Fantasy Hunter's Moon: Ascendancy [IC] [CLOSED]

[Damian0358]

After healing up Jayden, Xiaòzhou returned to passively healing the others, noting at the same time how Rebecca and Sebastian had gone downstairs.

The hermit had few words after - he was used to being referred to as a 'foreigner', and only had an impressed nod to give upon seeing that a leather case had been hidden in the buttstock.

 

[Infab]

"Hmpf, a hidden treasure." the demon prince commented, "How fitting."

"Well, you know how the saying goes." responded Claire as her mouth shifted to a slight smirk, "Old habits die hard." She then looked back to Cassandra. "See if you can find that copper coin, eh? Its important."

Cassandra cocked an eyebrow for a moment, before rolling her eyes and beginning to look about the floor for the copper piece. Meanwhile, Claire turned back to the others. Opening the journal, her eyes scanned the words marking the pages. Her finger traced them as she read, sometimes pausing as she looked at little sketches that Jayden's ancestor had drawn here and there.

"Mr. Barr seems to have recorded his travels in this journal, stretching all the way back to his first raid. That copper coin seems to come from that particular haul..." she said softly, examining the dates on the pages as she flipped through them. "Thought you might find that interesting, Jayden."

Cassandra's voice called out, as she continued to look for the coin. "Any talk of hidden chests? Perhaps buried somewhere? Ten paces from some odd landmark, big X marked on a rough sketch of a map..." she said jokingly, as she flicked a chair almost across the room.

Claire cut her a look. "No. Nothing of the sort." she stated, almost bluntly. She returned her attention to the journal, continuing to read. "He does mention a rather peculiar looking amulet, in the possession of one Captain Alexander Arturo Salvador Valdueza."

"Someone you know?" asked Cassandra, pausing after lifting up another table. She looked about beneath it, before a "Found it." escaped from her lips. She simply tossed the table aside, reaching down and picking up the copper coin from the floor a moment later.

Claire nodded. "Most pirates knew him, or at least of him." she responded, "Legendary pirate captain, hailing from Volucia. Sank an Atracan man-o-war, the HMS Velin's Fury, and plundered the galleon it was escorting. He also raided several dozen other ships along the western Atracan coast. Heard that he and his crew eventually died in the Atracan Navy's raid on Caleling Reef, near Peltragow."

Claire then shut the journal. "I believe we've found where the amulet still rests." she added, as she looked to Jayden. "...Jayden, do you mind if I keep this journal?"

Jayden shrugged. "Do what you want." he responded. Claire smiled slightly. "Thank you." she said softly, before tucking the leather bound book into her coat.

Cassandra soon brought the coin to Jayden. "Here. Keepsake or something. Could sell it with the rifle if you want, too." she said, just as Claire offered him the rifle. He hesitated for a moment, before reaching out and taking both.

 

[K0mori]

It was difficult to assign a distinct emotion to Sebastian's face, but Rebecca could easily imagine the turmoil underneath and the conflicting impulses affection the young man's mind- the temptation to run away, a fear of inadequacy, a dejection and horror at the sight of a potential future world, and a deep, profound sense of responsibility, all roiling in the pit of his soul like a tempest on a dark horizon, rolling in from sea.

"I want to kill them all," he said, putting both hands on the railing and hanging his head. It was a desperate plea, made in despair at the circumstances- nothing as violent or defiant as the words alone suggested.

 

[Infab]

"I want to kill them all."

Rebecca watched him for a moment, before stepping over and placing her gloved hand on his shoulder. "...I know." she said softly. "...You're not alone in this. We're all in this together, and we will triumph in the end. The Icons will fall, and Taranoch along with them."

She then smiled. "If you need someone to talk to... someone to lean on, or to guide you... or just someone to walk beside you to the very end, I will be here. Always." she said, gently patting his shoulder. "No matter how difficult or dark things get, I will help you push on. And I'll make sure you get through this. That we all get through this."

 

[Worthlessplebian]

As the sanguine sorcerer fell to their combined firepower, there had been an element of calmness to the entire ordeal. As if the tension, for him anyway, evaporated or liquefied like the crimson plates of armour that the sorcerer once wore. The taut muscles loosen as Rajko squats down on the floor, releasing a whistle of air before rising again. He shoulders his rifle then stretches to relieve himself of muscles aches. Sheer luck that he did not once take injury from their current battle. The crossbow wound is still fresh. He propped himself against the wall, observing the others- Takato providing aid, Azathor spinning his pistols, and Claire questioning Jayden.

"Rajko." He introduced himself with a wave, seeing as their leader failed to mention him. A bruised ego for the warbat if nothing else. He reached for his pipe, only to grip empty air when he remembered that his coat is left with his horse. Defeated, he relegated himself to lookout as he composedly circled the room. Keeping primed his senses. Occasionally picking up tidbits of the Saint's and Soldier's conversation.

Once the coin was located and the journal read, it was determined that their next location would be the Caleling Reef. "A seaside venture, how fun." He callously commented, a mite sickness in his stomach spurned.

 

[K0mori]

Sebastian stayed silent as the saint spoke to him. He wanted to calm down, and he tried, but he couldn't let go of the tension inside.

 

[Infab]

"A seaside venture, how fun."

"Well, you'll likely be getting in the water itself." said Claire, glancing back to Rajko. "The town is built in the shallow waters on a shelf, overlooking the vast reef a few dozen meters down. Water in the town area ranges from ankle deep to waist deep."

She held a hand out, fingers outstretched so her hand was horizontally flat. She then placed her other hand atop it in the same manner. "The structures are situated atop the water at high tide, held in place by poles and thick boards decending into the shelf itself. When the tide goes out, you can see the skeletal frame beneath them. It's really the only pirate port I've seen constructed in that manner. The rest, on this island, are situated on land."

She looked to the others. "There's dozens of walkways, small and large, which connect the port like a spider's web. A large dockyard sits on the north end of the port, and a market sits on a large central platform in the center of the port. Southern end of the port was abandoned after a portion of the shelf collapsed. They found out you couldn't build a fort on that shelf, which is likely why they couldn't properly defend it against the Atracan Navy."

Cassandra then raised a finger. "So we go to the port, right? How exactly do we find the amulet? Do we just start digging in random places?" she asked, her finger changing to a simple wave to the side. "If its not in the port itself, it may be down in the reef itself..."

Claire pointed towards the stairs, then towards Royland and Xiaòzhou. "We have a trio of artifact detectors. They can likely sniff out the power coming from the amulet. And if its down in the reef, we swim. Both you and I have no need to breathe, and I'm sure one of the others have some sort of spell that allows them to breathe underwater."

