Fantasy New Oasis: Four Heavenly Kings

[Elenion Aura]

Theater Street

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Kanna, Javi, Jesper, Meirin, Ottilie, Zhu

OUTBREAK

The troupe of Azure Dragons arrived in Lower Central from the East, making landfall at Theater Street. Once a vibrant boulevard lined with grand playhouses and contemporary stages, the neighborhood, like many others, bore the scar of the recent quake. Amidst the rubble and debris, the remaining buildings, including husks of old theaters, their opulence now tarnished and their facades fractured, remained standing as makeshift homes for those left destitute by the disaster.

Surprisingly, plays were still put on. Even in the face of calamity, the citizens of Lower Central refused to let the curtain fall.

In the midst of this dissonant landscape, a strikingly out-of-place figure took center stage. Jennifer Lawson, the usually composed news anchor, appeared frantic outside of a particularly prolific theater, as her news crew had all but abandoned her. Only her loyal cameraman remained by her side, his lens capturing the unfolding drama. Stranded amidst the chaos of Theater Street, Jennifer found herself far from the safe confines of her usual news desk. Yet, the camera rolled on, casting her into the spotlight as she continuedto report live from the front lines of the unfolding Chimeric Crisis.

 

[thebigfella]

The Museum

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol

OUTBREAK

The shattered glass ceiling that sat above the central interior of the building allowed the moonlight to flood through. High in the sky, its radiance enveloped the enormous statue at the room's heart. The bronze sheen highlighted the powerful physique, adorned with an exquisitely sculpted and intricately carved representation of the globe, depicting the colossal figure supporting the weight of the world on its back. In the midst of complete devastation, the statue stood tall and resilient. The once majestic open balconies, which provided a commanding view over the large figure, now lay in ruins. Some had crumbled to the ground while others teetered dangerously, no longer stable. Numerous floors remained completely inaccessible, obstructed by piles of debris.

Once more, ancient fossils were buried and swallowed by the merciless forces of the world. The relics, once preserved in glass cases, now lay broken, their contents spilling out and scattered across the floor. In the midst of a breathtaking landscape painting capturing a profound gathering of renowned aristocrats from bygone eras, shards of iron rebar ruthlessly pierced through, disrupting the tranquility. The weight of a piece of ceiling mercilessly crushed a wax figure of the courageous explorer who discovered a forsaken colony, while simultaneously knocking down the carefully crafted stuffed replica of his faithful canine companion.

Amidst piles of shattered light bulbs, loose wires dangled precariously, occasionally emitting sparks that illuminated the darkness. The entire museum, consumed by destruction, lay shrouded in darkness, as even the moonlight dared not venture into the treacherous abyss of the night. The extent of the devastation remained a mystery, leaving the grounds fraught with danger and untamed territory, no one dared to explore.

In most cases such darkness would be the last place one would go, hoping to keep themselves submerged in the light, where they could see any threats, or any signs of hope, clearly and surely. Yet, this wasn’t the case for those who had decided to make refuge in the shambles of the once prestigious building. They sought refuge beneath towering pillars, nestled in the corners, lingering within the eerie shadows created by imposing life-size replicas of giant dinosaurs, and beneath the grand wing span of oversized flying insects reimagined in vinyl. In the chilly night air, they refrained from lighting any fires to keep warm. Instead, they huddled together, trembling, wrapping themselves in worn-out rugs for some solace. The fortunate ones managed to procure garments from displays inspired by the freezing Arctic. Their gaze fixed upon the moonlight, as if they were fearful that even a step towards it would scorch them.

Startled by the sharp cries of a crow, attention shifted upwards to witness a grim spectacle - a flurry of obsidian feathers cascading from above, gracefully descending to meet the shattered tiles below. It started with one, perching upon one of the massive fingers of the giant statue in the center of the room; two more joined it, then five, then twenty. The crows huddled in a murder, their beady black eyes scanning their surroundings. Their heads swiveled rapidly in all directions, keenly observing every angle, the moon reflecting in their gleaming eyes.

The homeless nearby held their breath, some hugged themselves tight to shrink in size, others closed their eyes as they silently prayed that the shadows would protect them from the birds of prey.

 

[Elenion Aura]

City Hall

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Chikage, Jayce

OUTBREAK

Lower Central City Hall, a stoic monument to the city's resilience amidst chaos. While the once grand structure now bore the brutal scars of the earthquake, it remained upright. It was within these crumbled walls that the Central City Police were regrouping, preparing their beachhead from which they would retake the city.

Officer Richard Stern approached the battered steps of City Hall, a picture of poise against the backdrop of disorder. A beacon of trust in the city's law enforcement, he'd arrived to brief the chief of police, Chikage Nakazajo, as he prepared to face the rising tide of calamity. As his fellow officers gathered, the severity of the situation becomes palpable. Lower Central now stood on the precipice of catastrophe, its fate resting on the shoulders of those brave enough to confront the disturbance that threatened to consume it.

 

[Misuteeku]

Sang-Cheol Man

http://

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol

Outbreak

He could feel it. The information that could give birth to his goals was here. A brisk wind tickled Sang-Cheol's cheek as he stood before the partly destroyed museum. When he received news from Rebecca that Central had started to collapse from the sudden appearance of 'monsters.' Of course, he sent some of his workers to receive footage from the area to verify the information. All twenty Serpents didn't come back from their expedition. The only thing that remained in the memory of them was the footage they collected.

What Sang-Cheol saw made him ecstatic.

There wasn't even a moment of hesitation as Sang-Cheol immediately departed for Central. None of his workers accompanied him, though strangely, the child did. He didn't know at what point the child followed him, but when he found himself at Central, the kid was there. It didn't deter Sang-Cheol from going through with his plan. Whether the child was here or not was irrelevant to his goals.

Sang-Cheol entered inside.

What was once was museum could now be accurately described as a ruin. Various historical artifacts had been broken, remnants of ages past were lost, and monuments that celebrated the achievements were cast away. All things that Sang-Cheol deemed worthless in the eyes of a scientist. What was good were paintings when it was only subject to the eye's beholder? What good were monuments that pridefully boasted of their accomplishments? The artifacts left much to be desired, but Sang-Cheol had a small interest in that.

As the two of them walked by, Sang-Cheol's eyes flitted toward each side. Not only had this become a ruin, but also a refuge. The homeless that had lost their sanctuary in their homes were now gathered here in here like rats on a farm. Sang-Cheol had no interest in them once it was made apparent that whatever affliction was mentioned on the news was not to be seen on them. There was still much to see, however.

This place had to have something that could fulfill his goal. He just needed to find it.
Elenion Aura thebigfella

 

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Docks, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Hitoshi

Outbreak

The live broadcasting of a now-dead reporter on television was all that Charlie needed in order to understand just how incredibly grave the situation on Central was. Infected civilians rampaging and attacking people? Such a thing had been completely unheard of to the boy, how such a thing could've happened was far beyond his knowledge. But that did not matter, how it happened was of little relevance when compared to the true task at hard: To save the people in danger.

He rushed out of his condo, carrying on his person nothing but his cellphone, a pair of knuckle dusters hidden on the inner flaps of his jacket, and a thin carrying case on his back, attached to a strap going diagonally over his shoulder all the way back from his hip. Fortunately, his first destination wasn't far off from his place, an essential stop to arrive to Central without having to worry about public transportation being cancelled by the incident.

It was very sudden, the act of Charlie busting through the entrance door of the Bar Shellac, the doorbell clanging dryly as it got slammed against the perpendicular wall. Anya, Jackie and Hitoshi were all startled by the borderline barbaric entrance. However, the rookie felt like time for explaining was a scarce luxury that he currently lacked. "Sorry for the intrusion, I'm borrowing Aniki for a bit!" The workers at the bar made their confusion audible as Charlie reached for Hitoshi, lifting him off his chair and carrying him over his head, a hasty retreat from the establishment was then performed.

He was lucky that the long-time veteran was a very understanding and cooperative man. The two then headed out to Central through the use of the rented car which fortunately had yet to be returned. On the way to Central, Charlie gave the best explanation of the situation he could, which was admitedly quite limited. Not much to go off when one decides to jump into action the second real danger was shown on camera. But once again, they alreayd knew what mattered the most, and how the needed to do something about it.

Once they finally got off their vehicle, the rookie wasted no time and started asking around to the nearby citizens, pleading to know the location of the nearest threats. The responses were varied and vague, some barely even knowing about the situation altogether, but overall some vague suggestions finally pointed to the nearby docks, and that was more than enough to the boy.

