Gathered Storm Ch.1: God's moving furniture again

RangerAidan · 03-11-2005, 01:32 AM

Though it was written that the great evil would come to power with the approval of the great nations, widespread resistance to his dominance emerged immediately, being more concentrated in those parts of the world that held tightly to moral traditions and religions. Upon his followers assuming control of the great militaries, wide swaths of resistors were wiped out. The cetral plains of the U.S. including Texas and a fair half of the southeast were the targets of concentrated bombing campaigns that left more than half of the nation's breadbasket charred, cratered wasteland. LIfe did not arise from the nutrient-rich ashes, and instead was steadily snuffed out entirely by the permeating evil of the influence of the Demon-lords. The ground became corrupted and will not bear grass nor tree. The few survivors subsist off crops grown on holy land near churches and cemetaries that have not yet been defiled. Even they are fading into the mountains as the numbers of demons in the wastes grow. As such, the Central Wastes are home only to abominations of flesh and spirit that ceaselessly roam in search of those without the mark (and to be honest, a lot who do have it as well). As well as the plague of evil, the wastes are often blanketed by powerful dust storms lasting for days. The single benefit of living there? Anonymity. Nobody goes there. No marked citizens to report resistance to the authorities and no regular flyovers by demon-controlled spy satellites and planes. It's the perfect place for the unmarked to travel...if they can avoid the demons. Moreso, it's a great place for a warband to prove its mettle in seclusion and unnter inconsequence to the rest of the world.

-March 5th, 2025
-Kansas City (ruins), Central Wastes, Former U.S.A.

There was a joke in the past that you'd say when someone else made a remark that was particularly trite, youd say "that was cornier than Kansas in summer." That kind of humor doesn't really work around these parts anymore. Nope, the cornfields and parking lots alike are all just a blackened husk of what used to be the definition of Middle America. But it's home now. home for a brand-spanking-right-out-of-mom band of fighters with nothing to either lose or prove. They are out for justice, they are out for vengeance, they are out for blood. And their chances are to be ample.

The reddish, dusty sky kept the air cool. A welcome breath to the passengers in the cramped, speeding train heading due west across the Wastes. It was a dangerous trek, and everyone on the train knew it. Maybe not the kids, too young to get any of it anyways, and too likely to be firghtened out of their wits if they were. This is not to say that the nerves of the engineer or the parents looking out the windows at the barren city on the horizon were entirely steady, either. Bad things happened there, and they knew that, too. The city was crawling with horrors that never slept. It was a risk worth taking for the 3 hundred unmarked refugees heading for the Utah mountain Enclaves.

The plume of smoke on the horizon signaled the approach of something alive. Something with meat on its bones, maybe even lots of somethings that scream and cry and run. The demons knew this, and they left their stalking and gnawing on birds and cats to lie in wait by the tracks for opportunity to present itself. Though they felt omnipotent here, the evil of Kansas City didn't know jack shit about the eyes that were watching them. The smoke signaled these friendlier eyes as well.

"They're coming"

ooc:-Alright, now get to it! Intro your character with a monlogue as he waits in the burned out train station. We are to lie in wait for the train to appear, thus forcing the evil to show itself out of the shadows.

Mintaro · 03-11-2005, 02:10 AM

Richard walks onto the train platform, covered in dust. He is a man of immense proportions. His Hair is long and black, held out of his face by a thick looking leather head band with a symbol in it. He has a sharp nose and strong jawline. His face is complimented by eyes the color of polished gold. He looks to be in his thirties but moves like a young man. His jacket and pants appear to be made out of variouse animal hides, that cover a cotton shirt. His boots make an audible clanking sound, almost like spurs, as his large frame moves across the ground. He carries his large sword in his left hand leaning it up against his left shoulder. His right arm is beneath his jacket.

As Richard stops and looks around he lifts up his sword and slams it into the wooden planking. Kneeling before it he kisses his thumb and crosses himself making sure to press his thumb against his faimly crest on the band he wears upon his forehead. He quietly says a prair in German asking for Gods blessing upon himself and for God to give him and his companions strength on the long journey ahead. He stands up and pulls his sword out of the planking to rest the sword against his shoulder once again. He looks at the group assembled. "I am Richard Gryphon." He says simply. "I fight for God, and for those who have not the strength to fight for themselves."

OOC: I never listed his height and weight 6'8" 280lbs

TheBlindMime · 03-11-2005, 03:49 AM

Shaun was sitting at on one of the dust covered benches with his arm hanging over its backing. He had his fedora hung low and he was smoking one of his cigarettes. Breathing in deeply with great satisfaction, after all you could die at any time so you should enjoy your vices while you can use them. With the incoming train he was about to see a lot of danger, and there was no way he was gonna die today and not have had his last cigarette.