"If they all can swim." responded Cassandra. She then looked to the others. "So! Who's ready to desecrate some water-logged tombs made of rotting wood to find a magical god rock? Maybe kill some more ugly demons along the way?" she soon said, a grin inching across her face.

Jayden suddenly spoke up, looking between the group's members. "What about me, eh? You lot gonna leave me here so the demons come and kidnap me again? I know where you're going now, so..." he said, eventually looking to Claire.

Claire cocked a brow, before smiling slightly. "Of course we intended to bring you with us. It'd be idiotic to leave you, and I'm sure Rebecca would agree with us."

Jayden hesitated, but soon nodded in response. "Alright...I'll need a weapon, then. I can shoot well enough to help, at least." he said, before looking to the blunderbuss in his hand. "And this thing is useless, so...got a rifle to spare?"

Cassandra chuckled. "There's several downstairs. Grab one on the way through. They're all single-shots, though, so I hope you're fine with that." she said, before motioning for the group to follow. "Shall we go? As much as I love blood, it does get a little boring to stare at after a while."

Claire motioned Jayden along, before following after him. "We should inform the constables in Tresomin about what happened here. I'd rather not send the locals into a panic when they show up tomorrow morning to find blood, guts, and maggot infested corpses everywhere." said the enforcer, glancing to Royland and Rajko as she walked by them. "Obviously avoid telling them everything, though. If demons come behind us, they might ask around to see where we went."

As they all came down the stairs, Rebecca glanced back. She gave Sebastian one final pat on the shoulder, before turning to face them. "So, what's going on?" she soon asked, looking to Cassandra before glancing to the others.

"We found the journal, tucked in the stock of the blunderbuss. Says the amulet is with an old pirate captain out at Caleling Reef, near Peltragow. Jayden's going with us, so he doesn't get recaptured." responded Cassandra, soon walking over to one of the bodies on the second floor. She flicked his rifle up into her hand, before tossing it to Jayden. "Get a feel for it. Ammunition is likely in his pockets." she stated, pointing to the body before continuing on to the first floor.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille had gotten to stand on her feet and crossed her arms over her chest as the conversation went on, her eyes were shut as she seemed to be in deep contemplation about something. She opened an eye when the hidden compartment on the firearm was discovered, twisting her lip despite how fortuitous of a find it was. "Glad as I am that we are no longer facing a dead end in our search, I would likely have not discovered that. The less time I handle a weapon so garish the better, even if it would be a detriment to an investigation." A flaw she was all too happy to admit, especially after having been shot earlier.

Her expression seemed to lighten when Xiaòzhou had come to mend her wounds, offering him a sincere nod of thanks. Though she had the habit of imposing restrictions on her own arsenal, she would have to be an utter fool to refuse magical aid of this nature.

Camille had nothing to add when Cassandra and Claire deliberated on their collected evidence and the plan of attack. It seemed solid yet she had no interest in taking a deep dive to the reefs. Fine of a swimmer she was the huntress saw no reason to risk herself when the vampires cared not for any water breaching their dead lungs.

"So! Who's ready to desecrate some water-logged tombs made of rotting wood to find a magical god rock? Maybe kill some more ugly demons along the way?"

"This is not a game," the huntress comments sternly, dropping her arms to her sides while giving the pureblood an icy stare. "The floor below is caked in the blood and viscera of bodies hijacked by our enemy, the fact you can be so jovial about this carnage is sickening." Having said her piece, she begins to step down the stairs sooner than the rest of the group, intending to meet up with both Sebastian and Rebecca.

"We best get moving. Somehow I doubt that our head start on the artifact's location will persist," Camille wagers aloud, soon moving to make a swift exit from the sawmill.

 

[K0mori]

Erebos
​

A mass of shields and spears guarded the only entry point on the ground, a whirlpool of death which greeted Azathor's main force as they threw themselves against the final line of defense. Hellfire and lightning burst forth between the gaps, engulfing the heavily armored vanguard who piled up against their barricade. The assault was beginning to falter, there was no doubt.

High above, demons of greed had once again taken to the ruined battlements, but these were sharpshooters. Their goal was no longer to bring down the amassed mages the grand army had brought against them, as there were currently no more large flying formations as such. Instead, they picked off individual targets and spread chaos and fear among the attackers. One especially deadly quartet had found themselves a perfect vantage point from which to snipe at their foes on the ground, but they soon began to notice the growing number of aerial mages just above them, apparently unaware of their presence. They stayed their arrows, and soon realized that Tariun's lieutenants were regrouping here as well, and bided their time in search of a perfect shot.

Mariette, Neroph, and Annen quickly surveyed the battle beneath them and sensed the crumbling momentum of the attack. They could not hope to take the entire city without their ground units, and the mages alone were not equipped to clear the entrance for them from the backside- as powerful as they were, they were likely to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of Erebos' finest defenders, most of whom having yet to make an appearance aside from Knasus.

"What will you have of us?" one of Mariette's own mages asked of her.

Mariette shook her head. "We aren't ready to press on into the city. Keep the battlements-"

She was cut off by an arrow stabbing through her armor and into her lower back with enough force to nearly burst out the front. The other lieutenants swung around in shock, avoiding similar attacks from the hidden archers.

"Clear the wall!" Neroph barked, drawing his sword as he quickly searched for the source of the attack.

Annen remained still, however, raising a hand in front of herself, palm to the ground. A moment later, a cloud of blood droplets began to rise from the gory mass at the gate below, condensing into larger drops as they did until the sky seemed to be filled with them entirely. "Neroph," she simply said, and the greed demon needed only to glance back for a moment to realize the situation and to get out of the way. After another moment, the archers across the wall began to peek their heads out, many of them hesitating in confusion at the strange dark patch of the sky in front of them. They knew it wasn't smoke...

With a turn of her hand, the blood droplets exploded away from her palm and pelted the battlements like an untold number of shotgun blasts, killing dozens of the archers where they stood. Their cries blended with that of Mariette, whom had just had her arrow yanked from her back by a loyal mage. Taking the bronze shaft in her hand, and glaring at it, Mariette seemed likely to lose her composure. Gritting her teeth, she gripped it in both hands and heated the heavy metal arrow until it began to grow soft by her flame. As it melted into an orb of bronze and iron, Neroph cautioned her: "Remember what we're here to do, witch."

Mariette seemed to calm for a moment, until she spotted a survivor on the enemy battlements preparing another arrow. With a scream, she hurled the now cooled and solid ball of brass at him with such force that it not only killed him, but generated a plume of dust when the improvised cannonball crashed into the stonework behind him. "Call in Mazgas; we'll have to overwhelm their defenses from all sides," she grumbled. It was a bitter disappointment; although their victory was no less assured than it had been when they began, the losses would doubtlessly be higher than the lieutenants had intended. Strategically, if the demons of greed could make their final stand long enough, then their absent master, Keggoth, could retake the city against an anemic grand army upon her return.

