PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Sept 3, 2017 16:40:04 GMT
The crisp dry air of the forest.... filled with the smell of fire, smoke, and cinder. The serene peace and quiet was now replaced by the crackle of gunfire and burning wood. Umbrage and her team were recently sent to track down and capture a group of magi supposedly heading to the fabled magi ‘haven'. A place Umbrace was however skeptical of its existence, but did not deny its possibility. These thoughts would not hinder her work as she stepped through part of the burning forest with a few other hunters clad in protective gear and gas masks to prevent their own suffocation. She turned back glaring at the hunters behind her. “Wasn't the goal to capture the magi alive.” One of the peons of the hunter’s cult spoke up disregarding who she was. “Shut it tin can! Trash like you should ser-oooph” Before he could finish, umbrage stepped up to throw his against on of the tree’s set ablaze. “If we do too many stupid things we'll attract the wrong kind of attention!” Umbrage had known and seen footage of the recent spirit activity. To think such an elemental force existed within the world now annoyed her to no end. She started stomping off ahead as the rest of the hunters were fanning out…. To her surprise/disappointment the targets weren't exactly the militants they were sent to hunt down. However the other hunters got a kick from it in one way or another. Her overcoat kept most of her physical stature hidden from any possible threat. Any real group magi could reduce her team to nothing. An idea she was not particularly keen on. Her extraordinary battle axe was far more of a show of power than her primary means of fighting. She continued to walk to through the forest until she could heard a sudden rustling not to far off. Suddenly she started to hear whimpering of a couple children… this part of the job always left a sour taste. It was far too easy to find them as synched up her visor for infrared. Spotting two heat signatures hiding under a small crevice that laid underneath a tree. Its roots providing a natural barrier of sorts. As she stared down at the two her eyes glowed eerily yellow causing one of the magi to yelp in fright. “No use hiding… come on out so I don't have to pull you out.” she says with a sigh… as they cowered in fear before her. A good minute passed before she decided that they were taking too long to even move. “Fine then… if you want it the hard way!” Slamming down her axe to free up the use of her arms she approaches them quickly tearing away at their protection. As she began tearing out the cage of roots that protected the children the smallest of the two started crying. Every time Umbrage saw the child’s face she repeated within her own mind ‘It’s just a job and they are the task’. Getting inches closer by the second, as the last of their protection failed she leaned in to grip the both of them. Pulling them out into the open to have the ability to subdue them. The eldest of the two children attempted to fight back, but his inexperience spoke out the loudest as he moved to punch her with his arm set ablaze. Umbrage catches the punch easily as she twists his arm and grip enough to have the flame dissipate and forcing him to drop a lighter from within his hand. “You could had made this painless.” She said with strong sense of disappointment in her tone. Throwing a strong punch close to his shoulder, causing him to flinch and cringe in pain after having his arm dislocated. “Gotta say, I do respect the attempt to fight back though…” She lets go of her grip on his hand allowing the magi to drop to the ground as she looms over him. “Once more… come back with us willingly and it won’t have to hurt as much.” Pathos |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 4, 2017 17:13:57 GMT
Something is wrong. The logical analysis portion of Pathos's internal processors registered the smoke rising from Arecia woods in a simple manner: a fire in the woods was wrong, plain and simple. Curiosity pushed her out of Haven for the first time since her re-activation; Elijah was out for the night, and her departure wasn't unusual in their arrangement. Her bright blue eyes glowed in the dark, illuminating her path towards the distant lights, the only sounds being the faint crumpling of leaves beneath her feet and the rustling of her overcoat in the foliage. Her steady walk began to quicken upon hearing patches of higher decibels -- gunfire -- until she was sprinting through the forest towards what her her mind concluded was a great deal of danger. I must gather information on the source of the fire and alert the citizens of Haven.
As she drew closer to the fire, Pathos's auditory receptors picked up a distinctive noise interspersed between the gunshots: the crying of a child. In a snap, she changed her course and honed in on the source of the sound until she came to the sight of a boy's flaming arm in the grasp of a woman; his attempts to fight back earned him a punch the shoulder and the loud pop that followed registered the situation clearly. A magi child is in danger; Pathos drew a hand to the collar of her overcoat, and with force afforded only to machines, she tore her it off of her sleek white chassis and tore into a sprint; hoof-like feet pounded silently as she drew closer to the woman from the side. In a split second, the android registered both the injury of the boy as well as the massive axe that stuck out of the ground as a testament to her foe's strength, but this sizable threat did little to dissuade her from smashing into the woman from the waist with all the force a metallic humanoid could muster -- which was to say, a lot.
