Marduke vs Benjamin
From SCross
Forgive me I don't have the very beginning, but only a couple of poses were really lost. Enjoy reading, awsome scene by everybody there. (Lothar)
Benjamin feels uneasy, a soft pseudo-growl rising up in his throat. A twitch of a muscle around his eye and he forces himself to look toward the source of uneasiness. The metallic hand at his left curls, wanting to strike.
Sion 's eyebrows arch up, and he then gives a silent chuckle. He taps his throat and shakes his head, before motioning his hand up and down along the man. That done, he takes a step closer, and bows once more, sending a small 'knock' to the man's head, while at the same time flicks out with his hands, "*flip palm* *Indicate other* *rotate* *pause**pause* *indicate*, *flip palm* *indicate* *gesture* *rotate* *indicate*... *rotate* *indicate* *gesture* *point* *point* *point* *rotate* *point*. *Indicate other* *flip palm* *indicate* *points self* *rotate* *pause* *gesture* *points self*, *pause* *points self* *pause* *indicate* . *point**indicate*.[Lingo]"
Cassie grabs Temple by the waist and picks him up to place him on her shoudlers, behind her head, much like a kid, if he were long enough. "Uh..huh..and cleaning the mess off of my shoes off of what was left of you, is motivation enough." She looks up again, towards the figure..and looks fairly disgusted..her face twisting one way, much like what a washing machine might do to a wet towel.
Marduke raises his one eyebrow at that. Then just nods to Sion, "Understood." glancing to Cassie and offering a half smile at that, "Is something the matter since we last meet each other Cassie? My my, it seems you have gotten iresome towards me? Perhaps there is a reason why?" A faint amused chuckle, which the pitch in his voice is easily mistaken for mocking. Looking to Benjamin last he just offers a smile, "Is there something I can do for you oh all mighty noble one?" Was that a snerk?
Temple rests his arms on Cassie's head and rests his chin on them. He blinks as he sees the half-skeletal figure and frowns considerably and then he leans up and listens a bit more intently.
Looking away, Benjamin goes silent, trying to calm the inner demon once more. He takes several calming breaths, trying to ease the uneasiness feeling. His stomach gurgles, causing Benjamin to grip at his stomach with the clawed hand. "Not ... now," he whispers hoarsely.
Sion turns away from the man as Ben's stomach gurgles and he can hear the creak of the metal arm. Frowning, he approaches the Alair, and snorts, reaching down to try and straighten him up, and attempting to guide him back towards his home.
Cassie blinks...when she recognizes him after a minute. "Oh..y-yeah. Sorry, I almost mistook you for someone else. Erm...what're you doing down here..?" She looks up towards Temple, and pokes him in the side of the head. "Watch the ears while you are up there, okay?"
Temple looks at Cassie, "Hey cut me a bit of a break, it's the first time I've been a mini me. Thanks though, gives me the best seat in the house."
Marduke humpfs at that towards Benjamin, "Weak, time waits for no man nor do inner demons." Shakes his head slowly and with a dry chuckle steps towards Benjamin. Peering at him considering and offers quietly, "Though I am now curious, I have not seen this before, what demons haunts you hmm?" A faint smile going towards Cassie, "That is well and all. I belive we have a way worked out to restore your friends lost hand as well."
Everything feels fuzzy to Benjamin as he feels every little pulse of his heart, the beats seeming to reverberate in his ears and causes him to waver on his feet. Biting his lower lip, sharpened canines piercing it as he bites down hard, Benjamin tries to get himself under control. "It's nothing," he mutters, suddenly glad for the mantle hiding the lower half of his face just below his nose. Blood trickles down his chin from his bitten lip. "Nothing you'd understand," he whispers hoarsely as wave after wave of uneasiness washes over him.
Sion looks up sharply at Marduke, and puts out a hand to forestall him getting closer. Reaching up he grips his blade, one finger hooking the peace-bonding, before he reaches down and wraps an arm around Benjamin, trying to haul the young noble up, and turning him eastwards towards the home. He does not let the younger man have a chance to do more than struggle as he moves-drags him back towards his home. Sion offers to carry Benjamin with him.
