X-COM/XSDF RP THINK TANK (part3)
- Thread starter DarkGemini24601
- Start date
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
We'll see about that, but no one is talking about this any more tonight. Everyone, leave it alone. I still haven't written the mission yet (FFS) anyway.
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
For those that care, My Legacy of Cassia striker story will dip into fantasy. Because I figured why the hell not.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Have a "WHY?! Boner" post.
Ryson closed his eyes, taking in the sounds of the beasts of the forest, letting himself go and become part of it, to feel the breathing of the monster that stalked him only a few meters back, the line of ants traveling up the tree to his left, of his master’s own dark presence miles away.
Over his year in training, Ryson had mastered the technique of immersion, to allow himself to disconnect from his body and let only instinct take control of him, to nearly completely relinquish himself to the Force.
It was now he stood in a wide open clearing in the jungles of Yavin 4, a bare chested 18 year old, wearing a loose pair of black training pants, his hair tied back so that it would not fall into his face, having grown from the long time of it going without cut. He let his power move throughout his body like the very blood coursing through his veins, not allowing it to grow stagnate.
The beast’s heart rate quickened, a sign of the fight to come. There would be no lightsaber, there would be no mind tricks or premonitions of the future, just him and his own power, and the animal that came to kill him. Man versus beast.
The Howler let out a deafening shriek, an attempt to try and faze the warrior but not prevailing, his willpower too much for a simple trick to stun him before he could react. Thinking it had the advantage, the beast foolishly rushed forward, switching from traversing on four limbs to a bipedal mode, claws extended.
The Sith warrior simply moved to the right, avoiding the strike and responding in kind with his own attack, sending a precise set of strikes to the beast’s sides, lightning crackling from his fists, the beast falling over, unable to move as he had rendered the Howler immobile.
Ryson approached the beast, looking down at it with indefinite contempt, emotionless eyes staring at the creature as if he was death itself come to collect his reaping. Another high pitched scream was let out in an attempt to faze the warrior but to no avail, Ryson ending it’s screams with a boot to it’s long, reptilian neck. His face contorted in annoyance at the fact the creature still held on to its life, Ryson attempting again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
By the time he was done, the neck was separated from the body and his boot was stained from the creature’s blood as he looked down with dead, emotionless eyes. The eyes of someone not aware of his own brutality, and of the grizzly scene that lay before him. He had ended the creature's life, and it had become one with the Force. It’s death served to add more power to Ryson, to make him stronger… for there was no other goal.
“You are no longer the son I raised.” A voice spoke to Ryson, a shadowy form appearing behind him, the withered face of Nevalin staring at Ryson with nothing but disappointment.
“I was never your son… just as you were never my father.” He said, looking up at the sky as an electrical storm fast approached.
“If you truly believe that in your heart then you truly are lost.” Nevalin said, his tone of voice being of sadness, though in the end it was the tone of disappointment that overshadowed it.
“I am Ryson Orrak… and I have become stronger than you could ever hope to be, old man.” Ryson spoke, with a matter of factness that added a sinister ice to his voice.
“You are no Orrak. You have abandoned the Jedi, you have abandoned your sister… you have abandoned yourself!” The Jedi yelled.
“Who are you to judge me? I have committed no sins… and the echoes of the dead do not affect me.” Ryson spoke calmly.
Nevalin’s spirit was silent, watching Ryson as if he was watching a whole new person. “What will you do when you face her?”
“It is obvious.” Ryson said.
“You would commit a heinous deed… against one who loved you… against one of your own kin… you sicken me!” The Jedi spat at the Sith, his face contorting in pain as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“I feel her… even from so far away… I feel what she has become.” He stated to no one but himself.
“And you will kill her? You will just throw the bond you two shared away as if it had been nothing. Listen to yourself boy!" There was silence for a time. "You will not harm her… there is still some form of humanity in you.” Nevalin said to assure himself more than the man in front of him.
“There is nothing left but anger and the desire for power. There is no room for love… or family… if my sister chooses to walk in the light, then she shall die as any other Jedi would. Just as you died… a coward…”
“No… you are the true coward, Ryson!” Nevalin yelled as he clenched his fists in anger. “Listen to yourself for a minute, you are not yourself!”
The Sith shook his head, refusing to turn around and acknowledge the spirit as real. “You are right about one thing… Ryson is dead… he died a year ago because he is weak.”
