The Battle Of Wills - Crossover RP

— Team 1 —

"None so far. Nothing attacked me directly" says Link as she walks over to Sheik... of them all, his was the most strained response and there was a lot of blood on their clothes. She crouched down besides him and offered her hand as she softly asked "Sure everything is fine...?"

"I am fine." Sheik responded as she pushed Link's hand aside. The Sheikah felt too ashamed to accept any help, let alone from Link's. The situation seemed way too familiar.

As she stood up and wrapped her chain away, Sheik pressed onwards into the dark.

"My fear is that Goldbaum has had ample time to warn the city. Our task may have become much more difficult."

Team 5

Lucina lowered her sword after learning that the creature before them did not at the moment mean a threat.

"What is it that you want from us?", she asked with an impatient tone. From the looks of it, that thing did not intend to cause them harm, at least until they stood against its will. It was uncertain exactly what it was leading the group into, but it seemed better than needless conflicts that could potentially lead to casualties.

edited 21st Jun '14 7:02:26 PM by Rapier

Team 1

Fish-headed demon's eyes remained open. In fact, it seemed to have no eyelids whatsoever.

The darkness of the tunnel didn't change one bit. Unless the enemy was lurking in the black awaiting party's move to get a jump on them... it was calm. Goldbaum's voice spoke no longer.

Eventually the party reached crossroads: their corridor was splitting into three separate routs, going diagonally to the left and right and straight to the left.

The giant temple of marble seemed somewhat smaller inside than it supposedly was from the outside. All three members of this unlikely party at some point received a notion to go to a certain point. No matter the amount of black corridors lit by torches walked through they would all make their way towards a small room with open doors, waiting for them to enter.

The room in question seemed to resemble a cozy office more than anything else. It was rather austere in its furnishing, consisting only of a large desk with three chairs in front of it, a small bookshelf, a globe situated on the desk next to a small desk lamp and, perhaps most curiously, long steel chains decorating the walls and the ceiling.

Behind the desk sat who was presumably Sammael, a rather peculiar-looking man fiddling with a pocket watch◊. Upon party's arrival he closed the device after some inspection of its insides.

"I'm glad you have managed to reach this place unharmed. Relatively, at least." The pale man corrected himself upon seeing Doomguy's makeshift bandage. "Flynn Taggart, Sypha Belnades and Marisa Kirisame, I presume? My pleasure to meet you."

Front of the truck was looking pretty good: a quick look into a rearview mirror was usually enough to get most drivers out of Henno's way and 18-wheeler's horn was only accentuating the effect. The main problem however came from the fact that, well, riding a truck full-speed right into the city was a rather risky maneuver.

The behind of team's ride looked somewhat less pleasant. The two remaining bikers kept their distance, letting Veigar use his energy fruitlessly. Suffice to say, collateral damage would be quite high, considering that Yordle's Dark Meteor smacked right into yet another hapless sedan, exploding it on the spot and causing massive panic.

And then there was also a matter of a familiar figure that was last seen under the 18-wheeler emerging on top of the truck right behind Guy. "Sup, prettyboy?" The chief biker cracked his knuckles, grinning.

NIGHT SHOOTER, PURGATORY'S BLOODHOUND

"I'll be brief, Miss." Dominus spoke as the eye floating next to him and girl's bigger eye focused on her at the same time. "I am certain that your so-called Man of Ipsum is naught but a ruse. See, if you do happen to kill this girl her blood will be automatically used as a catalyst to open a local portal right to the Abyss where darkness full of teeth awaits patiently. The one who calls himself Man of Ipsum planned to disguise the girl here as a monster similar to those you might have encountered earlier, but I've managed to mess his plans somewhat and reveal her true form to you... if only for a limited amount of time."

Team 3:

Marisa was admittedly impressed that Sammael already knew her name, but thinking about it she remembered that whoever called her to this world would probably know who she was in the first place, so she wasn't too bothered by it, instead she just gave a big grin to the pale man in front of her

"The one and only! So I'm guessin' you're our boss here?" she said energetically.

Team 3

"Yeah, that's a good point" I agreed with the magic user as we neared the marble building. Based on what little we had seen then it was odd that the angels of God would need three mortals of questionable sanity and morality to do something for them. Perhaps that was why they wanted us, those of supposed high-fiber always look for others to do their dirty work. Lets them get their work done and yet keep their holier-than-thou hands clean. Even if this was all just egotistical theatrics, they didn't seem lacking in either firepower or personal. If they wanted discretion, they picked the wrong three people.

