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  1. - Top - End - #61
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    5a Violista's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [HQ Training Gym]

    If the man had eaten his fill, he might have been capable of surviving the beam.
    Once the beam disappears, he's almost entirely vaporized. There's only part of his bones and a little bit of muscle left. It takes one more step towards Kaydara, still burning away from the plasma. Then it falls. This particular one had a heat affinity and the capacity for rapid regeneration, which is how parts of its skeleton survived in spite of starving.

    ...However, having eaten nothing, it literally consumes itself as the remnants of the plasma continue to etch him. When only marrow remains, Nemo steps forward towards it and crouches, then absorbs the remnants into her hand. Her face becomes slightly less pale from the blood loss, but there's not a large difference because there was so little of the guy left.
    "Was that enough of a demonstration?" she asks Kaydara, as she stands back up. ""Because I need to recover before I can do much else."


    The electric-woman cowers in the corner. She knows that if she tries to run, she'll be hit by the same beam and she doesn't want to die. No matter the cost, she doesn't want to be killed in that way. She'll do anything if it means she'll survive.

    Meanwhile, the metallic goblin doesn't even pay attention to the blast. Having finished eating, he rests among the dried-out corpses.
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  2. - Top - End - #62
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Halae's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [Southwest Mountains]

    When Emily realizes what's happening with the vultures, she quickly packs up and starts making her way down the mountain. She was clearly spotted at some point. When? Was it a squirrel, maybe? A crow? Something else? This is the sort of thing that's going to need to be relayed to anybody that wants to make an assault on the HQ; their intelligence gathering methods are stronger and stranger than expected.

    With the enemy already mobilizing, there's a good chance that Emily has already been spotted leaving; that means there's little reason for stealth. She doesn't take off her ghillie suit, simply picking up her gear and taking off into the woods at high speed. Her legs are long, powerful, and while she has to use her hands to be able to sprint properly, she has a lot of endurance with which to sprint along the forest path. Hopefully they haven't blocked off her exit somehow.
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  3. - Top - End - #63
    Orc in the Playground
     
    Earl of Purple's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    HQ Offices- Slaver's Guild

    Sacrificing them to summon demons is better than using them as labour; it means there's a constant need for more. That's good business.

    "We're willing to sell labourers for [price] per head, or [cheaper] if you come to Skyside and pick them up. Less transport costs and risk. We'll buy them for [moderate price], but would like to be able to refuse to buy any that don't meet our standards or that won't sell. If we are transporting them to you and you have some to sell, we'll reduce the price on those we sell so it matches the price you'd get in the City. The sale of specialists would be [more expensive than the labourers], or [slightly cheaper] in Skyside- with the same deal on reduced transport costs when we buy as we sell. All goods will be guaranteed fit, healthy and strong, and we guarantee the skills of the specialists. If you are not happy with a slave, present them to us and we'll return the money. One helicopter like the one I rode in today can fit thirty slaves. Oh, and we would also like warning if you strike at Skyside, or alternately a guarantee of safety for Guild property and employees when you do. "

    Then there's probably some haggling about the price- Theodore's got authority for that, and knows the minimum and maximum prices the Guild would allow, but the warning or guarantee of safety is quite important for the Guild. They have six helicopters of the model used today, but aren't willing to send more than half to CAVE at once- they'll be vulnerable in the air, and if there's a regular movement of helicopters from the Guild to CAVE then they're going to be at risk from attack.
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  4. - Top - End - #64
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "You are concerned that I will be pursued," Larukh states, rather than ask. "A valid concern, but you can rest assured I won't be. They believe us lost in the Warp. In truth, I thought we would be, but we emerged... here instead."
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  5. - Top - End - #65
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    [CAVE Tour]

    Balthus thinks for a moment, then nods, and leads Gem down, into the area of the living quarters labeled "North Blue". Down to the end of a long hall, with doors set every so often. At the end, he opens the one on the left, and gestures for Gem to go in. Inside is a small apartment suite, with a living area, bathroom, and single bedroom. Cozy, but not cramped, though there is a distinct lack of windows.

    "There is additional sound dampening in the walls, in case you're wondering. There aren't many living in this area at the moment, either. We lost a lot of people during the jump, but we're hoping to recruit more as time goes on."

    [HQ Training Gym]

    "I was about to ask about that. It seems your ability takes quite a lot out of you. If you're able to reverse it, would it not be so taxing?" Kaydara asks, having noted Nemo's reaction when absorbing the man's remains. She's inclined to let the girl get some rest, but it's an interesting enough question that it bears asking now, rather than later.