The mage who had just removed the arrow from her back nodded, fearful of her own master's rage. She darted away quickly to deliver the message to the leader of the reserves. "What a disappointment," Neroph remarked. "If we had only managed to summon that wyrm faster, we might have caught them unprepared to hold us..."

"Xager is here!" another mage shouted with excitement. "She's attacking the gate!"

There was a roar of pandemonium that shook the city proper as a moment later, nearly too quick to believe, Xager's hulking demons of wrath crushed their way through the shield wall and broke out into the open space beyond. Annen smiled. "You both could use a little faith," she teased. "We won't be stopped by pointy sticks."

Mariette looked back in embarrassment in the direction of Mazgas before realizing what perfect timing this would prove to be; before the battle, she had promised that Mazgas would other be the master stroke or the savior of the grand army, and now, thanks to Xager's timely intervention, the former proved more likely. "So it would seem," she said with a devilish grin. "We were searching for Knasus, non? Now we can proceed without fearing encirclement."

"Give the order," Neroph replied with a flippant twirl of his hand.

"ATTACK!" Mariette screamed to the aerial mages, who now rose dramatically above the wall to greet their foes head on for the first time since the battle's beginning.

Below, Xager, flanked by Janar and Talgar, cleaved their way through any and all opposition without mercy. Behind their spearhead, hundreds of Azathor's heavily armored, but exhausted unit poured in by the hundreds every minute, trampling the corpses of friend and foe alike. Soon it was like a flood, an inescapable current that pulled all who were gathered outside the gate and pushed them in toward the action. Mazgas' force closed in on the opposite side of the city, preventing any hope of escape for those who remained to make their final stand. Then, to their surprise, the rear gate was thrown open, completely throwing the defense into disarray. It seemed that Neroph had a friend on the inside, after all.

Down below, the scouts were pushed along by reserve units and irregulars, all funneling toward the main gate in the wake of Azathor's forces. The wraiths soon found themselves entering the city as well, and witnessing the staggering, ill-gotten grandeur that the privileged demonic elite of Erebos feasted themselves upon. Glittering towers, palatial estates- it was everything that wicked humans sought in the mortal realm, made manifest to pleasure their new masters in the afterlife.

The grand army now spreading in every direction around them, Xager stood at the epicenter, where she was soon joined by the four lieutenants.

"Well, well, well!" Neroph beamed. "Someone couldn't bear to be left out of the party!"

 

[Infab]

"Well, well, well!" Neroph beamed. "Someone couldn't bear to be left out of the party!"

Xager cut Neroph a look, smirking ever so slightly before gazing up towards the various towers and other structures dotting the skyline of Erebos. She had never really seen the inside of the city, as she was a wrath demon. Her homeland was more along the lines of scattered ruins and devastation. Nothing close to this level of extravagance. None of her followers had either, most of them gazing up at the skyline in awe.

Eventually, Xager spoke up. "Excellent work, everyone. Lady Tariun will be most pleased to know we've managed to breech Erebos' defenses." she stated, flicking droplets of blood from her blades onto the ground. "The next stage of our plan here will be to root out the loyalist hardliners. Knasus, and others like him. Slay their leadership, and the rest will be forced to surrender. Then, Erebos will be ours."

One of Xager's subordinates spoke up nearby. Janar. "And what if they don't surrender?" he asked, twirling his bastard sword before letting it come to rest on his shoulder. As it often did. She glanced back briefly. "...You make an example of them. The Abyss is changing, and those loyal to a king-slaying tyrant and his ilk will have no place in its future."

Xager then looked to Annen. "You may proceed with your secondary objective, now that we are inside the city proper. Locate the Living Collections, seek out the Tomb of the Seraph, and free her. Take some of the Wraiths with you for assistance" she said. The shock that washed over the faces of most of the lieutenants was almost instantaneous. "The SERAPH?!" blurted out Talger. Janar spoke up next. "She'll kill everyone! INCLUDING us! It took three Icons and Taranoch's advisor to imprison her in the first place!"

Xager looked back to both of them. "This is an order directly from Lady Tariun herself." she stated, her tone more commanding. "We are to free the Seraph. It is part of a deal our Lady made with the Archangel Raziel. He wishes to return the Seraph home to Heaven, but will allow for her to assist us in reclaiming the Abyss from Taranoch and the Icons first."

Both of her subordinates looked as if they wanted to say something else, but kept their mouths shut as they glanced to one another. Xager's piercing eyes darted between the pair, before looking to Annen. Annen nodded as their eyes met. "It shall be done." stated the blood demon.

"Good. Remember what our Lady instructed for you to say to her. That should convince her that we're on her side." said Xager. Then, she looked back to the other lieutenants. "Shall we proceed? We should deal with the loyalists before the Seraph arrives. That way, we can focus the few thousand years of rage she has pent up on one of the other territories."


Back in the Mortal Realm...


The trip back to Tresomin was uneventful, for the most part. And when the group arrived, they found that the constables had already gathered up. Preparing for a trip to the sawmill themselves, likely informed about what was going on after they had been freed from their trace-like states by Rebecca. Rebecca, Rajko, and Cassandra spent some time explaining the events that had occurred at the mill, along with Jayden and some of the others. And soon enough, the constables would set off themselves. Along with the local undertaker, as there would be dead to collect.

This left the group able to continue on without much else to attend to. Of course, they would have to make a few stops here and there. Mostly to rest, or to eat. Food had been packed before the journey, so there was no need to procure fresh food game from the local forests. During the nights, Claire and Cassandra kept watch. Having no need to sleep, both made for perfect guards, though one or two members of the group always seemed to stay awake when Cassandra was on watch. Keeping an eye on the pureblood as she found herself lost in her own thoughts.

Eventually, the group would find themselves in the town of Grimsby. Quite a familiar place to Cassandra and Camille, and one of the more important places they needed to stop. After all, this was where the Witlock group dealt with the necromancers years prior.

"So, where shall we venture first, hmm?" asked Cassandra, leaning against her horse as the others dismounted outside the inn they would be staying at for the night. "I'm sure the constabulary will have one of the necromancer's tomes. As for the other, I can lead us to the old guard tower outside of town. Just be prepared in case there's any zombies still lingering around." she said.

 

[K0mori]

Sebastian gazed out over the town from the back of Dantès, his horse, a cheap cigarette jutting out from his unkempt, bristly black beard. So much smoke seemed to billow out of the young man's face that on occasion, soot seemed to collect on the skin of his brow like a flue pipe. He had few words during their travels, devoting most of his free time to reading or gathering firewood when needed. An axe not unlike the one he butchered a human body with just days earlier dangled from a loop on his belt, a souvenir he decided to take from that terrible place to remind him of what was at stake.

