Fantasy The Story of Valenzia

[TheImmortalDeity]

Back, eons ago, a great war between the gods shook the world. Vienna, the Goddess of Darkness and mother of all beasts fought against The Twelve Divine and their holy city. The earth quaked, volcanoes erupted, and tsunamis clashed, permanently shifting the land as a thousand-year war was waged. Eventually, Vienna was defeated, shattered along the landscape and embedded into the soil. The Twelve Divine, weakened, were forced into a long slumber, unable to destroy Vienna entirely. Both sides, however, left a legacy. Their creations.

The Twelve Divine birthed all that was deemed good in the world: humans, elves, dwarves, and the various other races that were to be respected as "heroes". Vienna, in her rage and anguish, gave life to terrible beasts, mindless monsters that were created solely to destroy. These two sides were fated to collide, turmoil and discontent constantly brewing between them. Born from different beliefs, it is the duty of the heroes to destroy all that is evil and protect mankind from their heinous existence! That's, at least, what the good guys have to say.

Your story takes place in the continent of Valenzia, a land filled with corruption, war, and most of all, fear. As an evil-doer, your life is seen as a threat to all that is peaceful in the world. One way or another, the populace of light has disowned you, and you are now a menace to society. Captured and imprisoned in Camp Firstep, it is only a matter of time before your fate is decided.

So, what will it be? Will you take the path of evil? Succumb to your heritage? Or will you be an outlier, following a path of your own creation altogether? Whatever it is, your path ahead will be forged by your decision. Be careful not to die an early death.

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Rune
​

“Keep moving,” came a gravelly command from behind.

Blurry-eyed, Rune felt as the tip of a sword dug into his shoulder blade. His body felt sluggish, and as he continued down the rocky steps of a prison stairwell, he felt closer and closer to losing consciousness. There were two guards, one holding a torch to lead the way while the other followed behind Rune, a sword held to his back, prepared to kill the vampire on the spot if he tried anything funny. The boy’s hands were bound by rope, and even the slightest jostle earned him an additional stabbing. This was purgatory.

Soon enough, the three reached the bottom floor. Three separate jail cells made up its interior, bars of iron rowed up against each other, risking to break off due to corrosion. The room, while relatively large, was dim, with only a few sources of light here and there. On the outside of the jail cells was a single table facing towards them with a light fixture above it, holding a single gem with a gentle, luminous white glow. Rune assumed this was where the soldiers sat during their posts.

As he admired the tasteless decoration, he stopped, only to be slashed from behind, a bit of blood spurting onto the ground beside him. “Who told you to stop?” asked the same soldier from before, kicking his boot into the freshly made wound. Rune fell, unable to stand back up. “Damn monsters are all the same. Finn, help me move this one to his cell, will ya?”

The other soldier nodded, using his free hand to grab Rune by the hair, dragging him to the jail cell furthest back from the staircase. Once the soldier with the sword unlocked the door, Finn threw the boy in, closing the door quickly behind him. Perhaps the soldier had noticed Rune’s glare, which prompted him to speak. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the beast that got caught. Now, how about you sit tight with the rest of this filth before the executioner gets here. M’kay?” With that, Finn walked over to the lone table, sitting himself down and extinguishing the torch he held.

As Rune laid on the dirty cobblestone, the others were able to get a better look at his appearance. He was young, possibly in his late teens. He had messy black hair that was matted with dirt. His attire was composed of tattered cloth, which was the staple of the inmates in the Firstep Camp’s prison, and a majority of his exposed skin was covered in scars. As he craned his neck to get a better look at the others around him, his vision became blurry, and he was only able to make out five silhouettes.

Master, he thought.

“Help me . . .”

 

[LokiPokie]

Mne
..​

A soft and rhythmic sound of chafing fabric had quietly underlain the entrance of fresh blood into the prison, but it was only now more easily heard as its source wrenched itself from the corner of the cell and landed in short sight of the newcomer. Cocooned in a transparent film, the wriggling body raged against its constraints and screamed at the pool of bodily fluids that rippled around Rune.

“VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY!”

Such violent gyrations sent blood splattering across the cell. This screeching inmate was desperately fighting against the weave restraining them like a fish breaking off a line. Surely, such an obnoxious prisoner would justify swift punishment from the guard.

“DE MMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

There were certainly some means of binding the raw, wretched voice of the nameless waler, a tool at the warden’s disposal that would perhaps restore a somber silence to the room - a muzzle even. Finn just picked at his fingernails disinterestedly though, which seemed to only invigorate the prisoner’s hysteria further. Now Rune was to be made complicit in this rebellion once he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, and the shrieker was momentarily muffled as they used the bite as leverage to thrust their feet closer to the door. Dissatisfied with the distance traveled, they would continue this tactic until they finally reached the exit. It was this prisoner’s fourth escape attempt, and possibly the second most successful.

 

[AI10100]

Allie Gival

​

It hadn't been long since Allie had arrived in the prison but she certainly wasn't happy, not like the others were anyway. Though she was definitely an odd sight among the prisoners— dirty and dressed in rags as she may be, it was readily apparent that she was wholly human. As far as she knew, she was the only human among all of them. It wasn't like she could attempt to ask any of them about it, considering they had placed a cloth around her mouth to prevent her from speaking and her hands bound behind her back. All necessary precautions of course; if she was able to move or speak, she might be able to devise a way to get out using magic; however unlikely it may be.

She shifted uncomfortably in her position, the metallic clangs of her binds felt grating to her ears. It wrapped around her wrists in a way where each movement scratched against her skin and she had no way of relieving the itch that was forming on them. The sheer audacity of them to put her in such old and rusted bindings. Then again, she wouldn't have preferred a rusted axe to take her neck off.

Her attention was quickly grabbed by the voices of the guards carrying over to their cell, their footsteps and voices slowly growing louder by the second. She turned her attention to the guards before lowering her gaze to the newcomer prisoner as he was thrown inside the jail and the gate quickly shut. Perhaps that would have been the prime time to escape; though, body slamming an armed guard while she was bound didn't exactly sound like the brightest idea.