    [Southwest Mountains]

    Emily will note the scent she smelled earlier faintly around her, but the creatures all stay out of sight of her, so while they might have an inkling of where she is, or might have been, none of them seem to have caught on to her retreat. After a few hours, the smell will fade, and there are no signs of pursuit. It seems she's gotten away without CAVE catching her.

    [HQ Offices- Slaver's Guild]

    "Our transports can fit considerably more, so we would most likely be picking up any merchandise purchased ourselves in the city, and shipping any excess via the same routes. Any shipments that you would need to make on the rare occasion it would be needed would be escorted by some of our aerospace assets, to ensure safe delivery," Kaydara says. She puts on a distant look for a moment as she accesses some data through a link, and reviews it on her internal HUD. Then she blinks and smiles at Theodore. "I believe we can come to an agreement. Your prices are fairly standard, though if there were a volume discount on the laborers of say, [small percentage], I think our demand for some of the specialists will be even greater. I don't believe I can agree to an advanced warning of any sort of action on our part, but I believe we can guarantee the safety of your people and property in the event of any sort of action in Skyside."

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "I see," says Chaeron, with a slight nod. "Very well, then. We have learned that it's very difficult to leave this place, this Nexus, but I believe we should be able to assist one another. Like you, we originally did not intend to come here, but since we seem to be stranded, at least, for the time being, we've decided to continue our mission of conquest here. Your forces would be used in the furtherance of that goal, though any goals you might have that we can assist with, we would, obviously. The Alliance's name is not just for show, after all. Does that suit?"
    Last edited by Nova_Eclipse; 2019-10-27 at 10:03 PM.
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

  6. - Top - End - #66
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    5a Violista's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [HQ Training Gym]

    Nemo shakes her head, and walks back to Kaydara's side.

    To be honest, the answer isn't just a simple 'no', however.

    "Doing that requires using some of my blood and energy, and even if I take it back it still changed enough to matter," she explains, even though it still isn't entirely clear. "Taking some of it back does make me feel better afterwards, but it's only slightly better than taking it from any other person."

    She pauses.
    Then, realizes some of her hair had gotten loose from her braid, so she tucks it behind her ear.
    "I could do something less draining, but it would just make monsters with a lesser effect," she adds, feeling it would be pertinent to know. She glances over at the two remaining 'monsters' in the fenced area. She could have made them significantly weaker, but it would have left her much less lightheaded and drained. "But, I figured you'd prefer to see close to my limits instead of something basic."
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  7. - Top - End - #67
    Troll in the Playground
     
    bc56's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    CAVE Tour

    "It's perfect." Gem replies. Plenty of space for a summoning circle there, and with some shelves she could store her implements as well. She doesn't mind the lack of windows, and soundproofing will help drown out any screams in the middle of the night. The cloud of smoke may not entirely share her assessment, but it drifts over to a dark corner and settles down.
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  8. - Top - End - #68
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Lord Magtok's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    [HQ Courtyard]

    "Of course," Chaeron says with a smile, picking up on Malice's sudden caginess. He suspects what Malice's hang-up may be. "Perhaps I misspoke. By 'we', I meant in the collective sense only, since you did say you wished to join the Alliance. That name is not just for show; those who are accepted into our ranks are given access to our resources, but they are expected to contribute to our overall goals in return, and not to squander the resources they were given. That's not to say that resources are not expendable, but that they need to be expended in a manner that produces a net gain." His smile fades to a more practical expression.

    "As an example, say we provided an invasion force for you to command, with the goal of seizing the MagCave. You would take our soldiers and attain your goal. You keep the MagCave and its contents, and, in the future, say we needed some extra intelligence, or perhaps the use of one of the devices that you managed to recover, in support of either one of the Dragons' goals, or the goals of another Alliance member, you would provide these resources in equal measure to what was used to attain your goal. Give and take, co-operation, you see. We are neither a business, nor a charity. We offer mutual resources for Alliance members to use, and mutual protection from those who would wish to harm us or to thwart our plans. Does that clarify somewhat?"
    "It does," Malice admits, though he's still never going to let go of that paranoia entirely. Magtok better have gene-locked stuff in there; it wouldn't do to give Chaeron even the slightest opportunity to usurp what is rightfully ours. We will not be someone else's means to an end. Not like Magtok was. Not now, not ever.
    Quote Originally Posted by RabbitHoleLost View Post
    Magtok's the best
    "You probably found 'How to Survive a Robot Uprising' in the humor section. Let's just hope that is where it belongs."
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  9. - Top - End - #69
    Orc in the Playground
     
    Earl of Purple's Avatar

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    HQ Offices- Slaver's Guild

    "The discount is most acceptable." Particularly for removing the risk of the journeys. Theodore smiles, and will stand up to shake hands, happy with the deal. The discount's not as low as he's authorised to go, so the Guildmasters will be happy, and might even promote him. Or pay for an operation to fix his illness, which is something he'd be very grateful for.
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  10. - Top - End - #70
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    Larukh nods, slowly.

