Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

I Reeeaallly Hope not River Jess muttered as she mentioned their mutual problem, the elevator shaft smashed open by something, or melted... or both, it was hard to tell amidst the metal shards and the rust, before they found themselves in what could only be called an oppressively warm elevator shaft, completely overgrown with whatever had taken control of this building.

The heat and humidity could only be called Tropical and that was being generous, but at least it was dark, apart from the one thick tube or vein running straight up and diffusing into the floor. It was... Odd, but only dimly lit, and had some kind of thick fluid running through it.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Well, great. Elevator shaft I can do, demonic intestine... I dunno. Guess we'll see, unless you want to try the stairs." River said, grabbing at the fleshy side of the shaft and attempting to climb it, giving herself claws to help her grip if she needed to, hands and feet.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River found that modifications like claws came quite easily, as she had suspected, and climbing the flesh of the elevater shaft was simply, though her contact to it made it shudder and what she strongly suspected was blood began to leak from the places where her hands and feet found purchase.

Nevertheless, climbing was possible, and if she was careful, could be done quickly, Jessica using a similar tactic sans the claws to get up, simply tearing herself higher as she spoke Don't Care, wanna Leave, and that's assuming the stairs even still exist!

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Fair enough!" River answered back, pushing herself off and jumping to the other side of the shaft, digging into the wall when she landed, ichor leaking over her claws as she started to climb again, making better time now that she had found a route with better purchase. "Just saying we shouldn't lay about, is all."

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Jessica nodded in agreement and took the same route River was, about 2 seconds behind her as she moved. They were actually starting to make great time, passing the 28th floor, before an enraged scream from an obvious source was followed by a shower of rebar smashing through the wall like a hail of spears, Jessica dropping several feet while River was forced to bound to another wall, the flesh rippling and bleeding profusely now just below her, Jessica using the rebar to launch herself farther up.

23 Floors to go! Move your Ass! Jessica shouted as she started to scramble up the shaft at her full, and admittedly impressive speed. About 5 floors up, they found the melted wreckage of the elevator, Jessica already starting to savagely smash through it, not wanting to deal with their hunter at all...

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Shit!" River cussed out as she rolled sideways along the wall to avoid the rebar projectiles, having to shove off and catch herself on one of the side walls relative to her old position, and a few feet down.

She scrambled faster, spotting Jess already tearing through the bottom of the overgrown elevator. "Fuck it. Jess!" She called out, climbing up far enough to get a close hole on the woman. "Close your eyes, hold your breath, and try not to think." She told the woman, waiting a second or two for confirmation before dragging them both into the oddly dead realm of shadows.

She wasted no time, holding the vampire close and wrapping her arms around her head as she pushed her senses upwards, finding the closest patch of shadow to the roof large enough for the pair and dumping them into it, immediately checking on her companion.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Jess looked at River confused for a moment, before they slid into the shadows, the world around them now dark, and alarmingly to River, full of life, the voices of hell now screaming at her, shouting out their pain and torment in sickening waves, the faces of the damned flashing before her eyes before she unceremoniously dumped them On the roof, underneath an air conditioning vent.

Immediately to their right, they could see the glowing blue point in the air that marked their way home, and while River recovered from the most severe case of Vertigo she'd ever had in her life, Jessica seized her, and threw them both through... Just in time to see the face of the Demon, inches behind them... before Hell faded, and they both woke up on the floor, Hervo smoking a cigarette in front of them as he sat in a chair, his arm bleeding onto the floor.

Congratulations on being alive. You pass. He said quietly, before Jessica glared at him. Your Old Jailer there Asshole! She said, venom dripping in her voice as she stood, shaking with rage. And you're alive, and against a mage no less, and one that doesn't play by the usual rules, I have no control over that, and cannot pull you out until you hit the exit point. It's Hell, not a Game. Hervo answered, taking another long drag before crushing the smoke out on the floor.