"RUN!" Her voice was booming and heavily distorted. The safety of this woman's would-be victims was her only concern.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Sept 7, 2017 23:34:46 GMT
The boy below her was frozen in fear as she loomed over him. His submission was the correct answer, but Umbrage would not choose for the boy ‘If he wanted to die today then so be it’ she thought to herself as she slide her hand into her coat to pull out one of her knives. “So I’ll give you one more chance to do this right or else this will be unpleasant for both of you. You get me?” The android said with disturbingly cheerful expression as she waved within her hand. The soft silk like nature of her voice were warped by the intentions of her blade as she was leaning down to have him meet the blade. Giving the boy a good hint to the fate of any further resistance. It was supposed to be just a job after all. Then the view of the boy had tilted… strange… it took a moment to realize someone had interrupted what she was about to do. Tumbling to the side as her gyroscope assisted her in retaining a balanced position. Her body remained still as she regained her balance at a kneeling position. The foe had gotten the jump on her… she could had died! Anger flared within her for being so careless. She bit her lip looking up to be surprised by the figure that stood in defense of the magi. An android, who’s eyes burned a bright blue within the forest. The sound of her voice telling the children to run away… this was not what she expected. Nevertheless she would get some answers from this girl. She rose up to a relaxed stance with most of her own physical features hidden away by her coat and visor. However the visor could not hide away the yellow glow of her eyes. As soon as she stood to address this new player, the magi girl quickly ran to aid the wounded magi. Umbrage was here to capture magi and she would not allow any to escape if she had the power to do so. Allowing three blades slide from underneath her sleeves, she quickly throws the blades at all three of them at the children. Leaving them unscathed as she pinned their clothing to some nearby trees. “Kids… Stay there while the adults talk.” She spoke out with a grin creeping across her face. It was then she decided to address the newcomer. “So...who are you?” A new threat with no name… without the proper support, Umbrage would not have the means to properly figure out this android’s model type. With this lack of information she was wary and began side stepping to her axe slowly. Facing the android throughout the entire time they spoke. “Why is an Cyborg like yourself even interested in saving these magi anyways?” questioning the girl’s purpose. To Umbrage’s knowledge the percentage of magi to have a higher education to reprogram or even build an android was far off. It made her curious… was it by choice or was she just another slave ordered to kill. Pathos |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 7, 2017 23:58:36 GMT
Pathos had a moment to realize one of the fatal flaws in her programming: the directives put in place to protect a magi individual superseded her logical and tactical analysis. This was her way of rationalizing why she dove headfirst into conflict with an armed woman while she possessed no means to defend herself. Fortunately, the faint whoosh that passed by her head followed by a soft thunk made Pathos's head jerk in the direction of the magi children, who were pinned to a tree with what appeared to be daggers. Weapons, she thought while facing the other woman again. She began to back away towards the children; her eyes remained firmly fixed on their attacker.
"My name is Pathos, and I was manufactured in Haven. I have been programmed to protect the magi peoples from any hostile elements that may threaten their existence," the android explained, stopping in place beside the tree. In several successive motions, Pathos yanked one knife free and threw it aside, while the other two were grasped firmly in her hands. "Run," she whispered to the children, before stepping towards her foe with a stern glare on her face. "I will give you a single chance to leave them be and retreat from this forest. Refuse..." Pathos's stance shifted to semi-crouch, and she held the knives outward, "...and I will use deadly force," she spoke in a flat monotone, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in her tone.
All of this was just posturing; Pathos didn't have an iota of combat experience. She highly doubted she could even throw knives with the same precision as the woman she'd just threatened. All of that was irrelevant, however. Her programming dictated that she protect the two cowering children behind her, and she would sooner be destroyed than fail them.
