Rune's Story

Well, this had all escalated very quickly. "This is why I don't leave my house!" Rune whined in panic, seeing the vampires-on-steroids charging towards the house and doing the first thing that came to mind.

Running directly away from them.

This of course took him further into the house, and the terrified young man swiftly ducked for cover behind a chest of drawers and proceeded to cower trembling out of sight. Him? A coward? Never.

However, despite his non-action, his presence would have an ... interesting effect on the fight that was about to ensue. Everyone and anyone involved would find themselves intermittently suffering from inexplicably poor luck.

Fortunately the town had guards stationed throughout its streets at all times, and the brunt of the berzerking vampires were swiftly intercepted and engaged out in the streets as the locals attempted to subdue the unfortunate victims of Descorp. Only a small handful would likely reach the building unhindered. The entire town was surrounded in a fifteen foot high wall as well, and with the commotion breaking out within the square it was likely that the guards and the Forces Detante would be on high alert all across the town for anyone trying to come or go from it. The town was well protected from assaults and getting past the outer walls and military defenses of the Forces Detante would be a hard fought challenge for arriving reinforcements.

Meanwhile for those vampires that did reach the building, they would unfortunately find that which was contained inside of it far less humanitarian than those that were attempting to subdue the ones out in the streets. The wolf-mind had been a caged animal within Maria, and it had been prowling the bars of its confinement ever since she had set foot in the Cursed Wood.

As the beasts tore their way into the building, Maria let the chains go. A savage snarl tore from her lips as she met the first of the berzerking vampires head-on to grapple with it. The creatures formidable strength was met in turn with an iron strength from the woman. The bones in the beasts forearms would be caught in a vice grip known to crush bone, and bend steel, before she twisted to bring it smashing down through an oak table. She trusted Biohazard to have her back from the other berzerking vampires while her attention was on the one in her hands.

The Ulfhednar were born and bred for combating all manner of undead abomination, and these beasts she suspected paled in comparison to the cunning adversaries of the north. Brutish hulks made for flashy entrances, but from their reckless entrance it was a likely safe assumption that their berzerker savagery was hindering their discipline and capacity to fight smart. They seemed more akin to the feral werewolves of G'ael than Vampires.

While she wrangled with the creature she threw a look to Archaeos and Rune in turn.

"Get that out of here," she bit out with a look to the unfinished bomb. Her voice had dropped several octaves and taken on a throaty growl.

It didn't take a genius to recognize the contraption as a bomb, and she had learned her lesson with the destructive capabilities of bombs already. She didn't much care which of them acted to get the explosive components out of the room as her own focus was largely taken up elsewhere. Of course having spent so many years in solitude combating the supernatural, Maria often overlooked the fact that not everyone was as physically strong as herself and that moving such a large contraption was easier said than done.

Into Verinotte Square did the Chirons descend, a little over a dozen of the winged beasts flying in close proximity to one another. The scent of fresh vampire led them to the center of town, which seemed to be quite busy at the moment. They locked on to the over-sized bloodsuckers with their menacing eyes before quickly taking after them into a mad dash.

Unfortunately, the werebats were intercepted by the guards as they quickly moved to subdue the roided-up vampires that failed to enter the building. One of the underlings was the first to pounce, releasing a vicious snarl as it dove forward with fangs and claws bared. The other members of the pack followed suit, attempting to sink whatever weapons they had into the nearest occupant of the square. No one was spared from the beasts' onslaught.

Formalities, it seemed, were for another time. A barrage of bright dancing flames poured from Achaeos' lantern as he nimbly slipped inside the building, rushing in blasts of white towards the berserking vampires. So hot was the fire that it could turn a man to ashes in but a few moments, and the flames swarmed the large beings' forms like insects, aimed to cling and bite at their flesh to swiftly cover them and reduce them to nothingness. Burned away.

Achaeos himself slipped through the room towards where the werewolf had directed him, eyeing the bomb cautiously, as well as the two people working on it and the woman observing. "Cease," the kitsune commanded, waving a hand in the direction of the man and woman. His powers worked on their minds, attempting to wrest control of them from the woman seated nearby. He disdained taking the wits of a mortal from them, but at times such as this, it was necessary. "Leave this place," he attempted to instruct them, "Find safety and shelter."

The kitsune then turned on Dorotea herself, "For your crimes here, you will face justice. There is no redemption for your actions in this realm. I hope you can find it in the next."

