Active [Vindrel - East Empire] The Shadow of Illyros

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus - RP Goal: Upgrade Asset Eastern Empire Military E -> Eastern Empire Military D

The provincial capital of Vindrel, a frontier outpost caught between untamed wilderness and the splendor of the Empire's order, hummed with the noise of marching soldiers and the clang of forges. The setting sun cast a golden hue over the marble statues that dotted the town square, their weathered faces gazing stoically toward the looming eastern mountains. Despite the veneer of imperial pride, tension lingered in the air.

Inside the Vindrel garrison, the atmosphere was heavier still. The stone walls of the briefing hall were lit by torches that flickered in the draft, their light reflecting off maps pinned to wooden boards. The room was small, almost suffocating, with the faint scent of iron and parchment lingering in the air. At the center stood Alexas Maximus, clad in her golden centurion armor. Her blue eyes, sharp but weary, scrutinized a report in her hand. A faint scar under one eye twitched as she read, the small detail adding to her otherwise commanding presence.

Her armor, though polished to a shine, bore faint scratches from recent skirmishes, and her stance betrayed exhaustion. She shifted her weight slightly, adjusting the red cape draped over one shoulder. The young centurion looked up briefly as Marcus entered, her gaze assessing him before softening into a smirk that didn’t quite reach her tired eyes.

Alexas Maximus
​

“Things might have been different there if you had joined it…” she remarked, her voice low and tinged with dry humor. She let the comment hang for a moment before shaking her head and waving Marcus forward. “But enough of that. You’re here now and this other problem is what matters.”

She strode toward a wooden table bearing an unfurled map of the Illyros ruins. Her gauntleted hand hovered over the marked location. “Illyros. Used to be a thriving town—until they tried to bite the hand that fed them. The Emperor’s wrath left nothing but rubble and stories of restless spirits to keep locals away. That is, until people started vanishing.”

Her voice hardened, though the fatigue never left her face. “Merchants, villagers, even a patrol sent to investigate—gone without a trace. One scout made it back, half-mad, babbling about shadows and strange clicking sounds. You’ll be interested in this.” She plucked a small metal shard from the table and held it up, the faint glint of its surface catching the torchlight. It was jagged and worn, but unmistakably unnatural, like the fragment of some crude machine.

“Found this embedded in a tree near the scout’s escape route. Whatever’s out there isn’t just a band of raiders or wild beasts.”

Alexas turned her full attention to Marcus now, crossing her arms over her armored chest. “You’ve got experience with these kinds of things—abominations, monsters, whatever the hell they are. I won’t insult your intelligence by sugarcoating it: this is going to be ugly. But if we’re to avoid panic, we need this handled quickly and quietly.”

She gestured toward the map again, indicating several marked entry points into the ruins. “Your call on how to approach it. If you need anything—supplies, information, whatever—ask now. Otherwise, I’ll have a scout guide you to the outskirts of Illyros. After that, you’re on your own.”

Alexas paused, her expression softening ever so slightly as she regarded him. “Try not to join the list of missing, Marcus. We need someone to bring this nightmare to an end.”

With that, she stepped back, leaving the table and the choice of how to proceed firmly in Marcus’s hands. The room seemed to hold its breath, the flickering torchlight casting ominous shadows over the map.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

​

The Ordeal

Would things truly have been different?

It hadn't really been too long ago that Marcus was some fledgling recruit who was still technically in the reserves. But simply put -- it had not been enough for him to assemble every now and again. He had been taken with gods-given urge to never be idle. In his previous state, he was better off dead. So it was instead that he wandered the lands in search of experience and strength derived from little more than his efforts. He could feel that something had changed. Not just his armor -- which had become bronze colored rather than black through the hands of blacksmiths....but something within. He could swear that he felt himself tingling.

"Perhaps I have been gone, for too long." He said, his voice unwavering. He read over the report, noting the victory which had been accomplished at yet grizzly losses. Yet to the hive, he could only wonder how much those lives were worth. A more grievous blow against them would need to be struck.

Now was s time to put it to the test.

He had been summoned for a mission and as it stood, he was shaping up to be alone. While his face had been concealed by his helmet, one could see his scarred eyes through their slits. He stared into Alexas' own eyes with a grim focus, his eyes only leaving her when she placed a piece of metal scrap onto the table. He picked it up and looked into it

"Chittering and scrap metal. Hmm. It could be insects. I had seen one which appeared have gravity powers. They can mutate in strange ways." He placed the piece back down.

"But I will keep an open mind. For all I know, we could be dealing with spirits. I am no stranger to the ugly." After all, he had encountered many things that appeared to hide within the nooks and crannies of the lands. Dead which walked and otherworldly abominations which clawwed their way into this world from the great beyond to violate his mind. His own comrades bleeding out and dying in his arms

"I'm ready to die. Yet I have no intention of needless sacrifice." He'd expected to meet his end during Rico's Raid. But it seemed he and his party were one of the few spared. It couldn't have been without purpose.

Crossing his arms, Marcus took a moment to look over the map -- inspecting the map many entries points. Already his mind was conjuring ways to approach. It did not take very long for him to decide -- in part due to how scant the information he had was. There was a quiet as he took some time to look over for some minutes. From within the armor, one might hear faint murmurs as he burned certain details into his memory verbally.

"I will move on Illyros and enter the city in the morning -- bar extenuating circumnstance. While I am prepared for shadows, I would prefer to have as much daylight as possible. I will take for myself, three days rations just in case. If I take four, presume me dead. I will keep these entry points in mind but ultimately, my approach will depend on what I see when I get there." The manner in which he approached was described to the fullest extent as he had decided. In the face of unknowns, he'd just have to see about certain things whenever he reached that place.

