The Ratings War VI: Aces High - Round 1 (Closed - Judging)
- Thread starter Lord Krunk
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Hey guys, thanks for bearing with me while I got my personal shit together. The past few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster and a half, but it's great to be back and writing with a clear head.
I'm planning on quitting one of my two jobs at the end of this month, so I'll have even more free time to work on this. Summer is right around the corner guys, I can't wait!
Expect Round 1 in a couple of days. In the meantime, enjoy some plot supplement to whet your appetite - we'll learn more about Big Two soon.
I'm planning on quitting one of my two jobs at the end of this month, so I'll have even more free time to work on this. Summer is right around the corner guys, I can't wait!
Expect Round 1 in a couple of days. In the meantime, enjoy some plot supplement to whet your appetite - we'll learn more about Big Two soon.
Big Two sat at his desk, browsing over documents that dated back centuries. He was looking for something, but he wasn?t sure what yet. But something, some incredible hunch, told him that he was getting close to the answer he had been searching for. He wiped the sweat off his brow, feeling for a moment the many scars that etched across his formerly enviable face.
?May I??
He looked up. It was Canasta, Two?s personal archivist and collector. He was a failed mage from the Diamond Academy, but even so he was a valuable asset to the mob. Two would never hire a fully qualified Diamond mage as his subordinate ? there was just something wrong about them, as if the graduation had stripped the feeling right out of them. He never asked how Canasta escaped their iron grip ? failed mages tend to disappear.
?Go ahead.?
Canasta?s eyes began to glow red, and the entire collected archives flew out of their cabinets violently. He snapped his pale, thin fingers, and the torrent of pages collected themselves into an enormous pile that shrank until it hovered neatly before him.
?What would you like to know?? said the Diamond, his pupils narrowing into diamond-shaped slits. His irises glowed a deeper, more intense red.
Fuckin? Diamond. he thought. It always unnerved him when Canasta did this. Regardless, he stood up and examined the mage?s handiwork.
?The Clubs military takes great effort in breaking their mages down ? removing fear from their hearts. But the soldiers ? they?re agitated. They?re mobilizing fast, and donning a traditionally defensive formation throughout Chicane. What were their orders??
Canasta raised his right hand and placed it onto the pile. The text began to glow a deep red and seep into his digits. He could see every single written word flashing before him, his magic sorting them hastily into a sanguine pool surrounding him. A light shone from the pool into the space between the two criminals, a hologram depicting various documents pieced together. Illustrated supplement suddenly became animated, and Two stepped forward to examine his findings.
?The order was conceived and distributed by the Diamond Inquisition,? he said after a while. ?No purpose indicated, merely requirements for immediate mobilization of forces into densely populated areas.?
He stepped back for a few seconds, scratching the burns on his chin in thought. This seemed less like a defensive strategy and more like a lockdown.
But what would those soulless fucks do with the entire city immobile? Are they mobilizing to keep something out, or to keep them in? What for?
He thought for a second, and then spoke.
?Surely the Diamond Hives have some data stored on this.?
Canasta glared at him through the hologram, his slitted pupils thinning further. ?You know how dangerous it is to hack into their network. If I connect my mind to it, I could become indoctrinated. Worse, it could reveal our position to the powers that be.?
Two hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. ?If I?m right ? if we?re on to something, then it won?t matter. I have a good feeling about this one, but the ball?s in your court.?
Canasta glared at him again ? but he closed his eyes in acceptance. ?I will never forgive you if you?re wrong.?
With that, he connected to the Hive. Pupils suddenly widened, he tilted his head back and screamed. For Two, his friend?s torture seemed to go on forever, his piercing cries too horrible for him to bear.
And then he stopped. Smoke poured out of Canasta?s ears, as if his psychic connection had fried his brain. His head flung forward, and he collapsed into the crimson puddle. The hologram shimmered and died, the unconstrained archives exploding everywhere throughout the office.
Two rushed to his side, pulling him to a nearby cabinet to sit him upright. He shuddered awake.
?Th-the white man will c-come for us. The deck w-will be cut. Chicane will f-fall. The Full House shall r-return??
He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked up again.
?We-we?ve been c-compromised. I?m sorry.?
And with that, he collapsed once more into a pile of paper.
Big Two stood up, he knew he didn?t have much time. Canasta's cryptic statement rang a familiar bell. Something he was missing. Something at the back of his mind?
No.
It hit him.
He swiftly summoned up his Spades magic. His pupils widened, the tattoo bearing the insignia of a Club Lieutenant on his right shoulder began to glow through his body armour. The sea of paper shuddered, then shot in every direction back into the filing cabinets from whence they came ? the only evidence left of the mess was an old, dusty book that lay on his desk. It was a book of fables from his childhood; the last memory he had of the family he lost after he defected from the Clubs elite so many years ago.
He picked it up and examined the cover ? underneath all the collected dust, it bore the insignias of the four Suits. He flicked through it to the page he was looking for ? an ancient scrawl of a pale, scrawny creature with a jester?s hat.
