Eminent Domain [Isabelle's Awakening]

The clouds overcast the Backlight District as the night grew still, shrouding the moon but acting as a backdrop for the neon lights of the city. Though at this late hour the winding walkways of the Emporium Stretch were beginning to thin as most reasonable people took their leave. A few bar flies here and there, some late shifters, but mostly it was barren save for the odd soul in search of something they'd never have. What was once the bustle of late night activity was beginning to wind down as stores began to close for the evening, it was much too late as it is. Yet there were a few that would brave the night in search of who-knows-what, perhaps a calling, perhaps a mission. A chill began to set in the air as distant sounds echoed through the Emporium Stretch, increasing the sense of forlorn in the air...

Isabelle had been slated for a match tonight, but after that broadcast had aired the entire underground complex where they had held the fights was basically evacuated, with something like that happening it was possible that the authorities would make a search of everything, so her last fight was cancelled. Honestly it didn't matter much to her, she had already had two fights that day and she was actually looking forward to a bit of rest.

As she walked though she could feel that something was different in the air, maybe it was that broadcast from the terrorists? it certainly would have affected everyone in different ways. She herself was more wondering what the meaning behind the words had been...

So as she walked through the district with the most direct line to home from one of the underground exits she pondered on the whole broadcast.

If there was one thing that Gabe did before the night concluded, it checked out the casino and made sure that things were ok and up and running; It really did depend on the night pon whether he should be a little more active or hang back a bit in favor of making sure that he didn't cause too much attention to himself. Eyes were everywhere and the government's first loss to the platinum playhouse may have triggered their rage.

"Guess this means I should be more careful..."

Gabe mumbled this to himself as he headed off to the  Lucky Clover to do some work.

Away from the bright lights, in the shadows of some alleyway hidden from the public sight the Jester lurked. Having taken upon the visage of a Reaper he sought to find action while the city was in disarray after the broadcast. His face smirked with sadistic underneath the crooked skull mask, how interesting was this city. The cold chill down his spine, he had felt it before, soon something was to happen and he had to stay alert to deliver the sweet release of death upon his targets.

Rory's night had been interesting, to say the least. Honestly, he was getting a bit too deep into the Common Cents thing, nobody bought his shit anyway. Probably because he hadn't been shot yet. Yeah, that was probably it. At any rate, he found himself walking home at night. With the...experience, he'd had lately, it seemed like less of a horrible idea, and more of just a stupid idea. Still, he was less likely to get successfully jumped by demons.

Oh. Unless that would get him more listens on Soundstorm. Huh. He'd need an excuse for surviving though, that wouldn't get him arrested. Still, he whistled a small tune, as he walked home, listening out for any out of place sounds. Especially rattling.

The air remained still. Quiet. Eerily so. From the darkest alley to the soft streetlights of the main thoroughfare the Backlight would silently empty like a dying man giving his last death rattle. There was a certain... electricity... hovering in the dead of night. This wasn't natural. For the intrepid Psyche Terrorists among those foolish or downright cocky enough to walk the dangerous streets at night they would recognize this feeling from back when it all started. When everything grew still before the attack came.

...tonight... would be no different...

From the shop area could be heard loud gasping and struggling, the scraping of sneakers on asphalt and muffled, futile cries for help.
"H-..... h-...... a-................."
This would continue for nearly half a minute before all would return to the evening, lonesome quiet once more... and the sound lapping could be heard... loudly... like a predatory cat at a massive saucer...
The streets would be completely empty now. As they should be. They could be dangerous at night.

Isabelle heard what sounded like...muttering? heavy breathing anyway, she could barely make out words, but the sudden silence that followed from everything else allowed her to just barely catch the sound of struggle, and she heard what might have been a gasp for help.

She didn't know what was going on, but as she drew closer the sound stopped and was soon replaced by a lapping sound, like something eating or drinking something, and she continued forward someone had asked for help maybe, during sounds of a struggle, then eating or drinking sounds? if someone needed help she could at least try to help out, even if it was a drunk who had to much, or someone high on some stupid drug. So with that in mind she headed towards the sound.

Step by step, jingle by jingle. The distance between the source of the noise and the Jester grew closer and closer. He cared little for whoever was in trouble, they be damned. He wanted to have some good laughs at some demons, to dance with them under the moonlight, drive his blade deep within their flesh. Little did he knew there were other damned and one would be damned approaching too. So many rebel soul in one place, it was the perfect cast for a truly chaotic play.

Rory stopped mid-step, and listened. Was that the sound of a murder? A mugging maybe?...well, it didn't sound like his problem, and he was content to keep on walking. He didn't get another step before giving a small groan. If someone died because he hadn't wanted to investigate it...well, he'd feel pretty shit. Besides, he already looked like the world's lamest super Hero in his costume, might as well embrace it. He ducked into a nearby alley, and after confirming it was empty, put on the mask. Even with the empty streets, windows still were a thing, and he wasn't getting caught transforming. After he was sure he had gotten the transformation right, he straightened his cap, and began heading towards where he'd heard the noises coming from.

The doctor was in.

Stopping what he was doing after hearing that someone was muttering the words help, Gabe contemplated if this was a good time to check it out. He wasn't too sure if it was the enemy or something along the lines, but it wasn't something he could ignore. "Guess I have no choice..." Putting his mask on, Shotaro was ready to perform as he headed to the area.

The sickening squelch of lapping, drinking, and the occasional tearing of flesh echoed across the forlorn buildings as the Terrorists and one poor, unfortunate soul grew closer to the hideous noise. The chattering of rats could be heard, yet high-pitched like a corrupted VHS tape. Though, to those who had already Awakened to their potential they could understand this chaotic drawl.