He would leave the map there, committing it primarily to memory. However, he stopped before exiting. His eyes traced over her weary features once more. And he said one thing before parting.

"Take care of yourself -- sister." ​

And just like that, he left. He couldn't have been inside for more than ten minutes and yet already had set out for the task at hand with the aid of a scout.

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

The gates of Vindrel creaked open as Marcus emerged, the weight of his bronze armor gleaming faintly in the torchlight of the garrison’s watchtowers. The scout assigned to accompany him—a wiry, sharp-eyed young man named Darius—waited just beyond the threshold, shifting nervously as if unsure whether to salute or simply fall into step. Clad in simple leathers and armed with a short sword and a bow, Darius looked every inch the practical survivalist, though his darting gaze betrayed unease at the mission ahead.

“Illyros is a cursed place,” Darius muttered as they set out under the silver glow of a rising moon. “Locals won’t even speak its name, let alone go near it. They say the dead there whisper if you get too close.” He hesitated, glancing at Marcus as though measuring his companion’s resolve. “I’m not much for superstition, but… well, you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

The path to Illyros was a narrow, rocky trail cutting through dense thickets of pyren woods—a forest notorious for its gnarled, ancient trees that clawed at the sky like skeletal hands. The canopy above was thick, allowing only fragmented shards of moonlight to reach the ground, and the air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint but unmistakable scent of decay.

As the pair trekked onward, signs of unnatural activity became increasingly apparent. The first clue was a series of broken tree trunks, splintered at odd angles, as if something massive had barreled through. The second was the carcass of a deer, its body eerily untouched save for two small, circular puncture wounds on its neck—drained entirely of blood.

Darius crouched next to the corpse, his fingers trembling as he examined it. “This… this isn’t natural,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “No animal I know does this. And those punctures—too small for fangs. Looks more like…” He trailed off, shaking his head, unwilling to finish the thought.

The scout rose and continued forward with a visible effort, but the tension in the air was palpable now, growing thicker with every step toward the ruins. By the time the broken spires of Illyros loomed in the distance, silhouetted against the night sky, both men could feel the oppressive weight of something watching them from the shadows.

At the outskirts of the ruins, the remains of civilization lay scattered like the bones of a great beast. Crumbled walls jutted from the ground at sharp angles, overgrown with moss and ivy. Stone streets, once bustling with merchants and townsfolk, were cracked and uneven, littered with debris from the buildings that had collapsed during the Empire’s wrath. A faint wind swept through the area, carrying with it an unnatural chittering sound—soft and distant, yet sharp enough to set Marcus’s instincts on edge.

Darius stopped short at the edge of the ruins, his face pale as he glanced back at Marcus. “This is as far as I go,” he said, his voice unsteady. “I’ll wait here and keep watch. If you’re not back in three days…” He trailed off, then took a deep breath. “Well, you know what they say. Gods go with you.”

As Marcus stepped forward into the ruins, the chittering grew louder, punctuated now and then by a faint metallic clinking sound, as if rusted gears were turning deep within the shadows. The faint glow of dawn was still hours away, and the ruins stretched before him, dark and labyrinthine, promising both answers and danger in equal measure.

It was time to begin. What Marcus chose to do now—whether to take a cautious approach or march boldly into the heart of the ruins—would shape his path forward. The shadows stirred, waiting.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

​

In private, there were two tasks. One was to gather his things and the rest of his supplies. The other was to have one last meal in private for the road. It wasn't long before one would hear the heavy footsteps of Marcus' approach.

Clack

Clack

Clack

Marcus' approach towards the gates would grow louder and louder with closing distance. He noticed someone getting near him and figured that he would be the man who would guide him to the city proper. By now, Marcus was carrying his things on his back with a Sarcina (marching stick) in one hand and his spear in the other.

"Greeting Darius. I am Marcus Banecroft. Call me as you will, so long as I know you refer to me. I am of no rank to be worthy of a salute." He was rather accustomed to being called Banecroft. Though he had accumulated experience, much of it was outside of missions for the Empire. His first showing when he joined the Eastern Empire was, in his eyes, rather poor. Or at least, that was how he viewed it.

"Attack the knights with all you've got. Show me your mettle in battle. Surely defending isn't all you're good at, hmm."

That voice still echoes through his mind to this day. Words lit a fire within him and set him on the path of seeking not just strength of mind but of body as well.

Fish Farm

It was night currently. Thus, it was that he sought to set a torch alight. As they set on the journey, Marcus kept his armor on the entire time. He'd no steed currently -- yet as it stood, it seemed like the armor did naught to weigh him down in the slightest. His strength had been such as to carry the armor as though it were made of cotton. The helmet conceals a great deal of his expression, but one could see his eyes beneath the slits. Scars were written on the flesh beneath it. From what one could tell, his brows furrowed as the man went about the place. Speaking further illuminated Marcus' thoughts.

"Perhaps they do whisper. I have yet seen the dead walk on more than one occasion. Though, I wouldn't put it above someone to pray on these fears." It didn't sound quite so crazy. "Even in defeat, I will seek to return and yet dispel some of this mystery."

Supernatural or not -- the area appeared to be one that was apt to prey upon those fears. His eyes looked about. Rather than with sharp and uncontrolled glances of paranoia...Marcus appeared to be scanning the area. His helmet visibly turned with his movements. He only seemed to move more quickly towards something when a sound was made. He wasn't called an [Abomination Fighter] for nothing.