?Legend once spoke of the return of pure magic to the world, by a mage paralleled by no other. The Druids that once lived in the heart of the forests of Chicane believed that the legend is true. They also prophesize, unlike the teachings of the House, that the arrival of The Joker (as they refer to it in their tales) will herald not only the long awaited return of the grandmaster mages that built our great city, but also the fall of Chicane.
It is believed that to kill a Joker is to take its place, to assume its? responsibility as a champion of Misere. And that several Champions from other worlds will challenge it for its throne.?
Two put down the book, shaking his head in disbelief.
Misere is an old wives? tale, a devil to make their children behave. To think that the Diamonds believe in it, that it scares even those soulless monsters. He shuddered at the thought.
His butler arrived at the door to greet him, hunched over the desk in thought.
?I?ve received word that several Clubs squadrons are mobilizing in our direction. The Diamond Hives are alight; we are no longer safe here. Does your friend require assistance??
Two looked back at his old friend, twisted in a heap against one of the cabinets. ?Yes. Contact our doctors and roboticists ? they have a new project to work on post haste. I need him in working condition in a few days. I will evacuate our men ? inform the outer networks that the Big Two is dead.?
?As you wish,? replied his butler, using his Spades magic to raise and detatch the floor underneath Canasta for use as a makeshift bed. As he led the bed with his magic to the door, he looked back at his employer.
Big Two looked at his office fondly; the maps on the walls, the cabinets holding up the roof above them, the ornate desk once owned by the former Decimator of Spades. With a snap of his fingers, it was all aflame. He shed a single tear, and then began his descent into the catacombs below the floating city.
?They know the code. May the revolution begin!?
Oooh. That is some mightily appetizing plot you have there. Good to see you back Krunk. I hope things have turned out alright for you.
?It was said that in the beginning, there was a world of slaves. Cast into shackles by entities of pure will, to do their will. It was said that four mages rose from the earth itself ? the true earth, below the cloud of time ? to free them and escape endless torture forever. Spades, Diamonds, Clubs and Hearts emerged from the chaos of arcane purity. And with the four orders combined, a flying continent was built from the flesh of the world.
[small]hehehehehehehehehe[/small]
The Champions stepped through into a cathedral, the black-and-red paisley carpet designs swirling around their feet playfully. The carpet extended for what seemed like miles, leading to a throne at the heart of the building. Above the throne, light shone through four stained-glass windows, bearing one of each suit?s insignias in shifting patterns.
[small]hahahahahahahahaha[/small]
?It was said that once the Mages had sent the slaves beyond the clouds and into the safety of the atmosphere, they used a gift of their father and their king to seal them in time. Had they not, the ivory agents of the world below would find them with ease. The Four Suits had allowed them to escape, and thusly was their strength. But such concentrated magical order holds no sway over the immense chaos of their power?s source. The beings of the underworld, known amongst our people as the Misere, were masters of the chaos. Their hounds were sent after us throughout time and space to bring us back, dead or alive. But our survival has been assured, courtesy of those four mages of old.
[small]heeheeheeheeheehee[/small]
As they stepped further forward down the epic hall, the dominant voice?s origin became apparent. There was a tall, handsome man sitting atop the throne in scarlet papal attire. Atop his head sat a magnificent crown adorned with the finest rubies and jet, and in his hand was a staff ? at its tip shone a hypnotic, beautiful gem of the most radiant auburn.
[small]hehehehehehehehehe[/small]
?The mages disappeared soon afterward, leaving the continent to its people. They may be gone, but their legend lives on in the hearts and minds of us all. In their absence we built this church in their honour ? the church of the Full House. Here, we pray that some day they may return.?
[small]And pray that I do not.[/small]
He looked down at the twenty that stood before him, glancing over them with a sweep of his brilliantly red irises.
?I am the administrator of the Full House, the figurehead of the religion that defines the very core of Chicane. Some may refer to me as the King of Hearts, but most call me House. The Diamond Inquisition has placed you in my custody, and thusly I bear your responsibility as Champions of the House. I will be your host in the coming weeks.?
[small]?Host? is appropriate.[/small]
House head tilted back and he opened his mouth to scream, but no noise came out. When his head violently lunged forward once more, his perfect irises were scarred by his pupils - now in the shape of long, snakelike diamond slits. When he spoke, his voice had become less soothing and powerful as they were deep and booming.
?And I am the Ace of Diamonds, speaking to you through time. I would have taken you under my wing in person, but we are currently? preoccupied in your immediate future. Please excuse the rudeness of my claiming your host as my own, but we have some matters to attend to.?
The possessed man stood up and stepped toward them.
?We are all in terrible danger. An agent of Misere will find or city in two weeks time, and we are witnessing the slaughter of the people we saved so long ago, perched atop the tower in the centre of our continent. Our magic crafted this world, but is not sufficient to defeat such a being. We require a number of Champions unaffected by the physics of our world to restore order and save what little is left of Chicane.?
?That is why we have brought you here, to help save the lives of a people that have only known slavery. To not only allow them to survive, but give them a chance to live.?
He swept over them once more.
