Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Dmaster]

Hudson's ears still rang even as he cleaved the demon's arm off, his follow-through quickly deteriorating into a limp swat of his arm as he fell to one knee. Still breathing quickly, his chain-wrapped hand pushed to the ground to keep himself balanced as he stared down at the floor. His field of vision was reduced to the smallest radius, the hunter doing his best to keep his composure. Those gunshots in such close quarters were clearly getting to him.

In the corner of his eye he thought he saw something for a split second; a plain looking semiautomatic pistol lying on the floor next to him. To Hudson, it was anything but plain. Frantically he threw his legs out, kicking away the weapon that was never there to begin with as he haphazardly scrambled away. He was hyperventilating, staring at that spot on the floor for several moments before he managed to calm himself down.

Once it finally passed, his breathing slowed and looked to see that there was nothing on the ground save for some corpses of their enemies. His left hand held the bundled chain tighter for a fleeting moment, and Hudson rose to his feet and said nothing. Wordlessly he carried on.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari watched Anya defile the corpse with some mild interest. There was no doubt that the woman had some issue with controlling her transformation it seemed, and when she turned, things certainly became... exciting. The tearing, the snarling, the sheer depravity of the violence. It lacked artistic flair, but it made up for that in pure, incredible violence. She glanced towards Loque when the woman made a quip, and the kitsune laughed.

"Lady has hunger, no? You did same thing." Inari mimicked eating the severed head she was holding, referring back to Loque's earlier chomping of a demon head. Blood continued to drip from the neck stump and over her hand, which she licked clean. It was more entertaining to do these things with a better audience.

From the corner of her gaze she saw Hudson having some form of conniption over something on the floor before he steadied himself and, as usual, began walking off without word. Such a strange, boring man. She adjusted her grip on the demon head before throwing it at him, wondering if that would slow him down or at least startle him.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Lady has hunger, no? You did same thing."

"I eat with manners, excuse you." Loque turns back to look at the ripped apart pile of gore that was once a living thing. "And that is just morbid."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson was still clearly rattled, and he actually snapped back into a combat readiness as soon as he was struck with something. He had no time to process the force of the impact, and without thinking he quickly reacted. The hunter pulled his chain taut as he pivoted on his heel and threw his flaming flail with great force toward the direction of his presumed assailant.

 

[Infab]

The Cathedral of Sheol - The Crypt (Upper Levels) - Misc. Rolls
Hudson = 2 + 1 (3, Velin's Tears.) Misses Inari.

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​

Not even a moment after Hudson was struck by the severed demon head tossed by Inari, he turned about and slung his flail at the kitsune warlord. She easily dodged it, having saw it coming, by simply moving out of the way. It sailed past her, before the length of chain ended and the flail clacked onto the stone floor. Vincent spoke up near immediately. "Would you idiots stop trying to antagonize each other?!" he spat, as he pushed two rounds into his rifle to replace the two he had fired off. "We already have enough to deal with down here. We don't need to be at each other's throats! That's the QUICKEST way to get ourselves killed. And I for one want to fucking leave this place as soon as possible." He tugged on the bolt of the rifle, and the bolt slapped back closed. Then, he moved on, walking ahead through the crypt. "Let's go. We have a priest to kill." he said, glancing to Anya as he moved on. "Riberta, Jakob, calm her down if you can. If not, just try and get her to follow us."

Riberta grunted, cutting a look to Jakob before looking back to Anya. "Anya. You have to calm down. Regain control of yourself. Put the wolf back in its cage." she said, letting her bloody claymore rest on her shoulder once more.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari had remained sat where she was by the corpse, and as soon as Hudson had turned and instinctively thrown his flail, she flattened herself against the ground as it sailed over head.

"Ahaha! So fast!" She laughed, the flail utterly harmless as it hit the floor a couple feet away from her before the man drew it back in. Her amused smirk faded slightly when Vincent began to berate them. What had she done? It was just a little fun. She wasn't antagonizing him, and it was his fault for flinging his chained toy at her for a little bump on the arm.

With the others already getting ready to move on, she crawled up to her feet, sheathed her tanto, and removed her katana from where it had been speared into the dead demon. She flicked it at the ground a few times to clear away any meat that hadn't been emptied of blood before also sheathing it.