Something at the back of her mind told her it definitely was but she quickly extinguished that thought.

Their new companion looked up at them, she could clearly see the scars adorning his skin and for a moment, she saw something else in place of the new prisoner. She blinked and it passed. He called out for help but before she could even look at the others, maybe gesture to them to take off her bounds to let her help, their very restrained prison-mate wriggled out of his corner and towards the gate. Towards the new one.

Her nose crinkled as blood began to splatter across the cell but thankfully very minimal fluids flew towards her. She pressed herself further against the wall as he continued to wriggle desperately towards the closed gate. It was a useless waste of energy, in her opinion, but she couldn't relay her thoughts. Very unfortunate, she knows.

She clanked her metal bindings against the wall twice to catch anyone else's attention, sparing a gaze at Finn who seemed more interested in staring into nothingness than paying attention to them. Allie hoped that some of her fellow prisoners would at least get the message that she needed help out of those bounds and she was already mentally preparing herself for her first interaction with these... monsters.

 

[Lo Mayn]

Aerline Ceto

​

Shutter. Shutter. Shutter. “Oh God,” He shuttered, violent and untethered, and his groan. The type of guttural groaning one would expect from a dying body. Which wasn’t far from the truth for Aerline. I’m dying. He was convinced.

Like many other so-called monsters, Aerline wore the reward of his title on his skin. He possessed scars, and they were deep across every piece of his tough skin. Along the way to this dungeon, they stripped his chest bare, leaving him with dirty rags for pants, and bound both his wrist and ankles with robust chains and cuffs. Not only that, they skimped on his water portions, bringing him to the edge of dehydration. One of the leading causes of death for Merfolk, Aerline was sure of it.

The large figure was curled into a pathetic ball. He swore his flaccid skin was falling off his chalk bones. His head was bashed to fleshy chunks, mush, nothing but mush. Scrapping the harsh ground with his nails to edge the booming pain of his migraine further and further away, only for it to rubber-band back to the center of his brain. His mouth a desert, his tongue turned to sand then spilled from his mouth. Aerline’s perception of time had faded away. Time is not linear, and lives are not lived once, but over and over and over again each and every moment you breathe. Life envelopes and pain impresses, pulling Aerline down into the depth of himself. Drown. Drown. Dry drowning. Soon, he thought, it’ll be over. He repeated this to himself as he always did when the torment became overwhelming. Though it wasn’t exactly comforting, not every time anyways. It was usually more impatient waiting. Sometimes, just sometimes, when he wasn’t completely embarrassed to consider it, Aerline believed it would be a pleasant end.

When the keys buckled and the cell door swung open, sentience returned timidly to Aerline. His eyes opened slowly to the dim light of the cell for there was a new prisoner. More importantly, the guards were active. Aerline didn’t care much for the limp pathetic body of the vampire as he impulsively crawled to the front. Water. He just needs water.

Suddenly, there came the incessant screeching from one of his fellow inmates. The indiscriminate screaming that Aerline had almost become accustomed, yet still hated. “Oh, give it a fucking rest already!” he yelled, raspy and strained, through dry chapped lips at the vicious creature as it lurched and chewed on the new inmate. Disgusting, he thought. If he had the strength, he would’ve kicked it fresh from the body. But what did it matter when they all were going to die anyways? His eyes escaped from the scene and surveyed what bit of the room he could see. The lone table. The lone guard.

“Water,” he spoke aimlessly to the room. “I need water.”

The problem of being part Merfolk was always needing water; the problem of being part Human was that they always died slowly. Aerline hoped the guards wouldn’t let him die before they had the satisfaction of beheading him, but nothing could be expected of the heartless guards. Behind Aerline, an inmate clanked against the wall, and the sound echoed through his head. More noise. He flipped onto his back to see the source, and when he found the bounded Allie, the weight of his pain shined through the deathly glare he gave her.

 

[Arvios]

Mallus

Near the corner of the cell lay a motionless lump on the cold stone floor, one the size of a toppled stool, though in the odd shape of an oversized horseshoe. Anyone unable to see in this dim setting might mistake it for a deformity in the rocky foundation had they not noticed the silent, steady breaths of his rising chest, with his eyes staring at the wall lifelessly as if defeated a hundred times over. Or the fact that the kobold was hog tied, both claws tied to his feet as if to make the smallest available shackles applicable for the miniature creature. He had remained in this position since he had ricocheted from the wall much earlier after being thrown in brutally, the laugh of the guards still hauntingly fresh in his mind when they processed him into oversized rags. He had recognized that these scraps of cloth were likely the last thing that previous executees had garnished, an anonymous legacy of blood and death through the stains that now adorned him.

Normally such a thought might invite fear into Mallus, but the humiliation of his capture and arrival had cut his pride much deeper. As a kobold, the bruises that had been left on his red, smooth scales would grow again as he healed over time. He was, after all, a magnificent specimen, a creature branching all the way back to the Ascended Dragon, Raulthraxx. But the wounded ego, the burden of shaming his tribe to such an extent as becoming a prisoner of his enemy, not even using his life to edge his kind an inch closer to victory over the humans in battle… It was something that eventually caused him to stop thinking, ignoring the yells and pleas and rattling from the other prisoners.

Simply put, it was too much to bear.

As his mind continued to recede into an infinite nothingness, the opening of the gate was the one thing that finally triggered a reaction out of him; a slow turn of the neck allowed Mallus to see the newest addition to the collection of prisoners, though the kobold didn’t speak or display an emotional response. He simply stared and provided a delayed sigh, studying what appeared to be a rather young looking vampire. Could his fate have been strung for failure as painfully as his had been?

The sudden lunge from the shrieker — as Mallus had nicknamed him — is what forced a jumpstart to his numbed stimuli, providing a shade of tampered life back to the core of his soul. The sounds and actions of everyone else in the cell became more focused; ignoring the fact of irony about how the vampire was on the receiving end for the sake of leverage, Mallus felt the warm blood that was splattered over his scales, contrasted by the bitter cold of the underground. He smelled the unique scent of drying river meat, emanating from an overly dramatic merman. But what caught his attention the most was a gagged and chained human just ahead of him. Was the mouthpiece really on the right prisoner? If anything, he reasoned, the shrieker should be the one the guards would want to shut up.