?This is not merely an act of generosity on your part, however. One of you, should you succeed in slaying the Joker, shall obtain his godlike powers. You shall become as powerful as the being even the Full House fears. Would you like a chance at such incredible power? Well, here it is.?
?We can not train you all, however. There are a few unique magical artefacts that you will need to defeat the Joker, but fewer of you will have the chance to wield it. We need to test you to reap the strongest and smartest from our selection, and train them in the ways of the Four Magics so that you may be ready for any confrontation ? god or otherwise.?
?Our first test is to test you all against one another. To harden the hardened and discard the weak. House will provide you with the suitable transport; the Decimators shall assign you on your tests. They are the perfect warriors, after all.?
He sat down once more. As he did, behind the champions the door to the cathedral opened to reveal four silhouettes. They were tall, and light reflected off the metal that comprised most of their bodies like exoskeletal armour. Each had a single power core in their chest that glowed brightly, seen only through a window in their chests ? the shapes of one of the Four Suits forming the shape of the light that shot from them. They looked at their pupils with blank faces. It was no doubt that these were the Decimators, the generals of the Clubs military ? they were physically superhuman, yet also seemed perpetually cold and calculating.
?There are a few warnings I must issue you before I return to my duties. You are from beyond this plane of existence, and thusly you are our greatest chance against the pure arcane. But this does not make you invincible, you are still just as affected by the Four Magics and the Jokers? as any of us. It simply means that you can not be immediately destroyed by the same forces that created you.?
?Another warning is one that you may regard or diregard your own discretion; that all citizens of Chicane sans some? unsavories are firm believers in the House. To them, the Aces have been absent for centuries. They will not take kindly to you as our Champions, as even our slightest involvement in your actions will be considered a heresy punishable by death.?
?The same goes for the tower at the centre of Chicane ? the Ace of Hearts has built and maintained an incredibly strong perception filter to ensure that we remain hidden from their every sense. Seers and druids living in the underground woods have caught glimpses of he tower through the corner of their eyes, but should they mention what they have seen, the kindest reception they will receive is to be burned at the stake.?
?We have gone to painstaking length to hide our presence to the people, but it is for a good cause. Our presence and direct intervention is like a beacon of magical energy to the forces that wish us dead. We must hide if they are to survive.?
?I will keep in contact, and some time soon we shall meet in person. I await that day. But before we do, you have your own duties to attend to. Be gone ? I will be watching.?
House?s eyes returned to their original proportions, and he slumped forward in his chair as unconsciousness claimed him. The Decimators stood side by side behind them.
[small]When our puppeteer is a puppet himself ? what does that make us?[/small]
?Come.? Said the Decimator of Clubs. ?We have much to do, and we are running on borrowed time. We will send you to your arenas in House?s name ? we are assured you will take care of the rest. We will contact you again when one is left standing in each arena.?
The Red Champions stood in a glass elevator that rose slowly up one of the many towers of Chicane. Looking inward, one could see the hasty movements of various businessmen - mostly consisting of young professionals hailing from the University of Hearts. Or at least, they certainly looked young. Hearts mages thrill in the art of deception - there was a reason they were charged with control over business and the media.
Looking outward, you will see the glass towers of Chicane in all their glory. The intense sunlight glistened on the walls, refracting and diffracting to produce brilliant shows of light and colour around the urban wonderland. Two towers in particular used the light to produce a hologram of a clock, using the sun's position as a frame of reference.
The Decimators stared blankly at the display, as if it bored them. In fact, they seemed somewhat more irritated by the blinding light that reflected off their exoskeleton armour.
"We're here."
The elevator finally stopped to reveal a set of five doors situated before them - the roof of the building was sheltered underneath a glass dome. Inside the dome, there sat a handsome blonde man at an ivory desk, glancing at a manuscript as he spoke into a microphone. When he noticed the champions entering the room led by the duo of supersoldiers, he announced a break from regular transmission and diverted his attention toward them.
?Hello, you must be the ones His Eminence spoke of." he said in a soothing, deep tone. ?Allow me to introduce myself - I am one of the four brothers bearing the title of Jack. We assist in the general orchestrations of society that our superiors cannot. I believe you have already met my king - His Eminence, the House.?
He straightened his white tie, pronounced by the scarlet silk of his shirt and framed by the white of his blazer. He stood up, leaning on his ruby encrusted cane to greet them properly.
?The people know me as Mister Chicane, the voice of of our great city. From here my speeches are broadcast across the entire continent, inspiring the lives of so many. Surely you appreciate the beauty of control - that is why you are here, are you not??
The Decimator of Hearts spoke up. "Jack, we are running on borrowed time. Save your speeches for the radio, we have business to conduct and time is of the essence."
The elegant man conceded. ?Very well, as you wish. These five doors behind me are portals to various realms across this continent - your fellow Champions of the darker persuasion have already entered their own.?
He gestured toward a set of envelopes addressed to each Champion on his desk.
?Your allocated letter contains a number - that is the door you shall enter, the one you will share with one other in this room. Only two can enter this door, but only one may exit. My business with you is henceforth done - please leave my office quickly, I have to resume my show.?