Charlie's face was slightly scrunched up as the duo made their way through the pier, the combination of the uncomfortable humidity alongside the accumulated filth alongside the faint stench of dead fish was enough to make him uncomfortable to be here (He did not want to admit that the humidity in particular was an issue because of his hair). Wet sloshing sounds coming out from under the soles of his shoes as he treaded through the moist location. So far it didn't seem like the workers were in any immediate danger...Or well, danger aside from the usual risks of their job (OR the usual risks of New Oasis as a whole, of course)

"Don't let your guard down, Aniki, these chimerics could be waiting behind any corner" Although limited due to the darkness, Charlie kept looking around, his eyes quickly darting from side to side in search for incoming danger.

Spoiler: Notes & Notifs

Tempering status: Half-Activation

Nearby: joshuadim

 

[simj26]

Kisara

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Park, Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Kisara

Vincit Qui Se Vincit

It had been almost a month since Kisara McDowell had become Ace of the Sable Serpents. Yet, for all the time in between then and now, not many Serpents could claim that they spent any amount of time with the new Ace. Only the Queen and a small number could have claimed that they have ever met this Kisara McDowell, if she indeed existed. The truth was, no one knew who she was or what she even looked like. Instead, some Serpents would have had the opportunity of meeting a strange, horned and pink-haired woman who immediately attacked them, leaving more than just an impression on them. What her goals were, none of them ever found out, and none of the ruling members of the Serpents ever bothered to exact any vengeance on this horned beast. Some have even taken up the theory that this was the ever-elusive Ace, presenting herself to see if they were worth their weight or not.

Fortunately for these daydreamers, they pretty much hit the mark. Unfortunately for them, they had proved little challenge to her.

Yet, for all of these days, she still felt as if she had not improved a single bit. She had fought so many, thrown herself into so many fires, and yet none of it felt like it was enough. She grinded her teeth, she gnashed and tore at her hair. It was frustrating. It was terrifying. She once believed, maybe, if she just acted the fool, if she just made sure the fire burned in her heart, she would one day become strong enough. The hole through her chest had taught her otherwise. She wasn't even strong enough to walk that off. She couldn't protect anyone like this. She couldn't face anyone like this. She couldn't even fight for herself. Ace? What a pathetic title. What a worthless title.

And here she was now, alone, facing the ravaged visage of Central New Oasis. When the news broke, the boss had tried to dissuade her from walking straight into the beasts' den, to no avail. She clenched her fists. The rings on her limbs and horns began to glow, shrouding her in an ethereal light, a lone ghostly figure in the empty park.

This was a self-imposed test. To see if she had become anything more than just some glory-thirsty idiot.

She raised one hand, pointed her finger towards the sky, and fired a single beam straight upwards, creating a beacon for whoever, and whatever, to flock towards. The normal humans, she would point them to safety.

The beasts, she would take on.

She had to prove that she was stronger to no one but herself. She would rather have died that day than to live in perpetual weakness.

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

DEIREST

CS Link

SCENE:

The Dead and The Deathless

LOCATION:

Vandalized Lot, North District

PARTICIPANTS:

Deirest, Peyton

The Dead and The Deathless

When the earthquake had come, most people had packed up and left. They hadn't had much of a choice. For every storefront like his, the ones that had been lucky enough to only suffer some structural damage, there were tens more that'd been split wide like eggs. What had once been a vibrant hub of fashion and culture was now a crumbling mausoleum, filled with the rotting guts of the world above.

It was stubbornness that had kept her here. Her business, of all of them, had survived, so she was going to see to it that it survived. That was what she'd thought. She'd worked deep into the night, conceptualizing one fresh, brilliant direction to take her business after another. Any restorations, she'd done by hand. Her blood, sweat and tears were now an inseparable part of the small, concrete box on the fifth floor that she now called 'Phare'.

Now, cold and hunted, she shuddered within. Betwixt a sea of clothing racks and coat hangers, a canopy of thin, blue tendrils aimlessly squirmed. Cadence stilled her breath and peered, slowly, over the countertop she'd crouched behind.

She hadn't been following the news much these days. She'd been far too busy. There were walls that needed to be painted, and stock she needed to select. Maybe, during her trip into work, she could've listened to a radio broadcast. Or, from the corner of her eye, she might've spotted one of the urgent bulletins that always came with a crisis like this. But she hadn't. She should've stayed home, up in her tiny, 21st-floor apartment, behind her stiff, heavy door, where it was safe. But, she hadn't.

And she should've stayed tucked away, inside the person-sized nook beneath her countertop. But, she hadn't.

A wet, inhuman gurgle came from within the mess of tendrils, and a set of beady, black eyes locked with hers. At once, her heart both stilled and raced. Her blood was hot and cold. Time rushed and crawled.

" --- ·-· ·- -· --· · ··· ·- ·-· · -· --- - -·-- · ·-·· ·-·· --- ·-- " A slurry of noises, clicks and gurgles, sloppily shaped into the shape of words. That was her warning. Her queue to jump out the window, pray to whatever god was listening and hope she survived. She did not heed it. Time had not resumed for her. That same, stubborn passion that had renovated the storefront now had her glued to it.

This was the end. The Kraken had come for her. She was a captain, and she was going to go down with her ship.

She clutched at the closest thing she could, a still-damp paint roller, and reared it over her head to deliver some futile struggle. To show the world that, no, Cadence L'Hon had not gone down without a fight. She hadn't let the earthquake frighten her, and she was about to let some writhing HP, either. The paint roller arched high above her head, ready to ride down as a blunt, useless guillotine of flaccid execution, but the moment never came.

"Hiiiiii~" It'd almost been a month since Deirest had been set loose and, as Cadence had with her storefront, she'd been renovating too. A makeover. Ten makeovers. Facelifts until the damn thing couldn't go any higher. That was what all the shows and magazines had said she needed. To find herself.

It wasn't fucking working.

It was bullshit. Horseshit. Catshit served on a bed of cowshit. There wasn't any of her in any of these shirts or jackets or pants or bras or dresses or skirts or shoes or panties or even the HATS. She was going to kill them. Every single one of those scam artists that'd lied to her. But not right now. She was busy right now. Right now, she was shopping.

"Hey, hey hey... Buddy." She spoke to the tendril-thing that'd intertwined itself with the room. Slowly, like the turning of the tides, the beady eyes within turned from the shopkeeper to the eclectically dressed woman that'd just stumbled in.

"I'm looking for something that's... Me. You understand?" The sea of tendrils bristled as the woman wandered through the store. "I've been looking aaaalllllllll over, and I haven't found anything! It's all so-" She gestured to the yellow-green jacket that was currently hanging over her shoulders. "Not-me. M'tryin' to figure it out. But nobody's helping."

On the other side of the store, Cadence trembled. Between the two women, the tendril-thing rose high amongst the aisles.

" --- ·-· ·- -· --· · ··· ·- ·-· · -· --- - -·-- · ·-·· ·-·· --- ·-- "

" --- ·-· ·- -· --· · ··· ·- ·-· · -· --- - -·-- · ·-·· ·-·· --- ·-- "

" --- ·-· ·- -· --· · ··· ·- ·-· · -· --- - -·-- · ·-·· ·-·· --- ·-- "

The cheap metal of the clothing racks rattled, and the creature's countless tendrils started to violently lash about. Microscopic hooks tore through a forest of fabric, and lashed out at the intruder-woman. A spray of hot, red blood poured out, and then a few more followed, as the creature's aimless trashing tore into her skin. It took her a moment. To register the indignity. Tiny, translucent hooks tore into the fabric of these clothes that were not her, and yet, she felt rage bubble up in her chest regardless.

"That's mine." She spat, and snatched a handful of the wire-thin tendrils up in her hands. "Mine. And you ruined it." Her words came out like snarls, and then, she yanked. A fresh gout of blood poured from her palm as the tiny hooks sliced through her skin, but the feral woman didn't even flinch. With one, violent heave, the tendril-thing whipped into the ground, bringing the aisles of clothing racks down within.

" --- ·-· ·- -· --· · ··· ·- ·-· · -· --- - -·-- · ·-·· ·-·· --- ·-- "

At the center of it all, a bulbous mass that might've once been a human head chirped limply. Maybe, once, these might've been desperate pleads, but now it was just gibberish. Not that the woman would've listened either way.

Splat. A thick, leather boot turned the thing to paste, and the ocean of tendrils went limp.

"Pretty..." Deirest mumbled, already entranced by one of the piles of fabric, tucked underneath the collapsed aisles. She smiled, sloppily, as she scooped it up in her hands. All of this was hers now. Her rightful loot.