"Is just little game, no harm, no harm," she shrugged.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson sneered through his helmet as he yanked the flail back to his person, eyes locked on Inari. "A game? You threw a fucking severed head at me when we're in enemy territory, you fucking psychopath." he said through grit teeth. With Vincent's order he belatedly began to continue moving ahead, the deplorable behavior of his compatriots replacing his panic with anger once again.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Loque would be lying if she said she wasn't amused at Hudson try to kill Inari, as she's been waiting for the moment he'd get his dumb self killed. Though Vincent's right, now's not the time for them to go back to trying to kill one another. That nonsense should wait until after they've killed the priest. Until then however, she trots next to Vincent, looking at him for a moment as she holds her new battleaxe at the ready again.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"Hudson!" Jakob shouted, after witnessing his comrade swing his flails at the creepy western woman. "For gods sake, man, keep it together!" he said, before tapping on the warrior's chest plate. "We're not in the trench, man. We're in Hell. We need you here!" He then looked to Inari. "And you stop fucking around, you insane bitch!" He then turned his attention to Riberta, as she tried to calm Anya down. He got close to the feral werebeast as well, raising both hands after slinging his shotgun on his back. "Anya, listen to Riberta. We need you. We gotta keep moving."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Psychopath? Insane bitch? Finally, the compliments were flowing. She couldn't help but snicker at them. "Always stay on tip toes in battle, yes? Reflex good."

She rolled her shoulders in an idle stretch as she glanced over towards Anya who was still lingering in her beast form. The others were trying to snap her out of her haze, and she wasn't sure she could say anything to help. If she didn't hear them, she'd probably not hear her.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos could only frown as the bickering began once again among the group. They were close to their objective and were in the middle of a dangerous locaiton, and yet they still found time to antagonize each other. "I agree with Monsieur Beaumont, we should not tarry any longer than we already have." Venextos said before flashing a look of disapproval at Inari before following the inquisitor.

"If I may ask, what are we to do should the demons from the outside try to join the fight to defend their priest?" the wizard inquired. "Perhaps we should set a few traps for the fodder?"

 

[Dmaster]

He can only scoff at Jakob's words initially, brushing past him as he kept walking on. Hudson figured Jakob would follow if that insane werewolf would be calmed down promptly enough. "You act like the trenches were worse than this." he muttered. "At least there I knew who to trust on the frontlines."

What wasn't shared was the fact that the hunter's episode was not related to the war at all. The lurking trauma in his mind spawned from what came after those harrowing days.

 

[Infab]

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Abyss...

Sazak's Palace, in Kur

If there was one thing that was nice about being a servant to Sazak, it was when Ralvas and his entourage came by. It wouldn't be long after their arrival that the sounds of beautiful piano music would fill the palace, played so professionally and passionately. And without a single error. As if the performer had written the pieces themselves. Cassandra sat up from where she was, her eyes shut and taking in the music flowing from the study nearby.

​

She had already loved the sound of a piano, and this just made her love it more. Eventually, she slowly moved over towards the doorway and glanced inside. She already knew what Sazak's study looked like, really, as she and Mariette had been inside many times over the course of their thirty abyssal year stay. It reminded her of the grand studies that one would see in the manors and castles back home in the mortal realm. Towering bookshelves, a crackling fire in the stone fireplace, comfortable furniture scattered about where one could lounge and read or simply talk with friends. In the center of the room was a large grand piano, colored jet black. The individual sitting at the piano, playing away, was a woman. A demon, of course, but one that looked nothing like the others she had seen down here. She was dressed in some sort of form-fitting body suit that left nothing to the imagination, which was colored solid white. An open cloak of the same color rested on her shoulders, somehow remaining in place as she moved her arms even though it didn't have anything holding it together. On her head, a tall white hat of some sort, which reminded her of a tall shako or those hats that Redonian emperors used to wear. It was colored white as well, and covered most of her face down to the tip of her nose. Two white bands hung down from the sides of it to the floor, framing her face between them. Cassandra didn't quite understand how the woman could see anything with it, beyond detecting auras, but she seemed to be performing just fine that way. If she had any horns, they were likely hidden under the hat.

The woman's skin was as white as driven snow, her face marked only with a red strip marking that extended from the bottom of her lip down to the tip of her chin. Similar markings appeared on her chest, just over her breasts, and descended down over them to either side of her stomach. The markings would stop just at her pelvis. Her facial expression hadn't changed as she played, her mouth retaining a serious expression. Her hands glided across the keys, and they showed the emotion for her.