At night, he slept like a rock whenever Claire kept watch, whereas he was reluctant to slip off if the pureblood was stalking about. He didn't bother trying to keep a weapon on hand, however. He had seen how fast she could move, and knew there was no point in pretending there was any precaution a mortal man could take against such a terror.

During the daylight, he was tired and angry, and had lost his sense of humor. The others would only see him smile at mealtime, as their provisions were better than what he had known in the army beforehand. He wondered what had happened to the other men in his unit, whether they were still alive, and if they had ever come to realize the danger the war posed to Daristein, even if it's martial prowess and technological mastery had allowed it's forces to plunge deep into enemy territory, keeping the fighting off of the Fatherland's doorstep.

If only they would throw down their arms and make peace, he silently lamented, maybe the strength of all Adonia would be enough that the fate of mankind wouldn't lay is the hands of a ghoul like Cassandra.

Gods, he hated her. Every day and every night, he was disturbed by her flippant, happy-go-lucky attitude toward the grotesque and morbid things they had seen and done so early in their quest for the relics, and her disregard for the degree to which she helped cause all this horror in the first place. It was as if she had no conscience. His only solace came from the fact that Cass had hinted, in their travels, that she resented the shotgun blast he had delivered into her back, even if he had been possessed at the time and had no control over his actions. It gave him the opportunity to assure her, if not in words, then in demeanor, that he was not sorry that it happened, and that no apology was to be expected.

There was also another annoyance that had begun to grate on him. His uniform, albeit very well suited to combat, was an immediate source of conflict with any locals they crossed paths with. Even moreso since, though he had washed his clothing in clean, running waters several times by now, he couldn't completely remove the stains left by blood and viscera from the sawmill. He wanted to find a secondhand store and buy something new to wear. Maybe then, he could pass for a Daristeinian immigrant, and not alarm so many passers-by.

But there was no way in hell he would tell Cassandra where he was going. He dropped off his horse and set about tying it up, acting as if he had no plan or intention to leave the inn.

---
​

As Xager gave her directions to her subordinates, Mariette listened, intrigued with the reverence and fear shown by the demons of wrath. She had heard of this Seraph before, of course, and knew of its importance to Tariun's plans, but she had not been told anything that she did not need to know. Her task, as it had been, was to take the city with as few casualties as possible.

"I must say before we proceed, madam, that your timing was most impeccable. I had just given the order to our reserves to commit to an all-out assault, one which we are glad will no longer be necessary." She allowed herself to give a smile before her expression quickly became grim once more. "However, we still have a problem. Knasus has shown very little of his own hand, having only attacked us directly -and alone, mind you - at the outset of this battle before retreating. I believe he was testing us, and is planning something for the moment at which we corner him."

 

[Breadman]

Erebos

"Where did our Vulture dart off to now?" Tiloc asked as she skipped though the streets, trailing behind her commander. The energy expelled by when the great wurm was summoned was slowly coming back to her. Not nearly as strong as she was before, but enough to bring a spring in her step.

"If he's performing his duties, he should be meeting us soon." Lozon said as he scanned the carnage around them. Once their business with Gnev'hen was done and the sacrifice complete, the shades were pulled back to regroup, rearm and join in the efforts to breach the walls themselves. Constantine was one of the few that was send ahead to scout and exploit any weakness they could find. It wouldn't be long before they would meet the cowboy himself.

His clothes were covered in a combination of blood, dust and something else. Tiloc tilted her head as she couldn't make out if the smell was from all the gore or shit that was splattered on him. Connor and Boris both were sitting besides him, equally covered in the same filth. The large Tsavarian grinned when he saw her, revealing a similar maw to her. A tradition from his time among the living to keep those teeth sharp even when not in werebear form. Connor on the other hand, had a grim look on his face as he stared towards Lozon.

"What took you so long?" Constantine was sitting on top of rubble, smoking in the brief reprieve that the battle had allowed them. When the bigger and stronger demons busted their way through, many of the defenders shifted their priorities. That allowed the trio to move more freely in the chaos to hit their targets. The scent of the tobacco grown here was desperately needed to hide their stench and to keep himself focused.

"We were busy fighting our way into the city. You should know given that your tasks were to make it easier for that to happen." Lozon stopped scanning the street for a moment to answer him. The sounds of fighting were more distant, but could shift at a moment.

"We did as you ordered ye old fuck." Connor crossed his arms as he looked at him. The demon's gaze crossed with his. "We snuck in through the shite river underneath, clawed our way through a small patrol or two and went down a list of high and mighty lads and lasses that wore shiny armor to signal their high fuck status." He paced a bit as he listed their accomplishments. "So aye, we made it easier for you."

"You were five." Lozon looked to Constantine "Where are the other two?"

"Dead." he exhaled a cloud of smoke as he finished his cigarette and tossed the bud to the ground "Didn't listen to what we told them and nearly blew it for the rest of us." He got up and there was a noticeable awkward step in his walk. Constantine grunted as he opened up a flask and drank its content down "I'll be fine pops. Our shade's tonic will make sure of that."

"It better." Lozon nodded as he turned towards their next destination "The other wraiths have their orders, but we were called to find Annen."

"Ooh, the Lady of blood herself!" Tiloc clapped excitedly. "Vulture, Bear and..." She stopped at Connor "...I'll call you Monkey." She grinned to show her teeth, while the other wraith looked at her with confusion and revulsion "Come, come! Lets see what she would have for us."

"Monkey?" Connor looked at the cowboy.

"You'll get used to it." Constantine answered and led the way after her and Lozon.

The group made their way through the battered city streets and ruined buildings. The fighting would come closer and farther depending on where they went, but the tide had turned in the rebellion's favor. The biggest challenge was resisting the urge to throw themselves into the fray, but that didn't stop certain member from throwing a stray blood spell or shoot a bullet here and there. Their wrathful nature needed to be sated and the battle would proved to be a challenge to resist. But they would ultimately beat the urge. Soon the group would stand near the presence of their benefactor awaiting any instructions.

"Lady Annen." Lozon spoke to gain her attention "Do you have orders for us?"
---
Mortal Realms

The fighting was done, but something in Royland still stirred. The demon's sins were many and almost all of them as intense. Something wasn't right and he could feel it. The knight rode along the rest being rather quiet as he contemplated what could be happening to him. The knights he would set aside a few hours of meditation and spend the rest as awake as ever when Cassandra was on watch.

Did he have a reason to mistrust her? Many of the group did, but the Lady had told him to pay attention to her deeds and intentions. So far she seemed intent to seek redemption even if her words were riddled with barbs and insults. Many leveled towards Claire and Camille. At least when she's not lost in some thought somewhere.

