RPGWW

by **Endesu** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:37 pm

(-15 HP to Merc)

Kelne managed to catch the Merc head-on, successfully driving his blade directly into the heart of his opponent. His opponent immediately responded with an anguished scream, and seemed to fall to his knees... however, after only a few moments, his head lifted towards Kelne.

"Now, now, boy." The mercenary said, as blood was apparently liberally dribbling from his mouth. "You think that's gonna stop me? Hurts 'n all, but 's definitely not gonna kill me."

And with that, the merc took advantage of the blade still in his back by making a charge towards Kelne, who was still holding it. This had decisively left the former tyrant somewhat undefended.

(-20 HP to Kelne.
31/128 HP remaining.)

The gunman let out another shower of bullets. A few appeared to impact Kelne's merc friend, but seemed to have relatively little effect on him at this point. This time around, at least, none struck Kelne dead-on.

***

Jikuro fell asleep fast, leaving Greg to his own devices.

Some time would pass, and all would be relatively quiet. There were noises coming from other parts of the inn around them; quite natural considering it was a busy spot. However, the boarding up Jikuro had performed did help to dull out some of the noise.

As Greg would sit, contemplating, he would become increasingly aware of another presence within the room. It wasn't at all like the assassin's... something different, though not altogether better.

A further search would reveal what appeared to be a black, shadowy shape of a man standing near the door. It appeared to be holding a cigarette between two of its fingers, and the fine smoke trail drifting overhead said shape gave evidence to the thought that it had been, in fact, smoking.

"Gregory, I presume?" The voice was immediate, calm, and collected. Yet, for some reason, it would immediately strike Greg as... odd.

by **Idran1701** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:56 pm

Keeping hold of his sword, he slowly stands, watching the figure, more than a little put off by its appearance.

"Well, tha' depends on who's askin'. Tha', an' if there's any reason I shou'n't jus' slice y' ri' now."

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:16 am

The shadow remained in its position for a moment before standing and calmly walking towards Greg, stopping just a few short feet away from him.

Closer observation would reveal that this was, in fact, a man, dressed in a black suit and tux, of sorts. The pants and shoes matched in a rather stylish fashion. His skin tone, something of a darker tone, somehow managed to illuminate the darkness seemingly put off by his choice of attire. His eyes, however... they were red. Noting this would also, likely, disturb Greg a tad.

"You could try, but I wouldn't suggest it. I'm not here to fight you." He placed the cigarette to his lips, puffing it a bit, before drawing it back out and blowing the smoke into the air in an orderly, swift motion. "I tend to manage death after the fact, as opposed to facilitating it. Do you follow?" He put on something of a small smile as he said these last few words, before taking yet another puff.

"... oh, and you can drop the accent. I don't know about anyone else you know, but it certainly isn't fooling me."

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 0:16

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:29 am

Looking a bit nervous, he still keeps his sword down. He throws a glance over to Jikuro briefly before replying to the strange sort.

"...Well, what...what do you want here? And what do you mean 'after the'......wait, you're some sort of...spirit?"

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:35 am

The man set his cigarette down, looking at Greg with that same smile. "Calm down, now. Obviously my hint didn't register well enough, so I'll specify. I'm a reaper. My job is to take care of those already dead, not to create more of them. I'm not in league with the assassin pursuing the two of you, so you have no need to worry on that front.

In fact, I'm technically out of my jurisdiction here; these are the roaming grounds of other reapers. But given I'm not on the job at the moment..."

"But, yes, down to business. We need to talk, about you, about her, and about what you've gotten yourself entangled in. I'm sure you understand that the girl pursuing you wants to kill you. What I'm not sure you understand is what you've managed to interfere with."

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:42 am

"...Wha' I've..."

Looking a bit astounded by the revelation of this shadowy sort, he blinks, almost not realizing he just about slipped back into his nowadays-more-normal way of speaking.

"...What I've managed to interfere with? What I'm interfering with is some sort of murder plot sweeping over Doma. I'd think...if you're really a reaper, that is...that your lot would be happy I'm lightening the load for you a bit."

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:49 am

"That's hardly the point, and the 'murder plot' has claimed two or three people at most. Simple stuff for the reapers in charge around here, so I'd hardly worry about them.

No... it involves a much bigger picture than what you're seeing, here. It involves the history of the people you saw in that picture. It involves the history of what is driving your pursuer. It involves something much bigger than what you're used to.