Temple watches Benjamin more than the half-dead from his perch. He watches keenly with only a glance to the half-dead and then back to Benjamin.
Marduke humpfs to Benjamin, stopping near him, "Child, I have been around for a very long time." Eyes narrowing down on the man as he considers. A glance going to Sion as he chuckles softly, "Oh that will not be necissary. I have no intention of harming him. Not like he could really challange me anyways." Turning his back at that his claok billowing out as he glances over to Cassie, "I came, out of curiosity. Seems much is changing in this place."
Cassie listens to the little man for a moment logner. "Well you know what? I didn't shampoo my hair so I could get you stuck in it." She turns back down towards Marduke. "Well that's nice for her..but..err..about earlier. Sorry, you are sort of...a..erm..Have you ever seen an airship crash and despite it's gruesomeness, you watch..?"
Temple smiles and pets one of Cassie's ears in a friendly manner in thanks while he listens and watches the man and then Benjamin and then the ma..well half-dead again.
The amber flecks in Benjamin's eyes begin to glow brightly as he's dismissed so readily. The left hand twitches again before he growls low in his throat. "Let me go, Wutaiin." The sound has a grating quality, one of a pissed off lobo. It seems he's rather done trying to get his temper under control now that this half-skeletal man has mocked him. His own heartbeat echoes slowly in his ears, making everything seem fuzzy at the edges of his vision.
Sion yanks the peacebinding free, his jaw setting as his eyes show he knows exactly what he does. The blade is drawn free, and he swings it gently up and under to a ready position, pointing a scant inch or so from Benjamin's throat. Those flinty eyes narrow, and he sends to the being emerging, ((Go back into your safe little home, demon... I warned you before... you are not so powerful that I cannot destroy you. That which saves you is your weakness.))
Marduke watches Cassie for a moment before answering her, "I have walked battle fields of the fallen, picking my way through rotting bodies, to seeing nations fall. There is a poetic truth in such scenes that is lost to those who never watch or live them." Yet his attention is caught, glancing back to Benjamin standing a bit more on edge, "So the demon decides it wants to come out?" Raising his eyebrows to Sion, "You would be wise to stand back, this thing that wants to come out while weak in reality, is still strong enough to kill many here."
Cassie looks over towards Sion and...Ben? She looks at them both oddly, coming down the stairs. "Okay, okay guys, I don't know what's going on, but break it up. I've been in one fight today, I'd rather not have to deal with another."
Temple shift and then grasps the tabard and slides down the back of it and hits the ground. "Not going to be that close." he remarks as he turns and moves back towards the steps and then hops up onto the third one before he turns around.
Seething anger boils up in Benjamin, just having had enough of playing peaceful and keeping himself out of harm's way. The man watches Marduke, the color of his eyes slowly sliding to a brilliant glowing amber. At the same time, his pale skin starts to move toward transluscent and gray, cold as a corpse. His eyes look to the sword pointed at his throat as red and black bat wings burst from the man's back, the bottom edges as ragged as his coat. "Don't ... mock ... me," Benjamin manages in a low, growling voice. The inner demon and Benjamin struggle for who is to get control of the Alair's body.
Sion looks to Cassie, and then points towards the church, making a sweeping gesture of the area around. Not chancing things, moves back and drops into a fighting stance, steeling his mind, ((He is not mocking you. Go back, demon. I will strike. You know what I am capable of. For his sake, you have this one last chance.)) For the warrior-trained, his shift in stance, and the loosening of the grip on his blade, shifting it in his hands in readying for a slashing blow.
Marduke watches Benjamin patiently. Then a hint of recognition appears in his eyes, "Chaos? Don't mock you?" Shaking his head and letting out a rueful laugh, "I have laughed at you all my life." Reaching out his right hand he offers out, "Exodius." A blade suddenly form, big and heavy and buster style. Holding it there with just that hand he offers with a hmm, "Going to do anything about it?" Sadly he has no idea what is going on in Sion's mind to Benjamins, and just takes his own battle stance, waiting.