He pulled out his revolver and flipped out the bullet housing. For once he was thinking ahead With all the demons headed towards us I better have an ace in the hole. Unlike the others who think gods gonna save them I know that I'm all I have. But then again humanity has never been known for accepting the truth when it's right in front of their eyes. He removes a bullet and concentrates on it intensly for a moment. Anyone watching closely could see a faint glow as he channeled his energy into it. The bullet was now a glimmering gold shot, he placed it back into the revolver insuring that it was the final shot out of six. If anything can survive my first five shots I'll insure it wont survive the sixth. His smile widens for a moment till he sees the cherry on his cigarette closer to the filter then he'd like it to be. Dammit, I spent all this time focusing on the bullet, when I should have been enjoying my vice.... One last good puff though.

He takes one last refreshing puff insuring it was good until the last suck, he stands up and spits the cigarette out with his final exhale of smoke. He uses his revolver to nudge his fedora's bill out of his eye showing his huge grin "The names Shaun, I'm a Cavaliere De Luce, but you'll all remember me as the man who saved your lives."

(ooc: i put 10 points into the bullet so the damage modifier is 7.)

Phobic · 03-11-2005, 04:09 AM

Greg sat on crosslegged on the platform, his rifle across his knees. He was mumbling something to himself, to quiet to be comprehensible. When the sounds of the train could be heard, Greg went silent. He then grabbed his axe and stood, pausing and seeming to weigh the axe against the rifle. After a moment he set the axe down in easy reach, and took his rifle in both hands, taking aim at nothing in particular. Again he mumbled to himself, this time louder than before, "May we survive the day, to celebrate it in the night."

Kildare · 03-11-2005, 07:03 AM

OOC: I'll appear when the time is right. Do continue.

lazy man · 03-11-2005, 07:10 PM

John was sitting against the wall of the station, his sword and rifle leaned up against his shoulder as he slept peacefully. To him, being a little closer to nature than others, the air seemed stagnant and almost unbreathable. He could still breath, it just didn't feel right at all. Of course, right now he was in a peaceful dreamworld and didn't care about anything. So peaceful...

Then he heard the train screeching in the distance and snapped awake. Yawning loudly, he clenched his sword and rifle in one hand and stretched out, not nearly awake right now. He really didn't know why he was even here, either. He should have been at home, defending his family. He'd regretted ever leaving. But then he remembered why. Doing something big could mean saving his family just a little bit more time. He always wanted to do something for his home, and this was definitely something. After his little stint of thought, he heard everyone starting to introduce themselves.

"Name's John Orion. And now that that's done with, I'm going to sleep once we get on that damn train." While he was saying that, he was rubbing his chin, which was covered in a growing beard. He really did need to shave, but right now wasn't the time. He'd just let it grow until he got his hands on a razor.

RangerAidan · 03-12-2005, 01:48 AM

ooc: there seems to be a bit of confusion about the situation...perhaps read my first post again. The good guys are on the train, the bad guys are trying to ambush it and kill everyone aboard. We are going to spoil their little plan.

Brian sat quietly in the top floor of the old station, loading the 8th and final shell into his Remington as he watched the steady approach of the refugee train. Hundreds of lives rested in his and his comrades' hands now. Lives that would continue due to his blood and sweat. It was his way of honoring the memory of his family, but moreso a compulsion of the deepest moral and spiritual underpinnings, and of the will of a greater power within him that pressed him ever onward to do good. The first sound of the oncoming train snapped him out of contemplation and he stood, moving swiftly down the stairs and to the platform where some of the others were waiting.

"Afternoon, everyone, I'm Brian." He said with a matter-of-factly tone. "The train's about 5 minutes out now, and the enemy will be showing any second. They think that they're going to ambush the refugees on that train, so why not set up a little suprise for them?" He said pointedly, the large hatchets dangling from his belt as he climbed a flight of stairs to the observation deck. The enormous window that had once afforded a wonderful view of the hustle and bustle below, had been long since shattered, providing a perfect snper hide and ambush set up. "They may be spawned from the depths of hell itself, but they can get a bit overconfident." He finally remarked as he cleared a spot to fire from, trusting in the accuracy of the first two slug shells loaded in his weapon.

Mintaro · 03-12-2005, 02:17 AM

Richard looks up at the man and then back at the train. He pulls his arm out of his hidden sling and inserts it into his jacket. Hefting his huge sword into his right hand Richard gets a comfortable grip on it. He surveys his group and notes the aura surrounding the man who just spoke. "all this talk of people dying and saving my life. You'd think God didn't exist." Richard thought to himself. He looked over at the train smoke approaching there position. They would be here very shortly. And so would the enemy.

