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t h e . w a y w a r d - e v e n t
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On the surface,
an Elysium of unsurpassed splendor. Beneath, something sinister lurks...
Krouser *sheaths his katana and sits down on a bar stool* "Elijah's fine, he and the salubri are still back there, but at least they're intelligent enough to work in pairs." *looks around the bottles behind the bar, then finding what he thinks is vitae, he jumps over the bar and pours himself a glass.* "suffice to say, we still have squat to work with here. I pulled two of you uncontious out of these rooms, while Elijah, Vash (you didn't think I bought that bathroom line, did you?), and I managed to get out ourselves. Further, Elijah and I brought something out. Maybe we were stronger than whatever is in the rooms." *considers for a moment, looking at Oldan.* "Or maybe the rooms got what they wanted out of us, and let us go." Altiriel Twice-Born "A hallway..." Altiriel said to himself. None of the maze that they had walked through looked long enough to be considered a hallway in it's own right. Well, there's one thing we can try. "You lead," Altiriel suggested. Elijah started to say something, then shrugged and began walking. With a backward glance at the stony face of Zadkiel, Altiriel began following him. They walked for what seemed like hours, taking so many twists and turns that Altiriel wondered if they might be inside a plate of spaghetti. Finally, they climbed a ladder and opened a trapdoor onto a hallway filled with dark red carpeting. Altiriel climbed out after Elijah. The young Caitiff was trying door after door in the hallway, but none of them would open. He began walking down to the end of the hallway, Altiriel close behind. As they walked, Altiriel noticed that one of the doors at the end of the hallway stood open. As soon as Elijah noticed as well, he began to run toward it. Altiriel kept up, barely--it seemed as though Elijah's feet had wings. When they reached the door, Elijah threw it wide and stepped inside. In one corner, the ashes of a long-dead fire sat in the fireplace. To one side of the fireplace was a small table with a tray of what looked to be ancient tea or coffee on it, on the other side was small bookcase filled with old books. Half the shelves were falling in, and many of the books were already on the floor. In the center of the room was a coffee table, broken in half and lying in the inch-thick dust. The dust was ubiquitous except for a set of footprints that led to the coffee table and then back out at a run. "Those are your footprints," Altiriel said. Elijah stared, trying to remember... Stormcaller Looks at Krouser I don't know if I really heard this or just imagined it but while we were leaving the room you found me in I heard a voice saying that it wasn't done with me yet. This seems to fit since if its purpose is to make me remember my past, whether I want to or not, then I still have much of my life or unlife to go. Maybe that is why I wasn't carrying anything when I came out of the room. ------------------ Krouser "I expect Koshiri would have said the same, if I hadn't broken his jaw on the way out." *Looks to Vash* "so, your room show any indication it wasn't done with you?" Vash No... I think I have to go in again... *Vash glances around at the kindred in hearing range* And if any of you listen in when I go back in, I'll have Oldan steal your pants! Elijah Robert Marks Click. Memories came rushing back, so fast that Elijah gasped out loud. He remembered everything. "There was someone else here," he said suddenly. "A very tall man, very tall, dressed to the nines. Top hat and cane. Told me I wasn't supposed to be here, commanded that I forget, and told me to run. I heard that sound, that sound we kept hearing in the Great Hall, only it wasn't quite so pretty. I felt a huge weight in my mind. I ran as fast as I could, though I don't remember where I ran to." Elijah indicates the table. "That table was not that old. It had a chessboard on it, and the pieces were all figurines of us. None of the pawns -- just the bigger pieces. And there were more not on the board... in reserve, sort of. "But this place wasn't like this. And... well, I knocked the table over. I remember that. But if I'd actually done that, the dust would be disturbed, wouldn't it? It looks like I just came in here and stood in one place for a while, then left. "This guy -- the tall man -- I've never seen him before in my life. He didn't... seem to appreciate me being here." ------------------ Krouser "I'll be damned if I let someone go in unprotected. You say you want to go in alone, fine. Take these. semiautos, with Dragonsbreath rounds, and training wheels. just take the saftey off, Put the dots on whatever you want to kill, and start squeezing off rounds until it's dead." *slides the guns down the bar, letting them stop in front of Vash.