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cybertrixxI wrote this about a month before the Shadovald event as an IC preamble of sorts. I don't think it ever made it onto the website, but here it is now:
Dear friends.
I write these words with a heavy heart, for while no man can truly know his fate, I know that tomorrow we march upon the city of shade and it is likely we shall not return.
Inselburg is lost. Such is plain to see. Looking around myself, I see naught but the death throes of a dying city. We are surrounded on all sides by an inevitable tide, and there is nowhere left to run.
But Inselburg remains in our hearts and souls; the fire of the City Of The Phoenix may be dying, but it shall be reborn through us. As long as we do not admit defeat, as long as we hold onto that dream, Inselburg will endure.
And that is why we must make one final stand. That is why we must fight. We are all that remains - one last bastion of hope, one final line of defence. Without us, Inselburg is doomed. But this is about more than just Inselburg, and more than just ourselves. If we fall here, then the spread of the Shadovald will once more go unchecked. Who will stand tomorrow if we should falter? The eyes of the cosmos are upon us - though we are but mortal men, our actions here and now will ring true for all eternity.
Let it be known to all who look upon this day through the dusty haze of history that we did not slip under the shadow of death without a fight. Let it be known that we did not lie down and await the end. In our final moment; our darkest hour, we turned the tide; led the charge against an impossible foe.
We will not give into despair. We will not share the fate of those who went before us. I say to you now what a great woman once said to me upon the eve of battle:
Do not fear death - death is inevitable, death will only set you free. Your die was cast long ago; The book-keeper will come for you regardless - that much is certain and as unavoidable as the inexorable march of time itself. Will you try to run from your fate or will you stand and fight? That is the true test. Gather up thy strength - you will need it. Muster all the resolve you have within thee - it shall be put to the test. Let faith be thy armour; let courage be thy blade. With purity of heart and purity of will we shall overcome all odds. Gather thy steel, for tomorrow we stare death in the eye and when the dust has cleared we will stand triumphant.
Tomorrow, my friends, we go to meet our enemy face to face. We go to kill a king. To liberate a fallen city. To end this nightmare - or die trying.
In the name of the God-Emperor Imperius Rex and the eternal glory of Inselburg, I salute thee. Brothers, Sisters, I await you all upon the field of battle.
May Sophia's light guide our path.
And now, a response.
They stand atop their doom, and everything falls into place. The caretaker announces in its' calm monotone - "Initiating Calibration" - and they know that this is the end, the countdown to destruction. This is the point of no return. There can be no going back.
With a roar, the demons come. Hissing and snarling in their single-minded desire to destroy in the name of the archabomination, the One Who Watches, the Prime Threat Creature: The Hermaphrodite, a demonic entity so monstrous in its lust to consume all that it devoured one of The Saints and sat in his place. Each of the warriors in turn calls for aid - and each is rewarded with glowing steel, the familiar sense of lightheaded elation as the magic of the spirits and the aether flows through them. They move as one to hold back this tide of clawed and horned evil - the desperate outpourings of the Hermaphrodite's infernal will - and their hungry blades are rewarded with the taste of demon flesh and blood.
The air begins to take on a tangy, almost metallic taste. Our heroes fall back to a defensive circle. Verity channels the threads of the aether to weave their shredded armour together, while Tair and Katje plead with the shining spirit Phoenix to offer some aid - some means of escape for the doomed. Tair has already made a connection -a pact- to reconstitute his annihilated self in exchange for the promise of bringing cleansing fire upon Inselburg - but his companions have not.
The spirit hums softly "I am too weak. I can barely save Tair from this fate, let alone the rest." and they realise then what they have known all along. This is the end.
Knowing this would be the case all along, Verity sets aside all of herself that is not strong, blanks out the voice screaming at her to try again, to try to call another spirit, to find some way out. "So be it. We die! We will -in this final act of sacrifice- know both death and glory! I've waited my entire life for a moment like this!" the paladin says as she strides forth, her greatsword Breanna - her protector, her shining light, her one true defence against the hungering maw of the One Who Watches humming between shaking hands. She isn't afraid anymore.
