OPEN

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open to all Mission goers to Florence, Frankfurt, Prague and Vienna
Location: Florence, Frankfurt, Prague and Vienna
Rating: PG
Time: Jan 17, starts at about mid-morning
Description: Missions 151 and 152, crossposted to LJ


Florence
Florence had been immediately evacuated the moment Shibusen Florence recieved word from Death City about the danger to its population. Most of its citizenry had left, but the sentries, guards, and local militia (and mafia) had stayed to bravely defend the city. These were unfortunately the ones being affected by madness, to turn against each other with the same determination they had attempted to show their duty.

The streets of central Florence are plunged in chaos, with torches lit and some structures burning. Those who have managed to resist the madness to try to salvage the museums are hardpressed to defend themselves against those that have become crazy, but the light rain in the afternoon helps.


Frankfurt
It's cold and grey in Frankfurt but the streets are busy with activity. Germany has deployed its military to assist Shibusen Frankfurt in evacuating the people into shelters and taking down those that have begun to go mad. The problem is that even with their haste, it's still not enough, and they are becoming more overwhelmed by the hour. A number of makeshift forts and shelter are scattered throughout the city, requiring help to get through the crazed people outside. Kishin eggs in random areas are taking people down one by one in a frenzied eating craze.


Prague

The Prague agents are unlucky today with the weather, with the cold and chances of light snow. They're given coats or jackets before they leave Shibusen Prague, but are quickly urged on to the northwest part of the city. The heaviest of the violence and damage becomes concentrated there by afternoon, with people boarded up in buildings and kishin eggs preying on the people outside.


Vienna

It's snowing lightly in Vienna when the agents come in, and it seems that the situation there had gone from all right to downright crazy in the minute it took for the madness wavelength to sweep the city just an hour before. There is chaos as people run from murderous citizens and the police try to take them down. The prisons are already overflowing, some with people desperate to protect themselves from attack.

It doesn't take long before the first kishin eggs appear, people who accidentally kill others and eat their souls in madness.

[ ooc: Just pop up with your thread(s) in the post. Please follow this format in the subject header: [Characters][Where and when if you want to be more specific][OPEN/CLOSE] ]

Comments

[Aqua & Takasugi] [Vienna] [CLOSED]

[alastinglight]

[He had to transform almost immediately after they reached their destination - the madness wavelength knocked him off-balance, and it was all he could do to keep his head above water.

Now that he was in Aqua's hands and their resonance took the edge off of it, however, he was sure things would be fine. Now it was just a matter of making it out in one piece...]

We should stick to the side streets.

[Saying that as they're hiding out in one, watching the chaos taking place on the road directly in front of them. They haven't been noticed yet.]

[blue_wayfinder]

[Keeping to the side streets was a good idea. There was enough space for them to move and also made it less easy for them to be overwhelmed. She understood this.

But she couldn't help but purse her lips at what was going on in the road ahead. Had this been back home, she might have chosen to fight out there. But different worlds, different rules. Besides, she wasn't alone, she wasn't about to take unnecessary risks when someone else's life was on the line as well.]

Agreed.

[Roy & Lady] [Frankfurt] [CLOSED]

[thewarisover]

[Lighting up a cigarette from behind the safety of a barricade. Trust in Mustang to be cool and collected in the middle of a sea of screams, gunfire and general chaos.

He speaks quietly, just loud enough to reach his partner's ears.]

Let's stay here and provide some fire support for these guys first. We'll pull out and move to the next area once they're stable.

[ladymaycry]

[She standing beside him, watching as the others go on ahead. She doesn't like to stay behind, but given the situation and their kind of firepower, she knows he's right.]

Yeah, we'll just soften 'em up a bit for the weaker guys.

[Mukuro & Rhode] [Prague] [CLOSED]

[karmafree]

From a desert to a poor excuse for a winter wonderland...

[Low and amused as they're walking along, heading for the more interesting side of the city.

You know.

The one with things to kill.]

[suchselfishness]

A cold desert to a colder woodland. At least there aren't stairs.

[ Truth be told, she's not feeling up to this quite yet. She wants the souls, and she knows they will both enjoy the fighting, but she didn't realize just how miserable she'd feel once she was up and walking around. At least it doesn't hurt; Thanks to that, she managed to put on a lovely front of being perfectly fine all the way from Death City to Shibusen Prague. ]

It's a pretty town. We should come back to do something besides fight, sometime.

