Voidchild_NA

City of Heroes has been with me in my life, in one way or another, since it launched. Since before it launched. Even before I knew about the game, I was hoping someone out there was making it.

Since I started playing CoH...

- I've earned a degree in social sciences + complimentary pedagogics and social psychology.
- I started taking up exercising (from a life of none of that whatsoever)
- I've had two nephews and two nieces been born and seen them grow (eldest is 6).
- I've gotten married.
- I've lived and worked in two separate countries.
- I've made friends and said my goodbyes to both friends and family.
- I've conquered two separate personal fears I never thought I could.

And probably alot of other stuff I can't think of at the moment either. The point is, that's still alot to me. And one of the few constants, whether times were good or bad, was CoH. Didn't matter if it was when studying became too hard or when I got told the news about my first nephew. CoH has, as much as anything else, been a big part of my life.

I guess the only thing left to say to you guys at Paragon Studios (and those who moved on to Cryptic Studios) is:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING! YOU GUYS REALLY ARE THE BEST!

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Am I the only one who finds that terminology to be the best oxymoron ever?

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What is this "pay-purr" of which you speak?

Good stuff! ^^

Now all we need is the ability to drop missions. *nudges Positron*

Dear lord...

Logic and reason just imploded...

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Because people get too caught up in the numbers and try to quantify their "fun" using those numbers. "Fun" cannot be boiled down into a math equation. We don't need the numbers. Better, clearer descriptions? Yes, that we DO need. But the numbers themselves are not necessary.

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Bingo!

Run Statesman! I'll shield you with my body!

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Yes, this is a good thing.

But could we please get a comment on that elephant over there, Mr. Emmert.

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This was hilarious though, and I would like some comments on the ED-system. =)

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And where is Jiraiya?!

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My guess is we're getting "filler" right now as the Manga tries to pull ahead with the "real" storylines again. That's why Jiraiya has been away on his "secret mission" for a while now. Someone who's acctually read the manga could probably give you a better confirmation of this, but that's what I think's happenning.

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This is correct! *cookie for you*

Sabaku no Gaara for me though! Although, who can resist the charm of "fuzzy eyebrows"? Oh, Shikamaru is a favourite as well. ^^

Good day one and all. I'm scowering the US CoH-community, looking for RP SG's that play during european hours in order to find players that can fit more into my own schedule. I have many US friends with whom I love to play with but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to dedicated myself to the late hours. =/

Are there any RP SG's on virtue which are European, or any SG's that playing during my hours available on the Virtue servers where all my characters are located? If so, I would be most pleased to find out and be informed of these. =)

Thanks!

Aw, no juicy info such as skills being on the horizon or such? =/ Don't get me wrong, good info. But still...

These are valid reasons for being absent. I don't see any reason for you having to explain your absence to us, the board members though. Especially seeing as how it's none of my business. Even so, it's good to see you do so.

While I do not condone the acts being perpetrated in Iraq, I do wish for both your brother, and everyone else down there, to make it home safe and sound.

Great work on the new primer Clintonian! And glad I could help. ^^

Another poster made a fine suggestion about "calling in reserves" with the help of coalitioned SG's. Or that's how I interpreted it at least. That could help out with numbers if there is a crisis on a SG/VG's hands.

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I'll have to agree with the OP. Making appointments does take away some of the excitement of base raids.

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Yeah, griefing would be so much more fun.

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I fail to see your point. Must have gotten lost among all the fine arguments supporting your opinion.

I'll have to agree with the OP. Making appointments does take away some of the excitement of base raids. They should just make it so that the base has to have an open window during the day when it can be raided and some emergency teleporting excuse to help bring defenders back when this happens.

Later that night, Voidchild comes to. Not sure where she currently is though. The roaring sound of a waterfall below indicates that it may be some sort of nature preserve. She lifts her head and looks about, she’s on top of a small mountain. Far away from the island where she fought Serpent earlier today. How did she get here? And since when can she teleport?

Before she can begin pondering, a small tear falls off her cheek and disappears into the massive amounts of water below. She closes her eyes and moans. She’s been lamenting in her sleep again, as she always does when she dreams of her departed father. Even though she’s always happy to see him when she falls asleep, it’s devastating to wake up and be torn away from him.

She distinctly remembers her dream though, being as vivid as it was. Raheems advice seems to always come right on cue. She knows what she has to do. Evil or no evil, Serpent, as well as Movian her responsibilities. She is going to have to bring them both in. Finding out the reasons behind their respective ways will have to take a backseat for now.

