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!
The intense emotions of anger continued to flow through Octavio's veins, causing his fixation to be solely on the feelings. There was a violence to his irritation, increasing his determination to murder the individual who witnessed his face. The emotions were overwhelming, distracting the redhead from the fact the stranger removed the disguise hex, allowing him to appear as the male gender again. Unfortunately, the Puppet Master could not simply allow the nuisance to escape his grasp easily, especially when he remained aware of the crucial secret. Options were limited, he needed to dispose of the pest promptly to avoid damages to his secret identity and informant duties. Behind the mask, Octavio's green eyes narrowed as the stranger mockingly stated how he would declare a rain check; it felt like an insult to the seriousness of the situation.
"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU," Octavio exclaimed.
Only a few moments after the comment did Octavio watch his foe drag a separate dagger, the blade digging into the stranger's flesh. Blood poured onto the roof, the redhead pausing as he realized his opponent was creating another hex. After being lead into several hex related traps, the Puppet Master was hesitant to venture into another one. The Assembly soldier's body stiffened, eye fixating on the mysterious individual as he contemplated how to go about his pursuit. Allowing the stranger to simply leave was out of the question, but Octavio was concerned about possibly becoming trapped in a prison from his recklessness; should that occur, people could easily unlock the cage and force the mask off. Unfortunately, the Puppet Master was still fuming from the earlier mocking provided by the obnoxious stranger, thus the teasing was bothersome. Should he get trapped he was screwed, but that would become the case either way, would it not?
The redhead clenched his fists tightly, allowing for his anger to recklessly lead him in a desperate attempt to accomplish defeating the stranger. There was little hesitation as his hand reached for the gun strapped to his thigh, Octavio lifting it as he closed the distance, hoping the stranger would not possess another way out.
Anger was overpowering for Octavio, overwhelming his other emotions while he slashed at the stranger. There was somebody who saw his face, therefore, they needed to promptly meet their demise. Under normal circumstances, the Puppet Master would avoid being reckless, but without the mask, he risked being arrested and struggling as an informant. There was also the haunting possibility of being required to rely on another individual; to allow them to close where they could discover secrets. While his target merely defended himself, Octavio proceeded to wildly slash in a desperate hope of hitting his mark. Unfortunately, his attacks consistently failed as the figure dodged, becoming amused by their game. Nonetheless, the redhead continued his assault, placing more effort into his swinging, however, he was growing tired. The mocking proceeded, the stranger commenting on his temper, increasing the inner rage. A single objective became Octavio’s fixation, which was to successfully murder this meddlesome stranger.
The rash swinging proceeded, the comment about not allowing the mask to fall increasing the fury in the redhead’s swings. Nobody was supposed to witness the Puppet Master without his beloved mask! Citizens were to be terrified by the mask, not the face beneath. During his reckless slashing, he suddenly felt the hand of his enemy break the dagger from his grip. Hastily, Octavio pulled away, glaring at the stranger proceeded to lecture him. The statement towards consequences and the possibility of death resulted in the redhead rolling his eyes beneath his mask as he glares. There was something about the lecture that bored the Puppet Master since he believed disposing of the stranger being important. Somebody was aware of his appearance and therefore deserved to face his wrath to avoid the misfortune of RCMP and TRS knowing his identity.
"YOU KNOWING MY IDENTITY MEANS DEATH!" Octavio screamed, the figure irritating him.
The notions of being tricked were immediately ignored, the redhead merely desiring to murder the menace to his identity. As the mockery proceeded, rage blinding the Puppet Master's actions, he rushed forward. Granting the mysterious individual an easier escape, Octavio deciding to tackle the stranger. There were few frightening features to the Puppet Master, but he fancied taking a moment to punch his enemy. Should he succeed, he planned to embrace a brutish side of attacking because of his extreme anger towards the stranger.
Flames proceeded to file through the open door as Octavio pressed against the wall beside the threshold. A grimace touched the Puppet Master's features, his hand accidentally being too close to the fire entering the small room. He pulled his left hand away, bringing it closer to his torso as he inched away from the door. The stinging sensation was intense, his hand throbbing painfully as Octavio attempted to think of an escape plan. Desperately, his eyes flitted around the small, windowless office for something he could use to defend himself. There were a limited amount of options, the redhead discovering his best to be attempting to possess the fire manipulator; the idea made him flinch. While his abilities in controlling others was impressive, he still risked the man managing to break free during the brief moment of being open.
Smoke started to accumulate inside the tiny room, Octavio being forced to lower himself to the floor while everything started to burn. Through the subtle crackling of the fire, he managed to hear radio static as the hunter relayed his location and actions. The redhead remained quiet as he listened, rolling his eyes at this hunter's genius plan to capture him for questioning. He wanted to keep him trapped in the room through the usage of flames, but Octavio believed his possible death to be sooner than capture. The ever-increasing amount of smoke alongside the dangerous nature of fire already made it difficult to escape, but the redhead believed he faced possible death from burning alive or smoke inhalation. The Puppet Master sat on the floor, knees to his chest as he continued to glance around the room until his eyes managed to catch glimpse of a fire extinguisher.
In the far corner, the red canister was secured to the wall, likely in case of emergency situations to avoid any cargo or various other implements from burning. Whether the ancient piece would work was an entirely different question, but it appeared to be one of Octavio's few hopes for escape. Unfortunately, the torrent of fire rushing through the door would be near impossible to pass without risking a nasty burn. A sigh escaped the Puppet Master's throat as he rallied his courage to attempt to cross the raging flames in hopes of survival being possible. The reckless warden of this prison would either become his murderer, or he would manage to sooth the flames and control him to cease. Suddenly, something rattled outside the room, Octavio hearing the sounds of debris hitting the ground. A shrill squeal of horror filled the warehouse, obviously arriving from the manipulator attempting to keep him inside the room.