Mallus makes it painfully obvious that he’s studying the woman as he hesitantly worms his way closer to her, questioning why a human was here in the first place.

 

[NyxNightmare]

• Astrea
• Kyan

• 
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Astrea Yorkshire

  "The Genderbending Ninja"

  
  
  Interacting: Rune TheImmortalDeity & Mne LokiPokie / Mentioned: Allie AI10100 Aerline Lo Mayn & Mallus Arvios
  
  The strong scent of mildew filled Astrea's nostrils as the armed guards led her through the dank hallway. It was the first moment she regretted having such a keen sense of smell. Tears stained her cheeks, and her usual lavender-tinted hair appeared a darker grey. How did things end up like this? As much as she wanted to lock away all the painful memories, Kyan wouldn't let her. Kyan was the demon she had sold her soul to in hopes of fulfilling her wish. He had forbidden her to utter his actual name, and thus Kyan was born. It was the name of an explorer from a novel her friend used to read to her all the time growing up.
  
  The only time Astrea got to meet Kyan was within the dream realm. Other times, he resided within her mind space until he was able to take over her body. Astrea made the mistake of revealing her predicament publicly to her village before ending up in jail. This time she would not make that mistake again. She was only Astrea Yorkshire. Nothing more than a stray werewolf.
  
  The first step to becoming more robust is to transmute your pain into a source of power, he had stated. If only she had inherited Kyan's courage along with the pact she made with him. But no, she was still the same coward that laid motionless in bed for years on end. Mobility was not the salvation she thought it would be. Perhaps it would have been better to die in that pathetic state of hers.
  
  Cease those morose thoughts. Astrea could feel Kyan's voice brush the deepest parts of her mind. You're not going to waste my goodwill, are you? That wasn't our deal.
  
  I know, I'm sorry. I'll try harder. Astrea clenched her fists, further tightening her restraints. As the guards neared her prison cell, it became pretty apparent that she would not have the luxury of a private one. They tossed her in like a lamb chop to a pack of starving wolves, only from what she could tell, nobody bit in here (although that notion would soon change). Feverishly darting her eyes around the cell, she noticed only one human among the group, a reserved woman with long white locks. Despite her tattered clothing, underneath all the grime was a gorgeous woman. If only Astrea could be half as beautiful as she.
  
  On the outside, Astrea resembled a human, save for her heterochromatic eyes that were lavender and golden. Many werewolves had golden irises, so others assumed as much when glancing at her. The heaven's had not blessed her with her mother's curves, as she was dainty at best. The rest appeared to be monsters of some sort. One being was even tied up like a hog you would roast over the fire. Was he to be their only source of food?? Even if she was now one of them, Astrea couldn't bring herself to feel safe. Could Kyan whisk her away? If so, he didn't confirm nor deny the thought.
  
  Astrea had little time to closely observe the rest of the inmates as the guards threw a teenage boy into the cell right after her. Or at least, he looked as such. He was already seeping blood from his open wounds, and his sorry state only escalated as a nearby prisoner profusely sank their teeth into him. Gasping in horror, she wanted to plea for the creature to stop. She dared her body to move, but she only shook in fear. She couldn't even comprehend the commotion occurring around her. Why was nobody else concerned for this boy?? The spattered blood added to the filthy painting on her clothes, causing her to flinch. No, no! I don't belong here. Please don't hurt me...please don't hurt me...I'm not a monster...I'm not-
  
  Selfish little thing, aren't you? I thought you wanted to protect your kind? I thought you were going to try harder. If you're going to act like this, don't waste my time and just die already. The frigidity of Kyan's words cut into her skin harder than her binds. Out of everyone in her life, Kyan was the only one to believe she held potential. He took a chance on her.
  
  Not wanting to disappoint her savior, Astrea hobbled over and headbutted the wriggling monster. "S-stop it; you're hurting him! H-He'll pass out with this much blood loss. P-please..." Astrea's body trembled still, her gaze anything but commanding. For all she knew, she could be next. But Kyan was right; she couldn't allow a monster to torture this human, a minor at that!
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  "K yan" aka also Astrea Yorkshire

  "The Genderbending Ninja"

  
  Kyan knew he'd meet his end one day, but that day was a far-off one, somewhat to his dismay. Although his father had carved out his destiny, Kyan's true purpose was unclear to even himself. Therefore, he spent many days in the human realm. Humans were weak creatures but entertaining nonetheless—a way to bide away his time until he found the answers he was seeking. That was when he came across Astrea, the textbook definition of a damsel in distress. Life had dealt her a terrible hand, but many others carried the same hopeless fate. Kyan didn't take pity on her soul, no. Nor did he find amusement in her suffering. So then, what made Astrea so special?
  
  Nothing. Kyan could have run into any pleading soul that day; she merely happened to cross his path by random. Some might call it fate's doing, but Kyan was an avid nonbeliever. The concept of fate was nothing more than a way to ease the minds of those who suffered in the mortal plane. Of course, some all-powerful being in the universe has a plan for you! Everything you've lost up until now is for a reason, to lead you onto your destined path! Kyan would never place such blind trust into anything or anyone.
  
  Creating a pact with a mortal was something he hadn't done before. He never needed to. To knock it off his list, anyone would do. Kyan went into this process with the mindset of cultivating this woman's powers and slowly consuming her soul. And now, she was to be culled before she was ripe. How saddening...
  
  
  

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Rune

The frigid, dusted floor felt like a gift to Rune. Motionless, he enjoyed the moment of respite as the guard, Finn, went back to his post. All he needed was a second to collect his thoughts. Beyond the searing pain and his elusive consciousness, he was still a vampire, and furthermore, he was a scholar. A being that has lived his fair share of experiences and uncovered secrets that many dreamed of. That's right, he thought. With my skill and intellect, I'll find a way to escape this place. Then I can find her.