“And what of the woman you love?” Nevalin asked in a low tone.
“She will fall with the rest.”
“Did you ever love her!”
Ryson was silent, the storm fast approaching and almost overhead now. “Why… why do you seek to blame me? This is your doing… all your fault… you started me on this journey… all I have to ask is why?”
“I had hoped you would see your true path… but I was a fool. You are not strong…” Nevalin told the man.
“...shut up…”
“You were never fit to be a Jedi…”
“Shut up…”
“You were never fit to be a brother!”
“Shut up!”
“You are not my son!”
“I said shut up!” Ryson clasped his head, shaking his head as tears streamed to the ground, the man rising into suspension as the air around him condensed and the ground shook, cracks forming beneath him and the soil being pushed down as if a massive sphere was pushing downwards, a dark red glow surrounding Ryson, though his eyes glowed with a yellow light, one that seemed pure and pushed away the darkness creeping all around him.
“You are nothing but a coward!”
“RAGHHHHH!” Lightning flashed down and struck Ryson, causing him to explode outward in a burst of raw Force power, the shockwave spreading out for an unimaginably large distance in all directions of him, the forest being flattened as anything near him was ripped to ashes, the spirit of Nevalin vanishing in the wind as Ryson fell to his knees, the dark red glow from his eyes receding as Force Lightning crackled along his body, the teen breathing heavily as rain started to slowly pour down, a few droplets striking his back and rolling down the toned body, more raindrops following in its place as the rain came down hard, the man collapsing into the mud of the massive crater he laid in the center of, ash falling down along with the rain and collecting in the mud, the teen not being able to move as he let out another sound, though unlike the mighty roar from before, this one was softer, Ryson’s sobs seeming to be lost in the patter of the storm.
Over his year in training, Ryson had mastered the technique of immersion, to allow himself to disconnect from his body and let only instinct take control of him, to nearly completely relinquish himself to the Force.
It was now he stood in a wide open clearing in the jungles of Yavin 4, a bare chested 18 year old, wearing a loose pair of black training pants, his hair tied back so that it would not fall into his face, having grown from the long time of it going without cut. He let his power move throughout his body like the very blood coursing through his veins, not allowing it to grow stagnate.
The beast’s heart rate quickened, a sign of the fight to come. There would be no lightsaber, there would be no mind tricks or premonitions of the future, just him and his own power, and the animal that came to kill him. Man versus beast.
The Howler let out a deafening shriek, an attempt to try and faze the warrior but not prevailing, his willpower too much for a simple trick to stun him before he could react. Thinking it had the advantage, the beast foolishly rushed forward, switching from traversing on four limbs to a bipedal mode, claws extended.
The Sith warrior simply moved to the right, avoiding the strike and responding in kind with his own attack, sending a precise set of strikes to the beast’s sides, lightning crackling from his fists, the beast falling over, unable to move as he had rendered the Howler immobile.
Ryson approached the beast, looking down at it with indefinite contempt, emotionless eyes staring at the creature as if he was death itself come to collect his reaping. Another high pitched scream was let out in an attempt to faze the warrior but to no avail, Ryson ending it’s screams with a boot to it’s long, reptilian neck. His face contorted in annoyance at the fact the creature still held on to its life, Ryson attempting again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
By the time he was done, the neck was separated from the body and his boot was stained from the creature’s blood as he looked down with dead, emotionless eyes. The eyes of someone not aware of his own brutality, and of the grizzly scene that lay before him. He had ended the creature's life, and it had become one with the Force. It’s death served to add more power to Ryson, to make him stronger… for there was no other goal.
“You are no longer the son I raised.” A voice spoke to Ryson, a shadowy form appearing behind him, the withered face of Nevalin staring at Ryson with nothing but disappointment.
“I was never your son… just as you were never my father.” He said, looking up at the sky as an electrical storm fast approached.
“If you truly believe that in your heart then you truly are lost.” Nevalin said, his tone of voice being of sadness, though in the end it was the tone of disappointment that overshadowed it.
“I am Ryson Orrak… and I have become stronger than you could ever hope to be, old man.” Ryson spoke, with a matter of factness that added a sinister ice to his voice.
“You are no Orrak. You have abandoned the Jedi, you have abandoned your sister… you have abandoned yourself!” The Jedi yelled.
