Twilight IV: No More Heroes!

[Cracklord]

Basically, this will be a diplomacy-esque game of wits where you play one of the most awesome vampire hunters in fiction, and try to score the most kills, while ensuring your opponents don't get as many. Make and break alliances, manipulate and perpetrate gory violence, all to kill as many canon Mary Sue's as possible. Each kill will be a test of wits, daring, initiative and sheer dumb luck, and you will be able to do feats that even game systems like Exalted struggle to emulate, of acrobatics, will, and high-octane nightmare fuel in a few cases.

Each turn, the Twi-vamps will be randomly redistributed, so if you fail to kill it, it will get away. They will be randomly selected, there will never be more then ten in the game at once. Other things, such as capture, are possible, and a player is not docked points for doing so, but gets the total award.
If two players unite to overcome a challenge, the points are not divided, but rather, both get all the points. But, remember:

There can only be one!

Each day there will be a turn. The first turn is spent introducing your character, and no actions may be taken. If a player does not post, the game does not wait for them, and they simply spend that turn doing nothing.
In a turn, there is several phases. First is movement, in which they can travel to another district. They may not cross zones unless all vampires in zone are dead.

There is combat, which occurs when a player decides to engage. this must be declared before other actions, otherwise the character is assumed to be silently observing. If, after moving, they meet a vampire, they must decide whether to engage or simply observe, and may not take other actions in between. I have grown up. I will kill you. And i will laugh about it. thi is not an empty threat.

In an engagement, your character must free form dictate the actions taken. The more complex and detailed, the more likely it is to succeed. Actions considered to be out of character will be ignored.

Special actions are actions using you characters abilities. Naturally, they are subjective, and the ruling of their effects is decided by the DM. They are not useable in certain conditions. For instance, a scientist may not attempt to use his abilities in the middle of a forest far from any equipment he needs.

Instead of engaging, if you encounter a group that is too much for you to handle, you may simply keep your eye on one, and will follow them to whatever new district they go to when they move for the next turn.

Characters backed by considerable organizations may use the full resources of them.

All alliances are informal, and can be ended at any time.

Killing other members is A-OK!

Wrapped in the womb, the baby listened to it's mother's heart beating. It didn't sound like anything it'd heard before. The rhythm was off, fast but somehow weak. And it was fading.
Her screams still echoed in the amniotic fluid, the real mother, not what it had become. Those sounds had scared it more than anything. It had never felt emotion so sharp, so jangling, from it's mother. The vibrations were less now, but still coasting through the liquid medium.
It had felt the distance grow between itself and its mother, something alien after the terrifyingly short gestation. Pressure constricted around it. It's space had grown smaller recently, which it had come to expect, but this was different.
It shifted, unable to feel comfortable, It didn't like this. Its mother already knew because it had let the mother know, and yet nothing changed. It began to feel pinned.
Then the constriction was so tight it hurt.
There had been warning signs the last few days that it's primitive mind had been able to rudimentarilly sense, but it hadn't processed it, so everything that happened seemed normal.
It moved again, wishing mother would sing t it.But mother moved away even more.
Then a cold, burning sensation filled its whole body. Something invaded it, fed down the umbilical cord. It hurt.It tried to scream, but it couldn't.
And then it was over, the child's brief life snuffed out before it began.

Turn the right corner in Sin City, and you can find... Anything.

The Bride
The dessert was cold at night, so they'd made a fire, that crackled and snapped merrily, the flames seeming t dance.
Bill Albacea was sprawled against the bonnet of his Matt black BMW, his suit casually disrayed, his hands casually holding a bamboo flute, twisting it around his fingers as though unaware what he was doing. You are used to him being like this. Sometimes he'd tell a story. Sometimes he'd play music, or they'd talk about nothing in particular. This was different.
"Got another job for you, kiddo." He drawled, seeming relaxed. "Paid for by Roarke. I suppose his dirty money is as good as anyones', though I won't complain if you kill him too." That was like Bill. He was good, but he wasn't professional.
"Big city. Everyone who lives there hates it, and none of them ever leave. It... does things to you. It should be easy. Cops are so corrupt they forget who their taking bribes from. Normally he'd just get a hitman, they're practically in the yellow pages, but for some reason he wants too show off, so he's gone all the way to the best." He touches your nose. "Which is you, kiddo."

Kirby
Darkness. The cage is six steps by seven. There is a bucket, and every now and then rodents are thrown in for food. They do not speak to you. It's like they have forgotten you exist.
Then, after two weeks, the light snaps on. It hurts your eyes after so long in the darkness. It's the boy. Edward. A determined look is on his face, masking his uncertainty. His hair is tousled, and he's blinking far too much.
"I have questions." He begins.

Sam Oliver
You are watching TV when it happens, a sudden clap of sound, like a million voices shouting 'hail,' and your father is standing there. He looks... different. "Still dribbling away all I gave you I see." He says, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I don't know why I'm surprised. When are you going to make something of yourself? I don't care which way you take it. Just as long as I don't have to see you like this."
Suddenly, he smiles, the smile is too wide, and chilling. "Like a politician. I can see it now. Trust me, you'd be good at it."

[darkblade]

The Rider

Through the traffic of the night a man rides on a motorcycle and not just any old motorcycle, no this was a fancy high end stunt model. Despite it's loving wear and tear it would still fetch a small fortune on the black market and it's rider knew it. In a sense he was counting on it.

Johnny Blaze could smell the sin of every man, woman and child he passed within the limits of Basin City even in his human form. He'd been to Hell before and not on the best of terms either. He was begining to wish the new caretaker had sent him down there again instead of into the pit of Sin City.

Pulling up to a run down bar, the kind where the worst mankind has to offer discuss their heroin and child pornography, he steps away from his twenty-five hundred dollar prize stunt bike. The bike that had faithfully taken him across every inch of land in between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, to the lowest depths of the inferno and to the pearly gates themselves. He leaves it behind, keys and all and heads into the bar.

***

The Bride

"Basin City then? I can't just break into the Pentagon and nuke it Kingdom Come?" the woman smiles, "Once they see the coordinates they might just give me a medal."

The woman who one day would be known as the bride when she returns from the almost dead for revenge against the very man she was kidding around with now was no stranger to the worst of this Earth. Or the best. She had killed them both and for the right price. This was to be her last job as the Black Mamba, one simple last hurrah before settling down into a peacful civilian life and if you belive that I got some swamp land in Florida for you.

Brushing aside her hair and looking at the older man she turns serious. "Who's the lucky man then?"

***

The Cannibal

"Well, well, well..." the short pink ball says in an almost sing-song voice.

It had been a long time since he used the Mushroom Kingdom's fabled Warp Zones to enter this so called "real world" of course the small town he picked to be his first buffet had to be home to some larger if less significant predators. Simon Belmont had told Kirby all about these wonderous creatures, these vampires. How they feasted on the blood and souls of the living in the shadow of the darkness. Such a terrible waste.

Oh well, he'll show these poor children what a monster truly is.

"Mister Cullen it has been quite a long time. I trust the mises is looking as delicious as ever."

[Cracklord]

The Bride
Bill puts down his flute. "That would probably be easier, now, wouldn't it? He's called Carlisle Cullen. Can't say more then that, four million dollars in cash can buy a lot of no questions. Probably caught Roarke and a choir boy with there pants down, in a manner of speaking of course." He smiles at you, then reaches into the car and removes a black object. It takes you a second to identify it, a beautiful sword.
Bill winks, then tosses it at you. "I want it back, of course." He says, mock serious. "With not so much as a scratch."
It's his Hattori Hanzo sword. Flawless, beautiful, so sharp it could cut a falling leaf. He winks. "Well, that'll do me Kiddo." He says, getting into the car. "I'll pick you up in a couple of days."

Johnny Blaze
The bouncer looks like a failed Heavy metal enthusiast who began taking steroids instead. Long hair, a wild look in his eyes and huge arms, like your legs. "Members only pal." He says, in a sort of growling drawl, a a home-rolled dogend cigarette defying gravity by somehow remaining stuck to his lip. "Which is French for piss off."
Behind, you Hear AC/DC's 'You shook me all night long', punctuated by loud voices and laughter and can smell the alcohol from here.
A few big men are licking their lips and looking at your bike. Their intent couldn't be more plain if the carried a giant neon sign.

Kirby
"Leave Bella alone." He says automatically, then winces, and forces himself back under control. "We're all fine. Carlisle is still missing, Jasper's gone native and Alice won't answer our calls. How are you, Kirby?" He's telling the truth, or else he's learned to lie since you last spoke. Either way, he wants you to trust him.
"When Carlisle... caught you, did he say anything about where he was going? He left a few days after."

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride draws the sword from it's sheathe and admires it for a few prolonged moments. Bill doesn't want her leaving the Deadly Vipers, he only breaks out these kind of things when he wants to form a sentiment. She'll worry about that later. She has a job to do first.

It's a long ride to Basin City but she makes it in due time. Traffic coming into the city is always light. A bullet to the skull is a faster road to hell. Once there she drives around aimless in an attempt to get a feel for the geography.

***

The Rider

"Fair enough. I'll be on my way but first..." Blaze pulls a cigarette from his coat pocket and places it in his mouth. He doesn't smoke, he gets emough smoke on the job. Usually he uses them to bribe small hoods who aren't worth the time to beat into submission or worse.

"You got a light?"

***

The Cannibal

((Did Carlise tell Kirby anything?))

Kirby smiles a toothy grin. A grin with more little razor pointed teeth than should be possible to fit in that mouth, even if it is half the little monster's mouth.

"Not that I recall but I have been down here for some time and haven't had a decent meal in ages. I'm not in the best position to be remembering much, Mister Cullen."

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Edward stands up. He walks over, remaining just out of reach and leans forward. "I don't negotiate with animals Kirby. Civility costs nothing, so I tried to be polite. ˆt seems you have mistaken that for weakness. Lets try this again." He glances up the stairs. "Where is my father, Kirby."

Johnny Blaze
The man gets up and walks towards you so he is towering down, the smell of stale sweat and cheep booze almost overpowering. prison tattoos decorate his neck and knuckles.
He blows a lungful of smoke in your face. "Only if you kiss me, pretty boy." He replies with the smirk of someone who thinks he's being witty. "If not, cry home to mommy."

The Bride
Twisting streets, claustrophobic alley's, heavy industrialization and women of the night on every street corner.
Faded brickwork, no paint, and twisted, rusted machinery. Only the sky-scrapers and high rise apartments seemed to be clean, everything else was on the way to entropy.
A old fashioned church on the top of the hill, decorated with a statue of a distinguished looking cardinal. Your employer said to meet him here, in confession.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

Looking at his father, Sam raises an eyebrow. It wasn't his fault that he was moping. Well, it was, but still. He had reasons. His father currently owned the soul of the love of his life-Andi. Right now, she was working for him...somewhere. He didn't know where.

"So...new soul?" It was ironic. He didn't like working for his father, but it was one of the few things he was actually good at. And it would get him out of his little depression. He hopes.

The Midnighter

I am not a lover. I am not a father. I am not a friend. I am what Iwas bred to be. And therein lies the problem.

The globe spins, and a leather-clad finger runs across it. In orbit above the world, the model eventually comes to a halt, and the man standing above it grins.

"Basin City? Excellent." Facing the window, and seeing the world turn below him, the Midnighter smiles. There was fun to be had; an entire city of criminals to punish and maim and kill.

"Door."

Nicodemus

The train rolls in, an old-fashioned car from the early Victorian era. The only occupant of the car smiles. While his organization had been shattered, and only five of his kind remained, he had the means to replenish his stock. The Order of the Blackened Denarius would rise again. It only took a touch...

[Cracklord]

Sam
"Several." Satan replied calmly. "Far more dangerous then usual, but then, I'm sure you can deal with that. You're a tough kid."
His smile not budging an inch, he reached into his suit he removed... a harmonica. "Play a few rounds on this, and its done. Oh, and you'd better get packed, your plane leaves in" he checks his watch "forty nine minutes."

Midnighter
You step into dark streets, one in three of the street lights working, with a heavy aura of smog. Gutter chokes the drains, graffiti decorates the walls, and people scurry with their heads down, not wanting to be caught outside.
down the road, you can see a bar, where a man in motorcycle gear is being menaced by whom you presume is the bouncer, and two petty thieves are staring at the bike, waiting for their opportunity.

Nicodemus
The station is almost empty. A few men in long coats trying to sell something illegal, some prostitutes displaying their wares, and a tall man, with the face and physique of a super-model, gently tousled blond hair and a patient expression, who was staring directly at you.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"What?!" Jumping off the couch, Sam stuffs some of the clothes, including his favorite tuxedo T-shirt, lying around the floor into a duffel bag, along with the harmonica. Fumbling around for his keys, the Devil's Heir Apparent quickly checks the seat cushions.

"I don't suppose I get a file this time? Or at least a name?"

Midnighter

The perfect way to begin the day. The leather-clad superhero slowly, deliberately walks toward the thugs, cracking his knuckles as he does so. This would be over quickly. He might even have done a good deed in the process.

Nicodemus

The leader of the Order of the Blackened Denarius smiles at the sin and corruption around him. This would be a beautiful breeding ground to rebuild the Order; the only difficulty, it seemed, would be in selecting capable lieutenants. The immortal could already see that there would be street punks aplenty for the lower ranks.

Filling his lungs with the city air, Nicodemus makes his way over to the tall man. He himself wasn't tall, nor particularly muscular. But he still carried a Presence, like an Old Testament Prophet. Nodding to the man, he interlaces his fingers, but not before palming something from the pocket of his custom-made tan trenchcoat.

"Can I help you?"

[Cracklord]

The midnighter
The bouncer looks up, and smiles an unfriendly smile. "Your mistake. The bondage club is two streets along."
You keep on walking. The bouncers unfriendly countenance gets even more unfriendly. "I'm not seeing you move along, ******." He growls. Now push off."
You keep walking. The machines begin their calculations.


++++He will attempt a wild haymaker, then follow through with a kidney punch. Block them both, then counter. Will leave jaw open. Uppercut, then kick knee, will leave him unable to mounter sufficient defense. Hit in temple to insure he is not able to regain his feet. Target neutralized. At this point, 72% chance the thieves will run away. 6% chance they will draw firearms. Neutralize quickly.++++

The bouncer steps forward, his right arm already swinging in a dangerous arc.

Sam Oliver
"I'll give you more then that." He says, withdrawing a manila folder which is way to big to fit in his pocket. "I'll give you a list."
The sheet inside is blank. Figures.
"I'll put the names there later. Now, you're going to Basin city. Enjoy yourself." He turns, then his head rotates 180 degrees to stare at you. "Don't disappoint me Sam. You do enough of that already."
With that, he's gone.

Nicodemus
The man removes his hands from his pocket. "I can see his mark." He says softly. "Like a sooty mark upon your brow." He mutters, then blinks. "Good evening." He says as though the last moment hadn't happened, the very soul of courtesy. "Nicodemus, I believe?"

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

Sam secures the folder...by stuffing it into his inside jacket pocket. Heading out the door, he begins his drive to the airport.

"Basin City? I'd have thought the Devil would have everybody there in his pocket already." Pondering his destination, Sam switches on the radio, hoping that "Radar Love" wasn't going to be on this time.

Midnighter

The computer implanted in the metahuman's brain wasn't particularly accurate when it calculated fight outcomes. in fact, it was pretty bad at doing so. What it was able to do, however, was run through a fight literally billions of times before the first punch was even thrown, and then providing the most likely, and efficient responses.

Quickly neutralizing the bouncer, the Midnighter snaps his right arm forward, causing one of his solid-steel batons to come forth from its spring-loaded sheath, and hurls the weapon at one of the two thugs.

Nicodemus

Matching the other's courtesy with his own, the man inclines his head in response.

"Indeed. I believe you have the advantage of me, mister..."

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Cullen. Carlisle Cullen. Or Dr Cullen if you prefer." The man said, extending his hand.

Midnighter
((OK, I'll try and represent it that way then.))
The bouncer goes down with out a problem, screaming as his world shrank into a tiny universe of pain. The baton slammed into the first thug's face in a spray of blood and cartilage. He staggers, screaming, and the other is distracted for seven precious seconds, his pistol wavering.
A walter PPK. .35 calibre. Obviously he's never had to kill someone before, or he'd be packing a much bigger gun.

Sam Oliver
Leonard Cohen is crooning Hallelujah, the heavy, beautiful song almost painful in your current mood. Be careful what you wish for.
The traffic slows you down, and you have to run through the air port to make it on time.
He booked first-class. With your money.

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride parks her bike in front of the church and climbs up the old steps into the chapel and the confessional.

"Father forgive me for I have sinned. I came to kill someone for a couple Million greenbacks." The Bride laughs slightly as she gives the mock confession.

"Some poor soul named Cullen but you wouldn't know about that would you?"

***

The Rider

"Let's see. I tried to do this without hurting anyone and only hurting the bouncer." Johnny smiles as he puts the cigarette away. Suddenly Johnny Blaze is gone and in his place stands a flaming skeleton wearing his clothes.

The strange thing is that he didn't disappear and he didn't transform. No he was Johnny Blaze and then in a blink of an eye he wasn't anymore. He was the Ghost Rider.

"Caretaker can't complain that I had to do this." the bone fist of the rider collides with the Bouncer's face with roughly the force of an eighteen wheeler.

***

The Cannibal

"That is where you are wrong Mister Cullen. Civility is quite an investment, especially for one's such as us." Kirby explains while slowly pacing his cage.

"But I think I shall try and help you. He did not say specifically where he was going but he did describe it. A horrifically corrupt and rotten city. So corrupt it makes the Mushroom Kingdom look like the old Dreamland before I got to it." the Cannibal pauses for a second to linger on the pleasant memories of Dreamland and how he feasted upon it's every inhabitant.

"He believes he has been charged by your God to cleanse it of sin. I can not beguin to understand why, surely those who must feast on the living are not offered divine quests with any regularity."

[industrious]

Midnighter

The thug wasn't worth the beating. Snatching the gun out of the punk's hands, Midnighter replaces it with a printed business card. He's smiling as he takes a step back.

"Read it, kid."


http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/308/207206-181905-midnighter_super.jpg


Sam Oliver

At least the seat was nice. That was the mantra that kept Sam sane during the flight. Inhale slowly, exhale. Inhale, exhale...

Taking out the vessel, Sam examines the harmonica, trying to determine if there was anything...off about it. There usually wasn't, but still. It never hurt to check. Then it hit him. Sock, Ben, and Nena would be returning from Vegas tomorrow. Why Sock had forced himself on the newlyweds honeymoon could be summed up in three words. "Strippers, Sam. Strippers." But they'd be back, and he'd be...working. He hadn't even left a note. Mentally, Sam reminds himself to leave a message on their answering machine.

The folder, still digging into his jacket, finally gets Sam's attention. Taking out the contents, he begins his study of his latest souls.

Nicodemus

Returning what appears to be a tarnished nickel to his pocket, Nicodemus extends his hand in return.

"It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Carlisle. Your exile from the White Court caused a bit of a stir in 1793. I was...occupied (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reign_of_Terror) at the time, but the news did come to my attention."

[Cracklord]

Sam
The first Soul appears, in a brown ink that was probably just regular oddly colored ink. His father was a lot more subtle than that So far there is only a single name, and no listed address..
Johnny Blaze.
The plane lands, and passengers begin disembarking. A taxi is waiting for you.

Nicodemus
The smile fades a second, but then returns, as wide as ever. “I would be remiss if I didn’t offer you some refreshments. Only civil, after all. What can I offer you?”

Kirby
Edward shakes his head. “I don’t believe you. Carlisle hasn’t lost faith yet, but he’s nobody’s fanatic. Either your hiding the truth, or your trying to play me.” Edward leans forward.
“You might pretend you’re not living off rats, but the fact is, you depend on me for succour. All I have to do is make less effort and you’re as dead as a mouse a kid forgets to feed. Now then, I’ll give you some time alone. Reflect all you like.”
He doesn’t believe a word you say. Sensible tactics when dealing with you, even if he is shooting himself in the foot. Just the same, he makes no move to do as he says.

Midnighter
The kid looks up. “Who the ****ing hell are you?” he stammers, shocked but not scared. He hasn’t had time yet.

The Bride
“You are rather less professional then Bill lead me to believe.” The old, quavery voice replies. “Figures he would send a whore to do it. He’s that sort of man.”
So, the cardinal was expecting you.
“The Cullens need to be dealt with.” He goes on like he didn’t just insult you. “They are currently staying in a mansion in the high rise district. The address is written on a piece of paper under your seat. I have, arranged, shall we say, for the police to ask no questions. Will there be anything else?”

The Rider
The bouncer reels back, screaming in pain, then lies motionless. The two thieves take one look at you and run, instantly splitting up.
The bouncer doesn’t stir, either you knocked him cold or he’s pretending you did. The door is open. You can walk right in.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Kid, I'm the Midnighter. You might have heard of the Authority. Group of superhumans. Live on the Carrier orbiting the earth. Took over the US a few years ago in a coup. Guess what? That's me." One punch later, and the kid is unconscious. Not for long though, but still. He was begging for it. Some dentist was going to be very lucky in the near future.

After checking his reinforced gauntlets for blood(Apollo was always complaining about the stains; personally, he thought they looked intimidating), Midnighter enters the club, whistling a tune that he had sung to his infant daughter ten years ago.

Sam

Getting off the plane was much easier when you fly first class. Being near the front does help at times. And there was a taxi waiting. Even better. The young man clambers in, bringing his duffel with him.

"So...where are we going?"

Nicodemus

Absently, Nicodemus adjusts his noose, which at a distance, was easily mistaken for a grey tie.

"It's rather early for anything serious. I would not say no to a coffee, however."

[darkblade]

The Bride

She'd been called worse by clients and victim's alike. No use letting it get in the way of the job.

"Thats a lot of money to off some upper class yuppies. What did they do?"

***

The Cannibal

"Mister Cullen, I am terribly insulted." Kirby simply states. He is unsurprised that he isn't being believed.

"I would not lie to you. You're the one holding all the cards in this exchange and I can't help but like you Edward." The Cannibal extends the vowels in his captor's first name to drive the point home.

"After all. Even this lion has lain with some of his lambs."

***

The Rider

Without a pause the Ghost Rider enters the bar and glares at the patrons. Their very unabsolved sins held their hearts start to burn as if they were a bad case of heartburn form barely even glancing at the fire in his eyes.

"As much as this city deserves to burn I have specific targets. All of you tell me what you know about a family called the Cullens and most of you will live to sin again."

[Cracklord]

The Rider
You get far less attention then a flaming skeleton deserves. A few of the waitresses back away, but none of them scream, cry or beg. It's not that they haven't noticed you, it's that it doesn't pay to be the one who reacts in this situation, and they all know it.
A tall, well cared for man with a British accent and a enough sin to shame Satan down in his fiery hells stares at you. He is surrounded by a combination of big men and gorgeous, scantily clad women, in a corner to himself, discussing something in hushed voices.
The other corner is occupied by a blond, attractive man in a suit, who is staring directly at you with flat, emotionless tawny eyes. Oddly, you can't seem to get a reading on him.

The Bride
"Best you don't know. I'm sure you'd rather not have me send more of your kind after you. Suffice to say, certain interests benefit as long as no one upsets the way things are."
The conversation is at the end. "Go in peace, my child, and think to repent your wicked ways."
You can't tell if he is mocking you.

The cannibal
Edward was at ease, beginning to feel secure again, until the last statement, which nearly made his hair go up. Leaning forward until his face is close to the bars, too close, a matter of inches, he's stopped paying attention, the vampire hisses "I told you not to bring up Bella."

Midnighter
Pretty tame sort of bar. By Sin City's standards, anyway. A few men in the corner are making some sort of transaction that doesn't look legal, six big guys in black are glaring at everyone, the biggest cleaning his nails with a throat slit razor, and a lean, hairy guy is talking to a dark, good looking woman.
Most of the patrons are watching a gorgeous blond in a cowboy suit gyrate against a pole. And they all know how to handle themselves.
You hear a voice to your left. An enormous man, with a scarred face and murder in his eyes is staring at you, idly curious. "That's one mighty fine coat your wearing." He says.