    "This is acceptable. I expected as much. The cultists and slaves on my ship can be used by the rest of the force as you see fit, provided you provide me with an opportunity to replenish their numbers. The two mortals here with me, however, are not so expendable. Their talent for sorcery is not easily replaced." The women nod, but say nothing. "The three... automatons with me have little will or mind of their own. They obey my commands and remember their old vitality when battle comes. It's possible other strong-willed individuals might be able to direct them. We would need to test it, but they are otherwise not disposable and are to be treated with care. Fortunately they're not easily destroyed, either."
    Last edited by Morty; 2019-10-30 at 09:26 AM.
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  11. - Top - End - #71
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [HQ Training Gym]

    Kaydara nods, frowning slightly. That will change how the Alliance might use Nemo, but it just means she'd be better suited for special actions.

    "I see," she says quietly, and nods again, then moves towards the gate, gesturing for Nemo to follow her. Several clockwork soldiers move up, and she looks to them for a moment.

    "Keep these two under guard, and separated. Kill the eye creature first if necessary." They salute her and move into the area, closing the gate behind them after Kaydara and Nemo have gone through it. She looks back to Nemo. "Let's find you a place to rest, and perhaps, something to eat."

    She leads Nemo quietly for several moments, before asking, as they continue to walk.

    "Given your history, what are your goals, Nemo? If you had the resources, what would you do?"

    [CAVE Tour]

    Balthius looks pleased.

    "I'll have your things brought here, then. If you'd like to get situated, we can resume the tour later." He doesn't seem to mind one way or the other, but understands that new members need to get situated before they can get down to the business of conquering whatever world they're on. "Or we can continue on, I'll leave that decision to you."

    [HQ Courtyard]

    "There is another matter as well, but first I'd like to know if you've now reconsidered your position on joining us, or if you're willing to commit," Chaeron says, his expression serious. He's not fond of having to discuss this next matter with someone whom he just met, but the Dragons are forcing his hand in this matter, a fact Malice will soon find out, if he assents to joining the Alliance. No need to share it just yet, though.

    [HQ Offices- Slaver's Guild]

    Kaydara smiles as well, and rises, extending a hand and giving Theodore's a firm shake.

    "Excellent. I will have a list of our most urgent needs ready in a few minutes. You mentioned you have gifts, yes? I would like very much to see what you've brought us."

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "We've just recently signed an agreement with the local slavers' guild, so replenishment of your expendable resources shouldn't be an issue. If there are any specific requirements you might need in that area, please let myself or one of my lieutenants know, and we'll add them to our list of requisitions," Chaeron says, obviously pleased. "We can arrange tests if you'd like, but first a more practical matter: I'd like to know your garrisoning requirements. What is your total force size?"
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

  12. - Top - End - #72
    Troll in the Playground
     
    bc56's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    CAVE Tour

    "I'd like to get things set up here." Gem replies. She's mentally organizing her possessions within the room,. trying to decide where everything should go to maximize her security. "Oh, and when your men get my things, tell them to speak the word 'nidhogg' before touching my saddlebags. The spirit in them is under orders to attack anyone who touches them otherwise."
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  13. - Top - End - #73
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    5a Violista's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    [HQ Training Gym]

    That's the worst, isn't it? When plans have to change because somebody else isn't up to the task.

    Nemo follows Kaydara.
    The feathery-eye goblin will be carried along. So long as he's locked up and unable to feed on anyone then he'll just grow more and more ravenous, but nothing else will happen until the next time he's released and able to feed again.
    The electric-woman complies and avoids touching people with her hands. She'll be more responsive to obeying instructions.


    "I just want to survive," she says, responding. "I don't have any anything else, just that, no matter the cost. Except if I had everything then I'd just want to destroy everything."

    A viscous black fluid runs down from her left eye.

    Nemo wipes it away, and the fluid vanishes as if it were never there. "S-so, I guess it's good that I don't."
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  14. - Top - End - #74
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Lord Magtok's Avatar

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    HQ Courtyard

    Spoiler
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    [HQ Courtyard]

    "There is another matter as well, but first I'd like to know if you've now reconsidered your position on joining us, or if you're willing to commit," Chaeron says, his expression serious. He's not fond of having to discuss this next matter with someone whom he just met, but the Dragons are forcing his hand in this matter, a fact Malice will soon find out, if he assents to joining the Alliance. No need to share it just yet, though.


