The Stygian Children | DEAD SEA

[CupAndCough]

S t y g i a n --- C h i l d r e n - | - D e a d --- S e a

a

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1 x 1

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r o l e p l a y

>> //:



Claustrophobia. Conflict. Crime. Corpses. Conspiracy. Corruption.




Caeusa isn't completely perfect. In fact it's probably the farthest away from the idea of what "perfect" is. Caeusa is one of the last two remnants of humankind, one half of a pair of two megacities that lie beneath a strange an alien world. However we don't need to know much about the "topside" of this world. See just like how corruption crawls and seeds itself deep within the soul, Caeusa is deep within the planet--but somehow it contains a city more massive than that of New York and Dubai combined. Caeusa is the largest metropolis of the two last remnants of humanity. However for whatever reason Caeusa is always crowded. People are always fighting just to survive.






Caeusa isn't the home of cybernetic progress, but it is home to the most cybernetic people. Anyone, whether by choice or not, are augmented. Some have small augments, but they're costly. Some just get junkers and just slap them on to whatever stump they got.




The neighborhoods here are terrible. Living is for those who can afford it, and there's a lot more who have a empty hands than those with pockets lined with survival. Some get by though. Through crime and black market dealing: That's one of our heroes hails from. Hailing from a low-level crime lord she communicates with someone born into survival lined pockets. That's two heroes now.




The two long ago met on the Net. Through chatrooms and forums. Their penchant for hacking was what led them to become associates. Although the two know nothing about each other's lives they formed a passing comradery. However as the two's interests delved deeper into the Net they notice something strange. Black Zones or "Dead Seas" of information. While it just looks like junk code that just rambles about nonsensically The Student and The Heir find something strange.




The Dead Seas seem to be deliberate and calculated. Why would someone fill the Net with massive pockets of information that don't need to exist? Who is behind these Dead Seas? And who




The student and heir's antics have finally caught up with them as a third party has begun to listen in to their conversations. To their plans and to their gloating. They stole something that they never should have and now they must pay the price. But who's coming to deliver it? And why would they care about just two random script kiddies with too much time on their hands?

 

[Brittany]

Nala stares into her laptop screen as she hears the clock in the front hall chime three a.m. It was the witching hour. She switches between things a few times and then goes back to her chat room screen, hoping to see her long time friend online. He hadn't logged on in a week and she was worried about him. She runs a quick check on his computer, and it's true he hadn't even turned on his system. He was never AWOL this long.


Hey, you doing alright? I'm worried- K


She posted a message into their forum and waits to see if he responds, but after ten minutes theres still no reply. "Where are you hiding?" She mumbles softly and then feels a chill up her spine, and she swears she hears footsteps down the hall. The witching hour is when the ghosts come out, that's what her nanny had told her as a child.


Nala stands up and puts her teal dreadlocks into a bun on top of her head and looks out at her window. She was desperately worried about the stranger who had become her best (and only) friend. That's when the idea crosses her mind to just go check on him. She quickly runs a check to see where his computer pinged from, after passing a few fire walls (he was a good coder, she's impressed) she is able to grab the location and prints it out. She slips into a pair of jean shorts and a black tank top, throwing a hoodie on and carefully creeps out into the night. She hadn't left her room in over a month, and the night around her raised her anxiety levels.

 

[CupAndCough]

J O N A H - | [G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S ] | -- T h e - S c h o l a r

​

" I have the world at my finger tips, I have humanity's progress at my side, I have the collective knowledge of umpteenth dead generations in my mind, I AM the future "

Location: Caeusan Upper Levels | Education District


Thoughts: Gotta make it to the Slums.

Jonah had left his dormitory many nights ago, it was just paranoia. The upper class streets and upper levels of Caeusa weren't that bad. They were clean, filled with people that could cover your tracks and Wi-Fi was nearly always present, but it wasn't safe with the information he had. Or the information some thought he had. Even the safe streets of the upper levels seemed a bit dangerous. No. Not a bit. If he had something big on his hands it would alert someone with a finger on the pulse of the DarkNet. Someone who probably knew of this.


If someone like that could exist, which Jonah was definitely sure of, not even the cops could protect. In fact they'd be the ones to murder him a dark alley.