Nicodemus
Carlisle inclines his head. "Then you are in luck, my friend. I happened to discover a delightful place a few days ago. Best kept secret in the city."
He turns and walks towards a Mercedes, silver and not so much as blemished.

Sam
"That's your call, sir." He must work for your father, only his... people call you sir. "But I suspect these are the sort of people who don't mingle with the best of circles, if you catch my drift. We should start in the poor half."

[Draxx]

He felt like he was losing his mind. As he sat there, looking at the broken window, in a trashed apartment filled with broken dreams.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

The harlequin's mask cracks into a lopsided grin. Oh, cruel irony. Cruel fate.
He begins to rock back and forth, the strangely comforting movement done unconsciously, then, just as suddenly, he gets up, drawn by something indefinable, something he can't explain.
Something part of him since he began this life.

Leaping through the broken glass, he falls to the streets and begins walking, not sure where he is heading yet. He'll know when he gets there.

[globdecitus]

VIKTOR
Kraven stalked the fetid sewers underneath Basin city, quietly grumbling under his breath. However much he hated doing it, the alternative, going back to Viktor empty handed, was far, far worse. The six vampyres behind him said nothing, not that he had anything to say to them. It was Khan's fault that he was here, and Kraven was not going to let him forget it.

he wasn't sure what he was looking for. Some sign of the other coven. Like shadows, they flitted along the walls, hunting. Soon they would find their prey.

JOKER:biggrin:
The joker sighed in his armchair, stretching his gangly limbs. It wasn't fun yet, but after last time it would be unthinkable to miss this. It was an old fashioned setup; the lair was a dilapidated fairground, the minions were first-timers too stupid to know what they were getting into, incompetent, as it were, and of course he looked fabulous in his new threads.

New city. Clean slate. No punchline without the bat, but sometimes you had to roll with it. Apparently here there was some guy who thought it was OK to steal the look of his beloved, hated foe, and perhaps he'd even get to meet him.
But that was unimportant. First, he needed cash, and if he could cause some chaos on the way, well so much the better.
Then, he needed to kill someone. He was getting bored here.
And then, the Twipires.
With that, he leapt to his feet with surprising agility. "It's time. Get everyone into the truck." He winked one bloodshot eye. "Just don't forget to smile!"

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Thanks. My husband gave it to me."

Nicodemus
"Ah. Excellent." Nicodemus follows, looking forward to an excellent cup. Sure, he was an immortal bearer of one of the most unholy artifacts in the world. Sure, he eventually planned to send the world into chaos, and its people into Hell. But after two thousand years, you know how to enjoy your own indulgences.

Sam

"I suppose. Though how am I supposed to find this guy anyway? I've only got a name, so getting near him is going to be impossible. Take me to the DMV. I should be able to get more information there." Sam's tone is polite; he's had experience with demons before. Especially since Ben was now married to one.

[Prime32]

Nrvnqsr Chaos
It had been almost a week ago. He had received a tip from one of his accquaintances that the Princess of the True Ancestors was in this city. And so, he had come. Travelling by night, by taxi and plane. Stopping every now and then to feed his chaos.

And now he had arrived. Three lumps disgorge themselves from the oily black flesh beneath his trenchcoat, forming into bluish-black hounds with red eyes. Without a word of command they dash off in different directions, seeking his target. Nrvnqsr heads to find a place he can rest for the day. The man once known as Fabro Rowan retained some respect for the ways of the magus - he would not allow witnesses to his actions. These dogs and the murder of crows currently circling the borders should do for now.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Fair enough." The Bride says as she gets to her feet.

"One last thing though." Her sword slides effortlessly through the thin wood of the confessional and with only slightly more resistance into the Priest's soft flesh.

"You are forgiven child." Cleaning the blood from her sword she walks back out to her bike.

After a few moments of thinking she rides off towards Old Town. She needs to know more about her targets and if knows what lies in the closet of some new upper class folks with little enough sense to live here it'd be the working girls.

***

The Rider

The Rider approaches the British man and smiles about as well as someone can without lips. Looking at the girls he says, "Get out of here girls. I have some rather nasty business with your friend here."

***

The Cannibal

"Very well Mister Cullen. I will not mention her again." Kirby calmly states.

"Though I am afraid I have told you all that I know about your Father's disapearance. I do hope it will aid you in some small way."

[nanobot_swarm]

It's quite early this morning in that **** hole called Santa Destroy, and already someone is causing a ruckus. Travis awoke from a night of booze and Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly, to the sounds of some crazy landlady banging on his door. He knocks over the trash can as he stumbles towards the door, not noticing his fattening cat Jeane eating up some leftover pizza.
He opens the door and feels the full force of an angry landlady: "There you are you little ****! Listen up, I better get my rent from you pronto, or there will be hell to pay!"
"Probably got plenty of stock in the place, you'd take that right?"
"Listen ****-face, I better get my rent by next week, or I'll drag you out of there and beat your sorry ass to death!"
She slams the door in his face and Travis grumbles with frustration. He drops a save, puts on the worn old coat and Bizarre Jelly T-Shirt, pulls out the Blood Berry from the drawer under the bed, and leaves for K-Entertainment, not noticing his cat attempting to jump to the toy fish on the ceiling fan and failing.

At K-Entertainment he walks up to the counter, and is surprised to find the usual receptionist isn't there, instead replace by some MIB creep.
"Listen buddy, I need to make some quick cash in a week, so tell me who needs their head sliced off and we'll call it a day."
"Ah, Mr. Touchdown, we have a most interesting job for you. Someone wants a specific family dead, the Cullens, you will be well paid for your efforts."
Travis, picking his nose as he says this,"Whatever, just tell me where they are, and it's done."
"You can find them in, Sin City."
"Better than this ****-hole, I hope."

Thus Travis drives down to Sin City to go earn money to pay his rent.

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Edward stands up. "We'll talk again later." He promises, and is gone. He switches the light of when he leaves.

Midnghter
The man raises an eyebrow, then shrugs. "Ah, whatever makes you happy. Your husband has good taste then." He throws back another shot. "So, what are you looking for?"
Behind you, a man in black with odd facepaint steps into the bar, looking at you unsettlingly.

Sam
The demon nodds. "Well, if you want some advice, look for the screams, the chaos. How about we just drive around until then, and you can tell me about yourself."

Ghost Rider
All the patrons move with a speed that bellies their earlier careful ignorance, move around, giving space until the bar is empty, with the exception of you, and the man's flunkies. He hasn't even looked up yet.
"You don't look like a client. The cops keep out of my way, and if Mr Wallenquist had a problem with me, well I wouldn't have woken up this morning. Your not a hitman. There are plenty of far better opportunities to take me down, and if someone was trying to make an example, they'd be more obvious about who they are.
So I have to assume you have either some personal grievance, or you are interested in a job."
With that he looks up. Emotionless gray eyes, white hair cropped short and thin, delicate lines around his eyes.
"So which is it? I don't have all day." The man who was watching you hasn't budged, still staring at you unblinking.

Nicodemus
It's a small cafe, in a fashion that dissapeared in the 60's. Like all of this town, a lend of the old and the new. There could be a path into Nightside and it would be years before anyone noticed.
The coffee is good, warm, thick, strong, and just a hint of some hard to place flavor. Carlisle watches you drink, then steeples his hands.
"Now, to business." He says when you finish.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The first dog to find something is an area two miles from you, a seedy bar in a back alley.
They recognize the scent, and something else, a hint of brimstone, and blood.
The next locates a mansion at the cities high rise district. Before it can get any further, it's gone, and you feel it's essence once more blending with yours.
The third finds nothing.

The Bride
Old town. Most people who go that way are too busy looking at the merchandise to notice the gates, bulletproof windows and automatic weapons the girls had handy.
If they did, they'd soon stop have such a good time, and start fearing for their lives.
You drive, until a woman in a tight red dress with spun golden hair and blue eyes steps into the middle of the road. One of the twins.
"I take it you want something, Beatrice?" She asks.

Travis
Your car threads through the streets, seeing nothing of interest. It's raining, everyone is keeping off the streets, and you are still not sure what your looking for. It's much easier when you just happen to run into whoever you need to kill.

Eric
As you wander, you sense yourself getting closer to the feeling. You come to a bar, the bonce bleeding and two thugs lying on the ground, one practically comatose.
Hands running over them, you sense they were beaten by a masked man. A sense of rightness sweeps over you. In this, he is to be your guide,taking you towards vengeance. With that in mind, you continue, heading into the bar.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"He really does. Even if he insisted that it be 'organic'. What the **** that means, I'll never know."

The amoral hero's gaze rests briefly on the newcomer. Ordering a shot of "Whatever's the strongest", he kicks it back without a care. He doesn't; his system was engineered to be the most lethal machine ever. Immune system and liver included. "Had a rough day. Decided to work out. Don't suppose you know who that guy is?"

Sam

"Well, you're the local here." Sam settles into the taxi seat, hands behind his head. "There really isn't much to tell. The Devil tricked my parents, and I got stuck with the consequences. I didn't want to do this when I started; I just wanted...something different. Be careful what you wish for, right?"


Nicodemus

Cradling the mug in his hands, Nicodemus exhales deeply after the last of the beverage is drained. "You weren't wrong about the coffee. To business, then. What would the fine and upstanding Carlisle Cullen want with someone as...controversial as myself?"

[darkblade]

Kirby

"Looks like I might have some fun here after all." With that Kirby finishes off the last of his dead rats and tries to sleep. Even monsters need sleep after all.

***

Ghost Rider

Lowering down closer to the man's face, careful not to make prolonged eye contact wouldn't want to burn away his soul by accident before learning anything.

"It's personal." A skeletal hand reaches for the man's collar, a little bit of hellfire comes off and burns a pentacle into his shirt and chest hair.

"Now. Do you happen to know anything about the Cullens?"

***

The Bride

"No one comes here unless they do darling." The bride smiles at the woman as she approaches.

"It's been a long time hasn't it?"

[Prime32]

Nrvnqsr Chaos

Something had killed one of his hounds? Interesting. He diverts three of his ravens to the area of the mansion, coming from the opposite direction. He's not certain what kind of attack they used, but it should not be able to kill all of them at once.

And now to this strange scent. He cannot identify it for sure, so he sends the dog closer.

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
The man shrugs, and raises a hand. In a split second, everyone at his table is pointing guns at you. It's quite amazing, a few had nowhere near enough clothing to conceal a weapon.
"I discuss neither my clients, nor my employee's, nor my partners. It's a bad idea. Now, if you have a personal matter, I'm sure we can be civilized about it. No need for evasions or half truths. What do you want?"

The Bride
"Too long." Goldie, or maybe Wendy, answers. "So who are you going to be killing?"
Miho, or Fierce Snake, is watching you. Broke Bill's heart to see her go, but she's happier here. You think. Hard girl to be sure about, Miho.

Midnighter
The big man shrugs. "Could be anyone. He seems to be interested in you. Have a talk."

Sam
"well, I wanted to be free, and now look at me. Should have stuck with singing in the heavenly choir."
The streets, in some indefinable way, seem darker, and you get a sudden feeling. This is the right place.

Nicodemus
Carlisle's hands fold into his lap.
"I want you dead, Nicodemus." He says, still civilly. It takes you a moment to process his words, and in that instant the table is thrown aside to break to splinters against a wall, and he is lunging at you.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The crows can't see anything. To all intents an purposes, the house is empty.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"Why should I be civil with one such as you? Those guns will at best annoy me and I can kill you by looking too hard at you."

The rider does let go of the man though.

"I want to send the Cullen family to Hell where they belong. Now what do you know?"

***

The Bride

"Some new upper class family. The Cullens." The Bride explains looking at the twin she is talking to. Talking to either of them is always a fun game of avoid the pronoun, lest you guess the wrong twin.

"All my client would tell me is the adress. I need to know what he was hiding."

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
"Enough not to be intimidated by you." The colonel takes another shot, still perfectly at ease.
"I am a civilized man. But I'm also a businessman. A man of finance. I know how these transactions work. We both have something valuable to the other. I have what you want. You say you have my life, and I like living enough to believe you. So, we both work to remain valuable to the other. You can kill me, but it will not do you any good. And I can hold out on you, but it runs the risk of you coming to believe I am not going to talk to you."
He takes a sip. "But if I do talk, they kill me. Which is not something I am willing to accept. And I am not prepared to leave a very profitable business here. So you see my dilemma."

The Bride
"Old man Roarke let slip his nasty habit. They were his suppliers. And now he's trying to cover his tracks. A scandal like this... well, the church has got enforcers of it's own. Sure, they cover up scandals, but many of the priests who are accused wind up missing people."

She offers you a cigarette.

"I take it you killed his man?"

Kohaku
Edward emerges from the stares, managing to look haggard. "I didn't get anything. It's like I'm the one in the cage. I'd try torture, except he'd probably turn out to be into that, and I'd only make him happy."
Emmette nodds. "Don't sweat it, that was a longshot anyway. Besides, Carlisle is probably fine. Means we need to get another doctor, but we can deal with that."
Edward looks at him. "Alright. We'd better keep Satan's puffball anyway."
He motions to you. "Go deal with Kirby. Now."
Emmette shakes his head. "She hates you, remember? Try to kep things in perspective, man."

[Prime32]

"Yes, Mr. Cullen." Kohaku nods and smiles.

As soon as he is gone, she turns to the cannibal. "Hello, Kirby-san." Her smile does not fade.

{OOC: She'll call someone whatever they're most comfortable with.}

[Cracklord]

"Whatever." Edward says, walking up to the next set of stairs. Emmette shakes his head, and reclines lazily on the couch.

[Draxx]

Eric
Eric pads over behind the superhero, his painted mask hiding the pain within in plain sight, where nobody would even notice it.
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." He said, as he makes his way, until he's almost uncomfortably close. When his face is barely a foot away, he adds,
"Only this, and nothing more."

To have loved...
Everything. She had been perfect.
And lost...
Not lost; stolen, wrenched, torn, broken and bleeding to somewhere out of reach.
Now came vengeance, then emptiness, and then, only maybe, an end to the torment. Emptiness.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Damnit, where the hell are these Cullen guys, I need that rent money! Come on, this was so much easier when it was pointed out as a ranked battle. Come on, one of you bastards show up already! >:("
He continues to drive around erratically on his oversized motorcycle.

[darkblade]

Kirby

Kirby opens his eyes as the young woman greets him. With his usualy half boy smile he greets her. "Ah Hello Kohaku. You wouldn't happen to have some more dead rodents for me, would you? I seem to have run out."

***

The Bride

Taking the cigarette and lighting in she asks, "Suppliers? Of what? Drugs would hardly constitute a scandal here."

She takes a long drag and eyes up Miho. She seems to be doing well. Hopefully Bill will let her leave so easily after this job.

***

Ghost Rider

"The Cullens will be dead before they know that you said anything is my word good enough or would you rather I transport you to somewhere safer out of town?" Blaze asks.

Zarthos is not happy with this and it shows. The flames enveloping Johnny's body turn a light blue and white, significantly hotter than his normal red and orange. The drinks closest to him start to bubble as they reach their boiling point from the ambient heat.

[industrious]

Midnighter
The hero drops a hundred on the counter. "Give the man a tab."

After Eric's monologue, the man can't help it. He laughs. It ranks as one of the more disturbing sights that the bar patrons have ever seen "I'm sorry,but that was one of the most ******* hilarious things I have ever seen, and I've seen Apollo in a schoolgirl outfit when I thought it was bondage night. What the hell do you want?"


Sam
"Well, keep your hopes up. I've got first-hand information that if you do enough good deeds, the Big Guy will let you back in. Even if you did Fall." Momentarily, Sam's thoughts go to Steve, an ex-Fallen Angel, now a proud angel once more. "It'll get better. Trust me."

As he exits the cab, Sam draws the harmonica. This was probably going to get messy. Entering the bar, the twenty-four year old raises a finger.

"Excuse me? I'm looking for a Johnny Blaze?" At least his voice didn't crack.

Nicodemus

Leaning back in his chair, Nicodemus smoothly topples over, letting the eldest Cullen sail over him before coming back to his feet. His shadow ripples and writhes, and Anduriel is laughing inside his head, a combination of bloodlust and teasing mockery. The shadows part to reveal a finely crafted rapier, Toledo steel gleaming. A gift from his wife and daughter during the early Renaissance, along with one of the finest nights of his life...

The blade had been enchanted with basic anti-rust, aging, and eversharp runes; nothing especially fancy, but meager enough for the Denarian leader to maintain on his own. But what made the blade truly special was its forging: it had been made in Hellfire. That, and his own not-inconsiderable skill with using the weapon, honed by centuries of practice. Assuming a perfect en guard, Nicodemus smiles.

"Funny. I wanted you alive. Well, your body at any rate."

[Prime32]

Kirby

Kirby opens his eyes as the young woman greets him. With his usualy half boy smile he greets her. "Ah Hello Kohaku. You wouldn't happen to have some more dead rodents for me, would you? I seem to have run out."Kohaku claps her hands together. "<<Oh, Kirby-san, you know I'm happy to prepare something for you.>>" She seems slightly upset.

It's true. Kohaku is a rather gifted cook.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The dog reaches the outside of the bar containing the Spirit of Vengeance. It then stops to pee on the wall. Chaos pee.

[Draxx]

"I'm here for vengeance. Not mine, not this time. But somebody's. Perhaps yours?" He sits back, smoothly hooking a chair with his boot and sits on it, then puts both legs on the table. "And you're going to help me."

[darkblade]

"<<I was unaware you spoke the language of the great Sakurai.>>" Kirby replies in surprisingly good Japanese.

"<<But no I would hate for you to get in trouble with the Cullens over me. Surely you can tell that they are not very fond of me.>>" Kirby moves closer to the front of his cage.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Well, I'm not here for vengeance. I'm here to get a good work-out bashing heads in. Criminal heads, of course. Observe." Cupping his hands together, the man hollers to the general public

"THEY FIGURED YOU OUT, AND THE COPS ARE COMING NOW!"

Sam

As he exits the cab, Sam draws the harmonica. This was probably going to get messy. Entering the bar, the twenty-four year old raises a finger.

"Excuse me? I'm looking for a Johnny Blaze?" At least his voice didn't crack.

[Cracklord]

The Bride
Whichever of the twins it is shakes her head. She looks... haunted. "No. Not drugs. Flesh." She says. "What we do, well, it's looked down on, but there is a kind of honor to it. And a kind of freedom you don't get out there. But, well, things happen in this town. People go missing. And don't reappear."

Nicodemus
There is a blur, and the sword is out of your hand and in his. He's very good. You have no idea how he did that. "My body is no longer the devils. And, unworthy though it is, it will serve my task."
He raises the sword, and snaps it on his knee, throwing the pieces aside. "Content yourself with the knowledge that your death serves something greater then all of us."
With that, he advances, this time carefully.

Sam
The hairy guy at the bar, the only one of the patrons left, jerks his thumb at the flaming skeleton. "I know everyone else. So it must be that guy."

Ghost Rider
The colonel putts down his drink, with exaggerated care, and jerks his head at the young blond man at the other side of the room. "He's my contact." he mouths.

Travis
You realize that subconsciously you were driving towards Old Town. And why not. A little relaxation never hurt anyone. Besides, nobody learns secrets like the ladies of the night. Good place to meet some contacts.

Midnighter
A few stir, but nothing more. One of the men at the back yells out "Put it on my tab!" Which gets some hearty laughter.
Marv shakes his head. "You want a criminal in this town? Throw a brick. They're all in it in some way, even if it's just the illegal dog fights around the back, or buying things they don't have prescriptions for of Tony over there, or buying items from a man who didn't pay tax first, as is warehouse gets shipments that aren't on the records, or they happened to see it fall of the back of a truck. Got a cigarette?"

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"That. Was. A. Present." Reaching into his pocket, the man searches for the last thread of the Shroud of Turin he has left...but can't find it. Steely eyes meet Carlisle's squarely, as he removes his hands from his pocket, and forms a pair of fists. Looks like his plan was going to change. He hated when that happened.

Sam

The son of the Devil, prophesied to end the world and bring about hell on earth...whimpers. "Oh, crap."

Midnighter

"Really?" If he wasn't wearing a mask, one would be able to tell that his eyebrows shot up for a moment. Then he starts smiling again. "Excellent."

Punching the nearest bystander full on in the face with his spiked gauntlets, the Midnighter's eyes are shining with joy. A whole city, and he could punch, kill, and maim all of them. Well, except for Marv. He seemed decent enough.

"Come on people. Let's have it."

[darkblade]

The Bride

Well that was about the most akward thing she could here in the present company. She takes another drag from the cigarette before heading back to her bike.

"Then I better go take them then. Give my regards to your sister." The rain makes it impossible to smoke so she tosses it as she gets on the bike and rides out to the suburbs.

***

Ghost Rider

Blaze stops dead cold. He can sense it, whoever just walked in works for the Devil. The same Devil he spent the last decade fighting against.

He turns around and sends a chain of hellfire to wrap around the poor boy's neck.

"Old Scratch still chasing after me? This will be what? The third assasin of his I send back to hell in pieces this month?"

[Prime32]

"<<I was unaware you spoke the language of the great Sakurai.>>" Kirby replies in surprisingly good Japanese.

"<<But no I would hate for you to get in trouble with the Cullens over me. Surely you can tell that they are not very fond of me.>>" Kirby moves closer to the front of his cage."<<It's all right. I'll make sure not to be caught.>>" :smallsmile:

Nrvnqsr
When the door of the bar opened, the dog stuck its head in.

[industrious]

Ghost Rider

"No...not...dead...still...alive...no...choice...pa rents...And..." Sam is rapidly running out of breath. He'll be turning blue in a moment.

[Cracklord]

Midnighter
The man goes down like a tonne of bricks, whimpering. Marv sighs, and puts down his drink. "I was getting to like you." He mutters, letting his jacket back. His eyes narrow, and his enormous fists clench. "Don't be roughing up my favorite bar while I'm around. I might take it personal."
One of the waitresses, good looking, puts her hand on your arm. "Don't do it. Walk away. Nobody will think less of you."

Nicodemus
"None of us own anything. We simply borrow it for a while."
Carlisle comes in like a martial artist, a series of thumb jabs and open hand chops aimed at your vitals. He's a doctor, he knows how everything connects, and what you need. He's also a vampire, strong, fast, and had a few centuries to learn to kill.

Nero
The prey is sitting in a corner, uncaring. The manthings are in another corner, not doing anything much. And a flaming skeleton is facing down an ordinary teenager, with the sooty mark on his forehead letting anyone who looks know he's satan's flesh and blood.

Sam
"You think I would have sent you if I didn't think you were up to it? Come on son, give me more credit. Your not so expendable as that. Play a few notes, and its all over." Says a voice that doesn't seem to come from anywhere. It's your fathers, but not like you're used to. It's a voice that should have been given to some god of song, a deep, lustful voice that was simultaneously pure and leaking with the greatest evil imaginable, a pure stream with a center of filth.

[darkblade]

Kirby

"<<Thank you but I doubt you could sneak human flesh down here for me without them noticing.>>" Kirby states calmly as though eating people was no big deal.

"<<Though if you do not mind me asking why do you work for them? I can tell despite your smiling face you do not much care for the Cullens.>>"

***

Ghost Rider

Zarthos wishes to tighten the grip and tries to force Blaze to but he manages to resist. This kid is one of the Devil's hitmen? Something's off here. He pulls the chain off and wraps it around he arm.

"Seriously how many guys have I killed if he's sending Grad Students after me now."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Carlisle Cullen is stronger than he is, faster than he is, and more experienced in bare-knuckle brawling than he is. Which is rather the point of choosing to go with his fists. Letting your opponent play to his seeming strengths, then change the rules of the game.