Right as his courage began to take hold, and his muscles ached to move upward, a jarring pain wrenched itself into his shoulder, digging deep enough to hit bone. First, there was surprise, at least enough that any undead was capable of mustering, followed by a hint of perplexity. Uncertain of what he was faced with, all his mind was capable of understanding was that a cocooned freak had bitten him. Yes him, the vampire, and used that as a means of locomotion. Not only this, but he executed the step time after time until he had properly flung himself near the locked cell door. Screeching and floundering, the entity whipped up a cloud of dust with their manic display until a splatter of red ended up in Rune's left eye.

His patience had run thin. How was it that he, Rune Blackheart, a proud monster that had existed much longer than any other creature here, had been put into such a laughable state? The valuable blood that he had accumulated over the last few days had now gone to waste, pooled on the mucky cobblestone; unusable. It was enough to light a fire in his non-beating heart. Painstakingly, Rune pressed his forehead against the grimy floor, leveraging himself to his knees without the use of his hands. His body, bereft of fluid, screamed at his impromptu movement, but he was done listening to the rambling, the clanking, the complaining, and the shifting. Everything had been taken from him. What now was he capable of other than venting his frustration on the subject of his ire?

Once he had forced his way through his buckled knees and stood tall, at an even 5'4", he watched in contempt as the wretched bug cosplayer was headbutted by an interfering human. Rune waited until the human had moved a few steps back, noticing Astrea's body shivering, before lunging at the cocooned mess before him. A swift kick was sent into Mne's side, followed by another and another. Even Rune knew that the odd foil surrounding them had absorbed a majority of the force, not that there was much weight in his attacks, to begin with, given his enfeebled state. And yet, there was a cursed satisfaction that ran through his mind upon each impact. It felt like all the terrible happenstances that took place before this event was being evaporated.

Huff. Huff. Huff.

The tingle of his chest rising and falling left him breathless as he gasped for air. His head pounded to an irregular rhythm, his sight becoming jostled and disoriented. This was it, huh? His primal urges, the vampiric cravings were beginning to bubble from deep within. He felt disgusted by the feeling; the need to rely on living beings to preserve his immortality. And yet now, with his thoughts in shambles and his common sense wavering, a tint of flush crept on his cheeks. Rune was starving.

When was the last time I fed? he asked himself, darting his preying gaze across the room. Has it been a week? Two? All that he had saved up had been discarded within a matter of minutes. Now the wave of reality set in. He was fading. He felt it, clear as day. At first, his attention had rested on the noisy girl that had been bound. Their restricted movement made them an easy target, and yet he must not have been the only one to make this perception. The bundle of coals, or so he had thought, had been inching their way over to her. Rune knew better than to impose on the prey of another hunter, hog-tied or not.

Then, it fell onto the merfolk. There was a hint of a human scent that wafted from him, and yet as Rune's perception became heightened through his bloodlust, he saw the drained prune-like form of the man in all its glory. Their muscles hung tightly to their skin, and their lips were withered to a state of non-existence. Drinking from that is like trying to hold a feast over a crumb of bread. It wasn't worth the hassle. His attention then fell to the tightly bonded larva of a creature. There was no skin to be seen within that heap of rope and cloth, and after the lack of response from his initial attack, Rune doubted any good to come from feeding on a maniac of that level. Which left him with the other human girl.

They appeared frail, unable to swat away a fly. While his human self would have disregarded her out of kindness for her attempt at protecting him earlier, the husk of an unfeeling revenant had overtaken that portion of him long ago. Now all he saw was his most likely candidate for a decent meal. Slowly, rocking back and forth, Rune limped his way over to Astrea. His hand, covered in dirt and scars, struggled to be freed from his bonds and reach out for her, only for him to press up against her. Collapsing, he put all of his weight onto her, forcing both of them to the floor with a thud. Then, with the last of his strength, he rose his mouth to her neck, before biting into her.

His fangs had been dulled over time, the fragility of his existence wavering as the continuous stream of valuable blood exited his body. One bite wasn't enough, only leaving a small scratch on Astrea's neck. The second bite, however, dug deep into her flesh, pinching into the crevice between her collar bone and the nape of her neck. He intended to consume every last drop within her. It was after three mouthfuls that his body began to gradually regenerate, his previous wounds sewing themselves up. The trauma from before had begun to transform into euphoria, and before long, he had finished. Licking up the mark he had left on her, his hot breath clung to her neck, the seemingly young man now nestled against her. The bounds that had once constrained him were now made useless as his vampiric strength returned to him, and with his inhuman strength, he ripped his wrists free of their shackles. He then buried himself into her chest, unwilling to move from his newfound prey as his fingers curled into the dulled locks of her hair.

Yet, as he stayed near her, an unplaceable discomfort washed over him. Was that even possible for an undead? Slowly, Rune inched away, giving him enough room to peer at the one that, in technicality, saved him. His sight, for the first time since coming here, had finally become stable. Only then had he realized what he had done.

LokiPokie AI10100 Lo Mayn Arvios NyxNightmare

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Finn
[NPC]​

"Perfect!" Finn exclaimed, admiring his handiwork. It had taken quite a while, but with his expertise at wielding the blade, he had properly given himself a manicure. How marvelous it was, the flawless curvature of his nails, the circumference of a magnificently molded circle without a single edge to be seen. He blew on his hand, a few particles flying off as he beamed in pride. Without much to do in this noisy environment that was filled with despair and decay, it was the smaller things that brought joy to this otherwise monotonous job. He smirked. It was a matter of time before he was given a promotion.

"Oi, Finn, you see that?" his colleague called out to him.

"Huh?" The soldier raised his head, watching as the prisoners in cell three were, quite literally, eating each other alive. He shivered. "Monsters really will be monsters. They don't think twice about eating each other to survive. It's a wonder how we could ever lose battles to mindless things like that. What's your point, Kevin?" With a raised brow, he gave the other soldier a weary look.

