These are just some choice posts to give an idea about the kind of length and detail I like to shoot for. It should also be said that tempo and what's going on in an RP at any given time can dictate the length of a post. They don't always have to be long enough to be half of a book's chapter.
The Black Jewels
There were few scenes more breathtaking than the Glacian dawn. It was a spectacle born of light, color, and warmth. Truly something to behold if you were patient enough to wait and watch the sun break the summits of the eastern highlands. North of the Kaarme mountains afforded no obstructions and presented a crystalline shine of light that rose above the horizon, betraying the natural pallor of a profound and endless sea. Few people could really give any special care to this daily occurrence. Anias himself would admit to occasionally letting the moment come and go without a thought about it. Today was different though because the arrival of first light held meaning.
The man in black was the first to emerge from one of the four single-person tents laid close to the remnants of a fire that had burned out hours ago. Leaving behind blankets that had been warmed with Craft throughout the night, the bite of the morning air was instantaneous and crisp enough to cause a faint shiver throughout his body. Light snow coated the winter trees around, but they were fortunate to make it to the known clearing before losing the light the previous evening. Dirt and grass covered by frost during the night crunched soundly with each step towards a place he was eager to visit since they arrived. The refuge of the clearing they resided in was part of the Sallow Road route that was popular among Climbers that had to shuttle whole families through Glacia. It was also especially convenient if there were young children involved, as was one of the three left behind to enjoy a longer sleep than they had in the last few days. After walking for a few minutes, he stopped, habitually looking back as if the sight picture from the distance covered would be any different from the times he’s done this before. Right in front of him sat an aged oak that had probably lived three times the possible lifespan of a short-lived Blood. Its leaves were properly stripped for the season and it, as well as the surrounding area, seemed rather unassuming. The dented scars on the side of the oak were anything but natural though, and he removed one of his gloves to run his fingers across the gnarly edges of the marks.
“I don’t know why I keep coming back here, old man.” He spoke softly, hoping not to disturb the stillness of the woods around him. He knew the answer to his own rhetorical question however. “I know the memories…” Gritting his teeth mid-sentence. “…and feelings it brings. It hurts every fucking time.” He wanted to hurt though. He never wanted to fall victim to visiting that important spot so much that the pain associated with it would fade away with each visit. It was probably the reason for seeking the oak so few times after it became a permanent part of his life. “I owe it to you, to both of you, to never forget the reason for doing what I do. For what I’ll continue to do.” He shivered once more, but this time it wasn’t due to the chill in the air. His body was warmed. Warmed as considerably as any burning anger could warm body and soul. “For what I’ll do to those responsible…”
--
Already close by, Aleksandra had summoned him using an Opal thread. When he offered no response, she sent a psychic prodding against the barrier of his inner-web that was a warning as much as it was her being persistent in wanting to receive an answer. *I’m on my way, Aleks.* The reply was short and most certainly carried a sense of impatience back to the source.
Anias had no time for his sister’s games. He knew that whenever Aleksandra wanted attention it was because she was bored and when Widows get bored they tend to find ways to ‘play’ with things that are the target of their displeasure. Unfortunately, the source of her everlasting discontent was her own family and for reasons they had no control over. In a family of six she was the only Dark-Jeweled member among her Light-Jeweled parents and siblings. Glacia’s lifestyle facilitated the means for any young and ambitious Black Widow Witch of rank to become as power hungry as the other spiders around her. Aleksandra was on the lowest end of the Dark Jewels though, and her determination to ascend in rank most likely overstepped what could be attained. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop her from wanting to use everyone below her as a stepping stone to climb to a position that was laughably out of her reach.
Anias had reached the small villa that was home while nightfall was settling in on the town. He knew only Aleksandra would be home and a growing worry soon started to make itself known in the pit of his stomach. “Aleks!” He called for her while closing the main door behind him. His voice echoed strongly off the wood and rock walls of the empty place. In the back of his mind he knew where she was, but hoped he’d find her in the more open common areas of their home. He slowed when rounding the corner that led to a hallway of rooms, the largest of them at the end of it. It was a room previously occupied by Amelie who relinquished it to Aleksandra a short time after her Offering ceremony yielded the Opal. The door to the room was cracked and the wavering light of candles bled through. Assuming she heard his approaching footsteps, she finally replied to his loud hailing. “I’m in here, Anias. Please, come right in.”
The room was everything you could expect of a Widow in the latter stages of her training. Clean, pristine, and in order. Each corner made up of different uses such as personal items, as well as an area for Caste and Craft study. Most of the room was lit with scented candles that gave Anias pause as to the cost of the niceties. Equally as impressive was the food on the center table. Plenty of fruits, vegetables, with chicken as the main. Not to mention small pinches of seasoning salt. The only cheap thing about the entire setup was the ale in place of wine that would have been the better choice for the meal.