In this case, the fist fight. If not for two advantages Nicodemus possessed, then the affair would be over very quickly. One, the noose of Judas that hung around his neck. Thanks to its properties, Nicodemus had been stabbed, shot, pucnhed, drowned, poisoned, disemboweled, staked, crucified, immolated, frozen, boiled, caught in the immediate vicinity of a volcano,irradiated, entropy-cursed, plague-ridden, frost-bitten, and standing one mile away from Hiroshima in 1945 many times over the past millenia. All he had to show for it was...well, nothing really. That was the point. And two, was that Nicodemus had no intention of landing any major blows on the vampire. Rather, all he needed to do was be willing to let the vampire close in, even land a few inconsequential if normally lethal blows...and then lightly tap him with the coin he had palmed earlier. And the rest, they say, was for the Angels.

Sam

"Hate...you...too...Dad." Slowly reaching out with his power, with his inheritance, Sam strains to maneuver the hellfire chain away from his neck, buying him a few precious seconds of breathing room. Harmonica flying to his mouth, he puffs a few horribly jumbled, out of tune notes on the thing.

Midnighter

"Merv, sit down. Don't take it personally. I'm not taking it personally. Kicking the president into the middle of an Iraqi war zone was me taking it personally. This is just me blowing off some steam. Still, as a favor to you...I don't suppose there are any bigger fish to fry? And I do mean that literally."

[Prime32]

Kirby

"<<Thank you but I doubt you could sneak human flesh down here for me without them noticing.>>" Kirby states calmly as though eating people was no big deal."<<Yes, that would be difficult...>>" she frowns. "<<Do you like lamb? I have some left over from dinner.>>"


"<<Though if you do not mind me asking why do you work for them? I can tell despite your smiling face you do not much care for the Cullens.>>"
Kohaku bows slightly, still smiling. "<<We have been hired to serve the master. We will do so to the best of our abilities.>>"

[Cracklord]

Midnighter
Marv sits back down. "There is always something go on. Me, I just find someone who knows more then me, stick a gun in his mouth, and work my way up the foodchain."
The television that nobody is paying attention to changes to a news-report, a fire down town.

Sam/Ghost Rider
The fire dies down, and the figure of a skeleton alters until Johnny Blaze is standing it it's place, holding a perfectly normal legnth of chain that is no longer pulled tight.
The colonel, winning the understatement of the year award, picks up his glass. "I think you should leave."

Nicodemus
After a few blows, it's over, your on the ground, your limbs are unresponsive, and Carlisle is leaning over you. You couldn't land so much as a single blow.
What is the most grating is that you know, in any other circumstances you would probably have triumphed. In every particular but one he is the lesser being.
"I was going to kill you." He says. "But I won't. Instead, you are going to work for me. My children are in a mansion. I want you to go there, and do whatever they tell you. I will be back soon."
With that, he is gone.

[industrious]

Sam

Letting out a deep breath, Sam stares at the colonel. "I think I want some answers." Then acting on a hunch, he dives in, headfirst. "Please allow me to introduce myself. Jerry Belvedere. Junior."

Midnighter

"Alright," he enunciates, speaking to the whole crowd. "Listen up you *******. No more crime. Or I come back with my friends. You're getting a warning because I'm in a charitable mood today."

He walks out without bothering to see if the Crow is going to follow, headed in the direction of the fire on tv.

Nicodemus

Oh, he was going to pay for that. Pay so very very much. But Nicodemus was patient. And had been far too focused on turning the vampire instead of doing the civilized thing and killing him. Anduriel was currently gloating in his head about doing so. Apparently, the Fallen thought he was getting soft.

Nicodemus brushes himself off, and turns to the nearest waitress. "Sorry about the damage. Would this be enough compensation?" In his outstretched hand is a neat bundle of hundred dollar bills...and a slightly tarnished old coin.

[darkblade]

Kirby

"<<Lamb...Lamb would be an improvment over the rats. Thank you.>>" Kirby says.

***

Johnny Blaze

The bar full of guns is a lot less apealing when you are no longer bullet proof, and his bike no longer has his unholy binding it to his will.

"I was just leaving." Blaze tells the colonel. He pushes his way past Sam out the door and back to his bike.

[industrious]

Sam

Sam stops the biker. "You stay. I need to talk with you as well."

[darkblade]

Johnny Blaze

"I don't have my fallen Angel friend keeping my bike supplied with hellfire anymore thanks to you and I'd like to make sure it doesn't disapear too." Blaze explains pushing Sam's arm off.

[industrious]

"Look," Sam whispers into Blaze's ear. "I'm not exactly cut out for this sort of thing, and I need all the help I can get. I'm going to trust you, since you're not with the Devil. Please don't kill me." Quickly, he taps the side of the harmonica, freeing Zarthos...who immediately returns to Blaze's body.

[darkblade]

Johnny Blaze

Johnny takes Zarthos back into his body but keeps him supressed. "You earned yourself a chance kid but don't cross me again."

He stands beside Sam in front of the colonel.

[industrious]

"I don't exactly have a choice in the matter." Sam mutters.

"So. Colonel. Information por favor."

[Cracklord]

The Bride
As she is driving out, she almost collides with another, absurdly over sized bike coming the opposite way.
Driving on, she mounts the hill and gets a good look at the city. Half the poor district is ablaze.

Sam/Johnny Blaze
The colonel puts his drink back down. "I have no idea what is going on. A first, I assure you."

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"I want you to think very hard about what you're saying. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't have any information that would be of interest to the gentleman next to me, or myself." There is something...not quite right about Sam's eyes. They aren't human, not at this moment. Intense, and penetrating, like a wrathful parents in the eyes of a five year-old. Something ancient and wicked is beneath those eyes. His fathers eyes.

Of course, if Sam knew exactly what he was doing, then he would be doing anything of the sort.

[Cracklord]

The colonel raises an eyebrow. He has been many things, none of them intimidated by the teenager in front of him. Just the same, he decides to answer, if only due to his very large, very dangerous looking friend.
"I have already told him the information he was after. Perhaps you should ask him. As to what I know, most of it would be of interest to everyone. Furthermore, it is none of your business."

Midnighter/Eric
The fire is spreading out of control, and the efforts of the local fire brigade seem to be utterly irrelevant, as they impotently spit into a black hole. Even the rain is having no effect.
But one building, an ordinary looking house, is untouched, as though the fire was unable to so much as come within ten feet of it.

Nicodemus
The waitress takes the money... and her eyes go blank. You have control.

[darkblade]

The Bride

She could ignore this mysterious arsonist and keep riding to the suburbs or she can deal with him because there is no way the police will here.

Damn moral compass. Pulling a sharp u-turn she draws and chases after him slicing the nozels off of the sides of every fire hydrant she passes by.

***

Johnny Blaze

"Then how about back to the subject of the Cullens. You might not be afraid on me over them but you should be afraid of his boss."

[industrious]

((ooc: What about Nick?))

Sam

The man shrugs. "Very well." Opening the list once more, he checks for the next name.

Midnighter

"Oh my guilty conscience." His enhanced eyes search for any trapped innocents, especially children. Whatever he was, he liked children. And hated the adults they turned into.

Nicodemus

The man smiles. "Alright, Saleos. You can come out now." One of the lesser Fallen, the being was a brute. But Nicodemus wasn't being especially picky; he needed an attack dog, and this particular Fallen was very loyal to Anduriel.

I wonder what form she'll take his partner wonders. I'm thinking something...plague fiend. He always did love disease.

[Cracklord]

Sam
The next name, Eric Draven.
The blond man at the other side of the room stands up. "Enough of this. My name is Jasper. Cullen. What do you want?"

Nicodemus
A demon appears. She's gone for the traditional, a manlike fold in space surrounded by flames so hot they hurt to look at. "Hello master." She says, a high, bubbly voice at odds with her appearance.
((An that is how the mysterious fire started))

[Draxx]

Eric
"It's all going up in flames. Reminds me of the devil's night." He says, eyes staring of into the distance, slightly glazed.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"How delightful seeing you in possession once more, Saleos. Come, my dear. We have a family to exterminate." Arm in arm, the two exit the cafe, and into the street, looking for a dishonest man.

Sam

"I don't suppose the name Eric Draven means anything to you?"

Midnighter

"Quit thinking about the past, and start helping with the goddamn fire!" The Midnighter activates his implants, seeking out the quickest possible way to get rid of the fire.

[darkblade]

Johnny Blaze

Johnny turns over to Jasper.

"I threatened this man for the better part of an hour over information about your family and you didn't think to do something? Speak up? Run away? Stab me in the back when I'm not looking? Something?" Blaze shakes his head exasperated.

"I'm half tempted to drive back out and tell the Caretakers that you vampires aren't worth my time." Blaze remains human but the chain alights in hellfire and flies towards Jasper's left shoulder.

"But I'll give you one chance to amuse me first."

[Cracklord]

Johnny Blaze
"The whole point of having men like him is so I don't have to deal with people like you." Jasper replies. "But there is only so much of this I can take. Now, what do you want?"

Nicodemus
Turn the right corner in Sin City, and you can find... anything.
She leaves a trail of sparks behind her, that ignite in living flames. Bildings go up, the fire seeming strong enough to burn stone. You ignore it. Your right next to her, so it doesn't burn you.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"Information about an 'Eric Draven' would do nicely, to begin with."

Nicodemus

Information was such a wondrous commodity in this era. So simple and easy to obtain, and at such reasonable prices. This city was beautiful; ablaze or standing still, the souls of the wicked spoke to the man like poetry. If only this was true for the world at large...

Still, Nicodemus wasn't merely strolling the city to take in its sin. He was looking for organized crime. Someone to take him higher up the ranks. There was profit to be made.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

The hellfire chain wraps around Jasper's shoulder. Blaze attempts to pull him to the ground.

"And the location of the rest of your family while you are at it."

[Prime32]

Kirby

"<<Lamb...Lamb would be an improvment over the rats. Thank you.>>" Kirby says.Kohaku bows and leaves. She returns soon later with some roast lamb on a plate, along with a knife and fork. "Shhh." :smallwink:

{OOC: Yeah, she just gave Kirby a knife. :smallamused:}

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis drives into Old Town looking for trouble or something similar that will likely lead to somebody dying.

[Cracklord]

Travis
A women on a yellow motorbike is following you, has been since the two of you almost collided on the road.
You're nearing the outskirts now.

Johnny Blaze
He's as immovable as the foundations of Fort Knox. "Don't even bother. I don't die here and now. If I was in any danger, she would have told me." He replied. "I have never heard of this Eric Draven."

Kohaku
Emmette Cullen is still sprawled on the couch when return. "Is he warming to you, or not." When you don't answer straight away, he shakes his head and sighs. "No matter. Do me a favor and sort out the third floor. Oh, and send up your sister in a hour or so."

Kirbyy
The meal is delicious. The light goes off, and the room is dark and silent.
It is a matter of hours before the door next slides open. It's Carlisle.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"Fair enough. Come on Mr. Blaze. I have another lead."

[darkblade]

Johnny Blaze

"You win for now vampire but I'll be back." Blaze pulls back the chain and goes with Sam outside.

***

Kirby

Kirby is careful to make sure the cutlery is not seen by Carlise as he enters.

"Oh Carlise. You had us all worried sick. How did purging the city of sin go?"

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis notices that the woman on the motorbike has been following him for awhile, and wonders, "What does this bitch want?"
So he brings the bike to a halt in the outskirts via a sharp turn and gets off, beam katana at ready just incase she turns out to be a psycho bitch.

[Prime32]

Emmette Cullen is still sprawled on the couch when return. "Is he warming to you, or not." When you don't answer straight away, he shakes his head and sighs. "No matter. Do me a favor and sort out the third floor. Oh, and send up your sister in a hour or so."
For the first time, Kohaku seems genuinely flustered.
"A... ah, Mr. Cullen, whatever you need Hisui-chan for..."

{OOC: I'm assuming that he asked her to call him "Mr. Cullen". What time is it, by the way?}

[darkblade]

The Bride

Seeing Travis pull his lightsaber beam katanna she slows down. As sharp ad her sword is she doesn't want to try it against lasers.

"I hope you weren't planning on bringing that into Old Town. The girls there will end you for bringing a weapon like that in."

[nanobot_swarm]

"Hey, I'm number one in the UAA, I've killed 10 of the best assassins in the United States (except Letz Shake, and I let that samurai girl live), and a ton of punks who thought they were hot enough **** to take me on. So I think a couple of hoes won't be much of a problem. Thanks for your concern, I guess, who the hell are you anyway?"

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride speeds up to follow right on side of Travis. She draws her sword again so that he can clearly see it.

"Yeah thats bull**** kid. I am Black Mamba of the Deadly Viper Assasination Squad. Second deadliest assasin on the planet."

She speeds up more to pass Travis and spins to place her bike in his bath.

"Now who the hell are you?"

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis laughs a bit at this and reples, "Deadly Viper assassin squad? Never heard of them. And since you're second deadliest, guess that makes me numero uno. Well it's nice to meet you Black Mamba, I'll give you credit, sounds alot better than Death Metal or Speed Buster, I'm Travis Touchdown."

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Number one would be Bill but allow you your delusions." She says

"Who are you hear to kill?"

[nanobot_swarm]

"Some guy hired me to kill the Cullen Clan. Why do you want to know?"

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Because I was paid up front to kill the same family." The Birde chuckles before puting away her sword and turning around. The kid was mostly harmless.

"By the way, the Cullens live in the suburbs. You're going the wrong way."

With that she drives off heading downtown to see about that fire. If there are two seperate assasins involved there would be others out for the Cullen's blood and some of those someones would likely be involved downtown.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Dammit!" Shouts an annoyed Travis,"No one's going to steal my chance at rent money!"
Thus he turns around, hits the gas, and speeds towards the suburbs. Though he avoids hitting any cars or people, everything else is fair game, as several stop signs, lamp-posts, mailboxes, and a traffic light learn.

[Cracklord]

Kohaku
Emmette stands up, towering over you in an instant. His eyes narrow alarmingly. "I've had a bad day." He says, seeming suspiciously reasonable. Warning bells go off in your head. "The last thing I need is to be questioned now, by the hired help. So send up your sister, and take the rest of the night off. Not a request, an order. Capiche?"

Sam and Blaze
As you step out of the bar, you see three things in quick succession. The first is the fire that is so bright half the city seems to be burning. Second is the two men coming towards you, both in leather, one with a harlequins make-up. And third is more of a feeling, Jasper is gone.

Kirby
Carlisle doesn't answer. He simply looks at you, with his infuriatingly superior expresion, for a few minutes, as though minutely examining you. At last he seems satisfied and sits back, a wide smile on his face. He seems, earnest. Like a man who has just figured something out and is anxious to discuss it.
"Tell me Kirby, do you believe in evil? Some people call it evil when soldiers knock on a door and ask a man where his brother is, and the man, terrified, tells them. Or when a women sees a full purse lying by the road and takes it. Selfish, maybe even cowardly, but not evil."
He sits back. "But I am not asking if you believe in weakness, pettiness, or ignorance that harms others. I'm not talking about ends justifying the means, or those sins Jesus warned us of, flaws. I am talking about evil. Evil that glories in destruction. Evil that would watch the lord being crucified, behold the face of goodness, and spit on it."
"You see, I know when I drink blood, I am simply enduring, perpetrating my existence. Humans eat, and so must we. And the lord will forgive a moment of weakness, even one like ours. Humans have moments of weakness, like the ones I stated, but that is not evil. And when I ripped the beating heart out of a young boys chest I knew I was simply doing it to inspire fear. It is that what makes me unknowable. Unfathomable. A being to be feared, and by extension respected. That ensures my survival, and my power. And our society rests on the foundations of absolute power, just as humans does. If our leaders do not posses it, it all crumbles. Everything. Then comes starvation, war, chaos. And none of those discriminate between the innocent and the guilty. A little brutality preserves us like the surgeons knife preserves life. I can justify my self. My every action may be questionable, but not evil. My question is, do you believe in an evil possessed of it's own purity? Or does every act intend some good?"

Travis and the Bride
A well cared for, silver Volvo comes out of nowhere, and Travis is too late to turn. A chaotic few seconds later you are sprawled on the sidewalk, your bike is so much scrap metal and there is a massive dent in the fender, as well as some scratches that have gouged the finish beyond repair.
The driver gets out. He is slenderly built, with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, a straight nose and full lips. His bronze hair is tousled, and he is wearing a polo shirt and beige leather jacket, making him the one man in this city not in black. Both of you feel an odd arousal at his mere presence, one you can't quite resist. But there is something repellent in it, profoundly unnatural.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Strolling merrily around the city was fine and dandy, but there were still objectives to be made. And the Hellfire wasn't exactly subtle; it was a sheer bloody sign that the Order was here. And speaking of the Order...

Nicodemus pulls out his cell phone, and calls his daughter, vacationing with her mother in Ireland. Seeing the Church rip itself to shreds without need of intervention made for such delicacy.

"Hello my dear...that's nice...what are you two doing to each other, I can hear you through the phone...No, I am not going to kill him for you, he still might be useful...Deidre, I need the locations, and names of the major crimes bosses in Basin City...tell your mother to stop using her tongue and help as well."

Sam Oliver

"I don't suppose you know anything about this? Since its Hellfire, and I recognize it from this portal that some guy was building, and I had to destroy it..."

The Midnighter

"Well, **** this. Door." The Carrier was such a marvelous ship. Existing in every place on Earth simultaneously (or something along those lines; the Engineer was the brain, he was the one who hit things), it could open teleportation portals to any location on the planet. For example, the bottom of the ocean. Opening the Door in front of him was probably a good idea; the Midnighter had no idea about what the water would do...other than (probably) put out the fire. Or at least some of it.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Dammit! Naomi's going to charge me a fortune to fix that." Most people would probably be thanking the fact they are still alive, but Travis has suffered worse, and he loves that bike to bits.
"What the hell *******?!" He shouts at the smexy man. "Who the **** gave you a driver's license? Watch where you're going!" He says this with no sense of irony.

[darkblade]

Blaze

"Thats Hellfire alright but I thought I was the only one who would be employing it here. Could be your second target kid." Blaze explains before shifting into the full rider form and turning to the oncoming men.

With but a glance Blaze's bike alights with hellfire and drives off on it's own into the clown and his partner.

***

Kirby

"An interesting dilemma I must say." Kirby smiles as he makes his way to the front of his cage.

"Make no mistake Carlise, evil is very real and if often done for it's own sake but no action with the intention of good behind can be truly called evil. Even if your God doesn't see it that way. How does that saying go? 'The path to Hell is paved with good intentions.'"

***

The Bride

The Bride draws her sword and faces the van. She doesn't know who is inside it or why they came up here but it seems they are looking for them and they should be dealt with quickly.

"Lightsaber out kid. Our the bike will be the least of your problems."

[Cracklord]

Kirby
"it is, isn't it." He replies. "Have you ever stood on a height, and thought 'I could jump?' Everyone does. Have you stood beside anyone else and thought 'I could push him?' Of course you have. So have I. When I made my first son, I stood there, and decided to. Not because it helped me, you understand. Just because I was... curious. No. Because I was bored. It is the melancholy of an immortal. In time all pleasures fade, and we must climb to greater heights. I brought him into my confidence, opened to him and acted as a second father, then as more when even that was not enough anymore. Then I betrayed him in the most profound way I could imagine."
"Why? Because I could. What more reason did I need? It was the moment closest to a purity of evil I have ever felt."

The Bride and Travis
Edward hasn't taken his eyes of Tavis yet. "Oh shut up kid." He growls, although he's almost definitely younger then you. "Cry me a river. Honestly, you are such a pain. No wonder everyone avoids you. Your constant yelling, your delusions of adequacy, it's enough to drive even the sanest man to murder. Do you really think swearing makes you seem dangerous? Really?"

Blaze, Midnighter, Sam and Eric
Everyone who followed you out of the bar backs away, giving you a wide berth as the three of you confront each other.
Sam finds his eyes drawn to a crow, sitting on a rooftop pecking at the sill. Somehow, you feel your hand itch for the harmonica.

Nicodemus
((Don't know anything about their manner, so I'll cut it short.))
"Herr Wallenquist is running the show these days. But there are a few wildcards. Some we don't know anything about. And of course Old town is it's own show." As you're about to hang up, she adds: "A new don is starting to take control, but he doesn't have much power yet."

[nanobot_swarm]

"No this does ****head!" He activates the beam katana with an upward swing and readies it for action. "Now you're either going to pay for that bike, or you get to go to hell. Take your pick."

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Less talking, more stabbing." The Bride tell Travis as she lunges at Edward.

***

Kirby

"Do not mistake ennui for evil Carlise. If anything that would be a moment of selfish human weakness as you mentioned before. True evil is done with no other intention than to bring harm to another." Kirby explains with a toothy grin.

"Unless you meant to to hurt your child."

[industrious]

Sam
Everyone who followed you out of the bar backs away, giving you a wide berth as the three of you confront each other.
Sam finds his eyes drawn to a crow, sitting on a rooftop pecking at the sill. Somehow, you feel your hand itch for the harmonica.

Sam gawkes at the newcomers. "What is this, the bondage club? Do I need a leather jacket or something? I have a suit, but...really..." It's true; the twenty-two year old does look the odd man out, dressed as he is in a tuxedo T-shirt, and a jacket that still has his Work Bench nametag ("Hello, my name is Sam! Have a Nice Day") pinned to it. The itch was definitely not normal.

"Does the name Eric Draven ring any bells?"

Midnighter

"You don't want to see me on bondage night, kid. Get out of my way before I hit you with something. Same with you, Skeleton. I've gone far too long without ripping somebody's skull from their spine."


Nicodemus
((Sultry, but loyal. She is his daughter, after all.))

"Thank you my dear. Please, return to your scheduled activities. If you left them, that is. Kiss Kiss."

Returning the phone to his trenchcoat pocket, Nicodemus turns to the nearest policeman. This was Basin City, after all.

"Excuse me, my dear boy, but could you direct me to Herr Wallenquist? I have some business with him. And a strange urge to fiddle like I did oh so long ago..." Really, those flames were quite beautiful.

[Cracklord]

Kirby
"Of course I did. That was what I created him for." Carlisle replied. "I think evil has agents. We allow evil to use us. It doesn't care if we know what we're doing is evil or not. After we've done its will, it can continue to use us or discard us."
He leans forward. "To my eyes, the world holds two mysteries. Evil is the first, and love is the second. I have seen love used, exaggerated into a mockery of itself, perverted, faked, betrayed. Love is a pitiful, fragile, corruptible thing. And yet I have seen in evince a curious strength. It is beyond my comprehension, this weakness that so often triumphs over strength. Ridiculous, yet curious."

The Bride and Tavis
Edward deftly twists around the blade, and launches a right cross. It dazes you slightly, and knocks a tooth out, cracking you jaw in the bargain. His eyes are cold, you notice. No warmth, no life, no expression. Nothing.

Nicodemus
The man stares at you. "What are you, tired of life? I don't know anyone by that name, and neither do you. Unless you want to wind up a missing person, of course."

[Draxx]

Eric Draven
The man with the painted face stares at you, dark eyes fixing on yours. "That would be me. May I help you?" He asks, his features exagerating the movement.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"Eric Draven...the Devil sent me. He wants you back in Hell." Sam pulls out the harmonica, and horribly mangles the first notes of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. A song that he won't be able to hear anymore without crying a little inside. Andi...

Nicodemus

"I'm hardly tired of life. But will you not let a man choose his own path, should he wish to die?" Ah, free will. Such a beautiful thing.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"That was some punch." The Bride mutters as she falls back to the pavement as she falls she spins making another swipe at the vampire with her sword, this time at his left calf muscle.

***

Ghost Rider

"At least he didn't play "Ghost Riders in the Sky" for me." Blaze mutters before moving towards his bike.

***

Kirby

"Love is quite curious indeed. I myself have no personal experience with it but many of my victims had." Kirby says a slight hint of grisly nostalgia slipping into his slimey voice.

"There was this Princess, Princess Daisy of Sarasaland. Even as I dined upon some of her more important organs her only thoughts were of her fiancee Luigi Mario and his saftey. It was quite touching. Almost enough to bring me to tears."

