07-20-2016, 06:55 AM
((My bio takes place around the time Theo Andlain starts the riots, but idk how long ago that was IC, so I just took a stab at the timeline))
So it turned out that getting to Moscow was the easy part, unfortunately. After months of hitchhiking and stowing away on trains, boats, or whatever mode of transportation he could sneak into, he'd hoped that Moscow would be a salvation of sorts. It only took a few incidents for Cain to realize that being afraid led to the activation of his magic, generally with explosive results. While it was often dangerous and inconvenient, along the way he'd gotten some semblance of control, and the fire became useful at times.
Still after so long running, terror and fire his constant companions, he'd hoped for better in the capital. Cain had learned on the road that he could trade manual labor for food sometimes, and other times he would steal, bargain, or beg. His situation in Moscow was virtually the same. He'd heard Ascendancy's announcement about the validity of magic. Everyone in the world knew about it, probably. For Cain though, it hadn't been a huge surprise; he of course knew that magic was real. Therefore he'd underestimated how panicked the average citizen would be. The redhead had arrived in Moscow to scenes of protests and disorder. He could hardly go around asking random strangers where he could find a magical terrorist to help teach him about magic.
Fortunately there were all sorts of charities in the wealthiest city in the world, so he could at least get decent enough (if somewhat grubby) clothes and a shower now and then. Even so, he still ended up where every other homeless wretch in Moscow landed: the Underground. Here, he was a bit more liberal with his use of magic. Cain had seen a few people here and there doing strange and miraculous things, usually subtly. On the streets, people respected power, and it didn’t take more than a few flashes of fire to make thieves and bullies think twice before approaching him. Unfortunately while it kept enemies away, his magic didn’t earn him any friends either. That’s what lead to him getting into this situation.
The tunnels in the Underground didn’t exactly have signs or directions. He was starting to get the hang of things, but every now and then he’d find himself in an unfamiliar place. Cain swung his flashlight (one of the first things he’d realized that he’d need to steal upon living Underground) side to side, hoping for a familiar marker, when he heard the scurrying of little feet. Before being homeless, Cain probably would’ve jumped or felt uncomfortable, being surrounded by rats. He’d since learned that the running ones weren’t a problem. They weren’t about to stop and bite him, not when something was clearly chasing them. It was the ‘something’ that he needed to be worried about.
Luckily, his fear allowed him to access his magic, and summon a ball of flames above his outstretched right hand. It took a moment for Cain’s eyes to adjust to the light, but unfortunately his ears had no such compensation requirements, and could hear perfectly well the hissing snarling of whatever beast was before him. The noise increased in volume, as if the creature was afraid of the fire. Once he could see again, part of him wished that he couldn’t. The source of the sound was a strange, dog-like animal. It was large for a canine, tall as Cain’s waist, and it seemed almost shriveled. It was hunched over and the redhead could clearly see the bumps and knots of its spine along its back. Most disturbing though were its bloody fangs, clearly wetted with the blood of the rat lying before it.
Cain had heard the stories of course, of animals found dead, drained of blood like the vampire victims of lore. This must be what was responsible. And judging by the way it was stalking forwards towards him, humans probably made more appetizing meals than rats. Living on the streets had taught the redhead a thing or two about wild animals, and while defensive ones sometimes postured and growled, they wouldn’t approach a human. No, it was the aggressive ones that did so. If he ran, the monster would chase him.
“Shit!”
he swore, his spike in fear conveniently causing a spike in the intensity of his fireball. Cain threw the flames out towards the monster, hoping for the best, never noticing the people coming up behind him.
((In case it wasn’t clear, the monster is a Chupakabra. Does the fireball hit? Does it miss? Is it enough to defeat the Chupakabra or is there a whole pack of them? That’s up to you all!))
So it turned out that getting to Moscow was the easy part, unfortunately. After months of hitchhiking and stowing away on trains, boats, or whatever mode of transportation he could sneak into, he'd hoped that Moscow would be a salvation of sorts. It only took a few incidents for Cain to realize that being afraid led to the activation of his magic, generally with explosive results. While it was often dangerous and inconvenient, along the way he'd gotten some semblance of control, and the fire became useful at times.
Still after so long running, terror and fire his constant companions, he'd hoped for better in the capital. Cain had learned on the road that he could trade manual labor for food sometimes, and other times he would steal, bargain, or beg. His situation in Moscow was virtually the same. He'd heard Ascendancy's announcement about the validity of magic. Everyone in the world knew about it, probably. For Cain though, it hadn't been a huge surprise; he of course knew that magic was real. Therefore he'd underestimated how panicked the average citizen would be. The redhead had arrived in Moscow to scenes of protests and disorder. He could hardly go around asking random strangers where he could find a magical terrorist to help teach him about magic.
Fortunately there were all sorts of charities in the wealthiest city in the world, so he could at least get decent enough (if somewhat grubby) clothes and a shower now and then. Even so, he still ended up where every other homeless wretch in Moscow landed: the Underground. Here, he was a bit more liberal with his use of magic. Cain had seen a few people here and there doing strange and miraculous things, usually subtly. On the streets, people respected power, and it didn’t take more than a few flashes of fire to make thieves and bullies think twice before approaching him. Unfortunately while it kept enemies away, his magic didn’t earn him any friends either. That’s what lead to him getting into this situation.
The tunnels in the Underground didn’t exactly have signs or directions. He was starting to get the hang of things, but every now and then he’d find himself in an unfamiliar place. Cain swung his flashlight (one of the first things he’d realized that he’d need to steal upon living Underground) side to side, hoping for a familiar marker, when he heard the scurrying of little feet. Before being homeless, Cain probably would’ve jumped or felt uncomfortable, being surrounded by rats. He’d since learned that the running ones weren’t a problem. They weren’t about to stop and bite him, not when something was clearly chasing them. It was the ‘something’ that he needed to be worried about.
Luckily, his fear allowed him to access his magic, and summon a ball of flames above his outstretched right hand. It took a moment for Cain’s eyes to adjust to the light, but unfortunately his ears had no such compensation requirements, and could hear perfectly well the hissing snarling of whatever beast was before him. The noise increased in volume, as if the creature was afraid of the fire. Once he could see again, part of him wished that he couldn’t. The source of the sound was a strange, dog-like animal. It was large for a canine, tall as Cain’s waist, and it seemed almost shriveled. It was hunched over and the redhead could clearly see the bumps and knots of its spine along its back. Most disturbing though were its bloody fangs, clearly wetted with the blood of the rat lying before it.
Cain had heard the stories of course, of animals found dead, drained of blood like the vampire victims of lore. This must be what was responsible. And judging by the way it was stalking forwards towards him, humans probably made more appetizing meals than rats. Living on the streets had taught the redhead a thing or two about wild animals, and while defensive ones sometimes postured and growled, they wouldn’t approach a human. No, it was the aggressive ones that did so. If he ran, the monster would chase him.
“Shit!”
he swore, his spike in fear conveniently causing a spike in the intensity of his fireball. Cain threw the flames out towards the monster, hoping for the best, never noticing the people coming up behind him.
((In case it wasn’t clear, the monster is a Chupakabra. Does the fireball hit? Does it miss? Is it enough to defeat the Chupakabra or is there a whole pack of them? That’s up to you all!))