemons are very much creatures of routine, and will usually focus on a single hobby to occupy themselves with but are open to other things.
-All Daemons can manifest a form, but it runs the gamut from pretty mundane like dogs and cats, to things like dinosaurs mythical beasts or simply exotic animals far from their usual habitats. As a result those employed at Apex must follow strict guidelines about where and when they can manifest. A stray dog wandering around might not draw much notice, but a random Alligator will and so Daemons employed by Apex are required to inhabit an inanimate object of their choosing if they need to be off site for any reason, though Feral Daemons can do it too. They can be rather picky about what they reside in, much like they're highly particular about the forms that they take and it can be an arduous process to find something that a person can reasonably keep on them. Jewelry is popular among older Daemons, like necklaces and rings and it's not uncommon to find family heirlooms passed down through the generations that are possessed by a Daemon. They can even possess the ink in tattoos, but the Handler it's on needs to get the ink touched up regularly. It's rather stylish, but it takes a lot of practice to manifest a Daemon without ruining your clothes, and it can be somewhat uncomfortable to do.
-All Daemons have a singular form. Typically when they're inhabiting something or in containment, they're like a cloud of smoke. A solid body is them manifesting. Some can alter or warp their forms with practice, like flattening it to get between gaps or seeping through a grate. They don't suffer injury the way living things would, and repairing damage takes a concentration of energy and rest. But it's typical to patch wounds up with various types of caulk and bandage them to keep them clean. Some Daemons prefer to only heal the wounds marginally so that they have scars as proof of how many fights they've had.
-'Wild' or 'Feral' Daemons don't tend to stick together as it's too noticeable. But the Daemons at Apex can be rather sociable, barring any severe attitude problems. They will gather in small groups to socialize and some will pair off though they don't bear offspring or have any real biological functions, much less a concept of gender. Typically if a Daemon is referred to as 'He' or 'She' it's because the people around them do and they just roll with it. Despite being sentient they follow a 'might makes right' rule of thumb pretty closely and will sometimes fight for dominance. Being that Apex has devised a means of capturing and killing them, most aren't eager to step out of line and will follow the rules set in place....Usually. Scuffles between Daemons are left for them to sort out provided no one gets injured and there's no property damage.
-Daemons don't need to eat as they're not biological in any sense, but they like to as for some reason they have a sense of taste. Their idea of what's good can vary wildly however. They'll eat anything from regular fruits and vegetables to things like motor oil, sulfuric acid and salt. Just regular salt. One is notable for her fondness of eating solid gold, and so her intake is limited severely based on performance. Typically Daemons at Apex are allowed to eat more readily available things without issue. But if the price becomes too steep, it's considered a special reward, like a yearly bonus. Feral Daemons have a habit of stealing things they develop a taste for, but there are more than a few that have taken a liking to hunting and eating people. One in particular says it's not the taste of blood that drives him, but the taste of fear. No word on if that's true or not however.
-Daemons still need to be mentally stimulated, and will become either highly destructive out of frustration, or fall into a sort of paralysis and will not respond to outside stimuli without severe effort from other parties. Their intelligence runs across a spectrum. Some are quite intelligent and devour human knowledge as fast as they can gain it, requiring things like specialized books on the subjects of their liking. Some aren't very bright, and can be occupied with simple toys and hobbies. Gardening is popular. Some like to paint and draw, but as with all things artistic their levels of talent are subjective. Daemons are very much creatures of routine, and will usually focus on a single hobby to occupy themselves with but are open to other things.
-Corporate underling: Either a low wage employee that becomes privy to something they shouldn't have and are on the run to avoid capture and or assassination, or they could be someone looking to advance their station and essentially gets in way over their head. They get a fatter paycheck, but also become intimately aware of their place in the universe and that's never fun.
-Bodyguard: The CEO's assistant is forced to take on increasing amounts of work, and due to that someone else is stuck with babysitting duty. Once again, you're in over your head because holy shit so many people want this woman dead, and also because she is just like that. Keeping her from getting herself killed is theoretically possible, but the number of individuals both Human and Nonhuman that want to put her in the grave make it harder than it needs to be. But at least you get to go to Japan.
