Difference between revisions of "Murder 1"

Latest revision as of 16:23, 19 January 2014

Emberstrand, sometime well after midnight, the city is not quiet at all. It should be and to the untrained eye it looks peaceful enough. Fog up off the river curling around roof level. Alley ways shrouded in darkness, hazy light and the odd stray animal. It's a city under dark, under the threat of invasion, a city that is holding its collective breath to wait and see what the next disaster shall be. For the guard though there is still crime and under the hours of darkness when the good folk of the city (those that exist) are sleeping the criminal element take to the streets. From burglars and assassins to more freelance thinkers of equality and Kharma and tonight is no difference as deep in the warren of streets, alleys, towers domes and winding streets of South Hill Animus is on the prowl and his evening has so far been anything but peaceful with the guard close on his heels. They are getting better at tracking him, closing in on his location and causing havoc.

Though the rooftops usually provide the best way to traverse the city at speed and with stealth, the vigilante known as Animus has actually found himself at street level for a change... The shadowy figure slipping through the slum's many dark, cramped alleyways, the gloom surrounding him, almost absorbed into him, melding the edges of his form with the shadows as he makes his way towards the intended meeting with the Esper of Hades even while trying to avoid the authorities snapping at his heels. Only the quiet footsteps on the mud below his feet and the whispering rustle of his coat announcing his presence as he passes through the night, the twin pin pricks of crimson light within the eternal shadows below the wide brim of his hat silently sweeping this way and that, checking his corners, taking note of likely ambush points... The vigilante expecting handcuffs to be waiting for him at every turn...

The golem wanders through the maze of alleyways in pursuit of the shadowy man with the red light of his optic lens lighting the way in front of him very much like a train in a tunnel, much to the surprise of a few strays. The mud below muffles his otherwise loud footsteps, making Buckler as stealthy as he really could ever be, his presence only betrayed by the quiet hiss or grinding of metal plates rolling off of each other, which with the echo of the brick walls might make it hard to detect where he's coming from... Not too far ahead of Animus the bricks on the wall opposite a side alley are lit up with a red spotlight that slowly sweeps back and forth with shadows of garbage cans shrinking as the golem nears the opening, only to fade off as if the construct were heading elsewhere... At least for brief moment until the golem's head appears around the corner of the alley with that lens on his face spinning rapidly as he spots the wanted man standing not far away.

Handcuffs, the vigilante could not be more correct. The scent of Animus has become all too familiar to Ezekial and because of that his commanders have tasked him with bringing in the man. And he's begun to learn his habits as well. Tonight once they had picked up the trail Zeke had sent his new deputy, Buckler, to follow it and had taken to sidestreets, moving faster in an effort to get ahead of him while occasionally giving brief signs to the golem to correct his course, when needed, before he slipped ahead and, upon catching Buckler's head peeking out, stepped out while flashing a focused mage light lantern (flashlight) right where Animus' face should be while holding a set of manacles in his other hand, "we keep playing this game. Give up Animus and come peacefully."

The alley way ends at a dead wall, a tall many storied building, one of the more affluent residences in this part of South Hill. Of course it'd take moments to scale the building but with the two members of the City Guard so close at hand it might be a bit tricky to scale the wall effrotlessly. The meeting point with Lady Silmeria is about two streets away on the other side of that house but for now well Animus is in a corner and its fight or well... surrender really.

Animus, being already fully in fight or flight mode due to having been pursued all night, only pauses ever so briefly as the two guards suddenly round the corner infront of him like that... The combined light from Zeke's lantern and Buckler's eye hitting him, yet seeming to almost bend away around him, as if that obviously supernatural costume of his simply refuses to fully abandon the protective darkness it calls home even in the face of the laws of physics... The man watching them in that split second pause as his mind weighs his options... To escape, only to be pursued once more, or to fight, cause some damage- a cracked rib, a bloody nose, even a shattered eye glass- and make it just that much harder for them to give chase... And his trained mind not taking long at all to decide at that. The man suddenly moving forward at speed then, shoulders bunching up almost like a boxer would, as he runs straight for the lycan and the giant golem... And springing forward to jab right towards the smaller, more fleshy of the two then.