Let me put it this way: by taking this job, you may have indirectly complicated the plot even further." The man took another puff, still as unnervingly calm as ever.

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:56 am

He continues glancing around, looking for a way around/out/past the current situation out of habit, despite how stripped the room is. Growing annoyed both by his lack of options and by the vagueness of the shadowed fellow before him, he replies.

"...Complicated what plot? If this is so important, if it's so horrible that I took this job, then why don't you just spell out for me what's going on? Because right now, all I see happening is someone threatening our lives along with whoever else now, and that's all I'm focused on."

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:06 am

"Sorry, there's a bit more to it, but the full reality of it all is a bit past what you can comprehend.

I'll see what I can do, though."

He took a long drag on the cigarette for a moment, allowing his eyes to focus on nothing. He seemed to be thinking about what to say... for a moment or two, before he turned to Greg and began to speak once more.

"What you've involved yourself in is, at its core, a murder plot. You may not fully understand the extensions and machinations of it, but you know that there has been and still is intent to inflict wrongful death on innocents. You aren't entirely ignorant."

His eyes seemed to bore into Greg's as he continued. "However, the fact that you've entered the fray has upset plans set into motion by... unseen parties, each on an opposite side of the coin. It was not intentional on your part, I understand, but by taking that job and battling with that woman, you may ultimately end up causing more deaths than preventing them."

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:13 am

He continues to listen to the reaper, glancing around at first, until the final sentence, when all his attention is focused on him, as the color starts to drain from his face.

"...What? I...you're joking, aren't you? This is...this is part of some...some sort of gag."

Stepping back, he not-so-carefully takes a seat, the chair squeaking a little as it slides, Greg wincing at the sudden noise.

"...Right?"

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:17 am

Jikuro shifted slightly in her sleep, but remained in a state of rest.

"No. I'm not here to kid with you, Mr. Campbell. I'm here to inform you that you were not supposed to come here today. You were not supposed to take the job. You were not supposed to get into a fight with that assassin. In short, you were expected to be elsewhere. The fact that you were in all of the wrong places at all of the wrong times brings on a further suspicion..."

A further drag. "You've been used. Not to say that something is directly possessing your form, but the fact that you've gone through these motions suggests a more subtle influence. Something beyond your grasp."

He walked over to Greg, and placed a hand on his shoulder. The hand, quite naturally, was deathly cold. "I am here to help you sever your ties. The consequences of your interaction will be disastrous, regardless of what you do from here on out... but we can attempt to minimize the impact."

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:25 am

"...Sever my ties? How? They've already seen us...if you just wipe their memory, won't that make them...more suspicious? Make them do...whatever they're trying to do even more thoroughly?"

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:29 am

"No, I am here to sever your ties by separating you from this woman. The damage was done the moment you two met. Her death was apparently set to occur today... and by your interference, her life was extended beyond its original ending point. She may live, but others will die.

However, if you leave her to her devices and allow her death to occur, as it was intended to occur, there may yet be a chance to reverse some of the damage that is to come."

His hand tightened slightly on Greg's shoulder. "I cannot force your decision; I am merely here, perhaps speaking for those involved in this conflict, as an attempt to bring balance to the situation. Assist me and balance may be restored, and more ideal consequences may play out."

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:33 am

He shudders some at the reaper's touch, but doesn't move to shrug it off or the like, though he looks to be avoiding eye contact with him for now.

"...I...she actually trusts me now, you know. At least, I think she does. She'd have to, sleeping while I'm standing watch. I didn't...I didn't trick her into trusting me, or even trick her into making her think she already did. Not that there was time for that, barely talked to her before both our lives were at risk. Not exactly appropriate after something like that, heh."

Sheathing his sword, he glances over to her as he continues.

"I can't...you're asking me to betray her like this after that?"

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:43 am

Above all else, Kelne hated people who didn't know when they were supposed to be dead.

That his opponent had managed to get in close and remove his sword from play was extremely vexing, but it left said merc with very little room to maneouvre. Hence, the merc would abruptly find a pistol pressed under his chin, followed by both remaining barrels being unloaded into his brain.

Kelne didn't stop there, wrenching his sword free and bringing it around in a high arc to sever the merc's head. Even assuming this course of action worked, he'd be watching for signs of life afterwards and dealing with them accordingly.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:47 am

As if in response, the reaper relaxed his grip on Greg's shoulder.