She was partly laying on a large couch in a slip that was far too formfitting for his eyes, but the look of utter excitement in her emerald gaze as she glanced up at him from the book in her hands was telling to the many times before this one of the games she liked to play with him. His mouth opened and she knew he was going to protest, but quickly cut him off. “All this hard work and you won’t even indulge me with a bite, brother?” He swallowed hard. Unsure if she meant a bite of food or a bite of… “It was a lot of work to make.” She paused and got up. “Or should I say, it cost a lot to get it from elsewhere to here.” She took hold of a single grape, popped it into her mouth but purposely left a bit of it out so when she bit down, some of the juices escaped her lips. She captured the stream with a finger and the sexual connotation of sucking on it was lost when the ring that controlled his collar was showed off as much as the cleaning up her tongue took to doing. Anias closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and raised his hands in a pleading manner. “I mean no disrespect, Lady…” The unnecessary formality stung and took her out of the mood for a moment but she regained her sensual composure. “I learned Geir and Camilla are missing and I need to try and find them. Please…” Aleks reached up to shush him with a finger. She was short but full in places that would have most males clamoring over each other for her attention, yet she insisted for quite some time on making him extremely uncomfortable with her taboo ways. “I know.” She spoke. Her hand trailed down to his chest as she walked behind him. “You do??” He said hurriedly but was too afraid to turn around and face her. She already began massaging at his sides. Anias continued to remain still, though his shuddering body betrayed his anxious mind. He wanted to know, and quickly, what she knew about Geir and Camilla’s disappearance.
“I know exactly where they are, and I’ll tell you once you give me what I want. What I always fucking wanted.”
“You know I can’t, Aleksandra! We are family!”
“You will!”
“I won’t!”
The sudden anger guided his actions as he turned around and took her by the neck. This forced her backwards but the smile on her face told him that the act made her extremely excited to be handled that way. “I have no time for this! I need to find her!” Anias immediately realized his mistake. When hearing the word ‘her’ Aleks’ face contorted in an instant change of emotions and her body shook because of it. He cried out when the pain touched every nerve in his body with the full brunt of the ring controlled by the Opal. When his legs could no longer support the weight of his body, with agony dragging him downward, she viciously grabbed his jaw and tugged him a little closer. “You want your little bitch? Fine. Your twosome tried to leave Glacia.” He tried pulling away but she pulled him back. “This is a crime that there’s only one punishment for, Anias.” The more his anger began to boil, the more she imposed her will. “There is a hunting party already set to go later tonight and you will join them, brother. Not only will you do that but I have instructed them to allow you to give your old friend the killing blow.” His teeth were brought to bear. “If you do not do this Anias, I swear I’ll have you choose the same fate for one of the members of our pathetic family. Do you fucking understand me? You make the choice!” The next jolt could have killed him, but instead, Anias’ world simply filled with black.
--
“Ranger…” The voice of the man calling his nickname from behind awoke Anias from his reverie. “Is it time?” The sun was a quarter of the way up and already warming the land around him. He let the light soak into his skin for a few moments before finally answering the husband of the Light-Jeweled family that he was escorting. “It’s time. Let’s break camp.” The man nodded. “Of course, my Lord.” Anias took a deep breath and glanced down at the spot where his mentor Geir and his daughter had fallen. He was a bit saddened that he didn’t get to watch the sun first peek up over the mountains with them. “Guess we'll have to wait until next time, you two.” He smiled lightly.
“Until next time.”
Aeon Trinity
It was quite the precarious moment the two were facing. For the time being, while she made her decision, Alec was both patient and calm. He didn’t want her to rush to a choice, nor did he want her backing more towards that edge she was far too close to already. He was still aware that time was of the essence though, and their commotion continued to draw a crowd. It was only a matter of time before the Psions with the military at their backs would come to investigate, and between them, him, and an untrained dangerous Nova, the results could be deadly for the whole lot of them. No doubt she wanted to flee to whatever sanctuary she thought was safe, but the fact of the matter was that she probably wouldn't make it out of the slums alive without him. He’d respect whatever decision she made though, and leave her to it. Alive. Killing her wasn’t an option, and maybe it never was. However, was leaving her to die just as bad?
A bit more weight had fallen on his shoulders at the thought, but his outstretched hand hadn’t moved an inch. Then, ever so slowly, an idle memory crept back into his mind. One he hoped to keep at bay, but knew it find its way to him once again the moment he looked into her eyes earlier.