Do whatever it takes to ensure their safety.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Sept 8, 2017 7:23:09 GMT
Umbrage was finally able to move within reach of her axe… a great boon of a weapon. Humans would normally find the weapon to be too impractical because of how oversized it was, however her own enhanced strength made the difference when using it. Reaching out to firmly grip the pole arm and lift the weapon away from the ground behind her. It’s familiar grip kept her smirking as she watched the android in front of her secure the children. She kept smiling as she spoke out some interesting little details about herself. Sounded like an android just come right out of the factory. Her eyes glanced to the children as they ran away… it was at this moment the hunter decided on another prey that was worth more of her time. “Interesting~... I suppose it’s rude not to introduce myself now. They call me Umbrage… I was a prototype of sorts.” Despite the stance Pathos had made Umbrage’s posture was still quite relaxed. It wasn’t too hard to discern that the Android in front of her was previously unarmed, however it was troubling that the android said ‘Manufactured’. “Quite odd… you said you were manufactured… so does that mean they have a factory of your models being made... Or are you just some remade slave?” Her tone was condescending as she proposed the question. Umbrage only laughed when the other android actually threatened her if Umbrage had chosen to stay. “Quite polite, however it won’t do you any good to threaten me like that… in fact you’re only chance to kill me was when you pushed me away from those children. But why talk about what could have been, when we could see how you’ll end up.” Chuckling at the prospect of taking the head of this android back to her bosses. It was at this moment a quite a fun idea came to her mind. Why keep the secret to herself when she could just as easily share what was about to happen. “I should mention though, once I’ve ripped that pretty head yours off of the scrap you call your body. Be happy in knowing that it’s thanks to the data in your head that will lead us to the capture and many magi you seek to protect.” Umbrage taunted her before charging at Pathos with wicked speeds thanks to the use of her own propulsion systems. Stopping right in front of the Pathos to make an attempt at decapitating the android. Pathos |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 8, 2017 13:04:48 GMT
Relief flushed through Pathos when she heard the sounds of fading footsteps, but she knew that their escape had solved only one problem. Standing confidant was an android whose demeanor and weapon of choice gave the impression that she was built for the efficient application of extreme violence. Pathos, meanwhile, had comparatively little features or specialized function within her frame aside from a modicum of self-defense protocols in her database. A fight would be heavily skewed in her opponent's favor, and worse still, they appeared to be fully aware of this judging from their gait and dialogue. Even the android's name, Umbrage, gave off an aura of intimidation and malice.
Pathos cursed her programming as she struggled to stave off a surge of fear that was starting to make her quiver.
All of Umbrage's attempts to initiate any further dialogue were met with silence from Pathos, who couldn't find a satisfactory answer. She didn't know the answer, for she'd taken the engineers who activated her at their word on her origins. I've never seen another model of my type in Haven... This hestitation to answer must have finally bored her opponent, and before she knew what was happening, Pathos realized that Umbrage was inches away with that massive axe raised high. Not good.
Double-edged battle axe, metal composition unknown. Android strength suggests high probability of severe damage to chassis should this weapon connect directly. Dodge. The request came in the span of a single nanosecond, but even that felt too slow for Pathos, who leaned back mere inches from the massive slab of metal that passed over her face. Androids were built to react far more quickly than humans or magi, but even Pathos could feel the gap in speed between her and Umbrage.
Yet despite how utterly hopeless this fight appeared to be, Pathos was determined to find some way of emerging victorious. If there was one advantage she possessed, it was awareness of Umbrage's cockiness and self-assurance in her victory. Leaping back from her foe, Pathos swiftly loosed one of the knives towards Umbrage's eyes, but she wasn't deluded enough to believe a combat model would allow herself to suffer a grievous injury to her retinas. The effort that Umbrage would need to undertake to block that knife served the purpose of giving Pathos a few precious seconds to sprint into the forest, amidst the winding trees.