[Amaterasu & Ram] [Frankfurt] [CLOSED]

[r_a_m_1982]

[The view of such chaos in the city was making Ram uneasy but at least he was unaffected by madness wavelength. He looked around as they walked tightening his white coat around him against the chill.]

Such a beautiful city, what a pity. [Ram muttered to Amaterasu, his breath forming visible clouds of fog that clung to the cold air.]

We should focus on the lesser Kishin Eggs, it's our first mission paired up together and the first time we are on the field. As much as it frustrates me to say this, I don't think we are ready for the larger ones. If we try and then we need help that would only cause more trouble for Shibusen.

[motherofthesun]

[Amaterasu's amber eyes swept around the desolate city, but she made no sound. Instead, she just nodded in agreement with Ram's statement. It did appear to be a lovely place... too bad the Witches had to ruin it.]

[Hmph, lesser Kishin Eggs. She snorted. It wouldn't take long to sort them out. She woofed at him, prepared to move if he was.]

[Hawke and Fenris] [Florence] [CLOSED]

[championing]

[ The first thing Hawke noticed stepping through the mirror - but for its reflective properties, she would have been unpleasantly reminded of the Eluvian - were the gunshots. She'd heard guns being shot before at morning training, but it still took her by surprise, as did the second thing she noticed - madness.

Madness was in the air. It poked and prodded at the edges of her thoughts, causing her to doubt everything from herself to this quest to Fenris to their safety and sanity.

Perhaps bringing Fenris here hadn't been the best of ideas after all. While there were no other designated Weapons she'd trust at her side more, this kind of psychological attack might prove only too effective in crippling their ability to work together properly - which, to be honest, was already quite shot. It was only the day before that they'd finally made up, after all.

At any rate, there were enemies to take down and a city to save. Perhaps the familiarity would do them both some good. Hawke turned to her partner, extending her right hand. ]

Ready when you are. Try to ignore the madness. It's unsettling, but I believe we can push right through it.

[lyriumreserve]

Try to ignore the madness.

[Fenris shakes his head, violently, before mumbling under his breath - perhaps a little too sharply, a little too cynically.]

Yes ignore in intangible wave of paranoia infesting every inch of this blasted city, let's try to do that shall we? I'm sure it'll be simple.

[Yup. He's doing really well. He doesn't care for this feeling at all - it feels... well, it feels exactly... like how he felt up until just before arriving here. Like everything is watching him, everything could attack him or harm him. He keeps expecting Hawke to suddenly turn on him, and if he stops to think about it when not surrounded by madness oozing into every inch of his mind, there's no one he trusts more than Hawke.

With a non-committal grunt, Fenris closes his eyes and focuses on becoming that... horrible, ironic weapon his body has decided to take. He's used to being a human weapon, but not a literal one, and he can't see this transforming thing getting any easier for a while.]

[Dave & Davesprite][Frankfurt][CLOSED]

[knightime]

The first thing Dave really does is curse a bit because, fuck, it's cold. He'll take the hot Texan days anytime over the colder temperatures. He'll bitch and moan about the ridiculous, freezing temperatures later though.

He just barely touched base with any of the representatives in Frankfurt. Dave wasn't particularly interested in getting friendly and just going straight to what they were here for. Was he excited? Nervous? He wasn't sure. He just knew that they had shit to do.

"We all up and ready to take these fuckers down? This shit is fucked up." He doesn't know what's worst. Watching people being taken down because they've gone mad or the kishin eggs taking people down. It's both kind of sickening.

[Dave & Davesprite][Frankfurt][CLOSED]

[turnbeaktime]

"Ready and fucking able. Gonna slice up and scarf down some demon souls. And we're going to ignore how creepy that sounds." Dave doesn't have a whole lot of practice with this, but he can at least shift into weapon form and he figures that in itself might be enough.

He's going to be wielded by himself, after all, and if he knows anything it's that he can handle a sword with the best of them. Soon there is one ninja sword ready to be gripped in his other self's capable hands.

...

"...Request to keep the euphemisms at a low. Save them for when it's really fucking funny."

[Auron & Koujurou] [Prague] [CLOSED]

[forbearanced]

[Surveying the area they're about to charge into from a distance, like a good general.]

We should move soon.

[A glance, then, in his partner's direction.]

[Auron & Koujurou] [Prague] [CLOSED]

[nofarplaneyet]

*Auron has added another layer of clothing under his traveling coat and gloves to both hands. It's too cold to fight in a one-armed style. Bundling up was the better idea.*

Where's the best place to move, you think?