You're both excused for the day, we'll debrief tomorrow morning, get some rest. He said, seeming tired and more then a little drained.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Where she expected the silence of the pervading shadows in the rest of Hell, River instead found her haven blindingly loud with voices screaming in pain and torment. She dumped them out of it as fast as she could, dazed and disoriented as they landed on the roof, going into a short roll more by instinct and reflex than anything else. She caught sight of their exit and pursuer at almost the same time, Jessica grabbing the black loop her hair was bound in and hauling them both to safety before River had properly recovered.

Another sense of vertigo, and she was back in the right tower, seeing Hervo in a chair in front of her as the pair collected themselves, River's darkness quickly receding, though the light in the room was easily bearable. "Seriously?" She added after Jess had said her piece. "That was about as much training as if the military said 'Here's your rifle, welcome to Afganistan.' Did I do something to piss you off and nobody told me, man?" She said as she stood, standing and rounding on the man with a scowl on her face.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Hervo looked up at River, raising his eyebrow. What did you expect? A mage can change reality around you, you need to be able to adapt, and fast. More to the point, I did not know he would be there. Ferenze is a demon of desire and chaos. There is no way to predict or scry for him, at all. As for the training, it's the fastest way, and we don't have time to drill, you need to learn, Now. He said calmly.

I survived there for 4 years, you survived for 2 hours. Both are an accomplishment, short of Ferenze, there was nothing there you couldn't handle and I knew it. As for Ferenze, you're not dead, and that's all that matters, because then I'd have to come in there and save you, and I'm not much in the mood for a reunion.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"So what I'm hearing is 'Yes, it wasn't really training'. Great." River said, rolling her eyes before shrugging. "Well, guess we'll see you tomorrow then." She said, looking at Jess and nodding for the door, taking the elevator to the gym level and glancing at a clock.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

We learn fastest on the battlefield. Hervo answered as River and Jessica walked out, leaving him to bind his own wounds and with the tale of Ferenze still a major mystery. Regardless, as soon as they were in the elevator, Jessica shuddered and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. That man scares me sometimes, I do not understand him at all, and not for lack of trying. She said, finally trying to unwind as River keyed in the elevator.

As they rode up to Gym floor, Jessica seemed a little confused. Why the Gym? I can only think of a nap after all that shit! Are you one of those crazies that works off stress? Must be to scramble along those buildings like you do... And as for Hervo... I am SO kicking his ass next time. But what about you? That place you took us, where the fuck was that? All I can remember was the screaming, and then we were on the roof...

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Not even going to try arguing that with you." River replied simply as they left, answering Jess once the elevator was in motion. "Dunno." She said in regards to her comment on Hervo.

"Yeah, gotta sweat it out. That place... I'm not entirely sure, but it's where I jump to when I teleport around. It wasn't like that when I tried it before. All the other shadows in the place felt so dead, I wasn't expecting it to be like that when we used it." She explained, shrugging. "You can head to bed if you want, I don't plan on leaving the tower or anything." River offered, stepping out when the doors opened. Not wasting any time, she immediately set off for the track ring, setting a fast but manageable pace around the circular tack as she set her sights on what she wanted to use next.

She did two full laps before one of the heavy punching bags opened up in the somewhat crowded place, the woman slowing to a jog as she approached and stopping in front of it, checking the light in the room before winding up and starting. With the light in the room, her punches weren't very impressive, but she didn't much care, dancing around the bag lightly as she kept up a steady stream of attacks, trying to wear herself out. She didn't want to set herself apart like that in front of the people in the area anyways, whether they knew or not. Come to think of it, she had access here before the big debrief, so chances are there were plenty people here that didn't have a clue about all the crazy stuff going on under their feet. A stray thought passed her mind that she kind of envied those people their ignorance, now.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Jess nodded, and just kept up behind her, taking a seat on one of the benches and watching This time orders are orders. she said simply, watching as River literally set about wearing herself out for the day.

River was most likely right, that most of the people here were indeed ignorant of what was going on in this place, for real, but she was what she was now, and there was no changing that one. As for everything else, or the trapped.... Things in her shadow realm in hell, she couldn't shake the thought of their faces, or the screaming, it haunted her around the track, and echoed into her mind as she pounded on the bag, refusing to leave her alone, something striking her as violently wrong about what she had seen there.

