Centros: The Metal Army [Archive]

[Mizagium]

Perish gave this whole evil thing another look after the King's last statement and started wondering if this was really just a shade of grey... Well it probably didn't matter, he seemed to know what he was doing and he had a lot of disposable soldiers apparently if he'd taken most of the country with them alone.
With a shrug, Perish turned her thoughts to getting ready for an invasion and figured a suit of armour would probably be a good idea, though she had to pause for a moment when the muscle man with the terrible accent whipped out a new giant weapon.
Perish blanched for a moment.

"That... is that going to be even noisier?" Perish said mostly rhetorically with a silent groan in the making.
She resolved to just sighing and returning to her concentration.

Within moments most of her body was covered in sparse symbols drawn in her blood, though it was really only noticeable around her hands and face. A few seconds later thick black smoke issued from the symbols enveloping her entire body, and then rapidly vacuuming away and leaving the most macabre and devilish black plate armour in its place.
It had seemed Perish had suddenly transformed into some necromantic dark knight, as all the plates had twisted metal and a lot of it featured bones and skulls for decoration, with a devilish helmet through which you could really only see her red eyes. A devilishly designed black sword was also attached to her back.

"All set!" Perish said, her ghostly voice sounding even more eerie behind the dark metal helmet.

[Mizagium]

Fury laughed at the question, then pulled out a metallic cylinder and began to screw it on the muzzle of his machine gun. "It's cahmun enough ta put a silencer ahn a gun," he explained.

"Ah, however, invented dis special fur dese occasions. It's a loudener."

[Mizagium]

Samson Mortlock had been resting peacefully in his forest, lying on the grass in a relaxed sleeping position. Suddenly, the ground around him thudded and shook. One of the woodsman's eyes shot open, alert to the vibration of the ground. Another thud. Closer than before. The lumberjack leapt to his feet, grabbing his axe and whirling to face the one who dared to interrupt his nap.

His stern face relaxed as he met the gaze of the arrival.

''What do you want?'' he sighed dismissively.

Samson turned away again, shutting his eyes and lying back into his outstretched napping position. Before him, stood a 14 foot tall, towering anthropomorphic tree, or at least, what looked like a tree. Green and grey moss covered it's body. But it also resembled an elderly man, with a beard of twigs and moss, and withering wrinkled bark.

''Trouble brews in Centros..'' the tree warned in an solemn earthly voice.

''Sorry Endtree, not my problem.'' the lumberjack dismissed without opening his eyes.

Endtree's worn face twisted in anger. He stomped his giant foot down on the ground, jolting Samson out of his rest. The lumberjack sat up, his bearded face significantly less fearless. Samson Mortlock had one fear, and that was annoying Endtree.

''The townspeople are none of my concern.'' he reasoned in vain, folding his arms irritably.

''Arrogant human!'' Endtree barked. ''I demand that you intervene!'' his voice was no longer calm and solemn, his tone sounding like he was arguing with a restless child.

Samson Mortlock growled in animalistic annoyance. He snatched his trusty axe and stormed off towards Heroes Refuge.

''I outta chop that old fool down to size...'' he muttered angrily.

[Mizagium]

Jeff flourished his key-sword a few times, mentally noting how thinly veiled the reference was. But he supposed it was enough to avoid a lawsuit. We certainly don't have the budget or lawyers to go to court. I'll just have to avoid using anything that might be copyright infringement.

He looked at the assembled citizens, sighed, and then turned to Magnus. "We're going to die, aren't we?" He deadpanned.

-

"If there are no more issues, you are all dismissed. Please follow Rurik down to the training level. There you may physically and mentally prepare yourselves for the coming battle. Get to know one another," The Mechanist King suggested. "After all, you're going to be fighting and dying beside each other soon." He chuckled. "Just kidding. But seriously. Get out. Not you," in put a hand on the robot's shoulder. "You wait a moment; I have some questions for you."