When they stepped in Grimsby, he could feel the foul stench of the necromancers still linger in the air. The land had not yet healed despite years passing. This could not stand.

So, where shall we venture first, hmm I'm sure the constabulary will have one of the necromancer's tomes. As for the other, I can lead us to the old guard tower outside of town. Just be prepared in case there's any zombies still lingering around.

"If there is still something remaining from that filth, we should waste no time in destroying it." The knight gave a short, but predictable answer.

 

[Infab]

"I must say before we proceed, madam, that your timing was most impeccable. I had just given the order to our reserves to commit to an all-out assault, one which we are glad will no longer be necessary." She allowed herself to give a smile before her expression quickly became grim once more. "However, we still have a problem. Knasus has shown very little of his own hand, having only attacked us directly -and alone, mind you - at the outset of this battle before retreating. I believe he was testing us, and is planning something for the moment at which we corner him."

"Indeed. Keggoth's second-in-command can be quite calculating." responded Xager as she looked to Mariette, "We'll need to tread very carefully from this moment forward."

She then looked to Neroph. "Have any of your associates noticed anything odd inside the city? Knasus may have prepared some traps prior to the battle." she asked, "Maybe dragged something out of the Living Collections to use against us, such as creatures from the wastes?"

Meanwhile, Annen would soon find herself flanked by the Wraiths. And not just any Wraiths. Ones she had specifically chosen ahead of time for this endeavor.

"Lady Annen." Lozon spoke to gain her attention "Do you have orders for us?"

"These are more along the lines of orders from Lady Tariun herself." responded Annen, as she motioned for the group to follow her. She gave a nod to the other lieutenants, as they remained behind to speak with Xager, before strolling a short distance away to continue her conversation with the group of Wraiths.

"Per Lady Tariun, we are to locate a specific tomb among the Living Collections on the western side of the city. I'm sure you know of them, or at least heard of them." she stated, "Think of a zoo, if you know of such places. Wild animals, captured and brought to be placed on display for the enjoyment of others. The Living Collections, however, are far more gruesome and disgusting. People hanging from hooks, sewn together in grotesque poses, and so on. All kept alive for Keggoth's amusement, and often as a punishment for transgressions against her."

She looked between the Wraiths, then continued. "The specific tomb we will be searching for is the Tomb of the Seraph. The only item in her collection not put on display. Instead, it functions as a prison, containing an angelic being that was far more powerful than your average Icon at the time of her imprisonment. In fact, it took three Icons and Taranoch's advisor Mazgith to lock them away. Azgon struggled to deal with the Seraph on his own."

After another pause, to let the information sink in, Annen spoke again. "The Seraph has no love for demons, and would rather slaughter all of us. She is dangerous, and never to be trusted. However, Tariun wishes for us to release the Seraph as part of a deal she made with the Archangel Raziel. The Seraph will assist us in reclaiming the Abyss from Taranoch and his forces, then return to Heaven. She will be a useful tool, and we will use her where she's most effective. But first, we must release her from her tomb. I will bring her in line with our goals once she's freed, and we have a moment to speak to her."

She then smiled. "I'm honestly eager to see how she performs. There will be blood... and plenty of it."

 

[Dmaster]

Camille mostly kept to herself during the days' travel toward Grimsby, any pleasant nostalgia for these lands marred by the battles and failures of the inquiry's mission years ago. The woman at least could grasp the sense of irony that she was traveling these roads with Cassandra rather than in pursuit of her, and yet she was much more content to be hunting the pureblood rather than working alongside her. Were she not the perfect and deranged pawn for Sazak, so much would be different now, and Camille's resentment for her had no bounds.

Despite her trying to keep her distance with the others, she did express the desire to check in with Sebastian after his decisively deranged move in the sawmill. She could tell that the man was cracking, and though her conversations with him were short she offered herself as someone he could talk to. Such offerings were only made quietly as they had their meals, as the soldier's demeanor at any other point was quite repelling. Not that Camille could blame him in the least bit. Men should not have to endure the horrors of demons, yet still they poured into the mortal realm in droves.

During the nights, she was one of the last to go to sleep when Cassandra was on watch. The huntress would bounce her leg rapidly with barely restrained anger and anxiety, and there were times that she found herself gripping that white oak stake Claire had given her tightly. Camille also found Cassandra's boasting and attitude more grating by the day, yet she knew that exercising restraint and keeping a level head would prevail. Even through telling herself that she felt moments away from an outburst, and her paranoia and vigilance would only give way to a barely restful slumber.

As they dismounted before the inn in Grimsby, Camille rolled her shoulders and pressed on the small of her back in an effort to stretch her body after their long ride. Cassandra annoyingly asked where they should go, and Royland was quick to answer that both books should be destroyed. The huntress was inclined to agree. "It would be best for you to go search the guard tower, while I and perhaps another go to speak to the constables. I have an inkling that they might not be so pleased to see you, Cassandra," Camille stated simply as she tied up her horse.

 

[Breadman]

The wraiths followed their commander as she gave them their instructions. Tiloc was particularly interested and hanging on every word Annen spoke. A menagerie of beasts, but holding grotesque tortured souls. And a legendary being of immense power locked away in the vault? That could wipe the Abyss out and bring a never ending rain of blood. The grin couldn't leave her face as she thought about the details.

"The Seraph of old." Lozon broke her concentration "I remember only tales of the slaughter she brought in the Abyss when she was free." The wraiths looked to the demon patriarch. "Yes, she would turn the tide and bring a swift end to the war."

"Well that's all I needed to hear now." Connor rumbled from behind him. "I'm not interested in going to see some poor sods being twisted and bended for some demon's fun, but I can stomach it fer the...greater good."

"Question." Constantine raised his hand "Once we find the vault, what do we do? We're not supposed to just open it up and let her loose right?"

"I can probably move her cell." Boris piped up only to be met with looks from Connor and Constantine.

"I'm going to hazard a guess that you can't." He turned back to Annen "So that's what I want us to know. We find the vault where the Sera is held and then what?"

 

[joshuadim]

The way back to Grimsby was, thankfully, uneventful as Azathor found himself a bit more relaxed than his usual tenseness. They saved the young man and now they had a strong lead on where they had to go for their objective. And it also seemed as though the enemy was behind them in this knowledge which meant there was a good chance they were ahead of the curb for once. It was a nice feeling to have rather than having to fight at a disadvantage. He always remembered Azgon's "lessons" that intertwined with beatings when he failed to hold form correctly with his blade, or when his technique was wrong with attacking. An enemy will always use a disadvantage for their own gain. he remembered the old brute's voice thundering, So use whatever you can to get a leg up. Play dirty.