--
December 23rd, 2117.
2109 hours (New Sydney, Australia Outskirts Local).
“You and your men were told to wait.” There wasn’t anger in the man’s voice, but the remark was so pointed that it gave the recipient pause. The receiver being the highest-ranking individual wearing the dark blue uniform of a police officer. While a lot of other places around the world upgraded their authorities to wearing camouflage and some type of body armor, the Aussies were surprisingly old-fashioned.
“I…” The officer was about to speak, but the yellow, mechanical eyes of the biosuit worn by the Psion that passive-aggressively scolded him had turned towards him, stopping words from forming. Probably permanently. Not many would blame him for the fright either. The heavy class biosuits that Psions wore when the situation called for it was nothing less than intimidating. The suit was made from metal, composite, bone, muscle, and living tissue all grown in a lab. A gift in kind from mankind’s first brush with the alien species known as the Qin, who were very fond of biotech. While it was optional, less so for Psion Legionnaires, the body had to be surgically fitted with connection ports to facilitate the transfer of data between the suit, and the wearer. These would be found at the base of the neck, spine, arms, and legs. The finishing touches were a permanent infusion of nanites into the body that enabled everything from quicker healing, quicker reflexes, and transference of psionic energy from the wearer, to the suit. It simply protected and amplified. Not to mention scaring the living fuck out of anyone not used to seeing it.
“There are people still alive.” Alec said as he stood right beside the scolder, Lukas, his partner.
“I’m surprised the building is still standing.” Lukas responded.“
My men.” The officer started up again. “Something in there killed my men. Those fucking Novas. Aberrants probably. Some of them came out shooting. I…” He swallowed and shook his head. “I had no choice. They burned my fucking men alive, mate.”
The two Psions stood there for a moment, ignoring the officer, before Alec finally spoke up once more. “I got this one, Luke.”
Alec took one step forward before Lukas grabbed at his arm, momentarily stopping him. “You know what to do.”
If the bullet holes in the wall on the outside of the warehouse were any indication of what Alec would find inside, the truth was a whole lot worse. There were bodies everywhere. Death in the form of corpses on top of corpses. Some charred, some frozen, but most shot. There seemed to be only one entrance into the warehouse, and the place was most likely a safehouse for people with abilities, as well as those that had none. Nowhere to go. An easy massacre.
The suits heads-up-display continued to scan for the survivors. It picked them up before he visually saw anything, and gave him a proximity warning. Turning and then glancing down, Alec came upon what looked like a teenage boy who had been holding someone in his arms. A woman suffering multiple gunshots. Her gasping slowed. Then stopped. Until there was only the boy left.
Alec moved his hand above his shoulder then to his back. His sidearm would magnetically transfer from his utility pack to his hands. The kid who didn’t shed any tears because he looked like he was fresh out of them already, looked up. “Are you going to kill me?” He boy said. Alec didn’t respond immediately, but didn’t point the gun at him either. “You haven’t done anything to me...” Alec paused. “...yet.”
The boy’s face scrunched up and his voice raised a little. “We didn’t do anything, but they just came in here shooting anyway! A lot of us, we... we just couldn't control...”
“I’m not them. You know what I am, don’t you?” The Psion interjected and challenged.
The boy swallowed and wrapped his arms tighter around the dead body in his arms. “You’re a Psion, but you’re no better than them. I’ve heard what people like you do to people like me.” It was the truth. There was another bout of silence from Alec before he raised his free hand, with the kid flinching a bit, to touch a sensor on the back of his helmet. The glowing yellow eyes would cease, the mechanics in the back of the helmet would open before he was able to remove it. Even in the dim, flickering light of the building, he could see the boy’s blue eyes clearly. Sadness and anger were in them. Without taking his eyes off the young teen, Alec knelt down and placed his sidearm and helmet at his feet. He then reached a hand out towards him.
“We’re alike, you and I, in more ways than you know. I’m truly sorry for your loss kid, but we need to get you out of here. Alive. Can you trust me enough to do that?”
The kid was thinking hard about the decision, and the minutes went by. Alec didn’t move his hand in that time, but was relieved to finally see the boy slowly place the body of his mother gently on the floor. He rose to his feet and Alec smiled lightly. Just as the boy was about to take his hand, he felt something. A feeling. Then the gunshot rang out.
--
The girl saying her name woke him from his reverie. Hollie. There hadn't been an indication that he had fallen into the pits of his own thoughts, but he got his wits about him very quickly. “Nice to meet you, Hollie. You made the right choice.” Giving a small half-smile. “Lead the way. The quicker we get there, the better. I still have a few more questions for you, though.” Alec couldn’t help asking her one right off the bat. “How long have you had your abilities for?” He wanted to ask another one, but it was a bit more personal. He’d wait. Nonetheless, he’d easily keep step with her as she led them where they needed to go.
