The Darkest Corners: A Modern Fantasy RP (Interest Thread - Closed)

[c_westerman13]

-Lucius-

Lucius looked around the room. Well, most of the group had arrived, he decided to start back up. He clicked his fingers to gather attention - you've got to breathe to cough, right? "Right, now we're here. I have a map of Arzhela's complex", Lucius waved casually at one of the old charts on his table, "As it was a millenium ago. Probably not too accurate any more, but the best we've got, I think. Add into that that my nexus here can teleport us anywhere I point it with no magic signature, I think that sorts our initial assault out. Lucia, Demon pet, Zaheer", Lucius paused again, thinking, "You'll likely be able to hit hardest and fastest. Any objections to being the Vanguard? If I teleport Lucia somewhere above the base, and the two of you", He gestured to Zaheer and Fromanzio, "Just inside the entrance, it ought to provide a distraction, at least, whilst the rest of us teleport in deeper. Unless anyone has a better plan?"

 

[Lunar Templar]

"Sounds fine, I'll play the role of 'Battleship' and pound the base, as well as take pot shots at any important looking targets as the show up" Lucia said look over the outdated map briefly, she was already marking the towers as targets, then turned to Zaheer "If you pet clown holds any value to you, keep him on a short leash. I've no intention of holding fire if he's in the way" She said bluntly.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

"Magical teleportation without a signature?" John asked in disbelief, "How can you possibly have a device that could transport us miles away without even the slightest magical signature? The energy needed to move one body miles away instantly is extremely high, let alone teleporting a group plus a giant dragon. Are you sure that your device is a true teleportation device and not a big copy machine that makes a body on one side but deletes the one on the other?"

"As for your plan," John said looking around, "Why not send in your fleet of magitech robots in as a distraction that does not risk our lives while the rest of use our strength and explosives in strategic places to bring down the roof onto of both her and her army? It won't totally destroy her body, and as she crawls out of the rubble it will be easier to capture her without legions of corpses shooting at us."

 

[Floris2123]

Seras wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, as he responded in kind. "I'm fine Theon, it's just some bruising I'll have to deal with, I can feel that nothing has been broken. Glad to see you made it out in one piece." Seras said, as she let go. Just as he was about to respond, when Lucius suddenly snapped his fingers and said, "Right, now we're here. ..Unless anyone has a better plan?" He agreed with the plan, it sounded pretty good.

John then began to speak with disbelief and doubt in his voice. "Magical teleportation...and as she crawls out of the rubble it will be easier to capture her without legions of corpses shooting at us." Theon didn't really know what to say, he wasn't a mage or anything so he didn't know much about it. He turned back to Seras "I am very happy to see you as well, and I am even happier to see you relatively unharmed." He said with a relieved smile.

 

[drmigit2]

"You'll likely be able to hit hardest and fastest. Any objections to being the Vanguard? If I teleport Lucia somewhere above the base, and the two of you"

Fromanzio was the first to chime in before Zaheer could even react. "Oh...Fromanzio can...oh...this is going to be glorious! Splendid even! Oh think of all the ways master! Fromanzio can decapitate, stab, murder, maim, desecrate even! Master, you have to let Fromanzio do this, you have to!"

Zaheer himself was confident in his abilities to take on Arzhela himself. He had a few ideas in mind on how to draw her out and then, simple combat could trap her in an unending tomb. Which he would then use to utterly break her and gain a fancy new servant. "If I serve as the opening blow, then you will need to let me capture her my way once this is all done. If you do that, I will flood her whole base with my own armies. She has spent more time preparing, but with you guys helping, it's unlikely she will stand much of a chance."

Zaheer was going to let Fromanzio lead the charge in his army, it's not like he had much of a choice on the matter anyway. Best to let the creature do what it wanted in battle. It would hopefully kill more of Arzhela's forces than his own. Still, Zaheer had an ace in the hole he had been considering using for quite some time.

"How subtle does this need to be? I have a number of demons under me that could help, some much bigger than others."

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

John turned to Zaheer like he was a mad man.

"That was not part of the deal," John said, walking right into Zaheer's face, "We agreed that you would have access to her achieves once she as defeated. We discussed nothing about you keeping her as your slave or pet. I will not allow you to add the specidial mad Lich to serve you."