Buckler keeps his focus on Animus as hears Zeke stepping up alongside himself, allowing him the chance to round the corner of the alley in full to block the esper with the dull scrape of bronze grinding against bricks. For that brief moment he feels that the shadoy man will surrender, seeing as how he is trapped, but just like before Animus decides to go on the attack and this time the golem isn't going to waste time with grappling. The golem's elbow joint unlocks with a hiss of hydraulics and he throws his weight into a haymaker to stop Animus before Zeke can be struck, twisting at the waist and snapping forward with bronze knuckles aimed at the esper's face with a proper, yielding crunch like one would expect from a vehicular collision.

There is one benefit to being smaller and more fleshy in nature and that is your more agile. Of course you also get hurt more than merely denting, as occured during the previous fight between these three, a bit of metal. Ezekial quickly side steps the strike and then is given the choice of which hand to free. The one holding the light or the one with the manacles. He decides on the former and tosses the magelight away. This doesn't turn out well as the light hits the brick wall and shatters causing a bright flash that can be seen even a few streets away, but has the problem of blinding Zeke at least, causing the man to let out a sudden curse before he looks towards where he thinks Buckler and Animus are... damn spots.

The Flare of lights from the Mage light flicker upwards, a stream of little sparks that cascade into the air of the dark night sky! The fog swirls around the trio, the two guards and the Esper. They are in close, their attention is on one another and so they do not see the figure on the balcony ahead. For a moment they pause, looking down at the scene below before sliding into the house below which they fight. Several streets away however, at the pre-determined meeting point the night sky, the fog to the south is disturbed by the sudden flare of light for Silmeria it is a signal that not all is quiet in this city.

That metal fist hits with a solid thwack right below that wide brimmed hat, letting the golem feel that there is indeed flesh and bone of somesort beyond that spot of perpetual shadow, as the vigilante is knocked back with a grunt, harshly punched into one of the alley's walls, his back slamming into the bricks hard enough to cause a faint puff of dust to come off them... But even though a punch like that would break the jaw, or even kill a normal man, it doesn't seem the vigilante is done fighting just yet. The man shaking his head groggily, in pain, even as he pushes himself right back off that wall, and this time goes for what he considers the biggest threat. Using his momentum to send a straight kick right towards the golem, launching himself past the blinded lycan.

Buckler finds Animus to be full of surprises! It was a mystery to him if there was in fact anything under that hat, so it is pleasing to see the esper go flying into the wall after the blow lands. Moreso, it is quite a shock that Animus is on his feet so quickly and that lapse in his focus costs him once more as the kick not only connects but sends him stumbling backwards nearly off of his own feet. Branded with a fresh dent on his torso, the golem looks up at Animus with that optic lens spinning much more rapidly as the construct lumbers towards the esper with an arm brought over his shoulder to swing in a hammerfist towards Animus, not swinging his arm to the side so he can avoid hitting his blind partner!

Ezekial doesn't notice the person above though he does notice he's not being hit currently. That's good as it gives him a few more moments to blink the spots away. Though the afterimages still linger he soon finds himself able to at least see and he leans in to attempt to grab onto Animus, seeking to grapple the man long enough to get the manacles on, grunting out as he does, "why don't.. you ... just give in?!"

Fidget... fidget... fidget... Waiting, when one's Purpose cries out to be fulfilled can be a minor torture all its own. Typically placid and calm, now Silmeria shifts from foot to foot at the appointed spot, head craning one way, then another, waiting for her appointed meeting with rapidly diminishing patience. Just as she looks down the lane, the flash of the Guard's lamp is seen, drawing a surprised gasp. The first step she takes toward the light is hesitant, awaiting the insistent tug behind the back of her mind that would tell her this has nothing to do with her, and would in fact take her out of her way... and she looses a soft, startled gasp when the sensation entirely fails to happen. Her pace quickens, and as she approaches the scuffle her skin begins to bleach, hair and eyes darkening to black as charcoal-colored wings unfurl behind her as she puts on the speed toward the altercation. ~(Animus!)~ she calls, the otherworldly echo of her voice laden with the subconscious weight of a disappointed big sister, ~(What are you *doing?* We have no *time* for this!)~ Hurling herself blind into the alleyway, she manages to miss both Guards in her headlong rush to interpose herself, and falters. ~(...Oh. Well.......shit.)~

Well that is an interesting turn of events! The guards seemed to be getting the best of Animus! Must be the fog or the giant golem! Bringing a golem to a fight is after all just plain un fair and cheating! But then Silmeria is there, in all her otherworldy splendour! It is impossible to miss who and what she is as she appears out of the fog shrouded night to sort of wind up between the guards and Animus though not before the esper has had to twist himself out of their valiant and rather magnifiecent well timed two pronged attack!