"HEY!" She shouted, suddenly. "You. Missus Pissus. Do you think this is me?" She eyed Cadence with a smile like a drunken child's. Suddenly, she started to regret having decided to go down with her ship.

"N-no..." Deirest's expression turned forlorn, and she dropped the shirt immediately. "But! I'm sure we can find you something! Come, come! I've got..." Cadence gave her now ruined storefront a worried look. "So much to offer!"

The storekeeper swallowed, and started to try and cobble together some sort of outfit to satisfy her savior. Lest, she feared, the woman simply proved herself to be a replacement executioner.

thebigfella

 

[tityanya]

𝑵𝒂𝒐𝒎𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Railyard, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Tri and Peyton

Outbreak

Naomi hadn’t been intentionally watching the news that day. In general, to be honest, she avoided it. But she was at a coffee shop, enjoying the mellow vibe and a nice cup of tea when she heard the mummering of voices. She had opened her eyes just in time to see the news anchor attacked. The coffee shop exploded, killing any kind of chill, calm vibe it had. What just happened? Did he die? Why did the news channel send him to a place so risky?

Naomi couldn’t contain herself–she started texting everyone she knew if they had seen what had happened. Wasn’t it crazy? Insane? How did people just suddenly become chimeric? And why were they going insane? As a primarily chimeric HP herself, she was fascinated by what was happening. It became a kind of hyperfixation for her–she immediately got on her phone and read every single article available about what had happened in Central.

Naomi was vaguely aware of the history of HPs–some miners found something in the ground and after that HPs started popping up everywhere. And the chaos that was going on in Central happened after a giant Earthquake. The evidence was clear to Naomi–that same magic rock was turning people into HPs again. But why were they going insane? Even at her most feral, Naomi was never “tear apart an innocent news reporter for just standing near her,” bad. She needed to know more/

That was why when Tri mentioned going down to central to investigate, Naomi didn’t even hesitate. She accepted the mission, knowing full well that it was way more dangerous than her usual responsibilities, but way more fascinating.

The only real issue was Peyton. They had been good friends, once. Peyton probably thought they still were. But she remembered the number it did on Raph when Peyton abandoned the Serpents. Hell, she was upset that he had abandoned the Serpents as well. She was stubbornly loyal to them, and to Tri. They had taken her in when her life was in shambles, gave her a purpose. That year before she joined she really was adrift–she probably would have been dead by now if it wasn’t for Tri. And Peyton had just…swapped sides twice. No loyalty, a fair-weather friend.

And he was part of the team with her and Tri.

She wasn’t sure why Tri trusted him. Or for that matter, her. Tri’s mind was still an enigma to her, even after pretending to be him for so long. His mind was like a breeze, blowing whichever direction it wanted. And right now, that breeze was an SUV being driven by Tristan down towards some railyard in central. It wasn’t Naomi’s first venture into the industrial area of Central. And after things got rebuilt from the earthquake, it probably wouldn’t be the last, either. Some of the best clubs were converted old warehouses. So she recognized some of the areas they zipped past, her head leaning against the window. The earthquake had done a number on the area. It was so…strange seeing the twisted remnants of what Naomi knew were once buildings. An act of God changing the landscape humans created.

They reached the railyard. Naomi peeked out her window, checking the shadows for eerie glowing eyes like the newscast. Now that she was here, she could hear her heart thumping loud in her chest. She was nervous. She didn’t want to be torn apart by some unhinged HP. She took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping out of the SUV. Being careful wasn't like Omi--that was more of a Nao thing. But Naomi had the feeling that if she rushed into things here blind, she would be in a world of hurt.

She was struck at first by how quiet it was. Any of the usual industrial sounds, of trains chugging along on tracks, was absent. In the distance, Naomi could hear a murmur of voices, other people drawn to the wreckage for their own desires. In her head, she could hear a rhythmic clacking noise as her imagination provided a soundtrack for the area she found herself in.

She walked towards the front of the SUV, staring out at the rails, waiting for the other two to join her. Once they had, she’d ask “What’s our next step?”

POST NOTES​

((ooc: The song she's thinking of is the song linked in her layout, "reptile." I thought about it while reading ele's description post lol))
((outfit))
((Reptile))

Coyote Hart Damafaud Elenion Aura

 

[joshuadim]

HITOSHI YAMAKAWA

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Docks, Central Districtt

PARTICIPANTS:

Hitoshi, Charlie

OUTBREAK

Earlier...


​

Bar Shellac was empty save for Jackie cleaning some mugs while Anya looked over some finances on paper. Much to her surprise, business had been up recently despite the bar's lackluster location - being cramped in an alleyway and all - thanks to Hitoshi's efforts to advertising. She decided to thank him later as another thing came to grab her attention: Hitoshi arriving downstairs with what appeared to be a beer bottle. She was confused for a moment, before scowling at the man. "What do you think you're doing!? You're supposed to be sober!"

"It's actually *non-alcoholic* beer. That's a thing apparently." Hitoshi explained himself as he handed her the bottle. The labelling was exactly as advertised: non-alcoholic beer. But Hitoshi quickly rubbed the back of his head and laughed. "But I swear I wasn't going to drink it regardless! I've been clean already this long, and I have no intentions of breaking it. Even through a loophole."

Anya looked back to Hitoshi for a moment before sighing. "Listen. 'Toshi, I'm glad you're clean. But you don't need to do it for me. It's a you thing."

But before he could respond, the door slammed open as Charlie burst in with no time to explain and hoisted the man over his head. It was all so sudden that everyone was flabbergasted and left without words until the two had plopped down in his rental parked in the alleyway nearby. Hitoshi didn't feel the need to question what exactly was going on as he ignited the engine and rumbled off towards Charlie's intended destination. Before they got there, he got all the details that he had been in the dark on: chimeras running loose? Chaos being released? This was definitely not a good thing.

---

Arriving to the pier and walking with Charlie, the elder Phoenix didn't feel the same stench that had hit his junior partner. I probably drank away most of my smelling. he thought to himself briefly as he observed the dead fish. Or maybe my sinuses are clogged. Should get that checked. But when Charlie spoke up of the danger, Hitoshi looked around before shrugging. "Well, Charlie-kun, whatever danger there might be it ain't here..." he commented as he felt a slight sense of unease, "We should check further in, no?"

Roda the Red

 

[Slav]

Jayce Sexton

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

City Hall, Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Jayce, Chikage

OUTBREAK

A city that was a shell of itself. That's what Jayce heard all too often. People liked to mention the good days, the days where peace within the city triumphed the current epidemic of violence. Those days never actually existed. The people in this city never changed, they just showed their true colors over time. Being a detective, it was only natural that he would have worked on a few cases regarding the new phenomenon that was being reported in this hellscape. None of what he saw surprised him, in fact, it just reinforced his beliefs.

Jayce let out a swath of smoke, letting the cigarette dangle from his lips. He wasn't happy he had to be present at the city hall, he'd rather continue his investigations. The advent of HP's was the worse thing that happened to this city. Everything would be normal if everybody were just... normal. Life never worked out like that, it was always something that was determined to get in your way. Natural or unnatural, he was going to stomp out this new wave of criminality. The recent earthquake made it imperative to do so.

After flicking his cigarette down the steps, he stood up, straightening his uniform. He knew many within his department didn't follow the uniform standards but he intended to do so. If you can't put on something as simple as a uniform how could you be expected to protect the city. He already thought little of his coworkers, nothing could lower his view of them anymore than it already was. He proceeded up the steps, entering the building.

Even though the building survived the ordeal, it showed signs of stress. Cracks could be observed on almost every wall, some more serious than others. Jayce's gaze slowly moved from one side of the hallway to the other, like he was looking for a surprise to come at him. He was always cautious, not even trusting the people he worked with. The disease within the city ran deep and it made its way inside of every part of government, including the police force. He was also looking for somebody, Chikage. If there was somebody that would let him go investigate, it would be him.

He gave a few of his coworkers a cold look, looking past them as if they didn't exist. He didn't bother to remember faces, he could only recognize somebody by their voice. I hate this place. Hopefully Chikage will let me go do my own thing. He wasn't just hoping for it, he was begging for it. Even though his face never showed any change, his mind was a constant hurricane of emotions, getting more intense everyday. The only face he wanted to see was the one that had the power to release him. He couldn't stand being idle.