He had a reason to leave everything behind though. That's the truth, he knew it somewhere deep down within his character he knew..


Jonah was always right about this stuff, a sixth sense for knowing when someone was bringing their nose where it didn't belong. Butting themselves in on his dirty little secrets and his adventurous moments on the Net with his online contact; Khaleesi. He would have called her someone he had a bit of interest beyond comradery, but that would betray something about the whole situation. The anonymity and names seemed like a divine bond almost holy.. They were by no means professionals at this little game they played--despite what would Jonah would tell ya. And no matter how many times he gloated or bragged about how he could destroy any system, slip in a keylogger anywhere, and put up a cam-spy where he pleased. Jonah was cocky, but not perfect. Not a professional. Just a dumb kid behind a keyboard wasting his life. Instead of studying biotechnology and logistics like mommy wanted him to.


However this was different.


Once these 'Dead Seas' started popping up, it was too tempting not to look. Jonah would never be sorry for something like that, to search the Net for whatever dusty skeleton lies in the dark dreary corner. Knife in chest and scribbled accusation. The thought titillated him a tad. He needed to break the uncomfortable boundary of safety, he just didn't realize it would follow him back.


Sure the firewalls where there and he always used decoys and VPNS, but Flasks of his soul! He could not believe someone would be out to hurt him cause he looked at some raggedy, forgotten, shoddy corpse.


His journey was going into the lower levels. The Dumps, The Lower Castes, The slice of Caeusa where the disgusting wretches writhed in the scraps of technology. Safety wasn't there, but he did know Khaleesi was there. He'd often ping them. Hoping he muster up the courage to remove himself from behind the screen and find real adventure. But this right here? It was some adventure alright.


As Jonah rushed across the busy streets and glass walkways of the Caeusan upper levels, he was slightly watering at the mouth at the thought of the danger of the lower levels. The dirty secrets that would hide there would be something to marvel at. Jonah shook his head, slightly wet with the drops of sweat that covered his brow as fear and adrenaline was climbing his veins like some weird neuro-program rush.


He had to get to the lower levels quick--but that would take a half day. At least. He needed to get there fast...but how? He couldn't die here. Not like this. He still couldn't crack these Dead Seas, and that was the last thing they would have to do together. To be true hackers.

 

[Brittany]

She sensed him, the stranger approaching from the Far East side. She was so close to Gladiolus' part of the city, and she hopped to find him soon. She wouldn't approach him, just check and see. If he was okay.


She heard footsteps behind her and she clutched her bag closer. Even if she was the daughter of the two most feared people ever, people still wanted to kill her.


Somthing large falls behind her and she's hears a scream. It was her own. She starts running down the alleyways, dodging around the tables and tens of the black market. People stared, in shock that the daughter of Elle and Red Roberts had left her house, and they also turned in fear. Scared for their lives.


She turned the last corner and then climbed to the job of the building, looking down into the streets. She sees a boy, maybe a little older than her walking down the street. Somthing about him gave off a farmilAr tone.


She looked ahead sees a gang walking towards him, he didn't expect anything. She picks her knives out of their holders and starts to approaching.


She watches as they circle him, and the. She jumps down to the fire escape. "Unhand him." She commands and they all look up and begin laughing at the small girl.


"Who says?" One of the Sneers and Nala laughs.


"Nala Roberts, that's who." She says as she throws a knife into the nearest man.

 

[CupAndCough]

J O N A H - | [G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S ] | -- T h e - S c h o l a r

​

" I have the world at my finger tips, I have humanity's progress at my side, I have the collective knowledge of umpteenth dead generations in my mind, I AM the future "

Location: Caeusan Upper Levels | Education District


Thoughts: Gotta make it to the Slums.

Jonah halted his quickened steps and panicked pace, planting his feet firm on the ground. Why did he stop? Was it fear? Jonah wouldn't believe it, so it wasn't. He stopped, feet anchored to the ground--refusing to move. Jonah couldn't stand to see his planning failing greatly, he was shit out of luck from whatever secret he found he doubted that he would be enough to save himself if someone did catch him.


