Seeing Zoe and Thomas wink out of sight, Parker signals Jimmy and pulls out his switchblade and darts forward.
Be on your guard Jimmy. We don't know what that was.
There is a little sidebar of notes (between Dresden and Billy) saying that it could be counted a maneuver or drop a temp aspect...
AI figured I might take something, but better than 2 points lower.
Seil
The driver sits, confused. "Why?" he seems to ask, almost sounding... lost. "So beautiful.... why?
Zoe, Thomas
There is a sound of gnashing teeth and a glow of red from the darkness. The red coalesces into dark eyes, with the suggestion of a birdlike beak below, hardly outlined in the darkness. "Your kind cannot taste the darkness my pretties." comes a shockingly high voice from the darkness. "Always wonderful to watch you squirm."
The darkness seems to thicken, leaving you unable to see the creature, or indeed anything beyond a foot or two.
Thomas is slightly rocked by the mind numbing pain... he hesitates a mere moment, his weapon is in hand as he searches the mist for a strange foe that has shown itself... "Zoe, you okay? Alexander?" he calls as he attempts to keep an eye out, but cannot seem to find anything Kneels down beside a garbage can and waits until he can spot the enemy He hopes to himself that Montfort and Jimmy can be helpful here.
'Nightmares every night; i see you in my dreams. When i die in silent night, no-one can hear me scream.' Zoe appears in be quietly singing. Before snapping out of her revelery; "Yeah, Mr Heywood."
She stands and in a blur of motion her hand goes to her shoulder. Her white dress slips off and her other hand goes to the ring around her neck. 'This is going to hurt.' pulling the ring off the steel chain that drains away to the ground. Naked by the shore light plays off Zoe's body in the darkness and shadows. Turning to Alexander with a cheeky smile plastered on her face. "If this all goes wrong and we need to flee, Ride Me." she says nearly laughing at the crude joke, her adrenaline having kicked in just thinking what she is going to do.
Looking into the darkness, "Mmmm here birdy." Zoe challenges hoping that the terror is kept out of her voice. She leaps forward sliding the ring on her finger.
Initiative
Zoe - 8
Beaky - 3
Thomas - 3
Seil nods understandingly at the fat cabby, there hands still in a magical embrace.
Your life has been a prison, your peers have always looked down upon you, your loved ones abandoned you, your proffession consumed what was left of you. You have nowhere to go, nothing to do, to the eyes of your fellow man you are a worthless and slowly dieing fleshbag amongst the millions.
Seil slowly releases the mans grasp who reels back as tidal waves of emotion roll over him.
I do not hold this opinion, and tonight I have given you a gift, tonight you shall live free from the torments and apathy of the world which has cursed you, tonight you and I shall have a new experience, we shall be together completing a great task, we...are going to break into that mental hospital, and they are going to let us walk right in. Doesnt that sound like fun?
The cabby squeals with glee and nods his head his eyes closed and his arms drifting in some bezaire and slow dance.
Seil smiles and opens the door to the cab, its driver looks suddenly at him scared at the thought of his departure.
Come with my friend, we have a job to do.
Seil exits the car, the fat man scrambles after him, squeezing through the chairs and exiting after a moment of struggle, he teeters back and forth on his feet, a wide grin on his face.
Seil walks swiftly towards the gate, the driver close behind him. As they approach the entrance to the hospital Seil points to the wall surrounding the building. More joy shall follow you if you climb dear friend the choice is yours. he then pats the man on the shoulders sending an explosion of emotion and power through the mans body.
Mr Roberts the cab driver runs awkwardly to the wall and throws his body against it, laughing hysterically he jumps and clings to the sides of it, never making it up more then a couple feet.
Seil looks around for a moment searching for some way to talk to the inside of the hospital, he spots it, up besides the iron gate is a small speaker with a button underneath. Uncertain about the device, but not seeing another way Seil presses the button and looks around nervously for the consequences.
Jimmy peers around in the sudden gloom, realising with a little start of adrenalin that he can barely see Zoe anymore.
"Parker, what's... what the hell's going on? Why is it so dark..?"
