Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
Zheig couldn't remember anything from the last couple of weeks. He'd been hiding out in the suburbs on the edge of town for several years because he felt like something had drawn him here after he was awakened, but two weeks ago he blacked out...and things had been extremely hazy ever since. Even now a heavy haze clouded his mind. Nothing seemed to register properly. He saw shapes and colors, but it didn't piece together in his mind as buildings, people, and vehicles. He came to a stop in the parking lot outside the Halo Crown Mall.
The armor clad golem stuck out like a sore thumb. Electricity arced between his fingers as his body tingled with anticipation. He could feel that the one he was after was here. Who was he hunting and why? He couldn't remember, but something compelled him to keep going forward. He stepped, heavy bootfalls cracking the pavement. His hands clenched into fists and his golden wreathed black visor scanned the area from the top of the stairs in front of the Mall. There had to be someone here. There had to be a reason he was hunting. His chest burned.
Will I find them here? Who are they? Why can't I remember? Where am I even? Is this still the city I woke up in? I swore to defend it. All this confusion and uncertainty...it's making me anxious. I don't know what to do. I want to face them...I believe it will be the right thing to do. Every fiber of my metal being tells me that this is the right path...I have to stay resolute...
Aidan Alexander stood leaning against a large post inside the Halo Crown Mall. His brown eyes watched the glass windows and doors that served as the main entrance towards the large structure. His arms were folded across his chest as he watched the people go to and fro. The town had more people in it than he had initially thought. He wasn't sure of the exact number and honestly it didn't matter to him. He hadn't come here to take a census of the town. No. I need to find a job. I don't want things to go spiraling down into chaos like they did at my old hometown...
Aidan hadn't been in town long. His first week here had went by in a blur. Because of Kurenai. The crimson haired girl had welcomed him into her home and showed him around town. It was more than that though. He felt at ease around her. He felt like a different person. Not like the monster they had called him in his old hometown. But that's how things work isn't it? When people know who you truly are, they're quick to judge. Having no idea what you've been through... he thinks as he hangs his head and sighs. His brown hair falling over his face to shield it from view.
But here everything seems to be working out...I think I've finally found an honest home... He smiles solemnly to himself as he looks up from the floor of the mall and his eyes rest on a tall man wearing heavy metal armor who seemed to be scanning the crowd for something. Or someone.
Maybe he's part of the TRS... Aidan thinks as he watches the man with his arms folded across his chest. Does that mean these people are in danger?
It was exactly as Aidan had been thinking. This metal man was looking for something. Or, specifically, for someone. It wasn't a particular person, or so Zheig believed, but Zheig wasn't the one in control of his body. His mind had been manipulated and hazed over so that someone else could pilot his powerful, electrified metal frame. His left hand rose up to chest level and his arm outstretched the moment he turned from the parking lot to face the building. He'd spotted Aidan inside the window and pointed directly at him. Bits of electricity arced around his left hand from knuckle to fingertip and back again.
His visor split in the middle from both sides and in the middle from the top, separating into three golden pieces and spacing out to reveal his large, red, gemstone eyes. Those fierce red orbs stared down Aidan as he pointed at him as if to call him out. Zheig couldn't feel or determine the essence of anyone. Those abilities were not within his power. He wasn't the sensory type. But whoever was pulling the strings on his body seemed to have a clear goal in mind, and it involved using Zheig to beat Aidan down. The armored golem knew not of what Aidan was capable of or even who he was or where he came from. All the white armored man knew now was that Aidan was his enemy via the choice of someone other than himself. It was more and more confusing for Zheig with each passing moment, but each passing moment got him deeper into trouble, so the time he had to spare for complex thinking and understanding was basically nil. It was time to fight...
Aidan watched as the metal clad man pointed to him. And he knew that things were about to get out of hand. His brown eyes grew cold as he pushed off of the pillar and began to walk to the entrance of the mall. Pulling off the brown blazer and tossing it to his right as he went. He didn't want things to escalate, especially with all of these people around. That's the reason I came here. To get away from the constant fighting. All the blood and endless violence... Aidan thinks as he glances to the left and notices the small red switch on the wall. He reached out and pulled the fire alarm. A shrill piercing sound began to emanate throughout the mall and several white emergency lights began to flash. Several people looked at him questioningly but they sighed and began to file out of the mall with the rest of the pedestrians.