There was't a smidge of possibility that she'd win a straight up fight, but with the forest on her side, there was a chance.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Sept 10, 2017 7:03:30 GMT
Despite how all of this started… Umbrage was starting to have fun with this newcomer. Her initial swing for the head missed just barely. The girl had some potential, the only feeling that she could describe was excitement. However unlike anyone of her mortal foes, Pathos was an android. It would only be natural for her opponent to react without hesitation. Recovering from the force of her initial swing as she watched her opponent attempt to gain some distance. The lack of experience was evident in the movements she analyzed… The more dangerous of machines would tear her apart within the arena. As she was recovering from the swing, Umbrage watched on as Pathos threw one of her own knives at her. Normal mortals would had trouble reacting to such quick responses, but not pathos and definitely not Umbrage herself. With her own kinetic prediction systems running to anticipate the best means of catching the weapon to prevent injury to herself.. Releasing her grip upon her axe and allowing her own propulsions to enhance her movement. Forcing herself into a quick spin to catch the blade before it could land it’s mark. Moving with the momentum of the spin, Umbrage only saw it fair that she return twice as much to Pathos. Whether or not they hit Pathos did not matter to the hunter. Umbrage wanted to probe this android and see if these mortal magi were in any way worth saving. If there were truly any redeemable aspects to those that she was contracted to kill. It was only natural for her to question the nature of her work, but as she recollected to pathos’ silence… it made her wonder if the magi were just as bad as the humans that commanded her. Umbrage watched in anticipation after that attack stepping carefully to retrieve her axe. “Y’know you could be more vocal of your opinions. Mortals do consider it rude when you ignore answering their questions. So… I gotta ask… your face looks familiar and I can’t quite put my finger on it.” Umbrage inquired after slinging her axe right over her shoulders. The ease of her stance was unsettling to any eye that lacked experience… but Umbrage heavily doubted any magi would allow a piece of tech like Pathos to exist just to be destroyed in one encounter. They might be waiting for a moment to strike… “I’m still struggling with that face of yours… but I suppose it won’t matter if I bring you in. Although I should ask before I take one of your limbs… Are you doing this because you want to or because you were told to?” Once she proposed the question, the playful tone in her voice was gone. It only remained cold as within her coat smoke started spilling out and surrounding herself as well as Pathos. Umbrage had made sure to set off one of the smoke bombs within her coat as she was talking. Within that instance she would allow her thermals to encompass her vision and begin hunting the android once more Throwing a series of blades within Pathos direction using the smoke to make the attacks harder to predict. Pathos |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Sept 10, 2017 22:56:55 GMT
She is toying with me, Pathos could see it in Umbrage's relaxed stance and casual dialogue. If this android was looking for a conversation in the midst of battle, she would be sorely disappointed. Pathos couldn't ignore her words, however, which made her pause. For a moment, she appeared distracted -- she was well-aware that protecting those magi wasn't a choice she could refuse to make, but...she still wanted to do so, and she'd have made that decision even if the choice to walk away did exist... Right?
Smoke billowed throughout the forest, clouding Pathos's vision and distracting her hearing with the fizzling of whatever source the smoke was emerging from. Damn! She'd allowed herself to be distracted, and in this obfuscated environment, she realized that the only reason that Umbrage would mask the battlefield would be if it presented an advantage to her alone.
Thunkthunkthunkthunk.
Multiple entry points detected in CHASSIS. The internal system in the RIGHT ARM region has sustained damage. Self-repair advised.
Pathos could make out, faintly, the hilts of no less than three knives that protruded from her torso, with one lodged more lodged into the joint of her right arm. Light damage, she realized, before backing into a tree. The android swiftly ducked around to the other side, where she would hopefully be protected from further attacks. It was there that she realized her right arm which hung limply at her side wasn't responding to her body's commands to move. Motor damage, she aimed for it directly.