Soon, they came upon a corpse. His eyes traced over it and the area at large, alert for if the thing would return. However, the more he looked at everything, the more he came to the conclusion that this might not be a solitary entity. Upon looking at the corpse, he would seek to finish.

"...A vampire, it seems." He looked up. "Is it a large one? One that flies? Or one that has a friend?" It was but a guess. One which could be invalidated soon enough.

As Darius' hand trembled, he felt a hand gently grasping his shoulder.

"Let us move on."

Illyros​

---

The omen of the city appeared to be too much for the man. It was fine. That was what he was here for.

"Then this is where we part ways, Darius. Let your fear motivate you, not possess you. Do not die senselessly. Gods be with you as well, brother." Marcus said. Hopefully, the man wouldn't risk his life needlessly.

The man would take to the city's outskirts and find himself a clearing. One which had plenty of open space and allowed him to look into city. With a firm -- downward stab, he would plant his marching stick with bag upon it -- straight into the dirt. A few minutes were spent arranging rocks and woods of his fire starter kit. And then he would set the torch down onto the fire.

"Hm." He had been told to handle this quickly, but there was currently no reason for which he needed to go to the heart of the city right away. There were no hostages nor was he serving as a distraction for another group. Ominous noises flooded through the area, and he felt as though he was being watched.

He would watch them right back. [Cup of Knowledge] His senses and knowledge would become dedicated to deciphering the matter at hand. The crackling of the flame he had started graced his ears, but he sought to listen further. Instead, Marcus listened to the chittering sound before he entered, seeking to decipher it. From where he was -- he would seek to peer into the city, watching it like a hawk. He used his knowledge of the Empire's lands and of its many pantheons. Did this correlate to any monsters that gods may have fought? Or did the lands speak of this?

He'd take his time for now, his spear held firmly in hand as he sat on a single knee at the moment, resting and yet ever ready to spring into action. Marcus had stated his intention of approaching the city in the morning. The light could be seen for some distance. But black smoke made its way up to a black sky.

But making it to the morning uninterrupted was another matter.

"Will that which is within the dark, come out into the light...?"

---

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 3/3

HP: 6/6 (A Grade Vitality)
Armor: 5/5 (B Grade Heavy)

1. Plant his Sarcina and supplies at a pseudo campsite in an open field.
2. Cup of Knowledge - Area Knowledge [Eastern Empire: Forests and Mountains] E, Religion E, Perception F, Energize E - Marcus dedicates his senses and knowledge to a particular task at hand. - Grade E - 1 Post Cooldown [Target: Chittering Sound and Staring off into the city]
3. Wait for dawn

Cooldowns:
Marcus
F - 0 Post Remaining
E - 0 Post Remaining
D- 0 Post Remaining
C- 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
Resilient Surprise F
Duration Reduction F

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

The makeshift campfire crackled softly in the open field, its modest light casting long shadows over the broken cityscape of Illyros. Marcus's Sarcina stood firmly planted in the ground, the supplies hanging from it swaying gently in the cool night breeze. Despite the relative stillness, the oppressive weight of the ruins lingered, pressing against his senses like a coiled predator waiting to strike.

As Marcus activated [Cup of Knowledge], a faint warmth coursed through his body—a familiar sensation that accompanied his efforts to draw deeper meaning from his surroundings. The chittering sound, once faint and erratic, began to resolve itself, its rhythm taking on a strange cadence. Not mere noise, but a pattern. A language, perhaps?

The flicker of his torchlight barely penetrated the deeper shadows of Illyros, but his sharpened perception painted a clearer picture. The ruins were not lifeless; movement stirred at the periphery of his sight, swift and fleeting, vanishing the moment he turned his head. His knowledge of Eastern Empire folklore and pantheons offered little reassurance—there were no direct tales of chittering creatures tied to the gods or ancient heroes. However, his experiences in the wilderness came to mind. Insects were often drawn to decay, but this… this was something far more organized, as if the sound was a summons or an alert.

Marcus's eyes scanned the city entrance. The crumbling archway was covered in vines, but fresh scratches marred the stonework, their jagged edges hinting at claws or tools. The chittering grew louder, echoing faintly from multiple directions within the ruins, interspersed with the metallic clicking he’d heard earlier. The noise intensified in bursts, as if the creatures were communicating among themselves, reacting to his presence.

Then, he spotted it—a faint, unnatural glow emanating from one of the ruined towers deeper within the city. The light flickered like a dying ember, shifting between crimson and a sickly green. Its source was too far to make out clearly, but the surrounding shadows seemed to pulse in rhythm with the chittering. Whatever lay within Illyros, it had noticed him.

Marcus's Grade E Perception caught another detail: the chittering wasn’t confined to the city alone. To his right, near the edges of the forest, the undergrowth rustled, though no breeze had disturbed it. The sound was faint, subtle, but unmistakable. Something—or someone—was circling him, testing his defenses.

The ominous sense of being watched intensified. Whether by beast, spirit, or an unknown force, Marcus knew he was no longer alone.

Choices Before Marcus​

1. Investigate the Glow: The unnatural light in the ruins may hold the answers to the chittering and the source of the threat. Moving toward it now could give him the element of surprise, but it also risks exposing him to greater danger in the darkness.
2. Stand Ground and Lure Them Out: Holding his position until dawn might force the enemy to come to him, allowing him to defend in an advantageous position. However, this risks being surrounded in the open field by whatever stalks the shadows.
3. Scout the Forest Edge: The faint rustling nearby could indicate a solitary scout or something attempting to flank him. Investigating it first may eliminate an immediate threat, though it could be a diversion to draw him away from the city.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

Illyros​

---

Bad Omen

The armored warrior stood upright.