At his words, once more flame seared from his lantern towards her, a large gout fully capable of engulfing the seat and reducing it - and her - to ash.

The ground began to tremble and the air began to thicken with the distinct smell of something being off. This continued for several long moments before the skies above Verinotte Square began to bend and warp, a flash of white light skimming across the skies followed by a deafening crack, and then a rush of air before the looming form of a distinctly colored Reverence I PAC. Unlike the foreboding violet colored military vessels, this one was a white, trimmed with blue, and it bore the seal of the President of the Aschen Confederation.

The nameplate read 'Aschen One' And it seemed to bristle with the latest in Aschen military technology.

The ship remained in the skies for several long moments, it's engines reverberating in a low deafening rumble, causing windows and alike to rattle. After these moments passed, a brilliant column of violet light seared down into the square itself, besides the statue.

This column of light remained. Perhaps something will come of it.

Murphy's law seemed well at work here. It manifested in all manner of ways, from the inconvenient to the catastrophic. Maria and the vampire-hulk's impact with the table in the room turned the furniture into an impromptu catapult with a grizzly payload. The head of a dead child was launched into the air, spinning across the room straight towards where Biohazard was standing.

In the meantime, Maria herself would find her misfortune coming in the form of the table's silverware. A silver steak knife spun in the air for a few moments, before plunging downwards - point first - straight into the woman's hand.

A number of the mutated vampires suffered somewhat more dramatically, as their bodies began to reject the transformations they had undergone, their genetic make-up seemingly by chance being incompatible with the alterations they had undergone. They would find themselves either shrinking back down to their ordinary selves, or keeling over altogether.

As it seemed the fight was dying down, or at least that the hulking vampire beasts were losing focus for the moment, Rune took the opportunity to run away.

Of course, outside there seemed to be little in the way of respite. There were great winged bat things attacking the town even as the mutated vampires lost their drive to fight. How wonderful. Rune decided, based on the academic merits of his various options, to go the other way. He ran off out of the square and disappeared into the hollow.

Biohazard had done his part well, keeping Maria's back. Any tuned vampires that had come his way, he had done his best to hold off, and Biohazard's best was a force to be reckoned with. The hoodie he had been wearing disappeared, along with the baggy pants, and smoke disguised his form until he rushed out to meet the mega vamps. When he was next seen out of the black smoke, he was wearing the uniform he was most known for, clad in an onyx suit made of nanites, with a silvery chestplate. The red Eye glowed as the smoke followed him out.

However, it seemed, just as he got into the action, it all died down. He did what he could of the bats and the vampires, then turned to Maria as the bomb...and everything else...disappeared.

"Huh?"

He had noticed just in time for a decapitated head to fly at him. In a panic, Biohazard caught it, nearly screamed in terror, bounced the head from hand to hand, then tossed it far away from him. After cringing, he put his eyes to the sky.

Bats. So many bats. Why...and an Aschen ship.

"What the fuck is going on?"

Zosimos raised a brow. He wasn't about to stop the Gae Ceann's pursuit of it's target. In fact, it would be highly unlikely if this greek in particular ever stepped in the way of Verinotte Hollow's resident biker gang. Let the dogs play, he thought to himself with a sniff. Let Jack have his fun, too, so long as things went according... Accordingly.

"Not friendly indeed," Zosimos began speaking to the not-vampire with a glance up at the Aschen ship, "to those who wreak havoc." He couldn't help but wonder what exactly they were doing here, again. Last time they had no problem landing with guns, but now they hovered in aid. What had changed? A stream of fire shot before him as the two monsters disappeared.

He pushed the questions to the back of his mind, flicking his gaze to the kitsune. Impressive blade, to say the least. "You wish technical authority?" Zosimos caught the attention of one of the four surrounding him, whispering a word in their ear as they were off. "Biding for time as he may be...Are you a citizen of Verinotte Hollow?" The Forces Vankoryth were always seeking individuals passionate in the defense of Verinotte Hollow. As the standing militant force around here, it was mostly up to them to keep things straight. By the looks of things, the Forces could use all the help they could get. Zosimos could have groaned.

