What drives someone to commit heinous crimes against their kin? Short answer, everything. Anything conceivable could be a motive to take another life. But it always took a special spark, a little something extra to push someone over the edge. Unless you’re that kind of person who kills for sport, but in that case, that spark has long since engulfed you.
In this scene, someone is being chased. A killer is on the loose in the slums of Radditsu. Three victims tonight with maybe a fourth one coming soon. Cries for help are drowned out in the district's usual chaos or outright ignored. Vale looked down at the scene with curiosity. This was a case study, one he had seen many times over his ridiculous lifespan, and yet, it was unlike anything he had ever witnessed.
He’s on top of a building, laying flat on his back, a hand on his chest. His head was dropping off the edge of that building, offering him an inverted view of the scene, a different perspective. Someone would die in the next few seconds. For a reason that only concerned the victim and the perpetrator. For once, Vale had no hand in this affair, he didn’t need to. He simply stumbled upon the scene while looking for Lottus and a sudden urge for voyeurism took over.
Someone would die, if not for an outside intervention. The Shinjin grinned. He now knew why and couldn’t wait for the big finale.
OOC: Vale is observing a murder attempt as it takes place. It can still be stopped. What will you do?
Post by The Exanimate King on Apr 18, 2024 4:19:48 GMT -5
Whilst the murderer had enjoyed their spree so far, the regular citizens of Sadala were fearful, keeping to the edges of the streets, hiding behind each and every bit of possible cover. Most people simply sheltered indoors or closed their shops early for the day.
However, Drathyr did not know of this killer on the loose, nor would he if the news was broken to him, he walked brazenly down the street, armoured like an old knight from the fairy tales, shield on his back, and sword at his side. For what would another murder be for a man who had died so many times already?
As he strode, the armour clinked and clanked gently against the paved streets and itself. The murderer, at this point, had chosen his next kill, darting from the alleyway down the street, he darted towards an unwitting citizen, she was young, early 20s, Saiyan, looking to be cautiously making their way home, scared. The perfect target, but at the last second she saw the madman rushing towards her, blade in his hand. She threw something out of her bag, it was hard enough to distract him, while she darted up the street towards the only man daring to stand out.
She stood behind Drathyr, shaking. Her mouth was wired tight from fear, but the message was clear. ‘Help me.’ Normally the Exanimate King had no time for meagre mortals, but the attempted killer was now rushing towards him. Anger bared in his eyes, pupils small as pinpricks, clearly gone past the point of return, he ran at the armoured knight, his aim struck true, the blade found a gap in the armour by his armpit, and was met with a gush of blood, red mostly but as it hit the ground, green wisps rose from it and rejoined the strange figure.
The murderer was panting, the release he was searching for was so close, all he had to do was to draw the blade back and strike at the neck of this weird man, then the woman, then, then, then… His mind was reeling with possibilities when he was yanked back to reality
The blade did not withdraw, his arm, fully extended had been grabbed by the opposite hand of the knight, as the gauntlet dug into his flesh, he writhed and tried to tear his blade away. But Drathyr did not move, the blade and the hand remained while the murderer thrashed about. A rattled sigh escaped the helmet.
He turned his head to the woman behind him “Go.” The figure said, but it was raspy and whispered like he was being choked as he said it. She took the message and fled. Returning to his assault, he witnessed the man pull another knife out with his other hand and lunge towards his neck. Just before he made contact, the knight raised his arm, where his vambrace deflected the blow, but the twisting released the blade stuck in him.
The murderer stood hunched with his blades in either hand, heaving and panting, excited and overeager. Smile bore from ear to ear. Drathyr broke the momentary pause, “Try that again, and you will die.” But this only excited the killer as he went for another attack, his blades had found purchase before, but now Drathyr was ready, and had warned the man.
He left his weapon and shield alone, magic would work here just fine. With barely a motion of his wrist, purple shadows would spew from the King’s feet, forming a wall between him and the man, as the blades pushed through the dark wall, it would fall atop him like a heavy blanket, bringing him to the ground, the man stuck to the ground, as more shadows piled atop him. His face covered, he began to scream, but they were muffled, and quickly cut off.
The shadows stopped for a moment and cleared into the air, the murderer was clearly still alive, barely, his body looked immobile, he looked up to Drathyr, pleading, his eyes wide and begging. But could only be met with a solid boot of steel as it crashed down, crushing the man’s head.
Once again, Drathyr was alone in the middle of the street, a corpse at his feet, the people on the street who had been paralyzed with fear, still stuck where they were after the display of power.
The following scene felt strange, even by Vale’s standards. It was something that should have happened somewhere else, perhaps at another time. Amidst the Saiyans, a person in complete armor, armed with a sword and shield interfered in the fight. The confrontation, the struggle, and that strange magic captivated the Shinjin who was fixated on the peculiar being. The young woman fled, and the murderer died, choked by a wall of shadows piling up on him.