As Cassandra continued to listen, she heard other voices in the room as well. Sazak and Ralvas, both sitting nearby in their own chairs. This was one of the few times that neither of them were using their vessels, both appearing in their true demon forms. Ralvas was a tall, blonde man with long straight locks and slightly tanned skin. Quite different from the middle-aged man with a rough face and short black hair he used as a vessel. Two golden horns were fixed to his forehead, short and easily covered by some of his bangs. He was dressed in a suit similar to the one he typically wore, a smoke grey color with a white shirt beneath the jacket. He was quite handsome, really, and bore this visible sense of smugness about him. Pride, obviously. He was the Icon of Pride after all.

Sazak, on the other hand, was half dressed, wearing only what appeared to white slacks and fine leather shoes. His skin was a dark grey, almost black, and he bore several marks of silver across his skin. They were strange, shaped into different styles and fancy emblems. They even stretched up and onto his face, drawing attention away from the scar across the left part of his upper lip. His hair was as black as night, cut short on the sides while a bit longer on the top and styled just so. He didn't seem to have horns, oddly enough, but Cassandra had seen other demons down here without horns as well.

Both were drinking what appeared to be some sort of dark alcohol from fine, clear glasses, and were discussing something. Cassandra listened carefully, to see if she could make out what they were talking about, but stayed out of the doorway so that she wouldn't be spotted.

---
​

"So...the staff was hidden beneath the clock tower in Vierteaux?" said Ralvas, rather surprised by the revelation. Sazak smiled and nodded. "Indeed. I have someone going to retrieve it as we speak." he replied, before taking another sip from his glass. Ralvas grinned. "Excellent. Lord Taranoch will be most pleased. That leaves what...two items left?"

Sazak nodded again, as he let his glass rest on the arm of his chair. "The gauntlets and the necklace. The necklace is in Stiusil, while the gauntlets are in Nivarden. I just need to snoop a little more to gather their exact locations...and then I can retrieve them." He sat back in his chair, a smirk on his face as he turned his attention back to the female demon playing the piano across from them. After a few moments, he glanced back to Ralvas. "You know...I immensely regret pointing Kellea to you. She's quite remarkable." he said, motioning to the piano player. Ralvas chuckled. "Not just remarkable, my friend. Perfect." The woman at the piano turned her head towards them, and finally showed some emotion on her face. A smile. "I am what I am, and what I shall always be, my lord."

------
​

Back in Sheol...

Vincent glanced to Venextos as they walked. Those forty demons outside would prove to be a problem should they come rushing inside to defend the priest. "...When we engage the priest, cast a spell to block all the entrances leading into the cathedral. We'll kill the priest, then we'll depart the same way we came in." he said after a moment, before looking to the others. "Hit and run."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

The plan to use magic to seal the doors might work, but Loque isn’t convinced it’ll keep the rest of the demons out. There’d need to be something to keep those on the outside occupied too just in case.

“Maybe we can toss Inari out there too while we’re at it. Surely, she’ll enjoy the fight!” she suggests.

 

[Dmaster]

"Doesn't sit right with me." Hudson chimed in. Though he addressed Vincent he made no effort to make eye contact, his mind not entirely there as they walked through the crypt.

"When the priest dies will the demons that follow him pack up and leave? I get cutting off an organization's head but that doesn't mean they won't stop causing havoc when their leader is dead."

 

[Damian0358]

Takato looked worriedly at Hudson, noting the change in aura for ever a moment, until Inari decided to throw the head she had been drinking from at him. Before Hudson even reacted, Takato looked at Inari in sheer shock, the audacity that she has, the ill-consideration. Vincent quickly spoke up and told Inari and Hudson off. Of course she would say this was just a little game, with Hudson and Jakob eloquently responding, but it was clear she cared not. If there was ever a threat within the group, one who could so dramatically fracture it, it would be Inari. Takato sighed - allowing himself to get so frustrated so quickly with one like her, it wasn't worth it, nor was it his way.

As discussion turned towards what to do with the priest's followers, Takato chimed in:

"If all entrances were blocked, wouldn't those fanatical attempt an alternate passage?" he began, "Consider the worth of such a 'spell' when it can be bypassed by the creation of a hole in the wall, or the smashing of high-up windows. Presumably dynamic enough it is not to deal with such circumstances."

 

[K0mori]

As everyone was watching Hudson's reaction to Inari's psychotic prank, few except the kitsune herself noticed Anya's attention shift and lock onto the head - as if it were a ball. She had nearly chased after it when it was thrown, but Hudson's response kept her planted on the floor.