She takes off in the direction of the island upon which she fought Serpent. It’s gotten dark outside, but she is able to navigate there without much effort. As soon as she sets down and begin investigating the island, she notices Serpent is gone and thinks that he probably teleported away afterwards just as she did. Or maybe, he was taken by that menacing man with the disfigured skin, Famine.

She suddenly hears a noise behind her and quickly turns around to find Serpent standing in front of her. He looks grim and the nightly breeze is gently tugging at his coat, somehow making him seem darker and larger. She stands up and faces him, trying to appear secure. “Amir, I feel for you, I really do. But you are not leaving this island on your own accord. You’re a murderer and I’m going to have to take you in.”

“Tell me luv…” his tone is different, not as full of longing and playfulness as it was before. “Tell it to me straight…” he sighs heavily. “Could you and me, ever, be together as one?”

She is taken aback by the straightforwardness of his question, but does not falter. “No…” she answers confidently. “Not from what I have seen of you so far.”

“Fair enough…” he seems odd, not at all taken aback or troubled by her reply. It’s more like he is seeking confirmation. “Answer me this then. How’d your essence split? How’d you become a child of the void?”

The way he is acting is more disturbing than usual, but she answers all the same. “At infancy, through a ceremony performed by the same cult that sent the disfigured man earlier today.” She falters slightly. “Why are you asking me all of this?”

He sighs, exhales some smoke and looks into the night-sky. “Well what do you know… Bloody wizard was probably telling the truth…”

Before Voidchild can reply, a sudden shudder is sent through her body as a crusty hand grabs her neck from behind. In an instant, she feels cold, feverish, hungry, pained and depleted all at the same time. Her legs give in and her throat is swelling and thusly blocks off her air supply. In a matter of seconds, she is almost completely drained of any energy she had.

She’s pushed onto the ground, face first. Her head is spinning, her vision hazy and she can’t hear clearly for the pounding in her head. Serpent is speaking to her but she can’t make out what he’s saying. She tries to crawl away but can’t seem to support the weight of her body, and her head won’t stop pounding. She looks up and the last thing she sees is the blurry image of Serpents boot coming down on her.

Oblivion claims the child of the void…

((Will be spewing out the rest quicker than before. Grah, it just keeps getting longer and longer doesn't it? ;P))

((Oh noes! Part 4!))

Voidchild – Snake Eyes, part 4

“What’s got your skin crawling freak?” Serpent grins, very content with his demeaning pun regarding the newly arrived one’s strange, wriggling skin. “The lass an me were having sort of an argument. Be so kind as to buzz off will you?”

Voidchild looks over at Serpent. He’s either trying to make the hostile newcomer think he still poses a threat to him. If not, he’s just being careless. He’s just a beat up as she is which means they’re both struggling to stand up straight. Also, none of them know what this person is capable of. But he’s a meta-human, that much is obvious.

The stranger slowly, and confidently, begins moving towards Serpent. Now that he’s coming closer, his facial features should become more prominent, if there was a face. It’s just covered in the same black and white tone that the rest of his body is, wriggling about.

“My name is Famine…” he presents himself and directs his attention towards Serpent. “Step aside.”

Serpent chuckles while the air surrounding his fist starts swirling. “But you’re up against two scions of the void ‘ere!”

A high-intensity bolt of force smacks into Famine at point blank range and he staggers backwards while Serpent grins. But before Famine can straighten out, the bolt disappears, seemingly within his scaly skin. He exhales heavily and takes a last step towards Serpent.

“Hey mate!” Serpent protests, almost childishly. “That knocks you down.”

“Not even…” he replies condescendingly while striking down on Serpent with full force, driving him into a small crater in the ground.

Voidchilds eyes open up with dread as Famine now turns his attention towards her.

“Your turn woman…” He begins walking at her. “Let us hope you taste better than your friend.”

Voidchild steps backwards, not as eager to engage Famine as Serpent was. There’s something very disturbing about him. And in this weakened state, she would surely perish in any form of direct confrontation.

Suddenly, and before Famine can reach her, Voidchild is unwittingly swallowed up by a small wormhole and teleported away. The being within her is acting on its own and is spiriting her away from Famine, who is left standing on the smashed island, awaiting some sort of counter-attack.