How would he be able to get to the lower levels? Too slow on feet. But it was enough to cover his tracks--but he doubted in the heat of the moment on a ground battle that he would win, he was a code-junkie! What was he going do? Type at the bad guys?


As he forcibly moved himself from the ground his feet rather die in., he dashed to a dime-a-dozen corporate building. To a\ secluded lot behind the company building. And as the vast row of cars, trucks, and other vehicles a terrible and stupid thought came to him.


Steal a vehicle. "Gah c'mon! Really? Fucking really?" He said as the thought crossed his mind. Of course a vehicle would be faster, but it was more hot. The boy began to pace back and forth. Snapping out a cigarette and ploping the death stick into his mouth. He knew he could hot wire and piece of junk here on the planet of Odysseus.


"Shit" He cursed. His mouth was foul, but it was honest. If anything Jonah was a foul mouthed, disgustingly arrogant, and most of all more ready to spread truth than lie. He was a thief yes, but he was not a liar. Stealing wasn't a lie--it was a low-level conquest.


As he stared at the lot vehicles, Jonah felt his heart race--He'd rather live the life of a thief than the death of a no-name bullshit artist. If he could take a vehicle he'd be in the lower levels, especially the crime levels. He could leave the car with whatever chopshop--but he could probably bet his life he could remove the tracking chips or at least disable them when he would hot-wire it.


The kid scoffed. The choice was clear...

 

[Brittany]

Freshly covered in blood she walks along the dark alleyways of her part of town. She had been sloppy, much too sloppy her father would have backhanded her for being so sloppy.


She cleans off her knives with her shirt and wanders around the dimly lit streets. It was when she was a lone like this, with only her thoughtd, that'd when she really started to think. About death, about love, the places she'd never see..


Death would come easy to her one day, in fsct, she longed for it. Just to get away from the life she wasn't meant to live. Nala always resented her fsmily, wishing they could have been normal. Wishing that she could actually have a normal life.


Instead she prefer ed the idea of being slone, it was simpler and no one could get closer enough to her for her to hurt them.


Gladiolus was an exception, he was a distant voice at the far end of the net. In a way her older brother of sorts. She could never hurt him if they never met.


This is why she planned on not letting him know she was here. She quickened her pace as she began to get closer to where his laptop had always pinged from.


In the darkness she climbs up the side of the building, eventually finding where the signal was strongest, yet when she manages to get in through the window, the place is empty. He was no where to be seen.


Now worried more than ever for her friend, she stands there for a moment, unable to bresth. Had they found him first?


Nala scaled the wall down and took off into the dsrkness, running back to the slums she called home

 

[CupAndCough]

Caeusa Second Level: Journey | Yǔliàng District | Heavenly Jiu Bar

>> //:

C

aeusa comes in many levels, all vertical, due to the Vestige being limited in horizontal space much more than vertical, so the people of Caeusa opted for a more vertical layout for their city, the second level to this area is called the Journey. The reason why is lost to time. And is of little use to the story now, but in the second level lies most of the highest class of crime goes for a little fun. You can see the blurs between the corporate world and the crime world mix together, all with it's seediness and disgusting filth coated in a professional and clean coat of paint.







Nothing optimizes this little slice of crime heaven than the Jiu. Named after one of those Old World words from Old Humanity. No one knows what it means but it sounds catchy enough to roll off the tongue.


Jiu is high-end bar. Crimelords and their contacts frequent the place often. Cops don't touch the place--most don't know why and those who do know that releasing that information would cost them more than a drink at the bar.


In this bar there's a small group of hackers that work in the back. People who rather frequent Red Rooms than some simple video hosting site. The people here are real criminals and real professionals. Both Corporations and Criminal lords use them, but even more interesting is the two script kiddies that are gonna walk in that front door.

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[CupAndCough]

J O N A H - | [G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S ] | -- T h e - S c h o l a r

​

" I have the world at my finger tips, I have humanity's progress at my side, I have the collective knowledge of umpteenth dead generations in my mind, I AM the future "

Location: Caeusan Second Level | Jiu Bar


Thoughts: I'm gonna get killed here.