Cassie suddenly feels a weight off of her head, and notices that Temple has fled. "Bah..good idea." She unsheathes her own sword and holds it to her side defensively. "L-look here gentlemen. I don't kow what's going on, but I am not having it. Weapons are to be peacebound, please abide by the rules!" Temple looks at Cassie and concentrates a moment and then draws his own small blade as he drops down to the dirt.
The transformation finishes, leaving the demon Chaos in Benjamin's wake. Black stitches form at the corners of gray lips that run back to his ears. The amber eyes grow pupilless as the red mantle about his shoulders opens and tears, forming a sort of half-mask over the beast's left eye and forming around it, the amber orb glowing menacingly. A mighty roar issues from the demon as it looks to Marduke.
Marduke offers in a even voice to Cassie, "I am sorry my child." Almost priestly like, "But if I put my weapon away now, there will be nothing that can stop this creature of evil." Still holding his blade ready and watching Chaos as he waits. The blade held evenly and in one hand, ready to strike or block on a instant. his free hand weaving magics quickly about himself, perhaps hoping he doesn't get interrupted as he does so. "Today, is a good day to die."
Sion looks to Cassie for a moment, and when she moves in range sends to her, ((Forgive me... and please arrest me when we are through, but this being cannot be allowed to be free... it is a Shade. Colonel... we kill it to save him!)) His eyes never leave Benjamin/Chaos, and begins to move around to the right side, cutting off any attempt to bolt towards the longhouse or the pub, blade ready and body coiled like a snake.
Temple closes in slowly as he draws his shield around and watches he monster he sees the Lord turn into. In a page-pose to you, Benjamin snickers. And then I'll be totally passed out for days on end after this little incident, I'm certain.
Leapri has arrived.
Cassie turns around as a voice enters her head..followed by a second. A word registers immediately. "S-shade!?" She takes off immediately, heading west.
The demon snarls angrily before launching himself at Marduke, the left hand swiping at the man in a flurry of rage and anger. The wings flap irritably to match his mood while he remains on the ground, filled with rage and fangs glinting. "No one ... mocks ... me," he manages to say in between snarls of anger and swipes at Marduke.
=>rp <Lothar says, "Screams of terror and fear eminate from the town square, from the few people that were there. Most people are to scared or out of their wits. The only comprehensible words anybody would get is "HELP" "ALAIR" and "DEMON"">
Rhyalite has arrived.
Marduke watching Benjamin attack him as Chaos, waits until the last second, then with a blur, just steps to the side and growls at Chaos. Almost challengingly, still casting his spell it seems as it takes sometime, stayin completely on the defensive for now. Eyes going to everybody else, as if warning them to stay clear for now.
Kamira has arrived.
Sion is a man of his word, the moment Marduke has pulled back, he charges, moving quickly, and taking a short leap so his blade will come down heavily on the demon's neck or shoulders, throwing himself into the attack with a soundless snarl!
Faruza has arrived.
Temple waits until Chaos is distracted with the other two more powerful individuals. Temple's mini-me form darts in quickly as he shifts and swings the blade down along the backside of Chaso's leg, slashing at the hamstring in an attempt to break his speed and bring him down.
Leapri pads into the Square, looking peaceful. When Cassie speaks and begins to dart, she meeps and looks around quickly, wondering if she should fall in line behind her commander, or stay here with all the demonic hissing and spellcasting. Not to mention the crazy katana wielding Sion, whom she has learned to respect. When he leaps... the Leopardess growls, and her mind echoes out, ((What the Hell?)) And she begins to dart forward like a bullet on crack, very fast for her size and weight...
A resounding *clang* comes from the left metal arm as Chaos swings to push aside Sion's incoming blade. His wings flare out quickly, a wave of rolling miasma in its wake. He feels the little sword stab into the back of his leg, but the rage built up no longer makes him care. Wings buffet at the air again, not launching Chaos into the air however.