[Mizagium]

Uh-oh.

Chase wasn't sure he liked The Creator's tone.

Did I say something wrong? Did I forget something?

"Yes Creator?" he paused "What do you want to know?"

[Mizagium]

Perish was somewhat fortunate her helm was now masking nearly all of her face, as the expression she gave to Fury after he informed her of this 'loudner' kind of said 'You'd better be fricken joking', yet she kind of already knew the man was serious.
Her left eye twitched a little before attempting to push the thought of being sonically assaulted out of her head and return her thoughts toward the King who was suggesting some kinda training?

Just how exactly was Perish supposed to train or whatever? Her tactic generally consisted of trying not to get dismembered while outlasting her opponent.
And as for getting to know one another, she kind of knew everything she needed to know about Noisy McNoisealot.

"Ugh, whatever, lets go. Maybe Mr. Noisy here will find new and interesting ways to shoot me full of holes," Perish said with a sigh, following Rurik off to the training floors.

[Mizagium]

Esfir sat silently in her shop, occasionally glancing outside to see what all the fuss was about. With all of this fighting going on, it is sure to get me some business. She stood and walked to the front of the shop, making sure her sign was clearly visible. It read:

"MECHANIC SHOP. YOU PAY, I REPAIR. YOU NO PAY, I SMASH YOUR FACE WITH HAMMER."

She then turned around and, taking a deep breath, bellowed, "Hey! Did you break something? Did something break you? Come to Mechanic Shop! I fix anything!"

Esfir then stood back, satisfied with herself, and observed, hoping that someone would needs some repairs.

[Mizagium]

Magnus watched as his small band of fighters began setting up blockades and booby traps all around the entrances to town and throughout the streets. All was going well so far, but it would go a lot smoother if the regular citizens stopped getting in their way and giving them weird looks. Honestly, they could be a little more grateful.

He was briefly distracted by the sound of that Russian mechanic that lived down the street. Then a thought occurred to him. "Hey! Ms. Mechanic! I don't suppose you'd be interested in helping with the defense of this good town?"

".....sir?" one of his new recruits approached, not quite sure how he should address Magnus. "THe defenses are done. What now?"

"Hmm. I guess we wait. You all have weapons of various forms and questionable usefulness correct?"

"Well yes...but I don't see why I have to use a boomerang while Leske over there gets a howitzer-"

"Good!" Magnus cut him off cheerfully. "Then we wait. I can summon some elementals to help fight but I'm saving that until we really need them." Though now that he thought about it...they really needed them now. "Right...I'll get on that." The recruit nodded uncertainly and returned to his post.

[Mizagium]

Esfir turned to the man who had spoken. Finally, some business!

"What do you need, and what do I get out of it?" She asked. After all, that was the most important thing. It's not like she helped out of the kindness of her heart.

[Mizagium]

Magnus thought for a moment. A long moment. "Uhh....well there's gonna be a lot of robots attacking so there will probably be lots of scrap metal lying around afterwards." 'If we don't die first' he silently added. "I suppose you could have it and..use it or sell it or something. Mechanics do that sort of thing right?" he shrugged. "Or I can pay you I guess. I have some blood diamonds around here somewhere...."

He elbowed Jeff, who was standing nearby. "Hey kid. Spot me some cash would ya?"

[Mizagium]

"Right." Jeff rifled through his pockets, searching for his wallet. Upon finding it, he stared bleakly at the empty pouch. "Uh. I'm not exactly from around here...not from this land...continent...world...dimension...place. Ahem. So I don't uh...do you take plastic?" He produced a credit card hopelessly.

-

The Mechanist King smiled warmly, or his best attempt at warmth. "Now, now, calm yourself my robotic friend. You've done nothing wrong. It's just...curious. All robots are my children, born of my Breath of Life. It is a gift I was blessed with, to use as I see fit, and I choose to use it for the good of Centros."

He shook his head, banishing the memory, and started circling Chase.