"It ain't just that Finn, look. One of them escaped their bonds." They pointed to Rune, the one that had just finished snacking on one of the other inmates. "Shouldn't we do something about-" Right as Kevin was finishing his sentence, some shouts were heard from the stairs leading outside. From what Finn could tell, it was the sound of a struggle. "Oi, the fuck is happening up there? Should we check it out?"

Finn shook his head. "You go check it out. I'll keep my eyes on the prisoners here. I had a feeling we should've tied up that freak a little more, kid or not. At the end of the day, they're still monsters."

"Are you sure?" Kevin questioned. "What if they try and attack you?"

"You don't gotta worry about that. The rest of them are still all chained up with nowhere to go. Not to mention I have my trusty blade, Gwinivieve here in case any of them try to act up. You just check on things and report back to me, okay? I'll be finished up here by the time you come back down." His words were followed by a nod from Kevin, the soldier picking up speed as he headed up the stairs and out of sight.

With a grunt, Finn hoisted himself off his wooden stool. "Damn beasts making me do extra work." He fumbled for the keys on the wall, inspecting each one until he got to the set for cell three. Nonchalantly, he walked to the cell door, unlocking it and stepping in, making sure to shut it tightly behind him. He had his blade drawn and ready, eyeing down every inmate before taking a step into the cesspool of maggots before him.

"Before any of you get any funny ideas," he started, scrunching his nose at the smell of the damp, rarely cleaned interior, "I'll cut you down immediately if any of you even make a peep, you hear me?" Steadily, he crept his way towards Rune, his beloved Gwinivieve pointed to the back of their skull. He fumbled around his pockets until he pulled out a set of shackles. "No sudden movements, you hear? This will only take a second." With that, he began to try and subdue Rune.

LokiPokie AI10100 Lo Mayn Arvios NyxNightmare

 

[LokiPokie]

Mne
​

"AAAAAAAAAAAAhaaaaa... Haaaaaaah!" Mne yelled out.

What depth of emotion this creature expressed through the intricacy in their movement! Every exhaustive effort they made to encroach upon the entry of this cell was to elaborate such sorrow, ennui, and anger. A certain choreography could be attributed to the crawl from one corner to the next. Incorporating the mandibular motion as a mode of travel was nothing short of prodigal innovation. It was truly an exceptional prestige for the vampire to share this pas de deux with one such as Mne. Still, the artistry of this all was lost upon the entry of a novice headbutt! Shallow! Derivative! The adjudicators were disinterested. So Mne fell into obscurity as another wretch by the door-side.

When Finn opened the door, it struck Mne in the center of their skull, where some so superstitious might say is the place of the third eye. This was just where Mne's sinuses were, and so they dry heaved onto Finn's feet. This was not the first time that they had spilled gastric juices on the young, handsome guard. Finn had some hands. Mne imagined these hands around their throat, or maybe this was a traumatic memory. It was difficult to tell the difference.

 

[AI10100]

Allie Gival

The noise had certainly gotten some attention— though none too welcome. She let out a huff through her nostrils, leaning her head back on the wall while wondering what else she could do. Everyone had been riled up, after all, this might be a good opportunity to at least get out of her bindings. Her eyes caught the lump of rocks from earlier begin to move and crawl towards her and that was when Allie realized that it hadn't been some poor unmanaged formation but rather a kobold. It didn't seem to be doing it out of ill-intent, but rather something of curiosity. An expression she knew quite well. However, the relative peace in their little jail cell did not last.

Their newfound cellmate walked— rather stumbled— to the other newcomer who Allie had assumed might not have been wholly human either. After all, a human being sent here must have been one of great significance, someone who should be silenced as discreetly as possible. In any case, the boy leaned up towards her and dug her teeth in. Ah, a vampire, rang in Allie's head, finding herself more intrigued than fearful. The starved vampire now filled, he had no trouble getting his restraints off.

And that was what caused Finn to head inside, warning them to not make a move. The action caused the gate to slam on their desperate cellmate, making him double over and vomit all over the guard's shoes as he tried to, once again, restrain the vampire with his sword pointed right at his skull. For a moment, Allie imagined that it wouldn't be too useful to a newly fed vampire but Allie didn't worry for him.

Under the cover of the noise and chaos, Allie moved herself up against the wall until she was semi-squatting. She stretched her arms downward. She had one chance to not mess this up or else Finn would notice immediately. She grit her teeth— or rather the rag on her mouth— and hopped while pushing her arms down and forward. It was only thanks to the wall behind her that she didn't fall backward and she quickly sat down, warily looking at Finn but he seemed to be more focused on the vampire and the wriggling vomiting mess.

She moved her hands up and tugged at her gag until she was free and let the cloth drop to her neck. She could worry about that later.

Making a swift motion and muttering something under her breath, she cast Entangle around Finn's feet, carefully avoiding any of the other inmates lest she incurs more of their wrath. As soon as Finn was at least momentarily incapacitated, she would make her way to the kobold, making attempts to loosen his binds enough for him to move better than just a wriggle.

TheImmortalDeity Arvios

 

[Arvios]

Mallus

Mallus’ movements continued as the newest member of the club feasted on one of their own, his line of sight partially paying a short glance or two as he continued inching towards his target. It was incredible how he didn’t seem to realize how the inside of the cell may have been even more dangerous than the outside. Considering that the girl had attempted to protect the vampire, yet he still managed to pierce her like a beaten dog does to a new good intending master… It seemed he would have to preserve his presence if he wished to live another day, this he knew for a fact. But his curiosity had become entangled in an allure that had grown more ravenous over time.

For the majority of his life, he heard tales of the enemy of his kind from his father and siblings out in the war front, but had not bared witness to them until the moment of his greatest most arrogant mistake to date. And now, the opportunity to study them for himself was finally at hand. There was obviously a squirm of excitement in his worm-like movements, but whether it was fascination or disdain was yet to be seen.

However, this opportunity was soon cut short. The heavily oxidized hinges of the cell creak open once more as the guard steps in with sword in hand and an open threat heavy in the air. Mallus simply glares at the overconfident man, thinking of how he would be able to retaliate if given the chance. But as it had quickly become apparent, the pale screecher seemed to be the root of chaos in this cell; not long after entering, a thick glob of bodily fluids jettisoned to Finn’s boots, as if on cue to invite a reaction out of the guard.

