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

cool I can use this icon for once

[crymoore]

[ Her lips mouth the name "Arthas" once again out of her shock, but there's not a single sound from her throat. The sorceress has already been educated on a number of things since her arrival. It's hard to fear death even when it grasps her neck in a harsh manner because in a few days, she'll be back.

It's the news from the day before that rules her thoughts. Her king told her that the Lich King falls to the might of Azeroth, so all of this spent here... just what was it? A reminder of the guilt she'll always be forced to carry with her for turning her back that day? There's no reason to give up, but her arms fall limp to her sides as she takes yet another stupid gamble.

He's not yet the Lich King, so there's hope to be found after all. ]

I will deny you that path, Arthas. [ Conviction rose in her words as she stares him down. ] For as long as I draw breath, I will deny you as the Lich King in this place.

[ There's a forced laugh (if it can be called that sort) that follows after. ] What a miserable way to celebrate Hallow's End, don't you think?





[ Jaina's been spending too much time over Horde-side with all this TROLLing she's got going on. ]

im cry

[northrend]

[Arthas sneers at her statement. Her hope disgusts him. Her belief, every ideal he had forsaken, that she still holds dear, disgusts him. He's about to say as much, to spit in her face and show him that Arthas is, indeed, dead. That all that is left is the Lich King.

But then she spits out that last gem and he just...stares in disbelief for a few precious seconds, trying to figure out if he had heard her correctly or if it was just a shadow trying to unsuccessfully torment him.

In those few short breaths, he closes the distance by coalescing the shadow magic, turning the strangulation spell into a death grip to pull Jaina into his hand, clamping it physically around her throat to ensure silence. He starts to laugh in spite of himself, cruel laughter, as he pulls their faces within inches of each other.]

Is that what this is about? Hallow's End?

[His breath is frosty, eyes maddened, hair wispy and dead. Frostmourne is a hair's breath away from her, so close that she can likely feel the corrupting magic oozing off of it, so close that if she moves too much to the right, it may just cut through her robes. The shock from earlier is gone, replaced with a menacing, disgusting smirk.]

Drudging up old memories won't get you anywhere, Jaina. But...if you're in the business of reliving them now, I don't have a problem with offering my assistance.

damn arthas

[crymoore]

[ That moment of silence stirs something deep within her mind; something that shouldn't exist, but it adds to the pile of things that could be used to redeem him. Before she can even consider how much good may remain in him, it fades instantaneously in the grip of his fingers.

Her mouth moves silently as she tries to say his name and even that ceases, replacing it with silent incantations that were useless. Having felt despair up until this moment, something else ignites within her chest. Maybe she was tired of feeling sorry for herself or maybe it was due to the fact her king was here now.

Either way, she no longer wants to just give up. While she's not able to kick or move that well (as if she's letting Frostmourne have a taste of just a drop of her blood), she does have a viable weapon in her hand. Swiftly bringing her staff around, she'll try to use it in order to break herself free of his hold.

A wonder how she got so good with melee, isn't it? ]

stares at hands

[northrend]

[It is! Unfortunately, Arthas is covered in saronite dreadplate, so it does little more than agitate him. He lets her have a few swings, still smirking, still strangling her. Her suffering seems to fuel him, the tension from her comment leaving entirely as he moves to lift her from the ground by her neck.]

Funny. How easily I could snap your neck and end this right now. And why not, when you came so willingly.

[He lowers her to reduce the strain on her neck, pushing Frostmourne into the ground so it begins to coat it in ice. His other hand then moves to catch her wrists in an attempt to immobilize her completely.]

But what fun would that be?

[And then his hands begin to burn with plague, eating away at both cloth and skin, turning it black over time. He'll hold her until he's certain there's a nice set of marks -- perhaps longer, if she doesn't try to fight him off.]

wow arthas pretty damn rude, also wow sorry for the pretty submissive tag oooh seme-senpai

[crymoore]

[ For a moment she sincerely believes that he'll do just that; snap her neck and take her life, only to bestow a different breath of life back into her body. It's a fear and a sinful desire all at the same time. To serve alongside Arthas for eternity...

But no, he falls in Azeroth. All she has to do is hold out a little while longer. Even when flesh begins to sting, even when the infestation begins to consume her, her legs don't stop.

That beloved weapon drops from her fingertips once it's too heavy of a burden to carry even for her, Jaina's exhaustion from the past week finally taking it's toll alongside her deteriorating health.

It won't be so bad to serve in his army, she begins to think as her eyelids slip down over her eyes and her legs cease to move. At least then she might be able to be his friend and maybe he can believe her when she says it, right? ]

omg i cant handle you

[northrend]

[The Lich King begins to chuckle when he feels Jaina's life fading out of his hands. He can tangibly observe her resolve fading, doubt setting in, despair taking over. Soon, she'll be one of his where she belongs. Dead like all the others--

When her weapon hits the ground, it distracts him, startles him out of his bloodlusted haze for a moment. His grip unexpectedly loosens when he takes the time to look at Jaina again, shoulders tensing with fury. No. This was what he wanted. He was certain of it. He'd get the best of both worlds, Jaina would be dead and at his side, she would serve as a symbol that he couldn't be stopped, she could potentially be his greatest ally returned as a lich.

Finish it. Finish it.]

...

[He can't. He releases her as abruptly as he had grabbed her, reaching for Frostmourne stubbornly, ignoring the sickly burns he had left on her skin. Arthas turns, resting the tip of it against the base of her chin. Take her soul. Be through with her. FINISH IT--]

It would not be any fun at all, killing you.

[Its bitter. Hateful. He's angry at her. Angry at his inability to commit. Furious at that part of him he can't banish. That part of him that doesn't want to--no, that won't kill Jaina.]

Not until you've been taught the true meaning of suffering. And not until you understand who I am.

just like I can't handle this thread GOODBYE....

[crymoore]

[ Normally this might be the time she notices it, but the close call with her life combined with the overwhelming sickness leaves her unable to consider his actions. It's hard to focus when that sword is drawn near towards her face and not even the high will of an intellectual can stop her from gazing towards it with hollow eyes full of wonder. Thinking back on all of the souls that resonate within that twisted piece of metal and how she just might join them soon enough.

Fortunately Jaina has enough sense to fall back away from the blade before it can even leave a scratch as nausea overwhelms her senses. She's unable to keep herself from looking anymore pathetic as she coughs and sputters, trying to say something, anything, as a retort.

There's nothing that can be said even if she regained her voice, she's certain of that. All she can do is lay about in her failure as a fallen leader for now. ]

LATER IM DONE

[northrend]

[He can't physically watch struggle anymore. Some twisted part of him thinks good, you deserve it but he is far too overcome with a sudden uneasy sense of guilt and disgust with himself that he can't properly shake. He hates it. When she backs off, he lowers Frostmourne somewhat reluctantly.

He stands and stares silently for the better part of 30 seconds before he turns to leave, the Scourge collecting around him as he moves. They barely give Jaina a second look.]

You best pray that someone finds you before the rest of my pets do. I have more important matters to attend to than the likes of you.

[A bluff. The Scourge may pass her by, but none would attack -- he doubted she would linger long anyway, with how difficult it would be for her to cast spells.

And then, he would depart without another word or glance backwards.]