“Unexpected…” he murmurs to himself. “She’s gone…” He looks over his shoulder to where the knocked out Serpent is lying within a small crater in the ground. “Hopefully, this one will be enough for the wizard to satiate my hunger.”

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Voidchild, at the age of five, she’s sitting by the radio, intently listening to the news of the capital while mending a black eye she received from one of the village children earlier the very same day. Raheem is off speaking with the parents of the child, trying to resolve whatever dispute it was. Voidchild didn’t want to tell it herself, reluctant to cast blame.

The news on the radio isn’t really cheering her up either. Murder, war, racism, hate and violence are all they seem to go on about, yet she can’t seem to shut it out. Her eye hurts, and for some reason, she can’t help wonder who’s responsible. For her black eye as well as all the wrongs of the world.

“Now little Snowflake…” Raheem has stood there behind her for quite a while now. “There are so many bad things happening in this world. It can certainly be depressing at times.”

The young Voidchild turns around, with one eye closed and bruised the other one shining brightly at due to the return of her father.

“You seem angry Snowflake. I’ve been watching you sit there and building up steam for a little while now.” He strokes his hand gently through her hair. “And I can not say that I blame you. Little Mali was very unfair to hit you. But see, instead of being angry, you should ask yourself, ‘why did she do what she did’.”

The young daughter of Raheem has no answer to give but a confused look. Her adoptive father turns off the radio.

“I hear you are listening to all the bad news of the world as well.” He pauses briefly. “What you need to know right now little Snowflake, is that I do not believe in evil myself. And do you know why?” Voidchild shakes her head at him. “Because if you dig deep enough, there is always a reason for the things man does. People are all too human, and sometimes can’t help themselves from doing bad, even terrible things. Sometimes the reasons are shallow and easy to see, and sometimes they run so deep that they seem invisible to the naked eye.”

Voidchild is listening attentively, as she always does when her adoptive father speaks to her with that deep, soothing voice of his. “The reason little Mali hit you earlier today was because she was scared of someone different from her, something new which she knew nothing about. She couldn’t cope well with the situation because she is human. And just now, you became very upset with her because you are human as well.”

The young Voidchild looks away, as though she’s ashamed. But Raheem strokes her hair once more and leans down at her. “But in exchange for being capable of bad things, we have the possibility of doing good as well. I do not believe that there is a single person out there not capable of both. And that is why I can not believe in evil either.” Voidchild now looks back at him, the unhurt glowing light-blue eyes of hers light up at the optimistic prospect of his words. “Little Mali was not evil for hitting you, she was scared. Just as the thief isn’t evil for stealing, he is hungry.”

He stands up above her. “Find your own way of viewing the world little Snowflake. But remember this when you search for it… There is a reason for everything, and for everyone. Look for those first.”

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Serpent opens up his eyes. The first thing he sees is a faint green glow and the first thing he feels is suppression. He looks around and finds himself sealed within a green crystal cage of sorts. At the same time he notices his inability to make contact with his main source of energy, the void.

“Well… bollox!” he exclaims as he gets to his feet, looks up and sees the gentleman with whom he spoke with just the other night in a bar. Nelson Movian, representative of the Circle of Thorns. Needless to say they’re both somewhat surprised.

“I gather I could say something clichéd such as ‘welcome to my lair’ or ‘we meet again’. But I do try so hard to avoid the follies of the traditional brand of villains.” he grins widely. “I’m actually both surprised and pleased, ‘Serpent’ was it? My name is Nelson Movian. We were never properly introduced when we met.”

Serpent straightens out, he still has his pack of cigarettes so he takes one out and lights it arrogantly as his own trademarked grin sweep across his face. “You’re telling me Nelson? This is the smallest bloody world I’ve been to yet.”

“Yes, planar travel. Tell me friend, how is it that you were able to find your way here? I was under the impression that not even the anchors were able to perform such tremendous feats.”

“Anchors eh? Someone's been doin their homework haven't they?” Serpent smirks.

“Indeed I have my friend… You’d be stumped at how grand an information network I possess courtesy of my allegiance to the Circle. I know when you got here, I know what you’re doing here and I know that you are, seemingly, coveting the child of the void of this plane. What I don’t know is why?”

Serpent sighs heavily and leans backwards against the shimmering crystal wall, seemingly lost in his own small world. “That you would know, had you seen’er earlier today mate. The magnificent graze only a perfect fusion between a mortal and immortal being could present.” He inhales deeply from his cigarette and reaches out with his hand in front of his face with a mad grin. “You know that feeling you get mate? When you see something, so small, so precious an sweet… an it gets to you so bad that all you can think bout is strangling it?”