Just barely within earshot, Mallus notices that the woman he was inching towards recognized an opportunity to act, freeing herself partially and unbinding her mouth, muttering… something. After studying her for another moment, his eyes darted from corner to corner as if studying his options. Perhaps he should do the same. Time was short; he had to have his vengeance. Yes, it was something that he was able to almost taste…

With a new sense of vigor, the young kobold hip thrusts with speed towards the distracted guard. It wasn’t until he was a meter away that he noticed something restraining the man’s ankles. Just a moment after Finn sees him, Mallus flips himself belly down, and with a great deal of hidden strength, manages to hop up at the height of Finn’s arm. Such a shame he didn’t reach his neck or face for a quick kill that only a descendant of Raulthraxx could execute. Instead, Mallus’ sharp teeth clamp onto the forearm that was wielding Gwinivieve, then with his powerful jaw muscles, yanks him down with all his strength in hopes of toppling him down like a rotting tree in a windstorm. As he did so, he tightened his grasp, tasting blood in hopes of loosening the sword towards someone capable of wielding it.

 

[Lo Mayn]

Aerline Ceto​

In the face of the absence of a reply and in spite of the chaos that ensued within the cell, Aerline fell back into his mental fog, ignoring the thumps and cries of his cellmates. Still, he watched Finn and Kevin, hoping they’d bring him even just a drop of water. Instead, Kevin, unsure, went to investigate a noise above, while Finn made for the cell. Instinctively, Aerline sat up as the door creaked open, slamming into the face of the shrieker, purposefully he imagined. If the cell was lively before, the moment Finn entered, it became a party.

He watched Finn shuffle for new cuffs for the freshly fed vampire, something probably useless given his renewed strength. At the same, movement from further in the cell caught his attention. Again, the human was up to something. Freeing their hands then their mouth, then came the magic.

Aerline had seen a plethora of magic in his time, yet it always managed to surprise him. Finn’s feet became entangled, and the bag of rocks made use of the opportunity. Launching from the floor to sink its teeth into the man, and sending Gwinivieve sliding towards Aerline.

At first he laughed, deriving a little pleasure from the minor justice served in front of him. These humans, they treated them like animals. Throwing them into a cage with nothing more than pathetic rags, leaving them to starve, to die of thirst. Now, foolishly stepping inside, his “fair trial” has left Finn with a life sentence.

Looking outside the cell, Aerline knew they wouldn’t be satisfied with just Finn’s death. The rest would free themselves, and run to their deaths. Fools, he wanted to say. Yet when Aerline felt the weight of his cuffs and the dried blood on his hands, he knew there was no bigger fool than himself. That’s why he was here. Stuck waiting for his death either by the hand of an executioner or by withering to nothing himself. He considered the long nights, the torture. Those whose lives dealt them a terrible hand from the start to the end. Perhaps, he was always going to end up here with his life taken from him by no choice of his own.

Gwinivieve’s weight was hefty yet it revitalized him, the steel breathing new life into his dry lips. His first steps were shaky, but as he looked down at the screaming struggling Finn, his hands steadied just enough for the blade to cut cleanly through. Judge, Jury, and executioner, the death sentence was served.

Finn’s head, eyes open and mouth agape, fell with a pathetic thud, as the blood from the sword dripped onto the cell floor.

For the first time, raising his head, Aerline took a good look at his cellmates. Nodding at mage if she was looking. Then he glanced at the vampire, one who had already taken a bite and had the strength to do gods’ know what else. “I won’t have a problem with you,” he said, “if you don’t with me.” Finally, he investigated the kobold creature in front of him. “I’m going to try to free you, so don’t give me trouble.” Using the sword as a crutch to kneel, he crept closer to grab Finn’s keys. His breathing troubled and his mind thumping, he would try them all, hoping one would free the Kobold from his shackles.


Interacting: Arvios TheImmortalDeity AI10100 10100 | Mentioned (roughly): NyxNightmare LokiPokie

 

[TheImmortalDeity]

Rune

There was an unnerving silence in Rune's head as he held Astrea's unmoving figure. His mind felt sharp, a benefit from no longer feeling starved, which allowed the reality of his actions to set in. A waste of perfectly good livesto- he stopped himself, ashamed that was the first thought to fill his head. His position was much worse than that. Not only had he set a vile mood in the room, which he knew from the various wary glances shot his way from the other inmates, but he had also alerted the guard. It only took a small amount of time before he, yet again, felt the unwelcome chill of a blade pressed against his scalp.

Various scenarios played in his mind rapidly, with many outcomes turning out poorly in his favor. The bottom line, however, was that he couldn't let these simpletons capture him again. There was too much he had to accomplish for him to rot away in a cell. So, as Finn reached around for his keys, a small frost began to form around Rune's fingertips. Under his breath, he began an incantation, hardly audible to the others, and just as he was about to turn to face the soldier head-on, a puddle of bile began to pool under him. The vampire reflexively crinkled their nose in disgust, followed by a jettison of vines stretching from the cracks in the floor and wrapping around Finn's body, holding him in place.

Rune skedaddled away from the action quicker than a mouse escaping a cat, rushing to face his back to the wall and get a view of the showdown in all its glory. From the hip-thrusting lizard taking a bite out of Finn's arm to the unlucky loss of their weapon to the merfolk, Rune found it amazing how quickly things had escalated in a matter of seconds. What came as the most shocking outcome was the fish man's brutality. Wobbly and seemingly disoriented, they had hobbled to the bounded and helpless Finn, proceeding to grip him from the back of his head and force it to where Finn was staring at the floor, as to expose his neck, and then, without any hesitation, brought down their weapon and severed his spine.