Marduke finishes his spell, and with a reach out of his hand. A new set of armor appearing on the guy, having just finished conjuring it. He glances up to Marduke and shakes his head, "Not that easy." He offers and jumps up, at a blazing speed, his large sword swipping straight for one of Chaos's wings, "There is no escape for evil like you!" Screaming out his challenge, "You pathetic little worm!" Goading on chaos even further
Kamira comes running in franticly trying to untie the peace binding on her sword on the run,"what in gaia's name is happening here?"she calls out and blinks at marduke and chaos...
Leapri looks to the beastial demon of a being that was Chaos... against the buffeting of the wings, the leopardess launches into the air... her momentum carrying her up torwards the demon's back, and her front paws seem to meld into a solid flurry of blows, all aiming to the creature. A lower-left to upper-right swing, followed by a straight gash. A swipe from top to bottom, then a diagonal from upper left to lower right... one after another after another... the leopardess' paws seeming etheral at that moment with their flurry... every blow aimed at the chaotic being...
Temple ducks the wings as they shift and he puts his hand ont he butt of his sword, since he's being ignored and aims the blade to try and bite deep as he goes to press the sword into the back of Chaos' leg and open the wound he started, if it sinks in it bleeds with the serration as the blade gets yanked out. ooc Benjamin.
The beast turns toward Marduke, enraged further by the taunting and the mocking. He roars mightily again, charging to meet the challenge as the blade slices through the webbing of a wing, forcing him to swing at Marduke in a frenzy of rage and hate. Blackened blood drips on the ground from the torn wing as it still flaps and buffets the air, useless for the task of flying. Almost sensing the incoming leopard-missile, a firearm forms in the right hand, ancient and deadly looking. The beast tucks it under his left arm, firing toward Leapri as she comes in. A snarl boils up from the stab to the back of the demon's leg, rage pushing and fueling the creature on.
Rolling away from the parry with the metal arm, Sion shifts back as the buffeting air washes over him, his pose defensive, watching as the others attack. With the aerial strike of Marduke ending, he rushes in once more, right to where the half-skeletal faced man lands. His feet come up in the run, to the back of Marduke, then to the shoulder, where he pushes off into a higher leap this time, mimicking the powerful warrior with a mighty downward slash of his own, aiming to the meat of the neck and shoulder. Regardless if the blow itself lands, the ninja drops into a low crouch, hugging the dirt to leave the air free for Marduke to attack again!
Marduke grunts and hefts Sion as he jumps off him to better help his attack, "So be it." Snarling at Chaos, "What so weak you hae to target others? You truly are pathetic and sad." taunting Chaos, clearly trying to keep the creatures aim on him. Wincing as he see's the gun pulled out. Shifting his weight and pushing forward his blade coming out attempting to swing at Chaos again in a cross swipe, more to distract the creature then to harm it. He seems to be planning something now.
A tremendous tramping of steel, raining along at high speeds, amidst a contingent of nearly four hundred heavily armed and armored rune knights, weapons and armor all glowing brightly witht he magical runes. In the middle of the group, flickering after-images everywhere of acceleration time-magic everywhere, Faruza, the green glow of time magic arching up over the force, the men striding along at full sprinting speed despite the armor. Most of the military might of the Whitehands streaming down through the roads, magically accelerated, converging on the town square, and amidst the crowd, Faruza's eyes, his goggles hanging down on his muzzle, murder in his eyes. At the sight of Chaos, a toothy grin spreads across his muzzle, ice shattering outwards from his back, splattering blood and fur into the air behind him as the ice erupts. From his eyes, streaming cobwebs of frost, hoarfrost and rhime all spreading from his eyes, covering his body with a thick, crunching coat of frost as he runs. Blades erupting from his pockets; steel and an aqueous blade. His voice echoes out over the runeknights around him, or rather, a wholly different voice; like a wailing howl of the North Wind ripped into words. "End this chaos once and for all!" And from the runeknights, an echoing bellow, rising high over the din of battle, a chanted battle song.