With little in the means of returning an assault, Pathos took off further into the forest using the trees to cover her movements. She needed to escape this smoke! She wishes to capture data on the location of magi civilians. I cannot allow this to happen at any cost.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Sept 18, 2017 20:38:19 GMT
The fight was a bit too easy… Umbrage had pitied Pathos as she undertook a fight she wasn't ready for. Whoever her master's were had been just as disgusting as those is the scrap pits. Her memory flashes as she's able to accurately hit the enemy Android, recalling her memories of the Arena and the many instances that her opponents were forced to fight until being utterly destroyed. The way their master’s were filled her with disgust. To them they were only objects that could be replaced… she didn’t feel that way about herself and neither did anyone that died by her hands. Oh well… this was a job after all and if she could pull some important information from this android then she might as well. Watching the android run made her wonder if she was attempt to ensure the safety of this supposed Haven or herself. It mattered not as she gave chase with her propulsions allowing her the ability to catch up to Pathos. If she killed her now, the encounter would be far more boring that it already was. However Umbrage did consider ending the android with an explosive knife or even with some electrical ones. It wouldn’t hurt too much to let her run away, but she could not allow such a prize to escape her yet. Once she regained some line of sight of her prey Umbrage threw several electrical knives at her feet in an attempt to disable her from running. After picking up her speed to move ahead of her prey she spoke with a condescending voice. “Y’know… if you really wanted to protect these magi then you should just destroy that brain of yours… I doubt they’re just gonna take the info from your head. They’ll likely rebuild you and have you stab your master’s in the back with their guard down around you. Then those children you saved will likely beg and cry as you take them to the hunters that you desperately tried to protect them from.” She begins to laugh a bit to herself as she realized if it wasn’t for her owner, Case, then she might have been a slave to the hunters or magi as well. “Heh… they’ll probably make betray them with a smile!” Pathos |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Oct 2, 2017 2:15:16 GMT
The smoke was beginning to thin, and it wasn't long before Pathos was darting through the forest with her vision unobstructed. This stretch of the forest wasn't particularly recognizable from any other part of it, so she could only hope that she was heading away from Haven. Pathos's logical processors led the damaged android to the conclusion that escaping this battle in working order would be a tremendous, nigh-impossible undertaking. Such a pessimistic belief was reinforced when the crackling of the burning woods was replaced by the harsh surge of static in her auditory sensors, and the treeline turned sharply down as the ground rose to meet her face. A concentrated electronic surge has disabled my legs, thought Pathos, who looked up just as her adversary darted a few feet ahead with that same self-assured grin on her face.
An android like herself was meant to simulate emotions rather than feel them, but as Pathos laid in the dirt with a non-functioning arm and useless legs while hearing the taunts of her opponent, she understood what it meant to be truly helpless. Pathos attempted to push herself upwards using her only working arm once, only for the dirt to shift under the weight the metal chassis and plant the android firmly back to the ground. This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening.
“Y’know… if you really wanted to protect these magi, then you should just destroy that brain of yours."
No...
"I doubt they’re just gonna take the info from your head."
No. NO.
"They’ll likely rebuild you and have you stab your masters in the back with their guard down around you."
No no no no no no no-
"Then those children you saved will likely beg and cry as you take them to the hunters that you desperately tried to protect them from."
Pathos dragged her head along the ground and tilted it upwards so that she could meet the android with a sharp glare. Humans programmed an android to be so sadistic. Humans wished to hurt those whom she wished to protect. If humans wished to turn her into a weapon against those who created her, then what was the purpose of her existence? Her bright eyes suddenly darted to the side, where one of the throwing knives had fallen just a foot or two away. Yes, a knife would do just nicely.
Metal fingers reached out and dug into the ground, pulling Pathos forward by a few inches towards the discarded weapon. "You...are nothing...but a tool..." Pathos uttered calmly in-between efforts to pull herself forward, "Nothing...more," she was so close...!
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Oct 3, 2017 21:08:11 GMT