“Who are you to judge me? I have committed no sins… and the echoes of the dead do not affect me.” Ryson spoke calmly.
Nevalin’s spirit was silent, watching Ryson as if he was watching a whole new person. “What will you do when you face her?”
“It is obvious.” Ryson said.
“You would commit a heinous deed… against one who loved you… against one of your own kin… you sicken me!” The Jedi spat at the Sith, his face contorting in pain as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“I feel her… even from so far away… I feel what she has become.” He stated to no one but himself.
“And you will kill her? You will just throw the bond you two shared away as if it had been nothing. Listen to yourself boy!" There was silence for a time. "You will not harm her… there is still some form of humanity in you.” Nevalin said to assure himself more than the man in front of him.
“There is nothing left but anger and the desire for power. There is no room for love… or family… if my sister chooses to walk in the light, then she shall die as any other Jedi would. Just as you died… a coward…”
“No… you are the true coward, Ryson!” Nevalin yelled as he clenched his fists in anger. “Listen to yourself for a minute, you are not yourself!”
The Sith shook his head, refusing to turn around and acknowledge the spirit as real. “You are right about one thing… Ryson is dead… he died a year ago because he is weak.”
“And what of the woman you love?” Nevalin asked in a low tone.
“She will fall with the rest.”
“Did you ever love her!”
Ryson was silent, the storm fast approaching and almost overhead now. “Why… why do you seek to blame me? This is your doing… all your fault… you started me on this journey… all I have to ask is why?”
“I had hoped you would see your true path… but I was a fool. You are not strong…” Nevalin told the man.
“...shut up…”
“You were never fit to be a Jedi…”
“Shut up…”
“You were never fit to be a brother!”
“Shut up!”
“You are not my son!”
“I said shut up!” Ryson clasped his head, shaking his head as tears streamed to the ground, the man rising into suspension as the air around him condensed and the ground shook, cracks forming beneath him and the soil being pushed down as if a massive sphere was pushing downwards, a dark red glow surrounding Ryson, though his eyes glowed with a yellow light, one that seemed pure and pushed away the darkness creeping all around him.
“You are nothing but a coward!”
“RAGHHHHH!” Lightning flashed down and struck Ryson, causing him to explode outward in a burst of raw Force power, the shockwave spreading out for an unimaginably large distance in all directions of him, the forest being flattened as anything near him was ripped to ashes, the spirit of Nevalin vanishing in the wind as Ryson fell to his knees, the dark red glow from his eyes receding as Force Lightning crackled along his body, the teen breathing heavily as rain started to slowly pour down, a few droplets striking his back and rolling down the toned body, more raindrops following in its place as the rain came down hard, the man collapsing into the mud of the massive crater he laid in the center of, ash falling down along with the rain and collecting in the mud, the teen not being able to move as he let out another sound, though unlike the mighty roar from before, this one was softer, Ryson’s sobs seeming to be lost in the patter of the storm.
Just noticed my latest post for three friendly ratings, despite it having talk of deadly paralysis grenades and a woman ripping someone's stomach out with her bare hands. Gem 'Why Boner' indeed.
Incidentally, whenever I wrote Manipulator's dialogue, I imagined him having Wallace Shawn's voice, hence some of what he said coming from a favorite movie of mine. I think it fits his personality.
As for Berserker, let's go with Laura Bailey doing her Cloud of Darkness voice.
Skip to 1:37, then 4:12.
As for me today, I'll help out with post that collab yesterday when I get home. Other then that, we are very short staffed today, so expect me to be too busy to do anything at work. Took me an hour just to write this short message.
Incidentally, whenever I wrote Manipulator's dialogue, I imagined him having Wallace Shawn's voice, hence some of what he said coming from a favorite movie of mine. I think it fits his personality.
As for Berserker, let's go with Laura Bailey doing her Cloud of Darkness voice.
Skip to 1:37, then 4:12.
As for me today, I'll help out with post that collab yesterday when I get home. Other then that, we are very short staffed today, so expect me to be too busy to do anything at work. Took me an hour just to write this short message.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Oh, by the way, guys? Consider Gisherno and Brycart permanently MIA. They've been gone for long enough that I'm not confident they'll return. If they do and don't disappear without a word again, I'd welcome them back, but I'm not playing that game any longer with new recruits. If we outright tell them they can't disappear without warning, and they do, it's completely fair to wave off their involvement. 