Animus watches as the Golem comes right back at him, that giant fist rising to swing down and crush his head... And meanwhile spotting the Lycan coming at him as well from the corners of his eyes, taking in both threats simultaneously... And reacting without much thought then. The vigilante spinning right towards Zeke, whipping that long, flowing coat up, whirling it with a swoosh infront of the lunging guardsman to interrupt that attempted handcuffing, even as he shoves himself back at the same time... The metal arm descending right infront of him with a rush of air. The man meanwhile aware of a voice calling out to him, and soon spotting a new figure joining the fray... But his adrenaline filled, combat oriented brain not allowing him to disengage just yet, however splendid the newcomer may be. The man instead springing right back forward, reaching out to attempt and grab the Golem's still extended arm to leverage the giant metal construct.

Buckler feels the muddy ground crumble under his fist as the esper manages to avoid the blow with ease, but when he shifts to lift his arm out of the fresh pothole he finds that Animus as grabbed that arm. The gears inside the golem click and groan with several loud clanks as they skip, sounding not too different from the chain of a rollercoaster as it carries a full train of people, such is the strain put on the limb before the construct looks back up at the esper and brings his head down to give Animus a headbutt.

Ezekial dances back as the swirly cloak swishes before his face and the girl rushes past. He stares for a moment at Animus and then at Silmeria. It does take him a couple moments and then he growls out, giving her a quick once over, "Silmeria! ... Priestess, don't get in the way, he's a criminal and we're taking him in." With Buckler held in the grapple Zeke starts to approach closer with the cuffs still in hand as he looks for an opening to pounce around the golem and cuff the cloaked figure. "These games are getting really old, Animus."

~(No,)~ Silmeria says, voice strained as she slips in between Animus and Buckler, ~(He is *not.* *Trust* me on this... We know our own, when the call comes. But there *is* a criminal out there, and if we don't cease this and *do* something about it, people will *die.*)~ Snatching an ebony-handled scythe from the space between worlds, she slams the butt end to the cobbles, to the sound of a chisel meeting granite. ~(He is a *nuisance* to the Guard, not a criminal. I can, and *will* vouch for him. Whatever it takes to get moving.)~ Impatient, certainly. Peevish, even, a little; whatever is happening must have the Priestess very much on edge, at the moment.

And Silmeria's scythe is impressive, it glitters, it gleams with cold frost in the air and a tendril of fog weaving through the air is sliced in two by it. You can see the edges of the mist part and slide to either side of it at about the same time a voice is raised in terror over head! The scream echoes off the close walls, bouncing this way and that, and then it is joined by a women's voice raised in anguish and horror. It comes from above, that balcony over head and for a moment all the night sounds of the city are ended as that voice tails off into sobs and quiet cries for help and yet the fog seems to hold onto it, to let it linger, that first, deep booming scream, the scream of someone dying.

Animus watches the Golem's big, bronze head start to rear back with the obvious intent to come right back down at his own... Leaving the vigilante with just two options to choose from in that split second of decision making. Disengage right away, jumping back and giving both the Golem and the Lycan the room to move at him again, or do what could be considered the stupid thing, and meet that headbutt head on? ... And the man almost right away deciding on the latter then. His own head snapping up to meet the golem with a resounding CLANG of metal on thick bone, grunting as he puts his full power into the hit... And only then jumping away as he feels the Golem's noggin actually yield against his onslaught. Putting distance between him and the hopefully stunned construct even as his own brain throbs painfully as a result... Yet gritting his teeth, pushing right through it, as he watches Silmeria try and talk some sense into the two guardsmen... And the vigilante finally speaking up himself then, his deep voice echoing inhumanly, sounding almost hollow as he growls, "Come at me more, and I will--" Only to find himself interrupted by the blood curdling scream... His head snapping in the direction of that balcony overhead, crimson eyes flaring up.

Buckler is starting to really wonder what is going on when the dual headbutt ends so poorly for him, as the impact of Animus' head against his own makes the red light of his lens flicker as the inner workings of his head skip a few paces. The golem staggers back a short distance once released, dropping to his knee as the glass of his lens crinkles with a fine spiderweb of cracks, though it doesn't outright shatter quite so easily... It does provide a moment of clarity however, and the construct looks between Zeke and Silmeria with a slowing spin of his eye as he asks, "You would vouch for him?" As Buckler rises back up to his full height he balls his hands up into fists and leers at Animus for a moment, before the sudden sounds from above likewise draw his attention upwards to that balcony.

