The Association of the Criminally Renowned, Overtly Nefarious Young Malefactors

[Lord Magtok]

ACRONYM

Spoiler: Origins of ACRONYM

Show

What luck! The five of you (Gordon, Harley, Moff, Darth Trucido/Atrocity, and Nivahriin Robin,) have been invited to take part in a glorious new enterprise, henceforth to be known as the Association of Criminally Renowned, Overtly Nefarious Young Malefactors!

To accept our Lord Malice's prestigious offer to this exclusive organization, simply wait for the letter that will follow this one, detailing the location of ACRONYM's first meeting, and instructions on reaching this secluded mystery lair. Meet us there, and our glorious leader will explain the rest upon arrival.

To decline (though we cannot imagine why any of you six could possibly pass over this opportunity to make history within the Nexus), use the return address and envelope provided, to let us know we were mistaken, and accidentally sent this letter to a feeble, cowardly little baby, so that we might find an appropriate substitute in time for the first meeting. Best of luck to anyone who chooses to decline, as we can neither confirm nor deny that there may or may not be assassinbots lurking beneath your beds, waiting for an excuse to gut you.

Hope to see you all soon!

-Lord Malice

That was the letter sent to five (and then later a sixth, after Nivahriin didn't work out) evil-doers spread across the Nexus. Rising star Lord Malice, the scoundrel who ruined Sheol's Halloween party, was apparently organizing some sort of supergroup, and doing his best to keep it as exclusive as possible. Only the worst of the worst would be welcome, and membership would be strictly, violently regulated. The group would be less like VIGIL or AMEN, and more resembling a darker version of Inside's former Council; an elite group of criminals and evil-doers united to further their own selfish objectives, clearly delineate who would be allotted which territories and loot, procure aid for their devilish endeavors, and hopefully, put aside their differences come together as a team. A team which has the potential conquer the very Nexus.

Lord Malice has offered up his own 'Octopus Garden' lair as their first meeting place, but with his habit of attracting heroes to his own hideouts to do battle, it may not be the last. Indeed, while this shameless Bioshock rip-off still functions (mostly) today, tomorrow could be another story altogether. Knowing this, it's probably half the reason he sought out villains with lairs of their own. A supergroup with a revolving address, that would be a challenge for even the best and brightest in VIGIL and the Union.

Never mind all of that, though. Those are concerns for another time. Right now, what matters is that Lord Malice is sitting at an empty poker table in an empty casino in an empty underwater metropolis, waiting patiently for his new acquaintances to visit him in these beautiful art deco ruins. He absentmindedly shuffles a deck of cards, as his MalBots arrange chairs, stock up on drinks, and do some last-minute sweeping for the teleporting, submarine-piloting, and dare I say it, perhaps even a few swimming guests who will soon reach the appointed meeting place. Yes, it won't be long now. His new friends (and their security details and escorts, of course) will be here any minute, and then they can begin.

They can play dice with the fate of the universe.

[Hattish Thing]

Underwater Casino:

Atrocity shows here, having teleported here with the use of the teleportation docks within Ignitis. He looks much the same as he did once, but twisted now. His back is oddly curved, and his frame seems uneven beneath his heavy cloting. A black cloak, darker than midnight, trails atop the tile behind him, his robes of matching color looking ripped and damaged. A hood covers the face of the man, hiding all but the bottom of the man's chin. Long white hair, grimy and wild, can be seen resting on the Sith's shoulders and chest. He walks with an odd gait, as if one side of him was constantly off-balance. Sure enough, the figure limps quite obviously, and relies upon what seems to be a walking stick ending in a what seems to be the opening of where a lightsaber would release from.

Beside him, two figures stand, each about eight feel tall. They're obviously of a draconic origin, judging by their fire-resistant red scales. They're clad in black and red Mandalorian steel, power armor gathered from the coffers of Ignitis, stripped off the bodies of the dead Sith found when Skye and Trucido Amare first discovered the place. On their belts, lightsabers thicker and large can be seen, each with a sharp talon at the opposite end of the saber section. Red cloaks set them apart from the rest of the draconic Sith being grown at Ignitis Academy. For those who can sense it, each of the three figures gathered cast a powerful aura forward. However, the draconic beings appear to have been given their powers artificially. How odd. But this is quite specific, and most won't be able to sense it.

Atrocity will speak to Malice now, his faint and gurgling voice echoing in Magtok's mind, should he not have any protections set on. Speaking physically was difficult for Atrocity due to the metal bits composing his throat and chest. "I am here... I hope you do not find my companions a difficulty. Should I sit?" He'll cough a bit at that.