Jack returned to his notes, glossing over them as he switched his microphone on. The doors opened, and the portals beckoned the Champions through.
Inside an office filled with lawyers and their mountains of paperwork, two Champions settle their differences. There are many security guards distributed throughout the building, ready to break up any tension so be careful to avoid them where possible. Be advised as well that the glass walls, rooves and floors of the building not only make you extremely visible but also place you on unreliable ground. A single misplaced shot, and an entire floor may collapse inward. Lose your balance badly enough, and you might fall through one of the walls to your demise.
[small]hehehehehehehehehe[/small]
The Champions stepped through into a cathedral, the black-and-red paisley carpet designs swirling around their feet playfully. The carpet extended for what seemed like miles, leading to a throne at the heart of the building. Above the throne, light shone through four stained-glass windows, bearing one of each suit?s insignias in shifting patterns.
[small]hahahahahahahahaha[/small]
?It was said that once the Mages had sent the slaves beyond the clouds and into the safety of the atmosphere, they used a gift of their father and their king to seal them in time. Had they not, the ivory agents of the world below would find them with ease. The Four Suits had allowed them to escape, and thusly was their strength. But such concentrated magical order holds no sway over the immense chaos of their power?s source. The beings of the underworld, known amongst our people as the Misere, were masters of the chaos. Their hounds were sent after us throughout time and space to bring us back, dead or alive. But our survival has been assured, courtesy of those four mages of old.
[small]heeheeheeheeheehee[/small]
As they stepped further forward down the epic hall, the dominant voice?s origin became apparent. There was a tall, handsome man sitting atop the throne in scarlet papal attire. Atop his head sat a magnificent crown adorned with the finest rubies and jet, and in his hand was a staff ? at its tip shone a hypnotic, beautiful gem of the most radiant auburn.
[small]hehehehehehehehehe[/small]
?The mages disappeared soon afterward, leaving the continent to its people. They may be gone, but their legend lives on in the hearts and minds of us all. In their absence we built this church in their honour ? the church of the Full House. Here, we pray that some day they may return.?
[small]And pray that I do not.[/small]
He looked down at the twenty that stood before him, glancing over them with a sweep of his brilliantly red irises.
?I am the administrator of the Full House, the figurehead of the religion that defines the very core of Chicane. Some may refer to me as the King of Hearts, but most call me House. The Diamond Inquisition has placed you in my custody, and thusly I bear your responsibility as Champions of the House. I will be your host in the coming weeks.?
[small]?Host? is appropriate.[/small]
House head tilted back and he opened his mouth to scream, but no noise came out. When his head violently lunged forward once more, his perfect irises were scarred by his pupils - now in the shape of long, snakelike diamond slits. When he spoke, his voice had become less soothing and powerful as they were deep and booming.
?And I am the Ace of Diamonds, speaking to you through time. I would have taken you under my wing in person, but we are currently? preoccupied in your immediate future. Please excuse the rudeness of my claiming your host as my own, but we have some matters to attend to.?
The possessed man stood up and stepped toward them.
?We are all in terrible danger. An agent of Misere will find or city in two weeks time, and we are witnessing the slaughter of the people we saved so long ago, perched atop the tower in the centre of our continent. Our magic crafted this world, but is not sufficient to defeat such a being. We require a number of Champions unaffected by the physics of our world to restore order and save what little is left of Chicane.?
?That is why we have brought you here, to help save the lives of a people that have only known slavery. To not only allow them to survive, but give them a chance to live.?
He swept over them once more.
?This is not merely an act of generosity on your part, however. One of you, should you succeed in slaying the Joker, shall obtain his godlike powers. You shall become as powerful as the being even the Full House fears. Would you like a chance at such incredible power? Well, here it is.?
?We can not train you all, however. There are a few unique magical artefacts that you will need to defeat the Joker, but fewer of you will have the chance to wield it. We need to test you to reap the strongest and smartest from our selection, and train them in the ways of the Four Magics so that you may be ready for any confrontation ? god or otherwise.?
?Our first test is to test you all against one another. To harden the hardened and discard the weak. House will provide you with the suitable transport; the Decimators shall assign you on your tests. They are the perfect warriors, after all.?
He sat down once more. As he did, behind the champions the door to the cathedral opened to reveal four silhouettes. They were tall, and light reflected off the metal that comprised most of their bodies like exoskeletal armour. Each had a single power core in their chest that glowed brightly, seen only through a window in their chests ? the shapes of one of the Four Suits forming the shape of the light that shot from them. They looked at their pupils with blank faces. It was no doubt that these were the Decimators, the generals of the Clubs military ? they were physically superhuman, yet also seemed perpetually cold and calculating.
?There are a few warnings I must issue you before I return to my duties. You are from beyond this plane of existence, and thusly you are our greatest chance against the pure arcane. But this does not make you invincible, you are still just as affected by the Four Magics and the Jokers? as any of us. It simply means that you can not be immediately destroyed by the same forces that created you.?