As her fist impacted the bag again, she felt more then saw the people moving around her, the shadows here so much more alive and comforting then those in hell, then those dead, broken things... River was shaken, badly, and it didn't put her in a better mood for any more of Hervo's training. Whatever gains she was going to get, she was certain now that they'd be hard won, and Hervo had shown he had no problems with very real danger in his methods, though she doubted they'd be taking another trip to hell anytime soon. If anything, it had been a wake up call to the kind of power some things could wield, and how dangerous the real situation was.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River worked out the stress for the day, images of the demons she had seen filling her mind as she attacked the punching bag, picturing how they moved and dancing around the bag in tandem, trying to ignore the memory of screams in her mind as sweat started dripping down, mixing in knees and kicks every so often.

Eventually she stopped, leaning on the weight bag a minute before moving off, letting someone else take her place. Grabbing a bottle of water from one of the ice pits around, she parked herself beside Jess, breathing heavily.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Jess chuckled and River continued to pound away at the bag, until she'd burnt herself out, soon snagging a bottle of water and plopping down next to the vampire in plain sight. Smiling at her, Jess patted her on the back. We've got a friend from the holding pens coming to join us for tomorrows session, which should blessedly be shorter. But hey, at least you know he's an expert. Apparently Hervo thinks it would be a good idea considering how you can port around. It's alot like what he does when he jumps, our foxy warden, still, from what Hervo is saying, the entire thing should only take about an hour apparently, and Vorlan would rather be training with us then on patrol, says Chuck is taking his route. Jess said, holding up her phone.

Still, we've got a good chunk of the day to kill still, anything you'd like to do?

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

“Rather be training with us, eh? I dunno if he‘s just interested in seeing you again after, or getting to watch the main attraction all over again.“ Riverr answered wryly, taking a long draw from the water bottle before continuing. “As for what to do...“ She paused, glancing around the room. “I dont care what Hervo thinks, drilling is how I learn. Can we figure out some way to do that, with what we saw today?“

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

I'm sure we could, it's just a question of finding some place to do it, not even the holding cells can handle you without the lights on River, Though there are other basement levels and places in the city we could go. What did you want to practice? Jess asked, looking a little curious and pointedly ignoring the barb about a certain lover that had her blushing a little anyway.

Also... There's the option... Of asking if the Mages could give you a room... In exchange for a little observation, could backfire but with Chuck and Vorlan around if you did, it would amount to next to nothing if they decided to cross us. Soo.... Fuck, there's the sewers as well, from what I saw in there, when you weren't shredding things that we could easily handle, you could hide and play cat and mouse like nothing I've ever seen, not even Vorlan and Hervo can hide as completely as you can. I've never seen something like that before, not even a mage can pull of that trick easily, although a Telekine could I suppose. Up to you, you lead, I follow.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

“I don‘t need to practice with everything, I‘m sure we‘d be fine with any closed room. And gods, I have no clue. Still kind of reeling. There was so much we saw in there, and the default was just running. May have worked then, but i need to know where I stand when running isn‘t an option, ya know?“ River explained, slouching a bit.

“Could try and check the archives again. Maybe. Could figure something to drill that way. Pretty much everything you said was just more running, and doesn‘t need any improvement, either.“

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Well, I mean, we do a lot of running, but would you really consider yourself all that suited to open combat River? From what I've seen I'm not sure exactly how much abuse you could take before it killed you, and caught out in the light you're just like anyone else... Still, we could try a few things I suppose, but I have no idea how your power works, so the archives are probably a better plan... so.. Shall we? Jess said slowly, looking a little confused at what River was after, but going along with it anyway as she stood.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

“i know how to handle myself in a fight. A normal fight, anyways. All this stuff though... i‘m a little fish, no idea what i‘m up against. No guage, no way to tell if i should run, or fight, or talk.“ River said softly, standing and following Jess to the elevator. “i don‘t want open combat, but i need to know what i can handle if it comes to it.“