“All to well…” Movian smirks, seemingly familiar with the disturbing topic.

“Well, this lass ‘ere has got me just as emotional, jus in a different way see? I tried to get ‘er off my mind an just go about my business but, nah, wasn’t possible. So I took to homing in on this plane, could see it so clearly too, from the Portal Corporation of my own world. An the rest is history.” he sighs yet again. “Alas, I’m a Montague and she’s a Capulet. Not Julia, one of the stuck up ones.” He exhales. “Can’t seem to get her to see straight though… She detests me jus as she detests what she really is an could make of herself.” he looks down on Movian again. “Strange now that I think of it… I never seen or heard of anyone acting this way. I tell you, I’ve trouble getting my noggin around it.”

“I see…” Movian waves his hand and the spell around the crystal chamber comes off as to invite his captive to the outside of it. Serpent’s reptile-like eyes open up and he grins.

Before Movian can blink, Serpent has gotten in touch with the void again, teleported outside of the chamber while in the very same movement gripping the mages throat and slamming him into a rocky wall. “Now that was a really retarded move mate. You should’ve known I was going to kill you, if you ever flipped that switch to ‘off’ so to speak.”

“Well…” Movian smirks and chokes at the same time. “This alone should display to you that my intentions are benign. I do believe we…” Serpents tightens his grip around Movian’s throat, the energies of the void are savagely putting extra pressure on it.

“Scuse me sir, couldn’t hear you. See, I’m strangling you an could care less what bloody proposition the Circle has to offer me.”

“Release him…” Serpent can hear the familiar, deep voice of Famine behind him, who in turn has gripped his throat from behind. “Even though you taste horribly, I won’t think twice about making you my evening meal.”

Serpent just grins though and tilts his head backwards towards the disfigured man. “Get in line freak. I still ‘ave a bone to pick with you and plan to tend to that in a second.”

“The child of the void is a fraud!” Movian is finally able to shout out. Serpent drops him to the ground where he begins gasping for air. Famine releases his grips at the same time and backs away.

“What’d you say mage? Don try and play with my head because I can, an will, butcher you in an instant.”

“I’ve dug through the old records of the Circle and found something very interesting regarding our mutual lady-friend.” Movian pants. “You see, the child of the void of this plane is not a true scion of the void. She is a fraud, just a facsimile of the original.” he rises to his feet. “Tell me friend… How did you receive your power from ‘the one who is all where all is nothing’?”

There is a brief silence. “I had ‘em since birth.” Serpent seems annoyed at being kept in the dark by Movian. “You’ve read up on this eh? You should know wizard!”

“Indeed I have and do friend…” Movian rubs his throat. “I have, and that is how I found out the truth. As you just mentioned, all children of the void are delivered by a human mother, impregnated by the spirit of the void itself whenever a previous anchor perishes. The anchor functions as a homing beacon, transmitter you might say, for the void to know wherever a physical plane exists. For as we all know, the spirit is all there is where all is nothing, and without any ‘all’ there can’t be ‘nothing’. A delicious paradox indeed and an honour for any and all humans to be part of.”

Serpent clenches his teeth together in frustration. “Where you going with this mage?”

“Ah, do forgive me. The subject of the void has me so excited. I tend to ramble whenever I am involved in a discussion on this topic.” Movian turns his head towards Serpent and grins. “You see, out mutual lady-friend was not born into this world together with her split essence. She received it later, through a ritual performed by my fellow kin, The Circle of Thorns!” Serpent looks disheartened and appalled as Movian leans forward and whispers in his ear. “She’s unclean, not a true child of the void, a bi-product of my megalomaniacal master.”

Serpent once again grips his throat and slams him into the wall. Famine is about to intervene but Movian gestures for him to back off. “Fancy lie mage, but I know the Circle very well from my own plane. They’re far from bloody truth-tellers and also bound to their cause, in their own disturbing ways…”

“True…” Movian chokes again, now with a devilish grin and maddened satisfied stare. “But if you examine me with those magnificent forces at your disposal. You shall notice that I am not initiated by the Circle yet, not bound by my soul.” he coughs blood now and barely manages to say the words out loud. “I have evidence of my case towards the child of the void. Mystical residue from the ceremony, records and other observations as well.” he falls silent, as he notices Serpents grip slightly loosening. “Not to mention my friend… Would any true scion be as reluctant as she is to embrace the divinity of the void?”