[Eve and Keroro] [Florence, shortly before the thunderstorm] [CLOSED]

[nolicenseyet]

[There should be one more shot. She thought to herself (though it probably wouldn't be hard for Keroro to pick up on it) before taking aim and firing at the Kishin Egg. It gave one last scream and fell to the ground at the same time the beam rifle created by Keroro's Weapon ability disintegrated leaving her only holding the Kero-ball.

There weren't any other enemies in sight and Eve might have asked him if he wanted to transform back, to take a break. Except he'd been acting...strange since they arrived. It was like that time when it rained in Death City, except worse.]

How are you holding up?

[starfruitfrog]

[Strange? He'd disagree. He'd never felt better. Never ever ever ever. His whole body felt full of energy, and even without a mirror, he could swear even his skin was more moisturized. He had no idea why, but he loved it.]

GREATWHYAREYOUASKING? ISSOMETHINGWRONGEVEDONO? AREYOUHUNGRY? I'MHUNGRYSOSOSOHUNGRYLET'SEATPANCAKESIWANTPANCAKES! PANCAAAAAAKES! PANCAKESPANCAKESPANCAKESNOW!

[Selendis and Karkat] [Vienna, right as it begins] [CLOSED]

[dungenessmaster]

Karkat was already in Weapon form and comfortable in Selendis's hands before they even stepped through the mirror. This was bad -- the information they'd gathered from the abandoned camp had turned out to be real after all -- and the scattered attacks meant their already ragtag group of fighters was even more splintered than usual. It was their first time back in combat since the disaster just before Christmas, and Karkat at least was a little on edge.

At least they didn't have to wait for the attack. Vienna was already well on its way to total chaos by the time they hit the streets.

[justiceisdue]

Selendis hated how quickly this had happened. If they'd found the map sooner, would they have been able to prevent this? Or had finding it tipped off the Witches and sent things into motion? Shibusen may or may not have the answers, and she was going to have to deal with accepting that. She would continue to fight, but this would never be her war.

She took to the rooftops not too long after finding the streets to be a complete mess, and her presence wasn't going to calm anyone down. Everything was getting slick and icy thanks to the snow, but for the moment Selendis ignored it, scanning for real trouble. The Madness wavelength was heavy on her mind here, but her resonation with Karkat was strong enough this time. The trip to the Congo had been a small test, but this would either make them or break them.

The kishin were harder to spot here, most of them freshly turned from feasting on one another in all the panic. They still looked like people, not that that would make her pause, but a lot of innocents were still mixed up with them. The first one she spotted was half a block away, terrorizing what it thought its next meal ought to be.

[Motochika and Shizuo] [Frankfurt] [Closed]

[seafares]

[The weather was miserable, but that didn't seem to slow down those who were affected by the madness wavelength. They weren't medics nor were they particularly good at handling the injured so rather than helping people evacuate and treating the injured they had decided to go on the front lines and fight.

The Kishin eggs were attacking randomly so when one was taken down they'd have to rush over to wherever the next one was. Motochika could feel the madness wavelength running on the edge of his perception and he did his best to keep his mind focused on the job at hand, unwilling to lose control like that one time when he was dragged into Mitsunari's madness.]

[Kaoru and Rangiku][Vienna| Morning] [OPEN]

[shihandai]

Kaoru stood against the falling snow in a bright, hot pink scarf. In her hands she was talking quietly into a device, her expression, firm, serious. For a minute it sounded like she was laughing (if anyone was near when she had distanced herself to make the call, it sounded shaky), but the feed ended, and the girl slipped it into the pocket of her navy hakama, her hand bumping against the hilt of a very real japanese katana.

Not my first weapon of choice..a shinai has always been fine. She thought grimly.

Like it or not, she had abilities that would be useful. Had been useful. She knew she shouldn't stray too far. Kenshin was around and she should have expected him to be there--near, close. It was a comfort and a terror.

Here, Kenshin could easily succumb to the wavelength again. Here, people were being slaughtered by each other--(How could she ever help heal Kenshin's scars in this environment?) --Here..was war.

Kaoru had never seen war, not in the literal sense. She had lost her family to it, seen the reprecussions of it--but never --ever fought.

And yet people were suffering. She couldn't ignore that. She could only promise herself that she would fight as she always had, in her own way, as efficiently as possible to help who she could.

"I'm..really counting on you, Rangiku." Her voice was quiet, as she stared down at the katana on her hip, her smile a bit strained.

"Hey--this scarf? It'll really come in handy--you know? People can tell it's us and--"

" It's warm..---" The girl quietly lowered her blue eyes, taking a deep breath, before she looked up again, seeming to gather her strength.