* "I want them back, so you'd better come out alive. if you don't, I'll kill you." Stercus "You know those aint gunna do ya any good. besides, I saw that dude [Vash] try and take somebodfys head off. He dont even know the business end of them. If he made it this far without playing with those toys, then he aint gunna start now." Jack Stands there, balancing the point of his 'Pig Sticker' on the end of his fingernail witha bored look on his face. ----- Vash If you insist I go in armed... then I'll use my own equipment. *Vash lifts up his hands. He's now holding twin CZ-75's in both his hands. He eyes Krouser's guns suspiciously* No offence, but I prefer these. *Vash slips his guns away in his jacket* Happy now? DanCastillo_Squee Jules De'Floren "You boys miss me?" *stops as he pulls two gold plated .45's from under his jacket and points one at Elijah* "Hunter, how are ya? Like my new toys? I could shove these things in a pile of **** and they'd still fire" *brings the gun down to rest at his side* "things have changed,
looks like I'll be needing these, huh?" Elijah Robert Marks ------------------ Neuromortis Especially as the fire ignites. The two spin to face the warm glow between an admirable case of books containing tomes the likes unread by the vast majority of even the most learned of scholars. Only a few volumes sport modern languages, the rest in assorted Hebraic, Latin, various works in kanji, and not a few in old English… And the cloying aroma of the Lapsang Souchong tea steeping only faintly masks the smell of the not-so-distant sea, beckoning salty and siren-strong to the independent heart seeking solace in it ever-shifting constancy. The two, as one, turn slowly to look at each other...then to the sundered table. Intricate pieces stand ready at attention, regarding each other across the battlefield of absolutes. There stands Bishop Elijah. There stands Altiriel the Knight. Both, obsidian black. And even as they watch, one piece, then another, shifts in form and nature. From a stately looking businessman bearing unmistakable Armani, to a disheveled fellow wearing the garb of an early 19th century American preacher; from a Victorian era pre-teen girl clutching a well-worn book to an oversized, slavering Garou... These are all figures in the forefront, the designated rank and file of ‘pawns.’ There is no such shifting in the ranks of the ‘officers.’ “Look,” Altiriel gestures with his eyes to two vacancies upon the board— Those of the kings. The space adjacent to Elijah’s bishop is flanked on three sides—by ‘himself,’ an inconstant pawn—and the singer Voracia. Elijah cannot help but regard the sunglass-clad beauty in the position of the queen—if the carvings captured the essence of the individual, then the whimsical desperation of the siren seemed to emanate from the form placed in her stead. And as Elijah realizes he’s taken the piece from the board to peer down behind the top of her glasses in curiosity, her now-familiar haunting softly fills the chamber (or their minds?), sotto voce: “Fourth Century Anno Domini ...and siblings, young, raised
hand to hand The mother overwhelmed, “Unforgiven”
cried A mage sought he, to salve
the rift between And so by tragic explanation
of a heinous Silence. The fire ‘pops’ loudly, startling both, inciting uneasy laughter. And as Altiriel collects himself, absently brushing his 'scar' upon his forehead, he notices the inscription upon the table itself, just hidden by the shadow of the firelight cast from the lee side of the raised playing field: Camarilla et Sabbat. ------------------ The sleep of reason breeds
monsters. Stormcaller At the same instant that the song begins for the pair in the room it can also be heard in the hall Where is that music coming from and why did it pick this moment to start? Isn't that Voracia's voice singing? I wonder if these events have anything to do with Elijah and Altiriel. We haven't heard anything from them in quite a while. OOC:Sorry, I missed the part about sotto voice ------------------ Krouser "finally, someone else is thinking clearly. of course, all this is assuming that if the rooms can hurt us, we can hurt them." *jumps back over the bar.* "I'm going back in. I have something to settle with my room." Vash I think we should make the rounds first to make sure no one stumbled into a room. *Vash holds up his chess piece* And maybe we can get to the bottom of this business? I don't like it one bit... they made my nose too big. *Vash holds his nose and stares at the piece* Krouser "Theif" Krouser looked to the reformed Koshiri, and pulled his pistol "Dead man talkin'." He squeezed off a round, and walked into the darkness. He found himself in the desert. The ancestor's land. "Is this the best you can throw at me? This place is meaningless to me. The tribe cast me out when I was named. I don't remember this place!" The subtle sound of footsteps cracking the dry ground came up behind him. He turned, firing a shot as the figure came into veiw. The figure of a hansome young Navajo man, in modern garb, laden with turquoise jewelry. the sign of a sucessful