Serpent drops Movian to the floor once again, clenches his teeth and narrows his eyes. “Bloody wench…” he snarls as the dark pupils in his eyes expand. “Now I see… Only reason she could not feel for me what I felt for her is if she was incomplete. ‘s the only explanation.”

Movian once again rises from his feet while rubbing his throat. “I have a proposition for you my friend. A proposition that both of us would be able to walk away from…”

Serpent looks at him with his black, reptile-like eyes. “You’ve got me all ears mate…”

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Foreshadow is a Korean Hero that is reborn each generation, but who alternates between good and evil. The current incarnation is just beginning to recall and come to terms with the terrible things that his previous self did.

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This actually makes me feel less iffy about the "Jacket-and-pants-guy" (go get some spandex dang it!). =P It's actually a very interesting backstory. =)

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It bears mention that universal changes to the way powers work happen all the time in comics. It's VERY genre. I recall when Mangeto altered the magnetic field of the Earth to inhibit Professor X's psionic abilities. The funny thing is that I don't recall Professor X saying in that issue, "OMG, Magneto nerfed me! I'm outta here!" Instead he dealt with it as well as he could. Heroically, one might say.

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First of all, how hilarious wasn't that: "OMG, Magneto nerfed me!" XD Instant classic. ^^ I can just imagine him rolling around on the floor screaming that as every x-men contemplates the return of Onslaught. ^^

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Or take for another example the upcoming Top Cow comic. Medical teleporters and high-end powers are all eliminated in the first issue. It is trials and conflict that make a good story, not an endless parade of victories. The Devs want to create a world where the possibility of failure exists, where the fight against crime is an actual struggle and not a cakewalk, and I respect them for that.

If you think about how your character might react to the sudden changes you might have not only a better developed character but a richer playing experience as well. A stone may shrug the water aside at first, but the water eats through the stone over time.

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This was just quoted for emphasis and because I agree.

Endless parade of victories - If I wanted this I'd go challenge my dog to a Halo 2 grudge match. Let's see how well he does without opposable thumbs. It'll be superboring of course, but meh, at least I'll win...

No, I think I'll take the Eden Trial with just one damage dealer again. Because that was ridiculously fun. ^^

Happy anniversary ya'll! Love this game and looking forward to an eventful second year! =)

Something suddenly snaps and Voidchild hesitates to deliver the final blow. “No, I really am not, am I?” she let’s the thug slip from her grasp and falls down on her knees. She desperately tries not to lose that train of thought while at the same time getting caught up in a repetitive cycle where she tries to convince herself that she has no right to do what she was about to do.

With the temporary respite given to him, the thug angrily reaches for a large rock and lifts it above his head, preparing to deliver a crushing blow to her head. The young woman screams out a warning but Voidchild can’t hear her. For the moment, she’s shut down all outside interference while trying to retain her sanity in this inwardly focused struggle.

A loud snap and that distinct squeal of pain is what bring her back to actuality. She looks up, and sees Serpent holding the lifeless body of the hoodlum in his arms. “Why’d you stop luv? You were on a roll here.” he tosses the now lifeless man aside like a ruined piece of clothing as the young victimized woman runs off screaming, scarred by the events transpired here today. “I suppose to behold divinity is too much for some people eh luv?”

She looks up at him, and then over at the lifeless thug, and then back at him. Her teeth clench together as she lunges at him in a fit of rage and grabs his neck with her hand. The unearthly energies of the void is channelled into her hands and tightens around his throat. “You manipulative snake!” she snarls at him. “You tried to turn me into a killer!”

“Killer?” he chokes. “Luv, ours is the right divine to do what we please.” His own energies slowly begin counteract the ones she pits against him and the grip around his throat loosens. “I’m jus helping you get in touch with the celestial presence that dwells inside us.” He grabs a hold of her wrist and slowly but surely begin to force it away from his throat with unfathomable effort. “Didn’t you feel it luv? The intoxicating aroma that only a true scion of the void can taste?”

“I don’t want that!” Voidchild struggles regain the grip on his throat. “I belong to a sacred vow I made long ago, not the void.”

“That’s where you’re wrong luv. You belong to the void indeed, but the void also belongs to you. We receive this might through a bargain. A bargain with the spirit of the void that makes us part ‘o everything and it’s in-betweens. In return, the few lucky ones are made gods among men.” Serpent grins wickedly. “See, deep down you’ve got this mindset as well. Deep down you’re jus like me luv.” He fixes his eyes on her and pushes her away. “Men and women turned gods we are...”

