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Post by The First Inhabitant on Dec 15, 2012 22:36:20 GMT -6
The Inhabitants waited ever so patiently for the unconscious nations to stir. They were almost identical in shape, voice and form, so it would be impossible for the nations to distinguish them apart. That wasn't of importance though. The least thing the countries could be worrying about right now was whether they were in the presence of the First or the Second Inhabitant. Eventually, they grew impatient and with a wave of a skeletal hand, the so called immortals were plucked from the depths of unconsciousness. At this time, the Inhabitant slowly waited a few moments for the confusion to set in. The Inhabitants had in fact gone out and knocked the nations out before bringing them to this room, which they nicknamed 'The Gallows' for this very occasion. It was a plain, broadly sized space with no windows, furniture, or any source of weaponry. No, the nations were dragged in as they had been previously, meaning the only thing they had for combat was what they had on hand. Unfortunate for some, but incredibly in favour for others. Though, weapons wouldn't be the deciding factor in these games. “Awaken,” the Inhabitant boomed as the nations were sluggish to stir. It probably didn't help that they were bound by twine and had ragged gags stuffed in their mouths. The Inhabitant could detect the struggle, the possible panic that ailed them before the Death Reaper was certain that it had the nation's attention. The darkness hid the Dead Man from sight, but it's hollow, icy presence was enough to guide the country's eyes and ears in its general direction. “Congratulations...” the Inhabitant began, its voice chilled with venom, malice and the slightest touch of childish amusement. “You have been chosen to partake in a little game. Now I beseech you to listen well because I will not repeat myself nor will I answer questions,” explained the levitating skeleton. It did not wait for any signs of response, because it was more than aware of the gag that stopped the nations from human speech. “It is noteworthy that you have survived this long, but it is likely that your luck will end here. Again, you will participate in a delightful matchup of ours. The rules are simple, little nation. You must either kill, or be killed.” The Inhabitant paused simply for dramatic effect. On the other side of the room, the other nation would be receiving the same speech from the other Reaper. “There is a catch though. You will not be facing a monster...” the skeleton said softly, its face pulling into a hidden sneer. With a snap of its bony fingers, the rope that held the nations in check disappeared, as did the gag. “...You will be fighting another nation.”The words hung in the air as the Manor's Servant watched the individual move. It grinned wickedly, eager to continue pressing the grave news down the nation's throat. “There's more. Someone must die here. It is not negotiable. If you refuse to kill the other and they mirror your choice... well, look downward.”Below their feet, what seemed like solid floor was in fact a mere wire grating. Base the iron mesh were eyes. Yellow, red, white, but they all shared something in common. Hunger, thirst, desire. A low moaning sounded on cue from one of the vile creatures while another clawed anxiously at the grates that held it in check. The Inhabitant wasn't sure, but it swore it could feel a touch of anxiety from the 'immortal' that stood before it. The Inhabitant let the nation have a moment to process what it was implying before it finally continued, ignoring if it had actually said anything. “In case I was not clear, if neither of you will fight, you will be torn apart by these beasts. Don't think you can survive them either; there are more savage creatures below than you could possibly count, even in your extended lifetime. So I will emphasize one last time, kill or be killed. Good luck, England/Liechtenstein.” And with those parting words, both Inhabitants disappeared into the air as the light above flickered onto full power. Light blasted the darkness from every inch of the room, save for the cages below that grumbled and growled in response to the stimulus. Brown, stained wood-panels covered all four walls while the ceiling held what looked like a crystal chandelier that dangled a good 15 feet from the floor. Below, the creatures could be seen churned about as they stalked the shadows that the nations created. And now, let the games begin. ___________________________ (In case this was not clear, each nation received the exact same speech [there are two inhabitants]. Someone must die in this game; this is not an option. The posting order isEngland ---> Liechtenstein. You have 2[/u] weeks to make the starting post or we will assume you have no intentions of fighting, hence you will be killed off. This is to ensure people will not feign inactivity in order to not complete this event. After the first post, we expect you to post at least every two weeks UNLESS your posting partner will agree to wait longer. Good luck)
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Arthur Kirkland
Administrator
23.