?Another warning is one that you may regard or diregard your own discretion; that all citizens of Chicane sans some? unsavories are firm believers in the House. To them, the Aces have been absent for centuries. They will not take kindly to you as our Champions, as even our slightest involvement in your actions will be considered a heresy punishable by death.?
?The same goes for the tower at the centre of Chicane ? the Ace of Hearts has built and maintained an incredibly strong perception filter to ensure that we remain hidden from their every sense. Seers and druids living in the underground woods have caught glimpses of he tower through the corner of their eyes, but should they mention what they have seen, the kindest reception they will receive is to be burned at the stake.?
?We have gone to painstaking length to hide our presence to the people, but it is for a good cause. Our presence and direct intervention is like a beacon of magical energy to the forces that wish us dead. We must hide if they are to survive.?
?I will keep in contact, and some time soon we shall meet in person. I await that day. But before we do, you have your own duties to attend to. Be gone ? I will be watching.?
House?s eyes returned to their original proportions, and he slumped forward in his chair as unconsciousness claimed him. The Decimators stood side by side behind them.
[small]When our puppeteer is a puppet himself ? what does that make us?[/small]
?Come.? Said the Decimator of Clubs. ?We have much to do, and we are running on borrowed time. We will send you to your arenas in House?s name ? we are assured you will take care of the rest. We will contact you again when one is left standing in each arena.?
[HEADING=1]The Ratings War VI - Aces High[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]Round 1[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]Round 1[/HEADING]
Being the first round, there is a lot to organize and even more to read. As such, I will be reissuing the rules of Round 1 in the last RW - you have 10 days to write a piece between 500-1000 words.
We will pair off in blocks of 5 groupings each; the first block begins today and will be due on Wednesday, November the 30th, the second will begin this Wednesday and will end on Friday, December 3.
From there I will require the judges to work post-haste and have all their judgings in before the 8th, as on the 10th (AEST) I will be disappearing for 10 days without an internet connection - I hope to start it up before I leave.
If not, JoJo's idea of having a co-GM to help me out when I am otherwise unavailable (it's become an irritatingly frequent thing since RW5 ended) seems like a tempting idea. I feel compelled to offer the job to Khedive Rex or Zombie_Fish, should they choose to accept it. If you do, it means I will give you my written supplement/rounds/plans in advance as I write them, so if I cannot make a deadline due to unavailability, you guys will be able to help me out.
Thank you all. And without further ado, let's begin.
We will pair off in blocks of 5 groupings each; the first block begins today and will be due on Wednesday, November the 30th, the second will begin this Wednesday and will end on Friday, December 3.
From there I will require the judges to work post-haste and have all their judgings in before the 8th, as on the 10th (AEST) I will be disappearing for 10 days without an internet connection - I hope to start it up before I leave.
If not, JoJo's idea of having a co-GM to help me out when I am otherwise unavailable (it's become an irritatingly frequent thing since RW5 ended) seems like a tempting idea. I feel compelled to offer the job to Khedive Rex or Zombie_Fish, should they choose to accept it. If you do, it means I will give you my written supplement/rounds/plans in advance as I write them, so if I cannot make a deadline due to unavailability, you guys will be able to help me out.
Thank you all. And without further ado, let's begin.
Block 1 - Black
The Black Decimators looked at their pupils with contempt. They were certainly no warriors. However, if there was anything a Decimator could face it was adversity, even the adversity of disipline. The Reds had since parted ways, heading into the urban districts of Chicane while the Blacks began their way downwards into the heart of the continent. Spades and Clubs are ruled by the physical, a communion with nature and the self. And these champions would be challenged thusly.
They came to a set of five doors at the end of an enormous corridor - the walls of the caveshad not been sighted in hours.
Spades stepped ahead to inform the Champions:
"Your arenas are through each of these doors - you have each been given a number between 1 and 5. The doors will not open until one stands victorious. You do not need to kill your opponent, only to make them concede. But where's the fun in that?"
Nearer to the surface of the mines lie many industrial zones that the Spades workers toil in. Most of them have clocked off by this stage, but there are still a few people working the machinery. The molten furnaces, the crushing plates and most importantly, the deadly tools enchanted with Spades magic - they never break, they penetrate any surface, and they could mangle a human body like tissue paper in a variety of different ways. Truly a battleground for those with a twisted mind.
The Black Decimators looked at their pupils with contempt. They were certainly no warriors. However, if there was anything a Decimator could face it was adversity, even the adversity of disipline. The Reds had since parted ways, heading into the urban districts of Chicane while the Blacks began their way downwards into the heart of the continent. Spades and Clubs are ruled by the physical, a communion with nature and the self. And these champions would be challenged thusly.
They came to a set of five doors at the end of an enormous corridor - the walls of the caveshad not been sighted in hours.
Spades stepped ahead to inform the Champions:
"Your arenas are through each of these doors - you have each been given a number between 1 and 5. The doors will not open until one stands victorious. You do not need to kill your opponent, only to make them concede. But where's the fun in that?"