Watching her prey fall to the floor so easily was rather disheartening… this was far from a challenge she was hoping. Despite the words Umbrage had spoken it seems like the android was still gonna resist. Continue to struggle just like everyone else she’s killed before this. The enjoyment she was feeling before was quickly fleeting. This was no hunt, this was target practice. Her greatest challenge… her greatest fight was fighting a loved one… those feelings were so vivid in her memory. Every strike… every clash… every bullet that hit her and every cut she gave her sister. Watching Pathos drag herself to a fallen knife with what remained of her limbs only fueled the pity she had for this slave. A warped mind happy to serve whoever they deemed as master. She approaches Pathos slowly as she couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Her memories of the arena keep repeating itself with the androids who begged for their lives. It really sucked out all the fun of a fight when she had to kill those like her. No choice other than fight for the sake of the owner… Then something caught her off guard… words so calm that held so much contempt from what she had originally thought was an emotionless machine. It was strange prior before this she was smiling, talking, and laughing to toy and antagonize her foe. Right now a surge of enjoyment filled her once more as she saw how alive Pathos could be. A find like this would greatly improve her standing with the hunters… but she would want Pathos to keep her sense of self. To be aware of everything she would be made to do. As Umbrage approached she made her presence known once more to her enemy. Stomping on Pathos’ hand as she was about to reach for the knife. Crushing the mechanical skeleton that laid underneath to render her ability to resist as useless. “Heh so says pot, calling the kettle black.” The words left her lips in a somber tone kicking Pathos onto her back so they can see each other face to face. Umbrage knew she could take her time now...as she straddled her enemy’s chassis one. One hand pulling out a knife as the other wraps around her prey’s neck. The movements were slow and seemed to drag on. With her knife hand she lifted up her visor so their eyes could meet for once. Her other hand begins squeezing Pathos’ neck ever so slowly. “I am a tool...the hunters refer to me as a weapon. Want to know what makes you different? You’re just a shield waiting to break. I doubt your masters would be stupid enough to trust an android with Haven’s Location. I mean you said it yourself right? You were ‘manufactured’... there is more of you within that little safe space. You are expendable… you were made to die… But I am not without mercy. So I’ll bring you back alive, however I can’t just allow you to leave without a scar of some sort.” As she uttered the last of her word Umbrage brought the knife intending to cut into Pathos’ face and if she were to go without being interrupted then the hunter would carve out an eye for a prize. Pathos and Caroline Vorlan |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sassy
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Post by Caroline Vorlan on Oct 3, 2017 21:19:47 GMT
 Notes I think it's time you understood what it felt to be prey
| I AM NOT MERCIFUL
I AM NOT KIND
I AM NOT AFRAID
TO MAKE YOU WISH THAT I WAS The moment Umbrage lifted her knife, a distinct sound cut through the otherwise silent forest. It was a heavy thump, with a quick whisper of disturbed brush. A sound like that could be anything; it could have been a branch falling from a tree. It could have been an animal pouncing into the clearing. It could have been a backpack shrugged off by a tired hiker, a falling rock, or a dropped fruit. It could have been any of these things, but it wasn’t. It was the distinct sound of a barely-conscious hunter being unceremoniously dropped about ten yards behind and to the side Umbrage. Distinct was the key word; the covered humanoid figure who released the body knew it would make this sound. They wanted it. And then, the moment Umbrage turned to regard the noise, or if she showed no sign of hearing it or being interrupted, a more distinct sound echoed through the forest, scattering birds from far-away trees and waking deer from acres away. It was the unmistakable sound of a single high-caliber gunshot delivering its payload through the skull of a downed hunter. The figure holding the revolved turned their eye to Umbrage. It was covered head-to-toe in clothing; boots, pants, a hooded poncho, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a scarf wrapped carefully in order to secure both the hood over their head and itself over their face. Race was impossible to tell; a magi? A human? A spirit? Gender was mostly hidden, too, save for a slight protrusion of the chest that may have been difficult to pick out under the poncho. The others of Umbrage’s former hunting party were already dead, killed silently by the same figure, or scattered, looking to regroup and avoid whatever the hell was attacking them. The recently-deceased hunter and Umbrage would also have been dead, were it not for a realization the figure made some time ago. If the figure was still Caroline Enthaupten, SFO and Hunter Guild Liaison, they would have taken the opportunity; there was no time for anything but efficiency and proper neutralization of targets. Minimize losses. Get the job done. Repeat. But Caroline Vorlan knew the power of appearances. Mind games. Theatrics. She knew what emotions could do to help or hinder someone; fear, anger, uncertainty… She understood them now. From a distance, the dramatic entrance might be laughed at; she knew that Kelri might compare her to some edgy character in a show or game if she saw her like this. But as long as she had to conceal her identity, she may as well make it work to throw her enemies for a loop. She’d learned that there were rumors of an entity lurking in the woods, killing people; while the stories apparently died down, as long as someone recalled them, her little performance might be all the more frightening. Perhaps that’s why the other hunters fell back to regroup instead of attempting to engage. After all, it was hard to laugh at someone holding a revolver and standing over the fresh corpse of a competent soldier. She overheard the latest pieces of conversation. The horrible threats Umbrage