Doctor Llamabean

 

[mechanicalmania]

ELEANORE

CS Link

SCENE:

{=Outbreak=}

LOCATION:

The Coliseum, Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Eleanore, Leaf { Haze- }, Noa { Peckinou }, GM { Elenion Aura }

Outbreak

Eleanore was having a poor day up to this point. This was an important event, she saw the news, she saw the panic and some of the jokes cracked at the expense of the suffering on social media, she could even, if she closed her eyes, pretend to hear what was going on. But her father, good old Leonard, hadn’t written a thing about it. Which, subtracting from the fact that this is an event she is going to need to face without knowledge from the past’s future, is a shame, because he probably would’ve enjoyed writing about it.

Despite that, she was present, of course. In her heart of hearts, Center was still a Phoenix district. While groups were being selected and given locations to investigate the radio silence coming from far too many chunks of the populace, Eleanore was more than happy and even more prepared to head out with a few trusted members of the Phoenixes to go out there and prove that when there’s a crisis sending the city into disarray, they’re already there to handle it.

Those that she went out with didn’t disappoint either. Another veteran, well and competent at their work, and the rookie was at least portraying himself as competent. She was more used to working alone, certainly, but when walking into the unknown but certainly dangerous, it was only the foolish who loitered solo. At the very least, more eyes are always more eyes and gives you people with a chance to drag your bloodied corpse out of the battlefield.

The earthquake had taken the idea of driving a vehicle other than, say, a motorbike too deep into Lower District and transformed the ease into a pain, so searching for information was currently an activity that hobbyists would have to be on foot for. Given the condition of most of the city, only a few buildings still looked like they could contain life and fewer still looked well enough to contain life safely, in the current environment. The Coliseum that stood strong in the local area was an obvious first place to check for any signs of life here, but getting there was a matter that had to be approached safely.

Eleanore stepped alongside the sidewalk, shotgun strapped around her back and shovel lovingly hoisted over her shoulder. It’d have made her look fairly impressive if her other hand wasn’t using her phone’s flashlight feature to shine into the cracks, alleyways, and crevices of the city, which she was taking the information from to provide just scintillating commentary on current events, all while a little cell phone tassel swung through the air.

”Clear.”

A fwish of the phone to face the other side of the street, a few seconds of examination…

”Clear.”

Like a metronome, her arm swung back to where it started, fully prepared to continue the cycle.

 

[Doctor Llamabean]

The Shanty Town

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Hector, Yong-Yut, Hide

OUTBREAK

The goal of a maze—

In the dead silence of the labyrinthian Shanty Town, where only the wind was allowed to whisper and weight-bearing metal supports allowed to groan, the Phoenixes’ arrival was anything but subtle.

The sound of life in a place whence all life had fled was distinct. It disrupted the state of things. A vibration on the spider’s web.

An alert.

It traveled on the wind, their essence, through narrow, makeshift alleys. The knowledge of their presence, carried and delivered.

A deep, wet, chittering elicited from a churning blackness in a corner someplace dark. Perhaps the darkest, where light could not penetrate. A den of scrap metal and wooden planks, puzzled together by inexperienced hands in the aftermath of natural disaster, now served as the hiding place of a once slumbering threat.

—is to get out.

(Interacting w/ no one)
(Mentioned Yong-Yut, Hide, Hector)
WhiskeyMarten gxxberkit Caffeine_Obsessed ​

 

[Coyote Hart]

PEYTON XIONG

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Train Yard, Lower Central

PARTICIPANTS:

Naomi, Peyton, Tri

OUTBREAK

The North District library that Peyton worked at was an oddity. Owing to the chaotic nature of the North District, many of the traditions of a public library were smirched. Books were scattered around the place, piled up against a wall, strewn around tables, and sometimes but scarcely, placed haphazardly into the bookshelves. Metal bars guarded each window, ruining the welcoming vibes, but also preventing people from breaking in or out.

While there were those like Peyton who went to the library for the books, the majority of people came because it was a community center. Cheap, clean needles were sold for those who needed them, and there was even a lounge-like area for the druggies where they could watch the news or read a book on the worn couches while they dosed.

It was at that lounge that Peyton saw the situation. At the last hour of his shift, as he passed by, the news broadcast caught his attention. Peyton was forced to read the subtitles as the TV was muted. He wished it wasn't, as when the news anchor was brutally murdered, Peyton could only wonder what that had sounded like. Gruesome, definitely, but what kind of gruesome?

Minutes later, he was chatting with Tri about checking the situation out. It seemed like potentially a fun time. And despite being a Serpent again, Peyton still held true to some of his Dragon ideals. Order was to be maintained, even if Peyton's standard for order was chaotic to some. In this scenario, it was not up to Peyton's low bar. So Peyton clocked out half an hour before the end of his shift, hopping into Tri's car when it made its stop at the front of the library.

Along with Tri and his chauffeur Tristan was a gal named Naomi. Peyton had known Naomi back from when Peyton was working with the Serpents as a method of paying off his Tiger debts without actually becoming indentured. He was glad to be able to be with Naomi, although that didn't mean that Peyton was blind to her grudge. It didn't matter to Peyton-- either he could hang out long enough with Naomi that she forgave him, or he could simply enjoy the ride that came with Naomi's distaste.

The car stopped near the edge of a train yard at Lower Central. It had no choice but to stop there. Beyond where they were, the earthquake had contorted the tracks, the platforms, and the stationary trains into a nightmarish terrain, jagged like some sort of mechanical monster.

Peyton took his feet off of the dashboard of the vehicle and back into his elevator shoes before following Naomi and Tri out of the car. Peyton double-checked that his rifle was loaded, and slung it over his back. He was kind of disappointed; they hadn't been immediately jumped by wild chimerics. Hopefully, the investigation didn't turn out to be a dud.

"Our next step is to sneak around the trains here, duh!" Peyton said in response to Naomi. He hopped down onto the snaking tracks, climbed onto a train, and stuck a head through a shattered window. In the dark interior, he saw a few people, who immediately shrieked. Peyton waved at them and then promptly retreated from the train. The unnatural glow of his eyes in the dark must've made it seem like he was one of the crazed Chimerics.

"Whoops!" was all Peyton said before he was heading towards one of the other trains to continue looking.

tityanya Damafaud

 

[Damafaud]

TRI

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Train Yard, Lower Central

PARTICIPANTS:

Naomi, Peyton, Tri

OUTBREAK: TRAIN YARD

Tri did not like not the feeling of being out of control. The earthquake last time and the flying tiger definitely felt like things larger than his life and he didn't like it. He couldn't act cool without being in control of the situation... or could he? A new kind of Tri had been around for a while. His hair was slicked backward and his face roughly shaven. Cigarettes cluttered his space like breadcrumbs around a croissant. He wore an old-fashioned trench coat and started reading newspaper.

That's right, Tri had gone noir. Or police-detective-forced-to-retire-disrespectfully-after-an-internal-corruption-scandal, as he described it to Tristan who couldn't bear Tri's expectant stare that wanted to be asked. They had been listening to the radio (something they usually never did) when the announcer echoed news reports about the appearance of the Chimerics.

Obviously, they had to go. By 'they', Tri meant people with noir style. Obviously.

Tri did not show it, but he was very satisfied with his choice of people. For instance, the one sitting next to him. Naomi and shapeshifting was an obvious choice. Subterfuge and sneaking about, very noir (don't ask Tri what 'noir' actually means). She hadn't got discovered once acting as him, too. Definitely competent. He didn't know if investigating the Chimerics would need subterfuge, but Naomi was a 10/10 choice from vibe alone.

Then, he glanced at the chattering Peyton through the rearview mirror. Peyton was more neon, bio-cyberpunk type of noir. That was fine, too, and they needed a muscle in the team. Besides, the Chimerics reminded Tri of Peyton a little.

Oh, and there was Tristan. He looked cramped wearing a fedora in the car, but he was cracking a grin and occasionally chiming in to his and Peyton's conversation. That was definitely because of the submachine gun he was allowed to pack.

The SUV halted where twisted metals and scraps made it impossible to drive further. Tri went out and light a cigarette. It felt cool. He couldn't get affected by it anyway, but he imagined himself with a little tremor and the vicissitude of a disgruntled detective.

Tri let the smoke seethed through his teeth. He felt so cool. He hummed in agreement to Peyton's idea, but he had his own plan.

"Grab the megaphone," he said simply. Tristan went, giggling like a school girl and not not unlike the mobster he dressed as. Must be from seeing the submachine gun in the trunk. Pallid shrieks raised as Peyton peered into a carriage. Looking through the trains was a good idea, but it was too slow. Tri received the megaphone and flicked the cigarette away.