"I guess we should feel honored then. Eh, I can't say that I do" I added as I finally finished loading rockets then started on the shotguns, the rhythmic click of shells being pushed in calming me a bit. "Call me a skeptic, but whatever they want us to do can't be on the straight and narrow"

Once the two of us entered the building, I could feel something pulling me through the twisting hallways, a subtle influence and pointed me in the 'right' direction. I would probably never had noticed if my paranoia of ambush and soldier's intuition had not grated against the idea that I knew where I would be going. It would eventually lead us two to a small room of very little note where we caught up with Reimu and someone else was there expecting us.

I couldn't give comment about the surprisingly humble room besides the steel chains that brought back uncomfortable memories of the House of Pain, but the man himself was parculiar. If I had to take a shot in the dark I would say this was Sammael himself (or at least someone directly under his command), and despite the pailness and questionable prettiness I feel he was someone I shouldn't mess with. That makes sense, he is the angel of death, after all. That didn't stop my surprise when he spoke my name, my real name, right in front of everyone.

"How do you know that name?" Was the first I blurted out with an accusatory finger point, perhaps due to still clinging to the theory that these people weren't actually the real deal. Then I caught myself on that, and decided it was better to not further wedge my foot into my mouth. "I mean, I feel the same" I said in as an apologetic a tone as I could get without actually apologising.

Then I remembered the third name on that list and looked down at 'Reimu' and mentally kicked myself for not figuring that the name was a lie. Never trust Marisa is the lesson to learn here.

edited 24th Jun '14 5:41:12 PM by Luke_Prowler

Team 3

Sypha, when she entered the building, felt the tug of... something, pulling her towards a specific spot. She knew exactly where to go despite not being here before. Once Doomguy and Sypha had entered Sammael's office, he spoke to them, knowing their names. Apparently 'Reimu' was actually Marisa, which got a look from Sypha, but nothing more. After all, Sypha had been lying about her gender.

Team 1

Link felt a little bad for having her hand shoved away when she was trying to help... but shaking it off with a "Hmp!", she put a resolute look and focused instead on the task at hand "Seems likely. I think they would have seen us coming anyway... sorcery of some kind. There's a whole city waiting for us now... and who know what we look like. Still... we'll figure it out when we get there" says Link as she starts to walk forward, shield on hand and taking point.

Team 1

At Link's 'who know what we look like' comment, Nightcrawler raised one eyebrow... and then one corner of his mouth... and then another corner of his mouth. "Perhaps this might not be the most appropriate of moments, but... your comment has made me think of something." He said, following the group. "They will most likely be informed of who we are and what each of us can do. The blue man with the tail can teleport for one. Well, what if... what if we switched our clothes?" His smile grew even wider. "Please hold back your urge to laugh, but this will allow us to surprise the enemy. They will come after me... and they will get a faceful of your sword. Or they will come after you and find themselves on the end of a teleporting punch."

Team 1

"Forgive my bluntness, Nightcrawler, but that plan has little chance of success. Whether we change garments or not, our physical appearances will remain the same. Your posture, speech, and skin color would alert the enemy sooner than your clothes would. Unless..."

The Sheikah stared down the three corridors, as if the answer waited at the end of the tunnels. Should she really risk it? What did she know about these allies except their names and their peace-loving habits? Perhaps that was all she needed to know.

"Unless I use my power to change our appearances completely. Voice, clothes, complexion, everything."

Team 4

Henno was relieved that most vehicles got out of his way.

Bloody wanker.

It was just the problem of getting rid of an intruder.

"WE GOT AN UNWANTED GUEST ON BOARD!"

Team 4

"Damn. You're pretty good yourself." Guy jumped back, leaving some distance between him and the attacker. He did not expect him to survive Veigar's Arte. He focused his mana and prepared another Arte. "Prepare yourself! Beast!" Guy charged at the biker, readying a tackle.

Team 3

"I'll get to your question in just a second." Sammael addressed Marisa, smiling. There was something odd about this smile: no emotions whatsoever. It wasn't sarcastic either, it was just... there. Curved lips and nothing more.