Kamira breaks her sword free in time to see the gun forming and breaks into a run, letting the tip of the blade dragon the ground a moment, the huge mass of adamant heavy even for her. she makes for an open area around the creature and swings the mass of serated adamant with both hands, trying to batter chaos off aim, combining her skill with the sword and her inhuman strength.
Rhyalite heard a loud commotion near the town square, she wondered if people were falling from the sky once again though this time it turned out to be a lot worse. Upon seeing the Demon she quickly moves to avoid comming in close contact with Chaos, the cart banging and rattling loudly with all its metal armor and weapons within it. Once she figures she's at a safe spot she dives down underneath it for shelter, "Some days it dosen't pay to get out of your tent." She mutters.
Leapri lets out a yelp, her flurry of blows halted with the blow of the ancient gun... she was right there... a blood splatter... and the bullet goes all the way through her right-lower arm, hitting it as she was in mid blow. If it wasn't for her dexterous movement... she would have caught it in a much worse place. She lets out the cry as she rolls in the air... but at the last moment, with a growl, her tail shoots out torwards the gun with split-second reaction timing, planning to use the speed of the whiplash to her advantage, grab it, and rid the demon of it's ancient weapon as the heavy leopardess falls back torwards the ground. Twice, she has to land on the hard ground. Lightning does strike twice...
Temple goes to yank his blade from the back of Chaos' leg and growls a curse as it snaps off in his hand as the monster shifts. He throws the useless hilt to the ground and backpedals as people run in to make their strikes. With the clattering of metal he turns and spies the Whitehand Knights, and Faruza taking to the air, his eyes tilt upwards, ((We're prepared. Give the order, brother.)) when Faruza's shout hits the air Temple turns, hefting his shield and then runs for Rhyalite's cart to borrow a sword. "Quality test..be right back." as quips as he yanks a blade off if he can and rushes back towards combat.
Cassie comes in above Faruza's troops, riding what appears to be a discarded peice of thick lumber, broken off at one end. She doesn't come in anywhere near as fast as Faruza is, but once she finds a place to land that wasn't occupied by a person, she lands...her right hand glowing with green magic, yet another feat of Telekinesis. And with a bit more powert and a bit of concentration..the lumber ignites, and in an throwing motion, much like a pitcher from a baseball team, she hurls the flaming peice of wood, directly at the Shade. page :ponders everything and considers. Was just figuring we could end this in one massive pose. Up to you, everybody else is here to kill em.
"Chaos, stop it!" yells the demon with Benjamin's voice, but the demon continues to rage and letting out one tremendous snarl after another, ignoring the blows against him as he brings the ancient firearm to bear against Marduke, squeezing off a trio of quickly fired shots at the half-lich, all aimed at center mass. The demon seems to pause in internal struggle, staggering at each and every incoming hit that comes from every direction. The crimson dares to fade in briefly to his eyes before it is drowned out in glowing amber once again. The internal struggle becomes slowly an external one as the demon tries to keep control on the body and the rage.
Sion gathers himself from his spot, and pushes up off the ground once more in a hard a leap as he can muster, carrying himself even higher as he pushes off the arm that aims for Marduke, not knocking it off course, but using it as a bounce-point to get up to eye-level. Spinning in the air, he whips the blade out into a two-handed stab right towards Chaos' eye, screaming mentally to Benjamin, ((Fight him so we can slay him and save you. Death was always the only answer! Die on your feet Alair!))
