TheSequelReturns
Faithful Crusader
One born of human flesh, Man is now a race of some power.
You, son of man, must face the power you hold.
And you must face your destiny as well...
Though your days be peaceful, the fated time draws near.
I am your judgment.
I sundered the tongues of your fathers and shattered their arrogant power.
So long as the Lord does not live in you, all living beings hold darkness in their hearts.
If you truly wish to be yourself, then rise and fight the darkness within...
The demon inside.
If you have the will to challenge your destiny of battle, son of man, state your name...
As He proclaimed, this world, created in seven days, shall be destroyed by the sounding of seven trumpets.
You who have a will, fear the numbers your eyes shall see.
Fear the time left...
---
The Day Before
Times Square - 6:30 PM
As always, Times Square was bustling with activity. People of all kinds filled the streets: workers finally free from their labors, tourists from all around the world, students enjoying the start of their weekend, street performers hoping for tips, rich and poor alike mingling in one of the most recognizable locales in America.
Many people in the crowd weren't looking around though, they were looking down. Down at the devices in their hands, COMPs, smart phones, tablets, all were present. Perhaps because of their preoccupation, the sudden shock of the next event caused a wave of silent disbelief first and panic second.
An explosion rocked Times Square, seemingly originating from ground floor of the Times Building itself. The huge screens died, some collapsing as the first few floors of the tower erupted into flames and shrapnel. Windows shattered all across the square as the explosion spread. A split second later, several smaller blasts erupted seemingly at random, some in nearby buildings, others in cars or from somewhere beneath the street. The street was cracked and cratered, the square left in ruins.
The dust started to settle, and a calmer panic settled among the crowd. Dozens of people had been killed and many more injured by the blasts, but as the bystanders tried to call 911 for help they found that their cell phone signal had been completely cut out. COMPs and other forms of communication were offline as well.
A few minutes later a helicopter flew by overhead, black and unmarked. Then three more, flying in formation. A loud announcement followed, broadcast from loudspeakers around the city. "Attention citizens. An explosion of unknown origin has hit Times Square. This is suspected to be an organised attack. Until we can ascertain the situation and identify the perpetrators of this attack, Manhattan island will be put under a temporary lockdown."
Already discord was spreading among the crowds.
"We ask for your cooperation in this matter. I repeat..." The broadcast continued, repeating the same message several times.
---
The Day Before
Midtown - Subway Lines - 6:35 PM
When the explosions hit, all of the subway lines in Manhattan entered emergency shutdown. Even though the power and other utilities seemed to be functioning, every last train pulled into the next station and promptly shut down, disgorging groups of confused travelers.
But some trains remained stuck deep in the tunnels, thier passengers having to choose to wait it out or risk walking to the next station.
And as the night continued on, reports of missings persons and strange sounds in the underground started to spread.
---
The Day Before
Union Square - 6:45 PM
As they had for weeks now, a pair of demonstrators stood in the plaza at Union Square. Dressed entierly in black jumpsuits and with a purple eye tattooed on thier foreheads, the pair, a man and a woman of middle age, had been shouting at anyone who would listen, from sundown to sunrise, about the impending ruin.
Claiming that mankind would soon bring divine punishment down upon themselves, the pair preached a strange doctrine of submission to thier order, the Voice of Babylon, as the only way to escape the ordeal that was to come.
Some stopped. Many didn't. But a few listened.
The cult had been growing the past few weeks, as though something in the air made the pair's words seem more likely.
But as word started to come in about Times Square. As rumors started to fly of strange creatures appearing or people going missing. As the truth of the lockdown began to set in and panic started to spread, the pair's preaching only became more fervent.
"Join our order! Devote yourself to our master, and you will escape this horror!" They cried.
And people started to gather, unsure of what it all meant.
---
The Day Before
Upper East Side - 7:00 PM
A crowd had gathered at the Queensburo Bridge, trying to cross over out of Manhattan. However, the road was blocked off by what appeared to be military forces. They wore no badges, no signs of rank, just urban-camouflage fatigues and gear. As if to reinforce the armed men and the roadblock at the halfway point of the bridge, a pair of tanks sat on the opposite side, barrels pointed down the bridge.
"What do you mean we can't leave?" someone in the crowd shouted.
"I'm sorry," the soldier responded, "We have our orders. No one is allowed to pass. For any reason."
"You have to let me go, my family is in Queens!"
"My children are on the other side! I can't leave them alone!"
"Please, let us cross!"
The soldier spoke over the rising voices. "This is serious. I can't let anyone cross. No exceptions. We have orders to shoot anyone who attempts to leave Manhattan."
"We have rights! You can't lock us in here like this. You can't shoot us like animals!" another man shouted. The crowd started to rally behind him.
A short burst of gunfire rang out as the soldier fired into the air to silence the crowd. "That's final. No one crosses. The next shot won't be a warning."
The crowd continued to protest, but many in the crowd became wary. No one pushed the blockade. All around the city, at every bridge, tunnel, and roadway out of the island, the scene repeated. Even the waterways were patrolled and impossible to swim across unseen.
Armed guards, machinery, fences, sandbags, barricades, it was as if they all appeared at once, a simultaneous and perfectly orchestrated movement to seal off the entire island.
The lockdown of Manhattan had officially begun.
---
COMP Service
1 new Notification.
A new App has been delivered!
The Demon Summoning App has been successfully installed.
Have a nice day!
---
OOC: To start off, just post your character's whereabouts and reactions as such and have them activate the Summoning App. For ease of reference, I'd like each of you to include your general location and a timestamp at the top of your posts.