The flood of flames ceased as the high-pitched yowl of pain echoed through the warehouse walls. These noises did not frighten Octavio, considering he could already imagine the beautiful culprit committing the atrocity in his name. The wooden furniture in the room proceeded to burn while the Puppet Master inched towards the other side of the room, glancing out the door to watch the gruesome killing of his assailant. Hastily, Octavio grabbed the heavy canister from the wall in case the man attempted to set his precious Jaxx ablaze. The fire extinguisher was held by the upper section of the handle, the pin remaining inside to avoid any unfortunate accidents. Another peek was taken out of the door as the redhead heard the loud slamming, Octavio slowly exiting the room, leaving the furniture to burn. His location was already snuffed out, thus saving the warehouse from the flames was unnecessary.
Surprised touched the Puppet Master's face, his eyes widening beneath the mask as he witnessed his partner repeatedly slamming the man's face into the wall. The violent action was disfiguring the TRS agent, making it impossible to notice the features the previously had. The fire extinguisher was set down as Octavio hurried towards Jaxx, slowing down to a walk once he grew closer. The words Jaxx mumbled were barely audible to the redhead's ears as he ceased motion, standing behind him. The grotesque sight of his ally handling the TRS hunter was disturbing, Octavio glad not to be the golem's enemy. He enjoyed being Jaxx's master for multiple, happier reasons, but also because he could avoid these cruel fates.
"Jaxx?" He inquired softly. "We should go..."
The redhead prayed the golem would listen before they risked possibly being in the fire of more TRS agents. While Octavio was beyond confident in Jaxx's abilities, their stronghold of a location was gradually burning and the agents could easily take their time to create a plan of capture should they arrive in time.
Clenched tightly in Octavio’s hand was the remaining dagger while his pistol was strapped to his thigh. Two weapons and a single target to dispose of, although, the target was problematic. The cloaked man already proved to be capable, even managing to lead Octavio into several traps. Matters were worsened from the redhead’s emotional state, anger conquering his mind an clouding his judgement. There was a single objective that the Puppet Master was determined to achieve, which was to murder this man in hopes of keeping his identity a secret. Nobody could gain the knowledge of his identity unless Octavio could devote all trust into them.
The possibility of traitors among the Assembly and his own tense feelings made it difficult to provide people with the truth behind the Puppet Master. People talked, changed opinions and made decisions, most being complex and unpredictable which made it impossible for Octavio to trust anyone thoroughly. Desperation was high, the redhead thoroughly aware of the consequences he would face should he not properly dispose of this stranger. Laughter escaped the figure's mouth at his words and shortly afterwards the statement about him being too slow. In the instance, Octavio felt mocked considering how the stranger teased him, as though this was all a game. The redhead's green eyes narrowed into a glare at the mysterious man, despising how he had the audacity to ask if he needed a break.
In that break, his enemy could escape, thus Octavio had no plans to warrant himself the idiotic luxury. The longer the stranger talked, the more aggravated that the Puppet Master would become. The temporary Assembly soldier wanted nothing more, but to dispose of this man who managed to catch a glimpse of his face. He ran forward, slashing his knife towards the stranger.
"SHUT UP!" He screamed, beyond annoyed with the stranger's mockery.
The slashing grew faster when the mysterious figure proceeded to state he was not interested in girls. A low growl of annoyance escaped Octavio's throat as he pushed himself further in hopes of managing to damage the pesky man. Being reminded about his current feminine appearance was vexing, especially considering the redhead was certain Jaxx did not like girls. This "disguise" would ruin his chances entirely with the incredible golem who fortunately came his way. As the teasing continued, his eyes narrowed further, Octavio feeling enraged that the stranger would continue this pointless mockery.
"AN IMPORTANT SECRET! NOW LET ME FUCKING KILL YOU!" Octavio screamed, continuing to slash wildly at the stranger.
While his attacks appeared mostly fruitless, the redhead proceeded with the intention of defeating his opponent. The mentioning of his dolls who were forcefully abandoned in the building only increased his anger. His determination to kill the stranger increased, the Puppet Master placing more energy into his swings, but naturally, the "fighting" would take a toll. Gradually, Octavio began to tire because of his reckless slashes and the immense amount of running in the chase.
Bloodlust clouded Octavio's judgement as he rushed forward, attempting to attack the individual who viewed his face. The mysterious cloaked man had managed to cause a spree of trouble for the masked soldier, thus the redhead's fury. The evening had begun pleasantly only to deteriorate to this panicked night of chasing a brat who seemed keen on ruining his mission. There was only a single goal remaining now, which was to murder the cloaked nuisance who decided to inflict all these ridiculous jokes. When Octavio entered the small closet, he believed he may have cornered the stranger and could finally dispose of him properly. He rushed forward, being blind to the freshly created hex circle drawn in the small space. The dagger was extended towards his opponent, the Puppet Master grinning when he managed to slash the man's arm; he believed the comment prior to being the stranger's belief of survival being feasible.
A few steps forwards resulted in Octavio crossing the threshold of the teleportation hex, his dolls lagging behind. There was a light that erupted from the floor, the sudden disappearance of their master resulting in the dolls falling limp to the floor. With the redhead out of distance, which left nothing to support the inanimate objects and left their unfortunate master to defend himself with a mere pistol and dagger. When they teleported to a new location, Octavio backpedalled, glancing around at the new surroundings and shortly realized they were in the outskirts. Behind his mask, the redhead's eyes narrowed as he glanced around, infuriated to be tricked again. The dagger was adjusted, being moved into a defensive position out of concern that the stranger was more versed in combat than expected.