Played by Hat.
Offline.
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Post by England on Dec 22, 2012 19:29:47 GMT -6
Arthur had surfaced from his magicked sanctuary when he was caught by surprise by some force that had left him unable to fight free. Becoming a captive to anything in this place did not sit well with the Englishman. He'd fought against the lull of blackness for as long as he could until it eventually drowned him. Finding his awareness again in this predicament was an unwelcome scenario. England had prided himself on eluding the forces of the Manor thus far; being dragged into this 'arena' left him feeling terribly vexed.
The death's head wraith that spoke to him when he came to didn't seem intent on harm, only on information. Or putting on a performance of dramatic measure. Once Arthur was freed of those bindings, he began to massage at his wrists, working circulation back in where those shackles had kept him trapped. From what he understood of the game it was all very straightforward. A battle, yes. Against another nation. His cunning and strength measured against an opponent in a fight for survival. Had these creatures never opened a history book? To England, this was as common as the spill of rain, once upon a time in his life.
Nothing the Inhabitant said shocked him. If anything, it only irritated the Englishman's temper that much more, until he was lift with a twitching eyebrow and a downturned purse to his frowning lips when the thing finally ceased its chattering. The only part of the dialogue that struck a chord with Arthur was when he heard the announcement concerning whom his opponent would be. As a neutral party, Liechstenstein had never done anything against him to earn Arthur's disrespect. In fact, in his experience, Lili had always been a pleasure to interact with.
He lifted a hand up when the lights flared on to their full vibrance, squinting away from that sudden jarring brightness. He'd been spending far too much time in the dark. This was like looking directly into the sun. Arthur squinted out around his surroundings to take measure of them. A strategist to his core, the Englishman already sought ways that he might defy this fate that had been determined for him by the words of the Inhabitant. Death below was a given, if they released the grating beneath his feet. And death here could be just as swift in the event that he couldn't sway Lili to seek some other method of determining their outcome.
Jade eyes swept around until he located the young woman. He reached to his hip to unclip his Magnum to bring that gun into his hand. Lili had a rifle on her person. Both of them were equally matched with long range weapons. Arthur leveled the barrel of his weapon at the girl with a grim face. There was no reason to kill her. No reason at all, except for his own survival in this place. And what, really, did that mean for him if he were still going to remain its prisoner? The lilt of his accent was gruff with his exasperation over being put in this predicament. "If you want to speak the terms of our battle before we fight, then approach, and we will agree to our terms in honourable combat. If you care nothing for honour, then take your shot. But I will warn you in advance, madame, that if you open fire I shall return those volleys in kind."
Arthur's other hand lifted, beckoning to her.
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Post by liechtenstein on Jan 7, 2013 0:40:46 GMT -6
Her mind was foggy and sluggish as she began to regain consciousness, body stiff and sore in the forced sitting position she was propped up in. She couldn't remember anything at first, and when she opened her eyes she couldn't see even two feet in front of her; the shroud of darkness enveloped her and the rest of her mysterious surroundings. The moment she realized she was tied up and gagged, a haunting voice began to speak, causing the hair on the back of her neck to raise in panic. She tried to free her hands, but it was to no avail, and the her petite figure began to tremble at the ominous chill in the words of the unseen speaker. Lilli again struggled to reach for the pocket with a handy Swiss Army knife tucked in it, but all she could do was sit in the darkness, the voice sharp in the midst of the heavy silence and making it seem like it was coming from all sides. Her blood ran cold when she began to process the words, no longer shivering at merely the sound of the speaker. You have been chosen to partake in a little game.A game? She liked games, but something told her that it would be quite unlike chess. Her anxiety only grew as he went on, noting that her perseverance in itself was amazing. Liechtenstein shuddered again at the disclosure of the only rule of this game. Kill, or be killed.Her blood ran cold; it was that kind of game. The girl's hands