"She likely needed someone to trust. If you couldn't tell from some of her monologue, she's been having issues... and apparently few people to communicate them to. You could say she almost latched onto the first presumably trustworthy person that came her way. You did what came naturally, you could say... but you also filled an apparent hole in her life."

He paused, looking to the resting Jikuro. "Betrayal is a harsh word, but it is essentially what is required here. You must understand that I am here, in a sense, for the benefit of a balance that involves both... the company in play as well as the people on this world that they are involved with. You may not fully understand it in this setting, but allowing her to continue in this state will ultimately prove the worst for all parties involved. I know you cannot see this for yourself; you can only judge for yourself from what I have informed you of."

***

Kelne's attack was both vicious and precise. The bullets hit the mark and, in fact, made enough of an impact to drill through the skull and out the back, causing a fair bit of surrounding spillage.

As if that wasn't enough, his blade made short work of the neck, separating the head from the shoulders; said head came to rest on the ground, still bearing what appeared to Kelne to be a look of idiotic befuddlement.

The rest of the body came to fall on its knees, before collapsing entirely.

He had apparently made short work of the merc.

However, he had apparently left himself open to a gunman above, who appeared to have paused in firing openly... there seemed to come something of a silence. Kelne could grasp at the possibility that the unseen gunman above was attempting to guess at what had just occurred below. There was still some lingering smoke and bits of flames, though certainly not as much as before.

The factor of his appearance came into play, as well. The somewhat obscured battle between two apparent twins may as well have led the gunman to believe that Kelne had been the proper merc, due to his apparently overpowering the other.

This was a delay.

This was an opportunity.

Now he had to take advantage of it. His vision was still limited, so he couldn't make full use of that just yet. A quick check would reveal that the barrier was still there... as was the spot that he had been hacking at earlier. Further pressure could break the weak spot, but it would obviously leave him open.

There were a number of trees in the clearing; four or five, by his count. However, it should be noted that each of the trees still bore a good amount of leaves; hence the gunman would be easily concealed. A tree could be used in a defensive ploy, but he would have to watch, somehow, that he did not enter the gunman's deadly range.

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 3:11

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:48 am

Priority number one. Fix the disguise. Drop the sword, since you can't be sure whether he's able to see it, and as the lunatic you don't have any attachment to it. Add a bit of red ruin to the throat, since you want to justify not being able to talk. Needs something more. Oh, yes. This'll be good.

Kelne bent down next to the corpse and picked up the head, extending the field of the illusion to encompass it, giving it the illusion of his own mangled, and quite dead head. It was, after all, more or less what would have happened to him. Any severed body parts would regain their normal appearance.

You know he's somewhere in front of you; he shot our mutual friend in the back. So lift the head up in triumph, smile that manic smile, and...

Take the opportunity to down a potion, as it happened. Keeping care not to let the bottle be too visible. No way of knowing what their equivalent of a potion looked like. With a bit of luck, the loon might have a habit of swigging from a hip flask. Probably too much to hope for.

And above all else, be ready to dive for cover when it all goes horribly wrong.

Edited by: [url=http://p068.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=kelne>Kelne</A] 

at: 12/17/06 3:49

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:51 am

"...how...how horrible will it get?"

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:55 am

All appeared to be going well. The gunman, whereever he was, did not appear to be opening fire. Perhaps he was convinced by Kelne's show.

And Kelne was on the brink of healing; he had already imbibed a portion of a potion at hand, and could already feel some healing effects recovering his rather painfully-injured body.

(+10 HP - 41/128 HP...)

This was all until the head, still in Kelne's grasp, proceeded to laugh in a... fairly insane manner. "Nice ploy, son, but like I said, it's gonna take more than that to kill me! 'pparently you don't even unnerstand what I really am!"

The gunman, apparently somewhat startled by this series of events, proceeded to let loose another barrage of gunfire. Most of it struck the ground, but one managed to find its way into Kelne's shoulder, rather painfully.

(-8 HP. Down to 33 HP)

***

The reaper seemed to pause, as if considering. "I am loathe to say. There is the odd chance that some of these deaths may not come to pass... and I do not wish to entirely hold my word to an eventuality which may not be so. However, rest assured that the lives of people you do not even know will be shaken, simply by her own life still remaining on the mortal coil."