Ezekial looks at Silmeria, about to respond to her while Buckler and Animus face off against one another and then the scream comes. Still open-mouthed the man looks from her to the balcony he had been ignoring only moments before. The manacles are dropped then and the man rushes for the building, looking for a way up before he lets out a low growl and starts to climb up without another word. It's quickly evident that what he just heard has taken precedence for the guardsman.

Ezekial gets maybe seven feet before he finds a rose thorn, a flinch and a misstep and the guardsman drops half way back down before he can get a grip and just hang for a moment and scramble to grab the vines and start his climb again. ) [Spoofed By: Silvante] ~(It's too late,)~ Silmeria whispers as the scream echoes over the rooftops of the affluent district, the Esper of Death taking hold of Animus' arm. ~(Hurry. *Hurry.* The Guard can only help with this. Only we must hurry, Animus, if we're ever to have a hope of ending this quickly.)~

Lights are starting to come on in the houses to either side of the victim's home. Lights up near the roof flicker into existance too and a child's voice calls out "Mommy! Mommy what is it!" Followed by a scream, foot-steps above.... then another scream, glass smashing.... A piercing whistle begins..... there is a momentary feeling of something rushing closer and then the fog seems to flatten. A great gust of wind hits it and the mist breaks apart, swirling around the house were death just visitied and for a split something something sleek and silver and mechanical flashes on the edge of sight, swerving around the house and missing it...... and a light comes on in the bedroom were death just came.. a sickly, purple light that does not belong.

Animus watches as Ezekial turns to climb up towards that balcony, the man silently glad for the reprieve of being the target himself, even though what lies ahead will likely be much worse to deal with... And looking over at Silmeria then as she urges him on like that, he simply nods, even as one of his gloved, armored hands dip into that combat, and come back out with one of his large revolvers... The weapon aimed up then, at a spot above the balcony, before he simply fires the lower barrel... Quickly launching a grappling hook to imbed itself into the building, and pull himself up by the taut wire so he can land right on the balcony. Planning to unhook that wire from the gun and drop it down to the others once he makes it, even as he finds himself distracted by that strange flash of movement...

Buckler loses his focus on Animus entirely as he moves over to stand beneath the balcony, reaching up with his long arms to grab hold of the structure and haul himself upwards slowly so he doesn't strain the balcony. The screams have his eye spinning despite the damage it has, though it seems to hold up well, using the red light from his lens to peer around inside of the building to try and locate the source of both the screams and that odd violet glow.

Ezekial lets out a low breathed hiss as he stabs his hand and slides back down, getting a few more thorns for his trouble. He starts to climb again only to look over as Animus uses the strange gun to get up and then Buckler just pulls himself up. He lets out a sigh then and continues to climb upwards, steeling himself against the wounds on his hands in an effort to reach the top and that strange light.

Silmeria's wings flutter in the strange wind, her black eyes locking on the house... and a moment later she's swarming up the wire, her heavy boots thudding on the spine of the rooftops the moment she can scrabble to her feet. ~(No, no, no,)~ she mutters under her breath. ~(Not again, please Father, not again...)~

The balcony is a bit crowded with a golem, two esper's, and then eventually, clambering up last the lycan and for a very brief moment a gentleman in a blue suit and nice hat and holding a stop watch is also present. He looks confused, glances at Silmeria and Animus and then seems to fade away. Inside the screaming is resuming and it is clear to see what is occuring. There are two figures over by the door, a young girl clinging to a woman in a night-gown, both of them backing away from the bed into the hallway were servants are trying to grab them and pull them away as the strange entity rising up over the corpse lying in the bed turns towards them. It's hard to see who has died but the figure above the bed is... huge.... a strange spirit, their body glowing a ghostly purple, two spears of dark ebony embedded in their chest... ragged, tattered clothing blowing in a wind none can feel as those intangible hands begin to draw the darkebony blades out of his chest

Animus doesn't wait to see if everyone manages to make their way up in time... The vigilante instead turning to rush straight into the apartment beyond the balcony, his strange gaze first setting on the would-be victims... Before snapping right towards that ghostly entity. Those eyes flaring up again then even as he suddenly slips what seems to be a sword handle from his sleeve, into his hand... No blade visibly present on it, until he flicks it, and suddenly extends a ghostly sword from it, thin and straight edged, glowing and shimmering a faint white. And growling back in that echoing voice towards both Silmeria and the guards as he does so, "Get in here!" Ready to face off against that otherworldly foe.