Marduke just watches the internal struggle, taking each bullet shot in him and grunting. Still standing at the end of it all somehow, perhaps just by sheer willpower. Slamming his sword into the ground he steps back, the wind picking up about him. A faint howling can be heard as he starts to sing quietly, first offing quietly, "All-father, hear me and have mercy on this soul. Forgive him, and show him your love, he shall see you soon." Reaching out a hand he takes a firm hold of his blade again. A aura glowing around Marduke now, a blazing rainbow hued color. Suddenly Benjamin is surrounded by eight copies of marduke, each one as exact as the other. Holding up the sword pulling them out of the ground the Mardukes start to circle, singing quietly, "Walking wind our whispers are heard." A suddenly blur of motion as one of the marduke steps forward but doesn't, the image staying behind. Flashing by Chaos and swipping at him and merging into the form across from it. "Our cries for mercy, hear us sing of our hope." Another blue of motion from behind Chaos slicing at his back. "We raise our voices high, so that they might hears us." Two blurs of motion, right after each other so fast the eye can barely see them slicing at the sides. "The passion of our actions, felt by those who love us most." Four this time each just as fast as the other. "We cry out our song! SINGING BLADES OF MERCY!" Suddenly each images is moving bluring past Benjamin striking at him each time. Then there is just one Marduke, falling down to his knees as he offers tears, "May the All-Father have mercy..."
The demon starts to recede as Benjamin wins the struggle, it it's really too late. The myriad of blows is too much as blood flies easily from each of the deep wounds. He hears the clang of the word on the sanctified metal of his left arm keeping that little secret locked up. There is no pain as Benjamin stands there, eyes dull and the mako glow vanishing as he look to Marduke, a single, bloody smile coming from the walking dead man as the blood runs down his chin. That ancient firearm is still in his hand as he falls forward, breath exiting already wounded lungs. It's a miracle his body has stayed in one piece, but his wounds are too great and it leaves a stick red puddle around him.
By evening light the knights advance, bright streaks of light in the gloom. Moving expertly in the accelerated state; the differences in balance, in acceleration, all accounted for, and better yet, put to good use. Swords, glowing brightly with energies magical, all kinds: flame and water, lightning and earth, ice and wind. And foremost along the contingent, the black-armored, brightly glowing white blades, their gauntlets the trademark ivory white of the noble house, the selected knights that had been hand-picked for the front lines in the event of this battle; heavy shields, awall of red and black, holy swords in each hand. And they're moving, faster than any infantry so armored should, and moving /well/. Amidst them, Faruza flickers, his wings out, but faster on the ground, and putting it to good use. Zigging and zagging amidst the group of knights; the canine little more than a flickering blur of white. As the demon falls, the knights advance swiftly. "Surround the demon!" comes the cry from knight captains, awaiting resolution of this bloody battle.
Marduke pushes back to his feet. yet he is clearly tired, and bardly hurt himself. Using his limit having taking almost everything out of him he can barely stand. He moves towards Benjamin, a soft peaceful smile on his face, "Go with the all father, return to gaia. Let your soul be free of the evil." He offers a prayer to the fallen one. He falls back to his knees next to Benjamin and glances to the others, "Enough, the battle is ended. Let it be known that Lord Benjamin Alair, died with honor this day. For it was his struggle against chaos, that allowed his soul to be free of him. For without that struggle the power of chaos would of been beyond anything we could of achieved to stop here. He shall be a man who shall be buried with his honor and his dignity." reaching over to the lord, and slowly closing his eyes, "rest in piece."
Kamira blinks at the sudden change and closes her eyes, "Oh gaia..."
Temple slips his two foot form through the legs and crowd into the clearing around Benjamin's body and Marduk. Temple looks at the half skeletal form and then he looks to the fallen Lord. He bows his head and presses the flat edge of the sword to it in salute for the fallen and then he turns and starts to move back through the crowd toward Rhyalite's cart, his eyes search for Cassie.
Faruza flakes free of ice slowly, the aspect of the ice around him slowly flaking away, the canine pushing past the ranks of knights, still flickering and blurring. "Summon the Alairs." he rumbles softly. "Summon Nadine." He stands, a few feet from the slowly draining corpse of Benjamin, eyes behing those cold-shattered goggles narrowing momentarily. A tailtip brushing some blood from the nobleman's lips gently, the ice continuing to flake off of Faruza as he moves, returning quickly to his normal form. A long, thoughtful stare, at once he too once was.
