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I don't care.

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Total Members Voted: 0

Voting closed: January 04, 2021, 02:28:47 am

[Iris]

((That code tag is... a little unreadable. For some reason, the forum is only showing two lines. If you want monospace, a better way is to use tt tags like so.))

[ZBridges]

"What's that demon armor?"

[19_EgarAlnis]

((Shiiiiit. Let me try and fix it/post an alternate version. Without the code, the formatting goes to hell and back on the forums.))


"That--well, considerin' it killed the last person to try and wear it, and the Pirate Lord Ol' Murdach took it as trophy from called himself the Demon of the Void -- we figured it fittin'. Its a custom piece." He leads you down a long corridor, to a heavily reinforced pod. "Migh' be Plague-tec. Murdach had his guts ripped out by the bastard, or so the story goes. Tha' was about two hundred years 'fore I joined."

He inputs a code, getting it wrong once, twice, and when he gets it right, the pod presents a primitive key-slot. He turns the key, and the pod door pops open. "We had to keep it under physical locks and a disruption field-- The AI seems to be right bastard, Plague or no."

Inside the pod is a black and red suit of heavy, gleaming full-body, step-in style armor, held in place by heavy magnetic locks. Speakers separated from the machine by armored panels hiss a constant static. A silvery-mane of fur hangs from the back of it, and a red capelet of an unknown synthetic material hangs from the shoulder. Across the detached chest piece is what looks like scar tissue cut in a straight line across the breast. The faceplate and helmet have been molded to resemble the demons of Old Terra, from the [Merciful God]'s religion -- complete with a pair of razor-sharp, stubby horns and snarling jaw.

[3 vs 4] You, on a whim, reach a hand out towards it -- it gives a soft hiss, the shutters on the eyes opening to reveal lenses of red. Lights dance across these as the armor awakens. The gauntlets twist, straining at the locks with the suit's artificial muscles, making them creak and groan.

The young man grabs your hand with surprising strength to tug you away and slam the pod shut. He gives a nervous laugh, flashing you a grin that shows too many very sharp teeth. "Easy there! Ya' fool ain't supposed to touch it."

[Superdorf]

Well now. "Demon" indeed.
<Mnemonic query: information pertaining to the faith of the [Merciful God].>

Some interesting cybernetics available here. I wonder...
<Mnemonic query: William's cybernetic integration. Could such a phenomenon be duplicated to create a nanite-augmented replacement for our missing arm?>
Assuming you've any interest in such a replacement, of course. Your body-- your choice.

[ZBridges]

"Do you mind if I try it on?"

[19_EgarAlnis]

((Fixed the catalog. Thank you Iridium! I'll be using that from now on...and playing with it!))


<

Spoiler: The Merciful God (click to show/hide)

A religion from Old Terra that spread across the stars with the SEEDships. Cultural datacubes contained religion as an important study, even while promoting the atheistic preferences of the creators of the SEED program. Among these is the religion of the Merciful God, a monotheistic religion based on the wanderings of various groups within an arid region of Old Terra. The Datacube mentions these people as believing in the birth of many prophets, with each having different teachings and spiritual laws, but the foremost is the belief in only one supreme God.

On some planets, this God/Messiah is considered to be the Endless Emperor.

One of the dominant sects of Old Terra's Merciful God had the structure of SEED's religion; with preachers, priests, Pontifices, service days, and religious study.

Currently, it is the sixteenth most dominant religion in the galaxy, but is in decline.

>

<Unknown>

"...are you fuckin' crazy or somethin'? Besides, its Murdach's trophy. You'll have to ask him." The young man shakes his head, eying the pod as it shifts and twists for a few more moments. It slowly settles to stillness.

[Superdorf]

...

No.
No. No. No.
No.

That thing is corrupt, or insane. Possibly both. It shows malice like that, and our first thought is to don it?
...perhaps we can find a way to sever "Lucille" from Empyreal control, instead. If anyone would know how, it's these folk.

[ZBridges]

Really?  You'd prefer the traitor Lucile to a suit of unbound potential?  Are you... afraid?

Ask Murdach, if he's available, whether we can try on the suit.

[19_EgarAlnis]

The young man raises a brow, then contacts Murdach via earpiece, stepping away. When he returns, he states, "If you survive, you can have it. It killed like three people -- he don't want it hauntin' his armory up." He grins a tight-lipped smile. "We haze newbies to the armory with it. Tell them to clean it. Have a laugh when it starts up and goes berserk."

Then, much more professionally, "If you try it on, you have to do it outside, with one of those naval cannons pointed at ya'. If you start actin' crazy, we'll have to put you down. He wants you to sign and blood a liability waver, too."

But, to satisfy your curiosity, he opens the pod again. The armor within is still active, but brooding. Lights like pupils fixate on you.

[19 vs 7] A fascination drives you to once again touch it -- perhaps its the scar across its breast that mirrors your own. You hand dances along the mark.

Do it. Do it. Doit.doitdoitdoitdoit. A speaker begins to hiss in an old, old twisted language that makes you grit your teeth. You translator isn't...isn't... Free me.

"Do you hear that?" You question the Armorer, who looks at you with confusion.

"It's jus' producin' static, like it always does when it gets riled up."

Do you try on the armor?


((Three votes still required))

[ZBridges]

"[Become part of me, and I will become part of you.  If you try to break me, I will reduce you to ash.  Restrain yourself or never be free.]"

Try it on outside.

[Iris]

This is... probably a very bad idea.

But I have a good feeling about this. I don't know why, but I think this will work.

[19_EgarAlnis]

The young man takes a step back, looking very concerned, but doesn't speak when you whisper in High Empyreal. The armor doesn't speak either -- but a finger begins to tap out a gentle beat -- like the beating of your heart in the throes of your bloodlust. Like a drum. It taps. Tap-tap. Tap-tap. Tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap. Its fist curls, and it slams it down on the metal of the pod. Slam-slam. Slam-slam. Slam-slam -- then it stills.


((Two votes still required.))

[King Zultan]

I've got a bad feeling about that thing, but it you guys think it's worth trying on then I'm not going to stop you.

[19_EgarAlnis]

((One vote required..?))

[Naturegirl1999]

Yes. “We shall free you from your prison, as you were freed from a mental one, you are now freed from a physical one too. Together we will end the Plague”