When the offered arrived to be transformed back by merely stating please, the Puppet Master continued glaring. The last person he wanted to be polite to was this annoying stranger.
"Why would I say please to you?!" He snapped angrily.
Without any more hesitation, Octavio lunged forward, holding the dagger tightly in his gloved hand. When he got closer to the cloaked figure, he slashed out desperately attempting to hit the man who ruined his evening. Leaving this man alive was a massive risk, thus the gifted man was determined to end him.
There were no improvements to the current situation as Octavio slowly walked through the hallway, his green eye scrutinizing the area. The soft echoes of his feet walking down the tiled corridor contained a haunting vibe, the lack of movement or noise making a rather chilling experience. Alas, the redhead remained unnerved as he treaded speedily down the hallway, desiring to find the individual who knew his identity. While he moved slowly, analyzing the hallway, his dolls flanked out behind him, peaking into some of the open doors. Long strands of red hair attempted to obscure Octavio's vision, the man grumbling as he pushed away from the hair back; he kept it short for a reason! Quietly, the Assembly member continued forward, listening for disturbances or something to key him into the location of his opponent.
The walk down the dark corridor progressed, moonlight leaking through a distant window to provide a subtle light. Rooms were searched thoroughly, Octavio's eyes finally landing on a small storage closet. His green eyes narrowed as he hastily walked forward, a slight vigour evident in his steps. He reached for the doorknob, attempting to yank the wooden door open. The doorknob stirred, refusing to properly turn to allow him admittance into the room despite the amount of strength he placed into it. A growl escaped the redhead's mouth as he slammed his shoulder into the door.
"LET ME IN, DAMMIT! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE!" He shouted.
Immediately, the Puppet Master beckoned his dolls, the objects moving towards his current location. The door was stared down, Octavio demanding his dolls to use their long claws to remove the nails in the hinges. The subtle sound of metal colliding with a tile floor echoed through the corridor. A doll was fetched from the ground, the redhead providing the necessary height to get the upper hinge undone. Once it was completed, Octavio hastily advanced, prying the door open to squeeze through the crack. Despite the darkness of the room, the redhead managed to notice the silhouette of another person inside the closet. A smirk touched his face as he quickly advanced, his dolls filtering in behind him.
"YOUR TIME IS UP!" He shouted.
The dagger was drawn, the redhead swinging towards his target with the intention of fatally injuring him. Besides, once this man was properly disposed of, his identity will be safe again.
The blaring of alarms echoed through the coastal area, Octavio easily imagining the mass of terrors proceeding towards the area. Once again, another battle for the war against the TRS was being instigated, the Assembly certain despite the dire odds. While there remained no proper order, the attack was coordinated with the primary objective being to harm the opposition. The massing numbers of TRS supporters were something that required dealing with. There was confidence that the damage could be accomplished sufficiently on account of his doll’s incredible capabilities. Underestimating Jaxx could easily become a deadly error from what the Puppet Master remained aware of. The man was designed for being a murderous soldier on the battlefield, the spectacle of gore always surprising Octavio or even reaching lengths of disturbing him from the sheer brutality. Despite the merciless manner Jaxx disposed of his prey, the redhead never feared the golem.
Between them, there was a loyalty that forged them together, allowing for both parties to create a bond; Octavio was even passive about Jaxx witnessing them mask-less. While the Puppet Master remained wary of most Assembly members, he always found an odd sense of safety around the serial killer. Was it perhaps that face? The familiar face of his crush, the wonderful psychopath who he discovered a strange connection with. The outsider he fell for, perhaps from sympathizing and later discovering an enjoyment in their one-sided conversations still captured Octavio’s heart. It became the likely reason he trusted Jaxx wholeheartedly despite his lax morals; even going lengths to still view the golem as human in some definition. Promptly after the alarm began the high-pitched screaming as terrified citizens realized their lives were not in danger.
The redhead gazed towards the window for a moment, pondering what it would be like to be on the other end of this catastrophe. When Jaxx spoke, his attention returned to the golem, watching as the man fled after providing his piece of what to do in emergency cases. Usually, Octavio was plenty capable to protect himself against a couple of TRS hunters, all it required was some caution, but anything higher led to concerning situations. The Puppet Master stared towards where Jaxx had exited before sighing and glancing around the warehouse. With a soft sigh, he retreated back towards, carefully grabbing his dolls to place them onto the ground outside. The door was shortly closed and locked, the redhead sitting in a corner, his back leaning against one of the walls. A single extensive breath escaped his lips, his eyes closing a moment to fixate on the weaponized dolls outside the room.
Suddenly, his creations came to life, standing on their feet with a frightening ease. A small portion took hiding places inside the warehouse itself while the remainder quietly escaped through the window to assist in the efforts. The outside world has transformed into a chaotic hell, Octavio's dolls managing to catch a glimpse of Jaxx who was conducting his research. Citizens were fleeing, attempting to escape the deadly hands of Assembly members or frightful terrors. A few became stragglers, running frantically under the false assumption they would shortly be safe from the slaughter. The dolls noticed a few, a woman who possessed a face of possible relief shortly realizing the doll climbing her clothing. She attempted to shake the creature off with a scream of fright, but the weaponized creation easily dug its claws in, proceeding. Eventually, the woman collapsed, the dolls proceeding to finish her off with a horrifying ease.