made (Ones that she knew firsthand were not empty), the information this other cyborg may contain, and the playful glee the hunter took in toying with her prey. Yeah. Caroline knew Umbrage couldn’t contain herself. If only she had listened to Caroline way back then and learned to talk less than she fought. At least now it was an advantage. Caroline remained quiet. If she spoke, she may give herself away, which Umbrage may report if she survived. It was not unlikely, either; she was fast and could get away the moment she saw she was losing. Perhaps Caroline should have shot her in the back, but… she actually wanted to take her alive. Find out what was in her brain, just like she was threatening this other. The irony was pleasing. The stage was set. The tables about to turn. Caroline stood with confidence. In the next moment, she whipped her arm to the front and fired off a shot at Umbrage’s center mass, signaling the start of their encounter. If Umbrage wanted to live, she’d have to give Caroline her full attention. Hopefully it would buy the other cyborg some safety; she had questions for her, too. |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Cabanilla
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Post by Umbrage on Oct 6, 2017 22:23:39 GMT
Umbrage was about to take her prize when she heard a sound of feet from behind… not too far off from her now. Another threat that could had killed her… it was strange keeping track of the things that could had been. How she could just stop existing for a moment. Without the use of her hands, her visor slid down to cover her eyes once more. That moment she had with Pathos was now gone and a new subject had drawn her attention. Only turning her head to peer at the newcomer. As the sickly glow of yellow shined underneath her visor. As if gazing into the abyss to realize that it was looking right back at you. A strange cloaked figure standing over a struggling hunter with a gun? Then as soon as she had gotten her first look upon the threat, the sound of thunder followed. The hunter who had been looking to her for salvation was now dead. Umbrage had warned them of the threat unwanted attention would had brought, but they had not listened and suffered casualties for it. Whoever this was… it was no doubt that they heard at least part of what Umbrage would had said to Pathos… and now was not the time to break the illusion despite how tense it the encounter would had become. In the arena… the first to panic were to first to break false bravado every android had. As they were often the first and most likely to die within the arena. So she let a crooked smile creep across her face as she spoke to the newcomer. “So are you her master? Come to salvage your lost property… or are you here just to break her so I can’t have her.” She let out a cruel chuckle despite the presence of a dead comrade. Despite the ease within her voice she gripped her knife tight her processors already running on reading the subtle movements of the figure. Preparing for the moment they chose to fire their first shot. Then as predicted she saw the subtle movements and read that she was about to take a stance to aim a shoot. With her knife hand she pushed herself to a better position to deflect the bullet away from her. While her free hand struck down into Pathos chassis. Ripping her way through to grip the android’s spine. Being careful as to not disrupt the connection to Pathos batteries. Jumping away as she pulled the broken machine up to prop her up as a shield. As Pathos was held in a way that had her face Umbrage at all times. The Wicked cheshire Grin stretching wide across Umbrage’s face. “Hehehe… y’know Pathos you should find some solace that someone is willing to die for you.” She spoke out loud enough for the other figure to hear… Despite the bravado she was wary of the threat. The attitude was the mask she held for the purpose of battle… and within the moment she was reminded of her past once more… of her family. Pathos had shown anger previously… and this someone might be like Case, but even so. Right now wasn’t the time to focus on what the people in front of her could be as it was far more appropriate to focus on what they are now and they are problems she has to deal with. Activating her overdrive as she takes the defensive stance she draws a few more blades underneath her coat attempting to throw a mix of flash and explosive knives the moment this new challenger had decided to attack once more. Pathos and Caroline Vorlan |
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Lestrade
| Seeking the peace of reason... |
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Post by Pathos on Oct 6, 2017 23:34:01 GMT
There was little point in imagining scenarios in which she could have escaped this situation, Pathos realized this just before deciding that it would be safer for Haven if she self-terminated. With the amount of force she could muster, a knife would slide straight through her steelhead chassis, directly into a vital operating system located within her "brain." Memories of Haven and the individuals within would be lost. While this could not stop her corpse from being salvaged and repurposed, it was better than being reprogrammed. Umbrage's gradual approach sent horrible sensations coursing through the android's body; was this fear? No matter, just a few inches to go--
Pathos saw her hand disappear beneath a massive foot, and a miniature profile appeared within her vision displaying a flashing red hand. It was then that she realized it had been shattered past the point of usability. I have failed you, Elijah. A quiet resignation, for she could not bear to display the depths of her despair in front of this terrible foe.