Voidchild meets his wicked stare. She now sees him for what he truly is. “No… I’m just a human bestowed with a curse… And you are just a pitiful man caught in a delusional fantasy.” She looks away. “I pity you, you poor lost soul.”

As quickly as his namesake, Serpent slaps Voidchild across the face. “If you can not understand the divine wonder that is the void, then I will make you!”

Voidchild straightens out while covering her cheek with her hand. “Is this the way you treat everyone you claim to treasure?” she murmurs in reply. “Did the void hollow out your already blackened heart as well?”

“Shut up wench!” He howls as his energies begin to exuberate from his body. “’s you that’s at fault here, not me!”

“No…” Voidchild snarls back at him as the glow in her eyes intensify… “Letting you infect me with your poison is the only mistake I’ve made so far.” She readies herself for the clash. “But if you truly wish to see me unleash the void upon someone, then let it be on you!”

The two forces lunge towards each other while tapping into the unbounded source of energy that is the void. Evenly matched, this contest merely comes down to whose body first breaks down from the strain. The mystical beings imbued within them, unwittingly to them, brings their respective hosts battle into the clear sky of Paragon City as the two combatants continue to relentlessly pummel one another with their nigh-invisible powers while slowly disappearing out of sight from below.

A high-intensity blast crashes straight into the chest of Serpent and sends him careening towards a small island with Voidchild quickly following after. She reaches him at the precise moment they crash into the ground and they both burst into the ground. As the smoke clears from the impact, they both pit themselves in a hand to hand struggle against each other. The intense output of the voids energies shielded them both from serious injury but at the same time drains quickly drains them both, drawing them closer and closer to their respective limit.

But none of them yields… One, because of the belief that they are not above all other thing, and the other because he believe that they are. Both of them so convinced of their respective view that they are prepared to obliterate their own flesh to prove it. Both of them utterly confident of the fact that the others vision is flawed and needs correcting.

Suddenly, the stalemate ends as a wrong step makes Voidchild loose her foothold. Serpent seizes the opportunity and a regular kick aimed at her shin sends her falling backwards with him tumbling on top of her. He pins her arms to the ground while meeting her infuriated stare head on. And for a moment, they pause and silence reigns.

“Get off me…” she warns him.

“I’m going to make you see things my way luv.” he grins ominously “I saw that look on your face, the smile you had.”

Voidchild repeats herself. “Get off me…”

“Not until you see things my way luv. You aven’t smiled since back when you lived across the sea ‘ave you?”

She stares, straight into his eyes while pondering for how long Serpent has been watching her. He wouldn’t dare bring Raheem into this and try to use him as some sick component for an argument.

“Back when you was with your old man. Tell me luv, did you smile jus as brightly when you extinguished his life?” a sadistic expressions comes across his face. “You made your choice right there an then luv.”

“Get off me now!” the loud reply is followed by a bolt of mystical energy that throws Serpent several feet back.

The two combatant’s bodies are close to breaking down from the colossal strain and damage their bodies has sustained by now. They clumsily and slowly rise to their feet, barely able to stand. “Hit a sore spot did I luv?” he moans. “Afraid ‘o the truth? See, I’m the only one who understands you. That’s why we need each other luv.”

Voidchild stares him down. “I’ve struggled for years to repent for the sins I committed, for the slaying of the one person that meant the world to me. My father, Raheem.” she huffs in reply. “You could never grasp the depth of my devotion to this task because you can’t even see beyond your own delusions of grandeur. You let the void get to you, while I fight on to stay myself and live by the ideals I was taught.”

Serpent slouches backwards against a large rock. “I don believe you luv. I think you’ve not seen enough ‘o it to know.” he suddenly notices Voidchilds eyes fixated on something above him and with an indifferent expression turns his head.

A sturdy man, covered in what appears to be some form of scaly black and white skin which moves about and cover his entire body is silently staring down at them from a huge rock. When he notices that he’s gotten the attention of the two, he moves down from the boulder in an insect-like fashion. Serpent and Voidchild both notice his face now, no eyes, no mouth, no nose. No facial features at all.

“This little quarrel is over…” he states with an ominous voice. “I’ve come for the child of the void.” he points at Voidchild. “On behalf of The Circle of Thorns.”