Parker runs quickly into the darkness by the lake shore. Looking around seeing the red eyes in the darkness and Parker wracks his memory trying to identify the creature.
The creature laughs and Parker suddenly realizes what kind of creature it is. "A fear demon." He whispers, "That's.... not good. Not only do they have the fear cloud but they can break weak minds just by seeing them." He whirls in the darkness trying to keep his knife up.
"Glad you recognize me, my pretty." The voice is heard from two places at once, stereo sound of terror. "Shall I tell you who I am, so that you may gibber my name as they cart you away?" The whisper is sibilant and adds the slightest hiss to words. "I am known as CtPax" The first is an odd sound, like a mucus-filled cough. Thomas, as he crouches by the garbage can, feels a tingle on his spine, then blood seeping from his neck. Reaching back he feels a spot of blood and a tiny wound made by a claw.
"I can take you anytime Thomas Haywood. I know your darkest fears and the darkness holds no secrets for me."
Zoë hand goes to her neck her hand encasing the ring, a moment’s hesitation. ’Do I really want this?’ ’No, I must stop this thing.’ Then a violent yank and the chain snaps, with a rhythmic thrum it drains through her fingers lost on the ground. Her feet pound across the shore between her and Thomas, she leaps at the shadowy figure. Time slows down. The cold silver ring inscribed with unknown runes almost pulses in anticipation between her fingers, ’Or is it me who is anticipating this.... this power.’ A resolute look spreads across her visage; inexorably she places the band on her left hand, binding her to her curse.
”Arrrrggghh” ’ F***, I always forget how much it hurts.’
Nails draw back followed by fingers; becoming little more than stumps, as between them sharp claws rip their way through flesh. Zoë’s face contorts in pain, her teeth sharpening as her mouth extend to form a muzzle, and the rest of the face subtly alters apart from her eyes. They remain an icy cool blue, shining with pain, excitement and exhilaration. The downy hairs covering her body thicken throughout creating a soft velvet fur. Glowing with a soft golden sheen, as her whole body elongates with a crunching of bones and tearing of sinew. Thickening and becoming muscular Zoë’s outstretched torso within the blink of the eye appears to that of a lioness. With a stretch she lands before the shadow form.
'A fear demon, i will teach him to fear the best of natures predators. Pity my roar will not strke terror into his heart.'
Jimmy stands confused and unsure in the deepening gloom. His instincts say to go help Zoe. His instincts also say to run like the pit of hell is opening under him. Barely visible now, something seems to be attacking Zoe, tearing and twisting at her form.
Jimmy runs forward.
Softly landing upon the shore, all human doubts, pains and insecurities have drifted away only her primal emotions remain. ’Freedom as I stalk my quarry all alone in the night.’ She moves swiftly towards the dark shape and sweet smell of evil. 'Get away from him you b!&@*, he is part of my pack.
Zoë's cold blue eyes briefly meet the demon’s red ones. ’Now we find out which is the hunter & the prey, through a trial of blood.’
Swiftly and with grace the lioness moves towards the beaked phobia-demon, pouncing and raking at his legs with her claws. The dark figure, with inhuman speed moves away from the attack but his limbs start to slip from under him on the damp mud at the edge of the lake.
Parker moves into the darkness. Seeing his companions lost even though he knows that looking upon the Demon opens them up to fears; Parker concentrates using his years of discipline and training.
"FULMEN" A blast of bright light washes the scene.
Suddenly the voice is nearest to Zoe. "I know what you fear as well, darling. That feeling in your heart... you know you wish to do this... again and again... giving in to that animal inside." The whispers are insidious, you can feel them in your very soul, sucking away at your willpower.
Immediately after, Parker's flare destroys the darkness around Ctpax. His form, a combination of beaks, eyes and matted hair, is revealed. Even looking at it seems to bother your eyes.
'No, i am more than a beast.' Zoë thinks but a voice in her heart rebukes this and her tongue tingles anticpating the taste of the demons blood.