Buckler leans over the side of the balcony to offer Ezekial a hand up when he notices the lycan's difficulty with the thorny vines, as he tends to forget about those sorts of things. Once Zeke is standing up, the golem offers his partner a nod of his head and turns to offer Silmeria a hand as well, if needed, before turning to follow Animus inside. The spirit standing over those on the bed is quite beyond his experience, but the golem doesn't hesitate to adopt a basic brawling stance with his fists raised up, shifting away from the glowing blade Animus has produced to flank the spirit.

Ezekial rubs his hands on his pants and winces before he looks towards the room. Rushing in after Animus and Buckler he surveys the room and then moves past the male esper and the other guardsman, imposing himself between the thing on the bed and the screaming people near the door. To the servants he shouts out quickly, "get them out of here. GO!" He draws his gun then and aims it at the purple spirit... thing.

Silmeria accepts the offer of aid to get her over the last few feet, black eyes growing wide at the sight of the phantom materializing over the body on the bed. Briefly, she wonders at the fifth person on the balcony, but fresh screams divert her attention back to the threat. Nodding to the Guardsmen as they take up their positions, she unholsters her gun, leveling it at the spectral nightmare. ~(Be at peace, troubled spirit,)~ she says, as much plea as statement. ~(Seek my Father's throne, else we be obliged to cast you there ourselves.)~

The Ghostly presence finish drawing out the ebony blades impaled through its chest, it spins them, holding one in each spectral hand and laughs! It's laugh is no earhty sound, it vibrates the bones and makes the teeth of all present shake as it's voice rolls out across the room. "Chaos..." it whispers in a voice of nails screeching down a black board, raises it's swords in the engarde position and grins madly at those who have assembled to fight this etherial foe!

Animus stands at the ready, feet spread apart, crouched slightly low, that unnatural, shadowy coat slowly flowing and roiling around him on its own, strange volition even as those glowing, crimson eyes sit narrowed within the eternal darkness below his wide-brimmed hat... The vigilante taking a moment to study the monstrosity before him as it extends those blades, judging his ghostly foe, looking for an opening... But not waiting too long then before he simply attempts to force one if needed; the man not one to wait for any enemy to deliver the first strike. Animus suddenly jumping forward then, moving quick, attempting to keep himself fluid, as he brings that strang, ethereal sword of his to bear, slashing right towards the undead creature even as he expects those behind him to back him up.

Animu's dagger slashes out, catching the etherial creature on the arm. It hisses and screams as it is struck and whips it's other arm around to strike back at the esper in retaliation. The blade slices through part of the esper's coat as he moves and dodges, it was close... very close and those blades scream as they slice thorugh the air. A deep, dark unnatural shriek.....

Buckler keeps his fists up as he waits to see what this phantom creature will do, studying it with rapid movements of his eye spinning from one direction to the other. When it decides to raise its blades however, the golem starts to power himself up to speed and he lashes out shortly after Animus does, twisting at the waist and taking a solid step towards the spirit with his right foot, bringing his right fist forward to swing out in a straight hook at the presence's face. The golem takes care to avoid swinging overly wide so he can avoid hitting anyone near him on accident, as well as to keep from bringing down a wall on top of people.

The Golem is fast, his fist slams out into the strange ghostly creature, ducking past it's guard and his heavy metal fist swishes through its body as if it was not there. It's head turns, snapping around and it laughs right in the golem's face as strane energy crackles up the mechanical mans arm and then wreathes his body in a crackling purple field of light. Small bolts of lighting leap from place to place and then the golem is plucked up off the ground and hurled through a wall..... the wall however does not win as Buckler lands in a cloud of dust, rubble and broken furniture in the next room.

Ezekial has his gun aimed at the black figure, but there's a brief moment of pause and the guardsman sends a quick glance instead towards those who've accompanied him. Animus and Buckler are each given brief looks and then as he looks towards Silmeria the man turns his gun on her while one hand lifts and runs down the barrel. While making th emotion he speaks low words and runes start to light up along the blade as the essence of the next 'shot' is changed and then suddenly he fires. What emerges is light that spreads, becoming like a net to surround the esper woman and stops less than a foot out before wrapping around her entirely, creating a protective shield [Protect -> +25% pdef for 4 rounds]. Silmeria pages, "Quick question, regarding Buckler." to you.

