Maintenance Duty

Space and other Dimensions, whether within the realm of the mind or other, less-savory regions.

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Fri Jul 22, 2016 6:59 pm

The word "hearth" danced around Tosh's thoughts until a memory surfaced.

Roland Sackville wrote:"No, THE three tools.

The Anvil of Dagda. The Cooking-Hearth of the Morrigan. The Spit of Nethin. The Three that constitute a blacksmith. Learn your triads, boy."

"No way..." he gaped.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Fri Jul 22, 2016 7:13 pm

The nightmare creature lashes out with countless limbs. Here a thin tentacle spears through a bird, there an almost discrepant human hand snatches one out of the air and squeezes until guts spill out between it's fingers. All the while the sickly light shining from within it feels like it's slowly sapping Tosh and Siberia's strength, radiating a sense of ruin and despair.
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High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Jul 22, 2016 9:27 pm

Even as some of the flock is snared, other parts of it dart in here and there, pecking and clawing. Wherever there's an eye, a sharp beak lances out for it.

Some have taken up strands and tendrils of the creature in their beaks, pulling and tearing.
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Fri Jul 22, 2016 10:13 pm

Siberia drops to one knee, bringing up a shield of ice as she tries to defend herself from the despair.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Fri Jul 22, 2016 11:49 pm

Tosh fell to his knees and began to sob despite himself, appearance flickering between his two selves as his mind desperately attempted to resist.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:07 am

The ice seems to help a little, less in a physical sense and more as an act of defiance, but it barely seems to lessen the sense of dread. May as well lower it and accept your fate.

"Just give up... Your companions have!" the creature taunts Sam even as the Ravens tear away at some of it's limbs. Eye ooze where they're pecked out and most of them stay that way under the near constant gaze of the ravens. But everywhere a raven falls the creature shifts and grows again. "You're nothing but a mere shadow of yourself. A forgotten tale. Fading into obscurity."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:28 am

Several ravens come together on one side to form Badb, raising a spear to plunge in.

"If you'd wanted giving up from us, you missed your chance with the Washer. I. Don't. Give. Ground."

"And neither should you!" She calls to those on the ground.

The emotions that the spear is made of feel dreadfully, even painfully alive, burning like the sting of nettles as Badb thrusts it into the flesh of the creature.

Badb breaks apart again, leaving the spear stuck in only to reform from other ravens on the opposite side of the beast. She's winding up with another spear.

"I haven't felt like this in centuries, and you've just given me an excuse to let it all out..."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:53 am

Siberia isn't a telepath, but she knows how her own powers work and she's prepared to fight with them. The ice shield collapses around Siberia, encasing her and bulking up into a large ice construct with her form cradled in its interior. The construct's surface is covered with spikes and other sharp edges. Where the eyes of the construct should be is a pair of white glowing eyes. Siberia's voice comes from the construct's mouth, "Do not mistake a defense for acquiescence to fate." The construct steps up and tries to slam a large fist into the creature.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:08 am

"What... she... said..." Bruce groaned as he forced himself to stand as if under extra gravity, flickering no more, "Fate? No such thing lady." This was why Tosh created Bruce, to be brave when he himself could not, to look despair in the eye and punch it its ugly face. He took a heavy step forward, running on pure determination.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:25 am

The creature screams when Badb's spear pierces into it, tearing away shifting flesh. The sound is shrill and washes over everyone almost like a physical force, pushing against Tosh and literally sandblasting away at Siberia's armor. Her punch still connects, carried through by sheer momentum, arresting the creatures's shifting where she strikes, freezing part of it into sluggish twitches. The scream continues, a neverending wail with no need for breath or air. It knocks back ravens, some of them dropping out of the air, sickly and their feathers torn away. Badb manages to weather it better but it still rings in her ears like the end of all things.
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:28 am

Badb wobbles a bit in the air, but grunts, lifting her arms and ramming the second spear home.

She gestures with her hands, slowly bringing them together. As she does so, both spears start to push towards each other, branching out in wicked barbs as they converge.
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:37 am

Slowly but surely, he inched forward nonetheless. Unfortunately it took all the insane determination the hulking alter ego had to do that much, as impressive as the feat might be.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Sat Jul 23, 2016 7:40 pm

Siberia's consciousness disperses into a freezing fog as her construct is destroyed and it gravitates to Badb, swirling around her and reinforcing her efforts.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Narrator » Sat Jul 23, 2016 8:46 pm

As Siberia and Tosh struggle and fight to support Sam Badb she can almost feel their efforts invigorating her. The Admiral may be in charge of the mundane but in this moment she's placing her support in a higher power, even if she may not be intending so. And from Siberia she can feel the rest of the ship unfold in her mind, a ship full of warriors and soldiers prepared to die for their cause. And on it's bow a green-haired figurehead marking the iron warship as Hers somehow. A place of power that infuses her and the spear she's driving into the manifested nightmare until the weapon meets it's counterpart and with one last heave Badb tears the creature in two, filaments of darkness scattering and fading away like smoke and with them the mental prison they had been trapped in.