“What a bloody depressing development…” Serpent sighs. “Thought me and the lass were going to be in bed by now…”

Voidchild chooses not to respond to Serpents arrogant remark but instead focuses her attention on the newcomer. It would seem Nelson Movian finally found out about her connection to the void.

This situation has gone from bad to worse to impossible.


((More to come of course... ;P The storyline is almost completed but not everything is proof-read and I dare not undertake that particular task myself. So I patiently wait for my proof-reader to get to work. ^^))

Voidchild – Snake Eyes, part 3

Inevitably, the night turns into morning. The pleasant sanctuary that is one’s slumber and dreams fades away and a no-doubt harsh reality will once again present itself.

Voidchild hadn’t noticed how she drifted away to the land of the dreams as she fell asleep beneath the pier last night, and were it not for the sun in her eyes, she would hardly notice herself waking up again. For a moment, she feels at ease. A good night’s sleep will put you at ease and most troubles will seem distant and not as close upon you. Unless of course, they are actually upon you.

“G’mornin luv!” She immediately recognizes the familiar and unwanted voice, the one that had her hiding here in the first place. She quickly turns around to find Serpent sitting on the outside of the pier in the sun, smoking his cigarette as always. “Beauty of a day it is eh?”

“Why are you here?” she asks with a shocked expression on her face. “For that matter… How did you find me?”

“Come now luv, I tracked you through dimensions. Think I can’t find you hiding in broad daylight? I told you, what we share transcends all else.”

She rises to her feet and brushes the sand off her suit, and looks away, trying to avoid staring directly into those reptile-like eyes of his. “How long have you been there then?”

“Most part of the night luv. Not a safe spot to be takin yourself a wee nap you know. Even ‘f you’re blessed by the big man in the void.”

“You were watching over me?” she asks with a dumbfounded look on her face.

“Course I was luv. Don want anything nasty to happen to you. You’re very dear to me you are.”

“That was kind of you.” She replies and turns to look directly at him. “Forgive my behaviour previously. I was having a bad day.” She turns from him once again. “I should actually be going. Thank you again.”

He now notices her hands are trembling and she seems slightly out of balance supports herself against one of the wooden posts.

“You know what your problem is luv…” Serpent sighs loudly from behind her. “The pointless struggle against our nature. Like it’s going to take away your humanity or something eh?”

Voidchild turns her head slightly towards him and listens intently as he goes on.

“’S like your self-destructive. No wonder you’re edgy like that if you persist on keeping the essence all bottled up all day long. All people got to let off some steam once in a while. Well, the same goes for the little bugger living inside you an me luv. Need to communicate with it like you’d do with your mate.”

Voidchild’s eyes lights up, It’s clear to her that Serpent is speaking the truth. No one has ever been able to so accurately put what she’s experiencing into words. Serpent has probably spent many more years with his part of the spirit than she has.

“I can help you luv…” the seductive yet experienced voice promises to whisk away all the troubles of one who bears the void within. “Probably the only one who can. An you can help me extinguish this yearning I have…”

She doesn’t reply, but instead slowly steps out from under the bridge. “I’ll need some time to think about this, Amir.”

Even though he rarely uses it himself, Serpent lights up when she addresses him by his actual name but he doesn’t reply. Instead he just watches her take off into the skies, without trying to stop her from leaving.

She flies for a few minutes before setting down on a grassy knoll near a formation of large rocks on the middle of the great island. She sets down and slumps back against the large boulders. Despite having just woken up, she’s feels as worn out as she would after a full days work. Not even a full nights rest seems to be enough to recuperate her strength nowadays, always worrying about that seed of the void infused within her.

She ponders what Serpent had told her. About working with it and appreciate it instead of dreading it. A possibility she had never thought open to her. Ever since the manifestation of her powers, the very concept has seemed flawed. But maybe that’s the problem. Ever since loosing control and murdering the one person that meant the world to her, she’s been afraid, afraid to use the powers granted to her in anything but minimal doses. Serpent seems very much in control of his essence, perhaps it’s time to undertake the task of taming the void instead of trying to subdue it?

She slouches back, for real this time, takes a deep breath, relaxes her muscles and let’s her body go limp. She closes her eyes and let’s her mind wander off until she finds tranquility.

There is only one word for the sensation overcoming her… Serenity… For the first time since manifesting within her, she feels as though she’s really in touch with the spirit of the void, and it’s wondrous. The feeling of guilt, doubt and self-pity has faded and been replaced by a sense of certainty, power and confidence.