"But I digress. All robots are my creations, and obey only the laws I have set out for them. Now, don't mistake me, I do not claim to be a god...but it is very similar no?" He laugh was cold and piercing. "So far, my robotic creations have not disappointed me - well, save for the first handful. Soul binding is such a finicky process."

He stopped behind Chase. "Life has a funny way of getting away from itself. I don't recall granting my servants free will, but who's to say it didn't develop of itself, evolution if you will. I suppose there's nothing I can really do about it...rooting out budding self-awareness would be such a time-consuming process. So, I will...put this issue aside."

It seemed as thought temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. "I giveth life and I taketh it away. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, eh, Chase?" He placed a cold robotic hand on Chase's robotic shoulder. "See to it that you continue to be a model servant. Dismissed."

[Mizagium]

Plastic? Plastic is not a useful material! Metal, on the other hand... Esfir turned to the man with the eyepatch. "You! Mage! You have diamonds and you promise metal? That will be payment enough." She strode forward before grasping his hand and giving him a hardy handshake.

"I will help you, comrade. I am mechanic! I can make weapons. I know machines. I know how to fix them... And how to destroy them." A grin split across her face.

"I am called Esfir Ivanovna Vladimira." She glanced at the two of them. "And who are you two?"

[Mizagium]

Magnus grinned, shaking the woman's hand. "Excellent. I am Magnus, a...wandering mage of reputable skill. A pleasure to meet you. This is my recent associate, Jeff of...wherever." He shrugged. Mentally he was thanking whatever deities existed in this messed up universe that someone was actually willing to help. And someone who actually knew how to work machines and weapons.

"I don't suppose you have any useful weapons that would help out with our little struggle?"

[Mizagium]

Weapons? Of course she had weapons! She smiled and waved the two of them into her shop. She began rummaging around a closet in the back. "Yes, I have weapons. I have vehicles. I have pieces and parts that could fix anything! But, you need to take down the man of metal, yes? I help you, comrade."

Slowly, a pile of weapons began to form. Guns, lasers, grenades, bombs, blunt instruments, etc. Esfir wrapped her tool belt around her waist, then fixed her hammer, wrench, and blow torch securely on it.

Pulling her goggles down over her eyes, she asked "Do you have a plan, mage? I need to know man of metal's weakness. Know what he is made of?" She sighed. "Or maybe you think we run in with no plan? That would be mistake, comrade."

[Mizagium]

Self-awareness?

Chase had always known he was different, his unbridled sense of curiosity had made that clear early on. Surely though, it had been on purpose...right?

"I giveth life and I taketh it away"

Chase may have been forgetful, but he wasn't stupid.

He's threatening me...

Saddened by the thought of disappointing his Creator, Chase turned and followed the others to the training grounds. He would show the King that he was loyal, at all costs. Only once did he stop to think...

Crap...

I never did get him that cup of oil...

[Mizagium]

Magnus tried not to drool at the sight of the rapidly growing pile of weapons. He almost missed Esfir's question. Snapping himself out of it, he thought for a moment. "I'm not entirely sure what he's made of. As for his armies..well, he brought them to life somehow, but I don't think it was magic. They seem to move without any real mechanical means...more like metal men than machines..."

He considered it for a moment. "I imagine enough sheer trauma would work on them. Explosives and heat, most likely. As for our defense plan...well since there's not too many of us fighting, i was planning on using hit-and-run tactics when they breached the town. But with the added fire-power, we might be able to hold the line, at least for a little while."

He glanced off the the edge of town. "My magic can hold off a good many of them, but I can't guarantee the town's safety if I pull out the heavy stuff." he shrugged again. "I'm open to suggestions."

[Mizagium]

Daryl finally found his way to the Heroes Refuge. The suit wearing raptor human had heard many stories about this place. It was a great place for would be heroes to gather, and as a part time evil thwarter it certainly had some appeal there. More importantly though, there would likely be some available heroines to flirt with, and as a studly and well sophisticated raptor gentleman, he would surely fine one looking for a date.

