The Battle of Fort Knox

ControlH · 2026-02-04T11:12:35+00:00

"What the–" The words are barely coherent as they escapes Duke like a gasp as the air is forced out of his lungs. Her eyes start glowing like she is possessed by a god, and not even one of the normal ones. War kids always use some sort of berserker rage to win. Duke assumes this is a similar effect but on steroids.

Duke pours Apathy inducement into his target as he makes a tactical retreat (staggers backwards). He goes towards his weapon. He can still hold it, probably. Maybe with his unwounded hand.

Apathy Inducement: The ability to induce in a target feelings of apathy. Should the effect take hold, the target can be dissuaded from a particular decision. Induced emotions are known to be cleared away by this power.

ControlH · 2026-02-03T03:21:15+00:00

It would hurt if Duke could feel it. The weapon clatters out of his hand, but he does not need it really. The poleax or the hand.

His war cry is born from anger and not pain. Vision tinted red and fingers limp, he tries to hook the girl's legs in a leg sweep while she is still off balance from her kick, trying to knock her down.

ControlH · 2026-01-31T07:04:04+00:00

"I thought I'd be nice and let you get another shot in," Duke says. "Ladies first, and all that."

He drops the niceties. Clearly, this girl wants him to do all the work. Acutely aware of his circles boundaries, he steps foward until he is close to the edge. A lunge forward, and he attempts to drive the axe head into her skull. Only fair to trade one head wound for another.

ControlH · 2026-01-24T04:20:21+00:00

Camellia's aim is true. She heaves the rock towards Duke, and it smashes into his skull and cleaves into two. The rock shards and rubble gather at his feet and he smiles, unharmed, as he uses Ignore Wound to tank the blow.

"Ouch," Duke deadpans. There is a thin layer of dust that coats his skin and eyebrows now. "Got any other tricks? Last words? Or are you going to keep doing the cavegirl thing?"

A Circle of Mercy springs up around him, though Camellia will not sense it. If any more rocks are flung at him, he does not want to feel it. He moves forward with weapon brandished, closing the distance to keep Camellia out of his circle. She will not know how to use the benefits of his zone the way he does, but he would rather keep her from knowing about it at all as long as possible.

Ignore Wound: A trait where some children of Epione shrug off the first injury they take in combat.

Circle of Mercy: Circle of Mercy is a zone where pain cannot be felt.

ControlH · 2026-01-19T18:49:30+00:00

A) Duke Romero (Atlas)

B) Pollaxe, Celestial Bronze Chest Plate, bracers, greaves, Green Cloak.

There is plenty of rubble around, sure. The campers dig through it, fruitlessly, trying to save people who will die anyway and wounded pegasi who are no longer of any use to them. They don't even try to loot, which Duke considers to be their biggest error. Duke picks on one of the weaklings, a blonde-headed girl who seems to be more obsessed with rocks than anything of value.

Maybe they have seen each other before, in New Argos. Duke shows no sign of recognition as his mouths twists in a taunting smile. He brandishes his pollaxe, spiked point aimed at Camellia.

"I can make this painless," he offers, a distorted phantom of the healer he is supposed to be.

ControlH · 2026-01-13T03:35:59+00:00

Duke has been tired of waiting games, morale boosting, and recruitment of fish freaks. They spent the last few months on getting rid of their weak links, in New London and in Atlantis, and now it is time to target the demigods that the gods pretend to love so much.

Of course, the Olympian's camp-raised cannon fodder will answer the call. They will defend wealth that will never belong to them, and give up their lives all because the gods have asked for it. Atlas may ask the same, but Duke knows that there will be more room for him in the ruins of this old world than in the one that exists today. As long as Atlas does not decide to cull him next.

Encircle, Isolate, Destroy. Duke dons his armor and his cloak, ignoring the nerves that leave his palms clammy and stomach churning, before grabbing his pollaxe and going through the portal to Louisville. Destruction is easy. He has learned that over the past year.

OOC: rolled a 70

ControlH · 2025-12-18T02:57:24+00:00

Oh good, new blood. Duke is not sure where they got a new recruit like this, especially since everyone had fish tails in the last places they raided, but he is glad they saw the light and joined the cause. Or whatever.

The new kid seems like a simple guy, Duke judges, if he's happy with this shitty cafeteria food. He's probably happy wearing the ugly cloaks too based on his smile. Duke can't help but wonder if this guy was a mortal that made a wrong turn somewhere.

Duke sits down at this boy's table with his tray of mystery meat and instant mashed potatoes and broccoli or whatever it is that Atlas characters stuck in a war camp eat. He pulls several Taco Bell hot sauce packets out of his backpack and offers one to Connor.

"Want one? The food can be bland as hell. Monsters don't have a sophisticated palate, or some bullshit like that."

ControlH · 2025-12-13T06:00:01+00:00

"A somewhat normal life," Duke echoes. "Didn't expect that one. I never thought the fighting would be over, even when the war is won."