    "Very well, we assent to joining. Is there some sort of contract signed in blood involved? What abou-" Malice is interrupted by Rasputin crawling down his arm, hopping to the floor, and angrily yelling something at him in Russian. Malice rolls his eye and responds in the same tongue, with obvious skepticism coloring his tone. He uses his boot to nudge the Mad Monk an inch or two away, and mutters something else under his breath. Stupid talking head, nobody asked for your advice. If you were so great and wise, how did you end up a decapitated head in a jar and in Malice's possession in the first place? If Malice is such a fool, why do you cling to his side like a lowly parasite you are? Yeah, that's what I thought.

    "Sorry about that, my servant spoke out of turn. As I was saying, I can commit to joining. The MagCave is more of a long-term project, anyway." Malice shrugs. Magtok has surely built an absolute nightmare of traps and mazes and awfulness within the caverns of Mt. Enn, and definitely didn't let it all fall apart when he vanished from the Nexus for a couple years. It's probably safer and easier to conquer a place like Riverside than to march an army into that pit of death and lose half your forces when an entire floor is collapsed out of spite.
    Quote Originally Posted by RabbitHoleLost View Post
    Magtok's the best
    "You probably found 'How to Survive a Robot Uprising' in the humor section. Let's just hope that is where it belongs."
    -Daniel H. Wilson
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  15. - Top - End - #75
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

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    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "I have fifty slaves and the same number of cultists," Larukh says. "They do not require much in terms of quarters. But I will also require a space to keep my collection, perform my research, bind daemons and maintain my armoury. I can put bound daemons to the service of this group, as well."
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  16. - Top - End - #76
    Orc in the Playground
     
    Earl of Purple's Avatar

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    HQ- Slaver's Guild

    "Yes, indeed. Twenty slaves, ten male and ten female. Ten human, two half-elves, three elves and a drow, two vedalken, and two orcs. Two doctors, two mechanics, six labourers, six status symbols, and four gladiators." Though they're all at the helicopter, and won't be unloaded until Theodore returns to it.

    Theodore will turn to return to the helicopter, happy with the deal and to hand over the gifts to the Alliance.
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  17. - Top - End - #77
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    CAVE Tour

    Balthius smiles and bows slightly.

    "I'll leave you to it, then." He extends his hand, and a small business card appears with a clunking noise. "My extension is on there. You can use the intercom to page me when you're ready to continue the tour. I've informed the men, and your things should be here shortly."

    After giving her the card, he turns and quietly leaves, closing the door behind him. About 10 minutes later, there's a knock at the door. Two clockwork soldiers wait on the other side, along with Gem's things.

    [HQ Training Gym -> HQ Cafeteria]

    "I see," Kaydara says evenly, as they walk. "Well, destruction certainly has its place in our Alliance. We prefer to apply it tactically or strategically, but there have been instances where 'destroy everything' has been appropriate."

    Shortly, they arrive at a small cafeteria, where several of the humanoid androids are eating meals. Which, surprisingly, seem to be regular food, and not nuts and bolts and oil, or some kind of futuristic slurry of one kind or another that one might expect. She gestures towards the serving line.

    "Anything in particular that would help you recover?"

    The monsters Nemo created, meanwhile, are taken to some cells elsewhere in the base. They'll be fed enough to keep them alive, if only just, and kept separated from each other. Out of sight, out of mind, until needed, or they somehow expire.

    [HQ Courtyard -> HQ Main Building]

    Chaeron smiles, and nods. "No contracts. At least, nothing written, anyways. Come with me, please." He turns and begins walking towards the largest building in the base, conveniently only a short ways away. "There are some people you should meet, and some who would like to meet you more formally."

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "I believe the green quarter would suit, at least initially. We'll need to put some work crews to carving out some additional space as your forces grow. I'll send one of the engineering teams to meet with you once you've gotten settled," Chaeron says, with a nod. "Is there anything particularly special among your forces that will need special care in housing or storage?"

    [HQ- Slaver's Guild]

    "Oh, excellent," Kaydara says mildly as she escorts Theodore back to the helipad. The guards there salute her as she returns, and she nods to them, watching with interest as the Guild's cargo is unloaded.
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

  18. - Top - End - #78
    Troll in the Playground
     
    bc56's Avatar

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    CAVE Tour

    Gem takes the things politely from the soldiers. As soon as they're gone, she turns to the smoky spirit. "Scout out the area around here unseen. Remember what you see, and report back to me in one hour." She then begins to unpack. She reaches for her saddlebags, saying, "Niddhogg." Opening the bag reveals a scaly creature like a wary-eyed lizard made from mirrors nestled among various arcane implements. "Search this room for devices which could be looking or listening in on us and disable them." The two spirits move off on their tasks as Gem unloads increasingly unusual objects from her luggage.
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    Quote Originally Posted by William Shakespeare, King Lear, IV.i.46
    'Tis the time's plague, when madmen lead the blind.
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  19. - Top - End - #79
    Orc in the Playground
     