The intensity clouding the Backlight thickened like mud, and before long the masked marauders and the ordinary civilian would converge as they all raced to meet the twisted end of fate, the snake eyes of the dice. For the new initiate to the fold she would find her head begin to ache and pound as if something were clawing out from the inside of her skull, a primal scream of warning echoing through her mind. They would meet each other first before they would meet the horrors of the night: twisted, rat-like creatures and a more regal looking demon of nefarious intent. The vermin where clawing and suckling at a corpse, naught but a bag of skin now, shriveled and pruned as their bovine master looked on in encouragement. But it's black eyes would turn down the street to the interlopers in its sacred rite.



The ache in Isabelle's head would threaten to split her brain in half as the creatures rustled their spines and inched toward her, leaping from the ground to the walls, around bins, mailboxes, and benches, slithering like serpents toward the fresh kill awaiting them. To the other Psyche Terrorists this would be a familiar situation, though to one among them it would be the first of many... or the first and last. Isabelle could feel something reach out and touch her mind, whispering intent to her. Her gauntlets were with her...

OOC:

Isabelle felt the pain in her head and he hand reached up to gently hold it, the other grabbing the wall nearby as the sudden pain shook her nearly to the ground she seen shapes in the streets coming towards her, they were people in..masks? one looked..no WAS the man she seen on the T.V. During that broadcast, oh great...just what she needed, terrorists come to her to cause issues...and why her?

She held her head as she stumbled a moment, she could swear she could hear a voice too, and...hissing? or something like it...coming from the direction of where the slurping had been coming from, where she could see...shapes? she couldn't make them out as she fell to a knee a moment still clutching her head,

"What's....going...on?" she managed to mutter as she seen the shadows moving in closer, and as they got closer the pain in her head increased, and then just when it felt it couldn't get worse she heard a voice.

The Voice she heard was one she had heard before when she was younger, "Don't worry...I'm still here Isabelle...." she had heard the voice so rarely these days, usually when she was half asleep, or something, but suddenly it was clear as day, a gentle voice, "Trust me...I helped you escape remember? I can help you hear...just let me again".

Isabelle held her head as she looked at her gloves, they slowly changed shape into a pair of Cestus and she remembered back to when she was a kid and she smirked a bit "I remember you...Go ahead....lets deal with this..." she said as the pain seemed to melt away all as her body started to change, to grow, she grew taller, gained a bit more muscle, and her hair changed from the golden blond to a fiery red as horns started to grow from her forehead, fur also started to grow on her lower body, her legs elongating into digitigrade legs ending in hooves, she even started to grow a tail, her clothing also changed as the demonic influence started to take hold, soon she had gone from 6'6" tall to 8'7" tall though she would look taller due to her new manner of standing.

Finally with the pain gone she relaxed as she rose to her full height stretching as she felt her new body "Why.....does this feel so familiar....." she said with a smile as she looked down at the things moving towards her, and the other people that had apparently gathered around her, the Psych terrorists "...and who here are the ones who's asses I have to beat?" she said not aware of what the demons had been saying, nor aware of the reason these P.T's were here.

stats:

Walks over silently and gives a small bow to the others.

"Looks like you could use a hand..."

stats

Spoiler:

When he gets there, Doctor Fate is annoyed that the person who called out was already dead. Really, he should've seen that coming. Of course, therevwas a more pressing issue, and that was the fact it looked like he hadn't been the only Terrorist, or person for that matter, to respond to the call. And one of them was...well. The person who'd made that broadcast. A big shot, probably. Part of Fate was telling himself to get out now, before something could fo wrong. Of course, it did soon after when the Civilian...well, he wasn't quite sure what to call that, but it annoyed him. Just awakening, and already so confident...that reminded him of someone. With an groan, he left the shadows of the alley, soulbound forming into his hands, by the time he formally joined the others.

"I'll make sure you guys don't go down to fast. Just remember not to do anything dumb, alright?"

Doctor Fate-Level 7:

The grin curled and twisted upon seeing what he was getting into. It was like some cooky weird ass cult to a hungry bull. It asked, no! Demanded for food, and humanity was its banquet. Amidst the filth and dirty there was a divine feast for the purple bull. The sadistic Jester was filled with glee and adrenaline. Someone had likely just died to be feasted upon by the demons, yet he cared little. He was ready to jump out of the shadows, driving his knife into one of the rat cultists to satisfy the bloodlust, yet the players who were nearby and he was unaware of had revealed themselves. Mage, Amazonian and another Trickster were among them. A devious idea was given growth within his mind. His mask shifted into he visage of the Jester and then he slid out of the shadows with his guitar in hand, placing himself between the Trio and the debased demons.

He played a quick tune and bowed his head for a brief second.

"Good night, o' Bull lord!" His face raised slowly and only slightly.

"We apologize to interrupt your banquet but the Troupe of the Damned has come to provide you with a play tonight." With exaggerated movements he twirled around to face the other Terrorists, the bells on his hat jingled. He first pointed at the Amazonian, now that he was close he could tell she was freakishly tall
"Our brave protagonist! The Amazonian Bull wanders through the land of dark to find a worthy opponent, but she is met with a depraved cult of gluttony."

He took a few steps towards the white mage and lightly tapped on his hat.

"A divine spellcaster meets her and readily prepares his magic, for he too wishes to see the cult gone."

And finally he jumped, landing next to Shotaro. He would kneel and use his arms to draw attention to the man in top hat.

"The dashing and experienced rogue couldn't let a lady face adversity alone, as strong as she is, so he too jumps into the fray."

He stood up, clapping twice.