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis never really liked to see women get hurt or killed, even if they were his opponents. Seeing Edward punch her like in a Street Fighter match really made him angry. Thus he charges towards Edward shouting like a maniac, and tries an upward strike on Edward.

[Cracklord]

Calisle nods. "Truly. It is that dichotomy that appeals to me. Incomprehensible. I myself have had no experience of it, my wife is simply to give my children a mother. Yet it is no doubt the reason I do obsess over it."
He looks up at you. "Do you know why I caught you Kirby?"

Eric
The vigor fades from your bones, and the crow squawkes, desperately before dropping to the ground, dead.

The Bride and Travis
The sword meets unexpected resistance, not quite severing the muscle, but only making it half way. He looses his balance, totters, and falls, catching himself against the car.
Seeing Travis charge at him, he throws himself out of the way. The blade instead ears a huge gash in the car.
Edward picks himself up gingerly, but quickly enough not to leave himself open. He doesn't take the offensive, glaring at the two of you.

Nicodemus
The man seems confused, so follows the general principle. "Then you don't know the name, and you're not interested in learning more. He pats you on the shoulder "good man."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Nicodemus steeples his fingers together, and exhales slowly. Once he is sure that he is calm, cool, and collected, he nods his thanks to the policeman. Then, his shadow rises up behind the cop, envelops the man in its freezing embrace until only his face peers out, and the man is risen several inches into the air. At his throat lies a silver dagger. In the exact same, polite tone he used before, Nicodemus repeats himself.

"Excuse me, my dear boy, but could you direct me to Herr Wallenquist?"

[darkblade]

Kirby

"I thought it was because I was dining on the town and it was causing some suspicion to fall upon you but please enlighten me."

***

The Bride

"One of the Cullens I assume." The Bride returns to her feet and bows slightly in a mocking manner.

"You may be strong and unnaturally tough but you alone can't take on two of the deadiliest assasins like this, so how about calming down and settling this like civilized human beings."

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Carlisle shakes his head. "It would take more then even your excesses to do that in this town, my friend. No, I captured you for study, which I have done, and because I wish to recruit you. I want to work with you. Why? Fear." He leans forward. "You are the finest artist of it I have ever met. It is a shame to see such a talent go to waste."

The Bride
Edward, still using the car to keep his foot from slipping under him, stares at you, then nods. "Of course. What can I help you with?" You can't tell if he's being sarcastic.

Nicodemus
The policeman gags and gasps, all but hyperventilating. He's nodding desperately. "Of course - of course sir. He has an apartment in the inner city, 295-297 George Street. That's where we meet him. I don't have a clue where he lives the rest of the time. Please don't kkill me!" He begs, stuttering over the last sentence.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"Thank you," the immortal says, patting the cop on the head. "Good man." The knife leaves the cop without a tongue; he'll live, provided that he receives medical attention shortly. Time to be off.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"There much better. Now how exactly do you still have a leg after being cut by this sword? Nothing can withstand a Hattori Hanzo sword." The Bride asks leaning against her bike, ignoring the fact that this kid is one of her targets for the time being.

***

Kirby

"Really? Oh now you got me all embarrassed Carlise. Its rare for anyone to praise my talents. What could one such as me possibly do for you?"

[Cracklord]

Kirby
"Don't work for me. Work with me. Do as you have always done, only longer and harder. Put the fear of god into this city, or at least the fear of Kirby. Sate your every desire, your every impulse, on the vermin who crawl in this belly of this cankerous mass. Make them afraid to walk the street, afraid of their own shadows until they quake at the very mention of your name. Are you with me?"

The Bride
"You didn't hit me hard enough." Edward replies. wincing. The cut's healing has slowed, and he is obviously someone not used to physical pain. "I got lucky, that's all. Now why are you trying to kill me? If it's pay, then I'll match whatever your being offered. No, I'll double it."
It's a tempting offer. All the reward, none of the work. Bill would refuse, professionalism demands you do what you're paid for, otherwise you're not a warrior or an assassin, you are just a thug with a blade. But if you are going to retire anyway...
"Edward, what's going on out there?" A beautiful women gets out, with chestnut hair and a body most models would kill for. Her smle lights up the sky, but she's not smiling now. "If they're being a bother, kill them and lets go on. We're wasting time here."

Nicodemus
Herr Wallenquist is a big man, though you can't be sure if it's muscle or fat. His fave is lined and scared from pimples and working in a foundry, and his suit costs more then the townhouse. Small designer shades cover his eyes despite the murk, a cigar is clamped between his thick lips, rings glint n his fingers, and every one of his servants and guests seems to be a gorgeous woman who can't be bothered with clothing.
The only exception is a black robed man, small, or maybe shrunken with a hooked nose, hooded eyes, yellowy skin and a shaved head.
"I don't know you. So you have a proposition of some sort. Lets hear it then." He says, in a thickly accented voice.

[nanobot_swarm]

It seems that when Bella walked out, Travis's beam katana grew a little in length and vibrancy, what a pervert.
"Oh you're Edward the vampire freak thing, okay that makes it easy then. Your offer sounds good, but you trashed my bike, and you were a douche about it, so bring it on!"
Once again he bum-rushes Edward, attempting a flurry of slashes against the sparkley man.

[industrious]

Nicodemus
To show that he is acting in good faith, Nicodemus comes alone. Or as alone as he can; Anduriel is always with him. Always offering suggestions, plotting. But casting a finely trained eye around the room, the Denarian finds himself slightly impressed. While his own attire was hardly as elegant as that of Wallenquist's, anyone can see that it was custom made. As for the women...Nicodemus had been roaming the earth for over two thousand years. While he does appreciate them, he doesn't allow himself to be distracted.

"When I last worked with organized crime, there was a certain number of formalities before business. It is such a shame to see that civility is no longer tolerated in the here and now. But, to business. My request is this: cut the power. Citywide."

[Cracklord]

One of the women, olive skinned with the body of a Victoria's Secret model shakes her head, black tresses tumbling. Somehow she manages to make even that seem like an invitation to bed. "Herr Wallenquist is not a criminal. He is a businessman" She says in a french accent. "The law simply does not apply to him. L'Etat, c'est moi"
The man inclines his head. He doesn't seem as though your request was even unexpected. "I prefer Argumentum ad Baculum, myself. As to your request, certainly. It will occur in twenty minutes, after I make the requisite arrangements. I can do it for an hour, before partial recovery at most of the central grids. Full recovery not for about a month. Any longer is too complicated, and not worth my expense." He takes a drag on his cigar. "I take sixty percent of whatever you are taking, or one hundred million euro's. Whatever is higher. Furthermore you owe me a favor. If you fail to deliver, what is owed, you will regret it."
He extends a hand. "Now that that is out of the way, civility can be brought in. Anything else I can do for you?"

Travis
Edward turns, and launches a feint, then barrels into you, sensibly realizing that the length of your weapon makes it useless in close quarters. His teeth snap at your throat, while his hands grapple at yours, trying to pin you.

[Draxx]

Eric
The man shudders, falling to his knees. Something in him has changed, he no longer seems so nimble, graceful or powerful.

Alexander Anderson
Pages fluttered as the priest removed his bible. The church was abandoned, the corpse of the old man lying there. Anderson had business with him himself tonight, and it vexed him someone had got there first. He admires the cut, so sharp the layers of skin and flesh hadn't bled into each other. Almost mono-filament precision.
A professional job. More then one, this sort of work could only be performed by a number of people he could count without a list. He snarls.
No matter the man, the enemies of god are not free to spill their blood.
Taking the bible he turns to the last pages. These were not rites or ceremonies you'd find in anyone else's, these were unique to the Iscariot.
Chanting the words in latin, he watched the form of a figure take place. As much as he preferred to work alone, he had a better idea.

"Archer." He said, when the ritual was finished. "It be time tae hun'."

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

Johnny Blaze fed up with Sam gets on his bike and drives off down the road leaving a trail of hellfire. The kid has a completely different agenda and despite his employ by the Lord of Darkness he doesn't seem to be evil so nothing would be gained by killing him. No better to do this on his own.

***

The Bride

"Damnit kid, you're going to get up both killed. Use your head for once." The Bride sighs.

She's probably get in Travis's way going after Edward but that girl is no doubt a member of the clan and should be taken care of as well. A distinct feeling that there is something unnatural about these two hits the bride in a way she can't shake but can't do anything about.

She lunges out with her sword toward's the woman's stomach.

***

Kirby

"Is there anything specific you would like me to hunt then?" Kirby is intrigued by this offer but still cautious. He can't afford to be tricked by these vampires again.

[Cracklord]

Kirby

"Of course not. You are the artist. I leave it to you."

Ghost Rider

As you drive, you catch a glimpse to your left. It's the vampire who was at the bar.

The Bride

Unlike Edward, who is clearly very experienced, she is clumsy. She's faster then you, and stronger, but if she ever ran into Pei Mei he would have laughed and sent her away.
She knocks the sword with her hand, before screaming as the blade severs the tendons on her wrist.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"Your terms are...acceptable. My contact information" Nicodemus pulls out a sealed manilla envelope, which contains a sheet of blank paper...and a very old coin. "John Marcone also has knowledge of how to contact me. The two of us have...an arrangement." Smiling slightly, Nicodemus shakes the hand offered.

"I don't suppose a drink would be too much to ask for?"

Sam Oliver

"You're...human. Like the other guy. What is with this..." Sam whips out the list again. "I don't suppose you're working against the Devil as well?"

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Of course. Scotch is my drink. I hope it is yours." One of the women hands him a bottle and two glasses, he pours two and drinks the first. "Tell me, do you play Poker? The gentlemen's game, they call it. Lets play a hand. If you win, I will cut my fee in half. If I do, well I suppose it's only fair to let you name the terms yourself."

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

Upon seeing Jasper, Blaze turns his bike around so to ram into him with the bike's hellfire tires.

"Ready for round two?"

***

The Bride

That kind of strength and toughness but no skill, must be some sort of artificial enhancement. That explains a lot.

The Bride redirects her blow towards the underside of Bella's neck.

***

Kirby

"So you want me to go out into the city and slaughter people in order to bring fear to this wretched hive with no restrictions?"

[nanobot_swarm]

Edward might be surprised by two things, one that Travis is much stronger and more durable than his scrawny frame would suggest, and two, that he knows lucha libre. He grabs at Edward with both hands, lifts him , and tries to preform a suplex on him.

[Prime32]

Kohaku

Emmette stands up, towering over you in an instant. His eyes narrow alarmingly. "I've had a bad day." He says, seeming suspiciously reasonable. Warning bells go off in your head. "The last thing I need is to be questioned now, by the hired help. So send up your sister, and take the rest of the night off. Not a request, an order. Capiche?"
"...right, I'll get her!" Her smile returning, Kohaku bows and leaves.

Shortly after, Hisui arrives.
"Mr. Cullen, onee-chan said you wanted me?"
Behind her, Kohaku leaves quietly.

Note: Hisui always refers to her sister with "nee-san". Identical twins, remember?

Nrvnqsr Chaos
His crows keep an eye on the vengeance demon. He had come to find a True Ancestor, but had discovered something almost as interesting.

But now, he must feed. He begins to parse the information gathered by his beasts, searching for a good location with lots of people but few escape routes.

Archer
{OOC: Almost missed this. I was willing to drop it, but if you summoned him...}
Archer glances around the room and raises an eyebrow.
"Pfeh. This a surprise. I never expected to be summoned by a member of the Burial Agency (http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/Burial_Agency). :smallamused: So then, Master, for what reason have I been summoned?"

[Draxx]

Anderson
"Ye're here tae hunt, lad." The massive glaswegian replies. "Vampires'n murderers. Mother Holy Church herself is behind ye."

[Cracklord]

Kirby
"Indeed. Enjoy yourself."

The Bride
Bella leaps back, just out of reach, and screams for Edward. But he is otherwise occupied, and doesn't come. Instead she backs away, glaring at you.

Ghost Rider
Jasper gives the most succinct answer possible. He removes a gun from his coat lining, and fires of six shots. They hit both your tires, your fuel tank, your breaks and your steering.

Nero Chaos
There is a concert half a kilometer away. Some local band, but they seem to have quite a local following. So many people, trapped together, unable to escape, barely able to move...

Kohaku
Emmette nodds vaguely. He's sprawled across the bed, casually, staring at the ceiling. "That's right, little sister." He replies, as the door shuts behind you. "The truth is, I need someone to talk to. Or at. Rosalie has been away for almost a month, and... well... a man can get lonely."
He sits up. There is a hunger in his eyes, that you aren't altogether sure is healthy. "Tell me about yourself."

[Prime32]

Nrvnqsr Chaos


There is a concert half a kilometer away. Some local band, but they seem to have quite a local following. So many people, trapped together, unable to escape, barely able to move...
It is suitable. Nrvnqsr begins to walk towards the concert. Along the way, a black dog appears from a side-street and walks alongside him for a while before merging into his body. A crow lands and perches on his shoulder, before disappearing in the same way. It would be inefficient to divide his chaos for the moment.

Kohaku

Emmette nodds vaguely. He's sprawled across the bed, casually, staring at the ceiling. "That's right, little sister." He replies, as the door shuts behind you. "The truth is, I need someone to talk to. Or at. Rosalie has been away for almost a month, and... well... a man can get lonely."
He sits up. There is a hunger in his eyes, that you aren't altogether sure is healthy. "Tell me about yourself."Hisui nods.
"There isn't much to say about me, Mr. Cullen. I've lived most of my life in service of the Tohno family, and I rarely travelled outside the grounds of the mansion."
She pauses. "Can you tell me about you? I'm sure you have lots of interesting stories."

Archer

"Ye're here tae hunt, lad." The massive glaswegian replies. "Vampires'n murderers. Mother Holy Church herself is behind ye.""Indeed. But..." Archer raises his hand, with his index, middle and ring finger extended. "I have three questions. First, is there a specific target you have called me to defeat, or do you intend a more long-term service?"

[Draxx]

Alexander Anderson
"Ah dinnae ken yet. We'll see. A' the moment tho' yon abominations should do jeu' fine." He replies. "Ah wantae feel ye out, learn how ye work, ye ken." He straightens, slamming his book shut. This takes a while, he's pushing eight feet and is almost five feet across the chest. His green eyes twinkle behind his glasses.
"How do ye do this? I usually jus' go find someone who knows more'n me, and ask questions."

[Prime32]

"I watch. If you stood by the road outside the city and held that book open, I could read it from where I stand, such are my senses. If my targets wield Magecraft of some kind, I can sense its use."

He pauses. "And now for my second question. It concerns my summoning."

[nanobot_swarm]

Since Edward has apparently been succesfully suplexed, Travis procedes to unleash a can of whoop-ass on Edward with the beam Katana.

***

Meanwhile Samuel L. Jackson, a bum living his life out as a pilgrim living off the land, awakens from an alley slumber to see the form of an Angel before him.
It cries,"Fear Not! For I am here to bestow upon you a task from THE LORD. In this city which you currently stay, there live a clan of Abominations unto THE LORD. They are demons who feast off human blood, they are the Cullens. Find and destroy them, and your Salvation shall be guarenteed"
Samuel L. Jackson Jules Winnfield blinks with surprise at this encounter, it's not everyday one sees an angel, let alone to be given a mission by one. He reaches into his pants and draws the old .45, he's kept it all these years, just in case he needed it. At this point he realized he was out of "retirement", only instead of cappin asses for Marsellus, he's playing Crusader for the big guy upstairs.
He shrugs, finishes his half-eaten Big Kahuna Burger, and goes out looking for these Cullens, whose faces he suddenly knows.

[Draxx]

"Ah was told tae bring ye, an' sae ah did. Mah ken o' the arts be
- Specialized. Ah couldnae tell ye the first thing aboot anythin beyond replication, transferal, an sumonin'." He replies, adjusting his clerical collar. A man of action, he's already bored of talking and wants to begin hunting.

[Cracklord]

Travis
You disengage, both falling back a step, as though synchronized. You are breathing hard, and have cut Edward a few times. He seems more flammable then a person, and a small flame is flickering on those places above the cuts.
It looks pretty cool. And his grimace of pain and wall-eyed glare is truly gratifying.
Your left arm is broken in two places, and you think you've cracked a rib, but there is so much adrenaline flooding your system you barely notice.
"Nice sword." Edward remarks, trying to smother the flames with his hand.

Jules Winnfield
Basin City is a good place to be a bum. There's as much money in it as there is in a full paying job in other cities, with less opportunity. It nearly makes up for the mortality rate.
As you're walking past an ancient, abandoned church in a state of disrepair, you hear voices. A big, deep voiced scotsman, and an erudite, youthful sounding voice.

Archer
A slovenly looking black man is approaching, in a poorly cared for suit. Something about him makes you sure he knows how to use the gun in his inner pocket.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The bouncer tries to stop you.
Within, the concert is dark, and hundreds of teenagers and young adults are swaying to some indie pop band, a bunch of marginally talented, pale faced adolescents with side fringes and tight clothing. The music is hard to make out, the wave of sound hiding the lyrics and components somewhere within.
None of them pay you any attention.

Kohaku
He gets up. "You know, you're a sweet young thing." He says. "Far too good for this sort of life. I am a slaver. I peddle in flesh. Does that shock you?" Abruptly he pushes you against a wall. He's strong, to strong to be resisted.
"Kiss me." He orders, his eyes hard.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"That seems fair. If I lose..." Nicodemus places an old, tarnished silver coin onto the table. "A family heirloom, passed down for over two thousand years. On the international market, easily worth twenty million."

Sam

Well, that didn't solve anything. Still, he had one soul in the vessel. Time to see who the next target was.

[darkblade]

Kirby

"What of your children? They do respect my talents as you do?"

***

The Bride

"I have to thank you, girl." The Bride smirks as she redirects her attack at Bella chest.

"It's thanks of pathetic doormats like you that I get such a leg up in the assasin business. Without pathetic wastes of flesh like you no one would have trouble believing that I can do this, and then there goes my edge."

***

Ghost Rider

The Bike is not truly a bike as most people would reconize. Sure it has all the parts but they in essense don't do anything. The bike moves on the will of it's rider and the powers of the ever burning holy fires of hell. Those bullets strike their intended targets but the bike doesn't even slow. Seconds before it should hit the vampire Blaze jumps off into the air and whips out his shotgun.

Firing two hellfire shells at the vampire as the bike comes into it's target.

[Prime32]

Archer
"That is of little consequence. What I wish to know is the quantity of mana with which I can be provided. Without a sufficient supply I will be unable to use my Noble Phantasms."

He notices the man approaching, but does not react. Visibly, at least. His muscles have already tensed, while his mind is already calculating plans.

Nrvnqsr Chaos

The bouncer tries to stop you.
Within, the concert is dark, and hundreds of teenagers and young adults are swaying to some indie pop band, a bunch of marginally talented, pale faced adolescents with side fringes and tight clothing. The music is hard to make out, the wave of sound hiding the lyrics and components somewhere within.
None of them pay you any attention.
As the bouncer pushes against Nrvnqsr's chest it starts to sink in. A pair of jaws close on the man's hand, biting it off. Before he can react, a lion tears itself from the chaos and pins him down. As the Dead Apostle enters the building, a wave of animals of all sorts stream from his body and begin to attack the audience, their screams masked by the music. He sends one of his beasts to the security room to destroy any records of this night.

Kohaku

He gets up. "You know, you're a sweet young thing." He says. "Far too good for this sort of life. I am a slaver. I peddle in flesh. Does that shock you?" Abruptly he pushes you against a wall. He's strong, to strong to be resisted.
"Kiss me." He orders, his eyes hard.
Hisui smiles. For the Hisui he had seen before, this was a rare gesture - her mouth rarely curved above a straight line, though her eyes would give away her emotions. But this Hisui... this Hisui's eyes are completely dead.

She kisses him without complaint.

[Cracklord]

Kirby
"My children are not like us. They are small. Petty. They do not think beyond what makes them feel good. I regret to call them all failures. And Edward is a hollow, empty thing. But do not be concerned by them. Most of them will all be dead in less then a day."

The Bride
"Oh hear me roar." She replies with a sneer, leaping back to avoid the blade. Fighting may not be among her talents, but she feels right at home with name calling.
"It's girls like you who assert themselves like this because they have no confidence as women. And you go on about how weak the rest of us are while yearning to be accepted by us. No thanks. Tell me, how long have you been single? Are you afraid to open up? Or is it just that you know you're not good enough?"

Ghost Rider
Your shells have a much better effect, he goes down with a scream. But as you circle round, he's already on his feet, standing in the middle of the road and staring directly at you. No gun this time.

Nicodemus
For a moment he seems disappointed, but it's gone so quickly you may have imagined it. The German removes his sunglasses, then cuts the deck, shuffles it like a pro, then offers it to you to split.
"You can tell a lot about a man by the way he plays. To me, that is far more important then money." The small robed man is still watching you. He hasn't blinked since you came into the room.
With that, he picks up two cards, and stares over them at you. A faint trace of a smile is on his lips, but his eyes are cold and hard. He motions for you to draw.

Kohaku
He kisses her roughly, biting her tongue hard enough to draw blood, while his hands roughly move over her. Abruptly, he breaks away, then sinks his teeth into her neck, severing muscle and flesh. People talk about the ecstasy of a vampires bite, but Emette is not romantic or pleasurable, quite the opposite, he's rough, and the taking causes so much pain you want to scream.
After a minute, he lets go. You feel weak and light headed. He stares down, shock fighting black lust in his dark eyes, then growls "Clean yourself up and get out. While I can restrain myself."

Chaos
It is a slaughter. You are blocking the only exist, and most of them are two shocked or scared to move, or do more then cower. A few particularly stupid fans seem convinced its all part of the show. An hour later you are gorged on blood and slaughter, and not a single survivor is left to remember you.

[nanobot_swarm]

Seeing to investigate, Jules enters the Church to see what is going on, his, "I'm just a bum looking for a place to sleep" excuse should cover any problems that may occur.
***

"Thanks," He cooly remarks. With his adreneline pumping at Mach 3, Travis resumes the attack, going at a speed no normal human ought to go, like Super Sayian on roids fast. This is it, final fight of life a death between the pair, ****'s pretty wicked yo.

[industrious]

The Midnighter

"I must be going soft. As much as I really want to beat your face in with my bare hands, the Doctor is currently telling me not to do that on account of infernal assault. And my husband's on the other line." Scowling all the while, the Midnighter turns around, and begins stalks off into the night. He really needed to bash a criminal's head in right now.

Sam Oliver

"...that guy is a ****ing psycho." Sam rubs his temples, then hails a taxi. "Time to get some more information."

Nicodemus

"It is not money that motivated my stake. I am somewhat old-fashioned; the prospect of being given something without adequate recompense, or of a wager without equal stakes feels an affront to my honor, even though yours was not meant to be so. In the circles I move in, debt and personal integrity play a major role." Who was that small, robed man? As Nicodemus lets out a long, slow breath, his thoughts are directed inward, to the part of his mind where his Fallen rests.

Who is he, Anduriel? What can you tell me about him?

Nicodemus reaches over, to draw his own two, sliding each card from the top of the deck, and looking briefly at it before drawing the next. After a single glance, the two cards rest on the table, slightly to his left, the silver coin resting on the set.
Nicodemus has an excellent poker face; years of causing death and destruction give him little reason for a pair of marked pieces of cardboard to affect him in any way.

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
He is old. Older then you. Older then history. Dead, and living and dead again. Is a ghost a ghost if it lives?

The little man winks at you as Anduriel replies, and somehow you know he heard.
The first three cards of the river reveal a seven of clubs, an ace of spades, and a eight of clubs. The next two are a four of clubs and a seven of diamonds.
The don inclines his head to you.

Travis
Edward kicks a tire iron at you as you advance, then takes three steps back. It seems odd, him letting you take the offensive, he's fast and strong enough to seriously press you if he pushes it.