began to shake and she had to fight the sickening feeling she felt as her stomach turned in panic and dread. She wasn't strong. She wasn't all that fast. She was a tiny little girl in a dangerous and unforgiving universe; Lilli wanted to cry. Cry because she was afraid and alone and trapped. And there would be no one to save her. What if she didn't live? She'd never see her brother again. He'd be crushed, driven to madness, and probably die as well. And that was why she had to win; her life was not the only one at stake. Lilli steeled herself and attempted to blot out her fear, readying herself for battle. She would do her brother proud and emerge victorious, for the both of them. You will be fighting another nation.That was when the first major crack appeared in her iron will. She remained frozen on the floor in shock, even when her bindings dissolved. Liechtenstein had never truly fought in combat before; she was tiny and peaceful and sheltered, and had been her entire life. She didn't know how to kill something with a heart and mind just like hers, nor did she ever want to. And now she was being forced to. It is not negotiable.The instinct to cry returned; she wasn't emotionally stable enough to do such a thing! She wasn't her brother or some country that has seen war first-hand, she didn't know how to simply disregard emotion as she aimed her gun at someone she likely knows. Lilli jumped to her feet automatically when something scratched at the surface below her, stiffening in terror. It seemed no matter what she did, she would end up dead. The other nation would see her and pity her for only a second before choosing not to spare her, but if he or she did, they'd both be found in the stomachs of vicious beasts. Her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest, her nerves causing her entire body tremble and knees to grow weak. Lilli was beginning to feel sick again at the thought of being forced to commit murder or die fighting without a cause. Snapping herself out of her inner despair as the mysterious and cruel presence departed, she fumbled to arm herself. She squinted when the lights came on, taking only a moment to analyze her mostly plain surroundings before looking across the room at her opponent. Liechtenstein's resolve weakened once more. She had absolutely nothing against England, even if her brother did. He was always very polite to her, and now she would have to thank him by shooting at him. (At least her brother would approve.) She was caught off-guard when he proposed a quick discussion, watching him warily. Her attention was focused on his gun, the harsh reality of the situation abruptly toughening her resolve to survive. He had a gun just as she did, and could eliminate her just as easily. Trust no one, something in her mind warned. Lilli's straight expression barely held as she eyed the Englishman with caution. However, she still held a great deal of mercy even in such a situation. "Th-that sounds fair. But I'd feel more comfortable if you lowered your weapon, England." she returned, voice as level and professional as she could manage. The girl kept her shotgun in a resting position as she slowly approached him, but she was poised to raise, cock, and shoot. Yet as she went through her backup plan in her mind, Liechtenstein prayed he wouldn't notice the way she was biting her lip or that her knees wouldn't stop shaking. I am immensely sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. ;;
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Arthur Kirkland
Administrator
23.
Played by Hat.
Offline.
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Post by England on Jan 18, 2013 4:18:34 GMT -6
"Ah. Of course. Forgive me. I got caught up in my posturing." It was habit now for Arthur to conduct himself in battle as a gentleman. His voice rang out politely, as untouched with concern as if they'd struck up a chat about the weather over a cup of tea. In reality, he was still fretting over how all of this might turn out. The strategy in his head was tricky, and he didn't dare even think it through to its completion. No telling if something could pounce upon his thoughts to manipulate the situation away from his ideal outcome.
Arthur turned his Magnum aside, clicking on the safety and holstering it in one swift, practiced motion. He held his hands up to Lilli, spread them with gloved palms directed at the girl to prove that he wasn't going to retract his word of not attacking until they had set their terms of combat. The Englishman wouldn't settle for anything less. He wasn't the feral, fighting privateer acting on whim nor the occasionally cruel empire that could practice casual violence. There was an honour that needed to be observed in this, especially since he was fighting a woman. So long as said woman didn't turn around and shoot him.
