Into the Nether
>> Location Unknown
You're having that dream again. The one about the hazy, boundless figure. Only this time, you're awake. You can feel a foreign presence sweep over your body, and your natural instinct is to resist it, but it feels so good! So... so.. good! You succumb to his wills and release your hold over your body, as he starts to pull you through the nether.
When you come to, you're a bit drained an weary. You get to your feet, taking in your surroundings. You don't know where you are, but there are 5 other people in the same room. Just as you are about to go talk to one, a figure garbed in the finest ivory robes steps forth from the shadows and beckons for you to follow him.
After calming your doubts, you and the others do, he leads you down a dank, musty corridor into a chamber ten times bigger than the other, with an altar inset a few inches in the center. He approaches the center and lights the counters that form the border of the altar. Words flow from his mouth in a language you don't recognize. A small orb in the center of the room formed, made of pure energy; it seemed to be drawing on the energy of the air around it. When it had reached it fill, it shined with a blinding intensity and then burned out, the hazy ominous figure from your dreams taking his place.
The voice came from everywhere yet nowhere, like your dreams. "I am Ophuicus, protector of the 12 Zodiac. I'm one of the most powerful beings in all of existence." He paused, allowing everyone to absorb the whole of who he was then he continued. "You are Zodiac Incarnate, the last 6 uncorrupted." He spoke with a certain brevity that made you understand what he said, but ultimately only led to more confusion. "There is I much I need to tell you, and it would take hours. Instead... I'll share my memories with you. Be weary, young ones, as some are privy to insanity after I touch their minds."
Images. Death. Betrayal. Poison! Anger welled in you, a desire to slay the traitor who sent the world into turmoil. The anger, it doesn't feel like yours, and as you soon learn from the memories, it is most likely your Zodiac poking through. You fall to your knees in pain, the images! They wont stop coming! Your brain is throbbing, feeling like it's going to explode, and then it stops. The hazy figure is no more, and you can't find the robed figure.
As you turn to leave, you notice there is no exit. Turning around once more, you see multiple figures garbed in dark robes rush you, armed with bō, long wooden staffs. When it becomes apparent that they aren't messing around, you quickly decide you need to fight back.
>> A fight for your life! Use whatever abilities you have to fend off these attackers or die! The enemy horde seems to be endless.... What can you do but fight? At least you have the 5 other zodiacs... That is, if you can agree to cooperate. You're free to do as you please as long as it involves fighting off your attackers.
Swindler's Den
>> Swindler's Den, Unknown(Scorpio's Hideout)
The Swinder's Den. A swanky little casino, Swindler's Den was always busy. The whir of the machines and the sound of their ringing filled the entire building. On the far side, a pool-stick clink with a cue ball, dice skitter across the table. Over the commotion, barely audible, was the faint screams of some unlucky victim being interrogated by the one of the mobsters who runs the casino.
"**** you!" cursed a man down on his luck as he watched his pay check go down the drain. "Just.. **** you!" he said, incapable of thinking of something better., and slurring even that in his inebriated state. Picking up his glass he finished of his drink in one gulp then stood up, nearly toppling over in his state. As he did, a man in a white suit and white-fedora bumped into his shoulder. "Hey!" the man yelled, swiveling to see the man who had bumped into him. "Who the hell do you think you are?" He stood a good two or three heads over the man, and was definitely a lot bigger. "You pissed me off tonight, and you're gonna regret it." he spat, approaching the man in the suit.
Dante sighed and then busted up in a fit of eccentric laughter. "You? You honestly think that you can kick my ass?" The man threw a punch out of him, and he just simply stepped out of the way. "Come on, you gotta be better than that!" he taunted, making the man only angrier. He threw a flurry of punches, all of the missing and then Dante tossed him to the ground with a kick to the stomach. "Damn, man, no wonder I was with your wife last night." he said, attempting to piss the man off.
The man got back to his feet. "**** you!!!!" he yelled as he dipped his head and ran in full force towards Dante, who merely stiff armed him and dropped him again.
Dante lowered himself to the man and grabbed him by his hair. "**** me? No.. **** you! You don't **** with me!" he yelled in the man's face. "I'm Dante St. Andre, and I run this place!" he said, a devilish smile on his face. "Now... let me make an example to you of what we do with unruly guests.." Dragging the man by the hair across the casino floor, a man in a black suit who held a sawed off shot-gun joined him. The man saw it and began to cry and beg for his life, which for Dante was just more of a kick.
Placing him atop a craps table he looked in his eyes and said, "Sleep tight." With that, he snapped his fingers and burned the man's face off. Yet despite the intensity of the fire, he managed not to let it get out of control, showing his mastery of his powers. Turning to the man in the suit he whispered a few words to the man who nodded and pulled out a cell-phone.
When the call connected he said one thing, "Bring the kids the home." Then hung up the phone, not even waiting for a reply. "Anything else, boss?"
"I'll be in my office. When they get here, bring them to me." Walking towards his office he stopped once to say, "Oh, and Boggs, show this joker the door..." He flicked his head towards the man who was writhing in agony on the table. Then Dante was gone.
====
Time to Move
>>Location Various
A dark robed figure approaches you. "Dante wantsssssss you....." it slithered to you, a long, purplish tongue darting in an out of it's mouth. He withdrew a simple black cell-phone and handed it to you. "Thisssss.... issss... how the massssster will give you your ordersss" Then the figure slunk off, leaving you to your devices.
Looking at the phone, it had a voice mail. You dial the number and check it. "Greetings loves!" The voice crackles through the cell-phone speaker. "Dante here. Another Zodiac has been awakened, that's all 6 of them. Would anyone able to tell me why I'm not happy about that?" He paused, but he wasn't really looking for an answer. "Be here. And be here soon." Then the phone clicked off and you disposed of it, as you were supposed to. You were already somewhere in the neighborhood, Dante had flown you out there so you could be.
>> Get to the casino, get there and end your post with Boggs leading you to Dante's office. Other than that, you're free to pretty much do whatever you want.