A dull thud, and suddenly Pathos was staring directly into the eyes of Umbrage, whose words continue to cut deep. She would not break, not for her! Grand and meticulously planned counter-attacks were formulated in Pathos's mind, but it was clear her body was too battered and beaten to carry them out. She could scarcely raise her disabled arm before the delicate intersection of cables connecting her head to the rest of her body was seized and squeezed with enough force to make her seize up completely. A flash of steel was followed by Umbrage's horrible promise, and there was little Pathos could do but struggle in vain against the promise of disfigurement. Unfortunately, Umbrage's grip on her neck was absolute, and the best she could accomplish was a minuscule twist of her head.
The thunderous boom of a bullet ripped through the air, but it was almost predictable that Umbrage managed to avoid serious injury. Someone is here? Pathos wanted to feel relieved, but her worst fear was that someone would invariably die on her behalf, which was the one thing she wanted to avoid. The distraction seemed to have loosened Umbrage's grip on her neck, and Pathos started to twist her head towards the source of the noise. She needed to warn--
SCRRRRCH!
WARNING. WARNING. CHASSIS BREACH DETECTED. MULTIPLE HARDWARE SYSTEMS COMPROMISED. SEEK IMMEDIATE REPAIR.
Harsh static overrode everything as her vision turned red; numerous flashing displays of her damaged body override much of her vision. The android's body began to twitch from the numerous instinctive, failed attempts at movement, and it was only when she could lurch her vision downwards that the sight of how Umbrage's arm was embedded into her torso became clear. Through her eyes, which began to flicker and briefly fade from their illuminated state, Umbrage's grin seemed all the more horrible.
"S-Sh-ShoooOOoo--" Pathos's tone bore a harsh metallic scratch that echoed throughout the area, and her face contorted from the simple struggle of speaking. "S-ShhoooOoo-o-Ooot t-t-t-thRouGh me-e-e-EEEee!" Her instructions were loud, if not clear.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sassy
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Post by Caroline Vorlan on Oct 7, 2017 3:21:31 GMT
Notes All hunters are cowards. You won't rattle me with those tactics, so now what do you have left? Nothing.
| I AM NOT MERCIFUL
I AM NOT KIND
I AM NOT AFRAID
TO MAKE YOU WISH THAT I WAS Umbrage's bravado may have affected someone who knew the hostage android, or perhaps on someone less hardened by life than Caroline. As it stood, though, she remained unshaken. Did she want the android victim to die? No, not really. Did she want Umbrage to die? Oh yes. But only after having a nice, long talk with her. And if she owed the other android a new chassis during her pursuit of this goal, so be it. Caroline knew so much about Umbrage. She knew her advantages, where she was lacking, what she was made of, what attacks she preferred... And she, in turn, knew nothing about Caroline, because there was no way to tell her identity under her layers. This would be her advantage. Already she could tell that using the android as a shield was taking away a huge part of what made Umbrage dangerous; her speed. Even with enhanced strength, a struggling, unwieldy cyborg was a difficult shield to manage in one hand. Caroline was already firing shots before the unknown android could howl her request, while moving to circle around Umbrage's free-hand side. Caroline was a markswoman; there was no need to fire through the android yet. There were plenty of exposed places, and it would be difficult to shield against her gunfire while making a counter-attack, especially if she kept moving. Still, she kept an eye out for two things that made the huntress dangerous; her speed, and her knives. Umbrage was a fool when it came to talking, but she was a competent combatant. Caroline would be a fool to underestimate her, especially after months of living in the woods, unable to keep an eye on her the entire time. It was a good thing she was cautious, too; a few knives were sent in her direction the moment she pulled the trigger and started moving. It took a small burst from her thrusters and a practiced combat roll to avoid being blinded by the flash bursts and harmed by the explosives (though it did manage to singe her cloak a little). Unfortunately, that betrayed the fact that she was a cyborg, too. But better that than taking damage; it was only a small advantage anyhow, and would have come up eventually. If somehow none of her shots were able to connect or draw Umbrage away from using the shield, her last two shots in the revolver would be placed through Pathos's midsection in an effort to make contact with Umbrage. Even if it slowed the bullet down, Caroline knew that Umbrage was made of lightweight metal, and felt confident it would penetrate. Even if it did no damage, or missed, it sent a message to the huntress: I am not afraid to go through her to kill you. And what good was a shield that didn't protect you from your opponent? |
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