He shook his wrist and glanced at a watch that had not been there before. "I have other places to be, so begin finalizing your decision. Remember: the balance is at stake. Do you care more for the balance of lives in the long run... or for the life of this one woman and whatever limited to no effect she may have on the ongoing 'murder plot'?"

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 4:06

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:13 am

The head was treated to some rather vehement swearing as Kelne ducked behind a tree to finish off the potion. He did, however, keep a good grip on it. At the very least, he'd roughly triangulated the sniper's position.

"What you are," he said as he fished out the other potion, "Is too stupid to know when to play dead. Not that I intended to take any chances in any case."

Down with potion number two, and time to assess an escape route. Not to mention devise a suitable distraction to carry it out. Maybe he should invest in some sort of teleporter or something. It was certainly worth considering. Assuming, of course, that he got out of this alive.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:21 am

It was as Kelne ducked behind a tree that he would catch a glimpse of the formerly fallen body rising again, axe in hand, and begin a somewhat blind, yet still determined search, for his former quarry.

The head laughed. "Son, d'ya think it'd be as simple as stabbin' me in the heart? Blowin' my brains out? Y'can't kill me, and at this rate, y'won't be escapin' this lil' hellhole you're set up in. Yer gonna die, one way or another."

(Two potions - generous +40 HP to Kelne.
73/128 HP remaining.)

Kelne was certainly feeling better, now. He could do with a bit more healing, but he would no longer feel as if he needed to collapse. His eyes, too, were finally returning to normal; the effect of the flashbangs was wearing off.

On the other hand, the smoke and fire was also clearing out of the general area - the gunman would have a clean shot at Kelne if the former tyrant so much as unnecessarily exposed himself.

Now, all he had to deal with was a lumbering body searching a relatively limited area for him as well as an unseen sniper who desired to blow his brains out. This in addition to the loudmouthed dismembered head shouting death threats at him. This would take a bit of thought.

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:51 am

He looks to her once more, looking increasingly emotionally exhausted as the conversation continues.

"I...I can't decide yet. How long do we have?"

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:55 am

"I'll give you ten minutes, and no longer." The reaper pronounced. "I have places to be, and you have your own branching series of events to deal with, soon enough. So do make up your mind."

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:04 am

"..."

The minutes tick by, but eventually, before time is up, he lightly shakes his head.

"I...I know it might lead to some awful things happening, but I...I just can't do it to her. I'm sorry."

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:13 am

The reaper nodded. "Very well... you have made your decision, and the less ideal of all possible situations will likely play out. This is not to say there is no escape from a darker future... there is always the possibility to avoid such... but there lies forward a distinct possibility."

He turned away from Greg, his hands falling to his sides. His cigarette had somehow magically teleported itself to his lips, and he appeared to be puffing on it steadily. "Heed my words, Mr. Campbell, and see if you can change what is due to come with this woman. Perhaps you can change both of your eventual futures for the better, in light of the dark times to come. Perhaps not."

He took a few steps towards the door, before pausing and turning back. "Regardless, I'll be dealing with business matters for a time, so I'll leave you two to your affairs. I will be keeping an eye on the situation, rest assured."

Without a word, the reaper seemed to step out of the room without lifting a finger to unboard the door out.

Leaving Greg alone, once again. With the apparent doom to all peoples laying on the bed, unharmed, completely unaware of what has transpired.

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 5:14

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:23 am

"Well, it's clear that one of us doesn't know who they're dealing with. My money's still on you."

Truth be told, his box of tricks was running a little low by this point. But he still had one halfway decent one left. Kelne timed his moment for when the headless body was a decent distance from his sword.

Then he acted. Directing a piercing psychic shriek at the gunman, he broke cover, scooping his sword up as he went and making a beeline for the weak spot in the barrier.

The shriek came from an old memory - the hideous cry of a massive squidlike creature once worshipped as a god as it sank beneath the waves, perhaps to die. That ought to buy him a little time as the man tried to recover from having that noise jammed directly into his brainpan.

Kelne hit the barrier at full speed, sword extended in front of him, dispelling energies permeating it once more. He didn't like to think of the consequences should he fail to cut through it this time.