There was a stillness in his thoughts. And if something were to listen to the surface of his mind, they'd find only the sounds that surrounded him. The crackling of the flames. The chittering on the wind. Shifting in the underbrush. His eyes followed his ears as he used what faint light existed in some attempt to assemble for himself a full picture.

He readied for an attack but one had yet to come. He had chosen an open area for a reason -- it made it harder for him to be snuck up on. Yet by the same token a fight here meant being able to be assaulted from many sides. The fact that the enemy hadn't attacked him immediately, seemed to imply that they didn't feel confident meeting alone with whatever forces they'd conjured up. All the while, he looked at a strange and almost ominous glowing which came from the center of the city. His eyes widened in surprise, but he took a few more moments to consider his action.

And after he took everything in -- he acted.

TUFT

Two footprints in the shape of his armored boots were left where Marcus was once stood. The Warrior himself however -- had begun to run off into the city. The short leg of his mythic gladius enabled him to draw it with a speed more befitting a knife.

SHINKT

Scraping his sword against his swear -- Marcus would ignite the [Oil Coated] blade of his spear with alchemical flame the moment he hit darkness. Spear would become both "torch" and deadly weapon. He would run into the nearest of the ruined buildings and seek to make his way up it. Despite his appearance, Marcus would move as though he wore nothing at all. Yet his hefty footsteps and the clattering of his armor likely meant he was anything but stealthy. However, should he make to the rooftops, a mobility belying his heavy form would be shown.

Catch me if you can.

With a powerful and explosive jump of his legs -- he'd reach the edge of the ruined building and jump over 8 feet into the air, his fully armored form launching into the air high enough for the bottom of Marcus' feet to clear most individual standing upright. He would carry himself a distance of over twenty feet.

With this strategic jumping from rooftop to rooftop, he sought to make following and ambushing him more difficult.

Some Knights followed a code of chivalry. But never had Marcus Banecroft ever truly been ordained as or considered himself a Knight. The mind he inhabited and the tactics which spawned from it felt more akin to a soldier. One with something to protect and a willingness to destroy anything which threatened which was behind him. His country. His home. The people who inhabited it and who treated him we. For the sake of love -- his furious gaze was set upon the orb.

I will protect my home from all threats, foreign and domestic. Natural and unnatural.

Everything which told the ordinary, incapable, rational and innocent to flee this place, pulled Marcus ever closer to the glowing sphere which-sat at the center.

---

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 3/3

HP: 6/6 (A Grade Vitality)
Armor: 5/5 (B Grade Heavy)

1. Movement - Marcus runs into the nearest ruined building
2. Other - Lights up his oil coated spear -- setting the blade on fire and providing himself with light.
3. Bound - Jumping F, Energized F - Marcus jumps, easily launching his fully armored form over 8 feet in the air and often 20 feet away. Can be performed in quick succession. At max -- it can travel up to 25 feet away. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown [Seeking to jump roof-to-roof]

Cooldowns:
Marcus
F - 0 Post Remaining
E - 0 Post Remaining
D- 0 Post Remaining
C- 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
Resilient Surprise F
Duration Reduction F

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

The flaming spear burned bright in the darkened ruins, the orange glow illuminating Marcus’s path as he darted toward the city. The sudden burst of movement startled the creatures in the shadows, their chittering rising into a frenzy as the armored warrior charged into their territory. His gladius's fiery blade cut through the air, the alchemical flames licking at the encroaching darkness like a defiant beacon.

The nearest ruined building groaned under its own weight, the stones loosened and weathered by years of neglect. Despite its precarious state, Marcus reached it with ease, his armored form a blur of determination. The first jump was powerful and calculated, his feet landing solidly on the crumbling roof with a resounding clang. His momentum carried him swiftly forward, the glowing orb deeper within the city serving as his guiding star.

As Marcus moved rooftop to rooftop, the city seemed to awaken in protest. The chittering sound no longer echoed sporadically—it followed him, weaving through the buildings below like an unseen tide. Brief flashes of movement could be seen in the alleys and streets below. Pale, lanky figures with elongated limbs skittered on all fours, their eyes glowing faintly in the dark. They moved with an unnatural grace, their shapes darting in and out of view like wraiths.

The orb at the city’s center pulsed, its crimson and green hues growing more intense with every step Marcus took. The chittering now seemed to respond to its rhythm, as though the creatures were taking commands from the ominous light. Whatever lay at the heart of the ruins, it was not merely an object—it was a presence, aware and deliberate in its control.

As Marcus leapt to another rooftop, the stone beneath his feet cracked and shifted, threatening to collapse under his weight. But before the danger could escalate, another challenge presented itself.

????
​

A figure, about 40ft away from him, appeared ahead, perched on a rooftop opposite his trajectory. Unlike the scuttling creatures below, this being stood upright, tall and gaunt, its cloak fluttering in the night breeze. The creature’s elongated claws gleamed in the firelight, and its face was obscured by a porcelain mask etched with a twisted grin.

The creature raised an arm, pointing directly at Marcus. With a sharp, guttural screech, it summoned the scuttling forms below. The chittering chorus reached a fever pitch as the pale figures began to scale the walls of the buildings, their claws sinking into the crumbling stone as they closed in on Marcus’s position.