He hated Azgon, for he was as bad as his father in many respects, but at the same time there was a comforting familiarity... even through the suffering he got put through because of the former Icon of Wrath. He rubbed his back where his vessel contacted the sawmill blade as a dull pain throbbed from it still. The demon played dirty and as a result got a leg up on him and nearly bisected him vertically. Did he have to play dirty too in order to get his way? Would that make him as bad as Azgon?

Such thoughts about the past dissipated however when his attention returned to the conversation at hand regarding the tomes used by necromancers previously in this region. Before he opened his mouth he did notice Sebastian's telling silence, and he frowned; he could understand the need for some time alone, it's been a long day after all. Not to mention, how much for an ordinary person to go through in these circumstances. "If you need help in disposing the tomes, I can try to help." Azathor chimed in to Royland, returning his attention back to the group, "But if not, then I'll take the time to get some rest in."

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou shared in maintaining a watchful eye over the others, as they made the trip back to Tresomin, and then continued on to Grimsby. Making sure they were at least physically well, the hermit clearly noted the underlying tension among the group, though reasoned that there wasn't much he could do to aid in resolving it. Whether experience with one another or merely time would aid in that... probably not, knowing how those who journeyed through the Abyss felt about one another still by the end. If nothing else, he can help in comforting those who need it, such as Sebastian... though the poor man seemed to have shut himself.

Beyond that, however, he largely kept to himself unless needed, following his usual personal rituals. As they approached Grimsby though, Xiaòzhou, just as he had with the Bristol Estate, sensed the past emanating still. More and more, they passed through places of importance to the Witlock Inquiry, and the more he was interested in the surrounding knowledge and knowing more about what had happened during that original inquiry - knowing this was where they had fought the necromancers sparked his curiosity, though what was left was of more immediate concern.

The mentions of the undead still roaming about though could serve as a somewhat convenient means of brief sightseeing prior to taking rest himself: "If need be, I can take the opportunity to take to the skies, see whether any zombies remain in the immediate area."

 

[K0mori]

Palatial Way
​

Neroph considered the options within the city that Knasus certainly would have had at his disposal. Although there were many gruesome brutes within the Living Collections, those with sentience would doubtlessly hate Keggoth and her subordinates far too much to be cowed into being mere pawns. There were, of course, less intelligent creatures bound within its chambers, but employing them would be terribly tricky. A mass of writhing limbs, for example, taken from those who stole from Erebos to soothe their owner's damnations, was magically bound into a violent ball, slamming itself against the bars of its cage for eternity, while nearby, a wailing chorus of said owners lied chained by their necks to the wall, feeling the pain of their lost limbs pounding the bars and the pavement below, unable to be calmed or controlled... Such a thing might disrupt the invading army, but would be equally likely to roll back into the defensive lines.

"The only creatures in the Collections that we would need to fear are either too difficult, or too powerful in the case of the Seraph, to control" Neroph explained to Xager, smoothly. "If he has anything left up his sleeve, it will be lieutenants from afar. Maybe Kyrend from the land of Envy, or Trzichnar from Wrath. Last I've heard, both are still active and haven't been seen in some time."

As they spoke, Mazgas scanned her surroundings fiercely, watching as some of her own subordinates arrived to relieve the exhausted captains of Azathor's forces. "One of two things is happening, then-" she declared. "Either he had a trap he was readying for when our forces were exhausted, battering themselves against his gates, and we spoiled it with the help of a traitor..."

"...Or there is no traitor, and he is trying to usher us into the city for some kind of suicidal cataclysm," Mariette said. "Mazgas, you will take control of the offensive and clear out any resistance, street by street, estate by estate, until Erebos is bisected by our forces. Neroph will come with me and my strongest mages to the Hoarding Towers on the eastern side of the city. If they plan to destroy the city with everyone in it, then they will have amassed some powerful arcane artifacts to accomplish the task. I would imagine Knasus and whoever else wants to die with him would be preparing to mount their defense on its grounds."

Annen nodded. "That leaves me to ensure that things go smoothly in the west. Will you be joining me, Xager?"

A moment later, a powerful blast of hellfire came down from the sky, dispelled only by a last-minute barrage from Mariette's mages. The enemy, standing atop the rotunda of a marble-clad palace, was wearing a shimmering cloak which rendered him nearly invisible. He leaped into the air, becoming a sort of smear of distorted light and space, and all who laid eyes on him felt a sharp twinge of pain in their minds. Although the mages had been able to focus on his blast and ward it away, they now averted their gaze.

"Allow me," Mazgas insisted, stepping forward. With an arcane gesture, she brought forth an array of masques which circled her in the air until a certain one came to rest in front of her face. She stepped into it, looking straight up at her flying foe through crystal lenses, negating his illusion. With a single finger, she lifted a rock and altered it through alchemy, rendering it immaterial for the moment before casting its massless form at the enemy mage. He tried to cover himself, but the ghostly rock passed through his arms and directly into his head. To his surprise, it did nothing, until Mazgas closed a fist and opened it again.

The enemy mage's head exploded as the rock re-materialized as a solid within his skull.

"Merci," Mariette said with a dark chuckle. "You will have to teach me that trick, someday."

 

[Infab]

"If there is still something remaining from that filth, we should waste no time in destroying it."

"It would be best for you to go search the guard tower, while I and perhaps another go to speak to the constables. I have an inkling that they might not be so pleased to see you, Cassandra,"

"No one is ever pleased to see me these days, Camille. You know that." responded the pureblood. She glanced back to watch Sebastian walk away into the inn, eyes narrowing as they locked onto the back of his head. "I take that as Sebastian's not involving himself in the matter." she soon stated to the rest of the group still near.

Rebecca then spoke up. "I shall venture with Camille to speak to the local constables. Royland can go with you to the guard tower." stated the Saint, giving them both a nod. She then looked to Azathor, as he spoke up.

"If you need help in disposing the tomes, I can try to help." Azathor chimed in to Royland, returning his attention back to the group, "But if not, then I'll take the time to get some rest in."

"Alright. This shouldn't take very long, so it'd be best to get some rest. And please, check in on Sebastian when you can. He's not taking all of this very well, and I worry for him." replied Rebecca.

"I'm not." stated Cassandra, rather bluntly. Remounting her horse, she gave only a glance towards the entrance to the inn.

Claire cut the pureblood a look. "Doubt they care if you do, Cassandra." she soon spoke, "You're the only heartless one here." She then looked to Rebecca and the others afterwards. "I need to visit an associate here. It's unrelated to our current mission, but rather important to my duties as an enforcer. I hope you don't mind."

Rebecca simply nodded. "Go right ahead. We'll be staying here at the inn for the night, and proceeding on to Peltragow in the morning."