    Earl of Purple's Avatar

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    Helipad- Slaver's Guild

    First off the helicopter once it is unloaded are the status symbol slaves, wearing simple smocks of pink cotton. There's three boys and three girls. The boys are a delicately built elf with brown skin, green eyes and curly black hair, whose age is hard to determine; a half-elf in their twenties, with olive-brown skin, pale blue eyes and copper-red hair; and an eighteen-year-old human, with long black hair, dark brown eyes and pale skin. The girls are a nineteen-year-old human with pale skin, violet eyes and silver-blonde hair, with a teardrop tattooed under her left eye; a younger human with bronze skin, black hair and green eyes, with Oriental features; and an elf, hard to age with purple-black hair, bone-white skin and orange eyes. All of them are slender and attractive, picked not just for their youth and looks but also because they've been trained in at least one musical instrument.

    Next are the labourers, wearing similar smocks but in brown. There's three men and women again, older than the status symbols. They're all human bar a female orc. The men are muscular and two are tall, a tanned man with glyphs branded onto a his forehead with bark brown eyes and black hair shot through with streaks of gold, a very tall white man with blonde dreadlocks and green eyes and a much shorter man, widely built with a thick red beard and ruddy skin, all in their twenties or thirties. The women are a tall orc, with dark orange skin and gold eyes, a shaven head and two small tusks, a human woman not as big, but still heavily built with black hair and pale brown skin and green eyes, and a much smaller woman, nowhere near as large as the others, with yellow eyes, dark skin and brown hair, though she's also a skilled weaver and machine-operator.

    Next come the doctors and the mechanics, the former in white smocks and the latter in black ones. The doctors are a male human in their thirties, with bronze skin, brown eyes and straight black hair tied in a ponytail, and a female vedalken, blue-skinned, with six fingers on each hand, no hair, deep purple eyes and a build too tall and too thin to be human. The mechanics are a female half-elf with green-tinged brown skin, bright green eyes with cat-like pupils and dirty blonde hair; she looks to be in her early twenties, but is probably older, and a male vedalken, nearly the spitting image of the first, except he's slightly shorter and wider, and his skin is a darker blue.

    Finally, the gladiators, who are shackled and wear red smocks. Even so, the cudgel-wielding guard and the pilots eye them carefully. First, a towering orc, easily eight feet tall, with yellow-orange skin, scarlet eyes and a broken right tusk; uniquely, he wears a red loincloth, rather than a smock. A Redguard with brown skin, eyes and hair, her face marked by a scar from the corner of her mouth to her left eye. Next, a male drow is short, wiry, with dark grey skin, pale grey hair and pink eyes, hard to age. Finally, a female elf, with a lithe build, pale skin covered in freckles, burgundy hair and piercing green eyes, moving with feline grace and visibly scaring the other gladiators.
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  20. - Top - End - #80
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    5a Violista's Avatar

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    [HQ Cafeteria]

    "...meat, mostly," Nemo says, looking at the line. "But especially liver, eggs, and seafood." Sounds pretty normal, right? Even then, the faster she makes herself recover, the less efficient it is. She mentions that: "But with enough time, anything could work." Even nuts, bolts, and oil.
    Well, she could recover even quicker and more efficiently by just consuming still-living people, but it's not like they have those just lying around. "P-people, too, but considering the circumstances that would be a waste except in emergencies."

    "If...if you don't mind, I'll get in line." Nemo moves to the serving line, being careful to not hit anybody with her wings. Geez, it seems like the only things those are good at is getting in the way. "Thank you."


    Obviously, the former goblin will need to feed more often and will be affected more readily by starvation, while the once-human will better withstand the need to consume and the weaknesses of starvation, thanks to her willpower.
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  21. - Top - End - #81
    Titan in the Playground
     
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    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    Larukh shakes his head.

    "They are mortal humans with simple needs. Once I have begun attempting to summon daemons, I will instruct your workers how to prepare chambers for the summoning and binding."
    Last edited by Morty; 2019-11-09 at 01:12 PM.
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  22. - Top - End - #82
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Lord Magtok's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    [HQ Courtyard -> HQ Main Building]

    Chaeron smiles, and nods. "No contracts. At least, nothing written, anyways. Come with me, please." He turns and begins walking towards the largest building in the base, conveniently only a short ways away. "There are some people you should meet, and some who would like to meet you more formally."
    "Most people will," Malice nods and follows, letting that little bit of egotism and unabashed narcissism hang in the air as they move onward.
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  23. - Top - End - #83
    Orc in the Playground
     
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    Approaching From the North

    A large vehicle is headed south, towards the mountains that CAVE has conquered. It struggles quite a bit as the ground gets hillier and steeper, since it's a ship. Once, it sailed the seas; but that was a long time ago. At some point, it appears to have been salvaged from a wreck, with twenty wheels fixed to the bottom of the hull, remasted and fitted with bigger sails. As sailing ships go, it's not too large, but it has a quarterdeck and ten cannon sticking out, five on each side. At the front of the ship, where there should be a figurehead, hangs an iron gibbet, currently occupied by a humanoid skeleton wearing brightly coloured silk rags. Flying from the topmast is a faded red flag decorated with the symbol of crossed musket and cutlass under a grinning skull, all worked in black thread.