Choices Before Marcus​

1. Confront the Rooftop Figure: Try to engage the masked creature directly. Its posture and command over the other entities mark it as a potential leader. Eliminating it may disrupt the coordination of the others.
2. Press Forward to the Orb: Ignore the rooftop figure and try to continue toward the glowing orb. It’s clear the orb is central to the creatures’ movements, and reaching it quickly could unravel the mystery or provide a tactical advantage.
3. Evade and Regroup: Use his agility, trying to descend into the city streets or find another path, avoiding direct confrontation for now. This would give Marcus more time to analyze his enemies and formulate a strategy.

The air was thick with tension as Marcus stood illuminated against the night sky, his fiery weapon held firm. The ruins were alive now, and the hunter had become the hunted.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

Illyros​

---

Castle Vein

The air rushed by. The blood red main of his helm flowed behind him.

CLANG

His heavy, armored form hit the ground and then leaped again. This process repeated itself again and again as Marcus made his way through the city. His eyes were locked on the orb. Yet within his peripherals, he could see creatures scuttling in the shadows. He could hear the inhuman chittering noises and catch glimpses of glowing eyes. What he saw made him have more questions than answers. Question relevant to tactics to employ sat at the edge of his mind. But he could ponder so much. His eyes were on the "prize." The intense glowing orb seemed almost assuredly important.

CRACK

Feet hit the ground with a dent, and he stopped in place immediately. He'd fallen through the floor before and wasn't interested in doing so again. Ruins like this, he could expect the floors, walls and structures to be more fragile. His eyes snagged on something, as he looked around, his eyes landed on a figure. Watching him shriek and point at him -- it must be commanding them in part.

ZzZzZzzzt

A spark from within became visible on the outside. Electricity moved, starting from Marcus' body, flowing through his armor and then dancing along the shaft his spear.

"Oh Jupiter, I beseech thee. Lend me thine strength." The air around Marcus' spear began to distort. Sparks themselves channeled themselves into the air before Marcus swung. A sound like thunder echoed through the air as a wave of razer sharp, electrified air flew towards it's target. [Essence of Jupiter (Flux)]

"Oh Prometheus, I thank you for flame given to man." With his spear ablaze, he took Javelin thrower's stance. With his spear blessed by alchemical flames gifted to him by the men and women of the empire, he began to throw. Power moved throughout his body, starting at the legs, flowing through hips, up the back, into his bicep and then out through the spear. [Gift to Man] The blazing spear would streak through the air towards it's target -- armor piercing point threatening to rip through all that was within its path. Fires upon the spear threatened light him ablaze inside-out.

"I dedicate this strike you." He watched his attack. And once it reached the end of its range, it would return to him as if yanked by an invisible, magnetic cord. The spear would spiral through the air, backwards the way came it came and then return to Marcus.

His hand was held out to recapture the spear -- as he looked to the thing to see it's effect. However, he didn't much interest in lingering in this spot for too long. After observing the effect, Marcus sought to go down the building through a door and then into the floor below. [Movement]

At the very least, he might find himself on more stable ground and remove direct line of sight between himself and the other things for a moment. His breathing was heavy from exertion yet controlled with a steady rhythm. Surrounded by horrors and danger, he would drink it in more and more.

---

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 3/3

HP: 6/6 (A Grade Vitality)
Armor: 5/5 (B Grade Heavy)

1. Essence of Jupiter (Flux) - Fighting Style: Monster Slayer Spear F, Range E (D), Energized F, Penetrate F, Telekinesis [Lightning] F (E) , Blight [Fire] F- Imbue the wind itself with a fraction of a spear's slash. Slice the air with perfect alignment and send a sharp shockwave to harass an opponent 100 feet away. - E Grade ability - 1 post cooldown. (Str A + Winged Spear B + Ability F = 12) (+1 Action 2)

2. Gift to Man - Fighting Style: Monster Slayer Spear D, Range D, Penetrate D, Blight [Fire] D - Marcus praises Titan God Prometheus for giving fire to man and imbues his spear with alchemical flames, before throwing it at the opponent. Using a magnetic "tether", the spear returns to the user. 100 Foot range. - D Grade Ability - 2 Post cooldown (Str A + Winged Spear B + Ability D = 14 + 1 Combo = 15)

3. Movement - Marcus runs into the building beneath him, seeking cover and stable ground.

Cooldowns:
Marcus
F - 0 Post Remaining
E - 0 Post Remaining
D- 2 Post Remaining
C- 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
Resilient Surprise F
Duration Reduction F

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

[Note: Marcus' Grade E Ability is currently under cooldown]

CRACK-BOOM!
A resonant peal of thunder rang through the crumbling streets as Marcus unleashed Essence of Jupiter (Flux). With a whirl of distorted air and arcing electricity, the shockwave cleaved through the night, surging straight toward the masked figure.

Atop its rooftop perch, the gaunt creature reacted with unnerving quickness. Its porcelain mask shifted ever so slightly, as though it sensed the deadly energy a split second before impact. With a sharp, guttural hiss, it sprang to one side in a graceful, inhuman leap. Even so, the electrified air clipped its cloak and tore into the stone beneath its feet, sending up shards of roof tile in a spray of sparks.

Marcus’s second strike followed in rapid succession, fueled by his entreaty to Prometheus. The spear left his grip like an arrow of fire, spiraling through the darkness with blazing intensity. The masked figure snapped its head up just in time to see the flaming missile closing in. It raised a gnarled, metal-tipped limb as if to parry the attack—yet the moment the spear’s point met the makeshift guard, the spear’s armor-piercing thrust bit through with shocking ease. A violent burst of flame and force erupted around the impact.

The masked creature managed to wrench itself aside in the final instant, preventing a direct hit through its core. Even so, scorching embers clung to what appeared to be tight bandages and twisted metal beneath its cloak. A choked screech tore from behind the porcelain mask, thick and rasping with pain. Part of its cloak tattered away into swirling embers, revealing glimpses of pallid flesh marred by metallic grafts.

