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[ vibrates harder internally,
Well whatever. He's a big boy and (probably) not afraid of the Dark.* He's going to follow the winding dirt path with the lamp.
*citation needed after impocalypse ]
Well whatever. He's a big boy and (probably) not afraid of the Dark.* He's going to follow the winding dirt path with the lamp.
*citation needed after impocalypse ]
[ The lantern's pretty bright, so you'd be able to see it pretty well if you carried it with you. From here on the Haven, you can only see so far before it melts back into the darkness.]
[ Taking some time to look through the planters and broken street lights. Is there anything there besides palm trees and broken glass? ]
[ With the closed gate at your back, there’s only one exit, and it’s in front of you. ]
[ The alley is narrow and zig-zags through crumbling buildings. Eventually you see the exit, and the man who’s standing at the end of the alley, waiting for you. ]
[Approach?]
[>Approach.
And also
hhhhhhhhhhuh.]
...Is that the situation?
And also
hhhhhhhhhhuh.]
...Is that the situation?
[It turns out darkness sucks actually?? Or, at least, the things that live in darkness sure do.]
[ Anyway. You follow the path through a forest long dead. ]
[ Out here, the air tastes bitter and caustic. The unnatural silence is occasionally punctuated by sounds: a distant, echoing crash of something crisp and wooden getting broken. A lonely groan from an inhuman throat. The intermittent scrape of dry leaves, disturbed by feet that skitter away before your circle of light can touch them. ]
[ As you walk, the path starts to climb up a slope, leading you through several switchbacks. The trees thin out, and the sky seems to lighten a few shades, like something up ahead is illuminating the very air. ]
[ You can see light glinting off boulders and tree trunks, guiding you forward like a beacon. ]
[ You have to scrabble over some rocks, picking your way upward. Then you look over a ridge and there it is:
—The ugliest city you’ve ever seen in your life. ]
[ The city is on the far side of a huge expanse of cobblestone — which, now that you’re looking at it, strongly resembles a parking lot. On this side of the lot, to your left, is a lookout where tourists could stop and take in the vast and devastatingly scenic darkness-filled canyon you just crawled out of. ]
[ Anyway. You follow the path through a forest long dead. ]
[ Out here, the air tastes bitter and caustic. The unnatural silence is occasionally punctuated by sounds: a distant, echoing crash of something crisp and wooden getting broken. A lonely groan from an inhuman throat. The intermittent scrape of dry leaves, disturbed by feet that skitter away before your circle of light can touch them. ]
[ As you walk, the path starts to climb up a slope, leading you through several switchbacks. The trees thin out, and the sky seems to lighten a few shades, like something up ahead is illuminating the very air. ]
[ You can see light glinting off boulders and tree trunks, guiding you forward like a beacon. ]
[ You have to scrabble over some rocks, picking your way upward. Then you look over a ridge and there it is:
—The ugliest city you’ve ever seen in your life. ]
[ The city is on the far side of a huge expanse of cobblestone — which, now that you’re looking at it, strongly resembles a parking lot. On this side of the lot, to your left, is a lookout where tourists could stop and take in the vast and devastatingly scenic darkness-filled canyon you just crawled out of. ]
[He bites at his lip- glances back the way he came]
[Hesitates just a second longer, and then presses forward into the alley]
[Hesitates just a second longer, and then presses forward into the alley]
[a lot of garbage, honestly. Broken boards, plastic bags, scraps of paper so old they're mostly disintegrated, rubble, rebar, bits of metal that are like 80% tetanus...
Nothing really interesting, though. Just trash.]
Nothing really interesting, though. Just trash.]
[ It might have been beautiful once, back when the buildings were still brightly painted and the streets were full of people. But now the buildings are boarded up, and roads that were once broad and inviting and now blocked by thick makeshift barricades cobbled together from metal signs, wooden pallets, rusted cars, barbed wire — anything and everything that wasn’t nailed down, and probably some things that were. ]
[ The barricade and building are run through with cables, and bright lights of all shapes and sizes are pointed outward as if trying desperately to keep the darkness away. The light illuminates the thick, dingy haze that squats over the city, which you can feel in your throat with every breath. ]
[ From here, you can see some spots along the wall where the lights have burned out, leaving some buildings drenched in shadow. ]
[ Someone on top of a building turns a spotlight on you. You hear shouting from a familiar voice. ]
“There's a survivor! Raise the gates!”
[ You hear activity from beyond the wall, and a moment later there's a groan of metal and clank of chains. ]
[ Two cars, stacked end to end in a cage of rusted beams and rebar, is raised by powerful winches like a massive gate. Behind it is a narrow, well-lit alley, leading the way into the city. ]
[ The barricade and building are run through with cables, and bright lights of all shapes and sizes are pointed outward as if trying desperately to keep the darkness away. The light illuminates the thick, dingy haze that squats over the city, which you can feel in your throat with every breath. ]
[ From here, you can see some spots along the wall where the lights have burned out, leaving some buildings drenched in shadow. ]
[ Someone on top of a building turns a spotlight on you. You hear shouting from a familiar voice. ]
“There's a survivor! Raise the gates!”
