Welcome, to the Void
They came without warning.
When they first arrived in our realm, there was complete pandemonium. Worldwide, citizens took to the streets and gazed at the sky in a bewildered and dazed state as their cities crumbled to dust around them. Many people screamed in their panic, seated themselves on the ground and wailed in despair. Some attempted to run, tripping over themselves and stumbling in their fruitless attempt to seek a safe place of refuge that simply didn't exist. Others could do nothing more than hold their loved ones close, frozen in their terror. People claimed that it was the end of the world as we knew it, that the apocalypse had finally come and all of existence was going to be destroyed. Amidst the mass chaos, it wasn't hard to believe at the time. On that chilly December evening, everything we thought we knew about reality was turned upside down and skewed. Mankind would never be the same again. Fact and fantasy became so entangled that we had a difficult time distinguishing which was which. As smoke hissed and floated up to the sky in menacing tendrils, stinging our eyes and clinging to the backs of our throats with a suffocating intensity, we were forced to face the truth. Demons were real. And they were invading our planet.
Not What we Expected
The demons materialized in every corner of the world, emerging from the darkest cracks and crevices. They exited out of shimmering vortexes that were nearly invisible to the untrained human eye. Assuming they were a threat to our security, many countries pulled out all military resources available to halt the invasion. Bullets, explosives, and in some cases even nuclear weapons were utilized against the foreign creatures. Not a single demon was harmed by these coordinated attacks and in most cases they escaped these ambushes completely unscathed and only minorly irritated. Our technology was simply too primitive to combat their advances effectively. We were at the mercy of these strange and foreign beings. Most governments threatened to collapse under the pressure, as world leaders debated and argued about what we were to do about the dangerous situation. It was decided that we'd offer all of our power to the demons. We would submit, become the inferior species and serve them if it meant we could keep our lives and coincide together peacefully. Surely, they would grasp onto this deal and run the planet with an iron first in anyway they pleased, making our lives a living hell. Corruption, greed, violence, and fear would run rampant until our species was torn apart. Humanity was doomed.
...Or so we thought. Families watched, sitting on the edge of their seats as the infamous conference was broadcasted and televised in every corner of the world. A demon stood at the podium, emitting a powerful aura that demanded respect and obedience. However, he didn't come bearing claws, sharp fangs, or curled horns as we envisioned. Instead, he wore a comforting smile and appeared so astonishingly human that many were forced to wonder if the event was staged. If it weren't for his otherworldly radiance that set him apart, it would have been difficult to take him seriously at all. "Oh, you arrogant humans," He chuckled, as almost every human held their breath. His eyes glimmered with what appeared to be a mimicked version of amusement. "We don't want your money, your power, or control. We also don't wish to war with your kind. Your unprovoked attacks have been unsuccessful, but they have also gone unchallenged. The demons do not wish to harm you... we come in peace. And we, have an offer for you.
...Or so we thought. Families watched, sitting on the edge of their seats as the infamous conference was broadcasted and televised in every corner of the world. A demon stood at the podium, emitting a powerful aura that demanded respect and obedience. However, he didn't come bearing claws, sharp fangs, or curled horns as we envisioned. Instead, he wore a comforting smile and appeared so astonishingly human that many were forced to wonder if the event was staged. If it weren't for his otherworldly radiance that set him apart, it would have been difficult to take him seriously at all. "Oh, you arrogant humans," He chuckled, as almost every human held their breath. His eyes glimmered with what appeared to be a mimicked version of amusement. "We don't want your money, your power, or control. We also don't wish to war with your kind. Your unprovoked attacks have been unsuccessful, but they have also gone unchallenged. The demons do not wish to harm you... we come in peace. And we, have an offer for you.
A Desirable Deal
The demons are here to stay. Their presence unnerves many people to this day, and speaking to them is rather taboo. However, they have made an offer that some simply can't refuse. Give up a limb- permanently, and you can have whatever you desire. Money? You can have millions. Beauty? It can be made endless. Love? It can be sparked between you and your desired partner at the snap of a finger. All you have to do is give up an arm or a leg- literally! The only disclaimer they make is that they refuse to injure or kill another human, as they do not care to deal with the legal troubles that are associated with such crimes. (This is a rule that can be broken in RP). Just be careful for what you wish for because once a contract is made it can never be taken back or undone.