John ran and jumped onto the back of one of the automitons walking around, sticking several of the wires down into a gap between it's neck to connect with the wires running within. While there have been very few machines directly powered by magic like this, a robot was still little more than a machine with a computer in it. John expected by how oxidized it was, it could not be based on much more complicated computations than Charles Babbage original theories on computers, and should be fairly easy to change who it accepts commands from, or take direct control of it's command functions.

If nothing else, the thick metal magically enchanced body should give greater protection from Zaheer's spells then the toga.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia's gaze narrowed as Zaheer spoke "Fantastic, Fromanzio's handler is just as untrustworthy as he is." she thought "I'm not here to 'capture' anything, and I'm not about to trust anyone who uses demons for the majority of they're leg work with a Litch." Lucia said leaning back in her seat, not impressed with how this was already setting up to go.

 

[c_westerman13]

-Lucius-

"NO-ONE KEEPS ARZHELA ALIVE. SHE DIES.", Lucius lost his control for longer than he'd have liked at the suggestion that his enemy might be allowed to survive this - completely forgetting John's doubt at his teleport. He glowered at Zaheer for a few moments, before starting back up, "No, she will stay in existence no longer than it takes to find her Phylactery. And John, get down before you hurt yourself - you can have armor when we gear up."

Looking around, Lucius considered what use he could best put the others to. John could likely distrupt any technology she was using, perhaps any magic. The shapeshifter had more potential than it probably realised, but how best to tap that... And the Vampire half-breed. Lucius was less sure there - perhaps support back at base would be best for her. And Fiona, the druid. Lucius recalled that Arzhela's base was in a forested area, but that could have changed. Still, nature was everywhere, so she'd come into some use. Not to mention she was the only one of the group Lucius even came close to trusting to accompany him in person. Birdman, if he turned up, was best suited to recon, Lucius decided.

 

[drmigit2]

"That was not part of the deal," John said, walking right into Zaheer's face, "We agreed that you would have access to her achieves once she as defeated. We discussed nothing about you keeping her as your slave or pet. I will not allow you to add the specidial mad Lich to serve you."

"Worms." Zaheer had saved John not because he cared much about him, but because he was under orders. That, and John was mildly interesting. Now, John was purposely putting himself in Zaheer's way. Zaheer wasn't going to waste an iota of his time on John or the dragon who had some stigma against demons. A small glow appeared near Zaheer, a shade who seemed more than a little intimidated by Zaheer's presence. It spoke up in a small voice at John and Lucia.

"Ehm...sorry but...uhhh." It stammered a bit and continued. "Master Zaheer is busy. Would you mind scheduling an appointment to voice your concerns?"

"NO-ONE KEEPS ARZHELA ALIVE. SHE DIES."

"Yet, you do not know the location of her phylactery. What do you intend to do with her while she is defeated? Entrust the humans with her? Their incompetence knows no boundaries. I can find some use for her once she is entirely broken. I have people for that, the jester kind."

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia snickered "Yeah, cause, that work real well on me" she said, clearly trying to keep from going into a full laughing fit. "Tell me Fromanzio, just how badly did 'the old man' punish you for failing to bring me to heel, not to mention failing to stop me from escaping. Estates aren't cheap to fix, and fire damage is a ***** when library's are a light" she said with a fairly evil grin.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

John frowned when there were no higher processing power in the hunk of metal. It's brain was somewhere else. Even if John was able to make a shield, figure out what the magical signal is, there is no computations to rewrite. Making a golem wouldn't work either, the conflicting commands would only cause the thing to rip itself apart.

"NO-ONE KEEPS ARZHELA ALIVE. SHE DIES."

It appears that trying to hack the thing also is pointless. For once, Lucius was on John's side (sort of).

"Yet, you do not know the location of her phylactery. What do you intend to do with her while she is defeated? Entrust the humans with her? Their incompetence knows no boundaries. I can find some use for her once she is entirely broken. I have people for that, the jester kind."