[ You hear activity from beyond the wall, and a moment later there's a groan of metal and clank of chains. ]
[ Two cars, stacked end to end in a cage of rusted beams and rebar, is raised by powerful winches like a massive gate. Behind it is a narrow, well-lit alley, leading the way into the city. ]
[Making a mental note of that before turning and heading back into the city.]
The situation is that daemons will come once it's dark. The light repels them, but some of the lights have gotten unplugged, and the wall is vulnerable.
We need to get the lights back on, and get ourselves armed because some will probably try for the wall anyway.
[ As you enter the alley and the gate shuts heavily behind you, the lantern you've been holding shatters into bright flakes of white light and vanishes. ]
[ You can still feel it, though. ]
[ Innately, you know the lantern is not gone, and not broken. It has gone into your Armiger -- a space inside of you, next to your soul. You can feel it in there, ready for you to call it into existence once again, any time you want. ]
[ In fact, now that you're paying attention, you can feel there is something else in your Armiger besides your lantern, waiting for you to call it into being. You know that all you have to do is hold out your hand and it will appear in your palm the moment you will it to be so. ]
[ You can still feel it, though. ]
[ Innately, you know the lantern is not gone, and not broken. It has gone into your Armiger -- a space inside of you, next to your soul. You can feel it in there, ready for you to call it into existence once again, any time you want. ]
[ In fact, now that you're paying attention, you can feel there is something else in your Armiger besides your lantern, waiting for you to call it into being. You know that all you have to do is hold out your hand and it will appear in your palm the moment you will it to be so. ]
[ It might have been beautiful once, back when the buildings were still brightly painted and the streets were full of people. But now the buildings are boarded up, and roads that were once broad and inviting and now blocked by thick makeshift barricades cobbled together from metal signs, wooden pallets, rusted cars, barbed wire — anything and everything that wasn’t nailed down, and probably some things that were. ]
[ The barricade and building are run through with cables, and bright lights of all shapes and sizes are pointed outward as if trying desperately to keep the darkness away. The light illuminates the thick, dingy haze that squats over the city, which you can feel in your throat with every breath. ]
[ From here, you can see some spots along the wall where the lights have burned out, leaving some buildings drenched in shadow. ]
[ Someone on top of a building turns a spotlight on you. You hear shouting from a familiar voice. ]
“There's a survivor! Raise the gates!”
[ You hear activity from beyond the wall, and a moment later there's a groan of metal and clank of chains. ]
[ Two cars, stacked end to end in a cage of rusted beams and rebar, is raised by powerful winches like a massive gate. Behind it is a narrow, well-lit alley, leading the way into the city. ]
[ The barricade and building are run through with cables, and bright lights of all shapes and sizes are pointed outward as if trying desperately to keep the darkness away. The light illuminates the thick, dingy haze that squats over the city, which you can feel in your throat with every breath. ]
[ From here, you can see some spots along the wall where the lights have burned out, leaving some buildings drenched in shadow. ]
[ Someone on top of a building turns a spotlight on you. You hear shouting from a familiar voice. ]
“There's a survivor! Raise the gates!”
[ You hear activity from beyond the wall, and a moment later there's a groan of metal and clank of chains. ]
[ Two cars, stacked end to end in a cage of rusted beams and rebar, is raised by powerful winches like a massive gate. Behind it is a narrow, well-lit alley, leading the way into the city. ]
[ As you enter the alley and the gate shuts heavily behind you, the lantern you've been holding shatters into bright flakes of white light and vanishes. ]
[ You can still feel it, though. ]
[ Innately, you know the lantern is not gone, and not broken. It has gone into your Armiger -- a space inside of you, next to your soul. You can feel it in there, ready for you to call it into existence once again, any time you want. ]
[ In fact, now that you're paying attention, you can feel there is something else in your Armiger besides your lantern, waiting for you to call it into being. You know that all you have to do is hold out your hand and it will appear in your palm the moment you will it to be so. ]
[ You can still feel it, though. ]
[ Innately, you know the lantern is not gone, and not broken. It has gone into your Armiger -- a space inside of you, next to your soul. You can feel it in there, ready for you to call it into existence once again, any time you want. ]
[ In fact, now that you're paying attention, you can feel there is something else in your Armiger besides your lantern, waiting for you to call it into being. You know that all you have to do is hold out your hand and it will appear in your palm the moment you will it to be so. ]
[Okay.]
[Well--she can do this--there's someone important to find, feels like.
She gets to her feet, keeping tight hold of the lantern.
Another moment, then she heads for the path.]
[Well--she can do this--there's someone important to find, feels like.
She gets to her feet, keeping tight hold of the lantern.
Another moment, then she heads for the path.]
[For about half a second, panic sets in]
[How could he break it, how could he ruin something so good - ?]
[How could he break it, how could he ruin something so good - ?]
[Glancing back at the wall. Hhhhhhhm.]
I'm not much of a combatant, but what are ways we can arm ourselves? Are we going to need to hunt down some supplies?