We are the Heartless
After some careful consideration, you have decided that you are out of options. As a last resort, you seek out a demon to form a contract with. Unfortunately, what you want isn't exactly a minor or insignificant ask, and this demon isn't willing to deal in fingers or toes. You're desperate. You absolutely need to escape the situation that you're in no matter what the cost. Even if that means giving up your heart. The demon informs you that it is a fair trade, that you are lucky he or she is willing to provide you with this favor at all because it happens to be a massive inconvenience for them. They will not offer you this deal again, and most others would not even consider it. With a deep breath and only slight hesitation, you mutter the words that bind you to this being in a two year contract. The creature grins with satisfaction and snaps their fingers. There is a flash of white light. Agony bursts through your chest like a flash of sizzling lightning. You sink to the ground, screaming. The world fades out and suddenly, you feel nothing.
When you awaken, you are greeted by three eager faces. You blink away the last of your sleepiness and rub your eyes. "Welcome to the team," A young girl exclaims with a wry smile as she tosses a bag of explosives at your feet. "I hope whatever you wished for was worth it. You've just made the biggest mistake of your life."
When the demons arrived, they created tears in our reality that we call portals. Unfortunately, something went wrong when they came through and not all of these portals closed behind them. Now the earth is accessible and vulnerable to more sinister forces that may try to slip through. The demons won't inform the humans what kind of enemies they are facing. Just that it is beneficial for both species to work together to save the planet. Only nonliving beings can enter these portals. Therefore, it is up to the heartless to implode them from the inside to close the gateway permanently. After all, if there's no blood pumping through your veins, are you even considered alive?
It will take a team of three or more to shut these portals down. One person to stand in the opening and keep it open until the mission has been completed and the others have escaped, and at least two to carry out the dangerous task of transporting the explosives to the center of it. Once the timer has been set, you will have 20 seconds to dash out of the portal in the direction you came. If you don't escape in time, you and your team will be stuck inside while it implodes, killing you along with whatever dangerous creatures may reside inside. There is no way to prepare for what darkness may lurk inside each one. There will be monsters and mind-tricks and malicious activity, and they are all so different that no amount of training or preparation can truly ready teammates for the torturous horrors that lie waiting for them. The only advice your demon can give you? You better run, and run fast. The demon has your heart and you are at his mercy. He will only give it back in due time if you agree to his conditions and to be part of his team. You and the other heartless are nothing more than puppets, to execute his will and shut these dangers down on his demand for the next two years. You might want to consider getting along nicely with him and the others. After all, it's only your life and the safety of all humanity at stake.
When you awaken, you are greeted by three eager faces. You blink away the last of your sleepiness and rub your eyes. "Welcome to the team," A young girl exclaims with a wry smile as she tosses a bag of explosives at your feet. "I hope whatever you wished for was worth it. You've just made the biggest mistake of your life."
When the demons arrived, they created tears in our reality that we call portals. Unfortunately, something went wrong when they came through and not all of these portals closed behind them. Now the earth is accessible and vulnerable to more sinister forces that may try to slip through. The demons won't inform the humans what kind of enemies they are facing. Just that it is beneficial for both species to work together to save the planet. Only nonliving beings can enter these portals. Therefore, it is up to the heartless to implode them from the inside to close the gateway permanently. After all, if there's no blood pumping through your veins, are you even considered alive?
It will take a team of three or more to shut these portals down. One person to stand in the opening and keep it open until the mission has been completed and the others have escaped, and at least two to carry out the dangerous task of transporting the explosives to the center of it. Once the timer has been set, you will have 20 seconds to dash out of the portal in the direction you came. If you don't escape in time, you and your team will be stuck inside while it implodes, killing you along with whatever dangerous creatures may reside inside. There is no way to prepare for what darkness may lurk inside each one. There will be monsters and mind-tricks and malicious activity, and they are all so different that no amount of training or preparation can truly ready teammates for the torturous horrors that lie waiting for them. The only advice your demon can give you? You better run, and run fast. The demon has your heart and you are at his mercy. He will only give it back in due time if you agree to his conditions and to be part of his team. You and the other heartless are nothing more than puppets, to execute his will and shut these dangers down on his demand for the next two years. You might want to consider getting along nicely with him and the others. After all, it's only your life and the safety of all humanity at stake.