Malloria
Holding onto the wet, jagged rock at night was hardly easy, but Razun maintained a firm grip on several of the formed abscesses. One minute he seemed to be verbally jesting with the pale elf Nienna, and the next he was cursing loudly. The task at hand could’ve been much easier if it weren’t for the damnable rain that seemed like it would go on forever. It would take a bit of fortitude to ignore the chilling shower, but between it and the seawater splashing below, they both had quite the task ahead of them. However, they were nearly there, and only needed to endure for a few more moments until they could focus on something much easier, and that was killing.
Their final ascent from the rocky face couldn’t have come sooner. After scaling the edge, Razun pulled himself to his feet. Nienna, still beside him, did the same. With the battle now clearly in view, Razun took several seconds to get a quick survey of what was going on. The main force on both sides were finally engaged and the archers at the rear of the Coalition formation continued picking off targets at will. However, the unter seemed to be quickly gaining ground. For every one of the dark elves that went down, two Coalition fighters went with them. As long as Nienna and Razun succeed in their mission then the battle would hopefully turn in their favor.
A step ahead of him now, Nienna had already brandished her weapons, and she was making her way towards the fray. Not wasting any more time himself, Razun crossed his arms at the wrist and took both scimitars in his hands. Even with the hilts slick with rain they still felt as perfect as ever. A flawless knife's edge, the impeccable weight, and the way the metal sung to him when they were released from their sheaths told him that there were going to be many deaths on his hands tonight.
“Take point!” He yelled. She would immediately recognize the command. Trained by him in what seemed an age ago, Razun would like to think that he was a direct representation of Nienna’s skill with a blade. Especially scimitars, but all elves were already innately quick, nimble, and agile. To her credit, however, her skill was all her own.
The pale elf at point position meant that as a fighting pair, she would control the flow of movement. It was Razun’s responsibility to move with her to support her through the fight as best as he could. He’d always be at a forty-five-degree angle at any given moment around her body. Never directly in front or behind, nor at her sides. This would help the point fighter to focus on those positions, rather than the angles the support fighter should help cover. If Nienna stopped her progress in any direction, so would Razun. When she’d start to move, it was his job to keep pace. It was a movement that Razun and those in his crèche used often in battle and perfected. They both worked this maneuver effortlessly. They moved as one and thought as one. The dark elves would try to exploit what seemed like gaps in their formation, but each time they were met by force. Usually by Nienna first, before Razun swung around to assist while their whirling blades moved in and out the space of their bodies.
“We need to keep pushing!” Razun yelled. He’d just parried an overhand strike by a particularly large unterling. His left blade came up for the parry while the right blade slapped the singlehanded sword in a wide arch away, then the same hand, pommel first, would come back across the dark elf’s nose. A spray of fresh blood marking the end of the successful counter-attack.
“Almost there!” He yelled again. He’d quickly duck under one of her blades that severed an unlucky throat before regaining his angular position again. The battle thickened though, and the number of unter faced was becoming more prevalent, but they were still cutting them down.
Somewhere back in the rear of the Coalition formation, the Sindar elf Anias noticed the pair were steadily moving towards the southern tower. It was finally time for him to call on what was left of his elemental powers to tap into the energy stream of the storm itself. He'd focus the strike on a singular point on the battlefield.
As Nienna and Razun progressed further, there would be an overwhelming flash of light followed by an explosion so loud and powerful it would almost take the duo of their feet. In an instant there were unter flying through the air with limbs missing. Some screaming while others were dead even before they hit the ground. Razun cursed in his native language at the sudden, blinding carnage. Anias would have to wait several minutes to gather another charge, but each time his lightning hit the earth, the path was cleared for the two that much more.
Another strike had decimated a large formation of dark elves while leaving a ferocious scar on the earth in its wake. That’s when Razun’s world started to slow to a mere crawl. Everything became completely silent except for the loud thump of his own pulse in his ears. It quickened with the sight of his brother Vhaerun and his companion Lich coming into view. They were in the opposite direction of where he and Nienna were headed. Razun’s gray eyes went wide and his body shuttered in utter fury. He could make a running dash to his brother and kill him before he even would have time to react. That would mean leaving Nienna’s side, and ultimately break their circle of protection. He looked between Nienna and Vhaerun, knowing he probably wouldn’t get a cleaner shot at Vhaerun’s life.
He had to make a choice.