Breanna sings as it sweeps through the air and carves through the flesh of the unclean. Bright red and purple ichor marks the blade's passage in great arcs of throbbing, glowing light. Passing between the crystalline pillars of this place, it is almost as if the sword pulls upon the fabric of reality, tugging at the weakened seams as the world shifts and twists in the wake of the Hand's colossal power.
Demons circle about her, running and dodging between the crystal shards, gibbering in infernal tongues and spitting rage. She feels so alive, now, in this moment before death, so full of purpose.
In the corner of her eye, she sees Rhiannon is being forced back by the claws of an abomination. In a moment, Breanna is biting through its side, forcing it back, smashing it to the ground.
And suddenly Tair is standing before her, tears in his eyes. As he sobs tortured words, the world seems to dull and fall quiet, light fading and flickering temporarily "I can't do this...I can't do this, Verity! I can't...I can't..."
The fear sweeps in like an unstoppable wave. Desperate, raw, unyielding pain. She can do nothing but hold him and cry alongside - she tries to open her mouth to whisper soothing words to make things right, but there is nothing she can say. Nothing she can do. All will not be right. It cannot. It *must* not, she realises. To remain stranded here and face death - that is their destiny. That is unavoidable. To meet it head-on? That is faith.
With strength now to speak, she forces the words between teeth gritted with grief "Tair - you must. You MUST. If we falter here, then all this has been for nothing! Everything we have done, everything we have stood and fought for - all will be irrelevent if we stop now-"
"No. I can't lose you. I can't kill you. I can't do this!" he buries his face in her shoulder. This is the first time she has truly, really seen him cry. She wonders how she could ever have doubted him. Another wave of realisation strikes. This really is the end. This really has to happen.
Has to happen.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut the fuck up, Tair! Shut up! If we fall, then nothing will stand between the world and the hermaphrodite's evil. It already has a purchase, already its twisted influence is spreading to the machine's core. You know that this has to happen. Do it. Activate it. Promise me you will? Swear it!" she screams as she holds onto him desperately.
The caretaker blankly states "Calibration will shortly be complete..."
"I..I...Verity, I love you! I can't let you go! I can't do this. There has to be another way." she can feel his tears, strangely, despite all the pain flowing through her wounded body.
She hisses through gritted teeth "SHUT UP, Tair! This *must* be done. Be strong, please, for me. I have dedicated my life to this. Let me now dedicate my death as well." and at this, Sophia's paladin turns from her sweetheart, turns from everything left in the world, and marches into the cackling horde with a final prayer upon her lips.
Katje, Sylvador and Rhiannon beside her, they step into one last dance with the infernal. Their blades flash in the blue half-light, and demon blood soon covers them. Claws flash in the corners of their eyes, and one by one they fall.
She is the last, now. Freshly opened claw-marks across her face in place of the scars she had before, and clutching at the wound in her heart, Verity feels her strength fade. The air burns now, devoid of moisture and filled with arcing electrical discharge. Somewhere far away, an unnaturally balanced and calm voice is speaking, stating that the calibration sequence is complete, asking the last question any of them will ever hear.
Though it hurts to do so, she grins at Katje as the mighty beastkin falls. Over to one side lies Cole - the half-fae cruelly returned to a mockery of life by The Betrayer's minion, Narcei, now lies at peace once more. She turns to Rhiannon, sees too the fellow paladin's blood flowing out upon Callaran's great machine. For a moment, she considers the ridiculousness of healing them. "Friends, it is almost over now. The halls of the Saints await."
Another body in her path. Sylvador. Her last words in the world slip through with what could almost be considered a smile. "Sylvador, I will see you again, soon, friend!" she says, bittersweet tears in her eyes, and turns towards her darling Tair one final time to say goodbye, ready to reach out, pull him in and hold him close.
Initiate Destruction Sequence.
The words hang in the air. And at that point, their world comes apart.
Dear friends.
I write these words with a heavy heart, for while no man can truly know his fate, I know that tomorrow we march upon the city of shade and it is likely we shall not return.