"...I think I'm ready now. So let's do all we can together, alright? We've practiced a lot."

[ryuuhirameki]

And then there was a hand on Kaoru's shoulder, squeezing, silent support. Kenshin had nothing to say. He didn't want Kaoru to be here; he wouldn't be here, himself, if he hadn't known that she was going. This way he could stay with her—he could protect her.

But he couldn't protect everything. Kaoru had been in battles, and Kenshin was no doubter of her skill, but she had never been in war. She had never wielded a katana. She had never known the feel of the blade through flesh, never experienced the terror and chaos of melee. She'd never had to make a choice, knowing she can't protect everyone at once, sometimes being forced to sacrifice some lives for the sake of saving others. Even if the kishin eggs might no longer be human—they were human at some point. And that is not something easily forgotten.

In Kenshin's mind, Kaoru shouldn't have come at all. Kamiya Kasshin was a sword to protect, not to seek out battles. He understood why she felt she should have come, because he, too, felt the same way once. But this would affect her forever. She would see things her eyes should have always avoided.

But they were there. And all Kenshin could do was stand with her and protect her as much as he could.

[conduit]

Rangiku, in her wonderful sword form, remained observant as Kaoru reflected on her surroundings. There she was able to pick up on some hesitations but remained out of it, she knew Kaoru would be able to work through whatever she was facing.

There was something about Rangiku that seemed different today. She was more serious, for one, but there was a distant aura of cheerfulness about her that was definitely different than the boisterous one she usually kept up. Rangiku was already familiar with war, so she had no reason to act with any hesitation.

"Don't be afraid, all right? Just follow my lead and we'll come out just fine. In fact, if you want, after we beat them, can we get a matching scarf for you!"

[Alucard and Raidou] [Frankfurt] [closed]

[draculabackwards]

*So much chaos and destruction here. They would have to fight and work harder than ever before in order to make a difference.*

Raidou, what should we do? Should we go hunt for kishin eggs or should we guard one of the camps here? *because both seemed like important jobs!*

[timelessummoner]

Protecting the people is our highest priority. Let's find a camp that requires protection the most at the moment.

[The madness wavelenght makes the air feel heavy. Raidou grits his teeth; he can't let it get to him this time.]

[Nataku & Tassadar] [Prague] [CLOSED]

[aiursfavoredson]

[Tassadar had hit the ground running with the moment the mission had begun. There was a light snow falling from the sky, but the templar paid it no mind as he weaved between, or leapt over, the madness-crazed humans. They were not to be targeted unless they'd showed signs of turning into a Kishin Egg, and so he set his sights on the first of many Kishin Eggs just up ahead of them.]

Nataku, are you ready?

[soulparadox]

I am.

[ He ties himself that much more around Tassadar's arm. ] Will these people be cured when these Kishin Eggs are dead? [ He wonders if they will be forced to kill these people. Does he feel sorrow for it? Tassadar will, he is fairly certain, but he does not know if he will feel the same. ]

[Barnaby and Kotetsu] [Prague] [Closed]

[sentiments]

[Prague, that cold, dark city somewhere in Europe. It's strange; this is Barnaby's first proper trip out of Stern Bild, second only to the weird new place of Death City. And they're on some sort of mission. For whatever reason they're here, as meister and weapon (or something), they may as well do a decent enough job trying to situate themselves accordingly.

So, the moment he could, he signed them up for a mission. Some three-star assignment to Prague to fight these malicious things known as "kishin eggs"... He's not even all that certain what that means, but he's pretty sure they'll find out the moment they see it. Opting to just wear his leather coat, he ignores the chill as he turns to Kotetsu.]

I guess we should just go forward and look for one of these eggs. The ones in charge suggested we head north.

[To where all the action would be, as per usual. Nothing new.]

[wildest]

[Honestly Kotetsu wasn't exactly sure what this whole thing was even about. Of course he could rely on Barnaby to be as informed as possible about this whole "mission" and what their goal was. All he knew that he had to fight something... someone. Eggs? How did that even make sense? But it provided them both something to do with their time and if help was needed then obviously there was no way he could just say no.

However...

And how much farther is it? We've been walking for almost an-- [A sneeze.] HOUR! Dah! Okay okay, I get it. We're new. Man its been a while since I could call myself a rookie. This is our first mission, whatever that means. So beggars can't be pickers. ["Beggars can't be choosers."]

But did they really have to send us all the way out here in this weather?! These coats aren't doing a damn thing! I didn't even get gloves! I stopped feeling my hands the minute we got here!