Vale appeared to the left of the King, legs crossed as he sat on a barrel. He inspected the scene more closely, then he glanced over at the knight. It was hard to see through the armor, obviously, but perhaps he could get some answers by getting in their good favor. A black hole formed on the ground by Vale’s side from which a staff emerged. He grabbed it and tipped it towards the person, healing their wounds sustained in the previous fight. Smiling, Vale let the staff go and it fell back into the hole which promptly closed itself afterwards.
“You have killed a man just now. Saved another, too. What prompted you to act?”
Interfering in a situation he knew nothing about, only to find themself the unsuspected hero…or villain? Either way, the knight did not seem too invested in the fight. What an enigma! The Shinjin’s head tilted a little to the side, trying to scan deeper.
“You’re not from here, that much is certain. Have you lost yourself to time, traveler? Or is your home one of steel and magic?”
Different planets, especially those far away in the galaxy tend to be forgotten, their evolution halting or being slowed down significantly. It would come as no surprise to find a planet still stuck in a more…rudimentary era.
“And that magic, where did you learn it?”
His curiosity was piqued, he had to learn about the knight!
Post by The Exanimate King on May 2, 2024 20:24:01 GMT -5
Drathyr’s Armour creaked as he turned his head to the unusual figure, the body still twitching on the ground as the new man took a casual pose atop a barrel. Inside the helmet the King raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Magic appeared, unfamiliar magic, an unfamiliar staff, but this didn’t seem threatening, as the effect of the staff became clear, his wound healed instantly, and like that the staff was gone again. Curious…
“I did not save them out of a drive, more of an unfortunate happenstance. That one stranger used me as a shield, whilst the other suffered the sword. Were it to call to me, they would both be dead, but that would bear no function nor my purpose.” The King replied, the voice enters Vale’s mind but not his ears.
He eyed the figure in return, trying to discern their purpose, was this a test? Or were they just a curious being that sought to investigate an unusual circumstance? Whilst they both talked, people started to slink away, to either end of the street and into the alleyways. Keen to get home, or to some other safe place after a harrowing few moments. No doubt they would recall it for the rest of their lives.
“Hmmm. I am new to these lands, this galaxy has some intriguing figures, yourself included… If I may be so brazen, what are you? I am from far away, my species seems to be similar to Earthlings and Saiyans, in form at least, if not temperament.” He sighed, rattly and shuddered the helm slightly. “There is flesh in this suit of armour, a body with which my mind condemns my will unto the realms if that is what you were wondering.”
Drathyr stood out here, people were in casual clothing, and he could hear distant sirens of some response force off in the distance, not that they had much to worry about now. “My magic… I have learned pieces from all over, some from my homeworld, others from my times in the afterlife. Your staff, where did you acquire it? Its magic seems potent.”
This way of speaking, the lack of discernable mannerisms or quirky behavior, everything about this knight made it look like Vale was conversing with a sentient object rather than an individual. That alone was very interesting and also made him want to learn much more. He did notice some curiosity about the staff he used to heal the wounds. Focusing back on his words, Vale had to accept that this was a mere happenstance. The how and the why were of no importance. It just happened.
“I’ll buy it, but now I find myself even more curious. What is your purpose? What is your goal?”
Vale would not have the luxury of having his questions answered just yet for the discussion shifted towards himself. Of course, it was understandable that the Shinjin would spark some curiosity, after all. Both of them were very much strangers in this land.
“I’m an observer. I come from somewhere beyond this realm. You may call me Vale.”
The knight eventually began offering a bit more insight into who they were. As much as Vale guessed, they were from far away, not unlike Saiyans and Earthlings in their physiology.
“If I may ask in return. What use is this armor to you? Going by your words, you would not stand out too much. Going by your perceptible power, there is nothing that armor can stop that you cannot overpower, be it energy or steel. Is it just something you are fond of? A relic, perhaps?”
However, most fascinating of all, was the mention of the afterlife. Meaning that the individual had died and came back. A true feat of strength.
“How did you overcome death? It is no small feat...and goes against the very laws of this world. It also means that you have transcended your own mortality, even if only temporarily…and that you have met my people, in the Afterlife.”
After the comment about his staff, Vale manifested it once more. He looked at it, trying to reminisce when exactly he had gotten it.
“Hmm, I don’t exactly remember. Do not get mistaken, it is not a staff, but a scythe. It has been so very long…perhaps even dates back to the Four Calamities era?”
Vale shrugged.
“Who knows! But back to you, my friend. A stranger to these lands you may be, but are you seeking something in particular? Unless you don’t know why you are here? That would be problematic…”
Apr 6, 2024 1:21:15 GMT -5
Lottus: Friendly reminder for new folks to check the rules regarding art claims - AI Art is not accepted on Sparking for character sheets.
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:28 GMT -5
Lottus: Hey folks, got a new phone, but verification is preventing me from downloading Discord for now
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:57 GMT -5
Lottus: I won't be available until I get home from work!
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Lottus: Feel free to dm me if needed!
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Dingo: I'll post what you've said here up in the discord so it doesn't get missed!
Apr 18, 2024 19:19:20 GMT -5
Yakito: I am the #1 Tenrec hater (Striker will be struck)