-Punchclock villain: Taking lives and wrangling monsters and sometimes killing monsters in the name of ushering in a new world order isn't exactly what this character saw for themselves years ago, but it pays well and the benefits are nice. Could they do without the mad scientist in the basement monolouging about the imperfections of humanity? Yes, absolutely. But you have bills to pay, and if enabling a civil war in a third world country gets it done, why not. They don't have anything else going on.
-The new kid: Maybe an orphan. Maybe former military down on their luck. This character has a either a skill set, or a set of powers that could prove useful to the cause. Saying yes gets you set for life. Saying no, means you'll have to fight for it. (Mostly like the first part of the corporate underling choice depending on the route you take, but has the ability for a Daemon right out the gate if you want.)
-Beleagured Beauracrat: Obviously the United States Government has an idea of what going on here, these people are strapping guns to Dragons and they want in. Unfortunately a Corporate entity installing puppets in Congress and selling weapons to whoever has the money isn't going to roll over because the Law says so. So A few concessions have to be made. A little government funding in exchange for a behind the scenes look, and maybe some new toys. This character isn't completely aware of the corruption that's entrenched itself in the system, but they have an inkling. Their job is to inspect and audit the company, in the interest of fairness between both parties. But when everyone has an agenda it makes OSHA violations seem pretty minor in comparison.
-Bodyguard: The CEO's assistant is forced to take on increasing amounts of work, and due to that someone else is stuck with babysitting duty. Once again, you're in over your head because holy shit so many people want this woman dead, and also because she is just like that. Keeping her from getting herself killed is theoretically possible, but the number of individuals both Human and Nonhuman that want to put her in the grave make it harder than it needs to be. But at least you get to go to Japan.
-Punchclock villain: Taking lives and wrangling monsters and sometimes killing monsters in the name of ushering in a new world order isn't exactly what this character saw for themselves years ago, but it pays well and the benefits are nice. Could they do without the mad scientist in the basement monolouging about the imperfections of humanity? Yes, absolutely. But you have bills to pay, and if enabling a civil war in a third world country gets it done, why not. They don't have anything else going on.
-The new kid: Maybe an orphan. Maybe former military down on their luck. This character has a either a skill set, or a set of powers that could prove useful to the cause. Saying yes gets you set for life. Saying no, means you'll have to fight for it. (Mostly like the first part of the corporate underling choice depending on the route you take, but has the ability for a Daemon right out the gate if you want.)
-Beleagured Beauracrat: Obviously the United States Government has an idea of what going on here, these people are strapping guns to Dragons and they want in. Unfortunately a Corporate entity installing puppets in Congress and selling weapons to whoever has the money isn't going to roll over because the Law says so. So A few concessions have to be made. A little government funding in exchange for a behind the scenes look, and maybe some new toys. This character isn't completely aware of the corruption that's entrenched itself in the system, but they have an inkling. Their job is to inspect and audit the company, in the interest of fairness between both parties. But when everyone has an agenda it makes OSHA violations seem pretty minor in comparison.
Plot points are of course, simply ideas. But the basic premise is a Character growing through their interactions with a very scary world and trying to decide how they'll face the abyss if they even can at all. There's the end of the world thing too and some rather frightening revelations about the company you've been keeping on that end. I'm personally fond of globe trotting adventures so expect to be going out of town more than a few times. I'm always open for hashing out new storylines.
If you are interested in this RP after reading please DM me. I don't want to clutter the page with replies.
The tldr is that I have a modern fantasy setting that's not getting much use. The last iteration of this story ran for a year with my previous partner before depression got a hold of me.
A sole organization is responsible for wrangling, rehabilitating and containing these monstrosities. Most of them find a combat application. Others are put down for being a little too ill tempered.