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:31 am

Greg watches the door as the reaper vanishes. Once left alone, he starts to shudder a little at first, hunched over as he thinks about what he's just done. He knows that given the same decision 100 times, he'd make the same choice 100 times, but it doesn't seem to be heartening him any. He already knows the thought of this will haunt him for some time, but he couldn't do anything else.

He doesn't know if Jikuro would ever understand...but it's not something he could tell her, obviously. For now, there's nothing he can do but sit and wait, let the hours pass by, and try to keep himself together; wouldn't do to break down while he's guarding after all.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:33 am

Kelne's plans seemed to be working a little bit too well - the noise threw the gunman off long enough to apparently halt his firing, at least for the moment. His charge at the weak spot also yielded results - he managed to break through with a sufficient amount of force, though smashing through the barrier into freedom, dispelling magics or no, brought on a brief aftershock of residual damage.

(-5 HP to Kelne.
68/128 HP remaining.)

"Nah, son, yer impressive an' all, but y'still dunno... see..." The head spoke as Kelne broeke free... and it was at this same point that the head phased out of existence, and so too, it could be presumed, did the body.

And it was at this point that Kelne could hear a voice emnating from his hand. "There's more'n one side to a talented merc!" Closer inspection would reveal that the point at which the head had been held had left behind something of a bizarre black stain. And it was almost immediately that this very patch of skin began to bleed and burn.

(-5 HP to Kelne for basic damage; bleeding damage sets in soon.
63/128 HP remaining.)

As he was out of the barrier and away from the gunman, he would possibly have a chance to patch this up...

***

Time would seem to pass very, very slowly for Greg.

It was only after an extensive lag in time that Jikuro stirred and awoke, apparently by her own will. "Mrm. Thought you'd wake me up sooner, felt like I've been asleep for..."

She suddenly sat up and looked towards Greg, a worried expression on her face. "Wait... what's the matter with you? You look as if you've just sat through something terrible... did she show her ugly face in here? Did you somehow find out about another innocent victim? Tell me, please!"

Her concern was genuine enough for Greg to infer that she most certainly did not know of what had happened. What would he say?

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 5:40

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:54 am

"...What? Oh...no, it's..."

Concentrating, he tries to force these thoughts out of his head. This isn't something to burden her with, she shouldn't have to deal with it.

IM: Nothing I haven't done before...just weave some sort of story...

"...Just been thinking is all. Everything that's happened...hard not to think about it."

He forces a smile as he continues, though trying to keep it from looking forced as much as possible.

"Well, if you're up, I'll head off...to sleep, that is."

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:58 am

"Oh... well, all right. Just making sure you're all right." She stood and brushed herself off a bit, waving a hand towards the bed. "With a look like that, you'll probably need the rest more than I do at this point. Don't worry, I can rather effectively keep watch, too."

She smiled as she lifted a previously unseen rifle of some sort from her pack, adjusting and cocking it before taking a relaxed stance against the wall closest to the door. "I'll be sure to rouse you in a few hours. Try to make your sleep restful, all right?"

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:08 am

Forcing out a chuckle, he nods, leaving his sword belt on the bedpost and slipping his shoes off.

"I'll see you in the morning, Jikuro."

And he lies down and tries to drift off, not anxious for what dreams he may have.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:15 am

And so he falls asleep, as well.

And his fears prove to have weight, as there is something waiting for him in the dream that he enters.

It appears to be... Doma, as he had left it previously. The time appears to be roughly midday, and his position appears to be not far from the original crime scene, somewhere in the midst of the market.

The only difference being that the streets... sidewalks... shops... everything visible around him... is completely desolate.

Empty.

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:53 am

In the dream world, Greg looks around, definitely worried. He begins searching, wandering around the environs and trying to find anyone that might be here, hand going towards the sword that he suspects isn't there in this world.

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:26 am

First priority was to get the carpet out and use it to put some serious distance between himself and the site of the ambush. This was an awkward procedure with one hands blackened and cracked, but he managed it nonetheless.

Next, he examined the hand, checking for any lingering astral residue to give him an indication of just what kind of thing he was up against this time. And also to make damned sure that it hadn't left any malevolent gifts. The last thing he needed was the damned thing possessing his hand, or some disease spreading gradually through his body.

Almost of its own accord, his right hand checked his pocket for the soul gem. He'd damned well had enough of unwanted guests moving into his body. Never again.

Only after this was done did he set about bandaging up the hand.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:45 am

His sword was still there.