[Aric Kale]

Underwater Casino

Korwil Traise, Force Wraith and Dark Lord of the Sith Order has followed Atrocity to act as an adviser.

He has no physical form, so one can only sense his presence as an aura usually clumped in one area.
Atrocity, what are these dragon-men? He asks the old man privately, sensing their Aura and its unnatural origins.

Traise creates a protective bubble of the Force around Atrocity and his two bodyguards, containing their oppressive and lethal aura.

[Ionbound]

Underwater Casino

Robin arrives at the casino, a small coterie of undead following. The young vampire looks at the casino and smiles, saying, "Eh, could be interesting. Why not?"

[5a Violista]

For some completely unknown reason, Harley is markedly absent. This is in spite of sending a reply letter saying she would be there.

...

Maybe she's doing some villainous thing and was held up?

[UncleWolf]

Underwater Casino

"Really? Are you all so untrusting of your own strength that you come with bodyguards? Are you sure you're in the right place?" A woman's voice calls out from the shadows behind Malice. When she steps out, everyone will see a nearly 7ft tall human woman with pale skin and a shimmering silver dress. Her hip-length white hair is braided back, and despite her sharp chin and cheeks, she'd be somewhat pretty if it weren't for the horrible scarring on her left cheek. The wound is bad enough that it shows her teeth on that side. She sounds quite amused with herself as she uses a small blade to cut into an apple before chewing on a sliver. Those who can sense such will sense a powerful binding on her, but it is one that has been made to be able to be torn apart from within. Whatever she's hiding at this time can't be told yet. "You may all call me Frost until I decide whether or not my actual name should be used."

[Hattish Thing]

Underwater Casino

"Really? Are you all so untrusting of your own strength that you come with bodyguards? Are you sure you're in the right place?" A woman's voice calls out from the shadows behind Malice. When she steps out, everyone will see a nearly 7ft tall human woman with pale skin and a shimmering silver dress. Her hip-length white hair is braided back, and despite her sharp chin and cheeks, she'd be somewhat pretty if it weren't for the horrible scarring on her left cheek. The wound is bad enough that it shows her teeth on that side. She sounds quite amused with herself as she uses a small blade to cut into an apple before chewing on a sliver. Those who can sense such will sense a powerful binding on her, but it is one that has been made to be able to be torn apart from within. Whatever she's hiding at this time can't be told yet. "You may all call me Frost until I decide whether or not my actual name should be used."

The figure gazes towards her direction, however she'll be unable to see his face save for a robotic looking chin, thanks to how far the hood drapes over him. Well, a bit of his hair is visible, but that seems to be it. "Hardly, woman. But I know better than to trust the likes of you. It isn't a lack of self-trust, but simply basic self-protection. You'll learn one day that confidence means nothing, next to competence. And my soldiers are quite competent, you'll find." The reply is slow, due to how he speaks. However, he will sit himself at the end of the table, relying on his cane, as usual. As he does so, he'll breathe in weakly and cough a tad. The Sith will attempt to read her mind, effortlessly as usual, and determine who she was and what her powers were. He wants information regarding this person. The bodyguards will stand beside him and stare forward, not bothering to say anything.

[Ionbound]

Robin rolls her eyes at Atrocity and says, "Eh, what does it matter? I could easily dismiss my little friends. But the fear they inspire in most makes my feeding so much more delicious."

[UncleWolf]

Underwater Casino

"You assume that I haven't earned the right to be so confident in myself." Frost points out as she cuts away another sliver of apple to eat. The moment he tries to read her mind, he's bombarded with images of bloodlust, greed, and insanity. A lesser man would likely have collapsed due to the severity of it. In it all, there's no hint as to her actual name or desires.

[ThePhantom]

A creature that has a number of spines on it back swims up to the docking bay, and in a moment reveals itself to be a submarine, albeit a oddly designed one. Two people get out of it, one taller than the other. The taller, wears a tenchcoat that seems to have been woven straight from a storm cloud, it bellows and occasional lightning flashes in it. He looks a bit annoyed, maybe not quite used to the silver crown that sits atop of his brown hair. Or it might be his companion, the shorter one, that is the source of his annoyance.