And by organization I mean multi-billion dollar arms dealer, because WHO ELSE would want to mount guns on a Dragon and make it fight? It's not all bad, they're committed to keeping the public safe, and the monsters out of sight because who needs the stress that come with managing that shit show, right? And there's the matter of the encroaching apocalypse, so these guys aren't all bad. But Human politicking, Corporate espionage and being proxy to a slew of war crimes committed just to get the situation under control in other countries pushes them firmly into "Morally Dubious" territory. Depending on who you ask.
The setting is cosmic horror based given the nature of the entities involved, but I'm a sucker for humor because let's be real, you have to appreciate the absurdity of a literal God insulting your choice of clothing. You chose to astral project in sweats and a hoodie. You deserve this.
Also your supervisor might end up being a talking dog.
What's your character's role in this mess? That's for you to decide. Maybe you're not exactly the best person and are okay with assassinating politicians in their sleep because you get to hang out with a ghost wolf. Maybe you're a govenment official trying to figure out where this company's funds are being funneled to, because let's face it. They're not paying taxes.
Maybe you're a pencil pusher who saw something they shouldn't have and have and now you're on the run because this company takes the word 'Termination' quite literally. You could be an orphan pulled off the streets for recruitment, because you have a set of useful talents, and an even more useful friend.
Or you could be that one background character who's car gets totaled during a shootout with Godzilla and the entirety of your story is you trying to get insurance to cover it. (Maybe not that one, but you get it.) Go wild. I'm able to adapt and I like talking these things out beforehand.
Everything was ready. The Testing room set aside for the whole affair had been prepped and secured for Rasteva's corpse. The Blast Doors and walls of the room afforded a great deal of safety from the Qliphoth's latent power, and there was only one massive steel plated door that could be entered through. Security measures were changed to account for the room's new occupant. Including a lock that could only be opened outside the room and from an entirely different location altogether. Should the electric systems fail or otherwise be compromised, the door would lock via a standard mechanical system. Nothing would get in, and nothing would get out. Nothing short of a Bunker Buster or other EPW would permit entry.
Not that getting to the door would be a simple matter either. A Killing Corridor was set up, with a Security station situated at both ends. No less than five armed guards were to be stationed at either end to further ensure nothing got in or out without the permitted clearance. Lorette had no idea what to expect once testing began, but in the event that a breach that could not be contained by traditional means she created fail-safe to ensure that the Howard Protocol would be enacted.
All told. Over a Dozen people were in the room. Armed guards waited outside, ready to lock everything down in the event of a Cognitive Assault to ensure that no one affected could escape. High above the room, a viewing theater was set up to watch the proceedings. The room was packed with researchers and the milled around taking notes and talking among themselves.
Despite his misgivings and complaints, Lorette stood in the room alongside Nikhil. Richard refused to let stubborn CEO cloister herself in a room that might get her killed and so he was there as well. Matsuko was almost as stubborn as Lorette and she stood by Richard's side. Audrey had invited herself along, though her new status as Captain gave her the right to oversee things. But she seemed more interested in watching shit hit the fan than anything else. And Allister was.....Well, Allister. He'd shuffled into the room under the premise of assisting Lorette with whatever mess she was about to get herself into, much to the woman's chagrin.
"You know, if all of you die, it's your own damn fault." The CEO ground out. Audrey merely shrugged, her eyes trained pointedly on the Sarcophagus. "Yeah, but it'll be pretty cool. I've never been bitch slapped by a God before."
"Audrey." Allister began in an exasperated tone. "Death is literally God just bitch slapping you out of existence."
"Yeah, but this way he does it directly, like a man."
"I sincerely hope that this guy kills everyone in this room." Was all that Matsuko had to offer to the conversation.
Lorette grumbled and held up a clenched fist to silence everyone. "Enough. If we die, we die. At least I won't have to listen to your bullshit anymore. Nikhil, open it."
The masked man nodded in silence before striding forward to punch in a series of numbers on the keypad. A hissing sound heralded the release of pressurized locks, and several researchers moved the lid away.