Sion snorts softly, and approaches the body, kicking the gun away from the limp and lifeless hand. His sword remains in his hands, streaked with the demon's blood as he stares down at the form. Looking up at the others, he reaches down and takes the same hand, folding it over his chest. Turning to look at the others, he starts to clean the blade, walking past Marduke towards Cassie and the ring of knights. Sheathing the clean blade, he sends to her, ((Burn the body.)) Before he sheathes it, tosses it to her feet, and holds his hands out.
"Benjamin died while protecting Highwind Point from a spirit that would have overcome us all if not for his sacrifice."
Marduke tries to push to his feet, but simply doesn't have the strength, at the mercy of those around him. he closes his eye and sighs, "The body is fine, the soul is free. It poses no further threat. At least let his parents have some comfort..." Glancing to Sion. The gun itself, he glances at. Using hte very last of his strength, "LORD HADES! I summon the, come and take the weapon that is inhabited by evil back to where it belongs!" WIth that a hand appears out of the void, grabs the gun, and is gone.
Rhyalite slowly climbs out from under her cart, looking about as she turns her attention towards the sight, "Good gracious...that was the Lord Benjamin?" She says with her mouth agape, "But....how?" Though she dosen't have time to wonder how as the Hand of Hadies grasps the weapon and drags it away, leaving her to shriek and dive under the cart again.
Cassie spins her sword and shoves it back in her sheath with a fairly displeased look...she saw her own attack..as well as many other plunge directly into it, with little retalliation..and looks around..seeing Temple. "Come to think of it..before..before this, when I was still in the house, I saw him start to do that once..I'd hate to think what would have happened..but..still how sad.."
Leapri mpmhs... slowly standing from the stone of the floor. She draws herself up with a shudder... licking her large wound, if not life-threatening... She seems to know little about the politics or honor seen in this fight... not that she wouldn't recognize it, if she just saw it. She moves forward... limping... horribly. She smells the blood... hears the voices. The echoing of the blast of a dark bullet is all she recognizes, her ears having yet popped. So she begins to stumble back to her kits...
Kamira keeps her eyesclosed, "a debt unpayed, m'lord. one I can never pay now..."
Temple looks at Cassie as he reattaches the weapon to Rhyalite's cart. He nods, "Get these people cleared, Colonel. We'll deal with the body, take it and the half-dead out of here." his chipmunk voice says to the collie, "get those wounded to the hospital. Use the Guard that didn't flee." he turns and looks into the air for Faruza, ((Clean up.))
Leapri has left.
At this Marduke just slumps to the ground, unconscious. His sword, Exodius fading into the nothing it seems to be summoned from. For perhaps the fist time in a very long time the man is at the merch of those around him to do with as they will. His armor staying on him though, strong and unique in itself, though nobody will be able to take it off either.
Faruza nods softly to Temple, and the rune knights of the whitehands move to keep a tight permiter of the body. There'll be no looting of a noble lord's corpse on their watch. page Temple=uhh....
Rhyalite climbs out from under her cart once again, "I've had enough for one night. Chaos and Demons on a ramage, Alairs perishing in sacrafice for the town..and I'm not going to even consider what the Dutchess is going to say about all this." She pushes her cart away from the place, muttering all the while. Rhyalite leaves from [Highwind Point]: Town Square, heading into [Highwind Point]: E. Main Street. Rhyalite has left.
About forty rune knights contain the perimter, and the rest of them begin to stream back towards the west. The guards, and Faruza, awaiting the arrival of church staff or alairs.
Kamira lets her self be sent back away and sighs, she moves towards rhyalite, "miss?"
Temple doesn't wait for Cassie to respond, expecting her to follow sound advice and give those orders. Temple returns to the crowd and pushes back through the Rune Knights, "Captains attend me!" when those who can do while the others start off towards the compound again, he says to each, "Full watch for the next day." he points to another, "Your unit will stay with Faruza until the body is collected, and you will collect our...friend and take him to rest at the compound."
Cassie nods, and then motions for people with a circular movement of the hand. "Guard, round up!" Quite a few men show up at this point. "Guard, move these people out, wounded to the hospital and the other dead out of the way!"