The shorter of this pair wears an outfit of green and brown leather and velvet, with stairlike pattern of metal starting at the tip of her boots, continuing to the large gauntlet on her left hand. There seems to be a green glow that flows along that pattern of metal, so that outfit is perhaps not just for show. Her hair is also brown, the same as the brown parts of the leather. She is also humming, off key. Loudly.

The pair after being guided to the casino walk inside.

"So, is this the collection of people you invited to this event, Malice?"

[Hattish Thing]

Underwater Casino

"You assume that I haven't earned the right to be so confident in myself." Frost points out as she cuts away another sliver of apple to eat. The moment he tries to read her mind, he's bombarded with images of bloodlust, greed, and insanity. A lesser man would likely have collapsed due to the severity of it. In it all, there's no hint as to her actual name or desires.

Atrocity is the Holder of Number, Object 351. The Object allows him the powers to destroy all those he gazes upon with the horrifying embers of darkness and hate in place of eyes, at a terrible cost. His mind, and his sight was stolen from him at the expense of gaining the power. With the supernatural addition of hatred, his power over the Force grew stronger too. He did not understand insanity, nor greed, nor bloodlust. These were all things that were regular for him. He was shown terrible things at the hands of his Object, such death and destruction that he simply didn't value life any further. Her mind did not impress him, but he did not gather any information either.

Her mental barriers were quite strong to resist him, and so he simply responds lightly. "We shall see."

[UncleWolf]

Undersea Casino

"Yes, I suppose we shall." Frost says, still smiling slightly as she slices another piece of apple. "But if one of your guards wishes to prove himself by scrapping with me, all they need to do is ask." She adds before reaching behind her to pull out a second apple and tossing it towards the woman humming badly off-key. "Have an apple." She tells her as it flies through the air. Frost watches from the corner of her eye, curious as to the woman's reaction.

[Aric Kale]

Underwater Casino

Traise allows part of his aura to spread out over the group, constantly monitoring the situation...

He did not want this to go out of hand and watch/feel Atrocity annihilate everything.
Trucido...control yourself...these people are now your allies. See to it that they stay alive.

[Hattish Thing]

Undersea Casino

"Yes, I suppose we shall." Frost says, still smiling slightly as she slices another piece of apple. "But if one of your guards wishes to prove himself by scrapping with me, all they need to do is ask." She adds before reaching behind her to pull out a second apple and tossing it towards the woman humming badly off-key. "Have an apple." She tells her as it flies through the air. Frost watches from the corner of her eye, curious as to the woman's reaction.

Atrocity takes his adviser's rather well-thought out advice to heart. He'll continue to sit, breathing loudly through the pipes built into his neck with the use of his artificial lungs and valves. "I have no desire to lose a guard to you, should your boasting prove true. After all, better to be safe." He'll look towards the man with the longcoat now and slowly ponder over those gathered. "Let us see here. We have a king-to-be, a Sith Leader, some sort of vampiric champion, and... you. What are you, there... I believe there's more to you than previously thought. What is your purpose?"

[UncleWolf]

Undersea Casino

"I am a Warlord, and I am here precisely because of my competence in the matter." She explains. "I am already a queen, a ruler of many, and have a moderate force at my disposal, but I do not shirk from leading from the front." Frost adds with a vicious grin. "Having a blade deep in someone's gut is quite thrilling, but I am not foolish enough to think lethal means are the only way to accomplish something. In fact, why kill someone just to take their things once, when you can merely beat them again and again? Far more profitable, especially considering I'm always underestimated."

[ThePhantom]

The woman snatches the apple out of the air in her gauntleted hand and brings it to her mouth.

"Thanks. I was getting hungry."

The pair goes over to the table and Gordon sits down, the woman stands behinds him, while still taking bites from the apple. Gordon looks around the room, examining the people that are in attendance. An interesting group, one that's not that familiar to him.

[happyturtle]

A chair swivels to show Mofftok already there. From one side, he appears perfectly nondescript. But when his full face comes into view, the cybernetic prosthetics built into his face make him look hideous, and disturbingly similar to Magtok/Malice himself. He's managed to change the colour of that creepy eye to glow green rather than red, though it was hardly necessary. No one could mistake him for Magtok.

"Ah, the old willie waving competition to start the meeting. I approve. Traditional, after all." Mofftok says.