Sam Oliver
Your father is driving. You've gone three streets without saying a word before he finally speaks. "Truly I despair of you. Why did you let him go? Know better then me, do you? Got it all worked out? Who are you to judge who deserves to live and and who doesn't. You refuse to accept any philosophy, any higher thinking, form theories of your own, yet you condemn people to die on a whim and a gut feeling."

The Midnighter
You're in luck. Across the street a flaming skeleton is fighting a good looking blond guy. Nobody looks like that without breaking the law somehow.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"If I had kept the soul, then that guy would have died. And I am not just going to stand there while somebody gets murdered right before my eyes! He wasn't like the others; how is he possessing that guy?"

((what's Nicodemus's hand?))

The Midnighter

The Authority's least friendly member cracks his knuckles.

"Ghost Rider. The Devil's very own thorn. Beating you up would just get the Doctor angry. And since my little girl's apparently got a crush on him...Blondie! Card for you!"

Midnighter's printed business cards aren't just because he got tired of repeating his speech over and over again. They're also rimmed with a sharp steel edge-fully capable of slitting throats. Especially when thrown at a speed commensurate with a major league baseball.

[Cracklord]

Sam Oliver
"He made a deal. I humored him. Now, the deal is over. He would have been killed. Now, instead, he will kill many other people. Unlike him, they will have a chance of salvation. A chance, if they weren't tragically cut short. He kills bad people, and sends them to me. So tell me, mr to-good-for-this-world, is his life more valuable? He made a choice. Can they say the same?

Nicodemus
((You're call.))

The Midnighter
The card sinks an inch into his cheek. There is no blood, and it sits there, quivering.
The blond man doesn't seem to notice it.

[industrious]

Sam

"...No." Sam doesn't look happy at the statement. "The more time I spend working for you, the more I really hate this job. There just aren't any right answers."

Nicodemus

"Poker is such an interesting game. When played over many hands, for stakes that vary from hand to hand, it can be quite useful for evaluating a person. But a single hand, for a set stake? It becomes a mere matter of chance."

The leader of the Denarian Order reveals his hand. The six of clubs and the two of spades. Nothing.

Midnighter

"Oy! Blondie!" As the vampire turns to the Midnighter's shout, the augmented human jumped towards the undead creature, a flying kick that could(and had) redirected an artillery shell aimed directly at his face. Immediately, his battle computer began rolling possibilities.

[Cracklord]

His father shakes his head. "Yes there are. Read the bible." He shakes his head. "Then follow which ever bit suits you best and ignore the rest. Just like everyone elses. And crucify whoever doesn't agree." He laughs. "Life isn't clear cut, Sam. Nothing is certain. Even me. Now, if you want to let him go, I'll drop you off at the airport, I'll arrange for you to be on the first flight home. Or, we can stop now, and you can make a difference, if only a little one. What's it going to be?"

Nicodemus
"I disagree. The very fact you played the game tells me all I need to know." A seven of Hearts and a three of diamonds.
"Keep your coin. I like you, Nicodemus. And I think you are going to do well." He replaces his sunglasses and sits back. "Come back when you've finished the job, for drinks and a talk."
The audience is most emphatically over.
As you leave, you see the little man in the hallway, although you never saw him move. He's still watching you.

[industrious]

Sam

"I'll catch him. I won't like it, but I'll do it. But I'm dealing with people and organizations that I can't handle at this moment. Who else is on the list-I'll catch them first with his help. Since that is his job. Then I'll do mine." Betrayal. Once, his father told him it was the dominant state of humanity. The more Sam worked, the more true that seemed.

Nicodemus

Insolent little mortal. If he knew who I truly was... Nicodemus, outwardly calm, inwardly fuming, strides out into the street. The electricity would be gone soon, and his shadow a mere toy compared to his full Denarian form would be all the more powerful for it. But he had time.

Nicodemus walks until he knows he is not being followed. Then, he pulls out his cell phone, affects a Southern accent, and dials a number on speed dial.

"Father Forthill? This is Father Smith. I just saw Nicodemus head out of the home of one of Sin City's most infamous gangsters: Herr Wallenquist. I think he's been turned." The brief call ends. Nicodemus smiles. Telling one of the agents who govern the Vatican's wetworks and other organizations where their number one enemy is is usually not a good plan. Setting them on a man whose usefulness is now over is.

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Cute." It's the small man... except it's not. This man, despite the simple robe, looks more like some ancient Babylonian king, a well groomed, thick curly beard, a hard, flinty face, hooked nos and thick lips.
"And stupid. Alexander Anderson is in town. I'd say you now have five minutes before you hear the whisper of pages. And then it's over, say what you like about the angel of dust, but he's wonderfully direct. Why are you really here, Nicodemus? And do you really think you want enemies like Wallenquist?"

Sam
"Good boy. We'll make a man of the world out of you yet." The taxi stops at the curb, six streets away. "See you when you get home, Tuesday. Dinner on me." The car drives off.

The Midnighter
The blond man is an excellent martial artist, almost as good as you, but far stronger and faster. His body is like iron, it will break before it gives. He favors his right hand, tends to fight cautiously, and mot of the time can take of your head in two punches.
But the ability to save and start again from there easily trumps it. You even manage to even the odds, doing in his left shinbone and hip with two kicks before he starts taking you seriously.

Anderson
Your mobile rings. You have one, as much as you hate technology and prefer to converse face to face. "Anderson, this is Father Ronald Temple. Nicodemus has been sighted walking along George Street, less then a minute ago."

[darkblade]

Kirby

"Very well then. I accept your generous offer. Open my cage and I shall take my leave."

***

The Bride

"I'll have you know I have a fiancee, and he's less of an inhuman monster than your boyfriend over there." The Bride says as she flips her legs up around Bella's neck and tries to pull her to the ground.

***

Ghost Rider

Apparently someone called the Doctor likes him and doesn't want bondage boy trying to kill him. Thats good, right. Anyways Blaze lowers the shotgun and pulls the chain back out and tries to wrap it around Jasper's body, pulling his arms against his body.

[Cracklord]

The Bride
"Charity case then?" She replies, twisting with the fall and rolling too her feet. "What is he, blind and deaf?"

Kirby
"See you soon." Carlisle replies, opening the cage door. "Do you need anything before you go?"

Ghost Rider
The two are moving quickly, and you don't have a chance of only hitting one.

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis holds up the Beam Katana to block, and the tire iron is sliced in two before it reaches him. At this point he decides it a good time to recharge, so he starts shaking the weapon like a proud wanker, and power in the blade crawls up to full.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"He's a very good man and not hyped up on whatever it is you two are on." The Bride says as she drives her sword at Bella's chest, aiming for her heart.

***

Kirby

"If possible I'd like access to a kitchen but I'd understand if you don't want me working my craft in view of your maids." Kirby says before eating the last of his lamb and rats one of the rats has a glint of silver visible for a split second before Kirby swallows it, a silvery glint reminiscent of Carlise's silverware.

***

Ghost Rider

Blaze curses as he finds no opening for his chain to wrap around the vampire. Instead he decides to screw technique and finesse and bring a flaming punch towards Jasper's kidney.

[industrious]

Nicodemus
"Wallenquist is a thug, a mere mortal without any power. I have seen many like him before, and outlived each of them. I am not concerned. I will fear Anderson the moment that he begins to wield one of the Swords; as the only one left is Amoracchius, I have little to worry about. "

Nicodemus smiles. "As to why I am here...I was hoping to merely recreate the Order of the Blackened Denarius, but a vampire has changed my plans. The Cullen clan has a lovely little daughter. I think she should have an imaginary friend while growing up."

Sam
Sam looks around his surroundings. "I was hoping to get to the DMV."

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
The man shakes his head. "Wallenquist is a thug. But he has power none the less. He cannot read, so he has people read for him. He has no great talent for the art, so he has men like me. What he is good at is knowing where the leavers are."
He draws himself straight. "My name is Xaltoan. Perhaps you have heard of me, perhaps not, it matters little. I hale from Archeron, the greatest civilization, which was mighty when even Atlantis were farmers and savages. And I have forgotten more about the art then you will ever learn." It's no idle boast.
"And yet I am enslaved to that nothing of a man, because of what he possess. Do you understand, Nicodemus?"

The Bride
"If you say so." Bella says, smiling as she recognizes she's hit a nerve. The blade chits the right side of her chest, sinking into her flesh deep enough to pierce a lung.
She ignores the blow, catching it in her hand fast, holding it like a vice. Her foot lashes out, trying to trip you.

Kirby
"I'm sure they will deal with it." Carlisle replies. With that he tosses Kirby a key and makes his way up the stairs.

Ghost Rider
Jasper dodges at the last second, so your blow hits the Midnighter instead. He then hits you in the chest with an open hand and jumps back, breathing heavily.

Travis
Edward doesn't wait for you to finish, coming in low, once more attempting to knock you off your feet.

[nanobot_swarm]

Travis smiles quite evily, knowing the power-level will suffice for now. He then times himself, and activates the beam katana with a vertical slice, just as he thinks Edward is right in front of him.

[Draxx]

Anderson puts down the phone, his eyes bright behind his glasses. "Whit ah yon eejut's play'in at noo'." He mutters, although he looks positively blood-thirsty.
"We're goin' tae hunt." He says, far louder. With that, he picks up the bible, pages fluttering around him, and disappears.

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride rolls as she falls. She twists her sword as does aiming to catch it on a rib and pull Bella to the ground with her.

***

Kirby

Kirby takes the key and heads out into the larger city.

[industrious]

The Midnighter

One of the odder things about the Midnighter was that the man lost more fights than he won. Because his computer ran through every fight over one million times before the first punch, many were the times where, virtually, he simply stood there and got hit. But because of those losses, the Midnighter could virtually predict every action his opponent could make, and apply the correct counter-measure at the precise time needed.

Ghost Rider's hit staggered the member of the Authority, but quickly recovering, he applies a combination of blows that had worked quite well inside his head. The vampire had a slight delay in blocking attacks delivered at an angle of 34 degrees downward after successfully countering jabs to his opposite side. Especially when the blow is delivered by a carbon steel telescoping staff swung at over 200 miles per hour.

Nicodemus

"I believe so. What is it the man has that keeps you bound? If it is permitted to say, of course." Was that the rustle of fluttering pages he heard? One hand reached inside his duster, and grasped the hilt of a sword. The other tightened the noose around his neck.

Sam Oliver

Striding into the Sin City DMV, Sam looks at the window clerks, trying to find which one of them is a demon. The DMV demons, while notoriously sarcastic and unhelpful, would actually help give Sam some information. Especially after he saved one of them from an eternity of torture.

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Hubris. My own." The man replied. "You could be a great man, Nicodemus. But you won't be. A great man never compromises, never takes the second reward when the first is available. I tell you this because you would be a kinder master. Unbound, my mastery of the art is greater then the sum of every man alive today. But I have my antithesis, and now, he has it. All he must do is remove it from it's box, and I am like my home, dust on the wind."
The rustle of pages grows, and the man takes leave, with the final words "If you find the heart of Ahrium, I am yours."

The Midnighter
Jasper seems shocked and surprised as he fails to counter your blows, catches the staff, trying to pull it from your grip. No point trying to stop him, he's stronger then you, but he's slightly over balanced, you learn after getting your skull caved in a number of times. He simply needs a push in the right direction.

Sam Oliver
On retrospect, it's obvious. The only one who seems to be enjoying himself.

Kirby
It is night, and the streets are all but deserted. Their is a hunger in your belly, the hunger of a wild thing too long in captivity. You need to feed, but more then that, you need to kill again.
There are precious few risking the darkness, in this city such a risk is suicide. Just the same, you see a few prey wandering around.

The Bride
It works, the girl hitting the ground with a surprised yowl.

Travis
You sever his left arm.
Edward blinks, shocked, then blurs. It takes you a second to realize he's running, as fast as he can.
To fast to be caught.

[Draxx]

A massive figure steps out of a flutter of pages.
He was tall, insanely so, he had to be closer to eight feet then seven. He was extremely heavily built, with broad shoulders and thick forearms, which seemed more at place on a stevedore than a man of the cloth. He wore the attire of a priest, complete with cassock and a large silver cross that glowed slightly in the dim light. His thick greatcoat framed his build like a cloak, despite the summer heat, and his collar gleamed around his neck.
He had hazelnut colored skin, short, ruffled blonde hair and a square, heavy jaw framed by thick stubble, almost a beard. He wore thick glasses, and behind them shone emerald eyes, rich and vibrant, but hard and cold. A long, wedge-shaped scar ran up his cheek, and his wide smile couldn't have been more intimidating if it framed gleaming fangs.
He flexes massive hands, and a fist full of bayonets slide into each of them.
"Yet they wouldnae listen to yon judges, an' gave themselves to false idols and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD's commands. For the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, and they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."
His raises his bayonets. "Sae perish all ye're enemies, oh LORD!"



Eric Draven
Robbed of his powers, and his immortality, the avenger follows Sam, waiting for an opportunity. Though robbed of his preternatural agility and speed, he is still able to avoid being seen.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Aw Yeah! Take that bitch!" Trais then realizes that his left arm is slightly broken, and stops cheering. He then recharges his blade, and walks over to the Bride and Bella.
"What? A catfight and you didn't tell me? Damn."

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Well you were having so much fun with Edward..." The Bride says as she jumps to her feet and lowers her sword above Bella's neck.

"Okay girly. Your boyfriend is dead. How about you take us home with you instead?"

***

Ghost Rider

Enough fooling around. Time to pull out the big gun, if it even works on these monsters.

Blaze takes his stance in between Midnighter and Jasper and stares into the boy's eyes. The hellfire of the Pennance Stare moves from the empty eye sockets of the spirit of vengence and into the eyes of the vampire, into the very core of his being to burn away his sin.

***

Kirby

Something Kirby noted about Basin City. A pink puffball with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth sticks out far more here than it would in the Mushroom Kingdom or Dreamland. So he sticks to the shadows and trails a young woman.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Shorter, slimmer, and far less scary-looking than Anderson, Nicodemus the man looks positively tame in comparison. His long, custom-made trenchcoat is slightly dirty from the street and from his earlier beating, his black silk shirt stained with old blood. The noose that hung around his neck swayed gently in the breeze the Father's entrance had created. No, if one were to look at Nicodemus, they would not at first think he was dangerous.

But then they looked at his eyes. At dead eyes that looked at the world without pity or remorse, that in fact now seemed full of ancient and boundless cruelty. Around him, his shadow writhes and undulates, boiling madly in a nauseating and fascinating display. The streetlights flickered and dimmed as the shadow advanced, grew sullenly brighter once more as it retreated. Mouth set in a thin sneer offset by a slim scar running through his lip, Nicodemus, the Church's first and foremost mortal foe, spreads his hands in greeting.

"Anderson. How have you been, these past few years? You must have your work cut out for you, seeing as I killed and crippled your Church's two best agents." He might as well have been talking about the weather.



Sam Oliver


Breaking every unwritten rule of the DMV, Sam pushes and shoves his way to the front of the demon's line. Some yell at him, others attempt to push back, but long experience gets him there far faster than anyone else. He could set a Guinness for how fast he could get to the front of a DMV line.

"Hello...Martin," he says, reading the demon's nametag. "I'm looking for some information."

[Draxx]

Anderson
"They were good lads, an' it wa' a shame tae lose them." Anderson agrees. "But they were'nae Iscariot, earthly agents o' Divine Punishment. An' while they sup wit' tha' lord, I dae his work. Amen."
With that, his smile widens. He walks towards Nicomdeus with a long, confident stride, each footfall loud and vaguely unsettling, echoing ominously into the murk.

[Cracklord]

Sam Oliver
"And I'd like to perform live with Ray Charles. That don't make it happen comrade." He leans over the desk. "Who are you, and what makes you so important you can ignore protocol, huh?"

The Bride and Travis
To your surprise, Bella is smart enough not to fight back. Instead she picks herself p roughly and brushes herself off, glaring at you when she thinks you're not looking. "My Edward is not dead." She says with raw certainty. "What do you want?"

Ghost Rider
Jasper looks back at you. Vampires have no souls to burn, their sins are only so much dust in the wind after they give up and stop fighting to live. The gaze doesn't seem to have any effect.

Kirby
She stays in crowded streets among others of her kind, until at last she branches of, making her way through a dark alley all alone. There couldn't be a better time to strike.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Yeah, that ***** ran off before I could finish him. But you can have a souvenir of him if you want." He tosses over the severed left arm to her feet.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Well then he abandoned you. I'd say thats worse, what do you think Travis?"

Might as well milk her for anything useful before offing her.

***

Ghost Rider

Well at least he stopped running around like that. It should be much easier to wrap the chain around his neck and pull until the it breaks.

***

Kirby

Kirby waits for the woman to turn her back on him to pounce. The force of about forty pounds falling onto her back should knock her to the ground and render her unconscious.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"No. No, they weren't Iscariot. They were just two of the three beings on Earth directly chosen by Archangels to wield the Swords of the Cross. I killed them, crippled them, as I have hundreds of your organization's members. You were not chosen to wield the holiest artifacts in Christendom, Anderson. You're nothing but second-best to an agnostic communist who used to serve my wife so willingly. That is how your God views you."

Sam Oliver

Sam leans on the plastic screen separating the two.

"Sam Oliver, and because I helped Gladys after she was reassigned to torture duty(receiving end)?"

Midnighter

The distraction the other antihero provided is more than enough for the Midnighter. Grasping the other end of his staff, he pulls hard enough to make the vampire need to pull back as well. As he does so, he quickly closes distance on the undead, until the pair are nearly touching. Then, releasing the staff and sending the vampire reeling(as well as dodging the punch that would have sent his nose to the back of his head 95% of the time), he hooks his leg behind the vampires to get him to the ground, staff flying (and embedding itself) into the alley wall.

In short, the vampire ends up on the ground, with one of the Midnighter's steel-toed boots on his chest, and the other kicking his dangling bits.

[Draxx]

Anderson
The paladin's eye twitches. "Fool's an' heathens. God dinnae take a hand in this world nae more. An' the relics dinnae make ye. Nae matter how holy they say they were, they were'nae me."
With that, he spins, launching his two handfuls of bayonets at the dark apostle, smiling maniacally.

Eric
Eric looms behind Sam, watching through glassy eyes.

[Cracklord]

Jules and Archer
The two of you, an unlikely pair to say the least, have been left alone by the only one who seemed to have any idea what is going on. Archer has only a vague compulsion that he's supposed to be hunting something, and Jules has even less, a vague order that he has no idea how he is supposed to carry out.

Sam Oliver
"Oh. You." The demon sits back. "Well, I suppose I better help you out then. Come with me." With that, he leads you the back room, where he once more sits behind a desk, chin jutting out aggressively at you. "What's your problem, son, and what am I supposed to do about it?"

Midnighter and Ghost Rider
Jasper Cullen glares up at you through his one good eye. "Damn it Alice, you didn't see this?" He mutters, then stares up at the two of you. "My wallet is in my coat pocket, and my car keys are in my back pocket." He says sarcastically.
"If you want my body, then make it quick. I haven't got all night."

The Bride and Travis
"He'll come for me." She replies, her lower lip trembling.
At this point, the car boot slips open. A beautiful girl is lying within, trussed and naked, gagged, with four pieces of paper glued over her chest. One is her dental records, one is her medical records, her tax file information and her police record.
Her eyes are wide, and she's breathing rapidly and shallowly.
Beside her, is a rack full of syringes.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

The thing about hellfire is that while it primarily burns at the soul it is still fundamentally fire. So while Jasper may not feel the fires of hell tearing apart his immortal being when the chain wraps itself around his neck he will feel a fire spreading over his flesh.

"I wouldn't worry about your body kid. It'll join your soul in hell soon enough."

***

The Bride

"He's not coming back. Even if he develops a moral compass in the next couple of hours he's missing an arm and running into a rough part of town. He'll be dead in a matter of minutes if he is lucky." The Bride explains.

"Who's the girl in the trunk?"

***

Kirby

Kirby drags the unconscious woman back to the Cullen's house. Once there he takes her to the kitchen to prepare her. He may be a monster but eating uncooked human flesh is terribly unhealthy. Especially from flesh of women found wandering the streets of Basin City.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

The oldest living foe of the Church simply allows the blades to pierce his body. Blood gushes from his wounds, and the man...simply waves his hand, as if to say get on with it already. His clothes are soaked and stained with blood, but his noose remains the same; one of the bayonets has pierced his throat, and reaching with a black-gloved hand, Nicodemus removed it.

"Who blessed these blades? The Pope? I'm in a whole different league, Father."

The hands flex. The bayonet shatters.

"My turn."

A handgun, .50 caliber. Cesium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNdijknRxfU) bullets. Pinpoint accuracy. A single shot.

Sam

"I'm not asking for much. I just need some information about the people on this list. Special abilities, favored hangouts, and the like. Nothing that would put your job in danger, I promise." Sam passes the list to the demon.

[Prime32]

Suddenly Archer stands before the priest. Nicodemus did not see him move. Twin swords are in his hands, the bullet deflected.

http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/14/49/27/35/archer10.jpg

"Master. I take it that this is my target?" he asks in a sarcastic tone.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"Summoning a spirit, Alexander? How very...gray of you to do so. Something I would have done in your position, in fact."

The Denarian's cell phone rings. Keeping his gun trained on Archer, he answers it.

"Hello?...Ah...Thank you, dear. Have fun."

Nicodemus smiles as he puts the phone away.

"That was my associate. As of this moment, she is on...28th Street and Paradise Boulevard, about one mile from this spot. And having a very nice time burning down an orphanage. Don't worry, Alex; there is a nunnery nearby as well. Saleos could never resist ravishing a virgin."

[nanobot_swarm]

Jules walks out into view, his gun aimed directly at Nicodemus, who probably should be intimidated considering he is being threatened by Samuel L. Jackson. "I suggest you put that gun down and pray I don't cap yo ass for this **** you're tryin to pull. So I suggest you cool down and talk this out like civilized people. I also suggest you call that bitch and tell her she should start stampin out that fire."

***

Travis has a horrified look at what he sees in the car. "Holy ****, what the hell is wrong with you two? This is just sick ****."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

The immortal holsters his gun, still impaled by the various bayonets. Nicodemus begins pulling them out from his flesh, slowly sliding them out one at a time. At the last one, he licks the blood off the edge.

"I was at Hiroshima in 1945, Jules. The trendy device you have pointed at me will do little more than a bee sting. As for your other request..."

Nicodemus pulls out his cell again.

"Saleos? I want you to make one of the children squeal. One of the young ones. Tell him that that it was courtesy of Jules Winnfield."

Midnighter

The Midnighter stares at the chain wrapped around Jasper's neck with no small amount of interest.

"That looks painful. I want one of those."

[Draxx]

Anderson
The priest spits out the bullet. An incredible trajectory, it lands exactly at the dark apostle's feet. "Is tha' a joke?" He asks."Or are ye out o’ tricks already? An' yon blades are regular steel silver alloy, blessed by Father Andrew of mah parish. He's the one, Archer, but he's mine. Gae an' tear his friend a new one. Don' kill him tae quickly."
He reaches into his greatcoat. "Ye ken, Ah was savin' this fer someone special. But if'n ye want tae go there, then sae be it. Ye're quite a bastard, ye ken that? Ah dinnae ken even where tae start, but incest seems a guid place. We ken all about yon daughter. An’ soon we’ll ken were ye have her holed up."
He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a box. Flexing his hand, it breaks into splinters. Within... is a nail. A crude iron, rusted spive, stained with what looks like blood.
"What dae ye think will happen? It may not be a sword, but it should have the same effect, wouldnae ye say?" He says, twirling his hand as one knife becomes seven.

[industrious]

"Now, that is curious. The Fourth Nail; I had wondered where that went..."

Holding his hand out to his side, the Denarian whistles shrilly. His shadow leaps around his arm, flowing out from his hand to reveal another Hellfire-forged rapier. Behind him, his living shadow rises, a cloak of night. Two minutes before the city's power goes out. Two minutes before victory is assured.

"En garde, Alexander. En garde, protector of Man."