"As for your question, Mr. Taggart, I suppose I just happen to know a lot. I use the same sources of knowledge as the one who summoned you here. The one, who I'm afraid..." The smile vanished. "That you are victims of a rather elaborate plan, designed by Second General himself. There is no Man of Ipsum. In fact, there is no Ipsum itself. You and your comrades from other groups were, for lack of a better word, tricked."

Contrary to his giant posture, Night Shooter had no trouble avoiding the incoming Guy's tackle, swiftly moving to the side akin to a matador avoiding the charging bull. "Hey, calling names? Not cool, prettyboy." Demon shook his head before retaliating with a high kick aimed right at Guy's collarbone, a powerful strike with twice the power of an average man.

Meanwhile, Henno's life as a driver wasn't pretty either. Not counting traffic obstacles and two stray demons still riding in some distance away from the 18-wheeler, a loud siren, followed by another ones made way for local law enforcers' entrance. A couple of police cars rode right after the truck, a Latino cop hanging from one of the windows and screaming through the megaphone. He wasn't audible at all, but the message was clear: "Stop right there, criminal scum."

Team 2

Ami easily jumped away from Murphy's sword swing and inspected her work. It looked like she had trapped everyone in ice...including her teammates, but that could be fixed.

"Your reign of terror in this hotel has come to an end, zombie! In the name of Mercury, douse yourself in water and reflect!" She declared to the half frozen man. It didn't feel right fighting evil without saying at least part of the speech, even if it was a bit late for the whole thing. And as the only sailor senshi present, the "tradition" fell to her. Now more confident in herself, Sailor Mercury started slowly melting the ice around her friends, being careful to leave the others stuck.

edited 27th Jun '14 9:21:58 AM by ScorpioRat

Team 4

The sirens, flashing lights and screaming distracted Guy for just a moment. That moment proved crucial as the demonic biker aimed a blow at his collar. "Damn!" Guy managed to bring up his sheath to block with his left hand but the force of the strike transferred to his arm as he heard a sharp crack. "Urgh!" Guy jumped back from the biker, once again creating space. He mustered up his only healing arte, "Center!" It wasn't much, but the pain in his arm was subdued. It was now likely no more than a fracture. Not ideal by any means but better than a broken bone.

"That hurt a lot. I don't suppose you can take it easy on me. I guess I'll have to finish this." Guy charged the Biker once more and activated his mystic arte, Razing Phoenix.

Team 3

Damn that smile. That fucking joyless smile. I had hoped, no no avail it seems, that we wouldn't deal with the kind of slime that always seems to bubble up in every organization. But it seems even Heaven has it's fair share of psychopaths. Nothing he said made me feel any less cold about the man, and learning where he got his information only made be worried about what is out there keeping an eye on me (or everyone else here, for that matter).

But is was the accusation that made me bristle with... well, I don't know. Distrust? Indignity? Anger? I couldn't say I put all that much trust into the man of Ipsum. I lost nothing, and only gained a few more frags. But it was still a dangerous accusation, and I think Maybe-Sammael was putting too much faith (ha) in the idea that I should believe him just because he's a servent of God.

"And what is your proof of that?" I countered, my arms crossed as I waited for the evidence "Right now, all I have is your word against his"

Team 4

"Now this came to this..."

Henno muttered, opting to increase the speed of the truck before he told the others, "See if you can lose those Mets, but don't kill them!"

Team 1

"You can do such a feat? Do you have access to such... magic?" asks Linkina, trying to hide somewhat the sheer awe she felt for such a kind of magic right at their fingertips "Hmm... however... instead of shifting our appearances... wouldn't it be better if we all look like the citizens of the town we're going into?"

Team 1

"Do you know what they look like?" asked Sheik, already knowing the answer. "Besides, that may help us infiltrate the city, but it would not help us here. The enemy knows we have passed the guards at the tunnel entrance and that we are traveling through these passages. It seems likely that anyone they find in this place will be attacked, citizen or not, so there is little point in disguising as natives. One cannot blend with the crowd when there's no crowd to blend with."

Team 1

"I meant, once we got through this tunnel and got a peek at the city" says Linkina, defending her idea.