    There's quite a few members of the crew scampering about, trimming sails, keeping watch on the horizon from the crow's nest, and so on, mostly sand-coloured elves with red hair and various shades of red, yellow or orange eyes. One, clad in brown robes made from the shed skin of a giant snake, is blowing up at the sails, generating the wind pushing the landship forward, whilst another, wearing a tricorn hat and a tattered leather longcoat, stands at the helm and swings the wheel, steering the vessel by applying brakes to one or the other side of the ship. Another prominent-looking elf is wearing a squashed top hat, red silk pantaloons and a brace of pistols; they seem to be in charge, shouting orders to slow the ship down now it approaches its destination.
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  24. - Top - End - #84
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    NinjaGuy

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    CAVE Tour

    Surprisingly, the lizard creature finds no listening or watching devices. Curious that they don't have that sort of security, but perhaps it's a show of trust to leave members alone once they've joined. After all, with the amount of force on display, it's hard to image that CAVE would allow anyone it didn't trust into areas that might be considered sensitive. Though, it could also be that they have other means of watching their members, though with the amount of technology on display, it seems the most likely route, at least, and in that regard, Gem's new quarters are clean.

    The spirit will see a number of people going through, many mechanical in nature, but also a good number of a mix of races from the Nexus, and a few that are probably relatively rare, even by Nexus standards. Some are on their way for duty of one sort or another, others (when the spirit gets that far), are taking a meal in the cafeteria. Balthius himself is enjoying a rather large cup of tea there. No one seems the wiser that Gem is there, or that the spirit is observing them.

    Helipad- Slaver's Guild

    Kaydara inspects the gifts as they disembark. The status symbols seem to impress her; they've not had musicians for a long time, and they could prove useful in unconventional ways. She nods, as four guards come forward to lead the first group to their new quarters. She steps back to allow the second group to come forward, and eyes them all, the weaver in particular.

    "You. Over here." She gestures to the side, separating the weaver from the group. She nods to the next group of guards, who come forward to lead the rest of the group to the general laborer quarters.

    Again, she allows the group of doctors and mechanics to come forward, inspects them, then gestures to the slave she separated out a moment ago.

    "You'll go with them," she says simply, then nods to the next group of guards, who lead the group of skilled slaves away. This group will wind up in barracks near the black quarter, to be close to the labs.

    Finally, the gladiators. Kaydara paces in front of them for a moment, inspecting them closely, before nodding. "Barracks," she says simply, before the last, and largest group of guards come forwards. This group is a bit odd, too, with soldiers ranging in size from somewhat shorter than Kaydara to a massive android that towers head and shoulders over even the orc.

    Once all of the groups have left, Kaydara will nod to Theodore and extend a hand to shake.

    "A pleasure, we'll be in touch."

    [HQ Cafeteria]

    "By all means," Kaydara says, gesturing for Nemo to get in line ahead of her, before following the girl. Nemo will find that the cook is able to supply an ample amount of the food she requested, with nary a blink. Kaydara, for her part, gets a mug of coffee, and some kind of energy bar. It's quite odd, because the thing glows brightly through the package. Whatever it is probably isn't edible for normal humans, at any rate. Once they've collected their food, Kaydara gestures towards the tables. "Are you all right to sit for a bit?"

    [CAVE HQ Main Building]

    "I see. Well, then, welcome to the Alliance," Chaeron says as two guards appear in the door. "These men will show you the way to your new accommodations."

    [HQ Main Building - Meetings]

    Chaeron doesn't say more for a bit as they walk into the building, and down a hall, then around a corner and through another hall, before pushing through a large set of double doors to what seems to be an auditorium. Waiting there are a man, dressed in black and bronze, his own enhancements apparent, clockwork in nature, and a woman, raven-haired, with bright red eyes that seem to smolder occasionally. She too, seems to be enhanced, if the domes with short antennas where her ears should be are any indication.

    "I'd like you to meet my lieutenants, Kaydara of the Red Dragon of Terra, and Doctor Balthius Volgin, of the Black Dragon of Europa," Chaeron says, gesturing first to the woman, and then to the man. "Allow me to introduce Malice."