In the real world Cailleach screams and clutches her head, flesh shuddering and twisting as she seizes up and collapses, cycling through countless faces on her way down until a young red-haired woman who looks remarkably like Sam hits the ground, unconscious, blood is trickling out of her ears and nose.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:42 pm

Siberia's consciousness remains fragmented, the slippery nature of her defenses now making it difficult to pull herself back together. Given some of the impressions from Siberia swirling around Sam, Siberia's unconsciousness is probably a good thing for Cailleach's short term well being.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Mon Jul 25, 2016 3:45 pm

Tosh started to snore right there on the floor. The effort of resisting Cailleach had exhausted him. Only spending a single night in his own bed didn't help his energy level either.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:32 pm

Sam for her part groans, slowly rising to a crouch while clutching her head.

"...bloody hell."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Narrator » Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:42 pm

Around her everybody seems to be unconscious. Her counterpart stirs with a groan but doesn't seem to be quite all the way awake. She looks terrible in what's presumably her natural form. Her hair is dirty and a big tangled mess, the unstable molecule suit she's wearing doesn't really look anything like Sam's and is torn in countless places. She looks tattered, almost feral. It seems she hasn't spend much time in this shape for weeks if not months.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:44 pm

"...you really are me," she mumbles, struggling over to the girl.

"...what even happened to you?"
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:56 pm

As Sam gets closer to her the woman's eyes snap open and she scrambles to her feet and away from Sam in a way that does not follow the regular rules of limbs and joints. With her back against the wall she bares her teeth and snarls at Sam but it's obvious she's not exactly in any shape to put up a fight right now, even though Sam gets the vague impression that she's at least trying to mentally claw at her
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 6:29 pm

Siberia groans and begins to stir and Sam can sense the pieces beginning to fall back into place.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 6:35 pm

Sam grunts, hefting herself up to stand.

"...you're beaten. You know that, right?"
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 6:45 pm

"You can't beat Death." she growls back. "Not even you."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:00 pm

Siberia struggled to a sitting position, "One can look it in the eye and tell it to go to Hell." A cold smile crossed her face, "The best of us can send it there." The lines on her arms started to glow.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:11 pm

"Strong words from the one who has to beg, borrow and steal to rule with an iron fist. Go on then, strike me down."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:15 pm

"...okay, so she's still a gallon of crazy in a pint glass, but hold on there. She might know something."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:21 pm

Siberia hauled herself to her feet, holding out her hands in Cailleach's direction. Fog begins to roll off them. "I never beg, which is something we have in common," she said and despite her obvious anger, there was a hint of respect there as well. Sam's words cause her to pause though, "What could she possibly know?"
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:33 pm

"What don't I know. But you will not besmirch my name any further by coercing secrets out of me with the promise of mercy. I will only parley with the Phantom Queen as equals."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:42 pm

"She's a shapeshifter who's apparently been infiltrating ships for awhile."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:59 pm

"All the more reason for her to be dealt with promptly. You're not helping your case, and she's made it clear she's not going to negotiate."
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 8:09 pm

"The dead need to be sung to their graves. You should know that better than anyone. I am but a harbinger, the shadow in the dark that sends you clambering back into the light or delving deeper into your demise."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Jul 25, 2016 9:23 pm

"Just... just stop saying crazy shite when the Admiral's got a gun to your head."

"Figuratively speaking."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:09 pm

"So how many of my soldiers did you preemptively 'sing to their graves'?"
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Mon Jul 25, 2016 10:29 pm

"About a dozen..." the woman muses. "Maybe half of them didn't have the spark. They don't taste as nice but they have to be ushered as well." she helpfully informs Siberia. It's almost like she's trying to piss her off and force Sam to intervene.
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:50 pm

"And you tried to kill us perfectly healthy people... because?" Tosh asked, yawning as he ascended the stairs. The crewmen had finally shaken him awake.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Tue Jul 26, 2016 12:01 am

"As a portent and sacrifice to the things to come. Ask the Old Washer." she says, looking at Sam. "Though she seems to have turned sentimental and weak, only called upon when convenient and swiftly forgotten when faced with the reality of the old ways. You don't deserve the mantle of the Battle Crow, Morrigu."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Samantha McManus » Tue Jul 26, 2016 12:08 am

"You're awfully bloody judgmental for someone who just got her arse kicked."
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Samantha McManus
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High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Siberia » Tue Jul 26, 2016 12:18 am

"My patience is wearing thin," Siberia says, the temperature noticeably dropping.
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Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Cailleach » Tue Jul 26, 2016 12:47 am

"And I will tell you once more, strike me down if that is what you wish. I was graceful enough to answer your questions and more because you sail under the mantle of the Raven. It is not me who is at fault if you fail to understand."
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Cailleach
 
High Concept: Divine Hag
Aspect: Starlight Through Sea Water
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Hungry for the Wrong Things
Aspect: Reluctantly Human

Re: Maintenance Duty

Postby Toshiro Narumi » Tue Jul 26, 2016 1:55 am

Tosh very badly wanted not to buy any of this Morrigan nonsense. It was fitting in with the things Finn had said far too well to be ignored, and it disturbed him. It challenged his very understanding of reality for any of the child-killer's prophecy to be true.

No. Just a delusion in common. Has to be. Sam isn't an evil death goddess. Finn was insane. There is no faerie apocalypse, because that is completely insane.

Sam... probably heard all that.
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Toshiro Narumi
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High Concept: Nascent Cardinal Guardian
Aspect: Adorkable Tech Genius
Aspect: Hero In The Blood
Aspect: Crowded Brain
Aspect: Werewolf Lover
Aspect: Guilty Conscience

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