I'm not much of a combatant, but what are ways we can arm ourselves? Are we going to need to hunt down some supplies?
[But then he realizes it isn't gone at all. It's just... away, for now]
[Avoiding standing underneath the two car rebar as much as possible as he enters.
That... is probably a safety hazard.
But into the city, he goes. Waving at whoever tossed a spotlight on him]
That... is probably a safety hazard.
But into the city, he goes. Waving at whoever tossed a spotlight on him]
[ You follow the path through a forest long dead. ]
[ Out here, the air tastes bitter and caustic. The unnatural silence is occasionally punctuated by sounds: a distant, echoing crash of something crisp and wooden getting broken. A lonely groan from an inhuman throat. The intermittent scrape of dry leaves, disturbed by feet that skitter away before your circle of light can touch them. ]
[ As you walk, the path starts to climb up a slope, leading you through several switchbacks. The trees thin out, and the sky seems to lighten a few shades, like something up ahead is illuminating the very air. ]
[ You can see light glinting off boulders and tree trunks, guiding you forward like a beacon. ]
[ You have to scrabble over some rocks, picking your way upward. Then you look over a ridge and there it is:
—The ugliest city you’ve ever seen in your life. ]
[ The city is on the far side of a huge expanse of cobblestone — which, now that you’re looking at it, strongly resembles a parking lot. On this side of the lot, to your left, is a lookout where tourists could stop and take in the vast and devastatingly scenic darkness-filled canyon you just crawled out of. ]
[ Out here, the air tastes bitter and caustic. The unnatural silence is occasionally punctuated by sounds: a distant, echoing crash of something crisp and wooden getting broken. A lonely groan from an inhuman throat. The intermittent scrape of dry leaves, disturbed by feet that skitter away before your circle of light can touch them. ]
[ As you walk, the path starts to climb up a slope, leading you through several switchbacks. The trees thin out, and the sky seems to lighten a few shades, like something up ahead is illuminating the very air. ]
[ You can see light glinting off boulders and tree trunks, guiding you forward like a beacon. ]
[ You have to scrabble over some rocks, picking your way upward. Then you look over a ridge and there it is:
—The ugliest city you’ve ever seen in your life. ]
[ The city is on the far side of a huge expanse of cobblestone — which, now that you’re looking at it, strongly resembles a parking lot. On this side of the lot, to your left, is a lookout where tourists could stop and take in the vast and devastatingly scenic darkness-filled canyon you just crawled out of. ]
[He settles, slightly - frowns - probes toward that other thing, waiting there to be called]
[He holds out his hand...?]
[He holds out his hand...?]
[ I mean, that tracks. Evil things like him live there soooo....
Senpai's going to take a moment to just take this in. It's probably not a good thing that the inside of Cobalt's heart is a tourist trap that looks to have been nuked. But then again, he's seen a memory or two of his so... maybe it's just meant to be "memories of home." Which is bad enough! But maybe less than bad than "representative of some part of him that has been broken by Imeeji." ]
Well. No way but forward.
[ He notes that he has been driven to starting to talk to himself in the absence of other people. Is that a bad thing to do in Cobalt's psyche? X for Uncertain.
After taking another moment to look around he's going to head deeper into the street, away from the canyon. What's to see here? Can he enter any of these broken looking buildings to check them out for useful shit? ]
Senpai's going to take a moment to just take this in. It's probably not a good thing that the inside of Cobalt's heart is a tourist trap that looks to have been nuked. But then again, he's seen a memory or two of his so... maybe it's just meant to be "memories of home." Which is bad enough! But maybe less than bad than "representative of some part of him that has been broken by Imeeji." ]
Well. No way but forward.
[ He notes that he has been driven to starting to talk to himself in the absence of other people. Is that a bad thing to do in Cobalt's psyche? X for Uncertain.
After taking another moment to look around he's going to head deeper into the street, away from the canyon. What's to see here? Can he enter any of these broken looking buildings to check them out for useful shit? ]
[ In a glittering flash of white light, the thing you called for drops into your palm. ]
[ It's a pair of katars. They're long and sharp and sci-fi sleek, and the light from a dozen street lamp slides off the dark carbon steel like oil. Unlike another pair of these you might have, these are glossy and pristine.]
[ As you turn them in your hands, you can feel something strange about it. You can feel... that it has been imbued with the power of lightning.]
[ As surely as you are breathing, you understand: while you are holding this object, you will be able to channel its power and cast Thundara at will. ]
[ You now have access to your Armiger. You can put things into it at any time, and they will appear or disappear from your hand at your whim. ]
[ It's a pair of katars. They're long and sharp and sci-fi sleek, and the light from a dozen street lamp slides off the dark carbon steel like oil. Unlike another pair of these you might have, these are glossy and pristine.]
[ As you turn them in your hands, you can feel something strange about it. You can feel... that it has been imbued with the power of lightning.]
[ As surely as you are breathing, you understand: while you are holding this object, you will be able to channel its power and cast Thundara at will. ]
[ You now have access to your Armiger. You can put things into it at any time, and they will appear or disappear from your hand at your whim. ]
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