"Yes, because you shown utterly great competency and iron clad control over just one demon under your control," John said with heavy sarcasm, getting off the robot, "Or how about when you tranced right in the middle of a battle? What about when you healed my arm but left all the plastic under my skin untouched? Or how about how you didn't do anything to save the plane, help Lucia back on the plane, or even lift a finger to help Richard as he laid in a crater half dead? Your so blinded by your own power to see your own hypocrisy!"

"We humans have made plenty of mistakes," John said with a grin, "But we have managed to keep at least one Lich buried, contained where he cannot hurt anyone, let alone be a lap dog to you. We still are looking for that phylactery, still trying to rid of the world that threat. You want to make her your secretary by giving it to your insane demon jester!"

"YOU have failed to prove your trust worthy enough to own a dog, LET ALONE ARZELA," John said, power ripping through the wires, making himself angry, "You may be powerful, but you still be killed, and we can still stop you."

 

[drmigit2]

Fromanzio

"Tell me Fromanzio, just how badly did 'the old man' punish you for failing to bring me to heel, not to mention failing to stop me from escaping. Estates aren't cheap to fix, and fire damage is a ***** when library's are a light"

"Hm?" Fromanzio looked confused. "Oh! Fromanzio let you live believe it or not. Master wanted you dead, Fromanzio tracked you to where you slept after your fit, decided another dragon in the world was more interesting, killed a woman on the streets and brought master your heart. There was also the deal your mother made with Fromanzio for your life. That helped." Fromanzio's thoughts were wandering at this point. He was too excited about the prospect of killing things to lie or make fun of anyone.

Zaheer

"YOU have failed to prove your trust worthy enough to own a dog, LET ALONE ARZELA,"

"You sure do get riled up over tiny creatures, human." Zaheer had gotten the dragon to drop the subject and start berating Fromanzio, which meant one down. John was still pretty persistent about getting the lich to his organization though. Zaheer began considering options for what to do with the guy. Locking him with a hellhound for an hour could probably straighten him out, but Zaheer wasn't in the mood for that. A bigger prize with more potential was on the horizon.

"The Lich is of little threat in the grand scheme of things. I soon will have enough power to bring Azazel to his knees, including his entire army. Fromanzio's rants, your arm and Richard's fate are meaningless to me. I am here because Lucius promised power and because the ascended want to make sure the humans aren't eradicated. She is of more use to me alive than dead and I can make her no longer a threat to anyone. But, if you want to kill her, give me the continent her phylactery exists on, I can level the whole thing and be done with it if that's what you wish."

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

John crossed his arm.

"Yes, she is only a minor threat in the whole scheme of things," John said, "But YOU are a much bigger threat if your allowed to just build up your own personal army. The contract which you are bound by the relevant authority here, which is ME might I remind you, only stated you get her archives as payment to help us hunt her down. How well do you think other races are going to work with you if they caught wind you broke contract? None of the fair folk, no goblin, not even most demons (well, the saner ones anyway) work with those that don't keep their word."

"I also know your bluffing," John said simply, "You may have the power to level a city, most likely losing control of what ever elderich thing is giving you your powers, but destroying a continent? Not happening. Even if you could, the other ascended would be ontop of you in an instant. How did you put it, To make sure humans are not eradicated?"

 

[drmigit2]

Zaheer started laughing himself. He hadn't met a human in a long time willing to stand up against him but this was amusing. "Human, I never made any contract. I was simply offered power and have followed to see that through. The thoughts and considerations of Goblins does not concern me. I already have an army, by the way, I just need a more reliable commander than Fromanzio. Arzhela seems to be reasonable enough for me. I am already famous in the demon world, most are afraid when I come knocking, as they should be and if you don't think I can level a continent, try my patience and see for yourself. I don't answer to your influence or authority. I might be willing to compromise on a bit of her soul, which I could then turn into a fun weapon for one of my other commanders, but then I might require something out of you."

Zaheer was a hard one to bother, and John had yet to crack him yet. Zaheer had dealt with people like him before, though he typically banished them to a year with the flame imps. They usually came out more agreeable. Damned orders kept him from killing John though. Taking Arzhela's soul, or part of it, would allow Zaheer to access a portion of her power for the sake of an item. Perhaps when he enslaves Azaezel, he could give it to the demon smith to make some use of it.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia sat there a moment, she'd wondered why she'd never had to fight Fromanzio off "What deal?" She'd always wonder why her mother stayed behind, Lucia had the Tear, she could have made her mother a dragon as well. "What deal did she make with you Fromanzio, Why did she stay behind with that human waste?!" Lucia said with a calm fury, restraining her self from smashing the table.