You, son of man, must face the power you hold.
And you must face your destiny as well...
Though your days be peaceful, the fated time draws near.
I am your judgment.
I sundered the tongues of your fathers and shattered their arrogant power.
So long as the Lord does not live in you, all living beings hold darkness in their hearts.
If you truly wish to be yourself, then rise and fight the darkness within...
The demon inside.
If you have the will to challenge your destiny of battle, son of man, state your name...
As He proclaimed, this world, created in seven days, shall be destroyed by the sounding of seven trumpets.
You who have a will, fear the numbers your eyes shall see.
Fear the time left...
---
The Day Before
Times Square - 6:30 PM
As always, Times Square was bustling with activity. People of all kinds filled the streets: workers finally free from their labors, tourists from all around the world, students enjoying the start of their weekend, street performers hoping for tips, rich and poor alike mingling in one of the most recognizable locales in America.
Many people in the crowd weren't looking around though, they were looking down. Down at the devices in their hands, COMPs, smart phones, tablets, all were present. Perhaps because of their preoccupation, the sudden shock of the next event caused a wave of silent disbelief first and panic second.
An explosion rocked Times Square, seemingly originating from ground floor of the Times Building itself. The huge screens died, some collapsing as the first few floors of the tower erupted into flames and shrapnel. Windows shattered all across the square as the explosion spread. A split second later, several smaller blasts erupted seemingly at random, some in nearby buildings, others in cars or from somewhere beneath the street. The street was cracked and cratered, the square left in ruins.
The dust started to settle, and a calmer panic settled among the crowd. Dozens of people had been killed and many more injured by the blasts, but as the bystanders tried to call 911 for help they found that their cell phone signal had been completely cut out. COMPs and other forms of communication were offline as well.
A few minutes later a helicopter flew by overhead, black and unmarked. Then three more, flying in formation. A loud announcement followed, broadcast from loudspeakers around the city. "Attention citizens. An explosion of unknown origin has hit Times Square. This is suspected to be an organised attack. Until we can ascertain the situation and identify the perpetrators of this attack, Manhattan island will be put under a temporary lockdown."
Already discord was spreading among the crowds.
"We ask for your cooperation in this matter. I repeat..." The broadcast continued, repeating the same message several times.
---
The Day Before
Midtown - Subway Lines - 6:35 PM
When the explosions hit, all of the subway lines in Manhattan entered emergency shutdown. Even though the power and other utilities seemed to be functioning, every last train pulled into the next station and promptly shut down, disgorging groups of confused travelers.
But some trains remained stuck deep in the tunnels, thier passengers having to choose to wait it out or risk walking to the next station.
And as the night continued on, reports of missings persons and strange sounds in the underground started to spread.
---
The Day Before
Union Square - 6:45 PM
As they had for weeks now, a pair of demonstrators stood in the plaza at Union Square. Dressed entierly in black jumpsuits and with a purple eye tattooed on thier foreheads, the pair, a man and a woman of middle age, had been shouting at anyone who would listen, from sundown to sunrise, about the impending ruin.
Claiming that mankind would soon bring divine punishment down upon themselves, the pair preached a strange doctrine of submission to thier order, the Voice of Babylon, as the only way to escape the ordeal that was to come.
Some stopped. Many didn't. But a few listened.
The cult had been growing the past few weeks, as though something in the air made the pair's words seem more likely.
But as word started to come in about Times Square. As rumors started to fly of strange creatures appearing or people going missing. As the truth of the lockdown began to set in and panic started to spread, the pair's preaching only became more fervent.
"Join our order! Devote yourself to our master, and you will escape this horror!" They cried.
And people started to gather, unsure of what it all meant.
---
The Day Before
Upper East Side - 7:00 PM
A crowd had gathered at the Queensburo Bridge, trying to cross over out of Manhattan. However, the road was blocked off by what appeared to be military forces. They wore no badges, no signs of rank, just urban-camouflage fatigues and gear. As if to reinforce the armed men and the roadblock at the halfway point of the bridge, a pair of tanks sat on the opposite side, barrels pointed down the bridge.
"What do you mean we can't leave?" someone in the crowd shouted.
"I'm sorry," the soldier responded, "We have our orders. No one is allowed to pass. For any reason."
"You have to let me go, my family is in Queens!"
"My children are on the other side! I can't leave them alone!"
"Please, let us cross!"
The soldier spoke over the rising voices. "This is serious. I can't let anyone cross. No exceptions. We have orders to shoot anyone who attempts to leave Manhattan."
"We have rights! You can't lock us in here like this. You can't shoot us like animals!" another man shouted. The crowd started to rally behind him.
A short burst of gunfire rang out as the soldier fired into the air to silence the crowd. "That's final. No one crosses. The next shot won't be a warning."
The crowd continued to protest, but many in the crowd became wary. No one pushed the blockade. All around the city, at every bridge, tunnel, and roadway out of the island, the scene repeated. Even the waterways were patrolled and impossible to swim across unseen.
Armed guards, machinery, fences, sandbags, barricades, it was as if they all appeared at once, a simultaneous and perfectly orchestrated movement to seal off the entire island.
The lockdown of Manhattan had officially begun.
---
COMP Service
1 new Notification.
A new App has been delivered!
The Demon Summoning App has been successfully installed.
Have a nice day!
---
OOC: To start off, just post your character's whereabouts and reactions as such and have them activate the Summoning App. For ease of reference, I'd like each of you to include your general location and a timestamp at the top of your posts.