Minutes passed, Octavio flickering through the sights of his dolls, which granted him an expansive view of the area around him. The Puppet Master could sense the movements of his dolls, their patrols in the area being conducted with an efficiency, but suddenly something disappeared from his radar. A brow lifted, the redhead continuing to flicker through the dolls on the battlefield. A grimace crossed his face, the eyes of one of his hidden dolls inside the warehouse noticing the dark colours accented by red; the signs of an elite TRS hunter. Consciousness returned to Octavio's body, his hand reaching for the gun secured on his thigh while he inched towards the door. Suddenly, the dolls ambushed the pair of agents, fending them off while one reached for a radio. It reached his lips, but before the button could be pushed, the door was unlocked and a round of bullets embedded into the agent's chest, leaving a single one remaining.
The retaliation arrived, Octavio ducking behind the wall while fire burst forward. Without hesitation, the distress signal was sent, a single one of the Puppet Master's dolls retreating to fetch Jaxx.
While the mask was now secured to his face, Octavio knew he still required a disguise. Without the identity of the infamous Puppet Master, he could be discovered and promptly arrested by either the TRS or the RCMP. All missions would be surrendered as failures, his face plastured across news reports who would shamelessly provided the public with his largest secret; Octavio Kremlen is the Puppet Master, an Assembly informant and soldier. There was always opportunties in the battlefield, but the redhead's abilities were better tailored to to gathering information from unexpecting citizens. Ruining a portion of his grand disguise would result in him missing a portion of intelligence about the TRS and citizens of Lorsette; all valuable should they decide to conquer the city. These were the reasons this cloaked figure had to meet his demise since maintaining his hidden identity was crucial.
The remark the stranger stated felt like complete mockery to Octavio, even if the cloaked figure did not possession that intention with his words. The remark itself made Octavio growl in annoyance as he continue forwarded, determined to catch the cloaked figure. There was a steady tension rising in the situation, the redhead finding difficulty thinking straight, especially after receiving this feminine body. Every movement possessed a new definition of awkwardness from the odd fat distribution of his female body. Anger continued increasing as the female Octavio leaped across the rooftops in pursuit of the nuisance who forced him to undergo the peculiar transformation.
"TURN ME BACK AND ACCEPT YOUR DEATH!" The Puppet Master shouted, the mask distorting his voice.
Despite the sudden altering of his body, Octavio still possessed a more masculine voice opposed to the higher pitches of a female. Gradually, they were reaching the edge of the next rooftop, the cloaked figure ceasing for a moment to turn and regard him. The words he stated resulted in the redhead glaring as he rushed forward, attempting to hastily grab the mysterious individual but to no avail. Couragously, the man jumped from the building, later grabbing the rail below and hauling himself up. There was the distinct shatter of glass, the Puppet Master not even requiring sight to know he forcefully entered the building. An extensive breath was taken, Octavio carefully stepping onto the ledge, peering down as the wind ruffled the long hair that leaked from his black hood. There was only a second of hesitation before he jumped, feeling the air surround him as he plummeted down.
Everything appeared to pass in slow motion as he fell, his heart rate elevated from the fear of death and his breaths getting quicker as he witnessed the ground getting closer. The feeling was exhilarating, resulting in adrenaline-pumping steadily through his veins. Hastily, he extended his arm, narrowly grabbing the edge with his hands. Pain erupted into his hands as he slammed against the metal rail, his body slamming into the guard rails abruptly. Notes of pain remained evident, Octavio hanging there a few moments before slowly pulling himself over the rails. These techniques of escape were unfamiliar to the redhead, thus he remained merely a rookie when it arrived at the dangerous stunt. A moment was taken to analyze the scene, noticing the shattered pieces of glass that littered the floor. Slowly, the Puppet Master entered, cautious to avoid getting scratched by the glass that clung to the frame. The dolls were dropped while he entered, Octavio controlling them to search the building; he needed to find the cloaked figure.
Cautiously, the Puppet Master weaved through the hallways desperately in search of the cloaked figure. There were a few moments taken to inspect the building, Octavio glancing out the window to notice the stranger walking away. The mysterious man entered the building across and the redhead was determined to follow. Without hesitation, he found the nearest exit and hustled across the street with his dolls flanking behind. The front door was pushed open quietly, Octavio listening to his surroundings before steadily making his way through the building with the assistance of his dolls. Eventually, he reached the top, his entrance slow as his boots echoed down the hallway quietly, his eyes searching as his dolls inspected ahead; he was determined to find the cloaked figure.
Anger flowed through Octavio’s veins as he rushed in a desperate attempt to defeat the cloaked stranger and reclaim his stolen property. Without the disguising abilities of the mask, the Puppet Master knew it would only be a matter of time before his identity would be revealed, ultimately making his occupation burdensome. The mask in his eyes was a symbol of safety, allowing for him to smoothly accomplish his business with little fuss. Losing the item that allowed for that privacy he desired was in constant necessity, but currently everything was being risked from a fleeting moment of recklessness. A moment of idiocy allowed for the mask to be knocked away and later retrieved by the miscreant hidden in a cloak. Each step carried Octavio further, his dolls moving in sync as they obeyed the command on their master.