Due to Aerline's malnourished state, it was not a clean decapitation. No, it took multiple strikes and sawing for the unsharpened sword to finally separate the skull from its owner, which was then quickly discarded, rolling uncannily next to Rune's feet. As an undead, it was true that Rune felt nothing as he gazed into the lifeless eyes of their captor, and yet a portion of him was incapable of not reminiscing of his life before death. Back when he, too, had aspirations and goals to fill with a lifeline that was all-too-short. His attention, however, quickly snapped back to Aerline as they addressed him callously.

It occurred to Rune that he, perhaps, got off on the wrong foot. Sure, he had possibly killed one of the other inmates in his drunken bloodlust, but they were a human anyway. Fragile and incapable of living long, to begin with. Not to mention, to him, it looked like there were quite a few members in this cell that weren't hesitant on ending the life of another. So why should he be a threat in any circumstance? He was, just like them, a fellow victim. To prove his point, he went on to speak, wiping the blood off his lips and leaving a red smear along his cheek.

"Ahem. Why yes, I have no qualms with you or anyone else in this room. So then, what exactly is our plan- wait, no. I suppose it's customary for strangers to introduce themselves when it comes to the etiquette of the living before asking requests of each other, correct? Then, before we make haste, I must accentuate that I am, indeed, a vampire. The title that I answer to is Rune Blackheart, but you may address me as Rune. Now, may I acquiesce the names of everyone else? Hopefully, by doing this, we can be at ease in each other's presence."

Unbeknownst to the others, while Rune was leaning against the wall, he had prepped himself to begin an incantation at any sign of hostility, his eyes darting from each member periodically. And, if only for a second, the vampire swore that he saw the lifeless form of Astrea twitch ever so slightly. In the end, however, he played it off as a trick of the mind. He was in quite a pickle, after all.

NyxNightmare Arvios AI10100 Lo Mayn LokiPokie

 

[AI10100]

Allie Gival

​

Everything happened so quickly that Allie barely had any time to process it. When the kobold shimmied his way out of his bindings just enough to leap up— an incredible height considering the fact that he wasn't even using his legs— and bite down on Finn's hand. His sword came crashing down onto the ground, blood gushing down his arm and to the ground. Allie quickly retreated a few steps back. Unfortunately, she wasn't exactly fit for close quarter combat so being anywhere near that sword's range was ideal, not at all. It was definitely not because of the man who picked up the sword, oozing the bloodlust they all needed to escape. He brought the sword down multiple times upon their guard, even after he was long dead, and Allie watched as the head rolled off into the ground and towards the vampire.

Well then...

Allie gave a nod back at the man, though surprise was still etched on her face. While she may have been trained, however little and pathetic the training was, for certain dungeoneering quests, Allie had never personally ever gone to one. Death was not something she was intimiately familiar with. She had just witnessed a murder. Allie's eyes landed on the only other woman in the cell. Well, maybe she had witnessed two murders in the scope of maybe three minutes. Before her mind could spiral in what seemed to be a panic attack at the implication that she had just been an accomplice to murder, she quickly rationalized it. They were going to get killed if they stayed longer in the cell. The guard was an asshole and Allie had thought of wringing his neck multiple times over the course of her stay in the jail. Necessary evils, yes?

The man with the sword had, thankfully, began to help the kobold while making sure that the vampire wasn't going to create more problems with them. For a moment, Allie had to collect herself. Logically, the safest bet was to simply be with these people. At least they all had something in common— being prisoners. Therefore, Allie decided to be as amicable as possible and hopefully she wouldn't be next on the chopping block for being a human amongst everyone else.

The vampire introduced himself as Rune Blackheart. It was akin to throwing a hammer into a mirror— shattering whatever mood had settled on the group. However, Allie agreed. A few introductions wouldn't cut much into their time and it wasn't like there were other guards to worry about at this current point of time.

"A pleasure to meet you, sir Rune. Though, I do wish it was in... better circumstances." Allie turned so that she was facing most of the others and gave a small bow of her head. "My name is..." She paused before raising a fist to her mouth and clearing her throat. "Sincerest apologies. I go by the name of Allie Gival and I also hope that we continue to cooperate well together." She gestured towards the decapitated ex-guard of theirs. Everything that they had done had been spontaneous and, yet, their teamwork was rather effective. She had to give them all a credit for that. "I am aware that many of you have likely gotten to this conclusion, but yes, I am human. Though, unfortunately, one who has been abandoned by the very system that sought to protect my kind. So tamper down your concerns for I have no intentions of betraying any of you."

Satisfied with her proclamation, she plowed on to the next action she wanted to undertake. "If I may, I would like to examine the condition of our fellow prisoner that you had so boldly assaulted, sir Rune." Allie was already moving towards their fallen cellmate. From what she could see, the woman seemed to have either died or was knocked unconscious and was on a march down to the afterlife. Once she was close enough, she would kneel beside the woman. She was no cleric, nor did she prepared any healing spells— regretfully— but she did know how to patch up wounds if they weren't too severe. Hopefully, the vampire hadn't overdone it.

 

[Arvios]

Mallus

Even as a kobold, the taste of warm blood was not one that Mallus experienced often. As someone whose role was that of a hunter rather than a prideful warrior, the last time that he remembered such a sensation was when he got into a scuffle with his eldest brother; after speaking ill of him, the largest and most prodigal of his siblings, tribe, and possibly even his entire home forest, had planted a solid fist into his jaw, one without restraint as if he were an enemy. It was this memory that flashed into his mind during the struggle, which only prompted the small lizard to clench his jaws with vigor, as if to prove that he could also be an elite warrior like him. Finn would squirm and throw awkward punches towards him, but Mallus' response was simply to tighten his body even further, his fangs sinking to the point that he felt both cloth and leather tear, dyeing them further with a shade of dark crimson.

While Mallus' eyes were clenched, he hears the sound of butchery, meat and sharpened steel meeting sloppily together; the unmistakable thud of a heavy round object rolling across the dirty cobblestone comes next. His eyes slowly peek open, seeing the merman over him, bloodied sword in hand. His words register quickly as the kobold agrees to the suggestion with a few quick nods, his lungs working overtime as his adrenaline still circulates in his system. While he works on the shackles, Mallus' eyes sharply follow the next form of movement in the corner of the cell, as if still in battle mode.