The smell of cigar smoke and booze lit his nose ablaze, it was as if he walked into a fire burning accelerant. it wasn't what he was used to--clear by his squinting eyes. A slight cough here and there--his greenness was ever apparent, but most people who entered here on such business were on the much more valued pedistal than most of the crime lord customers and investors liked to admit.


Discriminate they shall, but they'll take your money all the same.


Jonah's heart was racing. He just made away with a stolen car, learned about a horrible conspiracy, and he was now going to meet some of the most seediest hackers. It was sort of sad that Khaleesi wasn't here to enjoy this. He might have thought Khaleesi was more a damsel and he was saving them--but he needed her location and information. He knew she often was pinged by the same location--at one point and time he thought about setting up a direct connection to her camera.


Just to see what she would look like, it was extremely tempting--but he imagined her perhaps too idealistically.


Jonah peered around the bar. Looking across the booths and tables he watched a young girl being sold off into prostitution. It was sort of disgusting to watch--but he wasn't hero. He also knew that if he tried anything stupid that he'd end up with one more hole than one he came in with.


Upon wading through the smoke and creeps Jonah finally reached the bar--the bartender a large man--whose cybernetics and bionic implants made his imposing figure look that of a walking military tank. He peered down at the table to dash his eyes back up at the man.


"Can I get a Corvid Swig?" Jonah ask, the Corvid Swig was a high class drink. Often served in higher levels of Caeusan. It wasn't a fruity drink, but the alcohol content could drop a boar.


The tender's face, stoic and still, shifted to the boy's position. "Heh, yer not from the second level. I can make it, but if yer gonna be that wet behind the ears you better cover them, kid." the tender warned as he prepared the drink.


Jonah sat at the bar--resting himself. Mustering up the courage to tackle this dilemma head on. He just need some courage in the liquid form is all

 

[Brittany]

Nala walks out into the smokey bar room from behind a curtain, "Thanks boys, you've been helpful." She says smoothly and flashing her charming smile. The patrons of this bar loved Nala, this was one place where she felt at home.


"Miss. Roberts, may I please get you a drink?" The bartender says, his normal brutish manner disappearing as Nala leans across the bar. She twirls one of her dreadlocks around her finger and smiles, "Jack and coke? On the rocks, straight." She says and winks playfully. Unlike most patrons, Nala gets her drink in moments instead of minutes.


She leans against the bar, sipping the drink softly. She looks around at the crowd in front of her, the regulars we're all in their usual spots. Her eyes drift to a stranger sitting at the bar, he's hunched over trying not to stick out. THe more he tried to blend the more he stuck out. She chuckles softly, poor little rich boy, coming to the slums for shits and giggles.


She watches the drug deals, the large and small. Nala was always watching when she was here, knowing full well every single thing that was going on. Except what pretty boy was doing in her part of town. She didn't like the looks of it. When the pretty boys show up, trouble starts and they always turn up dead.


A few minutes later he walks towards the back hallway where the meeting rooms where. Nala follows him, pulling a knife from her back pocket. She grabs him by the collar of his shirt and throws him against the wall, the knife at his throat.


"Who are you pretty boy?" She taunts, a fake smile on her face.

 

[CupAndCough]

J O N A H - | [G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S ] | -- T h e - S c h o l a r

​

" I have the world at my finger tips, I have humanity's progress at my side, I have the collective knowledge of umpteenth dead generations in my mind, I AM the future "

Location: Caeusan Second Level | Jiu Bar


Thoughts: I'm gonna get killed here.

A sarcastic scoff flew out of his arrogant mouth as the bartender gave him advice. It's nuances weren't lost on Jonah, but he found them a bit archaic. What was this guy even talking about? Wet behind the ears? What was this guy from. some topside expedition team? The fuck kind of guy gives advice like that--the small annoyance left him surly as the drink he order hit him like a ton of bricks. What kind of booze did he serve here?


What Jonah did not know from his shelter life on the upper-levels is that lower level drinks were vile things--the process of making them differs, but some are made with cyborgs in mind. As such some go down like brass tacks and 100% alcohol content nails.


Jonah felt a bit more than buzzed, a bit more rowdy, and a bit more stupid than he would have cared to be, Especially since he was going to meet the backroom hackers of this joint. Suddenly from the corner of his eye a blur of dreads, piercings, and pretty faces rushed by. Jonah felt weightless. No. He felt like he was flying--nope he felt like he was CHOKING and flying.