 

[drmigit2]

"What deal did she make with you Fromanzio, Why did she stay behind with that human waste?!"

Fomanzio was in bliss right now. The anticipation was about to kill him. He hadn't gone all out in years now, but soon he would have an absolute playground to go wild in. Everyone would bleed! Oh? Lucia wanted something? What was it now? Oh right her mother. "Your Mother sold her soul to Fromanzio. The price of his work when one isn't capable of summoning him via magic. A simple ordeal. He turned her into a demon and the rest was history. Such a mad good time!"

Fromanzio still laughed at how the old master died. Fromanzio made a deal with the master that he would never attack him. That was the contract after all. The girl however, she never made such a promise. Fromanzio still remembers that day fondly. She had stuck around a while, she was technically in his service after all. How did she end up dying again? Something to do with the bloodlust Fromanzio forced in her.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia was confused "And why would she do that? She always hated you, maybe not as mu..." Lucia stopped mid sentence, her expression changing "You telling me she stayed behind, sold her soul to you for revenge? For who? The tribe? Her self? Me?" she said, almost laughing the last bit.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

"Human, I never made any contract..."

"Really now?" John said, trying to ignore the crippling fear of standing before a being that was orders of magnitude more power by becoming angrier, "Memoria."

John struggled a bit, normally he would plug this into a screen to be less power intensive. Still, it was just the audio that was important, so he blasted a nearby pipe to make the needed vibrations.

"He isn't the only one interested in the archives. We are both looking for them and if he tries to destroy the Earth or something horrible, he has me to contend with. I need his full cooperation and as his ally, I have it. At this moment you are just making things worse, we need to work together. I have power, you have resources and he has information. I think the others might be interested in helping as well."

"Did you hear that?" John said, "You declared Lucius your ally and stated interest in those archives. Even if you didn't get contracted directly, which you did, remember the vans, you declared Lucius a partner in getting Arzela and showed interest in the same reward, his deal applies to you as well. Unless between then and now you have terminated your business partnership with him, YOU. ARE. UNDER. CONTRACT."

"Of course," John said, looking at his finger nails in a mocking way, "Your alliance with Lucius even had a termination clause or any limitations besides your verbal declaration in front of multiple witnesses. Even your @#$^er of a demon who treats rules a jump ropes must know the magical laws of partnership and servitude, or shall I summon a goblin lawyer I know to just bring you before the Tribunal now?"

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"I am very happy to see you as well, and I am even happier to see you relatively unharmed." Theon said with a relieved smile. Seras responded by wrapping an arm around Theon, and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, before letting go and seeing the in-fighting that was going on between the party. If this group was ever going to have a chance in hell of defeating Arzhela, they would need to work together. She briefly shot out a burst of fire that went straight to the floor, luckily nothing was set alight.

"Oh for God's sake... ENOUGH!" Seras shouted, her voice briefly turning into Mileena's. She then addressed Lucia, Zaheer, Fromanzio, and John.

"Honestly, with the way your four are acting, your behaving more like children that adults, or even professionals in John's case. Every second we waste here with this squabble, is every second that Arzhela grows stronger. If we waste too much time, there may come a point where we won't be able to stop her. If people want to butt heads with one another, do so at such a time where the world isn't at stake. So can we please stick to the matter at hand?" Seras asked rhetorically, her anger slowly setting with each word.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia pointed at John and Zaheer "Tell that to them, I am having a civil discussion, sides, I already know my what part is, it's exactly what I thought it was going to be from the start" Lucia said as she leaned forward in her seat to give Roland a little pet on the head. "It's a rare opportunity to get some answers from him, and since I have every intention of putting my back to him and his new master after this, I'm not going to squander this brief opportunity"

She then turned her attention back to Fromanzio "One more question, answer these and I'll leave you to your fantasy's, does my Mother still live?"