Watchfulness was forgotten in trade for reckless decisions and fixation on the tense emotions that generated from the unfortunate loss of the mask. There was a subtle glow which distracted the redheaded teen, his eyes flitting down to see the blooded outline of the hex circle around him. Panic flared across his expression as he flinched, momentarily chastising his ignorance to the magical circle created by the mysterious stranger, although, this limited the number of species the man could possibly be. There were only certain groups with the capabilities to access hex-based magic, most of which were hell affiliated. The magic began abruptly, light grey smoke surrounding his form while Octavio was forced to remain still as the circle took its effects. There was fear towards the possible magic being afflicted on him, until suddenly he tripped his way out the circle, a different appearance being formed.
The transformation started from the disguise circle resulted in a feminine figure stumbling out of the thin smoke. Balance was lost in a moment, Octavio falling to the ground as he glanced over the transformation he underwent. Frantically, his eyes glanced over his body, noticing the petite hourglass figure alongside the red hair flowing down to his shoulders. There was a delicateness to his hands, the fingers becoming slim. The Puppet Master was appalled at the sight of the alterations. His eyes flitted to the figure, glaring at the stranger with anger in his green eyes. The mask was returned, Octavio reaching to catch it and hold it close, hastily securing the mask to his face while focusing his puppets to continue forward. There was a blossoming of light as fire poured from the man's hands, confirming that he was indeed a hell species. A portion of the dolls was burnt as Octavio pulled them back, leaving only a handful of what remained.
The Assembly member's eyes narrowed further as he witnessed the stranger turn to retreat again. Quickly, Octavio pushed himself onto his feet, following behind the cloaked figure who seemed keen on ruining his night. A few of the dolls were retrieved from the ground before Octavio leaped across the gap and managed to land properly. The Puppet Master continued, attempting to close the distance between himself and the cloaked stranger.
After the battle, Octavio stood, allowing himself a moment to breathe after the strenuous efforts. The breaths were deep, gradually becoming steady as oxygen flowed through the redhead's veins and his body soothed. His remaining dagger was returned to its scabbard where they would sit idly until the master was prepared to use it, Octavio already making plans to fetch the weapon's sibling. Slowly, his gloved hand rubbed the side of his face, the section where the hunter's foot collided still pulsating with notes of pain. A sigh of annoyance left the Puppet Master's lips as he brought some of his weaponized dolls closer before glancing back towards the mask. Fortunately, the piece remained on the building, Octavio green eyes fixating on it. Steps were taken to close the distance until suddenly somebody else fetched the mask from the floor. Immediately, Octavio's eyes widen as they shifted towards the cloaked figure, shortly narrowing into a glare. A small grin formed on the cloaked figure's face, much to Octavio's annoyance.
"GIVE THAT BACK!" The puppet master demanded.
There was anger circling through Octavio's head as he stared at the stranger who held the most significant piece to his disguise; the mask that distorted his voice and hid his most distinguishable features. The mask was a requirement, the Puppet Master knowing he needed to promptly retrieve it from the hands of the miscreant, even if death became the only viable option for success. Suddenly, the mysterious man ran, jumping across the roof and leaving Octavio glaring on the other side. Hastily, the redhead's hands plucked a pair of the weaponized dolls from the ground and placed them into the pockets of the trenchcoat. The gifted man ran forward, getting closer to the edge of the room he was on before leaping over the gap. His front smacked into the building, proving that the redhead had jumped too early.
Directly on cue, the pain began pulsating through his chest while his arms hooked onto the roof's lip; he supposed anger blinded him for a moment. Slowly, his feet caught leverage on the bricks, Octavio slowly hauling himself up and glancing towards the mysterious individual. Quickly, the redhead pushed himself back onto his feet, desiring to continue the chase until his mask finally returned to his hands and the stranger was killed; nobody could know his identity! The stranger was near the rooftop's entrance, his arms folded, his precious mask tapping against the stranger's elbow. With a furious glare, Octavio ran forward, unaware of the "trap" the stranger had created with the use of blood. His hands dived into his pockets, fishing out his creations and sending them towards the mysterious individual in hopes of causing his demise and regaining his stolen property.
The distance was closed hastily, the pair of small dolls with bladed hands bursting toward while the sigil burned a bright azure in Octavio's branded eye. While the dolls continued towards the stranger, the Puppet Master's hands reached down to grab the leather-wrapped handles of his remaining long, silvery dagger. He gripped them tightly, the intention to slash at his opponent once he got closer. The redhead failed to notice the blood pattern on the floor, his anger resulting in him stepping into the hex circle the stranger had created. This evening was definitely going to be a long one.
There were the subtle sounds of police sirens as Octavio continued hastily retreated from the crime scene. Certainly, they would discover the possibility of his puppets infiltrating, although, if they remained unaware, the Puppet Master would merely shrug it off. Fame for the crimes he committed was insignificant considering the ultimate goal was to bring about Zeredah's utopia. Determination fueled the redhead, pushing him further as he dipped into shadows and avoided law enforcement or TRS agents who roamed through the night with a brilliant ease, his puppets steadily following behind as their master fled. A portion of the dolls remained loyally beside their master, following his whim while a small amount attempted to force the retreat of possible trouble in the area. Constantly, the Puppet Master gazed through the eyes of his different dolls, surveying the area around him.
Sounds began fading, the Assembly informant slithering into the darkness to pause for a moment to regain his breath. There were a few shallow breaths as Octavio returned to glancing through the eyes of his dolls, finding most individuals to be far from his current location. One vision caught the redhead's eyes as he witnessed blood splatter to the ground, a cloaked figure standing in the center of a hex circle. An eyebrow was raised until the mysterious individual disappeared, the patterning lighting as magic flowed through the circle; he would presume teleportation. The doll used to pursue the individual was called back, slowly slinking down the streets while Octavio remained stationed in an alleyway, catching his breath. Once his breathing regulated, the Puppet Master gradually ascended a fire escape, returning to a separate rooftop which provided him with a view of the distant building where chaos initiated.