Unable to maintain its balance, the creature staggered backward, toppling from the rooftop with a heavy crash into the debris below. Whether it was crippled or merely stunned was unclear, but trails of pale, ashen smoke wafted up from where it had fallen.

At that same moment, the spear yanked itself free from the tangle of cloth and warped metal, spinning through the air as it obeyed the magnetic tether. The weapon twirled in a dramatic arc before slapping firmly back into Marcus’s waiting hand. The entire exchange had lasted only seconds—but in that time, the creeping horrors below erupted into a shrieking cacophony. Their screams echoed through the labyrinth of ruins, a furious response to their leader’s wounding.

Marcus, aware of the precarious rooftop he stood upon, used the immediate lull to sprint into a half-collapsed doorway beneath him. Ancient steps groaned under his weight as he descended, the flicker of his spear’s residual flames casting dancing shadows across crumbling walls. The building’s interior was dank and claustrophobic, with broken furniture strewn across the floor. Spidery cracks veined the ceiling, threatening to collapse if the fighting grew too intense.

For a moment, Marcus found relative cover—no direct line of sight from the rooftops, no pale creatures lunging at his back. The thunderous beat of his own heart pounded in his ears, but his breathing remained measured. Outside, the legion of chittering abominations seemed to be surging through the streets in a wave, searching for him.

What Next?​

1. Stand and Fight Indoors: Brace for an assault from the main entrance or any breakable walls. This building might offer a defensible bottleneck, but collapsing floors and ceilings pose their own risks.
2. Search Deeper: Venture farther inside, perhaps finding another exit or hidden passage. With luck, a route may lead closer to the glowing orb—or at least away from the swarm gathering outside.
3. Head Back Out: Return to the streets and follow the trail of the wounded masked figure. Finishing it off could quell the monsters’ morale or unravel more secrets behind the ruins.

For now, the immediate threat had been scattered—but the overwhelming presence of abominations was gathering. The wounded leader’s screech echoed ominously, and Marcus could feel that time was running short if he meant to reach the orb at the city’s heart.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

Illyros​

---

Wrath

The creature's shrill, ear-piercing shrieks accompanied Marcus down the groaning steps.

Music to my ears.

A sigh of relief, as he caught a quick glimpse from a near by window, before shrinking back. The thing had fallen and might yet still be alive, whatever it was. But he could feel as the walls were closing in. The creature's movements appeared to be a bit more sporadic as they searched the streets. And he felt as though the thing might still be alive. However, the orb seemed to be the main goal. It's shift had changed the air of the city in a way he didn't fully understand. He barely understood anything of these creatures.

Let's just not hope it's there to misdirect me.

Thinking had given him time to catch his breathe, and with that breath -- he would move. The spear was slung over his back in a manner not dissimilar to a rifle. And he gingerly began to climb out the window, maneuvering the spear on his back as to not hit anything on his way out.

Marcus would look down and then down he would go. His fingers would grip at each crack and every ledge as he would seek to make his way down the side of the building. Strength was speed in a sense that he never wasn't particularly slowed down by what he was wearing. The superhumanly strong grip he had would work in favor of his entire bomb. Small cracks were apt to form on that stone which he did grip with metal clad fingers -- trying to a maintain a delicate balance between supporting his body and not crushing the stone outright. Though he was heavier and ever so slightly less flexible, he desired no fancy maneuvers. With one leg and one foot at a time, he'd make his way down the building.

Once in an alley, he'd look towards where most of the creature were gathering and then proceed in the opposite direction for a brief moment.

Taking his chances in another street, he would seek to make his way to the orb -- forsaking the wounded leader. His spear was unslung from his back, clutched tightly in his grip. And his other hand -- he drew his Fae-forged Gladius. He ran forward seeking a way towards the orb and keeping his eyes and ears peeled for anything which might attack him. No -- not might. Will. His mind prepared his body for the likely outcome that something WILL attack him as he sought to make his way.

His hand choked on his spear to orient it for closer range. And the sword was reversed in his hand for balance. Rapidly beating heart and adrenaline fueled his every step.

---

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 3/3

HP: 6/6 (A Grade Vitality)
Armor: 5/5 (B Grade Heavy)

1. Olympian Ascent - Climbing F, Energized F, Jumping F, Superstrength F, Athletics F- Movement skill. Marcus climbs a wall with superhuman strength and moves up or down it. Marcus can reach a height of over eight feet and a distance of up to twenty five feet, before scaling the wall. With superhuman strength, Marcus can grip most surfaces, climb with one hand and carry heavy objects as he goes up. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown

2 and 3. Movement - Runs out of next area, seeking to evade the swarm and make way towards the orb.

Cooldowns:
Marcus
F - 0 Post Remaining
E - 0 Post Remaining
D- 1 Post Remaining
C- 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
Resilient Surprise F
Duration Reduction F

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

Slipping out the window, Marcus descended the building’s rough exterior with careful precision, each metal-clad finger digging into brittle stone. Thin cracks forked away from his hands, and loose debris tumbled noiselessly into the alley below. Once his boots touched the ground, he paused long enough to take in the chorus of shrieks echoing off the decrepit walls—a discordant, unsettling din that sounded as if the entire city had stirred awake.

In the narrow alley, the darkness felt more suffocating. Above, the ruined rooftops formed a jagged skyline against the gloom. The masked leader’s rasping cry had receded, lost in the roar of lesser abominations scattered across Illyros’s streets. The fiery orb continued to beckon, its pulsating glow now resonating in time with the creatures’ chittering, as though commanding them by some sinister rhythm.