~(Very well, then,)~ Silmeria says, sadness touching her voice as the battle begins. Turning briefly as Ezekial rushes her, then shoots her -- with a spell, and a rather helpful one at that -- her surprise turns into a beaming smile and a nod, as motes of pale, softly-shining light gather at the end of her gun. Turning her head back to level her eyes at the cackling specter, she tips up a chin. ~(Find peace, then, in violence.)~ When she squeezes the trigger, the peal of some unseen silver bell can be heard, as a bolt of light streaks toward their enemy. [Ruin Bullet]

The burst of bright manna streaks out toward the ghost and it turns and spins it's swords, catching the manner blast between them. It roars in triumph, a shriek that ascends the scales until the windows explode before it unleases the bolt of charged manner back toward Silmeria. It hits with the expected results.

Animus doesn't pause even as the Golem is hurled away from the ghost like that, right next to the vigilante. The man sadly having no time to check on the poor hunk of bronze just yet, even as he hears the sound of something heavy crashing through a wall behind him... Too busy fighting that ghost himself, and sliding in then to attempt and stick the monstrosity with the long, slender blade of his ethereal sword, hoping a direct stab like that will do some damage... And at the same time hoping the Esper of Hades, and even the two guardsmen, might have something up their sleeve as well.

Animus sword lashes out, aimed at the creature, it's a good thrust but it blocks, it's swords coming down and swatting his sword away so it hits nothing but air. The esper of Kharma then has to dodge out of the way as the ghost tries to return the favour. ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]

Buckler is certainly confused when his punch simply passes right through the spector without even really disturbing it, staring at the ghost as that eye stops whirling with a loud click to focus in on the laughing face. There's no real reaction from the golem as he is grabbed by the invisible force and thrown through a wall across the room, largely as he lacks a means to show expression, but no sound comes from the room for a moment except for a few stubborn pieces of glass falling. A loud thud sounds as his fist comes down to help push himself up to his feet with the red glow from his eye shining through the dust like headlights in the fog, increasing as he steps out through the hole he made in the wall and charges the ghostly figure to attempt and bring his fist down in a hammer strike.

It's a good attack, Buckler's bull rush charge brings it through the ghosts defences but again his fist hammers down and sweeps through the spectral figure as if it was not there. This is unusual to say the least, normally such spectral figures can still be harmed by mundane means and yet Buckler's sterling efforts which would have felled a better man has had no positive effect on the creatre. The purple static once more dances across the golems body, sparkling and fitzing but this time just fades out, something is very seriously wrong here.

Ezekial turns attention to the shot Silmeria fired and then he glances towards Animus as he attempts to strike and then to Buckler as the golem races back in again. In the brief seconds given by their struggle the guardsman rushes in and uses his free hand to wrap around the waist of the corpse with a muttered, "sorry about this," before he tries to pull it away from the confrontation before the body gets too badly mutilated and he looks towards the others as he tries to pull it away, "what /is/ this thing?!"

Ezekial is able to pull the body off the bed with ease, there is a lot of blood, already starting to coagulate covering the chest and stomach of the man. He is middle aged, was quite handsome but the spectre doesn't seem to care one way or the other. ) [Spoofed By: Silvante] You page, "From what you have seen so far. It is the spirit of the dead man. Twisted somehow at the moment of death, filled with immense rage and anger and it is not as has been seen by Buckler's failure to harm it a normal ghost as you might encounter elsewhere. Whatever magic twisted it and flooded it with rage and despair and all that also has granted it some sort of magical protection somehow. It looks like a regular ghost and yet has those strange swords and can't be touched by mundane means. it pulled the swords out of it's chest and as Zeke has moved the coirpse you can see the guy was stabbed twice, in the chest, his heart was essentially severed from the rest of his body with two strikes to either side... the wounds correspond to where the ghost pulled the swords/spear/javelin things from." to Silmeria. You page, "The death is "identical" to the deaths that you were wanting to talk to Animus about but there was no angry Death ghost on the last three murders. This being the fourth." to Silmeria.

Silmeria staggers back, as the shimmering bolt of energy strikes her dead-on in the chest, pausing a moment to shake her head and clear her eyes of the burst of light detonating directly in front of her. Pausing, she frowns, looking from body to ghost, eyebrows drawing down. ~(Animus, Guard Buckler... This spirit is *so* full of rage, and it wields its murder weapons against us. Take them away, and see if that will give it a measure of peace.)~

Animus grunts as he watches the freshly re-emerged Buckler's giant metal fist go right through the ghost even as he just barely ducks below the monstrosity's blade himself, leaving a gash across the crown of that wide-brimmed hat... Only to come back up again, and heeding Silmeria's shouted advice, brings his own sword up in an upward arc aimed at one of the undead's wrists, intending to have that ethereal sword perhaps sever it and take at least one of the cursed weapons out of play.