However, Greg would quickly notice that it was covered in blood.

A prolonged search of the environments would ultimately lead nowhere; to his knowledge, there seemed to be no one at all.

His search would eventually lead him to the Ivory Horn, and it was here that he would notice something was... off. There was a smell present in the air, a smell he may recognize as the stench of death.

Although he couldn't be certain, the stench appeared to be coming from somewhere near the counter where the innkeeper had taken his money...

***

As it turned out, the spot of the stain had managed to break through his flesh without his notice, and was already spreading a particular strain of what Kelne may recognise as the undead blight. Lovely stuff. Whether this meant the merc was actually undead or simply had such a device prepared in case an opponent lopped his head off was ultimately up to debate.

Now wasn't the time to think about such matters, though, with said undead blight slowly beginning to consume his hand from that very point of painful, bleeding blackness. Bandaging the wound halted the bleeding, but did not stop the blight, which had its own form of damage to inflict upon Kelne. While, at least, not a retread of the Creature from before, it would have to be dealt with in a manner that did not involve the Soul Gem.

Unless, of course, Kelne preferred to allow his body to rot slowly and painfully.

It was as Kelne was taking advantage of his spot that he would notice a figure looking surprisingly like Astrynax leaning against a tree not far from his position. There was nothing to suggest that the figure had seen him as of yet, as it did not move...

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:48 pm

Right at this moment, Kelne wasn't inclined to believe in coincidence. Finding Astrynax lurking conveniently in the woods so soon after something like this? Hell, no.

The sensible thing to do was to continue on his way without a confrontation. But Kelne wasn't feeling particularly sensible just now. He remained standing on the carpet, opting to draw and ready his sword, rather than a gun, and finally made contact telepathically.

"Good afternoon." A simple phrase, laden with annoyance and sarcasm. There had better, that tone convyed, be a damned good reason why this person was bothering him.

And if it turned out to be Astrynax? Well, hopefully there'd actually be a good reason.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:24 pm

The figure looked up and stared at Kelne for a moment. And from Kelne's perspective, it did indeed appear to be the old MCF himself. The same cloak, same half-moon design, same bitter face within the hood.

However, he did not telepathically respond. Nor did he respond in speech.

No, he simply turned away from Kelne and resumed his former business of standing there.

by **Idran1701** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:22 pm

Stepping forward lightly, worried about what his blood-covered sword implies, Greg is quite a bit on edge from this entire situation. What the reaper said...is this what he meant? Is this dream some sort of warning?

He moves to investigate behind the counter, though he's already a bit certain of what he'll find.

by **Kelne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:43 pm

"Okay, fine. I'm probably happier not knowing anyway. Have fun with the brooding."

With that, Kelne resumed his journey back to the city.

by **Endesu** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:50 pm

It was at this point that all of the color seemed to drain out of Greg's world. Everything was reduced to simple shades of black and white... he was the only exception to his rule. Him, and his blade. The blood on the blade appeared to be ever more vibrant than before, potentially due to the surrounding lack of color.

As he approaches to investigate the counter, he finds something rather interesting.

A darkly stained, veiny, pulsating blob of flesh set where the innkeeper once stood. With each pulse, an increasing amount of an unknown fluid was secreted onto the surrounding floor. It was apparently from here that some of the smell derived... but further smells appeared to be emnating from his room.

Somehow, perhaps by the nature of dreams, he came to understand that the blood on his sword was connected to what awaited him within Room 101.

***

The apparent Astrynax would watch as Kelne flew off, before turning to a previously unseen figure. "Just who was that, and why did he go out of his way to bother me?"

"One of his friends. He's on his way now to warn him."

"... are you serious?! That little shit!"

"Indeed. However, if you move now, you should be able to catch up with him. If you can successfully halt his forward progression for any amount of time, you'll be assisting us in our effort to bring the pest down. I'm sure you are still interested in this initiative, are you not?"

'Astrynax' paused, before nodding firmly.

"Then go."

Kelne's progression had been uninterrupted; his flight into Doma had gone unperturbed by the likes of the mercs he had just faced. However, he would slowly become aware of a flying pursuer on his tail. Visual inspection would indicate that the formerly brooding Astrynax had decided to tail him, for one reason or another.

Edited by: Crawling Reshiki at: 12/17/06 21:50

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