If there's going to be a fight. I'll do everything I can do keep these people safe...but why...why is he here? No one here knows me, do they? he thinks as his eyes lock onto the large red eyes. People continued to file out around the two of them as Aidan stopped just inside the entrance to the mall, less than 12 feet from the tall armored man who had challenged him. The mall emptied slowly as the shrill alarm sounded around him. Aidan was ready to fight, but he would try and avoid it if at all possible. Some of the people who were filing out of the mall had taken notice that Aidan and the newcomer had locked eyes and pulled out their phones to record whatever might be about to go down.
Almost like he couldn't look away, Zheig's eyes locked onto Aidan and the haze over his mind and his vision suddenly faded. His whole body went rigid and despite trying to lower his arm and step forward, he couldn't move an inch. "GGGrrrrr!" He grunted as he struggled, trying to move. His mouth began to move not of his own will. THe words that came out were not his own. They didn't even sound like him, although Aidan wouldn't know what he sounded like normally, "You! I've been looking for you! It's been a long time, Aidan!" For Aidan, the voice might sound slightly familiar...like a distant memory or a far off dream.
Zheig growled again and spoke, this time in his own voice, "What do you think you're doing with my body!?" But Zheig's words were for naught. Before he could even think of getting an answer, his legs began to move, dashing forward. With a short leap, he clasped both hands together overhead and brought them down with full force, intent on flattening Aidan from the very beginning. Even if the attack missed, the impact of him leaping and crashing down with both fists clasped together would be enough to make a small impact crater in the tiled floor of the mall's entrance. It might warp the door frame a bit, too.
"D-damnit! Boy! I lack control of my body! You must stop me for the sake of this city. It is unthinkable what could come to pass if you do not make haste in disabling me."
Aidan stood focusing the man as the people exiting the mall began to taper off. There was a rather sizable crowd surrounding the two of them now and it was growing as they waited to see what would happen between the two of them. That was when Aidan heard the man speak and he felt a sickening knot form in his stomach at those words.
That voice... Aidan thinks with surprise as his eyes narrow at the man and he realizes that there would be no chance to avoid this fight. He assumed a defensive stance, spreading his legs more and putting his left leg in front, leaning his weight back and raising his fists. That was when he heard another voice come from the new foe. It sounded angry and slightly confused. Aidan couldn't make out the words but it wasn't important. Not anymore. His mind was already emptying out. His trained eyes watched as the man dashed towards him and leaped swinging down a double axe handle straight for where Aidan was standing. Aidan jumped back with lithe grace. His eyes briefly landing on the crater where the man's hands had crashed into the earth.
"Who are you? And why are you here?" Aidan asks as his brown eyes land on the bright crimson ones. Those eyes that were the same color as Kurenai's hair. He suddenly felt furious. Angrier than he could remember being in a long time. His hands closed tightly into fists and he began to shake. I came here thinking I could have a fresh start...how foolish of me... he thinks as he looks up Zheig his eyes cold and calculating.
Hearing Zheig say that he wasn't in control of his body. And that he wanted Aidan to stop him. He made his decision.
"Very well..." he said softly.
He would then sprint at Zheig, jumping and kicking off a mall kiosk before jumping toward Zheig flipping through the air attemping to drive his heel directly down between those glittering red eyes. If this attack was blocked, Aidan would use the momentum to kick off of Zheig landing in front of him and then dash forward swinging another flurry of fists at the man's face. The man's body was either covered in armor or there was more to it than Aidan knew yet. He wasn't swinging at full force yet. Years of street fighting had made him wary of using his full power. He'd killed before, he didn't want more blood on his hands.
Zheig was completely at a loss for what to do. He felt like an outsider in his own body. There was a burning on his back, and a powerful, almost painful tingling in the back of his neck. He turned his head to look at Aidan when the man leaped back gracefully out of the way of the smash. But things were about to take a turn for the surreal.