"Chaos, bloodshed, murder, trial," Zosimos breathed finally in response to Biohazard, looking up again at the Aschen ship. Were they just going to linger there? What did they want? The soldier from earlier came trotting back with haste. He carried with him a small black leather package, standing at attention behind Zosimos and awaiting further instruction. The Forces Vankoryth managed the perimeter of the square, keeping those with large eyes and loose lips as far indoors as they could. The four soldiers around him closed in Zosimos like a tightening knot, hands moving to their holsters, as he said to the not-vampire standing there in the square, "Shall discuss justice?"

The sound of intense flapping could be heard as his minions approached. Soon the square was flooded from all sides by legions of Dire Bats, blotting out what little light filled the area. The creatures were huge to say the least, comparable in size to even the largest of eagles. They seemed to operate on the whim of Victor, violently swarming on the individuals who chose to confront them while their master returned to his hybrid form. The transformation shredded his shirt and jacket, leaving the garbs in strips on the cobblestone ground beneath him.

His large wings expanded and flapped downward, producing a powerful gust of wind that propelled him upward into the night sky. A menacing cackle escaped his lips, voice distorted now that he was in this bat-like form. They have no idea what they're up against.

As Jack pursued Maurana, he'd find his path intercepted by a swarm of dire bats. The winged mammals quickly began to circle him, biting and clawing at any flesh they could reach. If left unattended, it wouldn't be long before the ravenous beasts stripped the flesh from the werewolf's very bones.

As for those who remained in the square, his pets' attack was used as a mere distraction; his true intention was to make a speedy exit. He was remarkably fast, even more so than in his human form. The fact that he had just fed only added to it. It wasn't long after his ascent that he was gliding high above his female companion, maintaining a certain height just in case her werewolf pursuer rid himself of the bats that attacked. Can't have him trying to jump and pull me down.

Boom

Boom

Boom

Maurana slipped across the roof until she was directly behind the wolf. After all, she hadn't survived these past centuries by being noisy.

"You folk really take your blood shed seriously around here, don't you?" Maurana asked as she jumped above the wolfs head. Again, she taunted him with her foot as she stepped upon his crown during her leap. This time she crossed the street, landing on the opposite roof top.

As she crossed, she saw the fire below growing and spreading down the street. Suddenly she realized, This isn't a game.. The icy wind that whipped across her face took all fun out of what she was starting with the wolf.

The woman stood at full height, looking toward the sky. The activity of the bats didn't seem to be as thick as when they started.

Apparently, she wasn't the best judge of character, as Victor's abilities were very well hidden in their introductions. This, however, was an obvious power. Surely a source so great would be capable of merely reviving the soul that she had consumed? After all, she had buried the woman. Some morals still danced about within her personality; she wasn't a total hypocrite in regard to the life she lived before immortality.

Her survival instinct insisted upon running from the scene, but, she couldn't trust her opponent to do the same. As the authority had before stated his request for submission, she had done so. This beast chose to pursue her of his own accord, so she felt certain her presense was not the one that the otherly being was truly after. She had no plans of evacuating the town. She would, however, keep the trouble that she had caused away from the place of her sister's residence. Risika had no intentions of helping her now, as it was. If she caught wind of this mess, she would lose the contact all together.

Maurana looked to the wolf, "Are you a fan of fire, beast?" She questioned from across the street.

President Kane silently stood in the CIC with his diplomatic entourage. They watched as the Aschen military personnel were working the tactical situation. With a flickering holographic tactical heads-up display they tried to plan their next moves.

The Commander stroked his chin, then turned to his executive officer. "We could drop the prefab FOB on the square and use it to restore order. But I don't want to attract the attention of the Invictus." He said, while thumbing his chin at the flickering holographic HUD.

"Deploy FOB And secure the square." The Commander said, turning to Kane.

"Mr President best remain on board until we've secured the area."

----

To those on the ground the Reverence continued to loom high above the city, of course with it's sheer size, being a whopping 3.5 miles in length, it likely cast a darkened shadow over the town, further darkening what had already been dark. That only lasted so long as brilliant spotlights began to illuminate the square, and then there was a pause.


Hisssss Crack! The noise rang through the Hollow and the square, followed by a deafening thoom!


The ship seemed to detach a large platform on it's undercarriage, this large circular platform began to slide down it's own gravity well, and the platform itself was filled to the brim with Aschen soldiers, whom had positioned themselves behind prefabricated redoubts and walls.

The Platform continued to slide down the gravity well, before it landed in a wide open space in the square with a deafening crash.