"By the power wrought in me, the daemons shall perish." Richard stands at the ready to attack the first thing to be deemed a threat. "When they come, let me go in first. You can clean up what my blade leaves behind."

Incendius · 03-13-2005, 09:19 PM

Gabriyel kneeled on the floor and whispered his prayer "Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad". Gabriyel slowly rose from the floor and picks up his sword. With a swift movement Gabriyel drew his sword out of his scabbard and lifted it in front of his face. "My name is Gabriyel Lieber Mier Isaiah" Gabriyel said as he watched the oncoming train. Unconsciously touching the star of david around his neck Gabriyel says "Let us destroy these demons in the name of God".

TheBlindMime · 03-13-2005, 09:40 PM

"I'll kill them for the innocents, they don't deserve to be slaughtered or feasted upon. That should be everyones primary goal here, the safety of those people. Personnally I don't care why any of you feel the need to kill them." Shaun had started off quite angry that anyone suggest that god had anything to do with the earth anymore. If they were right and god did exist everyone he wanted in heaven would have been sucked up in the rapture. But fools or not he would need their help to fight off the waves of demons because he can't do it all by himself. "Just as long as we all make sure those demons end up dead, I'm happy."

03-11-2005, 01:32 AM	#1
RangerAidan Antiphoton Annihilation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Not NWP. Trust me, that's a good thing. Posts: 1,017	Gathered Storm Ch.1: God's moving furniture again Though it was written that the great evil would come to power with the approval of the great nations, widespread resistance to his dominance emerged immediately, being more concentrated in those parts of the world that held tightly to moral traditions and religions. Upon his followers assuming control of the great militaries, wide swaths of resistors were wiped out. The cetral plains of the U.S. including Texas and a fair half of the southeast were the targets of concentrated bombing campaigns that left more than half of the nation's breadbasket charred, cratered wasteland. LIfe did not arise from the nutrient-rich ashes, and instead was steadily snuffed out entirely by the permeating evil of the influence of the Demon-lords. The ground became corrupted and will not bear grass nor tree. The few survivors subsist off crops grown on holy land near churches and cemetaries that have not yet been defiled. Even they are fading into the mountains as the numbers of demons in the wastes grow. As such, the Central Wastes are home only to abominations of flesh and spirit that ceaselessly roam in search of those without the mark (and to be honest, a lot who do have it as well). As well as the plague of evil, the wastes are often blanketed by powerful dust storms lasting for days. The single benefit of living there? Anonymity. Nobody goes there. No marked citizens to report resistance to the authorities and no regular flyovers by demon-controlled spy satellites and planes. It's the perfect place for the unmarked to travel...if they can avoid the demons. Moreso, it's a great place for a warband to prove its mettle in seclusion and unnter inconsequence to the rest of the world. -March 5th, 2025 -Kansas City (ruins), Central Wastes, Former U.S.A. There was a joke in the past that you'd say when someone else made a remark that was particularly trite, youd say "that was cornier than Kansas in summer." That kind of humor doesn't really work around these parts anymore. Nope, the cornfields and parking lots alike are all just a blackened husk of what used to be the definition of Middle America. But it's home now. home for a brand-spanking-right-out-of-mom band of fighters with nothing to either lose or prove. They are out for justice, they are out for vengeance, they are out for blood. And their chances are to be ample. The reddish, dusty sky kept the air cool. A welcome breath to the passengers in the cramped, speeding train heading due west across the Wastes. It was a dangerous trek, and everyone on the train knew it. Maybe not the kids, too young to get any of it anyways, and too likely to be firghtened out of their wits if they were. This is not to say that the nerves of the engineer or the parents looking out the windows at the barren city on the horizon were entirely steady, either. Bad things happened there, and they knew that, too. The city was crawling with horrors that never slept. It was a risk worth taking for the 3 hundred unmarked refugees heading for the Utah mountain Enclaves. The plume of smoke on the horizon signaled the approach of something alive. Something with meat on its bones, maybe even lots of somethings that scream and cry and run. The demons knew this, and they left their stalking and gnawing on birds and cats to lie in wait by the tracks for opportunity to present itself. Though they felt omnipotent here, the evil of Kansas City didn't know jack shit about the eyes that were watching them. The smoke signaled these friendlier eyes as well. "They're coming" ooc:-Alright, now get to it! Intro your character with a monlogue as he waits in the burned out train station. We are to lie in wait for the train to appear, thus forcing the evil to show itself out of the shadows. __________________ Proud supporter of reasoned philosophy: www.Protestwarrior.com www.freerepublic.com www.mideasttruth.com Last edited by RangerAidan; 03-11-2005 at 01:37 AM.