As the other werewolves tried to calm her down by speaking, Anya answered with mere growls, her fur bristling as blood dripped from her fangs. Finally, after a tense moment of utter stillness, she stood partially upright. "Find... priest... kill... kill..." she bellowed.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

"Easy, sound like fun!" Inari beamed, glancing at Loque after her suggestion. "Depend how many demon and how strong, though. Like human? Pfha... can take, one hundred, maybe two hundred! But too quick, too fast, maybe like stone - not so easy. Demon don't fight duel one on one, they all come at same time, then maybe I get hurt."

Takato did have some sound words. Fanatics were always difficult to deal with. It was easy to dominate those who were weak, or feared death, but those who weren't afraid of throwing it all away while being weak - that lead to some interesting encounters. It would have been enjoyable to cull the demons outside, but evidently that wouldn't work well with the group as the plan was to go after this priest.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

”Demon don't fight duel one on one, they all come at same time, then maybe I get hurt."

“Oh but with your skills and that magic sword of yours, I’m certain you’ll be just fine.” reassures Loque.

 

[Infab]

Riberta watched Anya, as she straightened up a bit, and spoke. She's coming back around a bit. That's good. "Yes. Find priest and kill." she responded, before motioning for her to follow as they walked after the group. She glanced to Jakob to make sure he was following, and soon they met back up with the others. As the group spoke about the demons outside, Riberta listened in. The demons would likely burst in any way they could, regardless of what they did. And they would have to deal with them. Eventually, after a bit of silence, Riberta finally spoke up. "...I'll deal with the demons." she said, looking straight to Vincent. Vincent looked back to her, raising his eyebrows. "You? Alone?" he asked. That was near suicide, especially with so many out there.

Riberta smiled. "Yes. Alone. You'll need numbers for the priest and whatever else he has already inside helping him. Besides...I need to stretch my legs a bit." she stated. Vincent still gave her a look, but eventually nodded. "...Alright. You go out there and distract them." he said. Riberta looked to Jakob a moment later, then held out her claymore to him. "Hang on to this for me. I won't need it for the time being." she stated.

The group continued on through the upper levels of the crypt, which were divided into sections by large stone walls covered in alcoves. Caskets were placed neatly into the alcoves, though some stood upright against the walls in places. Eventually, they reached another set of stairs that lead to a single wooden door at the top. They climbed the stairs, cautiously, before reaching and opening the door. On the other side, a large empty hallway. In its heyday, the hallway probably looked much more extravagant. There were signs that the floor had been covered in smooth stone, and the walls had bore lovely tapestries and paintings. Now, it was an utter wreck, with anything that wasn't stone decaying or already gone entirely. The floor was cracked and broken in a few places, and the doors that stood in a few spots along the walls were rotten or had fallen inward. The ceiling above was dark, but one could see faint traces of where it had been painted a long time ago. Likely mythical stories and such much like the cathedrals in the mortal realm.

They moved down the hallway, the aura of the priest growing quite strong as they neared the main chamber of the cathedral. There were other demons inside as well, scattered about the main chamber in strategic locations. Likely guards, and it was likely that they could sense them coming as well. "Hope you all are ready." said Vincent, looking back to the others as they reached the final door at the end of the hall. Then, he opened it. Another set of stairs, leading up into the central chamber.

They climbed the stairs, and then a voice spoke out to them as they reached the top. "Ah, new members to the flock! I bid you welcome, mortals and demons alike. Welcome to the grand cathedral of Sheol!" it said, calling out to them from behind. As they turned about, they got a great view of their surroundings. It reminded most of them of the cathedral back in Eternis, with its grand arches and pillars, A pair of short stairs ascended in a semi-circle around them, leading up to the pulpit. Standing in the pulpit was their target, a tall demon dressed in dark colored robes and wearing a tall helmet-like hat like what the church cardinals themselves wore in the mortal realm. Bits of armor sat upon his shoulders and around his neck, and his mouth was more just a row of teeth instead of actual lips. In his right hand, a tall obsidian staff with a demonic emblem affixed to the end.

Around the room, there were more stone-fleshed demons, standing guard in fancy armor and wielding various types of weaponry. Vincent counted ten of them, from what he himself could see. As they looked about, the priest spoke once more. "Have you come to pray to our dark lord Taranoch? He is quite a benevolent god, and if you offered yourself unto him, he will bless you with whatever you desire!" Riberta spoke up a moment later. "I'm not one for religion, so no." she stated quite loudly and bluntly, before looking to the others. Then, she turned about and walked towards the front of the cathedral. The guards didn't move, simply watching her as she walked down the long carpeted path between the pews. Once she reached the double doors at the end, she pulled them open and stepped through.