He approached Lilli slowly, every motion one of slow exaggeration in his caution. The young woman in front of him was as tense as a deer frozen in the target of a scented hunter. A deer that currently had a rifle in its hands. One wrong move, no matter how subtle, could result in him getting shot. And if there was one thing that Arthur knew with one hundred percent certainty it was that he despised getting shot. So he proceeded to where she stood on halting step after another. Now how to go about this?
His hands were still lifted high into the air at either side of him, even as the Englishman came to stand directly in front of Lilli, close enough to feel her skirt rustling against the fabric of his trousers. Closer than he would normally dare intrude into someone's space that he wasn't on intimate terms with. Just in enough proximity that he could speak to her quietly. Arthur's head lowered, mouth close to Lilli's ear, and he might have been whispering sweet nothings into that shell, if not for the reality of the environment that surrounded them. "If you care to live through this, then do as I say. We might yet survive this harrowing adventure."
He edged back from her a half step, pitching the volume of his voice higher to let it carry throughout the chamber, that lilting accent filling the space around them. "First, I ought to know what sort of firepower you're using here. To be certain of a fair strategy." He unbuttoned his police jacket, shrugging off the leather with slow motions to let Lilli know that he was not reaching for a weapon. "Do you think you could shoot this jacket of mine into tatters? And I'll oblige you next with a demonstration of my own gun. As the saying goes, 'You show me yours and I'll show you mine.'. Let's see what you can do."
Arthur flung that jacket aside from him, casting the garment aloft as high as he could. His eyes did not track the progress of it as it flew upwards, but instead watched Lilli to check that she was keen to follow the plan he was formulating. If she weren't, then he'd have to be fast.
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Post by The Second Inhabitant on Feb 1, 2013 13:13:53 GMT -6
Impatience is a terrible virtue and the Manor despised it most of all, making the evil embodiment even more dangerous and unpredictable. The grating beneath the opponents’ feet began to tremble with vibrations, faint at first, but quickly evolved into a definite wave of shock that swept through the floor. The creatures writhing from under the thin barrier screeched and growled with louder intensity in response, for the beasts knew that it was a sign that their master was urging the participants to hurry up…. This was a show after all and the audience was growing bored and irritated, a not-too favorable mix for the nations….
~~This is a warning that the minimum of 2 weeks since the last post is up and a reply is due. To whoever is supposed to post next, you have one week to either post or notify an admin or you partner that an extension is needed, admins should be notified if this is the case and we will pass along the message to your partner. If this warning is not heeded, the person who did not post will lose and the remaining member will be declared the winner.
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Post by liechtenstein on Feb 7, 2013 19:14:19 GMT -6
Her trembling didn't subside, even as he stowed his weapon, as her thoughts and particularly worries were more abundant than ever. She wanted to believe Arthur was of no threat to her, but the nature of their meeting spelled quite the opposite. Lilli nodded slowly as he spoke, eyes glued to him. She briefly wondered if he was thinking similarly; that she of all people was standing between him and his freedom, and that she could very well kill him, too. The poor girl's mind may have been strained and jumbled, but she was not about to kill Arthur while he was unarmed, at least for the moment. After all, she got along rather well with him. There was the slight mix-up with the national anthems when they played each other that humiliated the poor little country, but that was nothing to murder a nice acquaintance over. Liechtenstein tensed slightly when he began to approach her, however, especially conscious of her own gun with his every cautious step. She resisted flinching away even as he crossed the line of her comfort zone, eyeing him more warily than before until England was near enough for her to wrap her arms around him for an embrace. (A comforting hug would have been rather nice at this time, however. She became tense when he spoke softly into her ear, eyes widening slightly in alarm; he'd certainly startled her with an affectionate-seeming action such as that. Lilli allowed herself to relax a little, loosening the grip that had tightened on her shotgun. Her fears retreated slightly as a subtle hopeful brightness lit up in her eyes; she'd underestimated England's wit, there was a chance of escape! Trying not to smile just yet, she took a small step back as well, raising her weapon as instructed. The thought that he may have been trying to lay a trap never crossed her mind, her own naively wishing that he would still be a kind gentleman. When he thrust the jacket away, the well-trained shot was quick to respond and managed to put two bullets through it before it hit the floor of the room with a dull thud. A little proud of herself for managing to hit it twice, she gave him a faint smile as she lowered her gun. "What--"Suddenly the grating beneath her feet began to shake, the feral noises of the creatures below making her go pale. Lilli continued to tremble slightly even as the floor's movement stopped, unable to believe that she'd started smiling not a moment ago. Weren't they supposed to be fighting to the death? Even more of a stammer in her weak voice, she tried again. "Wh-what is the next course of action..?"