When Aidan came at Zheig instead, the metallic golem stood upright in the small impact crater he'd just made and held up one arm in a cross block fashion. Aidan's foot came down and collided with his arm, his feet sank into the concrete again from the impact of Aidan's kick. But aside from the ground cracking from the pressure and force of the blow, Zheig seemed completely fine. His eyes never moved from Aidan despite the swift attack and quick rebound into another assault.
"So, is that your best? I hope not! Or you're going to be in big trouble!" The voice that came from Zheig was not his own once again. That flurry of punches came, and he just took it. He did put his arms up to block some of the blows, but for the most part those fists just dinged off of his metal body. He stood there, slightly staggered backwards as the rapid impacts of blows onto his head, chest, and abdomen knocked him off balance bit by bit.
When the flurry ended, Zheig stood upright from his staggered state and shook his head, "Your attacks are fruitless! If you do not have more to bring to the table then flee. I wish not to have blood on my hands...even if I am not the one in control of my vessel!"
Aidan pushes back using his right leg as an anchor and landing just outside of Zheig's reach. That voice again, the one that seemed so familiar but he couldn't place it. He was working hard to control the anger that was threatening to bubble up within him, but it was a battle he felt like he was going to lose.
"Why did you come here!? Who are you?" Aidan asks again rage causing his voice to shake. If he found me so easily...anyone could...they could go after Kurenai... Aidan thinks as he face begins to tingle with the anger he is feeling. I need to get control of myself. If I don't...I don't want to think of the damage I could cause here. With all of these people around... he thinks as visions of the past men he had killed flash in his mind. He breathed deeply and tried to calm himself. When he spoke again his voice was still shaky, but he felt more in control of himself. he mentally noted that the man talked in two different voices.
"Look man...Don't do this...not here...I don't know who you are...or why you're here. If you want to fight me, we'll go somewhere else. But I don't want any of these people to get hurt...You know I'm not going to flee and I've already got enough blood on my hands, and it sounds like you might too..." he said as he glanced to the crowd forming around the two of them. Most of them looking wide eyed and scared at the damage to the mall's floor. He assumed a defensive stance raising his fists again. But he wanted to figure out what the hell was going on first, and see if he could pacify the golem.
Zheig's fists clenched and he growled again. This time it was much deeper, guttural, and full of frustration. Aidan didn't remember at all? Didn't want to fight? It wasn't Zheig's anger himself. It was the anger of the one controlling him. "You don't remember at all? Don't make me laugh. You and I went toe to toe many times! If you're having trouble remembering, then look at this!" Zheig turned around and raised an arm, pointing a thumb at his own back where a very familiar symbol was painted on in blood.
The real Zheig, the one who did not wish to fight, was currently shoved into the back of his own mind, seemingly out of control entirely. He could see and hear everything that happened, but he couldn't act. And he could only speak when the other wasn't speaking for him. Zheig wasn't actively resisting his control right now, though. He had a plan now that things had been revealed. That mark is where his pain originated from, so it must be the source of control.
He felt like he didn't need to tell Aidan what the next course of action was. A fight was inevitable here. "What are you waiting for, Aidan? Come on! These fools all gathered here to watch you get splattered on the pavement. They're shaking and afraid, but they can't peel their eyes away."
Aidan listened as the golem addressed him again. Toe to toe? I don't remember going against anyone who looked remotely like this...but that voice... Aidan thinks as Zheig turns around and points to the symbol on the back of his armor. As Aidan's eyes landed on it he felt his blood grow cold and his heart stop. The symbol looked almost like a cross, except although in place of the t section there two more inverted lines. It was a symbol that Aidan knew well, and in that moment the owner of the voice clicked home for him.
Alistair
"It can't be..." he said softly as his eyes widen in surprise. This is all a dream...it has to be...he's dead. He's been dead for years. You alone should know that...you killed him after all... he thinks as he hears that voice address him again. That mark, or sigil, could only belong to Alistair. He knew that none of the people around them would be safe if his line of thinking was correct.