There was silence as Octavio stared at the buildings, waiting for the expected return of one of his weaponized puppets. Patrols of the area remained constant as his dolls weaved quietly through the streets, searching for possible threats to their master who quietly perched himself on a roof. The night was cold, distant sirens being the only noise Octavio could hear until the sudden sound of another person entered his vicinity. The Puppet Master turned towards them hastily, discovering a thin man with blond hair staring back towards him with a smirk. Orange stripes marked the dark colouring of what appeared to be a TRS uniform, which caused Octavio to glare.
"My, my, a fine evening to find a certain phantom disappearing into the night," he said, arrogance touching his voice. "Too bad you will be shipped off to HQ!"
There was a surprising amount of speed as the stranger burst forward, Octavio feinted left as he withdrew the daggers strapped to his thighs. A long sword sliced towards him, the Puppet Master hastily blocking the blow while he continued to glare at his opponent. An unexpected brawl, how problematic... The objective had been to disappear into the night without a trace, but unfortunately, this hunter managed to catch a glimpse of him. Using his doll manipulation, Octavio sent one of his creations surging forward, forcing the blond to retreat.
"The only misfortune of the evening will be your death," he responded, the mask's voice changing distorting his tones.
They clashed again as the blond rushed towards him, a cocky smirk playing across his lips as he speedily swung at Octavio, each blow being blocked. The sounds of metal against metal filled the nighttime air as the pair brawled, a reckless swing on the redhead's part resulting in a dagger flying across the rooftop and over the edge. Beneath his mask, the Puppet Master flinched, the blow leaving him unprepared for the sudden high kick that collided with their black mask. The immense strength knocked Octavio off balance, the buckle loosening until the mask met the floor; that strap had been having issues recently. A gasp of surprise escaped the hunter's mouth as he stared, taking in the surprise reveal of Octavio's face. The messy red locks, green eyes with a single one displaying the familiar brand of the Puppet Master. Immediately, it ended as a doll climbed up the man's clothing, reaching to maim his delicate throat.
The claws managed to hit their mark, the man abruptly collapsing to the ground as Octavio released a groan of aggravation; these were the types of situations they wanted to avoid! He turned on his heal, green eyes flitting for the precious piece of clothing that hid his most recognizable features.
Continuously, the dolls weaved through the nearby streets, monitoring the activity around the building while a single one began sneaking into the business itself. Silently, Octavio flitted through the eyes of the various dolls, like a paranoid security guard checking cameras because he feared threat. He settled himself against the small shack on top of the roof that housed the stairs. The Puppet Master had comfortably nestled himself between the barrier surrounding the entirety of the building and the stairs outpost. He sat against the building, keeping himself low in hopes of avoiding possible interactions with other felons who hid in the mystery of night. Despite the mild anxieties towards being discovered, the redhead regulated his breathing, keeping it smooth and calming while he focused on moving his numerous dolls, hiding them when he found nothing concerning.
Immediately, he shifted the entirety of his focus onto the doll inside of the building. The item's right eye displayed his mark while he continued moving it smoothly through the intricate hallways and stairwells. This particular doll possessed long, bladed claws alongside large button eyes woven into the fabric. The insides were a metallic skeleton, armour being hidden beneath the fabric that covered it to protect it from destruction. Smoothly, the small puppet avoided the guards in the building, taking brief residence in empty rooms or sneaking beneath the guards' feet to remain unseen while it continued. Fortunately, his associates had tampered with the security systems, leaving all camera in the building in a state of sleep. There was a moment taken to quickly climb the final set of stairs separating himself from his target, but the sounds of guards tromping down caused the Puppet Master to flinch.
Hastily, the doll squeezed through the rails, long claws allowing for it to hang off the side. The sounds of boots stomping down the stairs continued, Octavio managing to hear the words of trivial conversation designed to entertain throughout the long evening hours. The redhead only half-listened, nothing of significance being stated while the guards proceeded down the stairs, failing to notice the claws hanging off the side of the lower rail. Once the pair passed, the puppet pulled itself back onto the stairs, climbing up with a swift ease to avoid any further possibility of detection. The door to the fifth floor was reached, Octavio, sparing a moment to hide his creation to double check if he was correct about the floor. A smirk crossed his lips as his answer was verified, the Puppet Master returning his attention to the doll inside. Gradually, he weaved his way through the hallways, checking rooms before discovering the correct door.
Another door was discovered, the doll jumping up to turn the handle and force it open with its strong claws; a tactic used on all doors. There was a creek as the door opened, the target distracted behind the large, black desk stationed close to the window. The puppet jumped down from its perch on the door handle, landing smoothly onto the ground as it slowly crept towards the target, sliding beneath his desk. For the instant, the wealthy man pulled away from the desk to rub away the tiredness from his thin face, head bending back. There was no hesitation as the doll climbed up onto the chair, crawling up the man's stomach and torso with haste. There was a startled expression, a scream leaving his mouth only to be prematurely silenced by the blades cutting into his throat. Red splattered across the doll while the chair fell back, his target going limp after a few moments of twitching from his freshly sliced neck.
The alarms began blaring, Octavio's creation climbing up to the window, jabbing at the glass until it gave way and smashed. Without hesitation, it jumped, landing conveniently in the dumpster and fumbling out onto the ground of the alleyway. His focus was shifted, the Puppet Master returning to his body, hastily rising from his position and heading towards the tall ladder connected to the building. The redhead hurried down, jumping off at the last through rungs and activating his dolls in the area. Once again, his alerting system began to function as Octavio weaved through the streets, knowing wholeheartedly that lingering for even a moment could result in an unwanted brawl.