Inselburg is lost. Such is plain to see. Looking around myself, I see naught but the death throes of a dying city. We are surrounded on all sides by an inevitable tide, and there is nowhere left to run.
But Inselburg remains in our hearts and souls; the fire of the City Of The Phoenix may be dying, but it shall be reborn through us. As long as we do not admit defeat, as long as we hold onto that dream, Inselburg will endure.
And that is why we must make one final stand. That is why we must fight. We are all that remains - one last bastion of hope, one final line of defence. Without us, Inselburg is doomed. But this is about more than just Inselburg, and more than just ourselves. If we fall here, then the spread of the Shadovald will once more go unchecked. Who will stand tomorrow if we should falter? The eyes of the cosmos are upon us - though we are but mortal men, our actions here and now will ring true for all eternity.
Let it be known to all who look upon this day through the dusty haze of history that we did not slip under the shadow of death without a fight. Let it be known that we did not lie down and await the end. In our final moment; our darkest hour, we turned the tide; led the charge against an impossible foe.
We will not give into despair. We will not share the fate of those who went before us. I say to you now what a great woman once said to me upon the eve of battle:
Do not fear death - death is inevitable, death will only set you free. Your die was cast long ago; The book-keeper will come for you regardless - that much is certain and as unavoidable as the inexorable march of time itself. Will you try to run from your fate or will you stand and fight? That is the true test. Gather up thy strength - you will need it. Muster all the resolve you have within thee - it shall be put to the test. Let faith be thy armour; let courage be thy blade. With purity of heart and purity of will we shall overcome all odds. Gather thy steel, for tomorrow we stare death in the eye and when the dust has cleared we will stand triumphant.
Tomorrow, my friends, we go to meet our enemy face to face. We go to kill a king. To liberate a fallen city. To end this nightmare - or die trying.
In the name of the God-Emperor Imperius Rex and the eternal glory of Inselburg, I salute thee. Brothers, Sisters, I await you all upon the field of battle.
May Sophia's light guide our path.
And now, a response.
They stand atop their doom, and everything falls into place. The caretaker announces in its' calm monotone - "Initiating Calibration" - and they know that this is the end, the countdown to destruction. This is the point of no return. There can be no going back.
With a roar, the demons come. Hissing and snarling in their single-minded desire to destroy in the name of the archabomination, the One Who Watches, the Prime Threat Creature: The Hermaphrodite, a demonic entity so monstrous in its lust to consume all that it devoured one of The Saints and sat in his place. Each of the warriors in turn calls for aid - and each is rewarded with glowing steel, the familiar sense of lightheaded elation as the magic of the spirits and the aether flows through them. They move as one to hold back this tide of clawed and horned evil - the desperate outpourings of the Hermaphrodite's infernal will - and their hungry blades are rewarded with the taste of demon flesh and blood.
The air begins to take on a tangy, almost metallic taste. Our heroes fall back to a defensive circle. Verity channels the threads of the aether to weave their shredded armour together, while Tair and Katje plead with the shining spirit Phoenix to offer some aid - some means of escape for the doomed. Tair has already made a connection -a pact- to reconstitute his annihilated self in exchange for the promise of bringing cleansing fire upon Inselburg - but his companions have not.
The spirit hums softly "I am too weak. I can barely save Tair from this fate, let alone the rest." and they realise then what they have known all along. This is the end.
Knowing this would be the case all along, Verity sets aside all of herself that is not strong, blanks out the voice screaming at her to try again, to try to call another spirit, to find some way out. "So be it. We die! We will -in this final act of sacrifice- know both death and glory! I've waited my entire life for a moment like this!" the paladin says as she strides forth, her greatsword Breanna - her protector, her shining light, her one true defence against the hungering maw of the One Who Watches humming between shaking hands. She isn't afraid anymore.
Breanna sings as it sweeps through the air and carves through the flesh of the unclean. Bright red and purple ichor marks the blade's passage in great arcs of throbbing, glowing light. Passing between the crystalline pillars of this place, it is almost as if the sword pulls upon the fabric of reality, tugging at the weakened seams as the world shifts and twists in the wake of the Hand's colossal power.