Though brightly lit, the room seemed to grow perceptibly darker, though a constant feed of the room's status in the viewing theater showed no change in electrical functions. Testing rooms were also to be kept at a constant temperature and pressure, but it grew noticeably colder and a tense air settled over everything. There was a ripple of noise in the crowd as Rasteva's body was revealed and Lorette tensed visibly, her jaw clenching in noticeable stress.
He was just as horrible as Richard had reported to her. Somehow, even in death Rasteva caused a cold dread to settle in the woman's stomach. It was as if the mere sight of the Daemon inspired fear. Lorette silently thanked whatever God remained that cared to listen to her prayers that the Qliphoth could no longer be counted among the living. Lorette let out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding, and to her shock, it misted visibly in the air. Her gaze snapped to Nikhil, and the man shrugged visibly.
"Status updates still puts this room at Seventy-Two point three Fahrenheit. And that's updated by the second. It's impossible for this to be happening."
"Impossible indeed." Lorette mumbled, her fingers growing numb in the cold. "I want to say that this is Cognitive but....." She stared down at the Daemon's still metallic form, the primeval runes etched into the metal searing in her mind's eye with dread intent. "I think, that this creature is Impossible by design. If not his own, then by another and more terrible force."
Allister coughed audibly into a handkerchief. "How fitting then, that he takes on a humanoid appearance. Humans are about as inconceivable as things come."
Lorette nodded before looking back to Nikhil. "Is he safe to touch?" The man stared at her from behind his visor, his voice uncertain. "I do not believe he is. Not fully. But he's been in close proximity to living things without any negative effect on them. Quite the opposite, given the environment that his energies sustained. Thus far all adverse symptoms have been of the mental kind."
The woman merely settled her gaze back onto the Qliphoth's ancient corpse. The wounds that covered him spoke of great violence, but deep within the recesses of her mind Lorette felt another stirring, barely hidden beneath the fear overwhelming her.
'Questions. Only questions.'
"What di-" There'd been a voice, that much was clear. But it hadn't seemingly come from any of the people surrounding her. Lorette's puzzlement gave way to panic when her knees buckled suddenly. Richard's anxious cries reached her ears and she felt a strong hand wrap itself around her arm to support her, but try as she might Lorette's body would not budge.
Something. Something unseen, but felt in full was weighing the woman down. The air was sucked from her lungs and she stoppled to the floor heavily. Panicked shouts filled the room, as the CEO was laid low, and more hand tried to lift her. Still, the woman would not budge from beneath the unseen weight. It was if Lorette suddenly weighed over a ton, and nothing could pull her from the ground. The weight only increased, and tears pricked the CEO's eyes as a dull rushing sound filled her ears. Her head throbbed painfully, and Lorette was sure that the Gravity of the entire world was bearing down on her. Her vision wavered dangerously, and over the sound of the blood rushing in her ears, Lorette could hear someone calling her name. She tried to speak, but it was as if her mouth had been wired shut, and Lorette struggled vainly to take air into her lungs. Every single nerve was alight with pain, and the woman's vision soon darkened altogether.
That was all there was. Darkness, deep and endless. Lorette wasn't sure if she'd gone blind or if she was truly dead. The CEO was willing to bet on the latter, as she felt the all-encompassing weight lift from her body a second later. Fingers and toes were wiggled, and Lorette took stock of her own body. Just like that, there was no pain. No blood rushing in her ears. No weight.
And no voices save for one.
"Well, I wasn't even sure that would work. Strange that you didn't die. But that is the opposite of what I want for now."
The voice was deep. Deep and cold. It reminded Lorette of winter nights far from any civilization. A cold that pierced through your clothing and settled itself deep in your bones. It reminded you that you were alive, but it held the threat of death so easily. It was a Dark that allowed no light to break it, and yet it remained vivid and clear, darkness you could almost feel.
The voice was old. Older than any she'd heard, even without knowing the speaker's age. Older than the stones that made up the earth. Older than the stars long died out and who's fading light only just now reached the eye. It held endless, ceaseless wisdom. And in its wake, that wisdom left a gnawing madness that would consume any that dared to look upon it.