Gradually, sunlight disappeared from the earth as night claimed the land before it would enivitably be chased away by the powerful sun. As time progressed, the nights grew colder as a telltale sign of autumn's coming arrival. The fading heat from a brilliant summer was mourned, tourist merely interested in the beach disappearing while those preparing to chase the changing colours of the Calico Forest entered the unfortunate city. This endless struggling continued, Octavio aware of being merely a pawn in the chess board; the battlefield between the TRS and AP. When the tourists arrived for autumn, the constantly flood of terror activity would continue until hushing slightly throughout the winter. During those cold months, little activity claimed the city from the frigid temperatures of a Canadian winter, thus the current season was a final attempt to amass damage.
Once sunlight disappeared entirely, Octavio tugged on the large, black coat that loosely hugged his form. The trench coat's trail reached ceased just above the redhead's knees, revealing the dark grey (near black) pants beneath. Inside the large coat were numerous loops and pockets designed to conceal both regular weaponry and the weaponized dolls he created. Heavy combat boots were his footwear, following the black theme his outfit possessed. Slowly, the informant reached down, grabbing the ends of each lace of one boot before sharply pulling back, tightening them before promptly tying them into double knotted bows. Gloves hugged his hands, the man creating an obvious effort to hide his fair complexion under the layers of dark clothing. A dark grey mask was secured to Octavio's face, a regular lens on the left eye and the right eye possessing what appeared to be a hatch, allowing for it to be flicked open with ease; specially designed for his ability.
The mask itself lacked intricate design, the ventilation area acting as the only other notable section which possessed an unusual bulk and platting. This section disguised the mechanism for distorting his voice. Once the hood was lifted, being properly secured to hide the red locks of hair from scrutinizing eyes, he was prepared to leave. There was hesitation as he slipped out of an Assembly controlled building in the western area, heading to the roof for a steady escape. A gentle sigh escaped his lips while he admired the view from the roof, eyes scanning the streets while he crouched close to the ledge. Silence consumed the streets below, sombre in some regard considering the lurking terrors, Octavio even witnessing as a shadowy creature slumped out the alleyway; their gazes connected, a brief nod of acceptance over each presence.
Quietly, the puppet master turned away, climbing down the ladder and moving through the alleyways gradually, his dolls scouting the area around him. Avoiding police activity was a simplistic task under most circumstances considering the watchful eyes of his minions. While he moved through Lorsette with a steady silence, the night time air failed to break through the warmth security of his trench coat. There was a soothing pace to his breathing, the Assembly informant hiding his paranoia towards oncoming attack. A nervousness enveloped his doll's movements, there being the slightest twitchings of anxiety as they roamed around him, his gaze flitting through before returning to his body. Occasionally, Octavio would glance around at the silent buildings surrounding him, remembering the district being usually quiet from the frightening presence of Hell's Gate within one of the numerous alleyways. The walk continued, the Puppet Master's mission remaining locked inside his mind as he continued.
There was an extreme importance in the succession of Octavio's mission, an individual who supported the TRS with his funding required a visit and death. With a majority of the soldier's efforts being used in the nonstop battle against the hunters, the informant with intense fighting capabilities was adequate for the easy mission; the target lacked fighting capability anyways. There were numerous actions that would transpire after his success, his message to the Assembly being crucial considering they would immediately drain the man's accounts by using the capable minds of hackers to succeed. While the TRS was a government organization, allowing donations from the general public could not be warranted among the Assembly; especially of immensely generous amounts. Gradually, the redhead began getting closer to his mark, easily evading the numerous patrols of the police. There was a slight grin as he managed smoothly traversed to the section of the western area the man was residing.
Swiftly, Octavio ascended a ladder onto the roof of a nearby building, stationing himself somewhere he could gaze over the rail. The wealthy man worked within the western district of Lorsette, the Puppet Master's affiliates gathering information to confirm an extensive evening of activity. There were a few moments of quiet as the redhead glanced around, paranoia settling as his thoughts reminded him of how defenseless he would be while he possessed his doll. Fixating on the movements was a delicate proceedure, and it always played on his concerns; he prayed the mission would end quickly.
There were perpetual concerns taken towards Jaxx despite the awareness of the individual’s endless capabilities all stored within his small body. After witnessing the numerous spectacles displayed through assassinations and battles, Octavio easily noticed the golem’s adeptness towards combat. Despite the observations, surprised remained from Jaxx’s gruesome behavior on the battlefield; sometimes the Puppet Master wondered if defeating him was even plausible. While preparations were required to make certain Jaxx was ready for the following brawl, his abilities never ceased to amaze Octavio. There was no doubting the golem's skills, but the gifted teen still fretted over Jaxx. Years of mourning the loss of the boy who wore a similar face kept the redhead attached and completely mesmerized by his personal feelings towards the golem. Even as the Puppet Master remained in his doll’s presence, there were those lingering feelings of intense affection towards him. The redhead wished he could convey those emotions, yet, found it difficult.
When Octavio had first attempted to confess his love, the boy had disappeared for years, possibly returning in the form of Jaxx. The notion confused the redhead, creating an uncertainty towards the lingering feelings that entered his mind. There were numerous romantic concepts that filtered through his mind daily, but he found himself unable to mention them despite the connection he felt towards the Murder Doll. The response provided by Jaxx was sensible, although, a small frown touched the redhead\s lips, obscured by his mask. A low likelihood of ‘faltering against an opponent’ failed to sooth Octavio’s nerves alongside the mentioning of adapting; his intense care for Jaxx maintained anxieties over him getting injured.