"Serpent King here. Serpent King here." Tri's flat voice echoed through the walls of twisted steel. "If someone doesn't point me to a Chimeric, I will be screaming and attract one here to fight. I repeat, if someone doesn't point me to a Chimeric, I will be screaming and kill everyone that's moving after."

Tri paused.

"I repeat. Serpent King here. Serpent King here. Someone better know where a Chimeric is, or we will be killing anything that's moving. I repeat-"

For once, Tristan looked eager for chaos to unfold. He caressed the bulky machine gun in his arms loving;y.

Coyote Hart tityanya Elenion Aura

 

[Peckinou]

Noa Bakoria Aquanaut

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Coliseum, Lower Central.

PARTICIPANTS:

Noa, Tyr, Leaf Haze- , Elenora mechanicalmania , Elenion Aura

Outbreak

Lower Central was an area that Noa wasn't one to frequent that much, much preferring the Upper Central Area, where Aqualand was located at, a place where she could enjoy herself at. But with the broadcast on the news and Chaos within lower central, Noa felt obligated to help, especially after learning that Helva had other plans, and her Shadow Friend Syrup was busy running her little Bakery within Upper Central. So she figured that it would be best to go to Lower Central personally to help out, with her bodyguard Tyr and a few Phoenixes she was sure that they could provide some help to the NPs within Lower Central. She had already given her bodyguard a tattoo of power, just in case combat turns to be inevitable, she had thought about offering the other Phoenixes a power Tattoo but she didn't think that was necessary yet. Instead she kept her focus on on the area around her, looking for other citizens with no real concern for any danger that might be lurking nearby, after all if she was in any danger her bodyguard would of pulled her out the way very quickly.

While it seemed like Elenora was more concerned with investigating the area, using her phones flashlight in order to check between the crevices, and then yelling out clear, something Noa was a bit confused about. Nevertheless she pushed through without much concern anyways, her bodyguard Tyr kept position behind her so that she could lead forward, as she moved in towards the Coliseum, stretching her limbs out as she entered the place. "Anything worth note? This place isn't really at its best shape I'd say." Noa soon started to take note of the other that were using the Coliseum as a sorta Refugee base and began to approach the people who were murmuring to themselves waving their hands in a friendly greeting.

"Hello, do you guys need any assistance? I'd be glad to help if you really need, though I must also ask if you guys know what's going on down here?" She had ask the question with Genuine concern she was sure she could get people to talk to her if need be. She had a reputation within the Phoenixs for being more kind hearted to NPs, plus she figured that helping them solve whatever problems they were having would be in the best interest of the people who were camping out in the area.

 

[tityanya]

𝑵𝒂𝒐𝒎𝒊 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Railyard, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Tri and Peyton

Outbreak

The scent of cigarette smoke filled the air. Naomi looked over her shoulder at Tri, who had just lit one up. A wry smile came to her face–she knew full well that the cigarette did fuck all for him. He was just ruining his lungs for the aesthetic. He had been going through a phase recently–a phase that she, as the premier Tri Impersonator™, was intimately familiar with. Noir. Cigarettes, slicked back hair, trench coats. She honestly thought it was the coolest Tri phase yet, not that she would let him know that. She loved playing around with the disgraced cop aura he had going on. It was fun, and undoubtedly why Tri had been drawn to it to begin with.

Not much time was left for discussion, which didn’t surprise Naomi at all. She watched as Peyton jumped ahead, down into the abyss of twisted metal. Naomi stayed standing next to Tri, trying her best not to inhale the cigarette smoke. It had nothing to do with second-hand smoke–the ship had long since sailed for her to care about her lungs. No, the smell filled her with a craving. But not really for cigarettes. No, cigarettes were what she smoked sometimes to stave off the cravings.

She missed cocaine.

The last time Tri had cleansed her, she had decided to get clean of cocaine. It would interfere too much with her duties if she was fighting off withdrawal symptoms, she had decided. Tri couldn’t get high, so she couldn’t be high when she was impersonating him. As funny as a Tri high on wed would be, it would give away their ruse in an instant. The money was good, but her overall productivity had gone way down. Amazing what happened when you didn’t use a stimulant anymore. She had to keep telling herself that she was saving her nose from future damage. Her outward appearance trumped all, of course. And her shape-shifting abilities couldn’t cover up damage and wounds.

Grab the megaphone Tri said to Tristan, who began giggling maniacally. Naomi couldn’t help but laugh as well, but more at the juxtaposition–she had gotten to know Tristan pretty well in her time impersonating Tri. He was always like an accessory to Tri, his clothing matching whatever mood Tri was in at the moment. And since that was noir, that meant that he was dressed like a classical gangster, fedora and all. It was a little silly seeing such a tough looking man giggle like a schoolgirl.

Down below, Peyton stuck his head through the broken glass of a train window, terrifying the people inside. Naomi couldn’t help but let out a laugh at that–with his glowy eyes, Peyton looked exactly like that menacing figure that had killed the news anchor. If she had been one of the people inside the train, she probably would have screamed, too. Then punched him in the face. He lucked out on that last part.

The microphone arrived. Naomi’s eyes widened, and then she burst into full-out laughter for a moment as Tri just announced that he was the serpent king, here to look for the chimeric monstrosities. She really loved hanging out with him sometimes–he was the pure embodiment of “do what I want, when I want.” It wasn’t very sneaky, or very noir, but it was very straight-forward and effective. Down below, Naomi could hear the commotion as Tri’s words carried. She could imagine what the people were saying: Serpent King? In Central? and Why would they want to face one of those monsters?

Naomi nervously eyed Tristan with his machine gun, fully aware that she herself was unarmed at the moment. She really needed to invest in a gun. At the very least, she was sure that Tristan’s weapon could rip apart whatever would come at them before it had a chance to do more than look in their direction. Some people were, and Naomi couldn’t help but sneer at them, getting into character. ”You heard the man!” Naomi called, shape-shifting a larger capacity for her lungs so her voice carried farther and louder. ”Point us to one of those monsters, or get out of our way!” She didn’t feel the need to threaten them with death–she wasn’t the one that was going to kill them. Probably.

POST NOTES​

((ooc: ))
((outfit))
((Reptile))

Coyote Hart Damafaud Elenion Aura

 

[Ramjammer]

Outbreak


Lorette LècuyerCS LINK

Scene:Outbreak.

Location:Lower Central District

Participants:Lorette, Hiachi, Missy.


"Law enforcement has the entire area locked down, but they're stretched thin. It's only a matter of time before something gets out."

Lorette remained quiet and stared contemplatively at the video wall. Panels upon panels of screens, each allowing a different angle of the same catastrophe. Rubble-strewn streets collapsed buildings, and the occasional vehicle was crushed beyond all recognition. What life had been spared remained out of sight. Countless souls are hiding, licking their wounds, and trying to recover. The luckiest of them hadn't survived to witness the horror that followed.

Whatever they were, was anyone's guess. Mutants, sewer people, escaped lab experiments. The internet was flooded with conspiracy theories from the moment they first were spotted. Everyone from the lowly Armchair Biologist to the most decorated Scientists on earth had a hypothesis they wanted to shout into the void but no concrete answer.

There was but one sole defining feature of their current subject of interest that could not be filed under pure conjecture. They were lethal and frighteningly efficient at killing.

"Madame?"

The questioning tone brought Lorette out of her inner musings, and she swiveled her chair around to face the room properly. Allister watched her curiously, awaiting an order she'd even yet to think of. Ever dutiful, her assistant stood ready and waiting for her orders. They all did. Lorette looked at each person, from her Head of Research and Development down to her less than pleased-looking Chief of Security. That was one face Lorette had trouble looking at the most. Her husband sometimes knew her own thoughts better than she did. And based on his expression, he didn't quite like what she was thinking.

"As you all know, we have economic prospects in the area." The moment the words left her mouth, on one of the screens behind her, a five-story building that had stood defiantly in the face of the quake crumbled unceremoniously and joined the other rubble in a cloud of dust.

"But those are rapidly dwindling."

Lorette exhaled tiredly. She was about as invested in getting involved with whatever hell was breaking loose in Lower Central as she was shoving her hand into an open flame. It was nothing but trouble. Expensive trouble. Yet the even more fiscally irresponsible thing to do would be to leave the problem for someone else.

With how things were looking, it was only a matter of time until the National Guard was mobilized. Getting past the security permit would be downright impossible, then. She'd known that the other Gangs had begun to move once shit hit the fan. Each had their own interests, but if possible, gaining a foothold in the area would be an opportunity that none of them would pass up.