If that wasn't sufficient to garner everyone's attention, perhaps the firing up of the Aschen Myrmidon HBT centered on the platform would. Gnashing engines and trundling treads echoed as the vehicle moved from the platform.

Perhaps this would cause a pause in the fight, while Aschen troops moved to get their bearings. A Sergeant assessed the situation, trying to see who was the aggressor and the bad guy in this situation.

A series of bikers who'd followed Doyle out, stayed for a couple of seconds later and then took the effeminate bikers lead and went back inside their clubhouse, putting a sign up that said 'Closed' in bright green. Today was going to be a load of bullshit, as was every other day.

Jack wasn't happy. This bitch was toying with him, the death of one of the members had already riled him up some, the werewolf scampered about the roof looking for a quick way across, his yellow eyes burning. Jack didn't care and neither did the wolf, the massive amounts of slobber increased as it backed up against the other side of the building and charged forward, leaping high into the air with it's claws outstretched.

It was never a game. Jack was a credible threat, just like the rest of her paranormal friends. You'd be a damn fool to not give him his due, it's why they put him a cage and threw money at him on weekends. The wolf was going to land on Maurana, it wasn't about the killing anymore, if she wanted to play games, he'd play her bloody game.

If he did, he'd put his claw to her neck and dare her to move with her eyes. If she dodged, he'd swing his claws left to right and bring the fury to wherever she went. The crashes and bangs around him didn't matter, this was a game between two beasts. The rest were fair play to the Aschen.

Maurana, once again, assumed wrong in that the wolf would take cover with the rest of his pack. She could empathize with a struck nerve; but first, she would do well to insure her own life, even if that did mean taking anothers'.

As she watched him find his exit from the opposite side of the street to her own roof, she wasted no time in shifting. The length of the claws she had seen on him was enough to reach through her chest and pull her heart out with a single stab. She needed the protection of her coat if she was to survive actual combat with the creature.

No time was wasted, before she could let out a cry, he had her pinned to the shingles. Her legs were strong enough to support his weight, their length enough to keep his body off of hers. What a stench! She swore to herself.

Maurana couldn't heave a breath, as he dug into her throat. His force drew her muzzle open, baring thick ivory fangs. As a supernatural creature, she had a poison that flowed through her body and was deadly to most upon contact. In the shape of the panther, she delivered this poison with her front claws, which were at the moment positioned against his own chest, and stomach.

She drew back her hind legs, which were supporting most of his weight, and put as much strength behind the kick as she could muster considering her position. They both seemed to slipping down the incline of the roof, which she was reminded of the flames waiting for them both. She had to get the beast off.

Her kick did enough to slid out the bottom half from beneath him, but his grip held true. Reaching around with her left front paw, she delivered a blow to the side of his face. His hide was as thick, if not thicker, than her own. She would need speed to cut through it. "I wasn't even that hungry!" She screamed, though it came out merely a roar, as she clawed at his arms to release his hold around her throat.

Jack slammed one of his clawed hands into the roof and drove his hind legs into the cracks between various shingles. It wasn't about what she did anymore, it was the frequent challenges and taunts she had delivered to him during their chase. There was a clear and blatant challenge of dominance between beasts somewhere in those actions.

Jack's head snapped back as the paw hit his cheek, delivering a thick bleeding gouge across his face, the poison was already stiffing his veins, blocking up various parts of his muscles and making them scream in protest. Jack's face turned to stare at Maurana, one of his eyes had been caught in the blow, his left iris was now a pitch white.

Things just got that little more personal. With his single eye, everything was red. A hateful hunt begun that night for Jack, as he raised a hand to return the favor, the blow went errant due to the lost depth perception, it could go anywhere from there, if it at all hit her and the werewolf lost his foothold, his left leg desperately trying to find a hold.

A shingle was torn free and fell into the flames, the wolf stared hatefully at Maurana's eyes, or at least tried as he fell from the roof.

The cat braced herself as she watched him draw back to deliver what would seem to be a very harmful blow, if it wasn't meant to knock her head off altogether. It never came, though. As the impact busted a hole through the roof to the right of her head, she opened her eyes wide.

The beast rose from atop her, giving her opportunity to regain her footing. As she did, she noticed blood dripping from her own claws. She had drawn blood, which meant...

Curse the Gods! She spat. If killing a human citizen was so dire to these people, how would they react to her killing a respected leader within the community!?