With spear in hand and gladius at the ready, Marcus sprinted onto a deserted side street. Here, the wreckage of old market stalls and carts lay overturned, long since picked clean by scavengers. Tattered awnings dripped with decades of rot, clinging to wooden beams like shredded sails. Even the simplest shapes—broken pottery, ragged burlap sacks—took on ominous outlines in the flickering half-light cast by the orb’s eerie illumination.

At first, it seemed Marcus might slip past the bulk of the swarm unnoticed. He weaved through abandoned thoroughfares, always keeping the orb’s glow in sight, navigating by the rotted signposts and cracked marble pillars that once heralded Illyros’s grandeur. But the creatures were not far behind—one wrong turn, one ill-timed sprint, and their shrieks would close in at once.

Just when the orb’s light seemed closer—one more street, perhaps two—an ear-splitting chitter froze Marcus in his tracks. Out from a collapsed archway sprang two of the pale abominations, their elongated limbs ending in vicious, curved claws. Their bodies bore scraps of twisted metal grafted to flesh, remnants of some hideous experiment. They moved low to the ground, sinuous and unsettlingly fast, hissing at Marcus with predatory eagerness.

A third creature emerged atop a half-crumbling column, towering above them on spindly legs. Its gaze flickered between Marcus’s drawn weapons, perhaps recognizing the danger. The beast’s head jerked to one side, issuing a harsh, clicking command, and the other two sprang forward like coiled vipers.

1. The first abomination lunged in a flurry of limbs, slashing out with razor-like claws aimed at Marcus’s midsection—aiming to test his defenses.
2. The second abomination tried to circle around, anticipating a dodge or retreat, hoping to catch Marcus off-balance from behind. (10ft from Marcus)
3. The one perched atop the column remained still, as though coordinating the assault. Its metal appendages clanked against the stone, droplets of milky fluid dripping from its maw. (20ft from Marcus, elevated above street level)

The street ahead lay open, the orb’s glow tantalizingly near, yet blocked by these three monstrosities. If Marcus chose to barrel through, he’d need to risk their swift counterattacks. If he paused to dispatch them, he might lose precious momentum—or attract even more of their kin to his location.

Outside, the city quivered with malicious intent. Every second of hesitation was an opening for Illyros’s lurking horrors. Yet beyond this ambush, the ultimate prize—the orb’s strange light—flared brighter still, sending new ripples of crimson and green across the fallen city. Something awaited Marcus there, something that burned with unnatural power.

 

[Maverick Six]

Marcus Banecroft
Interaction: Maxxob
Titles: Human (Mundane), Hospitaller, Eastern Empire Military E, Abomination Fighter, Rico's Roughneck, Peacekeeper
Language Key: | "Common" | "[Terran]" |

Illyros​

---

Looming Dread

Clack clack clack

The armored warrior ran through the streets of the Illyros with his eyes on the objective. Each weapon held each hands like the gaping maws of a large beast -- ready to sink it's fangs into what it perceived as a threat. It seemed almost like a commanding entity of some type, speculating that it's destruction might send their forces into disarray. In his mind, hours of fighting would remain.

As he ran, his eyes wandered and lingered. Thoughts at the forefront of his mind were of danger as he scanned the area for dancing shadows revealed by his torch. These things were bound to be near-by in some number. Much of the swarm behind grew more distant -- but their scattered forces were all around.

And yet...

The dilapidated streets held mysteries within it. Within him was pain. The pain of seeing a place in his country be so ruined. It was like a nightmare. He'd seen Rotia -- bleak and depressing rather than sitting at the height of glory that his great country was known for. First the Fae. Then the Bugs. Whispers of those who'd seek to burn his country. And now this. It seemed as though he was forever surrounded by adversaries at seeking to keep nightmares at bay. Yet here it persisted.....

I refuse to see this place become like that hellscape. I will bathe in as many nightmares as it takes.

Thoughts bubbled in his mind reinforcing every step he took to that orb -- yet lingering too far in his sub-conscious as to distract him from what was before him.

Like lightning, his eyes caught sight of movement towards his person. They showed no signs of fear and neither did he. The abominations came at him from multiple sides and he expected nothing less. Their mangled forms made for but another upon the list of horrors that Marcus had faced, though of more mechanical variety. Yet they posed a threat -- such a threat that Marcus had come to one conclusion.

They'll likely damage me here.

The question on his mind was simply how much. He'd know soon enough. Without delay, Marcus began to his plan.

ZZZZZZT

Electricity started to dance along the surface of his armor. Rather than raising up his weapon at first, he twisted his hips and lined up his shoulder to send the claws sliding off his armor. All the while, the cackling electricity along his armor grew in intensity until --

KRAKOOM

It was as thought a lightning strike had gone off right in front of the creature. An explosion of ionized air would rush out from Marcus' form, threatening to both electrify what was near him and forcing them to contest with his strength -- as the rush of lightning was quite literally braced against his body. To be shoved by the explosion. [Assault Armor]

And what worse was what came next.

The sparks continued to cackle and now his sword took upon itself a much fainter glow than spear. Yet it was not flame which had surrounded his Gladius -- but electricity. Lightning. wrapped around the blade, it took form. And with a swift swipe, his head -- he whipped the lightning blade around himself. With it, he sought tdeflect incoming attacks aside with a combination sword play and sparks with a radius of 5 feet. [Intercept]

While the one who immediately attacked him was apt to feel the most of this, given the short radius -- he chose mere defense on all sides versus anything guaranteed to hit everyone. Ultimately, they were obstacles he would seek to bypass. As his attacks were launched, he'd wish to launch himself into the air and clear the creature's heads, his armored form seeking to launch itself over their heads and off into the distance. [Bound]

Worse for wear or not -- he did not wish for these things to stop him from where he sought to go.