"If need be, I can take the opportunity to take to the skies, see whether any zombies remain in the immediate area."

"That'd be useful." said Cassandra, before turning her horse about. "If you're coming, let's go. Its not far outside of town." She soon moved the horse down the narrow street, the horse's hooves clacking as it moved into a trot.

​

"I'm going to hazard a guess that you can't." He turned back to Annen "So that's what I want us to know. We find the vault where the Seraph is held and then what?"​

"We simply release her." responded Annen. "The cell is made of enchanted iron, and is more like a large box than anything. You'll know it by the intense heat radiating from it." She waved a hand to the side. "And since its enchanted, that means the spell will need to be broken. Which is easy enough, since all you need to do is find the key."

When some of the Wraiths gave her a look at the mention of a key, Annen chuckled. "That's where I come in. Blood magic has its advantages. Pour a little blood in the keyhole, and I'll have the lock open in no time at all."

Annen then returned her attention to the conversation the other lieutenants were having.

"Mazgas, you will take control of the offensive and clear out any resistance, street by street, estate by estate, until Erebos is bisected by our forces. Neroph will come with me and my strongest mages to the Hoarding Towers on the eastern side of the city. If they plan to destroy the city with everyone in it, then they will have amassed some powerful arcane artifacts to accomplish the task. I would imagine Knasus and whoever else wants to die with him would be preparing to mount their defense on its grounds."

Annen nodded in response. "That leaves me to ensure that things go smoothly in the west. Will you be joining me, Xager?"

Almost immediately afterwards, they were attacked by a mage clad in a odd shimmering cloak. Luckily, Mariette's mages managed to catch the attack and dispel it, and Mazgas soon dispatched the hostile mage in a graceful but bloody fashion.

"Excellent work." stated Xager, giving Mazgas a nod before looking to Annen. "I shall venture to Keggoth's palace at the heart of the city." she said, pointing the tip of one her blades towards the towering structure at the center. "Once there, I shall begin thinning the ranks of the palace guard. Allowing for a swifter capture of the structure once the rest of the city has been claimed. Once you release the Seraph, focus your efforts on securing the western side of the city and send the Seraph to assist Mariette and Neroph at the Hoarding Towers. If Knasus has any foul plans that he intends to enact, the combined trio of Mariette, Neroph, and the Seraph will dash his hopes quite quickly. If there should be any other lieutenants from other parts of the Abyss in the area, I'll let you decide on what to do with them. Just remember, Lady Tariun and the Abyss would rather you remain alive."

 

[Breadman]

"Aye, best not delay." Royland responded as his horse turned around to follow Cassandra.
---

We simply release her.

"Beg your pardon?" Constantine's voice nearly broke as he let out a worried laugh "I thought you just said that we're gonna open the cage of the demon slayer."

"Quiet, Vulture." Tiloc lifted a finger in front of her lips "Let her speak." The wraiths remained quiet while Annen finished her instructions shortly after. Constantine had a pit in his stomach form. Even with all the magic muscle around them, would it be enough? Would the Seraph give a shit who's demon and who's a wraith? That probably doesn't matter to her. Tiloc on the other hand was ecstatic. "Well come on then! We have work to get to!" She wanted to claw and tear through the secrets hidden in the city, but the biggest one was going to be the most fun.

"Indeed. Just tell us where to go and we will find the va-" Lozon's words were cut short from the attack and its subsequent failure. The wrath demon grimaced at the direction from where it came. The whims of fortune made sure all of them were unharmed. "On your guard, all of you." He spoke to the wraiths as he turned around to take point before they head towards the hellish 'zoo'. "That wont be the last of them and we wont have the luxury of magi watching over us."

"No, but you have your favorite blood priest." Tiloc chuckled. Constantine and Connor looked at each other before following along. Neither of them liked the state of the latest task they were given, but neither of the men had time or place to complain. They just had to hope that when the Seraph was let loose, she would hold on for a second.

 

[Damian0358]

"That'd be useful." said Cassandra, before turning her horse about. "If you're coming, let's go. Its not far outside of town." She soon moved the horse down the narrow street, the horse's hooves clacking as it moved into a trot.

Xiaòzhou simply nodded and proceeded to just take for the skies, investigating the area while also taking in what little he can of the sights.

---
Elsewhere, in the mortal coil
Zhongjing, Upper Redonia
Shouki Shrine


Shi Jing had returned to her personal quarters, the day up to this point filled with discussion after discussion. Many of the contingency plans put in place eons ago were being continuously iterated upon to make sure they were not only possible still in this day and age, but that they had the resources to commit to them. Finding out the rough location of the Kimon weeks prior through angelic envoy thanks to Cassiel had aided greatly in adjusting plans, allowing them to prepare for the sort of weather the northwestern mountains entailed.

But among the many discussions held as of late, one raised serious concern for her. The trend of those of the past returning to the present seemed to be only getting worse by the day, and some seemed to be taking the opportunity to abuse the chaos to their advantage, whether they themselves were from the present (possibly even dressing up as if they were from the past), or actually from the past. Though normally she would handle such minor incidents herself, with everything going on right now, she had been forced to delegate to her disciples and relatives. On part with this, what few scouts she had managed to get past the northern oni to the northwest found traces suggesting unusual activity in the area. Whether or not these two things were connected, no one could say, but her gut feeling made her assume the worst.

She needed to get everything ready. She can not let the past come back to haunt them. The Way will overcome anything attempting to dislodge it.

 

[Infab]

It wasn't long afterwards that Cassandra (and those that would be journeying with her) ventured out of the hamlet of Grimsby back towards the east. Towards the now rather isolated guard tower where she and the Necromancers had camped that night years prior. For her, it was a bit of a journey through memories as well. The zombies the twins had summoned, roaming around outside the tower. The twins themselves, torturing and funneling dark magic into Rosanna in an attempt to corrupt her for use by the Duke. Cassandra herself, lounging around in the upper floors of the tower. Waiting for her newly turned toy, Wesley Wilch, to return to her. She honestly wondered what happened to the boy, after his trip into the Abyss and return to the mortal realm. After giving him her apologies, he later vanished. Disappearing off to only the gods knew where.

Then her mind switched to what else occurred that night, like the conversation between her and Mariette in the woods as well as the chaos that was brought to Grimsby afterwards. Maybe Camille was right? It wasn't a good idea for Cassandra to stick around Grimsby for long.

And why not? You had fun while you were here. Still can, too. There's that vampire bar. Could swing by, have a drink.

I really wish you would just go away.

And leave you to continue being your new boring self? Nah. You need spice in your life. And besides, I want to be here when you finally snap and kill Sebastian.

Kill him? He's not worth it.