Rasteva, even in death, even when he spoke so few words managed only to invoke fear, and longing within the soul.
Lorette pulled her legs underneath her body and tried to stand, only to fall back on her rear. Her legs shook, but not of their own accord and her eyes produced tears in a constant stream.
And yet. There was no fear in her heart.
Rasteva stared down at her. His face expressionless, though a metal helmet did not lend itself to emotion easily. He was perched on what she could make out as a pile of swords, among other things. Axes, spears, and pole weapons were in great number. Some gleaming as if newly polished. Others glowing red hot as if they'd just been pulled from the forge. Sti,ll others rusted in varying degrees, some almost unrecognizable as the weapons the once were. It was a throne marking the varying stages of life and death, and existence spanned the gap in between.
The Qliphoth still sported the wounds from his corpse, though he notably had both of his hands. The left returned to him by unknown means. The wounds leaked constantly. A pitch black ichor that drifted from the wounds on unseen winds. Oily, viscous, and yet lighter than air. Within them burned countless, innumerable stars and galaxies. Hinting at unseen possibilities, and infinite potential.
Life, within the dark. Existence with death bridging the way to the end of all things.
"How positively obscene." These were all the words that Lorette could find within herself to muster.
The Daemon laughed.
"I am not beautiful. I will admit that I never was. Not all things are." The voice was still deeper than the ocean. Darker than the pits of the earth, and colder than the arctic circle.
But it did not inspire fear either.
Lorette wiped at her eyes, they were still leaking. Her body still trembled as if she was in the throes of fear. But she felt nothing there. Rasteva cocked his head slightly at the woman, and let out a low metallic rumble. "The Human mind makes no sense at all. It sees what it wishes. Hears what it wishes. Knows only what pleases it. And your pathetic flesh bodies follow suit. Even when you do not will it."
The Qliphoth's words made no sense to her. But nothing about him made sense. Sitting on his throne of blades, and bleeding stars. Speaking and moving as if Lorette hadn't been staring at his dead body mere moments ago. Nothing here made sense.
And so Lorette created sense as best she could.
She wiped her eyes, and the tears faded. She stood, and her legs stopped trembling. She inhaled, counted to three and then exhaled. There was no fear, there had been no fear. At least not before her arrival. This place, was for all intents and purposes, lacking what needed to be. And would only provide what needed to be. Lorette needed only clarity, and so she sought it.
She levlled her gaze on the Qliphoth, craning her neck back to look up at him. Rasteva was already a good seventeen feet tall. The pile of swords made him that much taller. Her voice was small within the scope of where she stood. But it felt so loud in her own ears. "What is this place? And how the hell are you alive?"
Not that getting to the door would be a simple matter either. A Killing Corridor was set up, with a Security station situated at both ends. No less than five armed guards were to be stationed at either end to further ensure nothing got in or out without the permitted clearance. Lorette had no idea what to expect once testing began, but in the event that a breach that could not be contained by traditional means she created fail-safe to ensure that the Howard Protocol would be enacted.
All told. Over a Dozen people were in the room. Armed guards waited outside, ready to lock everything down in the event of a Cognitive Assault to ensure that no one affected could escape. High above the room, a viewing theater was set up to watch the proceedings. The room was packed with researchers and the milled around taking notes and talking among themselves.
Despite his misgivings and complaints, Lorette stood in the room alongside Nikhil. Richard refused to let stubborn CEO cloister herself in a room that might get her killed and so he was there as well. Matsuko was almost as stubborn as Lorette and she stood by Richard's side. Audrey had invited herself along, though her new status as Captain gave her the right to oversee things. But she seemed more interested in watching shit hit the fan than anything else. And Allister was.....Well, Allister. He'd shuffled into the room under the premise of assisting Lorette with whatever mess she was about to get herself into, much to the woman's chagrin.
"You know, if all of you die, it's your own damn fault." The CEO ground out. Audrey merely shrugged, her eyes trained pointedly on the Sarcophagus. "Yeah, but it'll be pretty cool. I've never been bitch slapped by a God before."