"I told myself I was going to give up this lifestyle...what a joke..." he mutters to himself as he sighs and stretches his arms out before cracking his knuckles loudly and flexing his hands into fists. He looks up directly into crimson eyes his own now cold and serious. He said nothing. Without making a sound, he launched himself at Zheig going all out, no more holding back. Intent on doing as much damage as possible, he would swing a strong right hook aiming to slam it into the side of Zheig's head hopefully sending the golem airborne. If it doesn't send him airborne he would drop low and attempt to sweep the golems legs out from under him, completing the turn and spinning to his own two feet. He would then slam his own fist into the golem's throat if he was dropped by the sweep and slam him into the ground, hard enough to deepen the crater.
Just from the twisted up, frustrated, terrified look on Aidan's face it all became clear to Alistair that his big reveal hit the man proverbially like a truck. He laughed maniacally and began turning to face Aidan. In that moment, the flesh and blood man had rushed forward to begin another attack. Zheig's body whipped around, spinning on one heel and bringing an arm up to parry with the full weight of his body behind it. This would undoubtedly cause Aidan's blow to heavily redirect his momentum. But given the direction of the parry, it would easily be transitioned into that low sweep Aidan had planned already.
Zheig had a follow-up ready after his spinning backhanded parry, but as his arm came down and his attack trajectory was adjusted to fit the lower target, Aidan already knocked him off balance by knocking one of his feet out from under him. The other leg soon followed, leaving his fist crashing into the ground next to Aidan instead of right on top of the man's head. Alistair's style of fighting was incredibly similar to Aidan's, but it didn't translate well to Zheig's bulky, heavy form. On top of that, Alistair had no knowledge of Zheig's weapons nor did he have the ability to summon them. He could use Zheig's lightening control, though, and luckily for Aidan, he hadn't put it to use yet.
Zheig didn't have enough time to recover from the sweep and the botched downward punch, meaning Aidan's follow-up on the sweep slammed right into his neck and upper chest, planting him a couple of inches into the pavement himself. It even lightly dented his upper chest plate...
Aidan's hand ached lightly from slamming the large metal man into earth. He was angry, and he felt a slight twinge of fear at what that archaic symbol represented. If Alistair was truly back it meant a lot of bad things for this town. Especially if he was sending others after him. I have to find him...but first I need to deal with the one he sent after me. Judging by the give of the chest plate it isn't armor, and by his body weight he's completely made of some type of metal... Which means he's most likely a construct of some kind...brought to life by that seal.. Aidan thinks as he closes his hand around Zheig's throat and attempts to lift the golem off of the ground.
If he was successful he would try and grasp the back plate that had the blood rune on it and tear it away from the body of Zheig.
"Alistair..if this is really you...I'll kill you again.." Aidan said quietly. His voice deadly serious. He ignored the various onlookers now, his attention focused solely on Zheig and the danger he felt the man represented to everything he cared about. His mind felt blank and a cold quiet anger had taken over him, one that he didn't think he could control for long.
Zheig's body didn't move. He didn't try to avoid Aidan's advances at all. That grasp lifted him slowly off the ground, but given that he was made of metal, the throat grabbing really had no more effect than just lifting him up by one of his arms would have. The metal man looked down at Aidan. The moment he made a move to try and take advantage of holding Zheig by the throat, a flurry of electricity would arc from Zheig's chest and arms, coursing through his body and into Aidan's arm that was holding him. With Zheig off the ground, Aidan would serve as the only path available to ground the electricity that the armored golem was pumping out. It wasn't enough to knock Aidan unconscious, but it was far more than a normal person could handle and remain standing. For Aidan it would probably feel like he was being tasered.
The shock from the sudden burst of electricity would likely give Alistair time to move Zheig's body into a full-out assault position. His right arm raised high into the air and then forearm smashed down onto the arm Aidan was using to hold him up as a means to break his grip, and possibly break his arm if the flesh and blood man was too stubborn to let go. Regardless of whether the grapple-break attempt failed or not, Zheig's right leg would swing upward fast and hard, aiming to kick Aidan directly in the chin and lift him off the ground instead.
If these prior two attacks worked, Alistair would grab Aidan's leg while he was in the air and quickly spin around in a one-eighty, slinging Aidan into a nearby car at the bottom of the stairs just outside the mall.