Taking back her two legged form, she snapped her head to attention as she heard the roof give way beneath their feet. Quickly, she jumped outside of the circle of disarray they had made during their tumble, just in time to see the wolf tilt head first over the side.

Rolling her eyes, and letting out an annoyed grumble, it was obvious what she had to do in order to keep her head. Roughly, she reached out and grabbed the beast by it's mane. Positive that she had a secure hold, she launched them both to the flattened part at the peak of the building. Maurana positioned herself over him, as she slammed him unto his back. "If treated properly with a blessed serum, my poison is curable. With that said, if you wish to save your hide, you ignorant bloke, you should call to your pack for aide. I suppose a being like you will live out longer than most, but," She paused to take in the full view of the unintentional injuries she had delivered, "Well, you see the effects."

She never let go of his mane the whole time, ready to leap at the first sight of sudden movement from whichever limb he chose.

Jack was whining, his lower legs scrambling for a foothold on the wall, finding a small window, his legs kicked it in as he stared death up at this woman, Maurana. There was a hollow sniffing noise as he made sure to remember her scent, every single sickly sweet drop of poison in his veins a reinforcement to remember the pain she had delivered him.

Sometimes a man with nothing left to die for was reckless. The wolfed out Jack gave her a violent stare and his teeth were bore in a threatening snarl, drool slipping out between the gaps in his mouth. Maybe in another world, they would not be enemies, she seemed his type, just as violent, strong and yet... Merciful as he was.

The wolf struggled free of her grip around his mane, leaving tufts of his fur in her hands and smashed though the window he'd found, scampering inside and like a wild stray dog, stumbled home.

Maurana shook her head as she watched him disappear inside a window. Immediately, she rubbed her hand off onto her hip; drool was not her moisturizer of preference.

At once, she noticed movement from the air ship that floated above. She needed to get out of site, quickly!

Maurana skidded across the roof tops until she came to Risika's shop. As much as she wanted to take refuge inside, she thought twice. She would just have to leave the city, or at least, hide elsewhere until things seemed to blow over.

Just as fast as it had all started, she made her way towards the city limits.

"Stop! Stop that weasel!"

The shrill voice of a panicked woman echoed down the street, cutting through the otherwise serene atmosphere. A finely dressed older woman was trying, and failing, to run down the street in high heeled boots after the rapidly disappearing form of a small weasel bearing in its little mouth a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace. At the far end of the street, leaning casually against a low wall, was a young man dressed in black. A pair of curved horns jutted out from his long dark-brown hair, marking him as something not entirely human, though what exactly he was couldn't be certain. This was Wing City after all.

The weasel was making its deft way towards him, and it was at him that the woman's pleas were aimed. A smirk formed on his face as the little creature reached him and scampered up his leg to his shoulder. "You mean this weasel?" he asked as Caedmon deposited the necklace in his hand. "Well, I've stopped him. So we're done here, right? Yup. Yup I think we are."

Ignoring the angry yells still coming from behind him, Rune turned and slipped around the corner, snorting. "Don't know how she expected to get far if a bloody weasel could rob her." he remarked, "As much of a fine example of a weasel you are, Caed, you're probably not as good at mugging old ladies as a big guy with a knife."

The furry rodent made an indignant squeaky noise in reply.

"Oh be realistic," Rune said, rolling his eyes, "You're not even two foot tall. That'd just be impossible."

A young man, pale as the moon on a bright night and with light blonde curls that dripped around his face, pounded angrily and impatiently on the door of a quiet porch on Lady Une. It was perhaps the third round of assaults on the fine wood door, whose owner was so financially endowed that he could afford to engrave it. It wasn't good for the person behind it, however, whho demanded access, or at least attention, and who did not fit in with the gated community's denizens. It wasn't quite ever so good when he had to approach the gates.

The rich ones were flaky, he thought. But less dangerous. People who wanted extra money and were a bit more greedy than they deserved to be; people who didn't really know what they were getting into, so they dipped their toe in and dealt with people like Casper. Kids. People who other people call 'Tiny', and 'Angel'.

After a while, he resolved to sit on the stone steps. It seemed that he wasn't the only one bringing disarray to the lives of those people in the houses around him. As the slightly overweight older woman tumbled back to her home past him, he grinned.

"Be careful, they have a neighborhood watch!" he yelled, loud enough to wake the neighbors. "Housewives with guns!"