man. The figure caught the flying shell before it made contact. "Coyote." Krouser mouthed, as he realized the truth. Coyote dropped the bullet, and walked forward, speaking in Navajo. (Navajo, the entire conversation. Note, navajo has no past or future tense, everything is now.) "So you do remember where you are when you dream of this place." Krouser looked, circling. "Yes, I remember. What of it, I am here rarely." Coyote adopted the same pattern, circling. "You remember the gifts I give you, years past, I will teach you to listen to spirits, I will teach you to hide your heart, I will teach you the power of the sands." Coyote said. Krouser's glare softened. "I remember. I remember, still to come, you will give me a name." Krouser responded. Coyote pulled something long and slender from his pocket, and ripped a long strand of small containers from his belt. He threw them halfway to Krouser. "You've lived this life before. Everyone tells you that you are something else. Your father named you Koshiri Hachi. Your mother called you Kohi Douglas. The worldgaurds called you speaker of the defending spirits. Your love called you her Daimon. Your Great Grandsire called you Gangrel, your tribe called you damned. The masqueraders called you tool, the beasts called you fool. None of that means anything. Do not let it define you." Krouser stopped glaring, stepping towards what Coyote had thrown. He picked the items up, a collection of painting sands, and a hand carved flute. "I have risked much to bring you here, and tamper with this place. You are Kokopili, the dream maker. Remember this, and remember that your road is long, and your happy times short. I must go. you should as well." Nikodemus Nikodemus watches as his fellow Cainites go searching through the hall. Still taken aback at the appearance of his homeland through a window, Niko heads out. He goes down that dingy hallway, much darker now, and with a new layer of dust for a carpet. "What the...hmmm...no footprints. In fact, nothing to suggest I ever came this way." Looking closer, Niko realizes that there are some minor changes. Looking back down the passageway at what he thought of as "Bloodsucker HQ" he is quite certain that he is in the original hallway. "Now, to find that room. I'll bet Mei Wei will be surprised to see me." Again, he smells that familiar smell, that of the seashore, and his heart sings of home. "It's been too long. Too many battles. Too many lives lost...but the cause is worth it." Niko peers closely in the doorway of each room he passes, searching for the window that will take him back to the land of his youth. Finally he stops, the hairs on the back of his neck beginning to stand on end. "Hmm...can't be far now." Niko enters the room, a closet would be a proper term for it, given it's size. The window seems to have been added after the construction of the building, as an afterthought. "I...uhh...I coulda swore that window was farther to the left before. And what's it doing closed? I was positive it was open." Niko climbs through the small window, dropping himself to the dirt path aggrandized by calling it a road. Looking to the north, he sees the hundreds of boats, semi-permanently docked into place. Now, fighting with the smell of the sea was the smell of food. "Ha. The only reason other vampires call my ability to eat disgusting is their own jealousy. Now I'm going to get some Moo Goo Gai Pan the way it is supposed to be prepared." Niko had barely taken three steps when the voice started calling. That voice brought with it a feeling of peace, love and apprehension. Slowly, nervously, he turned to face that voice. "Nikodemus...you've come home." A lovely Chinese woman, apparently in her early thirties was standing on a cliff side. 'Perfect,' Nikodemus thought to himself, 'she still looks perfect. Not that she shouldn't. Her hair played out in the gentle breeze, a dark, silken curtain rippling out behind her. She was as beautiful as he remembered, a youthful figure in a blue dress embroidered with dancing gold dragons. "Mei Wei," Nikodemus said, bowing with the precision, an attention to detail, to nuance, that only an Asian would be inclined to perfect. "I have returned." "I warned you not to. Your presence here still causes me pain. Does that not matter to you?" "Of course it does. I had no wish to cause you pain, beloved." Nikodemus was still bowed, eyes fixed on the ground. "It is of no moment. Equal parts pleasure and pain war within me. I prefer to take the side of pleasure in this instance. You have been well, I take it." "I have been well." "Rise, you idiot, and walk with me." Nikodemus straightened and stepped up the small cliff, noting the window was still present. Mei Wei held his arm by the crook in his elbow as they walked down toward the restaurants. "Nikodemus do you still write?" "I do. After all, you yourself said ,'The Japanese are a horribly uncultured lot with only one idea of distinction, that a warrior must be accomplished in all of the arts, not just the martial ones.'" "So I remember, I wasn't sure you did, though. Tell me...tell me some of what you've written." Nikodemus stopped walking, gathering his thoughts. "I am Darkness As he speaks, Mei Wei starts to slowly circle him. "I am darkness Mei Wei leans close to him, a cold breath touching his ear. "I am darkness The breath closer now, the hairs on Nikodemus's neck begin to rise again. "I am darkness 'Stay with me, Niko' Her thoughts in his head, as many, many times before There was a subtle difference this time though. As if something else broadcast the very same thoughts at the very same time. 