[Lord Magtok]

Malice looks around the room, his gaze stopping briefly over Harley's empty chair. Well that was rude, she said she was going to be here! Whatever, though. With that sole exception aside, the gang is all here, even the surprise guest, Ms. Frost. Quite frankly, he's a little surprised they didn't make a bigger fuss over her name not being on the invitation, but he chalks that up to their trust in his own competence for now. He shuffles that deck of cards he was holding once more, before passing out cards to each of the members gathered here today. Rather than traditional numbers and royalty, these cards have city districts, governments, and acronym organizations pictured on their faces. Feel free to decide what your character has; it doesn't really matter if there are any repeats, and no long-term obligation being decided here, either.

"Settle down, boys and girls, settle down. You're all pretty, and I'm sure nobody is compensating for anything. Now, if you'd all have a look at your cards, you'll see a number of familiar names, faces, and places. Most of the deck is centered around Riverside, but there are some exceptions here and there. These are our primary targets in the coming months, those who would obstruct a drastic restructuring of the Nexus's political systems. We'll start with the weak underbelly of the Nexus, stab our knives upwards, and work our way to its heart."

He pulls out some cards of his own, looks at them, and then drops them into his scarlet sleeve. It's not like it matters what he draws; it's his own deck, and if any of this meant anything, someone would just accuse him of rigging the thing to give himself nice results.

"While you're all trading and showing off and waving those cards about, can we have a few introductions? To quote my preschool teacher, I'd like us to go around the table and have everyone here tell us a little bit about themselves. Moff, thank you for volunteering to go first." Malice says with a grin, knowing full well the MagClone-wannabe did no such thing.

[happyturtle]

Mofftok grins back, just as evilly. "I'm Moff, and I'm here because it's clear Malice has a crush on me, and I thought it'd only be fair to give him a chance." He's just playing with his cards right now, not actually looking at them.

[UncleWolf]

Underwater Casino

"As I said, call me Frost. It is not who I truly am, but it'll do for now." The tall woman states as she takes her seat and peers at her cards. She doesn't put them anywhere and leaves them on the table, face down. "I am here because in the short time I've been here, I've bloodied the nose and broken the pride of an Org with minimal effort. I plan to do so to Riverside next."

[ThePhantom]

Gordon sighs at the reveal of MagMoff. Two of his least favorite people, in one body, joy. Well, at least he won't have to be here to deal with him for much, thank goodness for representatives. He sweeps up the cards and takes a look at them; Evolution Industries Power Plant, a park, and a temple, someone he doesn't know. He then passes the cards to the woman who also takes a look at them.

"I'm King Gordon and while I'm going to be a part of this organization, I'm not going to be here much. That's why I'm here, to show that Amara is going to be acting in my place most of the time."

The woman waves when Gordon mentions her name, briefly showing the cards that she was given.

"Hi! I'm Amara, I work for King Gordon and looking forward to working with you all."

[Hattish Thing]

With a lurch of movement, the frail Sith sitting up the table begins to speak up, making use of his physical voice once more despite his throat wounds. He sounds absolutely horrid, as if he'd smoked the entire life, or as if he was gargling sharp metal bits with every formed vowel and consonant. The shrouded man's speech is occasionally interrupted by a coughing fit. "I am Atrocity, leader of the Ignitis Sith Sect, and soon-to-be Emperor of Southside." He'll gaze down upon his cards now, causing them to levitate upwards into the air in front of him. Sure enough, there's a view of Southside, it's empty looking landscape burnt and ravaged, some sort of tall tower built in the ruins of some sort of government building.

He chuckles darkly, his voice low and gurgly. "Hach, hach, hach... The cards do not lie. The Force is with me my friends." The other card reads GLoG and shows what seems to be it's pleasant blue rivers and beautiful green grass soiled by dark blood of slain figures. Whether or not the card would actually come true is to be seen. Finally, there's a face on a final card, the face of someone to be determined later, or rather the head of someone to be determined later, brutally mounted upon some sort of spike. "These cards will find themselves completed one... by one... by one..." With each repetition of 'by one', he'll cause the cards to slowly vanish into the sleeve of his robes. "It seems I have my work cut out for me..."

[UncleWolf]

Underwater Casino

"If you wish to rule Southside, I recommend calling yourself something other than an Emperor." Frost suggests with a shake of her head. "Too much negative connotation after Emperor Vyrn took over Inside. I may not have been here for that, but I've caught up on my history. The moment you call yourself an Emperor, people will band together to stop you." She explains as she leans back in her chair. "It doesn't matter if you're capable of killing fifty men at a time. They'll come at you in such numbers that it is meaningless. Maybe not all at the same moment, but one after another after another after another. For all your power, some day you will slip. It is simply a matter of luck. No, if you want to take over Southside, you should appear as a benefactor, not a tyrant. Win the hearts of the people and they'll flock to you. Not to fight, but to follow. Once you do that, they won't care where you lead them, even if it is to damnation."