[Draxx]

Alexander’s metabolism has been altered in several ways. The first was to make it more efficient, to stop both his need for rapid consumption to sustain himself, and to prevent him gaining unnaturally. While chronologically he is about sixty, his cells have decomposed at a rate suitable for a man passed one hundred. Several modifications were added in light of that, to retard his aging. He hasn’t aged a day in thirty years.
Aside from the obvious alteration of his healing, it also keeps him at peak physical condition. It also makes him fast. Alexander has to concentrate at times to distinguish voices. It is only the fact he is such an impressive physical specimen that he was able to survive this. Previously, there were problems. Men moved so quickly they broke their arms, their hearts beat to quickly and wore out in a matter of weeks, and their muscles grew stronger then their bones…
But Alexander Anderson seemed made for the operation. A gift from god, a few priests called him.
Alevander replaced the nale in his inner pocket, and removed another handful. “Ah suppose Ah’ll hae tae kill ye, then, ye god-damned monster. Tae the death then!”
With that, he threw himself at the black apostle with a speed that would shame a stallion at full gallop, his blades whistling lethally in front of him.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Nicodemus has walked the Earth for over two thousand years. Kept immortal both by the power of the Blackened Denarius, and the rope that he always wears, the man makes a habit of destroying Church records every two hundred years or so. The same rope that Judas Iscariot hung from lies tied in a noose about his neck; on of the 30 pieces of silver the man was paid hidden inside his body.

The coin gave him many advantages. The aid and assistance of one of Lucifer's top lieutenants, whose consciousness the man shares with his own. The ability to call Hellfire. His shadow, called forth to do his will. And an alternate form the likes of which no man still alive had seen. The noose gave him immortality, and once a year, the dreaded curse of Barbabas. A nigh-irresistible entropy curse, which would slay whomever the immortal desired. Only the wizard Harry Dresden had deflected the curse in recent memory. Only the wizard Harry Dresden gave the man pause.

Nicodemus dodges the first set of attacks from the whirling bayonets; Anduriel accelerates his mind, improves his reaction times so that the blades are remarkably easy to evade. On Anderson's third slash, the Hellfire-forged rapier connects with the holy bayonet, turning it aside and both blades shine red and white respectively. Sliding the length of patterned steel down, Nicodemus closes in with Anderson, his free hand reaching into his pocket. The gun comes out again, Cesium bullets firing into the priest's body from point-blank range, and exploding upon contact with the water that makes up two-thirds of Anderson's body.

"Do you ever wonder why the Vatican has an organization named after the Christ's greatest betrayer, Alex? Did it ever occur to you that something was odd, calling yourself an Oath-Breaker? The man whose acquaintance I was intimately familiar with? Did it?"

[Draxx]

"Nae. Our very existence is a betrayal. O’ Christ, an’ o everything he stood fer. Tha’ man was tae good fer this sinful Earth, which we showed all tae well. Tha’s why we wear crosses, in penance. But Ah’m a killer. Tha’s all ah am, tha’s all Ah’ll ever be. An’ sae all Ah can dae to serve God is tae make the world bette fer those o’ us who aren’t." Alexander uses his strength, far beyond regular human bounds, to match you, and then pushes harder, sending you sprawling. “Once, one of yon bairnes asked me, if’n god is sae good, why isn’t the world.”
He extends his arm at Nicodemus Archleone. “Because o’ people like ye. An' if I must burn in hell tae see it, then tha' coin o' my life has been spent well, just like Judus's betrayal. Goodbye, Nicodemus.” He runs at you again, a bayonet in either hand.

[industrious]

"An excellent explanation. But another one occurs." Nicodemus leaps straight up at Anderson's rush. His shadow gathers around him as a cloak, forming into two wings of pure black, sending him soaring above the Father. Perching on top of a streetlight, Nicodemus smiles.

"Because your order was founded, oh so very long ago...by me." Nicodemus swoops down, and willingly impales himself on the man's bayonets. Kissing the Priest on the forehead, he takes flight once more, as the whole of Sin City is plunged into darkness. There is a vampire clan to kill.

[Cracklord]

Midnighter and Ghost Rider

“You wouldn’t believe how painful.” Jasper forces out. “So, a murder. I gathered by all the leather and prominent muscles you were into something more kinky. Well, get on with it then.”

Travis and the Bride
“Some whore.” Bella says boredly, still trembling at the thought of Edward being missing. Such a sad, shallow girl. Stupid too, if the way she is acting is any indication.
The papers are far more informative. She is an actress with no work. She lives alone, has no real contacts, spouse, or friends, and seems to be clinging by her fingernails over a precipice that leads to utter poverty. She’s not a whore, although that seems where she will end up.
Not even any family. Nobody will care, or even notice, once she’s gone.

Sam

The demon looks over it, whistling between his teeth. “Eric’s the crow. Paints himself up, can’t die, killed Top Dollar a while ago. Lot of moody teenagers dress up like him, seems to be invulnerable. Don’t know this Ghost Rider guy, though I’m small peanuts so that might be because I don’t move in the right circles. I know Nicodemus Archleone by reputation, but that’s a joke of your fathers, he wouldn’t send you after him unless you want him dead. And Archer doesn’t ring any bells, but it’s a much more common name then these others.” He sighs. “Give me five, and I’ll get back to you.”

Kirby
“What the…” It’s Edward, and he is missing an arm. The cut is clean, but it should be bleeding a lot more than that. “He’s tawny eyes are narrowed at you. “Who let you out of your cage?!”

Nero Chaos
The concert goers are all dead, and for the moment you are sated. It is four hours to dawn, and you are yet to pursue your quarry.

Nicodemus
The blackout goes on just as planned, and the light all go off at once. Swooping, you hear the priest cursing behind you as you sail away into the night.

Alexander
You loose sight of him as the light goes.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Damn that sonuvabitch where the hell did he go?" He begins to run to 28th street, intendin to bring down the metaphorical hammer. At least with this blackout, it should be easy to see a fire.

***

Travis pulls out his beam katana, and with swiftness slices off one of her legs. "I suggest you spill the beans bitch, because after seeing this sick **** you planned to pull, you'll be lucky to keep the rest of your limbs intact. Edward isn't coming back for you either, so you can quit whining about it."

[darkblade]

Kirby

"Rough night on the town, Edward?" Kirby asks as if he were not being threatened.

"Carlise saw fit to unleash me to put the fear of God in this town. You can ask him if you wish." Kirby makes his way across the kitchen to find a knife to carve the poor woman into managble chunks.

"Now if you'll excuse me. I'd best get to work, my dinner might wake up." Kirby say before driving the knife into the woman's lower back severing her spine from her pelvis. This causes her to wake up and let out a horrible scream of pain and terror as she looks up into Edward's eyes pleading for him to help her.

***

The Bride

The Bride makes her way to the car and moves the poor girl from the trunk and into the back seat. Once they finish with Bella they'll take her victim to Old Town, you can't trust the hospitals or the Police Stations, especially not when you are a known assasin they wouldn't even have to make up charges to put away if you annoyed them. But the girls in Old Town would understand and look out for her until she can make her way home.

"Slice her throat kid. She's not going to tell us anything, she's a classic sociopath. Anything that isn't her and Edward being happy and in love is meaningless to her."

***

Ghost Rider

"What the hell kind of vampire are you? I've fought hundreds and most of them burst into flames within second of contact with the chain?"

[Prime32]

Archer
As Nicodemus disappears, Archer says "I was going to ask a third question, but you have answered it for me. It seems I have an interesting Master."
He casts his peerless eyes into the darkness.

Nrvnqsr Chaos

The concert goers are all dead, and for the moment you are sated. It is four hours to dawn, and you are yet to pursue your quarry.
That would be enough for tonight. Confirming that there are no records of what happened, he leaves, heading for one of the places to rest he located earlier. {OOC: You can choose the details} If anyone came they would find blood smears and various animal hairs but no trace of any of the concert-goers. It might very well make the news tomorrow.

[industrious]

Midnighter

The Midnighter's response involves his foot, several hundred psi, and Jasper's genitals.

Sam

"Please, take your time. Well, not literally, since I've got a deadline, but you know; any information is going to be useful."


Nicodemus
Enveloped by solid darkness, Nicodemus seems no longer human. The immortal smiles, as his second set of glowing green eyes appears over his normal set. The darkness is no barrier to his sight.

With all the lights out, the looting would soon begin. All he needed was to wait. Wait for someone looking for what they want, and having the will to take it. Then he would strike.

[nanobot_swarm]

"All right, I think I'll enjoy this."
Slash.
There goes the other leg.
Slice.
Goodbye left arm.
Slizash!
Other arm flies off.
Double boob grab+squeeze, because he wanted to do that the minute he saw her.
Finally he cuts off her face with the beam, grabs her by the shirt, thows her up in the the air to be impaled by the katana; which he then violently shakes about, dicing her up real good.
"Might want a souvenir, incase I meet that ***** again," he says as he slices off her ring finger and stuffs it in his pocket. Recharge time.

[Draxx]

Anderson
The massive priest is breathing heavily, his knives returning into their sheaves. Slowly, the silver cross around his neck begins to glow, until it is bright enough to see by.
"Watch tha' apostle." Alexander whispers. "If'n he tries any'thing, call me. Otherwise I'll gae kill yon demon."
Alexander straightens, as pages rustle around him, then vanishes.
He has business at 28th Street, Paradise Boulevard.

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Edward shudders slightly. Honestly, you'd expect a predator not to be so squeamish. "No, I believe you." He shudders, walking past, leaving you alone.

Midnighter
Jasper screams in obvious pain, then adds "A little to the left!" He's panting, though he doesn't need to breathe, and he is clearly faking the perverse pleasure. Just the same, its... off-putting.
"We're not like other vampires. Actually we out-date Dracula by a long margin." He replies.

The Bride and Travis
Bella is dead, and the girl is catatonic. Goldie, or maybe Wendy agrees to look after her, and gives her a room. A quick internet search shows the car is not registered, and the drugs went missing from a hospital shipment a few weeks ago.

Sam
"Right." He returns ten minutes later. "Ghost Rider is one of them faustians who evil feels does more good then harm. After all, dead bad people don't get a chance to reform. But there has been a change of policy recently, and it's been decided to withdraw such... out-dated matters of policy. Eric's the same. Basically, they kill bad people before they can reform." He puts a huge manilla folder onto the table. It shakes slightly under the weight.
"Archer's a spirit, but he's not under either of our jurisdiction, he's sustained by humanity itself, somewhere in between. Though I suppose heavens knows more as if there wasn't a point to the system it wouldn't exist. As such we don't have many files on him. Sorry."

Archer
Nicomdeus is a black shape floating through the darkness on wings of night. He's about ninety feet up, and is floating, waiting for chaos to come.
He doesn't seem to recognize you can see him. You could take him by surprise, if you work at it.

Nicomdeus
People are gathering. A few acts of violence and casual destruction have begun, but the cities taking it's time. Then, a few miles away, you spot a gathering that you can tell will become a riot.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
Four hours to dawn, the lights go out, and the city looses all power. Something draws you outside. Looting, an angry mob a second away from being a riot. Small, localized fires, and gunshots.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"Any tips on ending your suffering faster then? I've got the rest of your family to hunt down tonight." Blaze pulls on the chain tight hopefully severing the vampire's neck.

***

Kirby

"That went surprisingly well. Wouldn't you say?" Kirby asks the woman before hacking her arms off. Her screams echo through the neighbourhood as she is stuffed into a roasting plan and then into the oven.

***

The Bride

With the girl safe The Bride rides off to the suburbs where she was told the Cullens live.

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
Jasper sneers. "But we're having so much fun..." He starts to say, before his esophagus is cut of and his neck breaks after a few painful seconds of his vertebrae grinding together.
At last, his head comes off, and, as though a delayed reaction, his body begins to burn. Dead at last.

Kirby
The Cullens have no imagination when it becomes to preparing meals, that's what comes from a liquid diet. No flavor. A bit of seasoning and some salt is all you can find. Edward has walked past twice, watching you, and seems to be on the verge of saying something before he narrows his eyes and keeps walking.
He's honestly afraid of you. It's gratifying.

The bride
Leaving Travis stranded in old Town, you begin to drive towards the suburbs when all the power switches off. The street lights flicker and die, buildings fade, and there is nothing to navigate by.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Nicodemus, contrary to popular belief, did not love riots. He admired their savagery, adored how the crowd shed their pretense of civilization, became a gestalt, a beast, a mob. Terrible things had been done in riots, and Nick had been the cause of several. But he did not love them. His wife, on the other hand, lived for them. He used to plan them for her, and watch as she would watch them grow, and swarm and loot and destroy, body shuddering in pleasure. You have to enjoy the little things.

But there was a purpose behind this particular riot. Searching through the crowd from on high, Nicodemus looks for a single person. Someone who has a specific target in mind. The first person to throw a stone through a store-front window. The first to Molotov an office building.

Midnighter

The Midnighter curses as he jumps back from the flame.

"If there are more of those, I am coming with you. He was a joy to kill."

Sam

"Thank you." Standing up, Sam shakes Martin's hand, begins to leave...

"I don't suppose you know where one of them could be now, could you?"

[Cracklord]

Sam
"Sure. Eric's staring forlornly at the front of the building like a lost puppy dog." The power flickers, and dies. Then it comes on again, as though nothing had happened. Satan loved these sort of things in a general way, but not so much he would agree to be inconvenienced by them.
"Ghost Riders in the neighborhood, can't miss him, big flaming skeleton. Dunno about the other two."

Nicodemus
A man, small, scrawny and messy, who looks like he has a lot of trouble shaving, suddenly begins shouting. "It's the rich pigs! I pay my taxes for power and running water, not so they can do this!" The argument is nonsensical as the higher rise area's are just as out of power, but with the aggrieved muttering you'd never guess it. And, as the mob has the intelligence of the dimmest member, divided by the number of people in it, nobody raises an objection.
"It's not fair!" Another shouted. "What do they know about a hard days work!" The mob grows bigger, more and more people shouting as they add their anger to the furnace. They begin marching towards the town hall, a few branching off to break windows and throw bricks, or smash cars with improvised weapons. A few particularly opportunistic people are firing guns up in the air, and several have produced flaming torches, as a chant that has been all but forgotten in the decade Top Dollars been dead comes from every throat. "Fire it up! Fire it up!"

[industrious]

Sam

"Thanks again for your help. I mean it." Walking out the door, Sam sits next to Eric.

"So. How are things?"

Nicodemus

Perfect. Nicodemus swoops down from above, and grabs the first speaker in the mob, the instigator of the violence. Ignoring his clumsy blows, the immortal flies them both to the top of one of the nearby buildings. Then, his shadow remaining to bind the man in its ice-cold coils, Nicodemus pulls out a wicked-looking knife, scratches a circle on the roof, and runs a finger over the blade.

"You'll do very nicely. What is your name?"

[Draxx]

((I was beginning to fear you had forgotten me.))
"Violence, in truth, recoils upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit he has dug for another." Eric Draven quotes, staring up at the night sky, while sitting on the curb. The stars are hidden by the smog and pollution, as well as the rain-clouds, but it is strangely peaceful.
"I do not know if you have traded my curse for another, or set me free to start again. I don't know. But I mean to find out. It can't rain all the time."

[industrious]

Sam

Sam stares at the sky as well, but he takes no time to admire its beauty. He's looking for demons, assassins who seek to kill him.

"My soul belonged to the Devil before I was born, Eric. What I do, I don't do because I want to. I send escaped souls back to hell; I took your power back, but you are still here. You have a clean slate now. Try...try not to waste it. Live the life I wish I could. For me, its always raining."

[Draxx]

"I hope I will." Eric gets to his feet and pulls Sam up. "Perhaps you're looking for salvation in the wrong place. It was wrong to glorify vengeance, I know that now. Thank you."
With that, the being who was once the crow stands up, and walks nto the night.

[industrious]

Sam

After Eric leaves, Sam sighs, and looks at the front of the DMV once more.

"I did a good thing, there. A powerful, truly good deed."

There is nobody around to hear the comment, but Sam knows who's listening. Smiling as he does so, Sam walks back into the heart of the city, searching for his next target.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"The more the merrier. Unfortunately I lost my temper and forgot to get a home address from him. So it'll be a long hunt." Blaze says calling back his motorcycle.

"Got any ideas?"

***

((I meant to take Travis with her.))

The Bride

She pulls over as the lights all go out. She turns to Travis, "Want to give us some light kid?"

***

Kirby

Thats a shame. They have such potential but they squander it. Kirby takes the girl out of the oven and begins to enjoy his meal.

"Edward, if you have issue with me please do speak up. I wouldn't want to be too much of a bother."

[Draxx]

Vendetta
"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
the gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of now reason why the gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot."
Beware the Superman. Strength, intelligence, power. None of these make a man super. It is vision they need. To be more then a man, you must be more then a man, and yet, even Nitche couldn't see that. It is not enough to be stronger, faster, even better. Anyone can mannage that.
They killed the president, the man we chose to lead us. They silenced those who objected. And, in the vacuum of that silence, order was imposed. Their order.
We're oft to blame, and this is too much proved, that with devotion's visage and pious action we do sugar on the devil himself.
But rules are made to be broken.
Me? I imagine all manner of names shall be heaped upon my humble visage, this face I have chosen to wear, this Fawkesian symbol, but, for now, let us simply say, I am the villain.
We all wear masks. Life creates them and forces us to find the one that fits. But the flesh and muscle that was once my face is gone, and so I have chosen a knew one, one that has never truly left our hearts and minds. A visage from another place, another time, that will become what it once was. A man can only be a man, super or otherwise, unless he chooses to become a cause, a symbol. And an idea is immortal, a cause greater then the sum of its parts. Even such parts as mine.
There is no music anymore. Art is created by individuals and there are no individuals in a world where you think what you are told.
No individuals but me.
On this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to introduce the character of this dramatis persona.
Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Ten righteous men, God said. This time, I fear it shall come down to one.
Their foe is vanquished, burning already in the silence of night. The two speak, though i do not catch the words.
The skeleton has turned away, the Midnighter, greatest of tyrants he is, prepares to leave. There is no court in this country for men like him. No jury could convict him, no laws for a man who believes himself to be the state.
He is stronger then me, and faster, but I do not think wiser.
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Oh, **** yeah. Take us to City Hall. I've got some politicians to beat back in line. And if you know the vamp's name, an address to look up. And by look up, I mean pry out of their hands. It's good to be the king-sometimes. Though catching Hawksmoor and the Engineer in the Oval Office was not something I ever want to see again."

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"Thanks. I totally needed that mental image." Blaze mutters as he shifts back to his human form and mounts the bike.

"I'm sorry Mr. President but she might try to eat you if I don't sit up front." he says motioning towards the back seat.

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
The man shrieks once or twice, and it takes him a while to stop trying to hit you. The mob has not even noticed his disappearance yet, still hollering and brandishing weapons as they go to kill some rich pigs. And only twenty minutes of darkness.
“Walter.” He splutters at last, shying away from the blade. “Walter... Susan. I’m a cleaner at the local Ice Hockey Ring.”


Midnighter and Ghost Rider
The street lights aren’t working, the streets are dark, and the smog renders your bikes lights all but useless. It’s marginally better then walking, but you can’t make great time.
Occasionally you are forced to swerve desperately to avoid incoming traffic or people, and you almost get lost a few times. At last, after twenty minutes of wrong turns and dead ends, you are at city hall.

Kirby
Sated for the moment, you notice Edward has returned to his room. He seems… vulnerable.
You can’t help but wonder how Bella felt about the room she shared with him. A tremendous picture of a blond, glorious man you take for Alexander the great, another of Caesar, of Ghengis Khan, a artists impression of King Arthur, and other, smaller pictures.
All have pictures of stern wisdom, nobility and courage on their faces. All strike heroic poses. It’s really quite pathetic.
“If you don’t get out of here, Kirby, I will kill you.” He mutters, cradling the stump that used to be an arm.

Sam
No more names have appeared on the list. Ghost Rider, or Archer. The Rider seems the easier one to find.

The Bride
The streets remain dim, and the headlights prove woefully inadequate. You have no idea how long you’ve been lost, before a voice drifts over to you. The voice is husky and warm, shaking with emotion.
“I'm glad you came here. Glad we could have this chat. What sins have you commited against me? You killed my son. And my daughter. Never give me cause for revenge.”

[industrious]

Midnighter

"...I will not make the first comment that came to my mind at your last statement. After you."

The Midnighter gets onto the back seat. "And Hawksmoor's the one with all the bright ideas. I'm just trying to make a better place for my daughter. Well, and kill those who deserve it. But my daughter comes first...I'm trying, anyway."

Moving towards City Hall, Midnighter kicks the doors open, just for the hell of it.

Nicodemus

"Well, Walter, I have a very special task for you. Tell me, who is the worst person you can think of? Picture his face in your mind. Concentrate. Focus on him. That's a good boy." The knife loosely dangles from the Denarian host's fingers, a wonderful incentive for the cleaner to concentrate.

Nicodemus has almost no talent in magic. In terms of raw magical power, the weakest wizard on the White Council of wizards was so many orders of magnitude higher than he was that to compare the two would be similar to ants and humans. But the man knew enough about magical theory to cheat those limitations. Where his own talent failed, spells could instead be powered by other sources. Hellfire, of course, was one of the primary examples. Human sacrifice was another. Chanting the words to a locator spell, Nicodemus cuts out Walter's throat, and dips a crystal attached to a leather thong into his lifeblood.

"Now, then. Find me Carlisle Cullen."

Sam

"Ghost Rider knows me," the Devil's heir mutters to himself. "I should be able to slip in under his guard...but then again, I should leave him for later. He shouldn't be a problem. Even if he does seem to be a good guy. Well, then, Archer, the Devil wants your soul."

As he walks the streets of Sin City, Sam ponders where Archer might be. With the city-wide blackout, the destination of choice for an escaped soul is fairly obvious: wherever the mob is.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"I could really care less." Blaze says deadpan as they ride towards City Hall.

"I was tracking down reanimated cropses with portions of Satan's power when it happened. You stop corrupt governments. I kill demons that want to turn Earth into their own personal lava bath. All us super freaks have our place in making sure this world keeps on spinning."

As they enter the city hall he mutters, "Are all other superheroes this overdramatic or just the ones I team up with?"

***

The Bride

"Even if I wasn't being paid after seeing what your son was dragging home I think I'd kill you anyways." The Bride says drawing her sword. She closes her eyes and focuses on the voice and tries to pin point a specific location.

***

Kirby

"I had no idea you felt so strongly Edward. Whatever could I be doing that would drive a vegetarian to such extremes?" Kirby says chewing on a nice shapely leg. The word vegetarian comes out in such a venomous manner with no attempt to hide the insult laden within.

[Cracklord]

You arive at city hall, to find a few of the windows with flickering lights, cangle light and old fashioned gaslamps. A few shouts can be heard from inside the building as people desperately converse and argue, trying to find a solution.
A pair of security guards shine flashlights over you, their guns already in hands. You suspect everyone will seem very competant tonight, as otherwise they might be the ones blamed.
They wave you through, taking you to the conference room, where everyone is shouting at each other. They go silent as you enter.

[industrious]

Midnighter

The Midnighter throws a pair of steel-edged cards at the weapons, knocking them out of the guards' hands.

"This is the Midnighter. Now listen up. My friend here is looking for a Jasper Cullen. I want addresses, associates, credit history, dental records, and everything you can find about him in front of my feet. You have ten minutes. Or somebody ends up like the former Majority Whip. I'm thinking you on the left. Righty can end up like the Majority Leader."

[Draxx]

I, like God, do not play with dice. I prefer a rigged game.
The screen above the table flickers on. As the hall is being kept alight with candles, the fluorescent lighting is almost blinding for a second. It shows a man in a black operatic costume, wearing a white mask, completed with a goatee. He seems coolly confident and calm, as though he has all the time in the world. In the background, music is playing faintly. Beethoven. The fifth.
“Good Evening. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. While the blackout, I regret to say, was not my doing, I have taken advantage of it, to meet the dwellers in the den of thieves. Allow me to introduce myself. I am a man of wealth and taste. And I have something to say to all of you.