He drunkenly peered down as the woman who grabbed him, realizing that she snatched his collar, "Well fuck.." He muttered, his comment instantly cut off before he had a chance to finish the "you" part. His vision set. Yep a woman, she seemed a bit too rough around the edges. A tad bit coarse for his liking--especially since she had a knife to his neck. Of course Jonah had women before, but this was different from them. Oh right the knife.


Well as Jonah realized what pinned his neck--an arrogant little finger popped up and push the blade back, the comment of pretty boy more flattering than insulting. His ego would have twisted it anyway he damned pleased, as such the complement was taken.


"Look, I'm not much for knives--and I have no deal with you Ms." He began to looker her up and down--suddenly stopping at the sight of her cleavage and then resuming "Ms. Murder-Chic, but I'm not interested in" His finger began to swiftly move back and forth between them insinuating a sort sexual nature between them that she may have wanted "This--I just need to meet someone and I'll be on my way. I don't like dying so please press that to hard."

 

[Brittany]

Nala eyed him suspiciously, pulling the knife back but not sheathing it.


"I don't like troublemakers in my part of town." She says looking up at him. The height difference didn't catch her until now, he was much taller than her.


He raises an eyebrow, slurs some words out and she laughs. He was obviously new the liquor of the slums.


She eyes him again, something about him felt familiar. Like she had met him before, but that was far from possible, her family didn't associate with anyone from uptown. Nor did she. Well except for Gladiolus, but he wasn't like the other uptown kids she had watched as a child.


The boy leans slowly to the left, and Nala straightens him up before he falls to the ground. "You are such a mess." She chuckles and then pulls a purple vile out of her knapsack. "Drink this, it'll bring your wits back to you." She presses it into his palm. He looks at her suspiciously, unable to trust her.


She stands on her tiptoes, lean close to his ear, making sure her body pressed against his. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead now." She whispers softly and plants a kiss on his temple. Nala was the nice member of her family but toying with people had always made her laugh. She always went for the sexual approach, it always made them unsure of what to do, and causing confusion was her favorite weapon.


"Have fun at your little meeting pretty boy." She says and pushes him into the wall before walking away and sliding behind the curtain into the room behind the meeting she was about to watch.


A few minutes later when he walks in, she's surprised. "So, he's a hacker. Hmmm, pretty boy has some tricks." She chuckles to herself and logs on to view who was present at the meeting.


"Jex, Florine, Iodin..." She reads the names off as she checks the forum, they were familiar to her. They had worked alongside her parents for a long time. A fourth name pops up and Nala gasps softly as she reads it, her mind racing as she finally connects a name to a face.


"Gladiolus?" She finally says it out loud as she stares through the one way glass at the boy she had just threatened to kill. She logs on, knowing he'd see her user in a moment. Would he make the connection?

 

[CupAndCough]

J O N A H - | [G-L-A-D-I-O-L-U-S ] | -- T h e - S c h o l a r

​

" I have the world at my finger tips, I have humanity's progress at my side, I have the collective knowledge of umpteenth dead generations in my mind, I AM the future "

Location: Caeusan Second Level | Jiu Bar


Thoughts: I'm gonna get killed here.

(OOC: It was less that you made dialog, but that you made movement and directly controlled him, Brittany. I'm gonna go with them this time but if it happens again I'm just gonna ignore it--sorry )


Jonah coughed for a bit--he couldn't believe this was happening. What flagrant disrespect and annoyance this all was. All he wanted to do was get in get out--but now he was getting jump. By a girl. He could literally feel his ego shatter underneath the weight of his shame. The arrogance seethed through his breath.


As he eyed the woman. She was unique. Well unique for a man from the higher levels. She seemed tougher than any woman had met before, almost in a criminal sort of way he could not lay a finger on. In all honesty he wouldn't mind placing a finger on her. Despite her looking like someone would penetrate you with a knife, Josiah still found her somewhat alluring. Not like his picture of Khaleesi though. She seemed more divine in his eyes than this woman. so brutish and callous. As she planted a kiss upon his temple , after he was released,