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Arthur Kirkland
Administrator
23.
Played by Hat.
Offline.
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Post by England on Feb 11, 2013 16:21:50 GMT -6
Lilli had performed exactly as he had wished. Even better than he could have hoped, as he assessed the resulting effect of her bullets upon his jacket. Arthur moved to snatch it back up just before the grating beneath them began to tremble with what he feared was an intent to open. He steadied himself with a wild look of alarm swept around their surroundings. Had his plot somehow been pilfered from his mind, and the forces at work behind the Manor's games decided to intervene before he could see his plan through?
All went calm beneath them. The Englishman puffed out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. A flash of jade directed itself across the span to Liechtenstein when the girl questioned him. Their next course of action? Now that the precarious ground beneath their feet was stable again, Arthur's lips twitched in a sly little smirk. He needed to act quickly; much too fast to waste the time offering her an explanation. Arthur was going to have to rely on the unspoken agreement between them. That she would not take his actions as a hostile sign and put a bullet in him.
He gripped the holes in his leather jacket, ripping at them to expand the garment out into one long, thick strip. A critical gaze assessed the stitches that reinforced it. Strong enough to hold them for a while, yes, though not permanently. That limited amount of time was all that they would need. Arthur reached to his hip opposite of his gun, to withdraw the billy club strapped to his police belt. He wound a length of that reimagined jacket around the object then knotted it with the experience of a professional sailor.
His eyes directed up to the chandelier. It was the only hope for their salvation. The chain needed to suspend such a fixture would be resilient. And that chain would be their only anchor to taking the upperhand in this challenge to change this game. Arthur wasn't about to put the decision of his life or death in the hands of an unknown force. If he had to go, it would be on his own terms. He took a step away from beneath the chandelier to start twirling the end of that length of improvised rope.
Death waited below. So they would ascend. The timing needed to be right. Trajectory, yes. Wait for the right moment to release. Hold your breath to focus on the new pattern of motion. Not yet. Not yet. Now!
Arthur released the swinging length of leather to send it skyrocketing upward. Watched the baton fly true into the complex metalwork of the chandelier's structure. Then he tugged and felt it catch. He twisted the length of that leather around his forearm, to pull hard with the full weight of his natural mass. The Englishman had achieved a link with their potential escape from this fate.
He pulled himself up that improvised rope until his polished black shoes left the surface of the grating. His other hand extended out towards Lilli, fingers twitching a quick beckoning as an emerald gaze expressed their urgency. "Hurry. I apologize for the familiarity, yet I'll need your arms around my neck, young miss."
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Post by The Second Inhabitant on Mar 26, 2013 10:23:18 GMT -6
Impatience is a terrible virtue and the Manor despised it most of all, making the evil embodiment even more dangerous and unpredictable. The grating beneath the opponents’ feet began to tremble with vibrations, faint at first, but quickly evolved into a definite wave of shock that swept through the floor. The creatures writhing from under the thin barrier screeched and growled with louder intensity in response, for the beasts knew that it was a sign that their master was urging the participants to hurry up…. This was a show after all and the audience was growing bored and irritated, a not-too favorable mix for the nations….
~~This is a warning that the minimum of 2 weeks since the last post is up and a reply is due. To whoever is supposed to post next, you have one week to either post or notify an admin or you partner that an extension is needed, admins should be notified if this is the case and we will pass along the message to your partner. If this warning is not heeded, the person who did not post will lose and the remaining member will be declared the winner.
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