'I am in control of my actions, everything i do is my decision. I take the consequences for what i do, the lone responsiblity. Your words cannot harm me, i am the predator, the killer...' Her claws raking at the demonic form pushing him away.
Before she screams a challenge. which would instill fear in the hearts of mortals.
Zoë does not give in to the fear as she feels an inner but alien strength bolster her heart to the hollow words. She knows that she has to submit to the blood-lust pounding in her veins.
As Parkers flash of brilliance rips away the shroud from around the creature, Zoë looks on it for the first time. The matted hair and eyes give her the feeling that it sees straight into her soul and its hungry as the beaks gnash. 'No, i am the one who will tear you apart.'
Thomas yowls as his head feels like it is about to explode outwards. As the fog clears somewhat the man fights back the pain as he attempts to focus through the pounding within his skull and take a shot at the revealed demon.
At the beasts is seen Thomas fights again as his senses are attacked.
The man is clutching his head and looks as though he about to fall over from the pain within his head.
Jimmy blinks in the sudden flare of light. As shadows flee the scene, he sees Zoe transformed, Ready to pounce on the nightmare of beak and feather in front of her. Wow, Zoe, that is so cool! Tear that thing apart.
Seil
Tommy loved the graveyard shift. He just sat there reading his books and looking at the cameras... well... theoretically looking at the cameras anyhow. Not much to look at, and after the first week Tommy hardly looked more than once an hour. He was looking now though, his lank face screwed up into an incredibly confused caricature. Some fat guy and another in a suit were at the gate. The fat one was trying to climb and the other had hit the intercom. The teenager finally remembered which button was which and hit the intercom. "Hello? Who's this? And Who's that with you? Trespassing here is illegal."
Lake Group
Ctpax jerks when the bullet strikes him, and then hisses darkly at his enemies. "Fools... I will tear you apart." The strange form flows forward with an eerie slithering motion toward Thomas.
Alex finally stands, holding his head in pain. "Hey Wizard. Got any more firepower left?" He calls out with a pained grin. "Let's see if this a!@@@+!'s fireproof." He grins and a globe of fire appears in his other hand.
Ctpax's form slithers and opens to let the ball of fire fly through it. At the same time, Alex grabs his own head and screams. "G#$%*~n that hurts. They always forget to mention how much it hurts."
And am i being stupid but should Thomas have taken a mild rather than moderate consequence, as the visual attack was 1 & he rolled a -1?[/ooc]
Correct me if I am wrong, I have not played DFRPG that long...
Thomas had 1 Mental Stress of 3 [X] [] []
Took 2 stress from the previous attack [X] [X] [X]
Took 2 more stress from looking at the demon
Can you take out that 2 stress hit that has to go to a mild consequence and 2 of the stresses already to take a moderate consequence? Leaving me with [X] [] [] again? or do I just keep the [X] [X] [X] and 1 mild consequence?
I believe it's the second one, but I'll allow the first until I can looj it up.
My interpretation (pg202) is Thomas has 3 mental stress track. For a 1 stress hit, a 2 stress hit & a 3 stress hit;
Mental - [1] [2] [3]
"When a character takes a hit mark of that box (and only that box)on the appropriate stress track"
So Round 1 Thomas took a stress 4 attack(+Weapon:1), defended with 2 +2 for the Fate Point thus ended with 1 stress
Mental R1- [X] [2] [3]
Round 2 Thomas took a stress 4 attack(+Weapon:1), defended with 3 thus ended with 2 stress
Mental R2- [X] [X] [3]
Looking at CtPax Thomas took a stress 1 attack(+Weapon:0), defended with -1thus ended with 2 stress, so could have taken a minor consequence or filled the 3 stress box.
Mental R1- [X] [X] [3] + consequence level 2
So if as you say each box is that many stress, then I would have done it differently as you described, DSX. [x] [x] [3] and taking a mild consequence.
If that is how it works, I now have a better understanding. Thank you.
Swiftly and with grace the lioness moves towards the beaked phobia-demon, pouncing and raking at his legs with her claws. The dark figure, with inhuman speed moves away from the attack but his limbs start to slip from under him on the damp mud at the edge of the lake.