Since when has that ever mattered to you?

As the group rode along the footpath leading up to the tower, it soon came into view. Towering stone, yet crumbling after years of enduring the elements and passing of time. And sure enough, there were some well rotted zombies still wandering around. After all these years, they were still here? The twins were pretty exceptional when it came to necromancy, it seemed.

"I'd suggest taking them out one by one. You know how zombies in groups are." stated Cassandra, glancing back to the others as she pointed them out. She looked up to the sky to see that Xiaòzhou was flying about just above them. She waved up to him, and pointed towards the zombies and the tower afterwards.


The trip through the town of Grimsby earned Rebecca a few odd looks. Just as it had in Tresomin. She was starting to think that she might need a different outfit for when she wasn't out in the wilderness and not in battle. Armor was nice, but she felt so out of place among the locals.

She looked over to Camille as she walked, taking note of how Camille was dressed as well. The feather-laced armor, adding to the huntress's nickname. "...How do you handle the gawking so well?" asked Rebecca. She then thought about what she had just asked, before speaking again. "I mean, walking around in armor like that among civilians? I imagine you get stared at more with the feathers and such sticking off your armor... probably get some odd questions here and there too."

Meanwhile, trailing behind them, Claire looked about at the rather enclosed streets of Grimsby. It reminded her of some of the northern cities of Atraca, as well as some of the cities of Daristein. Buildings so close together, streets where you could barely fit two carts side by side. It felt claustrophobic at times, but now wasn't a time to dwell on such things. A few blocks down from the inn, she would soon divert from following the pair of Camille and Rebecca. Turning down an alley towards the rear of another establishment. It was one she tended to frequent when she ventured to the island, as it was considered a safe haven for most supernaturals here.

The Purple Rose.

Passing some purple roses drawn onto the wall of the alley, she would soon find herself standing at the doorway to the establishment. She gave the door a set of three rapid knocks, and was soon met with a pair of eyes peering through a thin slot in the door at her.

"Password?" asked the bouncer, his red vampiric eyes locked onto her.

Claire breathed a sigh. "Angus, you've seen me enough to know who and what I am." she replied afterward.

"Yeah, but shapeshifters also exist." was the bouncer's response. "Plus, it's policy."

She rolled her eyes. "...'Blessed be those born to a Blue Moon'."

"For they are guided by the will of the ancients. That's the old one." said Angus, the eyes blinking on the other side of the door.

"Right." muttered Claire, shaking her head. They had changed it recently after a few of Velin's Order had managed to slip in. Luckly, they were found out before they could squeal about it to the rest of their companions. She thought for a moment, before speaking again. "Uhhh... 'Cursed be those born to a Blood Moon.'"

"For they are damned by the legacy of the ancients. There we go." said Angus, finally unlocking the door and allowing her in.

 

[Dmaster]

Cassandra's reply to her slight got Camille to nod in agreement, feeling no need to dignify Cassandra's mention of her infamy with a verbal response. Though the pureblood was aware of the carnage and chaos she had sewn, the huntress was not convinced of her willingness to atone. If her husband had died or been trapped in the Abyss, there likely would not have been any recourse for his return to her. Yet a monster like Cassandra who reveled in every moment of the pain she caused was allowed to escape damnation freely, and to work alongside her now infuriated Camille to no end.

As ever, the huntress was capable of quelling such rage within her heart by making such comments to the pureblood regularly. If there was ever a moment she did not wish to be so forward she was content to quietly stew as she brings her focus on to more important matters. Fortunately Rebecca seems intent on breaking the silence by offering conversation, the saint's question causing Camille to chuckle softly.

"The gawking? It's something I've grown used to, even before I clad myself in such eccentric armor the rapier on my hip alone was enough to draw attention to myself," she answers. "The feathers are... mostly decoration yet serve a purpose, they make a fine cloak when I wish to remain hidden from sight. Though admittedly, being gawked at is part of the reason I wear this armor."

"When I had first became a hunter, my methods and efficiency earned me the namesake of a raven, likely due to my affinity for using rooftops and verticality for a proper vantage on my foes. I see it as a label I earned trying to protect my people from the vampires that stalked them," Camille explains. "To wear armor like this is... recognition of my roots. I wish to be not only a protector, but a symbol that inspires hope in the weak and fearful. Whether or not that's worked well, I cannot really say," she concludes with a shrug and a slight smirk.

"Though sometimes, being the subject of such confused staring is beneficial. After all, those who are stunned by my appearance I typically know not to concern myself with. Those who react with fear or slink off into the shadows upon spotting me? That may narrow things down during a hunt, non?"

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou flew overhead, admiring the night view of the area and trying to piece together relevant places from what he had heard from past affairs, all the while keeping an eye out on the undead. And undead there were still, a concerning sight to behold.

With Cassandra waving at him, confirming their own sighting of the zombies, as well as pointing at their destination, the hermit considered his options. From what he could sense, the undead in their way were incredibly fragile from their years of continued rotting. A simple nudge could finish them off, but though they may crumble, the pieces could still be put back together by a skilled user of such dark arts. The only proper means for the po spirit of their bodies to truly rest was by fire, for they could not be reanimated from ash.

He retrieved a card-like talisman, "Wuxing ~ Crimson Fire," his horn-based miniscule projectiles bursting out of his artificial right arm, charging with ki as they floated mid-air. Suddenly, those on the ground could see bursts of fire appearing from the night sky, which slammed into each of the undead and setting them aflame in a way that would avoid fire spreading elsewhere.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The inquisitor followed closely the trio of Claire, Camille, and Rebecca. His eyes did not linger on the group, but instead diverted their attention to the town itself. Grimsby is not as Rajko expected, though rightfully after all that he heard about this place then perhaps perceptions are skewered towards differences. The wonder in him faded when he noticed Claire slipping away from the group. His eyebrows creak in confusion. The question sizzled like a droplet on a hot pan. He asked himself where could she go? The inquisitor decided, against his instincts and intuition, not to follow the former pirate to whatever den of miscreants she visited. He has an inkling that he would not be found welcome either way.

Listening briefly to the conversation between Rebecca and Camille, Rajko found new insight into Camille's outlook on her attire. And the roots, as she says, that propelled her into this grim-fangled business of monster hunting. To add onto the conversation, he stepped beside and spoke. "An interesting, if unintended benefit to attire." Said Rajko softly. "Although, I suppose it could also work against you. Say placing a rifleman on the rooftop and tell him or the demon, in our case, to shoot the stranger with the strange outfit." He adjusted the hat that came with his inquisitorial garb. "Well, we don't stand apart at least amongst ourselves. I expected that more when I was briefed."

"By the way, Claire slipped away moments ago. Should I have followed her?"