Demons circle about her, running and dodging between the crystal shards, gibbering in infernal tongues and spitting rage. She feels so alive, now, in this moment before death, so full of purpose.
In the corner of her eye, she sees Rhiannon is being forced back by the claws of an abomination. In a moment, Breanna is biting through its side, forcing it back, smashing it to the ground.
And suddenly Tair is standing before her, tears in his eyes. As he sobs tortured words, the world seems to dull and fall quiet, light fading and flickering temporarily "I can't do this...I can't do this, Verity! I can't...I can't..."
The fear sweeps in like an unstoppable wave. Desperate, raw, unyielding pain. She can do nothing but hold him and cry alongside - she tries to open her mouth to whisper soothing words to make things right, but there is nothing she can say. Nothing she can do. All will not be right. It cannot. It *must* not, she realises. To remain stranded here and face death - that is their destiny. That is unavoidable. To meet it head-on? That is faith.
With strength now to speak, she forces the words between teeth gritted with grief "Tair - you must. You MUST. If we falter here, then all this has been for nothing! Everything we have done, everything we have stood and fought for - all will be irrelevent if we stop now-"
"No. I can't lose you. I can't kill you. I can't do this!" he buries his face in her shoulder. This is the first time she has truly, really seen him cry. She wonders how she could ever have doubted him. Another wave of realisation strikes. This really is the end. This really has to happen.
Has to happen.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut the fuck up, Tair! Shut up! If we fall, then nothing will stand between the world and the hermaphrodite's evil. It already has a purchase, already its twisted influence is spreading to the machine's core. You know that this has to happen. Do it. Activate it. Promise me you will? Swear it!" she screams as she holds onto him desperately.
The caretaker blankly states "Calibration will shortly be complete..."
"I..I...Verity, I love you! I can't let you go! I can't do this. There has to be another way." she can feel his tears, strangely, despite all the pain flowing through her wounded body.
She hisses through gritted teeth "SHUT UP, Tair! This *must* be done. Be strong, please, for me. I have dedicated my life to this. Let me now dedicate my death as well." and at this, Sophia's paladin turns from her sweetheart, turns from everything left in the world, and marches into the cackling horde with a final prayer upon her lips.
Katje, Sylvador and Rhiannon beside her, they step into one last dance with the infernal. Their blades flash in the blue half-light, and demon blood soon covers them. Claws flash in the corners of their eyes, and one by one they fall.
She is the last, now. Freshly opened claw-marks across her face in place of the scars she had before, and clutching at the wound in her heart, Verity feels her strength fade. The air burns now, devoid of moisture and filled with arcing electrical discharge. Somewhere far away, an unnaturally balanced and calm voice is speaking, stating that the calibration sequence is complete, asking the last question any of them will ever hear.
Though it hurts to do so, she grins at Katje as the mighty beastkin falls. Over to one side lies Cole - the half-fae cruelly returned to a mockery of life by The Betrayer's minion, Narcei, now lies at peace once more. She turns to Rhiannon, sees too the fellow paladin's blood flowing out upon Callaran's great machine. For a moment, she considers the ridiculousness of healing them. "Friends, it is almost over now. The halls of the Saints await."
Another body in her path. Sylvador. Her last words in the world slip through with what could almost be considered a smile. "Sylvador, I will see you again, soon, friend!" she says, bittersweet tears in her eyes, and turns towards her darling Tair one final time to say goodbye, ready to reach out, pull him in and hold him close.
Initiate Destruction Sequence.
The words hang in the air. And at that point, their world comes apart.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 01:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 01:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 02:16 am (UTC)This system was my introduction to LRP. Time and time again Shadovald has made me realise how lucky we have been in York to have such a fantastically deep and immersive system to play in.
Shadovald LRP: You shall be sorely missed, and fondly remembered.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 04:05 pm (UTC)...I will do mine a bit later. Now that the stupid interview is out of the way...