The vampire invites a formal atmosphere as he agrees with the waterborn man's proposal, introducing himself as "Rune Blackheart". The way he spoke had etiquette and poise, and Mallus couldn't help but wonder if all vampires were like this. Next, the woman he attempted to get closer to previously follows the request, calling herself "Allie Gival", while indeed confirming that she was human. Her following words about humanity disregarding her raises questions in the tiny lizards brain, but he decides that now wasn't the time to address them. After all, she just helped in freeing the lot of them, compared to the vampire who had lost control of his hunger and dove for the nearest thing that had a pulse.

As Allie makes her way to the unresponsive cellmate, Mallus hears a click of the lock, the merman successfully freeing him from the iron binds. The kobold immediately rolls on his belly and spins like a barrel, tearing the flesh that he was still latched onto, and swallowing loudly as he stands on his legs. With a lick and wipe of his maw, he nods to his savior as if to say "thanks", and continues with "I-I'm Mallus of the Raulthraxx Tribe," glancing at all of them. His raspy, high pitched voice pauses awkwardly, unsure of what else to say. After all, everyone should know about the Raulthraxx Tribe and what that meant. What more was there to add?

As if waiting for someone else to pick up where he left off — and picking up the example of the other two — he makes his way to the shrieker who gave everyone the opportunity of escape. He clawed at what restrained him, whatever it was, hoping that it would tear and set him free, just as he was a moment ago.

NyxNightmare LokiPokie Lo Mayn TheImmortalDeity AI10100

 

[NyxNightmare]

• Astrea
• Kyan

• 
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Astrea Yorkshire

  "The Genderbending Ninja"

  
  
  
  Darkness flooded Astrea's vision as tiny daggers pierced the supple skin of her neck. Was this how it would end? She had begun life as nothing more than a motionless husk, and now it would appear as if that was how she would meet her demise—leaving the world without having left any legacy.
  
  "rea..."
  "Astrea..."
  
  Huh? A familiar voice pulled her awake, and she was lying on what appeared to be miles of endless Marquina black marble. Small, golden balls of light fluttered around like fireflies, dimly lighting the area around her. Despite the light they emitted, the sky mimicked a starless night.
  
  "Rea, your naivety insults me. You would have died just now if I wasn't bound to you."
  
  Astrea sat up and sleepily gazed around her. The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere. She chose to let the jab roll over her. "Kyan? Is that you? Where are you? Where am I?"
  
  Suddenly, the voice was much closer. Cold breath tickled the nape of Astrea's neck, sending chills through her. She could make out the shadow of something monstrous on the ground before her, appearing and disappearing as the makeshift fireflies flitted about. Her eyes widened, and she tightly closed them, bringing her knees to her chest and holding them with her arms. Astrea could feel her heart beat faster and her throat dry as if she were a mouse about to be swallowed by a python.
  
  "You're refusing to look at me again, Rea? You still don't accept me. That hurts my feelings, you know?" There wasn't an ounce of dejection in Kyan's voice. Astrea already knew that his species wasn't capable of sadness, and he was only playing with her. She didn't amuse him with any words.
  
  After a few moments, Astrea felt a hand rubbing her head. Opening her eyes little by little, she saw a tall man dressed in a dark cloak of sorts. If it weren't for the reptilian-like tail peeking out from under and the golden horns on his head, she might have called him an attractive man.
  
  "I suppose humans would be more used to a form like this one, hmm? Tell me Rea, what should I do for you to gain my trust. Should we...kiss?"
  
  Astrea blushed and averted her gaze. "W-why would we do that?"
  
  "Why are you getting so worked up? Isn't that what humans do to feel closer to each other? If it helps you, I won't be opposed."
  
  Astrea's heart sank a bit against her will. Of course, it wasn't as if he wanted to kiss her, and she didn't want him to either, but the thought of being desirable was undeniably a happy feeling and something she never felt before and probably never would.
  
  Kyan knew everything Astrea thought and felt, although it didn't mean he could fully understand them. He caressed her cheek lightly, a comforting gesture he'd often witnessed among humans.
  
  "I cannot possess those emotions, and I have no use for them. Unfortunately, we do not have much time to work on your trust issues today. Do try to be warier of your situation in the future, and remember...you called out to me for help. Act like you give a damn and don't die so quickly."
  
  Astrea was taken aback by his words, but she couldn't find the courage to retort anything substantial. Instead, all she could do was watch as he walked off, consumed by the shadows, leaving her to ruminate alone.
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  "K yan" aka also Astrea Yorkshire

  "The Genderbending Ninja"

  
  
  
  Interacting: Rune TheImmortalDeity & Allie AI10100
  
  In the physical realm, Astrea's body began to glow and emit a bright flash within the cell, momentarily blinding anyone within an arm's reach. In her place now belonged to the body of a (HUNK) man, with protruding horns complemented with wolf ears and a fluffy tail. The truth was, Kyan had many tails, but with Astrea's current strength, he could only summon forth one at a time. Long claws replaced his fingers as well.
  
  Kyan set his golden sights on the woman in front of him, Allie. She probably fits the textbook definition of beauty in the human realm. How kind of her to treat our wounds. Perhaps she'd be a useful ally.
  
  "Your kindness will be remembered." Kyan stated before shifting his gaze to the vampire known as Rune. Using one of his large claws to point at him, he growled, "You there. I can smell my blood on your lips. Are you the one that attempted to kill me? Is your species so uncouth to forgo asking permission before placing your hands so intimately on a lady? How revolting."
  
  If Rune wanted a name from him, he'd have to earn it. Noticing the fallen guard, Kyan let out a troubled sigh. "It would have been wiser to keep him alive long enough to show us the way out. We should move quickly before the next guard shift takes place. Is anyone familiar with the layout, or should we follow the sound of rushing water? Uncover a hidden tunnel?"
  
  Kyan did not expect to be playing escape room in the human realm. Especially not with a cap on his abilities. Already, he could feel his form deteriorating back into a feeble human woman.
  Ah, fuck.