She opens up her eyes and for the first time since Raheem left her, allows herself an undersized, yet true, smile. There are possibilities now. She can be the legacy she always wanted him to have, she can unleash the potential of the void and there may just be someone to share all this with. There are indeed countless possibilities now.

The sudden shriek of a woman in peril reaches the re-born Voidchild, it’s coming from behind the formation of boulders. She confidently rises to her feet and hovers up above the scene of the evident crime. It would appear some lowlifes are trying to take advantage of a young girl, probably skipping school. Something that Voidchild herself feels very strongly about.

She hovers down behind them while their attention is focused on molesting the young girl. “You may leave with or without your arms attached to your bodies scum. The choice is yours.” Voidchild firmly conveys to the criminals.

These three thugs turns their heads around indifferently, seemingly not surprised by hero-intervention anymore, and quickly reaches for their weapons.

“Pests…” Voidchild taunts as she leads of her assault against the ruffians. She now works in union with the powers of the void and together, they batter the defenceless thugs with uncanny precision and frightful force. Without any effort whatsoever on her part, she smashes two of the ruffians down the hill and approaches the final one who is badly beaten and huddled up in a fetal-position in a last ditch attempt to protect himself from more harm.

He loudly whimpers and beg for her to desist. But Voidchild is not so inclined to let him off the hook. This man has gone against the ideals of which one should live by and is to be reprimanded.

The young woman mends the minor bruises she receieved from the three men while observing in dread when, what can be nothing other than an out of control vigilante, forces the body of the terrified man to float before her. “Inferior vermin…” Voidchild sneers at him. “There is but one suitable penalty for your actions. And believe me when I say that it will make the death seem lenient.” Voidchild holds her hand up while gathering the whirling energies of the void into the palm of her hand for whatever the final blow may be.

Suddenly though, the young woman whom these hoodlums had just recently attempted to molest, grabs a hold of her arm. She pleads for the frenzied Voidchild to spare his life, but instead only receives her wrath.

“Away from me you waste of space!” Voidchild tosses her aside onto the grass. “…so that I may reprimand this feeble being.”

The young woman seems determined still and gathers the full power of her lungs. “You’re not above life!” she cries out, almost choking on her own tears.

*blinks*

Hey I know this one. ^^ It's really good. I especially enjoy the relationshop between Keikan and Super Amazing who complement each other very well. ^^

A good read any day of the week. ^^

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So awesome.


Except the thugs are called Hellions and look like Outcasts.

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Yeah, except for that though... ;P

Simply stunning. Too bad us Europeans don't get it here.. ;P Oh well, just provide me with a link so that I can instead import them at some point. ^^ I won't have much choice if this is the quality of the series. Just this preview made me see Manticore in a totally different light. ^^

Also, Positron looks badass! ^^

I haven't read the entire thread and I'm just going to voice my own perspective on the gravity changes:

AOE Wormhole - I love it! Although, I had wormhole slotted with one acc and three ranges before these changes went live. The old wormhole is missed yes. It was a situational power that had so many different uses that it almost became as commonly used as my holds. =P But the new wormhole is wonderful, it took some getting used to, but on test I used it as a regular crowd control AOE with great results (except for the very, very short disorient that I feel should be upped).

Alas, I must agree that a single target wormhole should still exist in our sets for use in these situations when you really need to get rid of a tough enemy, throw away a DE eminator or just plain wish to pull something. Sure, I can use detention field myself for some of those, but others can not. =/ Also, one can get TP Foe, but it's not as powerful or cool as single target wormhole. I'm no big fan of dimension shift (although I can see where it has it's uses but I've never ever felt the need for it myself) so I could see that gone and a single target added back in. ^^

Singularity dmg resistance and endurance cost reduction - Where did this come from? I found my singys hard to kill already and when I smack bubbles on them now, they're insane. ;P It's appreciated, I guess, but I didn't feel it was necessary. Even without bubbling them.

Propel Damage - O_o My jaws dropped as I got in my first triple damage propel attack on the first player and dark defender I faced in the arena. I likes the new propel damage and it's definetely something that'll help teen-gravity solo better. ^^ Don't touch the animation time on this one, I still love to watch Voidchild slowly conjure up a car and then smashing it into her enemies. And now it actually does some damage as well. =D

May have left something out, some important point.. Oh well.. ^^