A decision reached, Lorette matched Richard's stony glare and began the straightforward process of pissing him off.

"Sweetheart. Mobilize some of our personnel to the blockade and lend our support. It's good publicity."

The man's eyes narrowed sharply, and he leaned forward to rest his forearms on the table. "And while we're out playing Hero, what are you gonna be doing, Honey?" He asked, tone dripping with condescension.

"I'm going down to Lower." She began, only to be cut off.

"No."

"We need to understand what we're dealing with." Lorette tried again, but Richard would not budge.

"Nope."

"It's better if I go for confirmation. Then there will be no questioning of what I might see."

"Don't care." The man said stubbornly, causing Lorette to throw up both hands in exasperation. "Why do you even ask me anything if you're just going to do this shit?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we were doin' that thing where we piss each other off for no damn reason." Richard shot back.

"I don't need a reason to shoot you, but you're giving me a lot right now." Lorette warned through grit teeth.

Completely uninterested in the ongoing domestic dispute, Audrey Kinnaird, one of Richard's Lieutenant, leaned over to speak to Allister at her right.

"Hey, you want to hit up that new Food Truck outside for lunch after this?" She asked. Allister, who'd been taking meticulous notes of the meeting, lover's quarrel included, stopped typing at his keyboard to look at the redhead directly. "What happened to the other one? 'Food for Thots'?" He asked.

"It fell in the hole the quake made. A few businesses got swallowed up." Allister was silent for a brief spell, and then his eyes widened, and she let out a pained "No!"

"The cat cafe survived. They evacuated all the cats." Matsuko Oshiro, Richard's other Lieutenant, interjected, immediately putting to rest any concerns Allister might have had. She and Audrey shared the same sentiment, and both were greatly relieved to find that the small cafe had survived unscathed alongside its occupants.

Allister slumped in his chair and placed a hand over his rapidly beating heart. "Oh, thank God. I can't take another tragedy right now." He gasped.

"Are yall fuckin' serious right now?" A man sitting across from them asked, positively incredulous at the trio's complete disregard for human life and that Richard and Lorette had drawn their guns and were each aiming at the other while they continued to argue. In their defense, it was not the first time the couple had devolved into threatening to shoot each other over some offense or the other. It likely wouldn't be the last.

"Nobody asked for your opinion DU-ANE." Matsuko snapped, causing the man to lurch back in his seat, properly chastised.

The loud bickering had quieted during their discussion, and both Lorette and Richard had resumed sitting as if they hadn't been seconds from putting bullet holes in the other mere moments ago.

"Why couldn't arguments with my exes have ended this nicely?" Allister muttered to himself.

Lorette's mildly triumphant expression spoke volumes about whose favor the argument had gone in, but Richard wasn't quite ready to give up the fight.

"You're taking someone with you." He said. It was a statement, not a suggestion. Lorette scoffed but conceded readily.

"Fine. I was thinking of taking Hiachi anyway. Allister, please get in touch with Ms. Ito when we're done here." Lorette earned a prompt, "Yes, Madame." from her assistant.

"That midget with the God damn Hello Kitty gun?" Richard said, clearly unenthused about his wife's selection.

"Hey, that Hello Kitty gun was a gift!" Allister shouted, looking up from his notes. This prompted a nod of agreement from Matsuko. "People should know how fun and cute she is while she's killing them. Like me."

"Pink gun aside, that girl can shoot a bird's eye in the dark. Anything I don't spot, she will. And she'll damn sure hit it too."

Richard did have to concede to Lorette's assessment. Hiachi Ito was a damn good shot. And in a place filled with all manner of tight spaces, her Potential was a game changer. He still didn't have to like it. The Chief of Security rubbed at his temples. "Anything else you wanna throw at me?"

Lorette was silent momentarily, and Richard could see the gears turning in her head, plain as day. "Have Raumspalter pulled from storage and prepped for transport." She said finally.

"Do you think it'll get that serious?" Richard's question earned him a shake of the head from Lorette. "I can't say. But it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. Have a Drop Zone squared out for me, and I'll keep in touch throughout."

A hand silently raised at the end of the table, and all eyes turned to rest on a man who'd yet to speak. Nikhil Bhattacharya cleared his throat before addressing his employer.

"What are the chances of getting a live specimen for study?"

"Let's put a pin in that for now. This is a recon mission. Recovery is neither our objective nor our priority."

The head of Research and development huffed loudly and slumped back in his seat. "You know it's hard to develop things if I'm not allowed to do any research." He whined.

"What happened to that Giant Rat I got you three weeks ago? That thing was the size of a Toddler." Lorette asked, only as a matter of politeness. She didn't much care for what happened to the thing as it had chewed through the bars of its cage to escape and subsequently wreak all kinds of havoc in the cafeteria by eating anything it could get its little bastard paws on.

"He's a staff member now." The bespectacled man said curtly. Once it'd become apparent that the only remarkable thing about said the rat was its enormous size, Nikhil had quickly put it to work shredding useless papers. It was a task the rodent took to with extreme enthusiasm. The rat was looking to be R&D's employee of the month at the rate he was going.

"Put a pin in that one too. Because I have a lot of questions, I want to ask later." Lorette said. She finally addressed the entire room. "Those of you who will not be working at the blockade, I want on intel: social media, Security Footage, word of mouth. Whatever information can be scrounged up, I want it found and recorded. We have no idea what's going on down there. So let's prepare for the worst people."


"So the absolute worst thing that can happen probably won't involve you dying. And that's why I brought suicide pills for all of us." Lorette said, staring down at Hiachi. If the girl was scared, she would have to deal with it because shit would only get worse from there on out.

They'd managed to weasel their way past the blockade and into the Factory district of Lower Central. What hadn't been ravaged by the earth's shaking was already in a poor state. Dilipated buildings squatted like ancient stone and metal titans, decaying slowly as a world that'd forgotten them passed by.

There weren't many people around. Some had managed to construct hovels among the remains of the remaining buildings. They all had a haunted, wary look to them. Lorette didn't think they'd be open to answering any questions without sufficient force. She'd hoped to avoid it, not wanting to draw attention from the locals, even though they seemed happy to help her along in that regard.

She'd gone and dressed down for the occasion as well. Italian Leather shoes and tailored suits weren't fit for crawling through the wreckage of countless buildings. She didn't need to advertise her wealth to a bunch of desperate survivors. Jeans, work boots, and a sturdy jacket would keep her warm and safe from the elements.

Lorette hefted a metal case, holding it out to Hiachi. "I've taken the liberty of bringing you some extra ammo and guns. You know, for just in case." The woman didn't bother elaborating on the 'just in case part, figuring the girl already had a good idea of what they'd be dealing with once they were further in. Lorette carried her own sidearm but was far more comfortable with a blade. She was reasonably sure that their quarry had no guns in their possession, but it didn't hurt to be safe.

A glance at the shadows cast over everything told Lorette that she wouldn't be getting much vitamin D either. They would have to tread very lightly from there on.

"You ready? This is your last chance to back out." She warned.
Elenion Aura miki BriiAngelic

 

[Elenion Aura]

The Park

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Kisara

OUTBREAK

It did not take long for Kisara's warning shot to have its desired effect. From all around, came the screams of the horde. Ravenous beasts, mindless and slavering, tumbled through the ravaged shrubs and trampled the remains of gardens, their eyes reflecting Kisara's ethereal beacon of light, glinting with primal hunger. From somewhere, a voice, or perhaps many voices, chanted.

THE MANY WHO ARE ONE​

One by one, their grotesque forms emerged from the shadows, their bodies twisted and mangled by some unnatural force. All were once humans, now mutated beyond recognition, though some bore the traits of wild animals merged with cancerous flesh. Yet, amidst the chaos and disharmony of their wretched forms, one thing remained constant - a hunger that consumed them, unified them. The chanting continued.

THE MANY WHO ARE ONE​

They approached from all sides, forming a perimeter with their stooped forms - a grotesque wall of flesh and rage, but none did lunge. Not even when the sound of quaking footfalls broke the tension with a hammer, as a large, lupine face loomed out of the darkness, followed by a hulking, quadrupedal body. Its jaws dripped as its fanged maw opened, its eyes aflame. The chanting grew louder, though it was unclear if it was out loud, or merely in one's head... Though the words were slowly becoming clearer.