Thus this is a Fragile Aspect, so once it is tagged the Demon will not be 'Off-Balance' (pg207).
A surge of hope fills Zoës' heart as she hears distantly her friend call out to her. 'Maybe i am not so alone, as i thought. she thinks, as the trees softly rustle up a maniacal laughter, 'What is mocking me...'
With a look of predatory fury, she crouches waggling her rump like a cat and pounces at the fiend.
Savagely she rips into the matted fur and feathers of the grotesque. Demonic blood burns her gums as her teeth close in on a limb supporting the abomination. Blood and saliva dribble down her gowels as Zoë losses her mind to the savahery of the hunt. 'Prey, Food, Die.'
Jimmy moves back, apparently attempting to get momentum to charge, but slips on the muddy ground and is unsuccessful.
Initiative - Round 3
CtPax - 6
Thomas - 3
Parker - 2
Then to Round 4
CtPax thrashes and hisses, attempting mightily to free itself of the Lionesses jaws.
The bird is unsuccessful however, regardless of its scratchings at Zoe's coat.
Zoes' jaws clamp solid upon the limb on the demon, its struggles just excite the lioness. A predatory glint seemingly shines out of her eyes, as the fiend thrashes in the ground leaving grooves in the grass and concrete of the path. Mud and debris form around the pair of beasts as they struggle for control and power, the Queen of the Jungle slowly winning out. 'Bird Flesh, burning but succulent.'
Initiative - Round 3
Thomas - 3
Parker - 2
- Round 4
Zoe - 8
Jimmy - 8
CtPax - 6
With his head pounding the man struggles through the pain and points his weapon in the direction of Zoe and this CtPax demon and says to no one in particular, "Just get clear Zoe... just get clear and I'll get it..."
Seil looks at the speaker smiling and nodding as if speaking directly to the voice on the other side, not aware that the camera and teenager was watching him from overhead and behind.
Im know this isnt ordinary, but this man here is rather unstable. He needs to be admitted to your hospital right now, he is a danger to others and all that. If you could come down here and help me I'd much appreciate it. I do have other tasks for the city that need doing, cant be spending all night trying to keep crazys off our streets.
Seil speaks with such authority, one assumes he must be very important, and even though he hasnt said who he was the boy feels a need to listen to him.
Parker will wait until Zoe clears before aiming his switchblade at the creature and releasing a torrent of fiery energy at the creature.
I’ll post up next rounds actions in a bit.
Her teeth full of the demonic avian she drags him back to the lake. Zoes' teeth ripping at his flesh against his struggles. Her paws pushing deeply into the muddy shoreline as she strains to pull her prey away. Dimly in the far reaches of her mind Zoe hears the shouting of the others, but she is too consumed with the trashing form of her quarry. 'Get a hold of yourself' she thinks only for her instincts to cry out 'Food, mine.' Her tail shakes wildly to indicate that she will not relinquish her hold until only one predator stands.
Parker waits frustrated, not wanting to hit his friend, and tries to think of some way to help without hitting her.
I hope what they say about cats and water isn't true in Zoe's case. Parker thinks to himself as he summons his will and stomps his foot, sending a wave of force at the two of them.
The forces lose control under Parker's fingertips, he feels a force... far more force than he intended, throw itself from his fingertips, and out in a destructive wave instead of a tightly focused area. The parkbench snaps into kindling, several of the tree branches go flying, and a veritable hurricane of leaves and dirt is kicked from the magician.
Alexander sees the wave and throws himself down and into it, rolling in the dirt for a moment, but not moving considerably.
Under the wave of air pressure Zoe's claws grasp deeply into the trunk of the demon. Her jaw biting deeply, a constant ache pervades her skull as the pressure and mental strain increases. 'Help whats happening, food won't escape me, no matter his deviousness.' she thinks at first panicking but then the blood lust asserts itself.
Zoe and CtPax are thrown bodily, in a ball of fur, claws and howls, far out into the lake. As they strike the water, CtPax begins to dissolve as he strikes the water, his flesh beginning to jellify in Zoe's jaws.