    Approaching From the North

    A number of hovertanks in the regalia of the Green Dragon are patrolling this area, along with a squad of android soldiers. They pause when the ship comes into view, and simply wait for it to arrive, to see whether these pirates are friends or fool-hardy foes. The android in the lead is a small, lithe model, its covers sleek and shiny chrome, and it's obviously the leader of the group, should the pirates wish to parley.
    Why is it Plan A is always, "Get 'Em!" and Plan B is, "Cause as much collateral damage as possible"?

  25. - Top - End - #85
    Troll in the Playground
     
    bc56's Avatar

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    CAVE Tour

    Gem is surprised by the lack of listening devices. Either they're too well hidden for even the perceptive watchman spirit to catch, or they aren't there at all. She settles in and starts unpacking her things and placing them just how she wants them as the other spirit continues to explore unseen. The process will take the better part of the day, so I think it's safe to call this scene closed.
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  26. - Top - End - #86
    Orc in the Playground
     
    Earl of Purple's Avatar

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    Helipad- Slaver's Guild

    The luxury goods go willingly and without fighting, looking around rather curiously at their surroundings. The weaver is a little nervous when she's set aside, though relaxes when the doctors and mechanics join her- she's special, it seems. The labourers are more sullen, but don't fight; they're massively outnumbered right now. Also, the one with the branded forehead? He's a debt-slave, and expects his labour to pay off his debt so one day he'll be free. The Guild buy debt-slaves, but don't honour the debt. The gladiators go somewhat willingly; the orc is a little belligerent, but he's trying to regain some respect since the last time they were allowed to practice, the female elf nearly killed him with a blunt dagger.

    Theodore shakes his hand, embarks on his helicopter, and the crew work on getting it airborne and flying away.

    Headed South

    The landship throws some anchors behind it and trims its sails to come to a stop when they see the hover tanks before them. The guns are pushed out of their gunports, but three people swing down from the ship, swinging on ropes to the ground and a fourth simply walks off the side of the ship and drifts down slowly. The three people are the ship's captain, the elf in the squashed top hat and red pantaloons; his skin is an orangey-yellow, his eyes deep purple and his hair black. A halfling woman with close-cropped red hair, large sea-blue eyes and weather-tanned skin, wearing a black velvet waistcoat over a loose white shirt and a pair of green trousers, with bare feet. And another elf, with yellow skin, brown eyes and black hair, wearing a purple shirt, black eyepatch, and brown breeches, carrying a gun with five splayed-out barrels. The person who walked off the side and drifted down is a female elf with yellow skin, a head completely shaved and deep purple eyes, wearing robes of shed skin- the vessel's wizard.

    "Ahoy, groundlubbers! I be Cap'n Zanther Whaletooth, and I be lookin' to join. This be me ship, Midnight Star, an' this be Quartermistress Alyss Ronderkeg, me First Mate Zinzibarr Sandbiter and me windcaller, Mistress Saeshelle the Scorpion of Deep Sands. Who do you be?" The captain's loud and boisterous, and despite the fact he's outnumbered and certainly out armed- he has six pistols, Zinzibarr has the decksweeper, Alyss has a small cutlass and Saeshelle appears unarmed- he's not letting that scare him. He's also expecting to be recognised, but he's a long way from the deserts of Sinsabell, his homeworld, and his days as preeminent sand-corsair are fading. Alyss also doesn't seem worried, but then halflings don't scare easy, and Zinzibarr's glaring in undisguised hate at the half of the world he can see and Saeshelle is hard to read.
    Terrowin Avatar by HappyTurtle. Much thanks!

  27. - Top - End - #87
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    5a Violista's Avatar

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    [HQ Cafeteria]

    Oh, wow. That was pretty amazing, getting all that food so easily.
    Nemo wonders what the energy bar is, because...glowing food is weird. Nemo finds it weird. Like eating fireflies or deep-sea fish or something.

    Nemo nods. "Yeah, I'll be fine." Cafeteria chairs don't normally have backs, right? That makes them easy to sit down with these wings. Of course, they might get in the way of other people trying to walk past, but...there's nothing she can do about that.

    Nemo sits and starts eating.
    She doesn't care about mixing different things together.
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  28. - Top - End - #88
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Lord Magtok's Avatar

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    Default Re: CAVE: Conquering Alliance of Villainous Evil!

    Quote Originally Posted by Nova_Eclipse View Post
    [HQ Main Building - Meetings]

    Chaeron doesn't say more for a bit as they walk into the building, and down a hall, then around a corner and through another hall, before pushing through a large set of double doors to what seems to be an auditorium. Waiting there are a man, dressed in black and bronze, his own enhancements apparent, clockwork in nature, and a woman, raven-haired, with bright red eyes that seem to smolder occasionally. She too, seems to be enhanced, if the domes with short antennas where her ears should be are any indication.