With only a little window to the outside, Veigar couldn't tell what all was going on. So he waited for his magic to come to him. He couldn't do anything useful with Baleful Strike here and his ultimate spell wasn't going to be any more useful.

edited 29th Jun '14 8:51:45 PM by stephanreiken

Team Parliamentary Debate

"So you suggest we travel together, even though we face three separate paths?"

Team 1

"I would prefer if we did not draw any attention to innocent citizens." Nightcrawler commented. "That is, if our disguises lead to them harming citizens whilst trying to find us. It would just not sit well with me. The alternative to switching up our appearances through alternate means is much more appeasing to me, Fraulein."

Team 1

Something wasn't right with all these corridors... it's like the death itself decided to visit the team, that's how cold it became in just a minute.

Following that overwhelming chill was something that shambled from the diagonal left corridor. Seemingly a male teen dressed in rags, just barely walking on his own. He didn't seem to be aware of the fact that the party is standing just several meters further ahead, shambling forward with no regard for anything.

"Oi, not a zombie! You'd get hit with a dirty bomb, you'd look similar!" Murphy snapped right back at Sailor Mercury's comment, uselessly flailing about.

And then to compliment the strange atmosphere of the corridor... someone behind Ami's back began clapping. Clap. Clap. Slowly, taking their time.

"A fancy speech. I'd ask if you want a medal, but that would be redundant." If blizzard was ever given voice, that would be a very fitting speaker. Devoid of emotion other than cold condescension the man stood just a couple of meters away from Ami, waiting for her move.

"Very well." Sammael's smile did not lessen one bit. "As you are probably aware, you are one of the five teams chosen by Ipsum on this grand mission of "restoring equilibrium" if I'm not mistaken. To this end Second General made use of the methods hidden deep within Abyss to contact the heroic souls that would be willing to hear out his desperate plea for help. What he didn't expect, however..." Man's smile widened a little. "was the amount of volunteers. A creature that detached from its previous humanity finds the world painted in dark colors a norm. For him to have no less than twenty figures ready to fulfill whatever mission is at hand was unthinkable. Because of this he had to choose which two teams - because he needed only that much - can be controlled the easiest or, should push come to shove, won't cause that much trouble. You, Mr. Taggart, are the sole remaining person from the original team sent to that abandoned factory in Purgatorio. Now tell me, for what purpose would you be sent there? Do you think the mission of that importance would boil down to defeating a member of Team Inferno and the distraction demon they summoned just to stall you?" Sammael shook his head. "This is, however, a curious information that indicates Second General isn't as faithful to Alastor as Alastor would think. Currently only he and his underling, you and myself are the only ones aware of the actual situation. But I'm getting off-topic." The pale man tented his fingers. "You and two other teams were sent to be killed rather than fulfill any specific mission though I'm more than convinced that the majority is still intact. We have information of only one team perishing, the one with lowest average age. I cannot say for sure which remaining teams are the ones meant to fulfill an actual mission rather than just be used as distractions however, not just yet."

This time without any snide remark, Night Shooter jumped back to avoid the initial thousand stabs combo, but actual Razing Phoenix caught him off-guard, forcing to pull a block. The force of the attack still knocked him dangerously close to the windshield, but apart from slightly smoking arms he appeared unharmed.

"Not bad." The demon remarked, grinning. "You've got this something, kid, I like that. What's your name?" Out of the thin air materialized the shotgun Night Shooter's been using before. This time however it had an attachment resembling a large blade just under the barrel, giving it a vaguely cleaver-like appearance. Demon twirled the gun a couple times before putting it on his shoulder, blade up.

Meanwhile the local police seemed torn on whether to deal with demon bikers hanging around or to focus on the giant truck wheeling through the town at full speed with common disregard for human life. A single shot from the one previously holding a megaphone solved all questions. He was clearly aiming for tires and while the first shot didn't register, it would only be a matter of time before they do... and once they do, all people on or in the truck would be in trouble.

Team 2

Sailor Mercury ignored Murphy's yelling as she continued to thaw out her frozen team. She only realized that someone else was there when the man started clapping. His voice was like ice, but despite her usual tolerance of the cold, she still felt a shiver go down her spine. Why hadn't she seen him on the security cameras earlier? Not making any sudden movements, Mercury turned to face the newcomer. Her visor slid across her eyes, scanning him for any useful information.

"Are you the one in charge of this operation?" she asked.