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
I was going to come here to discuss how hopeless I felt, stacked up with homework and numerous other frustrations, but it only took one look at what taking my anger out on your guys had caused. I'm not going to say that I hate myself, or that everything is my fault. That's not what I have to say.
I just want to say that for all the times that I've blocked someone someone has wanted to do with a character, all the times I've yelled at someone for doing something I haven't liked or agree with, for all the times that I've been ignorant of what others have gone through and treated them poorly or spurned their attempts to help me, for all the times I've let my ego get the better of me, I'm sorry. That's all.
I just want to say that for all the times that I've blocked someone someone has wanted to do with a character, all the times I've yelled at someone for doing something I haven't liked or agree with, for all the times that I've been ignorant of what others have gone through and treated them poorly or spurned their attempts to help me, for all the times I've let my ego get the better of me, I'm sorry. That's all.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
I'd step down from my position as GM entirely if I didn't think I was going to torpedo the story. I've put in a lot of time into the lore and I feel like I understand it better than anyone save for Zombie, but that is no excuse for all the mistakes... I can't even call them that... all the horrible things I've done in this position. So I'm going to step back from the position I had been taking, one that was increasingly authoritarian.
What do you guys want from the story? What should I change that would make it more enjoyable for you? I was trying to hard to be a director when it's my job to make this enjoyable for you guys, not for myself. So it's time I changed that. I am your servant, not the other way around. That's how it should have been, I suppose, even if it's hard for me to look at it that way. My enjoyment of the story is irrelevant paired up against the ten of you.
What do you guys want from the story? What should I change that would make it more enjoyable for you? I was trying to hard to be a director when it's my job to make this enjoyable for you guys, not for myself. So it's time I changed that. I am your servant, not the other way around. That's how it should have been, I suppose, even if it's hard for me to look at it that way. My enjoyment of the story is irrelevant paired up against the ten of you.
That isn't true, Gem. You are not our servant, you are our leader. And no one should think otherwise. There are just certain things that you take to heart to much, and that would make things easier for you if you just... didn't take them so personally.
And your enjoyment of the story is just as important for you as us. If you turn this into a job, it will kill you.
And honestly there isn't really anything in place that really hinders my fun of the story imo.
That's right. The story as a whole is just fine. It is just the occasional micro managing that becomes a bit of a problem.
Dahlexpert
Well-Known Member
OK let's get this straight, I personal think you did a great job as GM. Second this is not a job it something that you do for fun, treating this like a job on top of home work and the bull shit of life will make thing way more stressful for you.
So some life advice, just take things slow Dark there's no need to rush any thing. And don't get angry at little things.
Mangrale
Member
I should start by saying that you are doing great, though at this point I really don't want you to feel like I'm mounting the pressure on you by piling on the praise. Just know that we are all proud of you.
It is fantastic that you don't want your position to isolate you from us. But I think it's important that you also look out for what will make you happy with this rp. You are the driving force of this project after all. Plenty of projects have stopped, or at least stopped being enjoyable, because the heads had distanced themselves to the point of not caring anymore. (They're out there somewhere)
I'm not completely unaware of the things I've been allowed to get away with thus far. I recognize the need for me to tone it down for the future.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Nothing you've done has really conflicted with the lore or direction of the story so far. You've been surprisingly well-able to immerse yourself in the world without stepping on anyone's toes.
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
All I need from you Mangrale is to do that post we talked about. You know the one.
Narcisse and Lanore, the two mutilated Frenchies.
Mangrale
Member
That's really nice for you to say. But I know what I've done.
You got it boss!
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
By the way, I'm still going to try the mission for tomorrow, but it'll be tight. I'm getting up at 7 in the morning to hopefully take care of my homework by 1 central, around which we will start. At 3, I have an appointment with the therapist, so I'll probably set it up so the participants of the mission can fight the regular mooks while I'm away, and then I can help conclude the mission when I get back.
Participants include:
ZombieSplitter53 as Brigid O'Brien
MarineAvenger as Connor Karo
Anyone else that's able and willing to come along (up to 3 additional player characters)
Participants include:
ZombieSplitter53 as Brigid O'Brien
MarineAvenger as Connor Karo
Anyone else that's able and willing to come along (up to 3 additional player characters)
DarkGemini24601
Well-Known Member
Ayy... Marine, are we going to post Nick's birthday collab?