'End your loneliness with me, with us.' The twin thoughts again, filling his mind with a compliant lassitude. Nikodemus felt his will slipping slowly away. "NOOO!" Nikodemus pushed himself away from her, rolling on the ground, drawing twin butterfly swords. "Not my Sire...you sick, black demons." "Nikodemus," Mei Wei's voice now held that dual quality her thoughts did...or was it always there. "Do you really hope to stand against us...you and your pitiable Crusade? "We are legion. We control humans, vampires, even the Garou you so admire." Nikodemus could only stand in horror, listening to the creature speak. "There isn't continent or clime in which we don't call home. Now, once we've taken you, we'll have the location of your latest little gathering. Such a convienient place to snatch up very old vampires, even one as old as Necross. And Garou as well. Their kind make such valuable hosts. I think that when I am done with this one's body, I shall take one of theirs, maybe Morgan's." Nikodemus fed his rage at the creature's words with blood. Rolling forward with preternatural speed, he thrust both of the swords into the belly of the woman he loved. He felt the resistance disappear as both blades punched through her back and continued through the other side. Mei Wei fell to the ground. "Oh my God...what have I done?" Nikodemus dropped both blades and crawled around beside her head, cradling it. He looked into her lifeless eyes for a moment before reaching up to close them. Her blow, a backhand, sent him flying through the air. "Foolish mortal playing at immortality. Did you truly think you could kill me so easily?" In terror, Nikodemus crabwalked away from the slowly, casually approaching creature. Her dress was torn, but there was no wound. "You are truly no threat to us. Why resist the inevitable. You will join us, and of your own free will." Nikodemus gathered his feet under him and fled to the sound of the Mei Wei's laughter. He sprang through the air and flew through the window that led back to the Great Hall. Twisting in the air to absorb the shock, he allowed the momentum to carry him to his feet. He spun around to face the window only to find it closed. Featureless night was all that was behind the window. He felt the weight of his twin swords in their sheaths. Nikodemus dropped to his knees and cried, rivers of blood streaming down his face. After a time, he stood and wearily made his way back to the Great Hall. Krouser "Yo, 'Demus, get over here. I could use a good critique." Nikodemus "Well, Krouser, I know squat about art, but I'll tell you what I think...hey, I've seen that somewhere before. That's kinda nice. Do you name your works?" Krouser *the sandpainting is a very stylized image of a feminine figure walking out of a sunset. most of it seems to be finished, save the long sunbeams, which krouser is currently filling with a blend of yellow and orange sands.* "I hadn't thought of it. My grandfather always said that it was bad luck to name a sandpainting if it wasn't for ritual use. He was a supersticious old guy, but family is family." *he finishes the last beam, then picks up an empty picture frame, clearly caniblized from the wall, and carefully fits the sandpainting inside. he lifts it carefully, and slowly tilts it, until it is vertical, smiling when he sees that the sands haven't shifted.* "Now if I remember correctly.... Ahh, there we go. a framed Krouser Daimon original, happy birthday man." *hands it to Nikodemus.* Stormcaller Now I know that room was around here somewhere now if only I could find it. He walks around looking at each door as he passes until he comes to a door that seems to call out to him. Upon the door can be seen what appears to be an angel. Now why does this symbol seem so familiar. I guess if this room is meant for me I will be able to enter it and if not then I guess it won't matter. He turns the handle and he hears the click of the door opening. He is filled with both relief and disappointment. Inside is what appears to be a womans bedroom. The furnishings appear to be old style German. He steps inside and the door closes behind him with a quiet click. When he turns around there is only a blank wall. From behind him comes a young female voice with a heavy german accent. Hello my Dunkel Engel(dark angel) it has been so long since we were together. I have despaired of ever seeing you again. I see that you