There are of course a few of you who do not want us to speak. It is a shame, but as the doors are sealed and we are four stories up, you do not actually have a choice. Why? Don’t the innocent have nothing to fear? Perhaps, but each of us is as guilty as the next, and in this world, our sins burden us heavily. While the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the truth, or at least the appearance of it. Truth is beauty, our highest native good. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

Our founding fathers dreamed of a land of Liberty, independent of any rulership we did not elect ourselves, and so drafted a statement, an inspirational document that many of you will have seen on display. And now it is an outdated and forgotten relic of a golden time they are trying to make us forget.

How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. Or at to the head of the table, where a man sits. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Well you gave it, and so damned yourself. Tonight, I end the silence.

Not one of you will leave the building alive, bar the self-satisfied man sitting at the head of the table, who will stagger out to find me waiting for him. The rest had best make peace with god. I hear he sometimes forgives particularly repentant sinners on their deathbed.

A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. A symbol, in and of itself is powerless, but with enough people behind it, well, even you, Lucas Trent, are powerless. People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

I do this to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. But it is to Madame Justice that I dedicate this, may she at long last find the scales tipped back in her favour.
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With old odd ends stolen forth from holy writ
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
Adieu.”

[industrious]

Midnighter

The only sound in the room is the whistle of the Midnighter's staff as it crushes the screen into powder. The Midnighter stands, and glares at those around the table.

"Now, let me get some things clear. Whoever this is naive at best and crazy at the worse. Let me remind you all of why the Authority took over. The Kent administration had knowingly and willingly led the US to interdimensional war, and had killed off the entire state of Florida. No more trips to Disneyworld, no more beach, no more nothing. They caused the mess, and like we always do, we cleaned it up. Solved the problem, saved the world, done deal."

"But that wasn't enough. Because truth be told, we're tired. Tired of cleaning up after your messes. Tired of politicians promise honesty and the interests of the people, and get nothing done once in office. There is no justice. There is no fairness. There is no goddamn equality in the whole damn world! There. is. just. us. As much as we hate to admit it to ourselves, might makes right; be glad the good guys are in charge. Under our leadership, we've finally seen progress, seen the oil companies stop gouging people and polluting our planet. Seen universal health care, and a balanced budget and improved literacy around the country. We've ended the drug wars. Yeah, this place is a dump, but it was worse under them. So yes, I admit that I wasn't elected. I admit that we're dictators. But we needed to get our **** together, and nobody was willing to do it. Unlike them, we don't give you any bull****."

"Here's what's going to happen. You, you, and you, go to the archives with Ghost Rider. Give him the files he needs, and return here afterwords. You two, go through the building and get everyone else inside this room. I'm not going to let others kill innocents today. That's my job."

The Midnighter stretches his arm to the side, fingers pointing at the wall. Reaching out to his connection with the Carrier, that sentient starship that was his home, powered by a baby universe, he issues his command to its teleportation portal system.

"Carrier: Door. Just outside the city limits."

[Prime32]

Archer
Nicomdeus is a black shape floating through the darkness on wings of night. He's about ninety feet up, and is floating, waiting for chaos to come.
He doesn't seem to recognize you can see him. You could take him by surprise, if you work at it.
More than a mile away, Archer hops onto a rooftop, a black bow materialising in his hands. He reaches deep inside himself, and from a vast, barren plain he pulls out a sword. As it appears in his hand it is changed - the blade which could cut anything is twisted into a spiral which can pierce anything.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/typemoon/images/2/21/W._Caladbolg.jpg

"I am the bone of my sword."
Archer nocks the sword in his bow as if it were an oversized arrow. It begins to hum inaudibly as it overloads with prana. A legendary sword said to cleave mountains in two, with this attack its millenia of power would be released all at once.

With his enhanced eyesight he tracks Nicodemus's movement as he tortures the man, aiming at the base of his neck. And then, when he feels the moment is right...

"Caladbolg!" (http://fsn.seorinwastaken.com/index.php?v=54)

{OOC: Yes, it is possible to dodge}

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Intent on examining his spell's creation, Nicodemus does not notice the power being directed at him. However, Anduriel, who's senses far surpass the immortal's, does. Nicodemus's shadow does not attempt to meet the sword head-on; that would be painful, and ultimately futile. Instead, the shadow pushes on the sword, deflecting its path so that instead of his neck, Nicodemus merely is stabbed in the heart.

His mouth gapes open as he looks down to see the tip of the blade protruding from his chest. Fingers refusing to work, he orders his shadow to pull the thing out. He's feeling better already.

"My, my. It appears I have enemies."

[Prime32]

{OOC: Click the link in my post. The impact creates a massive explosion which destroys the weapon. The target happened to have insane defensive abilities (http://typemoon.wikia.com/wiki/God_Hand) but was still killed even when he tried to deflect it (he just came back to life immediately). You're further away than he was though.}

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"This is why I like hunting monsters. No one complains when you get rid of demons." Blaze says as he switches back into skeleton form and makes his way to the records room.

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider and Midnighter
You get nothing. Static, an electronic hissing, and nothing else. It takes you a minute to identify the problem. The machine has been hacked, and instead of accessing the teleportation system you have entered one of the information banks.
Someone has hacked the Carrier.

Ghost Rider has left the room and is following the helpfully well ordered corridors with signs at every corner when the first explosion goes off. He's starting on the outside and moving in. A bit of shrapnel hits your ribs, and the corridor collapses as the buildings structural integrity is compromised. Another explosion goes off to your left, and then another one, as they speed up, the building already beginning to collapse under it's own weight.

The Bride
"And even if you hadn't killed him I think I'd still have you done with." She returns venomously. The words are coming from high up, from somewhere to your left.
"Or rather, I'd watch you die. More satisfying."
A boot scuffs the gravel. A big man, with almost grotesquely over formed arms is advancing towards you, holding a lead pipe. There is a dull, glazed look in his eyes.
Another two follow him, one holding a length of chain, the next a tire iron. And from all the other angles you see a veritable army of thugs emerging, each armed with a variety of improvised weapons.
"Make the boy scream." The voice adds. "Do whatever you want to the woman."

Kirby
"Bella died tonight, and I couldn't do anything!" He yells, in a way that is obviously meant to make you feel sorry for him.
It's too good an opportunity to pass up.

Sam
The mob barely notices you as you join them, marching angrily towards the
It's havoc on your senses, trying to distinguish independent features and components is more then you can do easily.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

The explosions really just annoy the Ghost Rider. Flame and heat do nothing to someone made out of fire but the falling building, yeah that hurts.

Blaze gradually makes his way out of the rubble and begins searching for survivors. Anyone in the building right now is probably a corrupt politician but damn it if he'll let some crazy terrorist get that kind of satisfaction. Damnit it this was supposed to be an easy night of killing vampires so far he has made enemies with a crimeboss, a terrorist and discovered his prey are some kind of stronger subrace of vampires. This has not been a good night at all.

***

The Bride

Take out mobs first, lest they swarm you when you go for the higher profile targets leaving yourself open.

The Bride's training comes to her almost instinctively.

Careful to avoid the hidden woman and the large man she makes her way into the larger crowd and swings at anything that moves.

***

Kirby

Kirby puts the leg back in the roasting pan and walks over towards Edward.

"Ah, the troubles of love and mortality. Even ageless beings such as us must face the fact that nothing lasts forever. No matter how much you will it to be with all the strength of your heart, everything even true love must come to an end."

[nanobot_swarm]

Thr night is pierced by a loud scream of,"AW YEAH! Time for some fun!."
Suddenly a thug is sliced in two as Travis enters the circle.
"Not gonna let you have all this fun without me."

[Cracklord]

Jules
The orphanage is a brick and plaster building, squat and simple, with a high fence and long gravel playing field. A fire can be seen through the second story window, and if you listen closely you can hear screams.

Anderson
((Are you going after Nicomdeus or his demon in the orphanage?))

Travis and the bride
A red dot appears on Travis's forehead, obvious in the murk. The men wouldn't be able to challenge either of you normally, but it is particularly clear now, their reactions are off, and are only executing basic attacks, no innovation.
Like sleep walkers.
Still, there are a lot of them, and most of them are strong, if not particularl fast or skillful.

Kirby
"Oh shut up." He growls, and slams the door in your face.

[nanobot_swarm]

Jules pulls out his gun and cautiously enters the building, alert for whoever is burning it down, and preparing something to say before he blows him away.

[darkblade]

Kirby

Well that was rude. Such ill manners cause Kirby to lose his appetite and he heads back to his cage in the basement for some rest.

***

The Bride

There is nothing the bride can do about the sniper right now. The thugs start falling like flies, these boys are nothing like the Crazy 88 and there are less of them too.

[nanobot_swarm]

"Fire and see what happens," says the psycho as he jumps right back into the fray, slicing at the thugs with glee.

[Cracklord]

Jules
A bizarre, alien titter, high and soft, greets you. Whimpering can be heard on the floor above. You make your way up, to see a dark shape, clothed in naked flames, feeding bound children to the fire, one at a time.

Travis
The bullet hits you in the left thigh.

The bride
You hear a gunshot from one of the vague impressions of buildings. There are perhaps six of the thugs left, the rest reduced to so many limbs scattered around the alleyway.

Kohaku
Kirby-san returns, making his way down the too steep stairs as you clean his cage. He smells of blood and spice, you notice.

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride continues to mow down the thugs, trusting Travis to be able to handle the gunshot on his own.

***

Kirby

Kirby sees the maid as he enters the basment. "Oh. I am terribly sorry. I did not mean to interupt your duties."

[nanobot_swarm]

The bullet knocks Travis to the ground, a thug starts to kick him, but after 10 seconds he is able to get back up and kill said thug. Though he seems to be in pain, the bullet seems to have been more like being hit with a hammer, in fact, there appears to be no entrance wound on him.
"****in *******! My ribs hurt enough thanks to that Edward bitch, don't need to break em. Bullets are just cheap man, gotta kill up close."

***

Jules is disgusted by what he sees happening, sure he spent years of his life as a hitman, but the atrocities he commited were nothing like the level of this. He walks closer to the flame-creature, and then shoots it at where he guesses the upper torso is.

[industrious]

Midnighter

Seeing the Carrier's Door system fail, the Midnighter quickly runs through his other options. Saving his people(as much as he hates the phrase applied to the politicians) had to be his first priority. And while the Doors were failing, his radiotelepathic link with his team's other members was functioning perfectly fine. The nanomachine implanted by the Engineer was completely unconnected to the Carrier, and if that was ever hacked...then Angie was compromised, a far worse scenario than some nut in a white mask.

Hawksmoor would be perfect help. A building demolition was nothing that the God of Cities couldn't handle; the man's alien implants let him command and empathize with major urban environments. Unfortunately, Jack was busy setting policy in DC, and with the Door system down, there was no chance he would be able to get here on time. Angie was busy improving the US energy grid(Read: strongarming energy companies), and while her nanoblood could let her do virtually anything she set her mind to, she suffered from that same problem of actually getting to the Midnighter's location. Hyper-sonic jetpack capable of spacefight? Easy. Teleporation? Hard. Swift and his husband also suffered from that same problem. They were fast. Not nigh-instantaneous. No use going around the world in three minutes if you'll be dead in two.

Of the two members of the Authority who had the power to teleport, the Doctor was likewise occupied. Earth's designated shaman, and the most powerful mystic in the world was serving time in divorce court, his wife still demanding a ridiculous amount of concessions. As powerful and enlightened a being the Doctor was, he was still, at heart, a former Dutch heroin addict and womanizer. Midnighter couldn't sympathize.

As for the last member...his daughter. Jenny Quantum, the Spirit of the 21st century, Earth's last defense mechanism, with the power of...well, anything really. Unfortunately, though, she was technically only ten years old, despite aging herself to sixteen out of boredom. Acting the typical rebellious teen was even worse with nigh-unlimited cosmic power. The cigarettes he could stand-sort of-but the Midnighter drew the line at sex. Or attempted to, anyway. Night's Bringer of War slumps his shoulders as he projects his thoughts to his daughter.

Jenny. I need transport for some slimeballs. Be a dear, and get them out of the city.

Sam Oliver

"Devil power: find whoever the hell(he-he) I'm looking for!" the devil's Heir mutters sarcastically. Though, seriously, what sort of lame power would finding things be? In lieu of that amazingly useless ability, though, Sam settles for asking around to see if anybody has heard of an "Archer" anywhere.

Nicodemus

As he holds the blade closer to his eyes, the weapon's latent power, diffused by his shadow finally activates, initiating an explosion that blows him across the street and into an office building. Through one of the metal I-beams. Stunned for a moment, he wearily gets to his feet, and checks his left hand. The crystal still seems to be functioning. His clothes, on the other hand, are gone.

The arch-enemy of the Church reaches once more into his shadow to pull out yet another Hell-fire sword(if you have over a thousand years, why not have spares?), this one in the shape of a katana, and a spare set of clothing: a gray vest over a black silk shirt(with the noose acting as a tie), and a set of black pants. A leather belt held a .44 revolver, and the vintage (German-made, circa 1942) black leather trenchcoat both held spare rounds and completed the ensemble. Nicodemus smiled. Time to find, dismember, and kill an uppity vampire. In that order.

[Cracklord]

The Bride and Travis
Beatrice cuts down the last of the men, and the fight is over. The sniper still hasn't revealed herself, but some sixth sense tells you she hasn't gone.
"Oh, I'm not going to kill you, little boy. At least, not for a long time."

Jules
The shape folds around the bullet, diminishing slightly. Hefting the child, it lobs it at you, then walks, although slithers seems a more appropriate verb, towards you, still tittering.

Midnighter
No answer. You know she hears you, which means she is either being contrary, or in the middle of something. With that, a small, localized explosion goes off under the table, blowing it to splinters that lethally whiz around the room, along with shrapnel and a whoosh of superhot condensed air. Another goes off, and another, as the building collapses with the tortured groaning of stone and metal under strain.
You begin to lose sense of direction as the floor tilts crazily and the air is filled with grit and ash, and you are buffeted, tossed like a leaf on the wind.
...
You're not dead. You are hurt, but you are alive. You are covered in more scrapes and bruises then seems healthy, or even possible, and quite a few cuts will need stitches. A bit of internal bleeding above your right kidney, and an ugly looking cut above you're eye, dripping blood over your face. You can feel the bone of your skull.

Ghost Rider
You emerge from the wreckage unharmed.

Sam Oliver
Most of them are too caught up in emotion to pay you any attention. A few give you wild eyed, angry looks, almost feral. The mob's mood has turned ugly, and you suddenly feel ridiculously small and delicate.
Any of these men could do terrible things to you.
Then, staring up, you catch an explosion on the top of a building.

[industrious]

((Nicodemus is attempting to find Carlisle.))

Midnighter

The extent of his injuries is such that the man can't help it. He laughs. Laughs that he is alive, laughs at the adrenaline rushing through his veins, laughs at the preparation and dedication that his antagonist has shown. And he laughs, because he's just found the perfect thing to say.

"Well, congratulations, you stupid ****! You just got rid of the *******s who ran this city! Saved me a whole deal of trouble, doing that. I mean, have me crawl on hands and knees to meet you? Get over yourself. I know you can hear me, so come on in!"

As he says this, his internal self-diagnostic reveals the implications of his injuries. He should be fully healed in two days, but until then, his normally lightning-fast reflexes, which had enabled him to catch bullets and tie Swift in the 50 meter dash, were barely at superhuman levels. Eyesight in his left eye is reduced to human normal, and his augmented strength is at human norm for the time being. Thankfully, he can still turn his pain receptors down, so that the agony that would normally follow the loss of adrenaline won't be a problem. He still continues his rant, lying atop a bed of rubble and concrete.

"And one other thing. A question, really. Why did you attack me? I mean, sure, I'm one of the Authority. But your little attack took planning, and lots of it. I mean, hacking the Carrier...damn. Full marks to you, nutcase. But you know that I'm not the most politically active one. I'm one of the relative moderates in a group. If you wanted to be political, then you should've attacked Hawksmoor, or the Doctor. But you chose me. Because deep down, your little speech about freedom is a lie you tell yourself at night. You knew you couldn't defeat either of them, even if you were sneaky. So you picked on one of our weakest. Couldn't make a real, true assassination of the symbol of the Authority, so you chose the easiest target. You ****ing hypocrite."

Sam

Sam slinks back into the crowd, and seeing the explosion, thinks of the calm, sensible, rational thing to do...and does the opposite. Trying the door of the building the explosion took place on, he attempts to get inside. Sam sighs. The stairs are going to be murder.

[Draxx]

V
Conversation with the target is foolish. While I have a somewhat pathological desire to espouse my own brilliance, when said individual is as dangerous as said target discretion may not be valorous, but does keep one alive.
He can only read my actions if I give him an opportunity. Truly, he is a deadly foe. He reads the killing intent, and prepares the perfect defense. And I do not know how much I damaged him.
"I am a not a man, and as suspect as my cowardice is, allow me to say that even the greatest of symbols had beginnings as humble as this. I am such a symbol. I am on posters, and scrawled on the walls by my unwitting followers, ignorant of the meaning beyond the superficial. I am in the grumbling of the tired, the reminisces of the old, the fire of the mob, the hearts of the people as they reminisce. On every flag my visage is stamped. I am everywhere."
I tip my hat, adjusting it so he can better see the mask. "And you downplay yourself, sir. Power and knowledge do not make a man any more then a man. Other men do. And in you, they have raised a false idol. As to my intentions, well I did not expect to meet any of you for some time. There is no co-incidence, only the illusion of it, but I improvised heavily tonight. Perhaps it will pay off."
I remove a pair of long, knives, folded steel, sharp as a razor, deadly as myself. My companions. This assassination is clumsy, but opportunity does not knock twice.
"And as the guardians grow apart from humanity, I will grow. If loving the virtues that made our country great do make me nothing more then a villain, then I intend to show you just how villainous I can be. Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe."
As I speak, I slowly flip my knives, but I make no move. I'm waiting for him.

Paladin Alexander
Nicodemus hears the flutter of pages again as he reaches into the shadow, and before they stop the big Scottsman is there once more, weaving a pattern of death with his two blades, his every cut intended to kill. His teeth are bared feraly, and his eyes flash like jade fire.
He doesn't seem human. If death were a man, he couldn't look half so deadly as the paladin looks in that instant. "Ah dinnae ken finnishin' wit' ye chust yet, monster." He growls.

[industrious]

The Midnighter

It is somewhat difficult for the Midnighter to get to his feet. As it turns out, his right foot ankle is broken. Extending his steel bo staff, he leans on it heavily to stand up, blinking the blood out of his eye.

As he prepares to fight the battle one billion times(and choose the most humiliating, bloody painful way to kill the man), his computer turns up...nothing. It's been damaged as well, reverting to its secondary programming. While it can still calculate millions of probabilities, it is now acting purely on the defensive; his opponent will have to make the first move.

"A symbol? Of what exactly? Remember what it was like before we were in charge? The Kent administration? They killed one tenth of the highest, most noble creatures in all the multiverse experimenting with technology that we repeatedly warned them was dangerous. We've saved the world time and time again from foes that the common man has no exact comprehension of. We aren't like comic book heroes, who fight supervillains every week to maintain the status quo. If there is a problem with the world, we deal with it. You had no complaints when we saved your **** from the Ring or Sliding Albion. You didn't mind when we stopped the massacre in Darfur. You didn't really care when we became celebrities, and had interview pieces and parties in the Carrier."

The Midnighter takes a deep, somewhat ragged breath.

"A corporation is far worse than a government. They can deny you anything, keep you from the essentials of life, control the government so that their interests and not yours are fulfilled. They can keep track of you and make enough deductions about you to make a government envious. We go half as far, strike back at them, and we're the bad guys? You really are the symbol of the superficial."

His right hand holds another steel baton. It convulses. He's definitely going to need some R and R once this is over.


Nicodemus hears the flutter of pages again as he reaches into the shadow, and before they stop the big Scottsman is there once more, weaving a pattern of death with his two blades, his every cut intended to kill. His teeth are bared feraly, and his eyes flash like jade fire.
He doesn't seem human. If death were a man, he couldn't look half so deadly as the paladin looks in that instant. "Ah dinnae ken finnishin' wit' ye chust yet, monster." He growls.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus tumbles backwards, avoiding the blows.

"Don't you know how much this outfit cost? Alex, Alex, Alex, Alex. The Church hasn't been finished with me for thousands of years. You are out of your league. Go play with Alucard; I'm busy. There is a particularly annoying vampire I wish to eliminate."

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"There is a 'Helped the Authority Burn a Terrorist Alive' tax deduction right?" The ride stands in the face of V, or rather his mask.

"If you want to kill your tyrant, you have to get through me and surely an educated man such as yourself will know the theological implications of killing the recently fallen arcangel Michael, Lilith and Beleezub with my bare hands and giving Satan and many of his children a run for their damned existance. Back down or this will not be pleasant." Blaze threatens, slowly giving way to Zarthos. His flames shift from orange to a light blue and little bulges apear on his back, what could those be?

***

The Bride

As the last minion goes down The Bride scans the buildings for fireescapes, balconies, awnings, anything that can be used to climb up to the roof top.

[Cracklord]

The Bride
It's hard to see in the light, but there appears to be a fire escape one hundred paces along the side of a building. Only problem is, you're not sure if it is the right building.

Sam
You were right. The stairs are a murder, but at long last you make it to the top. Two men are fighting.

[industrious]

Sam

"Oh...Phew...wow. Time out. Time out. Who the hell are you two?" Sam manages to pant out. The Devil's Heir Apparent looks at the Paladin, then at Nicodemus....then the Paladin's again. His palm acquaints itself with his face.

"This does not bode well for my immediate survival prospects."

Midnighter

"Plus, my team killed God." At Zarthos's stare, the Midnighter quickly clarifies.

"Not theological God. The malevolent alien who created the solar system as his summer resort, and found humanity taking up space. Remember? New Year's Eve, 1999? Silver bio-mechanical killbots?"

[Draxx]

V
"What am I a symbol of? I expected arrogance, but not so much. What you are, when you look beyond your results, is a thug. Stronger then most, and kept on a shorter leash then any, but no more then that."
I take a step forward, the gravel crunching under my boots. “Should I be impressed? I am freedom. You talk about the people, but I have never met them. Nor, I suspect, have you. I have met good men, and bad, men who would rob a beggar blind, men who perform silent miracles every day, men who live their lives behind closed doors and men without the courage to examine themselves, but I have never met ‘the people.’ You talk about the wonders you have achieved, the wheels you have turned, but you do not care about those who get caught in between, the blood that turns them.
I resisted the previous administration as well. Though I was not ready then.
I am not ready now. But it doesn't matter anymore.
The humanity you claim to represent does not exist. You ignore the individual, dismissing it as flawed, and instead uphold your beliefs of what a human should be. Humans are not so simple. And you believe being the strongest gives you the right to say what humans need. Well, as Hobbes told us, we are born equal, and the weak shall team up to kill the strong. Man does not know what it is that he truly desires, at times he needs to be shown. And so you and I are in conflict, both leaning the other ways. And at the end, we will have who is right, and who is dead."
He has ignored Ghost Rider. Hells greatest enemy is not his concern.
Anderson
"His time will come, dinnae doubt tha'." The priest replies, still attempting to gut Nicomdeus. "Ye're pretty hard tae kill. Ah 'spose Ah'll hae tae cut ye oop sae fine ye're life becomes a technicality."

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Enough talk, then. Time to die." He can't make the first move. Not with his battle computer still repairing itself. And injured as he was, his reflexes wouldn't save him from counterattack if he struck first. At the moment, he was dependent on those he was going to kill to kill them. A passing thought struck him; could doing so be labeled suicide?

Nicodemus

Anderson's bayonet guts Nicodemus, and he gasps in pain...and triumph. He steps forward, willingly impaling himself. Eventually, the blade is buried to the hilt.