"Audrey." Allister began in an exasperated tone. "Death is literally God just bitch slapping you out of existence."
"Yeah, but this way he does it directly, like a man."
"I sincerely hope that this guy kills everyone in this room." Was all that Matsuko had to offer to the conversation.
Lorette grumbled and held up a clenched fist to silence everyone. "Enough. If we die, we die. At least I won't have to listen to your bullshit anymore. Nikhil, open it."
The masked man nodded in silence before striding forward to punch in a series of numbers on the keypad. A hissing sound heralded the release of pressurized locks, and several researchers moved the lid away.
Though brightly lit, the room seemed to grow perceptibly darker, though a constant feed of the room's status in the viewing theater showed no change in electrical functions. Testing rooms were also to be kept at a constant temperature and pressure, but it grew noticeably colder and a tense air settled over everything. There was a ripple of noise in the crowd as Rasteva's body was revealed and Lorette tensed visibly, her jaw clenching in noticeable stress.
He was just as horrible as Richard had reported to her. Somehow, even in death Rasteva caused a cold dread to settle in the woman's stomach. It was as if the mere sight of the Daemon inspired fear. Lorette silently thanked whatever God remained that cared to listen to her prayers that the Qliphoth could no longer be counted among the living. Lorette let out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding, and to her shock, it misted visibly in the air. Her gaze snapped to Nikhil, and the man shrugged visibly.
"Status updates still puts this room at Seventy-Two point three Fahrenheit. And that's updated by the second. It's impossible for this to be happening."
"Impossible indeed." Lorette mumbled, her fingers growing numb in the cold. "I want to say that this is Cognitive but....." She stared down at the Daemon's still metallic form, the primeval runes etched into the metal searing in her mind's eye with dread intent. "I think, that this creature is Impossible by design. If not his own, then by another and more terrible force."
Allister coughed audibly into a handkerchief. "How fitting then, that he takes on a humanoid appearance. Humans are about as inconceivable as things come."
Lorette nodded before looking back to Nikhil. "Is he safe to touch?" The man stared at her from behind his visor, his voice uncertain. "I do not believe he is. Not fully. But he's been in close proximity to living things without any negative effect on them. Quite the opposite, given the environment that his energies sustained. Thus far all adverse symptoms have been of the mental kind."
The woman merely settled her gaze back onto the Qliphoth's ancient corpse. The wounds that covered him spoke of great violence, but deep within the recesses of her mind Lorette felt another stirring, barely hidden beneath the fear overwhelming her.
'Questions. Only questions.'
"What di-" There'd been a voice, that much was clear. But it hadn't seemingly come from any of the people surrounding her. Lorette's puzzlement gave way to panic when her knees buckled suddenly. Richard's anxious cries reached her ears and she felt a strong hand wrap itself around her arm to support her, but try as she might Lorette's body would not budge.
Something. Something unseen, but felt in full was weighing the woman down. The air was sucked from her lungs and she stoppled to the floor heavily. Panicked shouts filled the room, as the CEO was laid low, and more hand tried to lift her. Still, the woman would not budge from beneath the unseen weight. It was if Lorette suddenly weighed over a ton, and nothing could pull her from the ground. The weight only increased, and tears pricked the CEO's eyes as a dull rushing sound filled her ears. Her head throbbed painfully, and Lorette was sure that the Gravity of the entire world was bearing down on her. Her vision wavered dangerously, and over the sound of the blood rushing in her ears, Lorette could hear someone calling her name. She tried to speak, but it was as if her mouth had been wired shut, and Lorette struggled vainly to take air into her lungs. Every single nerve was alight with pain, and the woman's vision soon darkened altogether.
That was all there was. Darkness, deep and endless. Lorette wasn't sure if she'd gone blind or if she was truly dead. The CEO was willing to bet on the latter, as she felt the all-encompassing weight lift from her body a second later. Fingers and toes were wiggled, and Lorette took stock of her own body. Just like that, there was no pain. No blood rushing in her ears. No weight.
And no voices save for one.