THE MANY WHO ARE ONE​

WE ARE THE MANY, WE ARE THE ONE​

 

[thebigfella]

The Museum

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol

OUTBREAK

The ongoing catastrophe outside the museum’s walls almost seemed like a different world within the refuge within this chamber of forsaken history and art. It had been deemed safe enough to give the homeless who decided to clamber in her some form of solstice, a feeling of protection enough for them to stay put in one place. It provided more safety than the world outside, fraught with the dangers and beasts that hunted down all they could get their hands on.

Despite the fact they were safe, not a single threat in sight, their anxiety hadn’t disappeared; no, it felt intensified, condensed into pure survival instinct. They did not make a noise, they kept themselves hidden at all costs, as if their lives were dependent on them not being seen.

Sang-Cheol had not yet laid eyes on any of the monstrous chimerics he had heard about. However, the people around him behaved as if one of these ravenous creatures lurked in the heavens, eagerly biding their time to attack. It was a mystery.

... Until a helicopter flew overhead. As the rotating blades whirred, their thunderous symphony echoed through the air. The gusts of wind intensified, causing the flags and banners suspended above to dance and ruffle.

The presence of this helicopter was a fortuitous occurrence, completely unrelated to anything else happening, yet its timing held all the importance in the world. The helicopter's spotlight flickered to life, illuminating its surroundings with candescent rays. A flood of luminosity burst through the museum's open ceiling, enveloping it in a mesmerizing radiance. In that fleeting instance, every trace of darkness was obliterated, instilling a profound sense of terror within its residents.

Screams erupted from the homeless individuals who sought solace within these walls, their only refuge from the dangers of the streets. In an instant, pandemonium broke loose, causing them to hastily rise up from their concealed spots and embark on a frenzied journey towards a new spot hidden by the cover of night. Other’s only dug themselves deeper into whatever burrow they had, hoping that they wouldn’t be spotted.

This reaction would have seemed like pure madness, if the spotlight didn’t also allow Sang-Cheol to view his surroundings with sobering clarity.

They littered every dark corner, some hung limply from the higher floor levels, they were strewn around the rubble, in places that had been hidden by the shadows cast by the moonlight until now.

Corpses, long past postmortem. Humans and transformed chimerics alike had fallen victim to whatever was responsible. Their bodies were selectively picked and pillaged, missing clawed fingers paired with torn off ears. Each body had its own way of disarray, varying pieces of flesh being torn off and missing, the rest of the inedible or undesirable tougher meat left to rot, but every corpse shared one shared quality.

Their eyes had been plucked clean from their eyes, tongues ripped from their mouths. Their empty skulls allowed you to peer into the void, the expressions of horror and agony permanently adorned on some of the bodies. There was not much mystery as to who the perpetrators are; one glance around gave the answer.

Crows, the few that had come to rest on the back of Atlas, did not do their numbers' justice. Their sleek bodies adorned every crevice of the architecture, elegantly perched within hidden nooks, united as a voracious council that ominously gazed down from above. Several scavenging birds were still busy picking and pecking at the carcasses, using their sharp beaks to extract every last morsel of flesh. They eagerly devoured the meat, storing it in their bulging crops.

Their tiny eyes looked at Sang-Cheol and the child that was with him, the distorted and warped reflection rounding across their lenses. Just as Sang-Cheol had seen them, they had seen him, and everyone else who had kept themselves hidden until now.

As quick as the light came it went, the sound of the helicopter flying off in the distance came with the disappearance of the bright light, returning Sang-Cheol to the splotted conjugation of darkness and light.

Hundreds, no, thousands of tiny figures began to shift in the shadows, spreading their wings, shaking off loose feathers, taking off into the air. A massive gathering of dark, shapeless feathers fills the sky, their cacophony of calls and cries drowning out everything else as they descend towards the earth like an embodiment of pestilence.

They swallowed everything in their path, those who were unfortunate enough to not be able to get into a new hiding spot before they descended were consumed by a mass of sharp wings and talons, tearing at their skin, digging into their tissue, tearing them down from the outside. Regardless of how many they took down, the swarm relentlessly advanced, rapidly closing in on Sang-Cheol. It was poised to turn him into yet another lifeless body scattered on the ground.

First, they would go for eyes.

 

[thebigfella]

The Docks

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Hitoshi

OUTBREAK

As Charlie and Hitoshi approached the pier, the composure the area seemed to emanate was surprising, almost to an unsettling degree. Despite the destruction, despite the monsters that threatened Lower Central and could appear at any second, the workers hadn’t stopped their work. The shipyard reverberated with the deafening cacophony of their powerful machines. The resounding clatter of tools and the hollow echoes of shipping containers being filled and meticulously placed on gigantic tankers created an atmosphere that made it seem like nothing had changed. Everyone had acclimated to the madness, out of necessity.

Despite the circumstances, there was no sense of joy or even satisfaction in the fact that they could continue working amidst all the chaos and still maintain a relative level of safety. With sullen expressions, tense bodies, and eyes fixated on the ground or the sky, they barely looked at each other, and never at the sea. They did not talk to each other, as if they feared speaking.

Still, this was strange… despite how loud their work was, not a single of the primal chimerics seemed to be in sight. Loud noises would usually attract a form of curiosity, one that only intensified with ravenous hunger. The whole scene was devoid of the carnage, yet, many survivors mentioned this place in their terror-filled mumbling and horrific screams of recollection. Something had happened to them, something that made them more scared than whatever else was out there.

The workers were only just now becoming aware of the presence of two mysterious figures at their workplace. As they did, their once empty eyes, previously fixated on work and survival, were now ablaze with a powerful wave of intense and unsettling emotions of alarm, pupils wide. Many of them stopped what they were doing, and quickly began to use their hands and bodies to distressingly signal to the pair.

Some pointed their fingers, directing them to turn around.
Others swung their arms in the same of an X to signal them to not come any closer.
A pair of fingers drawn over one’s lips like a zipper.
A few of them even grouped together to form a makeshift blockade, blocking their vision from reaching further off into the horizon.

 

[thebigfella]

Areith Rozárie

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District, Towers

TIME:

Post Arc 3 || July 12th, 2022

PARTICIPANTS:

Deirest, Areith

Outbreak - Towers

This is why you came here.

Accept the destructive carnage, for it is what He wants you to see. His guidance to you, a deliverance, the terror of being at the cusp of change.

Gaze at the world that had split underneath your feet. Feel the weight of your steps upon cracked Earth. Then gaze upon Heaven, peer past the crumbling buildings that tower above you, looking down from their uprooted infrastructure, pounds of stone and metal ready to topple and crush all that rests below.

You sit at the precipice, the fifth floor, the fifth circle, the step that sits above the lower levels in tandem with resting below the higher echelons. This is what He wants you to understand, why His messiah has brought you here.

The path to purpose continued to reach higher, but the fall to cataclysm nips at your heels, waiting for your trip.

You fear the fall.

So you pray. You pray that He continues to guide you as He’s always done.

Your hands clasped together. Your eyes closed. Our eyes opened. You speak your prayer for the both of us.

“O God, please allow this humble servant more time to save us from the End. I promise to guide these lost lambs to salvation within your generous all-encompassing light, and to guide them to ascension. It is in your plan that we shall survive to the new bright era of humanity's future.” You speak, as the cold winds blow through the broken window, lightly tracing over our skin, making your hairs stand on end.

“Amen.”

Your eyes opened. Our eyes closed. Your prayer has concluded; the time to act has returned. You turn around and walk away from the window, leaving the sights of the collapsing world behind. You had grown all but used to its sights; coming from one scene of cataclysm to another brings you no joy. You may cry for those you’ve lost, but you would lose the time to save many more, you know this. That is why you’ve sent them out, your loyal followers, and gave them one task.

Capture as many chimerics as possible. You must save them. You do this to understand what He desires. Is the future wrought with primal carnage that will give birth to the new era, or are these more lost souls that need guidance? He has sent you another challenge, another puzzle that you must solve, because He trusts you to find the answer. So you will.

As they handle your demands, you find yourself alone. The blunt heels of your boots clack against the ground, echoing off the walls, a solo playing in a song that is normally a symphony. It is strange, for you have spent so long always being surrounded by your followers. Today would have been no different, if He had not gifted you with a higher purpose.

You stick a hand into your habit, fishing out a single cigarette and a lighter from parts unknown. You’ve been trying to cut back on smoking ever since you’ve embraced His message, but it has been a hard habit to break. The cigarette reaches your lips, and with a light, smoke quickly enters my lungs. You breathe some of it out, while I dispose of the rest for you.

You stand there for a moment, watching as the embers burn at the edge of it. The smoke wafting upward before thinning out and disappearing. You think as you hold it between your fingers.