[Aric Kale]

Underwater Casino

Korwil has been listening silently, taking in the different names and targets and opinions.

After Frost speaks her words to Atrocity, Traise also consults his former Master. Privately.

Atrocity, I believe her words to be true.
Even if you called yourself a king, and you made your kingdom on the foundation of blood and dirt, that foundation will be weak and easily cast down.

Many may not know of the Sith.
Enter Southside and destroy its biggest threat. Proclaim your good deed, and promise more to come.
Conquer the land through the hearts of its residents.

[Hattish Thing]

The Sith will ponder over what Frost has to say, then Korwil. Their words took a little while to register, his addled brain working hard to contemplate such a long path to what he wants. Usually, just taking what he wanted was easy. He was used to that, but having to work for what he should rightfully take? Now that was just unheard of. "Vyrn lost his empire due to the mistakes his own regime made. Sidius lost his empire due to his trust of his apprentice. I will not follow in their footsteps. I have plans for Southside, big plans. But yes, it would seem that finding myself in the people's favor would be most... desirable. But, what to do? What to do..."

He ponders for a few seconds. "AMENside, a taint on the landscape. I shall take it, and burn it, a sign that I mean no ill-will to the citizens of Southside. I shall build towers there, and buildings, a landscape of luxury for my people. My people.... I will become not an Emperor, it seems, but a god. A god of metal, of gold, of beauty. And they will look up to me, and gaze upon my terrible power in awe. And they will follow me, wherever I shall go. Tonight, my Sith will march, and tonight people will die."

((Nope.))

[Lord Magtok]

"Robin? No pointless self-congratulatory summary of your life up to this point from you? I'm vaguely disappointed," Malice says with a smile. She's the one he knows the least about, and figured this would be an excellent opportunity to gather more information for the archives, but alas, seems she's keeping quiet for now.

"You all know Magtok, I'm sure. Well cut off about the last six years of his life, and you'd have me. I don't know how in the world he mutated so terribly into such a spineless, pitiful child, but I can't bear that name any more, knowing the stigma attached to it. I am Malice, a man out of time, and my only intentions are to right everything my brother has done wrong to this world. The fools who have been permitted to live freely, the empires that have risen, fallen, and risen again. Everything's so drab and dull and gray these days, even the best of the heroes aren't above being slimy moral ambiguity types. The Nexus is a world infected with a gruesome, horrible cancer, and the only way to cure it is to cut that filthy tumor right, out and cast it into a pit of flame."

[Ionbound]

Robin leans back in her chair and says, "Not really, nope. Not interested in bragging. I'm sure you wouldn't be interested, anyways. You all seem like the people wrapped up in your own egos. Aaaanyways as to what you're talking about, sure. Why not. Sitting around all day is kinda boring anyways. 'specially since the only visitors I get are the crazy people that think being a vampire makes you sexy. How silly is that?"

[UncleWolf]

Underwater Casino

Frost nods in understanding. "I imagine those kinds of people would get tiring to deal with rather quickly. The sexy vampire people too." She adds with a wry smile, quite plainly amused by her opinion but not in a bad way. After all, she's clearly making fun of herself as well. "Also, I have an idea that might put us on the map as a team. What if we were to put an open challenge to heroes and superheroes to fight us as a group at a time and place of our choosing? We need to distance ourselves from the image of AMEN, and what better way than a victory as a whole?"

[Aric Kale]

They could win...

Darth Traise speaks out to the group.

Is it likely?
No.
Is it possible?
Yes.

Tell me, Frost, do you know of a better way to instantly ruin the reputation and morale of this fledgling organization?

)(I actually like the idea of this kind of team deathmatch, but I feel like Korwil, as an adviser to Atrocity, would instantly notice and point out any flaws in this plan.)(

[ThePhantom]

Underwater Casino

"If you try that, keep my name out of it. Frankly, a group like this will do better if you have a place of refuge that isn't so closely known to tied to it. There are islands in my kingdom that could provide such a place. Also, such a plan, unfortunately has the tendency of drawing artillery fire, so it might be a bad idea."

Gordon sits back in his chair, he wants information about himself to be keep under control. That way he'll have less would-be heroes invading his kingdom. Amara however is much more into that idea.

"I'm game with it yhrough. A little brawl like that sounds like fun."