A loud, inhuman roar sounded off a few moments after the doors shut behind her. Angry demonic yelling followed. And then, the sounds of ultraviolent chaos could be heard outside. Here and there, the group could hear intense screaming. Demons yelling out in pain and terror, followed along with more roars. Vincent watched the doors for a moment, before looking back to the priest. "We're here to end you and your false religion, demon." he stated aloud.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

"I ain't buyin' whatever you're sellin', mister. We're here to carry out the will of some demon ladies." Jakob aimed his shotgun at the priest. "Now, I don't know why they want you dead. Not like your congregation of Hollows is of any danger. But gotta do what we gotta do."

 

[Damian0358]

As they approached the main chamber, Takato squinted at the growing aura of the priest - there wasn't any doubt about it, that was definitely what he had felt earlier when flying. Other demons, he could sense too, which meant that they would have to split between those fighting the priest and those fighting his entourage.

As they reached the top, the priest made his presence known. A way towards him was visible, but so too were the remaining stone-fleshed demons. The staff held by the priest caused Takato some worry - it was clearly obsidian, not a worthwhile material for combat, meaning it had to be a conduit, especially considering that emblem.

The priest's word would fall hollow on them, and he watched as Riberta departed to do her part - clearly, she had experience in this. Vincent's words rung true, though he wasn't sure whether Jakob should've admitted to the fact that they were doing this for another - who knew in what ways information could spread in this land, where many dead reside? What has been said, has been said, though.

Takato chose not to speak, instead eyeing their surroundings - the position of the stairs, the place of the pillars, the demons standing at the ready, visibility, and so on. He wondered what would be the best approach for him to take in this coming battle; engage the guards hand-to-hand and allow the others to concentrate on the priest, or assist in striking the priest directly? He still had the talisman-like cards on his ankles, though inactive right now, which could allow him to quickly reach the priest (faster than he could just flying by himself), but he knew not what his capabilities were. Similarly, he could instead ascend and engage in the art of mystic barrages, using simpler cards to compensate for his difficulties of getting used to the Abyss' qi, but the priest was likely more proficient, and may be mighty enough to redirect his attacks at him or, worse, at the others. To be flexible would be key here.

It was time to see who was more dynamic of the two parties here, they or their adversaries. May they be the wind that cracks the unbending.

 

[Dmaster]

The hunter traveled up the steps, listening to the group discuss what their plan of attack was. His concerns of leaving the congregation alive was quickly put to rest as Riberta volunteered herself to take all of the demons outside alone. Either the horde would perish or she would while taking out some of their numbers, both scenarios were wins as far as Hudson was concerned. After that he said nothing, far more focused on the cause of his episode moments before. He had been trying to avoid being around firearms for as long as he could, and that was why he tended to carry out missions for the Order alone. It was less complicated and allowed him to focus all the better.

When the priest addressed them Hudson only performed the most cursory glance of the room they were in, taking in most tactical information before eyeing the priest. "No god of mine." he spat, unfurling his flail as he flicked it quickly along the ground. He held his bastard sword tightly to serve as the anchor point for the tether, and he observed the guards flanking their target. They would complicate things, but it was crucial to take care of the priest first.

"Your corruption and praise to a mad ruler is all in vain. He won't even see us send you off to oblivion for your useless fealty."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari eyed the door Riberta had disappeared through, followed by the joyous sounds of slaughter. A warm, somewhat fuzzy sensation enveloped her as she heard those sounds. That woman certainly knew how to woo her in all the right ways. She'd have taken up the fighting outside herself, but the big lady seemed intent on taking this one for herself. A shame, but....

That left the priest to her. She eyed him with the glance of an appraising thief. He didn't look as bejeweled as some priests did, but he did have a rather tall hat. The other guards around the place looked tough enough, too, so this wouldn't be a pushover battle like earlier.

"Surrender in honor or die in disgrace," Inari said impatiently, waving her hand about. All this yapping by the others. What were they trying to do, stroke their fragile, moral-starved egos? The more useless words exchanged simply meant it would take longer before they could start the fighting and actually claim a life that had some meaning aside from the drones they had encountered up until now. Even the crypt demons were nameless nobodies. At least now they had a 'Priest' to execute.

 

[K0mori]

Anya had nothing intelligent to say as she entered the chamber, hunched over in her walking and snarling at the demons all around. Instead, as the Priest invited her to pray to Taranoch, she answered him with a defiant howl, pounding the stone floor repeatedly with her front paws in anticipation. "Ubivat... KILL!!!" She roared, and, unable to wait any longer for direction, launched herself at the Priest in an uncontrollable fit of bloodlust.