03-11-2005, 02:10 AM	#2
Mintaro Bending space Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 1,863	Richard walks onto the train platform, covered in dust. He is a man of immense proportions. His Hair is long and black, held out of his face by a thick looking leather head band with a symbol in it. He has a sharp nose and strong jawline. His face is complimented by eyes the color of polished gold. He looks to be in his thirties but moves like a young man. His jacket and pants appear to be made out of variouse animal hides, that cover a cotton shirt. His boots make an audible clanking sound, almost like spurs, as his large frame moves across the ground. He carries his large sword in his left hand leaning it up against his left shoulder. His right arm is beneath his jacket. As Richard stops and looks around he lifts up his sword and slams it into the wooden planking. Kneeling before it he kisses his thumb and crosses himself making sure to press his thumb against his faimly crest on the band he wears upon his forehead. He quietly says a prair in German asking for Gods blessing upon himself and for God to give him and his companions strength on the long journey ahead. He stands up and pulls his sword out of the planking to rest the sword against his shoulder once again. He looks at the group assembled. "I am Richard Gryphon." He says simply. "I fight for God, and for those who have not the strength to fight for themselves." OOC: I never listed his height and weight 6'8" 280lbs __________________ [CENTER]"To look on virtue is divine, to destroy virtue is ecstasy." "Hate me now, kill me later" -Mintaro, Myself So THATS where his ideas came from. Xbox live: Cort Crow Last edited by Mintaro; 03-11-2005 at 03:41 AM.

03-11-2005, 03:49 AM	#3
TheBlindMime IGNORE ME! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,218	Shaun was sitting at on one of the dust covered benches with his arm hanging over its backing. He had his fedora hung low and he was smoking one of his cigarettes. Breathing in deeply with great satisfaction, after all you could die at any time so you should enjoy your vices while you can use them. With the incoming train he was about to see a lot of danger, and there was no way he was gonna die today and not have had his last cigarette. He pulled out his revolver and flipped out the bullet housing. For once he was thinking ahead With all the demons headed towards us I better have an ace in the hole. Unlike the others who think gods gonna save them I know that I'm all I have. But then again humanity has never been known for accepting the truth when it's right in front of their eyes. He removes a bullet and concentrates on it intensly for a moment. Anyone watching closely could see a faint glow as he channeled his energy into it. The bullet was now a glimmering gold shot, he placed it back into the revolver insuring that it was the final shot out of six. If anything can survive my first five shots I'll insure it wont survive the sixth. His smile widens for a moment till he sees the cherry on his cigarette closer to the filter then he'd like it to be. Dammit, I spent all this time focusing on the bullet, when I should have been enjoying my vice.... One last good puff though. He takes one last refreshing puff insuring it was good until the last suck, he stands up and spits the cigarette out with his final exhale of smoke. He uses his revolver to nudge his fedora's bill out of his eye showing his huge grin "The names Shaun, I'm a Cavaliere De Luce, but you'll all remember me as the man who saved your lives." (ooc: i put 10 points into the bullet so the damage modifier is 7.) __________________ President of the Official Zombie Horde: Shambling mess / Friend of Zombie Bear I was just playing around with my imagination and then everything got INTENSE.

03-11-2005, 07:03 AM	#5
Kildare The Legend Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Malaysia Posts: 450	OOC: I'll appear when the time is right. Do continue. __________________ "You fear me. For you do not understand me. See my world and understand your fear. Then fear no more." - Medivh the sorcerer, Last Guardian of Tirisfal. RP Story Scribe RP Story Knight

03-12-2005, 01:48 AM	#7
RangerAidan Antiphoton Annihilation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Not NWP. Trust me, that's a good thing. Posts: 1,017	ooc: there seems to be a bit of confusion about the situation...perhaps read my first post again. The good guys are on the train, the bad guys are trying to ambush it and kill everyone aboard. We are going to spoil their little plan. Brian sat quietly in the top floor of the old station, loading the 8th and final shell into his Remington as he watched the steady approach of the refugee train. Hundreds of lives rested in his and his comrades' hands now. Lives that would continue due to his blood and sweat. It was his way of honoring the memory of his family, but moreso a compulsion of the deepest moral and spiritual underpinnings, and of the will of a greater power within him that pressed him ever onward to do good. The first sound of the oncoming train snapped him out of contemplation and he stood, moving swiftly down the stairs and to the platform where some of the others were waiting. "Afternoon, everyone, I'm Brian." He said with a matter-of-factly tone. "The train's about 5 minutes out now, and the enemy will be showing any second. They think that they're going to ambush the refugees on that train, so why not set up a little suprise for them?" He said pointedly, the large hatchets dangling from his belt as he climbed a flight of stairs to the observation deck. The enormous window that had once afforded a wonderful view of the hustle and bustle below, had been long since shattered, providing a perfect snper hide and ambush set up. "They may be spawned from the depths of hell itself, but they can get a bit overconfident." He finally remarked as he cleared a spot to fire from, trusting in the accuracy of the first two slug shells loaded in his weapon. __________________ Proud supporter of reasoned philosophy: www.Protestwarrior.com www.freerepublic.com www.mideasttruth.com