[HEADING=2]ARENA 1: Soneyo (000Ronald) v Isaac (Nukey)
The Mines[/HEADING]
Deep in the heart of the caves of Chicane resides the backbone of the continent - the Spades workers that toil with and without their magic to extract minerals and construct facilities for various other faculties. The Diamond Inquisition and the Clubs army have men posted here, keeping watch over the workers and keeping alert for the rising of any workers' strikes. Or worse, revolutionaries.
Be aware that guards are keeping watch for any and all violence, and will attempt to either restrain or kill you if you are caught trespassing on their premises. Also notable is the high concentration of explosives littered throughout the mine - be careful what you do here, one wrong move could blow both of you to pieces.
The Mines[/HEADING]
Deep in the heart of the caves of Chicane resides the backbone of the continent - the Spades workers that toil with and without their magic to extract minerals and construct facilities for various other faculties. The Diamond Inquisition and the Clubs army have men posted here, keeping watch over the workers and keeping alert for the rising of any workers' strikes. Or worse, revolutionaries.
Be aware that guards are keeping watch for any and all violence, and will attempt to either restrain or kill you if you are caught trespassing on their premises. Also notable is the high concentration of explosives littered throughout the mine - be careful what you do here, one wrong move could blow both of you to pieces.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 2: Wight (elementsoul) v Troy (staika)
The Woods[/HEADING]
Deep underground at the absolute lowest part of the continent resides a woodland - pools of light shine from under the ground to illuminate the stony roof and the leaves and roots that spiral and etch throughout it.
The Druids also live here, seers that count the cards of fate - they use illegal Diamonds magic (i.e. not being connected to a Diamond Hive) to see the past, present and future with precision. It has helped them escape the gaze of the Clubs patrols for so long, but your actions may attract the attention they have acted so carefully to avoid.
The luminous marshes at your feet may contain carnivorous leeches as well - watch your step.
The Woods[/HEADING]
Deep underground at the absolute lowest part of the continent resides a woodland - pools of light shine from under the ground to illuminate the stony roof and the leaves and roots that spiral and etch throughout it.
The Druids also live here, seers that count the cards of fate - they use illegal Diamonds magic (i.e. not being connected to a Diamond Hive) to see the past, present and future with precision. It has helped them escape the gaze of the Clubs patrols for so long, but your actions may attract the attention they have acted so carefully to avoid.
The luminous marshes at your feet may contain carnivorous leeches as well - watch your step.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 3: Faustus (Tips_of_Fingers) v Zayin (RBMidknight)
The Factory District[/HEADING]
The Factory District[/HEADING]
Nearer to the surface of the mines lie many industrial zones that the Spades workers toil in. Most of them have clocked off by this stage, but there are still a few people working the machinery. The molten furnaces, the crushing plates and most importantly, the deadly tools enchanted with Spades magic - they never break, they penetrate any surface, and they could mangle a human body like tissue paper in a variety of different ways. Truly a battleground for those with a twisted mind.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 4: James (Zombie_Fish) v William Darke (ThreeWords)
The Church[/HEADING]
Another, smaller scale church of the Full House - no violence is tolerated within these hallowed walls. But we're not exactly model members of the House, are we?
If you take the route of violence, beware the priest. His Hearts magic can woo even the most brutal persona into peaceful submission - all he needs to do is be given a chance to speak.
The Church[/HEADING]
Another, smaller scale church of the Full House - no violence is tolerated within these hallowed walls. But we're not exactly model members of the House, are we?
If you take the route of violence, beware the priest. His Hearts magic can woo even the most brutal persona into peaceful submission - all he needs to do is be given a chance to speak.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 5: Izumi (Fragrance of Mtn Dew) v The Mantle (Segadroid)
The Ruins[/HEADING]
Hidden away in a chamber forgotten by time, lie the ruins of a colossal temple. In the centre of this obsidian pyramid lies a throne the size of a football stadium - it is believed that the Ace of Spades once sat upon this seat before the Full House mysteriously disappeared.
Be wary of the hostile nature of this place - there are traps everywhere. There is a fabled treasure at its heart, for those who would dare seek out its riches, and there is even lore that once upon a time, the golems that stand guard in the throne room would come to life...
The Ruins[/HEADING]
Hidden away in a chamber forgotten by time, lie the ruins of a colossal temple. In the centre of this obsidian pyramid lies a throne the size of a football stadium - it is believed that the Ace of Spades once sat upon this seat before the Full House mysteriously disappeared.
Be wary of the hostile nature of this place - there are traps everywhere. There is a fabled treasure at its heart, for those who would dare seek out its riches, and there is even lore that once upon a time, the golems that stand guard in the throne room would come to life...
------------------------------
Block 2 - Red
Block 2 - Red
The Red Champions stood in a glass elevator that rose slowly up one of the many towers of Chicane. Looking inward, one could see the hasty movements of various businessmen - mostly consisting of young professionals hailing from the University of Hearts. Or at least, they certainly looked young. Hearts mages thrill in the art of deception - there was a reason they were charged with control over business and the media.
Looking outward, you will see the glass towers of Chicane in all their glory. The intense sunlight glistened on the walls, refracting and diffracting to produce brilliant shows of light and colour around the urban wonderland. Two towers in particular used the light to produce a hologram of a clock, using the sun's position as a frame of reference.