have not changed any in the long years of our separation and this pleases me greatly. I fear that it is now time for your next lesson. Upon seeing the girl David feels a stirring in his memory but he can not get any clear pictures. He feels that he should remember this person above all others yet he is completly unable to remember anything about her. While he is struggling to rememeber her she has come to stand directly in front of him and without warning she reaches up and touches him on his forehead just as the first apparation did. Again he feels the searing pain and again he is flooded with memories. He remembers roaming the land after his embrace. He remebers meeting a group of wondering monks from a far off land that in exchange for news and protection, were willing to train him in the use of new weaponry. At the time he was too inexperianced to wonder why this group of monks seemed to welcome him and that they didn't even seem disturbed by his nature. He remembers learning how to use a variation of the Naganata from the monks in the months that he guarded them from the nighttime predators and at the end of their journey they gifted him with a new weapon. He remembers leaving the monk's party and roaming around until he came to Germany where he came upon a village that was being attacked by a group of outlaws that were being led by one of the kindred. Using his new weapon and trickery he was able to kill all of the outlaws. After searching the village for the leader of the group he heard a scream from a nearby house. Upon entering he saw a scene of utter horror. There were three bodies on the floor, two men and an older woman. The bodies had been ripped apart as if by a wild animal. He hears a scream coming from one of the inner rooms and rushes to see what is happening. Inside the room is the vampire and a young woman. The woman is being backed into a corner by the smiling vampire. (Vampire in german) Hearing these words and knowing that he will have only one strike to kill his opponent David sets himself and strikes. His aim is true and he strikes the head from the rival kindred's body. He checks to make sure that the creature is truly dead and then heads over to the girl. When she looks up he is instantly struck by her beauty. Seeing him and what he has done she immediatly bursts into tears. (David in German) (Girl in German) My..my name is Susi. How did you kill Detrik. My father stabbed him and he just laughed. Then he...he ripped my fathers throat out. she begins to loose control but regains itI saw him kill my whole family and laugh the whole time he was doing it. How did you kill him, is your staff magical or are you some kind of angel sent from heaven to answer my prayers. Not wanting to scare the girl with the truth just yet David comes up with a plausable story No, I am no angel and I don't think this weapon is magical. I just got lucky I guess. I don't know of many creatures that are able to live without their head so I just tried to take his off as quickly as posible. I am sad to hear about what happened to your family and I offer any help that I can give in order to help you recover from this ordeal. David then remembers the years after. He remembers falling in love with Susi and her falling in love with him. He remembers the night that he decided to tell her the truth about himself and how after the initial shock she recovered and how after that she called him her Dark Angel. He remembers the night that the vampire hunters came to the village and how they stormed the house of Susi and killed her before even trying to determine whether she truly was a vampire or not. He remembers the following nights when he hunted and killed each of those hunters. With this last memory David wakes from his trance. In the place that Susi was standing now sits his weapon. It has a staff that is 5' long and made out of some ebony materiel that is harder than stone yet much lighter. Along the length of the staff there are many arcane runes. At one end of the staff there is a 1' long blade that looks much like the blade of a katana and along its length can be seen the same runes only inlaid with what appears to be silver. At the balance point of the shaft there is a hidden switch that allows it to be split in two. Lying under the weapon is a harness that is made to hold the weapon in it's disassembled state. Also there is a note written in german. (Note) I am sorry that our meeting was so short but it was beyond my control. Try to remember that no matter where you go or when you are I will always be with you my Dunkel Engel. With Love, Susi Upon reading the last line of the note a red spot appears on the page. David realizes that he is crying and wipes of his face. Behind him he hears a click and when he turns around he sees the door reapear in the wall and reopen. With one last look around David straps on his new harness and sheaths his weapon and heads back to the antechamber. ------------------
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