“Either way, stay close. Once the TRS start flooding in, we will be struggling against them alongside the citizens who chose to fight back,” Octavio stated. “Later on we will be required to retreat to avoid hefty casualties on our end, so I do not imagine the battle with rage on long.”
Slowly, Octavio’s eyes checked their surroundings, his mind counting down the minutes until they would be required to get started. The alarms would be blaring shortly, and once the terrors had taken the field, the Assembly members would be expected to follow. Damage and eliminate was the objective with plans to hit hard and fast before retreating to safety. The sudden question resulted in Octavio’s gaze flitting back towards Jaxx, the redhead flinching beneath his mask.
“I believe there will be,” he paused, listening to the explanation. “I understand your concerns, but I imagine unless any children decide to pose a threat you should be fine. Besides, a few members may consider kidnapping to give the Assembly new blood. Although, it is difficult to say how much Zeredah and everybody else thinks of the future… I mean, I am aware of their shadier means to gain members, but I am unaware of their other methods.”
While Octavio remained unfamiliar with most methods of gaining members, he was plenty aware of kidnapping being among the more illegal activities. He narrowly avoided being a victim of the concept, himself alongside his twin being adopted by Assembly members after the grisly deaths of their parents; he simply accepted. His parents were weak, the Assembly was where strength truly was. After a few moments of thought, the sound of the alarm entered the air, earning the Puppet Master’s attention.
“We best get started,” he murmured.
Without another word, Octavio began walking towards the smashed window. The redhead’s steps were cautious as he listened to the activity outside, even detecting distance screams of distress and growls from terrors. The chaos was here to create destruction for the citizens of Lorsette.
The unfazed appearance captured in Jaxx's face when confronted by the movements of Octavio's weaponized creations made the familiarity between the individual's obvious. Unfortunately, the Puppet Master still found himself lost in the radical transformation that had occurred to his dear crush. There were constant thoughts wondering if the golem remembered him remotely, however, Octavio doubted the notion considering the manner of their interactions. He prayed for remnants on familiarity between them, but the redhead remained uncertain in the amount of knowledge that Jaxx could be withholding. Questioning his crush over the idea was difficult since despite the extreme alterations to his appearance, Octavio found it impossible to place suspicion of secrecy on Jaxx; he could not resist trusting his love. The apology was responded to with a casual shrug.
"Don't worry about it. Making your presence known can already be risky," Octavio responded.
Admittedly, it was incredibly difficult to chastise Jaxx despite the redhead's awareness reasonable demeanor. Furthermore, the Puppet Master remained concerned that forcing his doll to maintain a known presence around him could result in injury; even if Jaxx was built like a tank. The dripping blood echoed through the factory, gradually ebbing due to losing the source and the air held the stench of fresh gore. The explanation towards his partner's voyage was sensible, Octavio nodding in acknowledgment towards the statement of the journey being 'not completely disinteresting' opposed to dangerous. The brief summary was viewed as ample enough to the master. While he stole a few moments of silence, Octavio wished he could have walked alongside Jaxx, maybe even witnessed the incredible golem in action despite the stomach churning his brutality caused. The response to the appraisal was proceeded with an awkward silence, resulting in the redhead lifting an eyebrow beneath the mask while he listened to the correction.
Another shrug became the response, a playful countenance marking his face alongside a soft laugh. The redhead saw little difference in the exchanging of words, resulting in him finding it mildly amusing that Jaxx felt necessity in correcting himself. There was a peculiar charm to his partner's requirement in correcting himself, the subtle need that was held for smaller sentences and formalism maintaining a small smile on Octavio's lips. When his doll responded to his inquiry, a note of concern entered through the master's mind; why were they always hesitant to inform his partner? Initially, Octavio had found himself immensely shocked by Jaxx's sudden change in appearance, but never driven to absolute terror; although, he was familiarized with the man prior to the transformation.
"I see," he stated in a drawn out manner. The tone was accompanied by annoyance from the Assembly not keeping Jaxx informed, but it shortly faded while Octavio proceeded. "Your presumption would be correct."
Silence fell on Octavio, the young man momentarily pondering why nobody had at least relayed vague information to his precious doll. While he remained skeptical, the redhead presumed that those various individuals were fearful of his partner; that was how their classmates responded before Jaxx was transformed into a golem after all. When the rifle dropped, it smacked into the concrete floor with an abrupt bang that made Octavio jump in surprise. Immediately, his head turned, eyes flitting until resting on the shape of the sniper that had fallen from its perch; a long breath of relief proceeded. Silently, the master watched as Jaxx interacted with the gun, listening to the inquiry.
"Of course, I do suppose it my job to keep you informed," Octavio began. "Right now, we're waiting for Lorsette's alarms to go off, that signals that the terror horde has moved in. Once that occurs, its all just elimination before we're forced to retreat, plain and simple." There was a moment of hesitation. "Although, I request you do not stray far from me. The enemy outnumbers us. Either of us being alone out there could be deadly, no matter how skilled you are."
There was was slightest hints of concern touching the redhead's voice, now distorted by the mask, making it nearly inaudible. Constantly, thoughts whirled about the numerous dangers that Jaxx would be facing via affiliation with his persona, the Puppet Master. It always brought anxieties about his partner being injured, the faint memories of vivid emotions and deep care receiving life at the notion of Jaxx getting destroyed.
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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.