Animus strike is true, his blade passes into that spectral wrist and the blade whirls out of its grip, spins through the air and then shatters as it strikes the bed sted. The creature screams and lunges at Animus and it is a good lunge, a perfect run you through the heart and spear it in half lunge but thankfully for Animus' heart he is able to deflect that blow with ease, parrying it easily. ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]

Buckler stares at the small crater he's left in the floor at the specter's feet for a moment as he tries to process this information and adapt to the situation with the purple static dancing over his bronze body more or less ignored as he does not go flying this time. That gives him a precious moment to check in on Ezekial to see how his fellow guardsman is doing, making sure that his fellow guard is holding up better than he himself is or at least has some sort of plan. Silmeria's voice gets his attention however and he snaps his head back nearly all the way around to look to her with slow spin of his eye in thought, only to snap his head back into proper placement and reach out for the ghost's blades. Seeing how Animus has removed one such threat, the golem aims to grab hold of and break the remaining weapon before it can be used to strike out at anyone else.

Buckler's grasp is good, but not quite good enough. For a moment he almost has the remaining weapon, his hand is about to close around the haft of the weapon when the spectre twitches it out of the way. It's a good move, deftly whirling the blade in a half circle out from under the golem's palm and over to slide along the topside of his arm to plunge into his bronze body at the shoulder joint. The blade shears through the metal like a hot knife through butter, causing quite some damage. Thankfully he's a golem however and made of bronze and he has two arms and the blade is now stuck in his body. This makes it a lot easier for the bronze guard to reach over, grip that blade in his good hand and squeeze. The blade shatters, collapsing into black dust and little chips of darkness and the Spectre throws its head back and SCREAMS!

Ezekial's head snaps towards Silmaria as he sets the body down and then he flicks a quick glance to Animus and Buckler once more. Another look towards the spectre and then his own gun and then he frowns for a moment before he echo's Silmeria's earlier sentiment, "now that your no longer chained here.." He lifts his blade and white runes start to glimmer down the barrel as he takes aim for the spectre's chest, "go in peace!" The trigger is pulled and a white flash comes as the mana enhanced bullet is fired from the gun. [Ruin Bullet]

The White Bolt of Mana lunges out through the air toward the spectre, it strikes it in the chest, blowing a hole in its strange ectoplasmic body and it screams, turns to face the lycan guard and its face all but melts as it unhinges his jaw... it is not a pleasent visage to be staring at as the writhing white energy of Ezekial's attack slides up through its body and lashes back out of its mouth to strike at the man. The lycan has the good graces to duck so it sails over his head but still this is no regular spirit.

Now that it can be properly hurt, Silmeria raises the arm holding the haft of the ebony-handled scythe against her shoulder. Nodding once, in grim accptance of her task, she hurtles herself forward and past the specter, seeking to catch its torso with the curve of her blade, then cleave it away. ~(Good work... now, all is over but the reaping, friends.)~

The beautiful scythe blade whirls through the air..... it connects with the torso of the spectre and it screams... purple light floods throughout its body and then it explodes... bursting into a thousand little shreds of ectoplasmic darkness and purple that fade away...... leaving the room dark except for the light spilling in from the hall and silent....

Animus is given pause as the ghost suddenly explodes like that before him, his undead slaying blade raised up for a final strike of his own that is left unfinished... The vigilante slowly lowering it then as he looks around, setting his strange gaze on each person backing him up in this... And speaking up in that unnatural, hollow, echoing voice then, "... This was just the start of it, I'm afraid."

The golem's efforts to the destroy the weapon seem lost at first as the blade slips from his grasp, only to travel up his arm and sink into the metal of his body with disturbing ease, showering sparks from the wound left in its wake until it loses momentum and lodges itself in his shoulder. Buckler's eye comes to a dead stop for a brief moment as he realizes this and his other arm comes down to shatter the weapon before it can be removed which probably wouldn't feel great if he were organic. It is also largely beyond him when the ghost spews back the shot from his fellow guard, making the golem look towards Zeke to see if his partner was going to be struck by the returning bullet. Luckily this is not the case however, allowing him the chance to focus on attacking the ghost... only to have it explode in front of him in a swirl of darkness that leaves the room darker in its wake, save for the glow of his eye and the sparks crackling from his shoulder. "Is anyone injured?" he asks, sweeping his gaze over each of the others.