Around the two, Nicodemus's shadow boils and writhes as it crawls around the paladin, looping itself around his arms and legs, sliding up his body to envelope the priest. The aspect of his demonic form grows cold, colder than Arctic ice, and harder than steel. It continues to move upward, clinging to Anderson's neck, slithering over his face, tunneling through his mouth and nostrils and eyes and ears. Nicodemus steps back, the blade clattering to the floor, turns his back, and speaks to the man who can no longer hear or see or speak or smell.

"Good-bye, Father Anderson. May a flock of angels sing thee to thy rest."

He tips his head to the horrified young man in the room, standing there gaping as the Father dies. It would not do to harm Satan's heir, now would it? Holding the crystal once more, Nicodemus steps into the elevator, and searches for Carlisle Cullen.

Sam Oliver

Sam's burgeoning powers are based on emotion. Or powered by it. Something like that. He isn't really sure, and he really doesn't want to experiment with them. But in this case, it wasn't an experiment. Despite being the son of the Devil, his heir apparent, and destined to bring about Hell on earth, Sam was still a good person. And he wasn't going to let the priest die.

Turning inward, Sam takes his feelings of shock and horror, and acting instinctively, uses them as tools. Arm outreached towards the Father, Sam pulls the shadow from the man, where it takes up residence swirling in a ball just before his hand. It takes a short while, but eventually, the Father is free of Nicodemus's shadow. Sam looks around for where to deposit the stuff, settling for telekinetically dumping it in one of the garbage bags.

Checking Anderson's pulse, Sam peers into the Paladin's eyes.

"Sir, are you okay?"

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"I've had enough of you." The rider growls as his chain flies out from around his wrist and towards the masked man's legs.

"Hell awaits you."

***

The Bride

They'll have to do. She makes her way up the fireescape and onto the rooftops.

[Draxx]

Anderson
The huge priest suddenly surges to his feet. His eyes are bulging horrifically, and his face is almost puce, but his cheeks slowly regain their usual ruddy coloring and his expression fades to mere inhumanly vengeful.
"Tha' was ae guide thing ye did, son." His voice was deep and framed by a thick Scottish brogue. Pleasant to listen to, surprisingly. It was rich, and deep, and promised safety. It went very well with his wide, confident smile, that was benevolent and promised nothing but love and happiness to the world. Their was no trace of the insane zealot from a moment ago, he seemed as gentle as a lamb.
"Bless ye. Ah dinnae 'spect ye took a looksie at yon bastard? We hae business." Despite his pleasant tone, he clearly intended murder.

V
"By all means." I mock, raising mu arms and holding myself open. I take another step forward. "You best strike quickly. If you get a good enough blow, perhaps I will be slain and you will survive."
Then the skeleton acts. I had not expected him. I was not ready for him. And I doubted I had anything that could so much as inconvenience him.
So I don't fight him. I leap over the chain as though it's not there, keeping myself fixed on Midnighter.
"You are not my concern, and I am not yours." I say. "He is my enemy. The next world is your chosen responsibilities, not this one."

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

Sam is not at all reassured by the priest's manner. When you a) work for the Devil and b) are in fact his son, the priesthood, especially one who seems very proficient in the stabbing cutting slashing trade become less fatherly(ha-ha) and more...scary dangerous. Even if he personally was a good person. Or at least tried to be.

"Um...no I didn't. And I don't really think you-um-should, Father. Since...well...he kind of nearly killed you before, and taking that shadow off took a lot out of me...and took time. I don't know if I can help if you face him again."

Midnighter

The Midnighter shakes his head.

"Don't you get it? You've failed. Failed to kill me impersonally, and now that we're here, face to face, I'm unbeatable. I've fought this battle in my head, one million times, from each and every angle. I know what your plan is, what your tactics are, and each and every counter for your actions. I won this fight before you even turned up. I'm the deadliest man alive, and even if you manage to kill me, the rest of the Authority is going to make you suffer. So run, terrorist. Run."

Grinning broadly, the Midnighter turns his back on V, and begins limping out to the back exit, using his staff to keep himself up.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"You're right. Normally I wouldn't be that concerned by your actions but I needed this city's records in tact to complete my mission. You blew those up in your feud with my friend here."

Blaze redirects the chain to wrap around V's left arm.

"Thats why I am going to help Midnighter kill you."

[Draxx]

Anderson
"Nonsense. Bastard got lucky is all." Anderson replies casually, and it occurs to you the man really believes it. "Nae matter what he thinks, yon dark apostle cannae deal wit' me."

V
I do the unexpected. I let him go.
Perhaps I over-estimated him. Or perhaps he fears me more then he lets on. Either way, if he wants to spend his time in this city waiting for me to come and jumping at shadows he should have said.
He'll be easier to kill this way.
I turn to Blaze. "They had none. Those you are seeking were smarter then that. You would not have found anything in here." Revealing more knowledge then expected often helps put me on the offensive, where I prefer to be.

[Cracklord]

The Bride and Travis
You begin making your way up the fire escape, when another shot goes off, missing by a fraction.
On the roof, a chestnut haired woman has put aside the sniper rifle, and is armed with a sword, that appears to be a replicant Highland claymore. It's far to heavy to hold it the way she is, she must be like the last two you met. She's certainly beautiful.
"You maimed my son." She says softly, swinging the sword with a flick of her writ. She's a lot better then Edward or Bella was. "You killed the daughter I didn't even know." The blade slides through the air again.
"Never get in a blood feud with the Irish." She finishes, advancing on you. Her terrible marksmanship is explained, she doesn't want you dead, she wants to kill you.

Nicodemus
Five minutes later, you find yourself in a town house, very well cared for, but all but deserted. The feeling draws you to the attic, where a room is lit by flickering candlelight.
At the far end of the room, you see Carlisle bent over something and singing to himself. He has a truly beautiful voice, you note.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch, like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found.
Was blind, but now, I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.”
Then he stopped singing and humming, needing to concentrate particularly hard on something. The part of the room was well lit with a lamp a few inches above his head, and it seemed he was enclosing the light in a kind of dome of brightness around the shape of his body. As your eyes adjust you see he’s leaning over a steel medical table, and there is something lying on it, though the end is wrapped in cloth.
Then the humming started again, and Carlisle turned to drop something small and fleshy into a metal plate.
"The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Then when we'd first begun."
On the other side of the room, there is another, identical table, though shrouded in gloom.
Carlisle straightens, and walks over towards a low cupboard, where he begins rooting around.
You can now see quite clearly what the patriarch was doing. On the table is a body, upon which he is performing an elaborate dissection. The chest had been cut open with great skill past the lower stomach, all the way to the scrotum. Each section of skin and muscle had been pealed back and held away with pins. Pieces have been removed, bit by bit, with care not too damage any of them.
What was shocking, apart from the way that she was displayed, that alone would shock the most hardened psychopath, was that she was not dead. Her left hand, hanging over the side of the table, twitched every few seconds, as Carlisle continued to root through the drawer, still humming to himself.
You feel as though spiders are crawling along the skin of your back. And then you hear a girl. Another girl, tied and gagged, was on the other table.
“Be quiet you.” He says, almost gently. “Patience. Your turn next.”
He resumes his rummaging, at last straightening, with what he’d be looking for, a long thin skewer with a pincer on the end. “God be praised.” He tested it. Snap, snap. The sound makes you squirm.
Returning to his work, he uses it to remove something small and fleshy, which he carefully places in a container.

Sam and Alexander
Neither of you have any idea where he went, or if you want to go after him.

Jules
The shape folds around the bullet, diminishing slightly, then the flames blaze brighter. Hefting the child, it throws it at you, then walks, although slithers seems a more appropriate verb, in your direction, still tittering.

Archer
Loosing sight of Nicomdeus in the explosion, you spot him again leaving a building at a rapid pace. You have two choices, follow him on your own and hope for the best, or go tell your summoner and follow him together.

Nero Chaos
As you step out into the streets, you are absorbed by the screaming mass of humanity, absorbed into the press and earhurting sound of chanting and blood curdling shrieks.
At the end of the street, a huge man in a greatcoat steps out of the building, and you feel cold. It's Paladin Alexander, the most feared hunter of your kin. He must be here for you.

[industrious]

Midnighter

Once the man reaches the shattered doorframe that leads "outside," he stops. Turning around-slowly-, he hefts his steel rod in his hand. Swinging it a few times, he launches the projectile at V, aiming to shatter the mask. While the rod wasn't reaching his normal speeds, 70 mph was still decent.

He wasn't just going to run away, now was he? The whole point of getting away was to gain distance, enough so that when he made the first move, he'd be protected against counterattack. And once said attack came, his computer would be back to making him the deadliest combatant in the world once more.

Sam Oliver

"In any case, I have my own...mission. Not a calling or anything; more of a debt to pay off. But, um...Father...sir...have you seen anybody calling himself 'Archer' recently?"

Nicodemus

Reaching into his pocket once more for his pouch of Denarian coins, Nicodemus retrieves one of them, and imparts a message to the Fallen contained within. Do nothing until he is distracted. I will distract him, and then you will bind him. Do not kill him; he has something I desire. The immortal keeps to the shadows, where his own allows him to blend in perfectly. The coin is placed onto the ground-carefully, as to not make any noise. Then, Nicodemus reveals himself, as his shadow bears the tarnished silver to the other, bound girl.

"I see that Jack the Ripper hasn't lost his touch, Carlisle. Tell me, though. Why the notes to the police? It seemed rather...flamboyant of you."

[Cracklord]

Nicomdeus
"An affectation I have outgrown." He says without turning around, still concentrating on the girl. "Besides, a little manipulation always helps. They thought they were looking for a psychopath. Quite a lot of medical science has me to thank for it, but while buying corpses and cutting them up helped me understand, I could learn a lot more while they were still alive. God knows, four of Babylons pet whores seems a small price for that. I've never noticed a shortage of such people."
He goes silent, still humming, then makes another small incision, and turns. He is covered with blood up to the elbows, and his white apron is splatted with all sorts of gore, at odds with the all round neatness of the room and his work. All her organs, you see, have been carefully labeled and stored with others of their kind.
"Do you know what's special about these girls? They are gifted. They have it in them to be great magicians. So I will shut down ever organ, every part of their body, until they aren't anymore, and so find out what it is that makes them special. What gives them magic."
He sighs. If he had glasses, he'd be peering over them at you. "Of course, most of the girls aren't talented. The dead-ends are what make us so wealthy. Organs. Children. Beautiful women, made soft, nurturing and pliable. I don't have much truck with it myself, but the kids are good at it, finding the right sort of clientele and supplying them with whatever they want."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

The bi-millennial man laughs, long and hard at Carlisle's statement.

"I'm sorry, Carlisle, but that is nearly the most idiotic thing that I have had the pleasure to hear in a long, long while. You cannot classify magic as science, nor science magic. Science cannot understand magic, cannot test it nor empirically control for variables. You are mad, vampire, to even attempt such a thing."

From up his sleeve, Nicodemus produces a short, gray-white fiber.

"Take this, for example. One of my favorite examples of such idiocy. One of the samples from the Shroud of Turin. They tried to test it back in the 60s, see if it actually was as old as I am. But in doing so, they missed the point of the Shroud. It is a thing of belief, and it has power because of it. Tell me, Doctor: what do you know of the Black Death?"

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
Carlisle appears... bored. Frustrated you are interfering with his work, more then anything. "Quite a bit. I helped create it, didn't I?" He replies, twirling the knife absentmindedly. "Not a particularly distinguished role, I'm afraid, but I take some solace in how the attempt would have failed had it not been for my hard work, over and above what they demanded. Oh, I admit that conventional science cannot, but then, what is science if not the study of everything? It's all a matter of perspective." The knife stops twirling, and it's pointing directly at you. "I am not totally ignorant about magic, I simply prefer not to taint myself more then is inevitable. But I am right, as this girl proves. No doubt it will shock you that I've already succeeded, these are just an attempt to refine the process. It's all a matter of cutting in more then just the physical way."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"Oh, I'm not asking out of curiosity. I'm asking because a few years ago, I used a piece of the Shroud to create copies of every disease known to mankind, and infect a subject with said diseases in their terminal stages-simultaneously. I did plan to use the actual Shroud to infect a far greater amount of people with it, but I was...interrupted. But that is the past. I'm telling you this now because all your precious samples have just been contaminated."

Whilst Nicodemus has been talking, he has been fiddling with the string; at the end of his little monologue, he tears the thread in half, releasing the spell, and irrevocably corrupting all of Carlisle's experiments. From the one barely alive to the neatly labeled organs.

[Cracklord]

Carlisle raises an eyebrow. Turning his back to you he takes a look at the girl, then another at the case. "So you have. Oh well." He drawls, facing you again. He still looks bored. "Are you done, or is your fragile ego so easily bruised you are going to write some obscenities on the walls and yell insults as well?"
He sighs. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about my earlier actions. I wasn't thinking... clearly." He taps his head. "Besides, knowledge is in here, and I don't really need to show anyone my work. It is, after all, for my own benefit. Still, when it takes longer then expected don't come crying to me."
With that he stretches and walks past you, heading for the staircase, knife still in hand.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

The Denarian's shadow stops Carlisle in his tracks, coils wrapping around his arms and legs, and inserting themselves down his mouth, and one nostril. The vampire is dragged back to the operating table, now clear of Carlisle's experiment.

"Hardly. I'm going to kill you now. It isn't personal; well, it was, until you apologized. But I need a sufficient metaphysical mass to power my next ritual; your unique status is perfect for the job. If it is any consolation, Doctor Cullen, then know that your death is for a higher purpose."

Nicodemus unstraps the live girl from her table, and hands her a scalpel, a grandfatherly smile on his face.

"My dear, how would you like to perform a little game of role reversal?"

[Cracklord]

Nicomdeus
To all intents and purposes, she's already dead. The dissection was... thorough. One of her lungs her been cut carefully along the ligaments, her heart is exposed, and everything from her spleen to her stomach has been removed.
You doubt she's lucid enough to understand what you are saying.
The other has been sedated, with what you couldn't say for sure, but her eyes are glassy, and everything she does is unsteady. Rather then speak, she mumbles and slurs.
As you look at the vampire, you notice a silvery light shining around him, perhaps half an inch thick, which the shadow is impotently battling against. It no longer seems to be getting any results.
Carlisle sighs, but doesn't move. "Weak, Nicomdeus. Very weak. I'll be blunt. The ritual won't work. I have been awarded something of a total dispensation until the last day of winter. Until then, you may as well try to kill god. Understand?"
He sighs. "As to why, that is beyond you're understanding, based on your answers to what I explained to you. You're a primitive, not a thinker. If said ritual is so important to you, I believe my youngest son is in the room downstairs. Now stop bothering me."

[nanobot_swarm]

Jules dodges the poor child, and then shouts at the shape:
"Motha****er you pissed off the wrong brother. might have let you live had this been some other **** you been tryin to pull, but not now. There's this passage I got memorized, that quite applies to this situation. Ezekiel 25:17. 'The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.'" He shoots the shape three times, the bullets have much more impact thanks to the verse.

[Cracklord]

Jules
The bullets hit the shape where it’s vitals aught to be. It shrieks, and collapses into itself, until the shape within the fires vanishes. A dreadful feeling of cold, a chill that sinks to the bone settles within you, as every fire in the building goes out. You blink, your eyes not adjusted to the lack of light as spots dance across your vision.
This personal indulgence didn’t bring you any closer to the Cullens.

[Draxx]

V
The blow misses me by almost a foot. I don't seem to so much as twitch, of course reading the intent of a man in a mask is somewhat difficult, particularly one as cagey as myself.
My head tilts a little to the left. “Penny for the Guy?” I’m far from home. He may not get it, but that’s too bad.
I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.

Anderson
The priest stares at him. "Tha isnae somethin' a lad like ye wants tae get involved in. Ye should gae home and thank god it's none o' ye business if'n ye ken what's best for ye."

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Wait what? Bella and Edward were siblings?" The Bride stops in shock not even drawing her sword.

"Your kids were screwing like rabid monkeys. You might want to work on your parenting skills for the next batch."

[industrious]

The Midnighter

"Guy Fawkes. Cute." How did his attack miss? His aim wasn't as good as it would have been optimally, but he still should have hit him. This game was rigged, and in more than one way.

Sam Oliver

Sam stares at the Father levelly.

"But it is. I'm involved in this business no matter what I do. I don't have a choice, Father. Not a choice in Hell."

[Draxx]

Anderson
"Well then, if'n ye feel ye hae nae choice, it's a different matter." He replies, making his way down the stairs. "O' course, ah dinnae plan to help ye wit' it, ye ken. What do ye hae tae dae wit' yon spirit?"

V
"And here you had me thinking you were just a particularly brutal, unpleasent man." I reply. "I had no idea you were so cultured. We're oft to blame, and this is too much proved, that with devotion's visage and pious action we do sugar on the devil himself."
My knives twist, and, spinning, I throw both of them at him drawing two new ones while they are still in the air, then dart back, my eyes on the skeleton.

[industrious]

Midnighter

Perfect. The instant V throws the knives, the Midnighter's battle computer activates, and their fight is played and replayed over one million times. He knows every move that V will make, every counter, every throw and decision throughout the fight. And he cannot lose.

"I had to read my daughter something as a bedtime story. Dr. Seuss wasn't going to cut it."

Dodging the knives was child's play. Rushing forward, the Midnigher uses his staff like a pole vaulter, swinging into the air to attack the terrorist with a flying kick. And because he knew from experience that V would dodge approximately 1.42m to the left, he immediately follows the attack up with a swing of the solid steel staff to the man's midsection. Specifically, his ribs.

Sam Oliver

"I have to find Archer, and capture his spirit to send it to Hell. Or my mother's soul is forfeit." The half-truth leaves Sam's lips reluctantly. For obvious reasons, he couldn't tell the zealot that he was the son of the Devil, his chosen heir on earth, and was a Reaper in the Fallen Angel's service, however unwittingly. Such news would probably put a damper on their relationship.

[Draxx]

Anderson
The priest stares at him. Then nodds.
"Dinnae lie tae me, it's a sin." He admonishes calmly, then shakes his head. "Ye make a deal wit' the devil, then he wins. If ye're willing he doesnae e'en need tae make one, he already owns ye. The best thin' ye can dae is gae to confession an' tell ae priest every'thin."
With that, Anderson continues walking, looking for anything that gives him a hint.

V
It seems I was too slow. As evidenced by his his movements, he was obviously either a choreographer in another life or his computers are working.
His fist hits me in the chest with bonecrunching force. I'd be rather bothered, except it's rather not enough to deal with the steel chestplate I'm wearing beneath my clothes.
I have no doubt he's in a lot of pain. I take advantage of that by sliding both my kives at him, as fast as I can.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

The young man snorts.

"My father and mother made a deal with the devil. I was the collateral in that bargain. The contract they've signed has been looked over by rebellious demons and all manner of creatures. It's airtight. The one time I tried to break free..." He stops talking.

"And if I did confess all my sins, you'd probably eviscerate me on the spot. I'm not a bad person. But I've got far more sin than I deserve."

Midnighter

His damaged computer hadn't predicted that scenario. As his fist bounces off the steel plate, the Midnighter desperately tries to avoid the knife strikes. He succeeds in deflecting one as to run down his left arm, but takes the other to the shoulder. He staggers away, as he waits for his computers to reprocess the information. A split second later, and another thrown baton, from point blank range hits V near his center of gravity, sending him spinning to the floor.

[Cracklord]

Alexander and Sam
By the time you emerge, the mob has moved on. The lights are still off, and power is down.
You hear the revving of a powerful engine behind you.

The Bride and Travis
The woman smiles, flashing white teeth, as though the accusations of incest were somehow amusing, then brings her sword around in a violent arc, inhumanly fast and strong, going for Travis.
“I will not have my family judged by either of you.” She replies, though you don’t believe she actually knows all that much. “No more speaking, unless you want to scream.”
Travis’s beam weapon slices cleanly through her blade, than you stagger back as the shortened weapon goes right through your defences and cuts open the front of your shirt.

Nicomdeus
Carlisle walks out the door, totally unconcerned. It’s galling to be treated like that, an inconvenience not worth crushing, but it seems odd for him to suddenly act in a radically different way from when you last spoke.

Kirby
(Prime has been away for a long time)
You hear subdued voices upstairs, then louder ones, and then the brief sound of a scuffle. There is about to be a fight.

[nanobot_swarm]

"You bitch! This was my favorite shirt! How dare you disgrace Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly!" Travis is going on the offensive now, specifically trying to slice her blade up even more, and cut her shirt apart.

[darkblade]

The Bride

As the woman is busy with her insults and defending against Travis the Bride slides in and makes a move for the woman's legs with katanna beneath the woman's guard.

***

Kirby

Having gotten his rest Kirby makes his way up the stairs and listens at the door.

[Cracklord]

Travis and the Bride
She 's a lot better then either of her children, rolling back out of reach of your blows fluidly. However, she is now on the defensive, and good as she is she is unable to keep up with the two of you at once.
Slowly you begin to land blows, most of them superficial, that frustrate her, making her take risks.
Then, abruptly, she sidesteps a blow of Travis's, moves in close and kisses him firmly on the lips.

Kirby
Carlisle is talking to someone, both voices are smooth an cultured, the sort of voice that would be able to describe genocide without getting emotional.
Carlisle seems bored, and for a while what they are describing goes over your head. While you are familiar with the existence of magic, many of Dreamland's inhabitants having practiced it on occasion, they seem to be talking about something else.
Then the stranger begins threatening, and their are brief sounds of a scuffle.

Jules
As you walk out of the orphanage, you see what appears to be a matt black van, with tinted windows and reinforced plating. Two men are dragging a struggling black sack into it. The light makes it hard to see details, but one seems very big.

Ghost Rider, Midnighter and V
You can cut of power, but it won't matter, people are still going to notice if you blow up city hall. Sirens blaze in the distance, as police rush to investigate. A crowd is forming already. A big, inconvenient crowd.

Sam and Alexander
You are being watched. Your thumbs prickle, and your skin feels to tight. It takes you a moment to realize it. Glancing around, one at a time you spot a huge pair of feral eyes, yellow and glinting with hunger, and catch the faint sound of panting.
You are being stalked by a giant wolf. Something wicked this way comes.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

Nicodemus glares at the vampire's back. Had he truly desired to strike Carlisle down right now, he would have. His prior experience with true power, his direct contact with the Prince of Darkness himself had let him cut off all magical power in a fairly small area for a set period of time. Had he truly desired, he could do it again.

But there would be consequences. A favor owed, and worse, with Lucifer's direct intervention, an archangel of equal power was allowed to act as well. Harry Dresden had been granted the power of Soulfire, the Fires of Creation when he last met. What would making the deal once more give his enemies this time?

So Nicodemus lets Carlisle gloat, let's himself be insulted. Because come winter's end, he would have his vengence. His rope, in addition to his invulnerability, also gave him access to the Curse of Barabbas once every year; a single man condemned to die, a powerful entropy curse that only the highest echelons of wizards and creatures could resist. Carlisle would die slowly once his protection wore off.

Shadow writhing behind him, Nicodemus descends the staircase. There is a ritual to perform.

Sam Oliver

Sam's hands shake. "Um...tell me that's coming for you. It would be really good if that thing was your enemy and not mine. I'm really hoping that it isn't another assassin."

Ever since the knowledge of his heritage was leaked, Sam had been attacked by many squads of rogue demon assassins. While his father had saved him from most of them, it generally wasn't a good idea to have the Devil appear to save his son in front of a priest. The alternative, fighting a giant...wolf...thing, was a bit more on the familiar side.

Midnighter

The Midnighter grins.

"Looks like you've got company, nutjob. You've killed almost everybody in this building; you're a wanted man. And don't think we won't find you. Run, terrorist. Run and don't look back. Because if you ever show your mask again, we'll kill you. My daughter, Jenny Quantum, The Spirit of the Twenty-First Century, will make you suffer. And I'll give her pointers."