03-11-2005, 04:09 AM	#4
Phobic Patron Saint Of Mediocrity Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 159	Greg sat on crosslegged on the platform, his rifle across his knees. He was mumbling something to himself, to quiet to be comprehensible. When the sounds of the train could be heard, Greg went silent. He then grabbed his axe and stood, pausing and seeming to weigh the axe against the rifle. After a moment he set the axe down in easy reach, and took his rifle in both hands, taking aim at nothing in particular. Again he mumbled to himself, this time louder than before, "May we survive the day, to celebrate it in the night."

03-11-2005, 07:10 PM	#6
lazy man Harrumph! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: My not-so-humble abode Posts: 2,891	John was sitting against the wall of the station, his sword and rifle leaned up against his shoulder as he slept peacefully. To him, being a little closer to nature than others, the air seemed stagnant and almost unbreathable. He could still breath, it just didn't feel right at all. Of course, right now he was in a peaceful dreamworld and didn't care about anything. So peaceful... Then he heard the train screeching in the distance and snapped awake. Yawning loudly, he clenched his sword and rifle in one hand and stretched out, not nearly awake right now. He really didn't know why he was even here, either. He should have been at home, defending his family. He'd regretted ever leaving. But then he remembered why. Doing something big could mean saving his family just a little bit more time. He always wanted to do something for his home, and this was definitely something. After his little stint of thought, he heard everyone starting to introduce themselves. "Name's John Orion. And now that that's done with, I'm going to sleep once we get on that damn train." While he was saying that, he was rubbing his chin, which was covered in a growing beard. He really did need to shave, but right now wasn't the time. He'd just let it grow until he got his hands on a razor.

03-12-2005, 02:17 AM	#8
Mintaro Bending space Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 1,863	Richard looks up at the man and then back at the train. He pulls his arm out of his hidden sling and inserts it into his jacket. Hefting his huge sword into his right hand Richard gets a comfortable grip on it. He surveys his group and notes the aura surrounding the man who just spoke. "all this talk of people dying and saving my life. You'd think God didn't exist." Richard thought to himself. He looked over at the train smoke approaching there position. They would be here very shortly. And so would the enemy. "By the power wrought in me, the daemons shall perish." Richard stands at the ready to attack the first thing to be deemed a threat. "When they come, let me go in first. You can clean up what my blade leaves behind." __________________ [CENTER]"To look on virtue is divine, to destroy virtue is ecstasy." "Hate me now, kill me later" -Mintaro, Myself So THATS where his ideas came from. Xbox live: Cort Crow Last edited by Mintaro; 03-12-2005 at 07:22 AM.

03-13-2005, 09:19 PM	#9
Incendius Magikoopa Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,937	Gabriyel kneeled on the floor and whispered his prayer "Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad". Gabriyel slowly rose from the floor and picks up his sword. With a swift movement Gabriyel drew his sword out of his scabbard and lifted it in front of his face. "My name is Gabriyel Lieber Mier Isaiah" Gabriyel said as he watched the oncoming train. Unconsciously touching the star of david around his neck Gabriyel says "Let us destroy these demons in the name of God". __________________ If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. - Sun Tzu The art of war

03-13-2005, 09:40 PM	#10
TheBlindMime IGNORE ME! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,218	"I'll kill them for the innocents, they don't deserve to be slaughtered or feasted upon. That should be everyones primary goal here, the safety of those people. Personnally I don't care why any of you feel the need to kill them." Shaun had started off quite angry that anyone suggest that god had anything to do with the earth anymore. If they were right and god did exist everyone he wanted in heaven would have been sucked up in the rapture. But fools or not he would need their help to fight off the waves of demons because he can't do it all by himself. "Just as long as we all make sure those demons end up dead, I'm happy." __________________ President of the Official Zombie Horde: Shambling mess / Friend of Zombie Bear I was just playing around with my imagination and then everything got INTENSE.