"Again?! Don't make me laugh! You couldn't even finish the job the first time! Why do you think I'm here? It's payback time, Aidan! I'm a monument to all your sins, and this monolith is gonna come crashing down on top of you!"
Aidan held the golem in the air his hand and reaching for the back plate when a sudden surge of electricity coursed through his body. He couldn't move as all the muscles in his body tensed up and his hand closed tighter around Zheig's throat, his fingers digging indention's into the metal throat. He grunted as pain wracked through his muscles but he somehow remained standing. He tried to speak but felt agony in right arm as Zheig brought his own forearm down onto Aidan's own. Aidan heard the arm crack and he let go of Zheig as a flaring pain began to radiate through his right arm. The forearm smash was quickly followed by a boot into the bottom of his chin, causing him to bite on his lip and his teeth to slam together hard enough to cause a spray of blood to go flying up into the air. It took a second for Aidan to realize that he was now airborne. Slightly dazed by the kick to his chin, he couldn't react in time as Zheig grabbed him by the foot and hurled him into a car at the bottom of the mall steps.
Aidan crashed into it with full force his body shattering both windows on the driver side of the car and sending the car sliding a few feet. He was pretty sure he felt a couple of ribs break and that he had cut his head, probably pretty badly judging by the blood that was starting to pool in the driver's seat.
With a yell of frustration he pulled himself from the shattered car and stumbled around to look up at Zheig who was standing at the top of the steps. He heard Alistair's words issue forth from the golem, and he lost all sense of reason, as he felt the old rage completely consume him. He tore the twisted ruin that had once been his shirt from his body and locked eyes with Zheig.
Now ignoring the blood that was sheeting down his face, he sprinted toward Zheig completely ignoring the pain he was feeling. It was time to go all out, the time for talk was done. As he reached the man he would swing his broken right fist straight for Zheig's face intent on smashing it in or sending the golem flying back into the mall. If the attacks hit, Aidan's fracture would become a complete break and his right hand would hang limp as an explosion of dizzying pain shot through his head. Whether successful or not he would continue his onslaught with more punches and kicks aimed for Zheig's head. Kicks swung with murderous force. The only sound coming from him was the sound of the blows landing and his own controlled breathing.
The metal man watched with glee, his fiery red gemstone eyes glowing as he saw Aidan's body crash into the side of that car. The brutal assault he launched had been a total success. Naturally, Alistair knew that Aidan would get back up. He'd seen the man take far worse beatings than this before. But it was still satisfying for him to get a small taste of revenge, especially when Aidan thought he had the upper hand. The real fun was just about to begin, though.
A voice spoke out this time. It was Zheig. Alistair had somehow been shoved aside. "His control is not absolute. I can make an opening for you, but you must promise not to destroy my body. I don't have much time or I"ll exhaust myself and be lost. Be ready for that opening." Just a couple of sentences, and then Alistair was back completely in control as Aidan charged forward.
"Don't go relying on this husk of a man trapped in metal. He's got no control at all! I figured he'd try something, so I let him break free for a moment just to give him some false hope!" Was it true, or was Alistair just covering up his own weakness? Only Aidan could decide who to believe. Zheig didn't seem to be speaking anymore. That moment of hesitation caused by Alistair's temporary loss of control let Aidan's initial punch with that broken arm land square on Zheig's face, causing a distinct 'ding' as the knuckles of the injured man clashed with the metal of Zheig's head. The full force of his punch was realized, and the golem was taken from his feet. It was only a few inches off the ground and a couple of feet back, but Zheig landed on his back in the doorway of the mall. That same crater from before found itself to be his nesting place as Aidan dove onto him with further attacks in a vicious flurry of blows.
He rushed to put his guard up since Aidan was going all out, and his arms began to dent. His left cheek plate was dented, and his forehead was dented. His upper chest plates were dented, and the ground was cracking beneath him with every swing. But Aidan's body had to be taking a beating from striking the magically reinforced metal of the golem's body. What's more, all these attacks did little to wear off Alistair's control of Zheig. And there was still plenty of electricity he could loose on Aidan if the situation called for it. With a groan and a laugh, Alistair just laid there when Aidan took a brief reprieve from pounding Zheig's body into the concrete.
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The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