---

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 3/3

HP: 6/6 (A Grade Vitality)
Armor: 5/5 (B Grade Heavy)

1. Assault Armor - Athletics E, Super Strength F, Telekinesis [Lightning] F (E), Energize E - Marcus channels lightning into his armor as he takes a firm stance. Lightning shoots from his armor in all directions for a 5 foot radius, seeking to loudly and violently defend against anything which approaches him. - Grade E - 1 Post Cooldown (VIT A + HVY ARM B + ABY E = 13 + 1 Combo = 14)

2. Intercept - Fighting Style: Skirmishing Sword F, Deflect F, Perception F, Energized F, Athletics F, Deflect F, Super Strength F, Telekinesis [Lightning] F - A defensive skill devised from blocking arrow after arrow and spell after spell. User skillfully and flexibly maneuvers the sword to meet whatever comes one's way. Be it arrows, spells, or even explosions. Sufficient strength develops a powerful wind, which further aids in protection. Generates a 5 foot AOE. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown (VIT C + WPN D + ABY F = 8) (+1 Action 1)

3. Bound - Jumping F, Energized F, Superstrength F - Marcus jumps, easily launching his fully armored form over 8 feet in the air and often 20 feet away. Can be performed in quick succession. At max -- it can travel up to 25 feet away. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown [8 FT 4 IN + 20 FT]

Cooldowns:
Marcus
F - 0 Post Remaining
E - 0 Post Remaining
D- 0 Post Remaining
C- 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
Resilient Surprise F
Duration Reduction F

 

[Maxxob]

Maverick Six | Marcus

Looming Dread - Resident Evil 2 Remake

CRACK-BOOM!
The streets of Illyros came alive with a violent burst of electricity as arcs of lightning exploded outward from Marcus’s armor. Shards of loose stone and debris rattled in the concussive wave. The first abomination—already mid-lunge—took the brunt of the shock, its twisted claws skittering off Marcus’s charged plating. With a shrill, metallic shriek, the creature was hurled backward, limbs momentarily flailing in the surge of electric force before it hit the ground with a jarring thud.

Simultaneously, Marcus’s gladius sparked to life, threads of lightning dancing along the blade as he whipped it in a tight, circular arc. The second abomination lunging from behind found its attack intercepted by a flurry of blade and static discharge. Sparks raked across its pale flesh, leaving smoldering streaks against metal grafts and bound sinew. Though it managed to avoid a direct, killing blow, the shocking deterrent forced it to stagger away, hissing in frustration and pain.

High on the crumbling column, the third abomination clicked and shrieked in agitation. It watched its fellow horrors recoil under Marcus’s storm of lightning, bandaged body parts twitching as if preparing to leap down and join the fray. For a tense heartbeat, the creature locked eyes with Marcus, its masklike face contorting in silent fury.

Sensing his opening, Marcus bent his knees, coiling the immense strength in his legs. The scorching smell of ozone still clung to the air as he leapt, clearing the heads of the reeling abominations in a single bound. His boots slammed onto the debris-littered pavement beyond them with a clang, the impact sending small puffs of dust swirling at his feet.

Behind him, the first two monsters recovered from the electric onslaught, their eerie chittering resuming—more furious than ever. They scrambled to give chase, while the third abomination tensed atop its perch, readying to hunt from above. But in that split second of chaos, Marcus had gained precious ground.

The road forward narrowed sharply, as if funneling anyone who dared enter straight toward the glowing orb that now dominated the view. The oppressive crimson-green light painted the broken arches and fallen statues with a sickly radiance. At this distance, Marcus could see more details:

• The orb looked like a floating crystal sphere the size of a man’s torso, pulsing at its core with swirling energies.
• Around it, rubble had been deliberately cleared, forming a makeshift courtyard in the city’s ruins.
• Jagged construct scraps littered the area, rusted cogs and twisted metal rods lying in heaps, hinting at past experiments or ongoing attempts to create more of these abominations.

From somewhere deeper in the ruins, an ominous thrum resonated, shaking loose dust from overhead beams. The chittering hordes began to converge, drawn by the tumult of battle and the orb’s beckoning influence. Abominations of various shapes and sizes lurked in half-collapsed doorways, clung to battered columns, and skittered across rooftops.

Marcus stood momentarily unopposed in this corridor of fallen structures, but time was short—he could practically feel the swarm closing in behind him. Press onward and confront whatever guarded the orb? Or seize the chance to find some flanking route or hidden approach?

Choices Before Marcus​

1. Make a Direct Charge
   • Sprint for the orb. Marcus may have time for a decisive strike before the swarm fully surrounds him, though he risks facing the orb’s unknown defenses alone.
2. Look for a Flank or Stealthy Path
   • Scan the nearby buildings or alleyways for a potential route to approach the orb from the side. This could mitigate being overwhelmed, but it gives the abominations time to regroup.
3. Prepare a Defensive Stand
   • Fortify a position briefly—topple debris to block pursuit, ready another lightning surge—and thin out the nearest abominations. It buys stability but also costs precious minutes.

A faint wind whistled through the vacant windows, carrying the coppery smell of blood and the echo of distant screeches. Whatever lay at the center of Illyros’s corruption was near. Marcus’s adrenaline surged, pushing him onward. One thing was certain: the final confrontation would be upon him very soon.