The Decimators stared blankly at the display, as if it bored them. In fact, they seemed somewhat more irritated by the blinding light that reflected off their exoskeleton armour.
"We're here."
The elevator finally stopped to reveal a set of five doors situated before them - the roof of the building was sheltered underneath a glass dome. Inside the dome, there sat a handsome blonde man at an ivory desk, glancing at a manuscript as he spoke into a microphone. When he noticed the champions entering the room led by the duo of supersoldiers, he announced a break from regular transmission and diverted his attention toward them.
?Hello, you must be the ones His Eminence spoke of." he said in a soothing, deep tone. ?Allow me to introduce myself - I am one of the four brothers bearing the title of Jack. We assist in the general orchestrations of society that our superiors cannot. I believe you have already met my king - His Eminence, the House.?
He straightened his white tie, pronounced by the scarlet silk of his shirt and framed by the white of his blazer. He stood up, leaning on his ruby encrusted cane to greet them properly.
?The people know me as Mister Chicane, the voice of of our great city. From here my speeches are broadcast across the entire continent, inspiring the lives of so many. Surely you appreciate the beauty of control - that is why you are here, are you not??
The Decimator of Hearts spoke up. "Jack, we are running on borrowed time. Save your speeches for the radio, we have business to conduct and time is of the essence."
The elegant man conceded. ?Very well, as you wish. These five doors behind me are portals to various realms across this continent - your fellow Champions of the darker persuasion have already entered their own.?
He gestured toward a set of envelopes addressed to each Champion on his desk.
?Your allocated letter contains a number - that is the door you shall enter, the one you will share with one other in this room. Only two can enter this door, but only one may exit. My business with you is henceforth done - please leave my office quickly, I have to resume my show.?
Jack returned to his notes, glossing over them as he switched his microphone on. The doors opened, and the portals beckoned the Champions through.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 1: Underwood (Lost in the Void) v Reject (wesdabigman)
The Library[/HEADING]
A labyrinth of towering bookcases expanding almost endlessly, this is home to many an aspiring Diamond mage. Many of the books have magical properties, so beware of reading them. If one beckons to you or asks you to read it, try to resist the temptation or do at your own peril. And don't ever attempt to access the Restricted Section - prolonged exposure to magical radiation from the heavily enchanted tomes may cause hallucinations or even madness.
The Library[/HEADING]
A labyrinth of towering bookcases expanding almost endlessly, this is home to many an aspiring Diamond mage. Many of the books have magical properties, so beware of reading them. If one beckons to you or asks you to read it, try to resist the temptation or do at your own peril. And don't ever attempt to access the Restricted Section - prolonged exposure to magical radiation from the heavily enchanted tomes may cause hallucinations or even madness.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 2: Smiles (Hafrael) v Shift (Viking Incognito)
The Brothel[/HEADING]
A favoured place of the Spades mage on leave, this resort is a world of earthly pleasure. Many failed Hearts mages find themselves using their talents professionally here, regardless of said profession's questionable nature. Beware the lure of the many whores of both genders, the sultry but ruthless Madame of the resort has heard rumours that two Champions of Hearts may be here as clients. If she works out who you are, her words (not to mention her men and women) might seduce you unwittingly under her employ.
The Brothel[/HEADING]
A favoured place of the Spades mage on leave, this resort is a world of earthly pleasure. Many failed Hearts mages find themselves using their talents professionally here, regardless of said profession's questionable nature. Beware the lure of the many whores of both genders, the sultry but ruthless Madame of the resort has heard rumours that two Champions of Hearts may be here as clients. If she works out who you are, her words (not to mention her men and women) might seduce you unwittingly under her employ.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 3: Baramiah (Khedive Rex) v Doctor (Baldrek)
The Clubs Barracks[/HEADING]
Where the Clubs mages train for service in the Chicane military, the Barracks are the proving grounds of the Decimators. There is a large arena surrounded by an armada of tents, and inside the arena is provided a variety of weapons at your disposal. Normally the Clubs mages would watch the spectacle, but many of them are absent for some reason...
The Clubs Barracks[/HEADING]
Where the Clubs mages train for service in the Chicane military, the Barracks are the proving grounds of the Decimators. There is a large arena surrounded by an armada of tents, and inside the arena is provided a variety of weapons at your disposal. Normally the Clubs mages would watch the spectacle, but many of them are absent for some reason...
[HEADING=2]ARENA 4: Daman Ra (CounterAttack) v Dimitry Shanks (Armitage Shanks)
The Office[/HEADING]
The Office[/HEADING]
Inside an office filled with lawyers and their mountains of paperwork, two Champions settle their differences. There are many security guards distributed throughout the building, ready to break up any tension so be careful to avoid them where possible. Be advised as well that the glass walls, rooves and floors of the building not only make you extremely visible but also place you on unreliable ground. A single misplaced shot, and an entire floor may collapse inward. Lose your balance badly enough, and you might fall through one of the walls to your demise.