"Well, I wasn't even sure that would work. Strange that you didn't die. But that is the opposite of what I want for now."
The voice was deep. Deep and cold. It reminded Lorette of winter nights far from any civilization. A cold that pierced through your clothing and settled itself deep in your bones. It reminded you that you were alive, but it held the threat of death so easily. It was a Dark that allowed no light to break it, and yet it remained vivid and clear, darkness you could almost feel.
The voice was old. Older than any she'd heard, even without knowing the speaker's age. Older than the stones that made up the earth. Older than the stars long died out and who's fading light only just now reached the eye. It held endless, ceaseless wisdom. And in its wake, that wisdom left a gnawing madness that would consume any that dared to look upon it.
Rasteva, even in death, even when he spoke so few words managed only to invoke fear, and longing within the soul.
Lorette pulled her legs underneath her body and tried to stand, only to fall back on her rear. Her legs shook, but not of their own accord and her eyes produced tears in a constant stream.
And yet. There was no fear in her heart.
Rasteva stared down at her. His face expressionless, though a metal helmet did not lend itself to emotion easily. He was perched on what she could make out as a pile of swords, among other things. Axes, spears, and pole weapons were in great number. Some gleaming as if newly polished. Others glowing red hot as if they'd just been pulled from the forge. Sti,ll others rusted in varying degrees, some almost unrecognizable as the weapons the once were. It was a throne marking the varying stages of life and death, and existence spanned the gap in between.
The Qliphoth still sported the wounds from his corpse, though he notably had both of his hands. The left returned to him by unknown means. The wounds leaked constantly. A pitch black ichor that drifted from the wounds on unseen winds. Oily, viscous, and yet lighter than air. Within them burned countless, innumerable stars and galaxies. Hinting at unseen possibilities, and infinite potential.
Life, within the dark. Existence with death bridging the way to the end of all things.
"How positively obscene." These were all the words that Lorette could find within herself to muster.
The Daemon laughed.
"I am not beautiful. I will admit that I never was. Not all things are." The voice was still deeper than the ocean. Darker than the pits of the earth, and colder than the arctic circle.
But it did not inspire fear either.
Lorette wiped at her eyes, they were still leaking. Her body still trembled as if she was in the throes of fear. But she felt nothing there. Rasteva cocked his head slightly at the woman, and let out a low metallic rumble. "The Human mind makes no sense at all. It sees what it wishes. Hears what it wishes. Knows only what pleases it. And your pathetic flesh bodies follow suit. Even when you do not will it."
The Qliphoth's words made no sense to her. But nothing about him made sense. Sitting on his throne of blades, and bleeding stars. Speaking and moving as if Lorette hadn't been staring at his dead body mere moments ago. Nothing here made sense.
And so Lorette created sense as best she could.
She wiped her eyes, and the tears faded. She stood, and her legs stopped trembling. She inhaled, counted to three and then exhaled. There was no fear, there had been no fear. At least not before her arrival. This place, was for all intents and purposes, lacking what needed to be. And would only provide what needed to be. Lorette needed only clarity, and so she sought it.
She levlled her gaze on the Qliphoth, craning her neck back to look up at him. Rasteva was already a good seventeen feet tall. The pile of swords made him that much taller. Her voice was small within the scope of where she stood. But it felt so loud in her own ears. "What is this place? And how the hell are you alive?"
What I'm looking for.
- You must be at least 18. I'm not comfortable playing with minors at all.
- Possesses medium to advanced writing skills. I'm not going to flip out over misspelled words or wrong grammar on occasion. But I'd like my partner to be literate.
- Post length isn't a tremendous issue, but I tend to put out multi paragraph posts and I hope for my partner to do the same.
- Please be understanding of my schedule. I work full time and cannot commit to a post every single day. The minimum is once a week. Though I can shoot for more. I'm not looking to get burned out this time around, so I want to pace myself. Alternatively I understand if your schedule doesn't allow for constant posting too.
- Try to have fun. I like to keep my writing and world building consistent, but I'm open to new ideas and messing around to see what sticks.
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