You wondered if she had found what she needed yet, your messiah. You had let her loose, knowing that if she was ever to fulfill her purpose you couldn’t constantly be there to guide her. You would eventually be gone, and she would continue to exist long past you. You were just one step in the way of her path, and her path was His path.

Despite that, you would make sure your step is as memorable as possible. So that’s why you began to walk again. Returning to where you knew she would be. Immersed in her current affliction, self-image. You pondered the importance of such a thing for a moment when it first arose as an issue. “Why would our savior need to worry about their looks?” You no doubt thought. Then you realized you were foolish. It wasn’t about need, it was about necessity. Image is important to presence, and her presence was the most important. So, when she wanted to depart to pillage the area for a new look, you made sure to accompany her. Her importance outweighed the success of your demands.

Occupied by your thoughts, you barely realized when you reached the entrance of the store, Phare it was called, though its sign had been damaged from the cataclysm it still was legible. You bent down slightly, pushing a loose piece of rubble out of the way to squeeze into the store. You forcefully maneuvered your large figure through the chaotic maze of clothing racks, disregarding any obstacles in your path and effortlessly displacing stacks of garments, accompanied by the crackle of broken plastic hangers beneath your feet. A strange piece of blue flesh hooked around your leg like a barbed plant, but you didn’t give it a second thought as you scraped it off with your other foot.

You ignored the mess that surrounded them, not even acknowledging the sounds of paste underneath her feet, making it sound like she was walking through mud. You stopped in front of the messiah, looking down at her with the warm sisterly smile you always wore, gazing upon her. Marks of cuts, sunders within her skin. Blood dripped from her. Our anger coursed through our body, but you did not show it. Instead, you turned around with a smile on your face to look at the only other person in the room. A woman you did not recognize, and unknown anomaly. You had a question for her, and you asked it with utmost politeness, gazing at her with a profound shade of crimson, concealing the fervor that simmered within us.

“Did you do this?”

Doctor Llamabean The One Eyed Bandit

 

[Elenion Aura]

The Rail Yard

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Tri, Naomi, Peyton

OUTBREAK

It did not take long for Tri's proclamation to have its desired effect. The sound of metal roof tiles crumpling in the distance swiftly rose above the cries and whimpers of the humans huddling within the abandoned railway cars, too fear-addled to move, lest they fall victim to the roving, rabid Chimerics, or, as the case may be, Tri's mercurial moods.

Soon the sounds of the terrified citizenry faded entirely, as they too began to listen to the distant clank, clank, CLANK!

Just as the sounds reached their crescendo, when the source of the calamity was barely out of sight, all fell silent. Until a slender, undulating tentacle rose up from behind a nearby railcar. Its articulating claws flexed in mid-air before clamping down, savagely deforming the metal underneath to pull the rest of itself up and into the light. As it did, a new sound entered the ears of Serpent and hapless civilian alike: wild, frenzied laughter.

For a moment, the deranged woman hung there, cackling to herself as the four mutant appendages sprung from her back held her aloft. Then, descending like a hunting falcon toward the source of the noise that had summoned her here, she struck.

 

[simj26]

Kisara

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Park, Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Kisara

Vincit Qui Se Vincit

There they were. Their words crawled into her mind, crawling, seeping darkness. And from the deep dark that surrounded her, a beast emerged from the horde, stepping forth, as if proclaiming itself as the alpha of the pack.

The many who are one.

She took a step back, her breath caught in her throat. It was rare to say that one had never experienced fear before, but Kisara McDowell was one of those rare persons. She had never backed down from a fight, she had, always, a burning violet flame in her heart that burned away the dark of fear.

And yet, now, faced with the beast in front of her, and the sprawling dark that seemed to drown her own mind, the echoing calls of the horde ringing through every corner of her consciousness, she felt a shudder run through her body. Was this what it felt like to be afraid? Was this what it meant to be weak?

Kisara McDowell, King of Monsters. What a stupid name. What a stupid title. So overconfident, so naive. She couldn't even face down an actual monster. What kind of Ace was she? Did she even deserve what Bash gave to her? Did she even deserve him?

Her fists clenched. The violet fire sparked. The fear was set ablaze by hate, not for the horde in front of her, not for the stalking beast that now circled her, but for her own weaknesses, and for her own foolishness to assume that she was even worth such a title in the first place, and for all the stupid decisions she had made burned away at the clawing dark. The roar of the flame swept over the crowding voices in her mind, just as the roar that rose from her throat washed over the voiceless crowd.

Her left arm exploded with crackling unstable energy, surrounding it with a blaze of power. She clasped her other hand onto the blaze, gripping the energy tight, and dragged it forwards, like a whetstone, molding it, fashioning it into a long blade. She swept the blade across her.

"Many or one, I'm cutting you down to zero."

The challenge issued, she threw her hand forwards and fired three beams at the leader of the pack, and charged straight in, blade at the ready.

Elenion Aura

 

[Misuteeku]

Sang-Cheol Man

http://

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

Lower Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Sang-Cheol

Outbreak

An unwelcoming sound came from a passing by helicopter. The light emitted from within illuminated Sang-Cheol's surroundings before him. It was all just to tell him that this place wasn't a museum nor a ruin. It was a crypt, a crypt filled with thousands of bodies. Surprise shook Sang-Cheol, more about the fact that he couldn't smell the sheer rot of the corpses, but he attributed that more from his sense of smell being destroyed by his constant experiments. For now, he had more pressing concerns.

Such as the black cloud that consisted of a murder of crows. "Fuck." How many were there? Tens? Thousands? Maybe even more? Whatever the case, Sang-Cheol wasn't going to find out as he picked up the child and immediately sprinted away.

The beats of every crow's wings was starting to come his way. Unfortunate souls that stood in their way scream and were subsequently silence in the next moment. Unlike those deadbeats, Sang-Cheol wasn't going to follow the damned into the grave.

With his remaining free hand, flame was conjured forth from his fingertips. He needed to restrain the strength of his flames. If he wasn't careful enough, the flames might burn down everything in the museum in his effort to fend off the crows. Just enough strength to ward off the crows while keeping it to a minimum to prevent it from burning down everything.

"Get a load of this!" In one quick burst, Sang-Cheol released a burst of fire over his head. It lingered in the air as it immediately fire to the feathers of the crows and disorient them. Directing his focus back to what was in front of him, Sang-Cheol spotted a hiding place. There weren't many places left, but Sang-Cheol wasn't particularly picky in the moment.

Spotting in an opening in a wall, Sang-Cheol immediately ran through. Ducking inside, he tumbled with the child his arms. Sitting straight up, he prepared to release another gush of flames if there were anymore crows that decided to pursue him.
Elenion Aura thebigfella

 

[Roda the Red]

CHARLIE HUGHES

CS Link

SCENE:

Outbreak

LOCATION:

The Docks, Central District

PARTICIPANTS:

Charlie, Hitoshi

Outbreak

"Hmm, I suppose...Still, this is so strange" Said Charlie, gently grasping the tip of his chin. "When I asked before, everyone was crying about the dangers at the docks, they were all so terrified" He took a moment to look around the vicinity some more. The serene sound of the water splashing against the sandy masonry, the sight of people hard at work, not uttering a single word of panic nor showing any sort of distress in their body language, and the overall general calmness of the environment made it seem like the forspoken danger was but a fabrication of the confused masses. "Maybe we should just check some other area, there's a lot of people in danger as we speak"

However, suddenly in a display that felt nearly territorial, the workers' behavior shifted drastically as they became increasingly more aware of the pair's presence. Their behavior was explosive, a night and day difference to what was just moments ago what felt like a well-oiled machine of unphased laborers. None of them uttered a single word, but they all started to act in unison, gestured that seemed to share some sort of pattern.

"What? Are you guys okay? Please don't be afraid, we don't want any trouble!" He took a step forward, extending his arms to the sides wide in a rythm that mimicked his words. "We heard about some rampaging chimeric HPs in the area, we just wanna make sure they don't hurt anyone!" His pleas for answers fell on deaf ears, the workers continuing their non-verbal struggles. Puzzled about their behavior, the rookie turned to his senior. "Aniki, do you think these people could be affected by the chimerics, somehow?" It was the only conclusion that he could come up with, it was the only logical connection that he could find out from the confusing situation. He looked at the at the workers once again, this time putting more focus on those signaling to their mouths. "Could it be...that they can't talk?"

Spoiler: Notes & Notifs

Tempering status: Half-Activation

Nearby: joshuadim