Murder 1
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!
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