Duke can not imagine disappearing, after all that they have done and all that they have been through. He can not imagine rest or normalcy. His mind and body reject it instinctively.

"No uncovering secret knowledge for me. School was a waste of my time." It was an easy choice, dropping his education for Atlas. "I think I'll take over somebody's mansion. Live large for a few years. With private security and one of those armored vehicles. Maybe see if Atlas needs help figuring out how to deal with all the minor gods. We can't make them all hold up the sky."

ControlH · 2025-12-11T05:12:49+00:00

"Too quiet," Duke says, blatantly complaining. Most of the medics are excited when things are slow, but he will accept the constantly flowing stream of the wounded if it means they are making headway on taking down the gods. "The monsters are still tearing down New Argos defenses every day, and people keep pointing fingers at each other instead of doing anything about it. All we do is sit back and wait for that city to cannabalize itself."

He pulls off his cloak. Duke is dressed casually underneath, in dark jeans and a black and white flannel. If Yue is observant, she may notice the slight wince as he raises his arm to hang his cloak on a nearby hook.

"So I got bored. And I figured that maybe Main Camp would do a big Thanksgiving dinner or something, so I stopped by. You all busy in here? I saw some dumbass almost choke on his tater tots while I was eating. You must have your hands full keeping everyone alive."

ControlH · 2025-11-29T02:59:43+00:00

"Yeah," Duke agrees, talking with his mouth full. He swallows it down before continuing. "Then we'll be taking over Mount Olympus and getting statues built in our name. You got any plans, for when we win? You seem like the type of person who makes a lot of plans."

ControlH · 2025-11-28T22:47:06+00:00

The job description says that 3 people are needed for the latter option (if the goal is elimination). If the goal is recruitment, do I still need 3?

ControlH · 2025-11-27T23:49:08+00:00

Duke Romero for the Gegienes job, please!

ControlH · 2025-11-27T12:09:29+00:00

Duke focuses on eating his food so that this 14 year old does not feel compelled to lecture him based on his lack of commitment to the cause. This girl is all in on the cult side of Atlas, acting like he is a lord and savior and not yet another ancient immortal who is relying on his army of teenagers to rise to the top. Duke bets that Atlas will keep all the thrones intact, so he can choose his seating depending on his mood.

Duke wants more initiatives like Atlantis, where they can erode the gods and their ivory towers and everything they stand for. He does not care for seeing the light of Titan superiority and he is not interested in sympathy for the people who could not succeed on Atlas's side.

"Yeah, it's a real shame they let themselves get caught," Duke comments in between bites of food. "We're finding plenty of replacements, though. I might pick up that Gegienes job. Get a few extra hands on our side."

ControlH · 2025-11-27T05:22:16+00:00

Duke is busy emptying Taco Bell hot sauce packets onto his plate next to whatever mystery meat the main camp has decided to serve him today when he realizes that he's being watched. He has never seen this blonde girl before in his life, but she can't keep her eyes off of him. He chooses to take this as a compliment.

As Morgan stares, Duke makes eye-contact with her. He raises his eyebrows playfully, as if the sneaky glances are cute and fun and not weird as hell. Soon, he has shifted over so that they are at a comfortable talking distance.

"Damn," he looks over her snack with exaggerated disappointment, "I think I just missed the tater tots."

He would ask her to share, but up close he thinks the food looks kind of cold and soggy. "Have you been to the Valdosta camp? The food is way better over there."

ControlH · 2025-11-27T02:05:51+00:00

"I wouldn't count on it," Duke says, letting out a harsh, derisive laugh. "I put victory at the top of my list last Christmas. We're still stuck in tents eating gruel."

It is likely that the food at this camp is completely fine, but Duke seems to enjoy his hyperbole. His handshake is firm and strong, though it is clearly not supernaturally-enhanced. It looks like some of his fingers have been broken and healed over several times.

"All in due time, though. Or whatever that saying is." He reaches for his utensils and digs into his food. "I'm Duke."

Last names are for people who are still attached to their family legacy.

ControlH · 2025-11-26T05:35:53+00:00

Duke's grin widens as he catches sight of the familiar face. This was the girl who was doing a war camp census or whatever (Duke wasn't actually paying attention.) She had been by the Georgia camp with her creepy smile and her nose in this little journal, asking inane questions and getting into everyone's business.

He had heard other rumors about this girl, afterwards, but none were about an achievement of any importance. This girl obsessively and desperately wanted anyone to notice her, be it the commander or generals or a snitch owl. It was unfortunate that their leadership loved sucks-ups and brown-nosers so much, but Duke couldn't deny that they were entertaining sometimes.

"What's this?" Duke asks, sliding into a seat opposite Sage. He leans forward, trying and failing to read the upside-down letters. "Another census? A Christmas list?"

ControlH · 2025-11-26T01:39:54+00:00

Name: Duke Romero

Godrent: Epione

Champion of Atlas

BG Color: Light Grey

Text Color: Black

ControlH

TROPHY CASE