He adjusted his suit and headed in, looking around for an inn or tavern of some sort to go mingle with his fellow humans. He got some strange looks of course. Many improperly assumed he was a raptor from his look, but clearly he was simply a little oddly shaped for a human. He was most definitely not a raptor. He eventually came across the mechanics shop. He spotted Esfir talking with two men. They weren't important. He slides up almost uncomfortably close to her and promptly interrupts the conversation with much more important matters.

"Why hello there! I am Daryl, Archaeologist and part time Hero. Nice to meet you. I am a new man in town, but I am little lost. Could you show me where the tavern is, I could buy you a drink in return and perhaps some dinner for the lovely lady that helps me?" he asked shamelessly, giving his best attempt at looking sophisticated and charming.

[Mizagium]

Esfir, about to answer Magnus's question, was startled by this... Daryl... Creature. Immediately taking a step back as to get away from... Daryl, she glared up at him. What was he? A lizard in a suit? She had never heard of such things.

"Comrade Daryl, do you have business here? Something need to be repaired? Your... Head maybe?" Esfir pulled out her wrench. "If not, the tavern is that way-"

She stopped for a moment. Maybe... "Or, Daryl, you help me with something? I would be in your debt. You would be hero!" She tried to use what feminine whiles she had to lure this... Lizard to help her new comrades.

She then glanced at Magnus and Jeff. Help me, comrades!

[Mizagium]

"Okay then, lets roll." Chad rolled his magical dice and the number 23 appeared. "23, lets see now.... Oh a place called Heros Refuge not too far from here!" he smiled and started walking, after an hour he came to Heros Refuge. He looked around and the stopped. He summoned his magical dice again and rolled it in the air. "43, that means I get the random list." a list of random things appeared with their percentage of how likely to succeed or fail. He rolled the dice again and the number 5 appeared. "Punch the next person you see, ok this will be fun." he looked to his left to see Magnus. He smiled and walked up to him. "Excuse me...." as he turned round Chad punched him in the face as hard as he could. "Sorry, numbers..." he laughed and summoned his dice once again. He rolled the dice and a evan number appeared, with a nod he rolled the dice one last time. "50... Offer your help to someone.... Well I guess I must help you now!" he laughed as he looked at the raptor. Dante looked at Scar and sighed. He closed his bag up and put his away safely. He saw Chad roll the dice and punch Magnus, he manage to read some of the things listed. "Laugh randomly, tell everyone a crazy lie about yourself? People are getting stranger everyday." Raphael wondered what the little orbs were, he shrugged and looked at Chad, he licked how crazy he was." Dante and Raphael walked up to Chad and both looked at Magnus. The mannequins were surrounding the small area. Chad looked around him and rolled the dice. "25." he rolled again, "32, "Pretend to be on the evil side." he looked at the percentage and saw it only had 5% he looked at Dante. "Well, am on your side, the evil side!" Dante and Raphael shook their heads. He looked at his mannequins, "I am not evil nor good. I am on my own." Raphael nodded, "Same with me." Chad shrugged as he wasn't surprised as he knew it had a low percentage.

[Mizagium]

A few floors down, a pair of sliding doors opened at Rurik's approach. "Here you will find the training areas. Over there a break room, and there a mess hall. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to leave me the hell alone." He gave a curt nod and disappeared through the door again, leaving Perish and Mitch Fury alone.

-

Things just got weirder for Jeff. First a lizardman shows up and them some dude shows up and punches Magnus. Smartly, Jeff avoided him before helping Magnus to his feet.

"Hey, weird violent, non-hero people," he addressed Dante, Raphael, and Chad. "I've sort of gathered that you honestly don't give a crap about anything around here, but can you d me a favor and try to? The Mechanist King is going to show up and kill us all if we don't...well, working together seems a bit farfetched, but still. Come on."