[HEADING=2]ARENA 5: Hui (JoJoDeathunter) v The Solver (Doc Gnosis)
The Prison[/HEADING]
The most hardened criminals, the most brutal mages, all wind up here in due course. You're stuck in a building with them all, and they're all waiting to get a piece of the new guys. But to be honest, they're not your biggest problem. Your biggest problem is the assortment of Clubs Wardens - they're ready for any kind of violence with more arms on their person than would seemingly be necessary. But in the event of a riot, you'll need all the help you can get.
The Prison[/HEADING]
The most hardened criminals, the most brutal mages, all wind up here in due course. You're stuck in a building with them all, and they're all waiting to get a piece of the new guys. But to be honest, they're not your biggest problem. Your biggest problem is the assortment of Clubs Wardens - they're ready for any kind of violence with more arms on their person than would seemingly be necessary. But in the event of a riot, you'll need all the help you can get.
*wags finger* Ohhohoho you. Yoooooou. That was clever, making sure Shift couldn't use his powers in any "unwarranted fashion". But the bit about the druids confused me, I can't tell if it is actually significant to any of us or not.
I'm guessing you're talking about that druids that had seen the tower? I suspect it will be significant once we're doing missions/ battles in the actual city and we risk accidentally talking about the aces -- say, if someone overhears your character mentioning them -- and then the possibility of being killed becomes much more likely.Viking Incognito said:
Anyway, looks exciting.
65 hours and counting. If there are more delays for whatever reason I would at least like a notice that they exist. I also suggest a title change.
- Mar 31, 2010
- 7,170
- 143
- 68
- Country
-
- Gender
-
I agree, I would also like to note a suggestion that @Lord Krunk: should perhaps consider choosing a co-GM to share the work-load with if his schedule doesn't always allow enough time to run this, real life can take up a surprising amount of time sometimeselementsoul said:
elementsoul said:
I've discussed it a bit further up at the Round 1 post above, but I will say that the reason it's taken a day longer than I had originally planned was because I have had no access to my computer until now. Sorry if it's caused any problems, but I really couldn't have got it in sooner.JoJoDeathunter said:
I really do have to start meeting deadlines at some point - it makes me really hypocritical to expect you to meet them now.
So Jojo, that Co-GM is an idea that is a very tempting idea that might just work.
Round 1 has started, by the way, so check if you're in the current participating block. If not you'll be given your opponent and arena on Wednesday.
It's 3a.m. and I have work this morning, so I'm gonna hit the hay - I'll send the PMs tomorrow afternoon, just in case anyone's been out of the loop recently.
Haha, it literally took me ages to figure out why your character was listed as "Zayin" in the 1st round line-up.RBMidknight said:
10 days is possible for me even though my girlfriend tore the ligaments in her ankle today and will be needing a week's worth of home-care from me. Good luck to both of us...although seeing as Faustus is a man of luck, he doesn't necessarily need it lol.
If you'd like to communicate through PM about our characters (in order to do each other's justice) I'm more than happy with that! In fact, I'd heartily recommend a bit of light-hearted "trash-talk" and discussion via PM. Your call though. = P
EDIT: Just reread your sheet again (not the intro yet though) an can pretty much see why partnering us together seemed like a good choice. A single mother with a young son, who dislikes/fears spontaneity VS a guy who's unpredictable luck makes it difficult to plan any action - who also has a strong belief that hurting women is wrong. So very wrong.
I certainly have to work my creativity really fucking hard in this first round, don't I!?
I'm fine with being a co-GM.Lord Krunk said:
@ThreeWords: Best of luck! I may be a bit busy over the next few weeks thanks to coursework, but I'm definitely going to try and get something done. Already my mind is a raging torrent [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB6UQXx98KU].
I'll admit that having a Co-GM is a great idea if you're busy with other things alongside this, but I can't help but feel that passing the role onto Zombie_Fish gives him an advantage in the RP.Lord Krunk said:
I'm sure being a veteran (and winner) of The Ratings War means he's a good writer and capable of sharing your load but would it not be better passing the duties onto someone not involved? Even one of the judges would surely be a better choice...
I just think that having access to plot points and arena information would allow Zombie_Fish to plan his entries accordingly, giving him an unfair (however slight) advantage. I would feel so much more comfortable if you gave the Co-GM duties onto someone who is not a contestant.
What does everybody else think about this?
I agree. A contestant being co-GM does give them a very slight advantage since they have greater knowledge of the universe than the other participants. A co-GM should be someone impartial... perhaps one of the judges?
- Mar 31, 2010
- 7,170
- 143
- 68
- Country
-
- Gender
-
I agree there might be an issue, while I'm sure Zombie_Fish or another player wouldn't deliberately use a co-GM position to advantage themselves in the competition, there is the unfortunate problem of a co-GM contestant seeing the data before it is released or maybe even having to fill in some data themselves if Krunk became absent half-way through the writing process. I can see three possible solutions:Tips_of_Fingers said:
1) Give the role to a judge
2) Give the role to someone outside the RP
3) Give the role to one of the contestants who is knocked out after the first round
Either 1) or 3) are preferable in my opinion.