Ezekial lowers the weapon as it expldoes and fades. The man lowers his eyes for a few moments and then he sheaths the blade before walking over to inspect the wounds that Buckler's taken, "you are. We'll have to get you to an engineer I think." Hesitating then he looks towards Silmeria and Animus for a moment before he lifts a hand, "putting Animus' wanted status asside for the moment. Just /what/ was that and what do you mean it's just the start?"

"Only a little," SIlmeria says, rubbing absently at her chest, letting go of the scythe and allowing it to fall back into the space between realms. Glancing at Animus, the winged Esper shakes her head slowly. ~(There have been deaths, Guardsmen. All bearing those same wounds, precisely... but none till now've left behind a shade. Thus... Animus and I find ourselves working along the same path. I, to care for the dead left behind, and he, to carry out his Lord's work and end the threat of the killer. If specters like this are what we will find along the killer's trail...)~ Trailing off, she turns her dark eyes toward animus, a black eyebrow rising. ~(The Guard would do a great deal to aid us, you know. And *they* have a stake in bringing a lawbreaker to justice.)~

Animus takes a moment to 'sheath' his own weapon as calm descends on the room once more, that long, ethereal blade slammed into its dagger sized sheath by some magic... Only for the vigilante to look back up at Silmeria and both guardsman as she Esper of Hades explains the situation, and makes that suggestion... The shadowy man silent for a few moments even as he narrows those glowing, crimson eyes at both Ezekial and Buckler... And answers then, "If they will help, I will not stop them. But I will not go quietly if they insist on continuing their original pursuit, should our mission come to a close." His tone rather matter of fact.

Buckler glances towards Zeke as the man comes over to inspect his wound, to which the golem simply reaches up and bends the paneling to fold over the slash and muffle the sparks. "Only a scratch," he offers down at the lycan with a lingering stare with a slight nod, then turns his attention over towards the Espers with a slow spin of his eye, considering such things with the servos and gears behind that cracked glass lens moving faintly. Ultimately the call is not his to make however, so once more he looks down towards Ezekial curiously to see what his superior has to think of it.

Ezekial snorts at Buckler and he gives a little shake of his head, "scratch.." However his attention is more on both Silmeria and Animus both. He looks quietly at them, considering things before he gives a single nod, "very well.. we will help you. Bringing down a murderer is more important at this point in time." As for if they will continue to pursue Animus when all is over the man doesn't say.

~(Then we must hurry,)~ Silmeria says, charcoal-colored wings fluttering a bit, betraying her distress. ~(The killer grows in strength with each death, and the city isn't small in the least.)~

Animus just nods some at both guardsmen in turn, accepting Ezekial's statement, and not bringing up what happens afterwards anymore either... The man just turning towards Silmeria then, and seeming to consider her a moment, before he asks, "Can you sense any disturbances? Any more deaths that are not right, like this one?" The man motioning at the nearby corpse then that was recently moved by the Lycan, "I don't know what powers Lord Hades has deemed fit to bestow on you, but we need leads."

Buckler nods along with Ezekial's reasoning as he watches the other two for a time, casually glancing down towards the corpse that Animus motions towards. He keeps his thoughts to himself as he makes a study of the man's corpse, offering not a peep or even basic emotion as he does so, turning back towards the others after a time to see what is said.

Ezekial looks to Silmeria when the question is asked of her and then to the corpse. He attempts to put it in a better position before straightening and sighing as he walks to the door. A glance is cast behind him to the discussion, waiting for the answer before he can go and deal with the grieving and upset family.

Silence, for a time, as SIlmeria stares at the corpse, then the air above the bed, pale hands slowly clenching. ~(There are no more deaths, right now... But it's... horrible. *Horrible.* His soul was twisted so terribly, the Doomtrain could not find him. And rather than submit himself to judgment, the shade tore its own essence to shreds.)~ Her wings flap once, setting back crooken, and she draws in a dep breath. ~(Guardsmen. Speak to the wife, ask her what happened. If any would be able to describe the crime, it would be she.)~

So their first battle is at an end, an enigma uncovered, a death, a soul now destroyed beyond any hope of redemption and darkness in the night.... to proceed many questions must be answered and those answers lie within the mind of a freshly minted widow.

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