EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

[northrend]

[Fleeing. Typical. Arthas braced himself anyway for some sort of counterattack out of fury, maybe a stray spell flung in his direction to catch him offguard.

Nothing could have prepared him to witness the dragon materializing in place of the raven. The shock is plain on his face -- a dragon. A dragon. Not just any dragon, a black. He's all too familiar with their deceptive ways -- perhaps a bit too familiar. His grip on Frostmourne tightens. A dragon would be an invaluable ally, especially one that he could forcibly remind who's side she was on. She seemed all too interested in the power he had to offer. All he had to do was give it.

If only he were so naive. When he speaks again, however, its a little less condescending than it had been previously. Not that he thinks Khisanth above him, but he is not so foolish to purposely earn a dragon's ire. While she may not have been a Dragon Aspect (at least, he didn't think -- she wasn't from his realm, so there was no way to tell, but thank god for that), it wasn't a gamble he was looking to play so early in the game.]

Would I, now?

[onblackwings]

[ Well, at least the shock is pleasing. If Khisanth had it her way he would be falling all over himself with apologies and offers, but... well, she supposes strong men don't get where they are by allowing reactions like that. So she'll content herself with the shock.

However, she clearly needs to demonstrate a little power. Her orange gaze shifts to the area just before Arthas, and that's the only warning. In the next second she's parted her jaws, and acid pours forth in a torrent from them. It clears a space in front of him, melting its way through materials organic and inorganic alike, with no regard for any of his monsters that may have been occupying the area. Once it's reasonably cleared, she ducks ahead to settle herself on the suddenly spacious ground. ]

I will never serve any but the Dark Queen, but would be willing to ally myself with you. My only price is power.

[northrend]

[If Khisanth is paying attention, she may notice his armor gaining a sickly yellow sheen that sizzles slightly from the splatter of the acid breath. He doesn't seem to care for the few minions caught in the blast as they cry out gutterally. No, he's way too focused on the transaction in front of him.]

Very well. Though you seemed initially reluctant to the condition of undeath. That is not a condition I am capable of absolving. That is the price of power.

[To demonstrate, he waits for one of his undeath minions to cease writhing from the acid. Once he's certain the unlife has left its eyes, he points Frostmourne to it to mend its melted skin enough so that it may stand and move, returning it to its previous state. The hound struggles initially, but is soon back on its feet like nothing had changed.

He looks up with a raised eyebrow, waiting for her reply.]

[onblackwings]

[ She watches this display closely and with obvious interest, but face inscrutable. That could be her, recovering that quickly from serious injuries and even death... Koltira had mentioned the pain, but that hardly seems an issue worth considering. She can survive pain. Her stare returns to Arthas, from her catlike hunch on the ground. ]

I've told you my conditions. For power, with free will, I'll accept anything else that goes with it.

[northrend]

[That answer doesn't seem to comfort him. The Lich King squares his shoulders a bit.]

As much as I would love to freely hand out such gifts of power, you of course understand why I would need a bit more insurance than word alone.

[His jaw shifts a bit.]

The black brood and I have not had pleasant dealings in the past, perhaps you would then understand my reluctance.

[...not him directly, but he hadn't forgotten Prestor's meddling amongst his family long ago.]

[onblackwings]

[ Her eyes narrow, but she tamps down on the anger before it can turn into rage. Turned down. Her? Nevermind that it isn't precisely refusal, but she's the one here that should be demanding insurances. She's the one that should be being eagerly sought after. ]

Then you'll of course understand that I have no choice but to decline, and further that you and I are not friends. [ Her voice has dropped a few decibles lower in her annoyance, and both wings flare out. ] Breathe a word of challenge to me, and I won't hesitate to rip you apart.

[ And she's pretty much determined to have the last word here, so she flings herself into the air immediately afterward, retreating to go and find something with a smaller army of dead things to tear apart. ]