    "I'd like you to meet my lieutenants, Kaydara of the Red Dragon of Terra, and Doctor Balthius Volgin, of the Black Dragon of Europa," Chaeron says, gesturing first to the woman, and then to the man. "Allow me to introduce Malice."
    "They're honored, I'm sure," Malice smirks, smugly swishing the contents of a goblet of red wine in his hand. A goblet which definitely wasn't there a moment ago, I'm sure of it. It's gone again just as swiftly, once he realizes he didn't bring a throne to lounge in to complete the look. Bah, maybe next time.

    For all of Malice's pomposity and arrogance, however, his eyes tell a different story. They scrutinize the duo closely. Subject to numerous technological enhancements, though not in the same manner as he. Clockwork on one, and the other...some sort of android, maybe? Too hard to tell at a glance. As much as he wants to immediately dismiss the clockwork contraption for embracing such a preposterous aesthetic, he's lived here in the Nexus too long to let a little thing like common sense tell him clockwork doesn't work that way. Obviously, it does, even if his own science doesn't agree with it. Doctor Volgin's ties to the black dragon probably mean something too, but gods only know what. Acid breath? Necromancy powers? Shapeshifting? Malice wonders if he should've been paying more attention to the Monster Manual that time AMEN played DnD together. Kaydara, on the other hand, is much easier to figure out. Fiery eyes, coal-black hair. The tempestuous, angry, fiesty one, surely. I mean, since when has anyone associated with the color red ever been known for their even temper and unflappable demeanor? She probably shoots fire balls out of her eyes, too.

    "You've already met my lieutenant, of course. Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, also known as the Mad Monk, Lover of the Russian Queen, Koschei the Deathless, to name just a few titles. My expert in all things supernatural and obscene," Malice says with a wave of his hand. He keeps a shoe planted on top of Rasputin's glass jar, forcing the undead Russian's spindly spidery robot legs to shudder and tremble under his lord and master's weight. Another cartoonish and ridiculous demonstration of his authority. He's got to be doing this sort of thing on purpose though, right? Playing the eccentric fool to goad some sort of reaction out of the people around him? I mean, no one could last this long if they were honestly this much of an idiot, could they?

    "If Chaeron hasn't already passed my name along telepathically or electronically, I am Malice," he explains unnecessarily, inclining his head so very slightly downward, in what could be called a bow if one were feeling exceptionally generous. Make no mistake, there's no reverence, not an ounce of respect or submission in the gesture. Malice recognizes no authority save his own; he does not think even the mightiest of gods could be his equals. "One of my predecessors single-handedly conquered this entire world, once upon a time. It might be fun to do something like that again."
    Quote Originally Posted by RabbitHoleLost View Post
    Magtok's the best
    "You probably found 'How to Survive a Robot Uprising' in the humor section. Let's just hope that is where it belongs."
    -Daniel H. Wilson
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  29. - Top - End - #89
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

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    [Laboratories]

    ((I'm not sure which part of the base they'd be in, so I'll leave it unstated for now.))

    Some time after the Chaos sorcerer and his entourage were inducted into the alliance, they claimed a workspace for themselves. Some of it is technological in nature, dedicated to the maintenance of Larukh's power armor and the automatons, but much of it is far more arcane. The sorcerer and his thralls use it to peer into the Warp and will eventually try to summon and bind daemons.

    Larukh is currently inspecting the space, to see what else is needed, and giving curt directions to his slaves and cultists, who respond with cowed obeisance. His armor has been put aside and the hulking Astartes is wearing a simple purple robe, adorned with heretical symbols.

    ((Open for interaction.))
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
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  30. - Top - End - #90
    Titan in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

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    Laboratories

    The Warp is fickle.

    Any dabbler in the Ruinous Powers knows this, though few survive the initial epiphany. But for the sorcerers and psykers who do, years of practice eventually allow them to have some understanding of the stirring waves and screaming tides of the Empyrean. Eventually, they can recognize when something about the Warp, Chaotic as it may be, just isn't right.

    Larukh, with his years of experience and learning, will have no trouble noticing a subtle strangeness in the Warp nearby. The Warp in the nearby regions tends to be more silent, only the occasional ripple and shiver through the tides. Today, though, there's a brief tempest nearby, a swirl of currents and crashing waves that quickly returns to relative calm. A freak Warp Storm, perhaps?

    No. The wizened Sorcerer will no doubt recognize the strangeness for what it is. Somewhere in the wilderness several miles away, something has emerged from the Warp.....
    Anemoia: Nostalgia for a time you've never known.

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