Sion sees her either ignore him or dismiss the event, and with a kick, he brings his sword back up into his hands, and settles it onto his back. Before the others can approach him, he goes to Marduke, and hefts the armored form up, getting him onto his shoulders enough to be able to start dragging the half-skeletal man towards the warmth of the pub.
Faruza appears to be about the only one looking faintly saddened by Benjamin's passing; the canine standing near the body faithfully, looking down at the dead and cooling man. As Sion attempts to pass through the perimeter, however, a guard captain raises a hand. "You may pass, but this one that slew lord Benjamin must remain for a time, to answer questions by the church, if there be any."
Kamira pads off, she doesn't look broken up but there is a note of sadness. Kamira has left.
Cormac arrives on the heels of the breathless page, just in time to catch the words 'slew lord Benjamin.' Upon hearing those words, his eyes narrow, the creak of protesting leather heard as one hand slowly balls into a fist. His glowing eyes fix upon the young Alair's body, and in a voice devoid of his usual humor, the soldier says, "I would have an explanation. I would have one *now.*"
Sion looks to Faruza as he continues to walk/drag Marduke along, ((No offense to you, and all of your trained imperial mercenaries...)) Forgoing his usual politenesses about mental contact, ((This man is in no good way to speak to anyone. So get out of my way. We'll be at the Green Chocobo. And you can send along one of your little boys with swords here to watch if you need.)) He glares, eyes not wavering as he continues to move, plodding.
Temple walks over to Faruza and looks up at him. This close, the canine can see some bandages wrapped around Temple with some red spots showing on them. He sighs and as he is about to speak he turns hearing the voice, "Let him through." the chipmunked voice says as Rune Knight's part to admit Cormac into the circle.
The Rune Knights on Sion's side shift to block his path, "You were told. Release him and go about your business." the Captain says from behind.
Marduke of course at this point is nothing more then a dead weight, or corpse depending on how you want to look at it. He is breathing, at least half of him is, if slowly and tiredly. He may not be waking up for a while.
Sion arches an eyebrow as he looks around, seriously looking like he's weighing the odds of it all. He stops, and turns his head back to Faruza, but with a shake of his head, instead turns to look down at Temple, ((I'm taking him to the pub for some warmth, some quiet, and something to drink. He can be escorted to your bloody Church after he's able to speak and walk again. But you better call off your Imperial dogs before one of us is forced to hurt the other.))
Faruza is presently standing nearby the corpse of Benjamin, one of the canine's twin tails resting across the man's body. Faruza's eyes, behind the shattered glass of his goggles, are seen, staring down silently at the dead man. A snap of his fingers, and a wave to Sion; and the Rune Knights converge, politely enough, but restraining Sion and relieving Marduke of his grasp. "You'll wait here too, and explain to the family." one captain rumbles firmly to Sion. Faruza's eyes lift to Cormac. "Chaos won." Two words, and a weight of meaning behind them.
Temple turns to look at Sion, well up at Sion. He tilts his head, ((The man is not waking for awhile. Your concern is appreciated. Stay with him here..)) he stops as the Knights converge, ((and when we take him to a place to rest you may sit at his side if you so choose. A friendly face will be welcoming to him.))
Cassie comes forward towards Temple, reaching down and picking him up, and placing him in teh same spot as before. "You shouldn' tstay on the ground with so many people trampling around.
Temple turns from Sion and looks to Cormac and he arches a brow..which is an odd look on a two-foot tall human...which shifts as he's picked up and sat upon Cassie's head.
Sion's form seems to pop like a soap-bubble the moment the guards touch him, Marduke slumping to the ground where he was, propped up on a barrel. Sion is actually several feet away, already outside the ring of the guards, turning to walk away from the scene where he is obviously not wants. Snorting hard, he swings at the town hall, striking it hard enough to shave the skin from his knuckles and leave a crimson crease on the wall, as if to say, 'I would bleed for you, and this is how I am thanked.' Unconcerned now, he heads towards the creek.
Cormac arches an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes at Faruza. "I believe, given the insistence with which your men are attempting to separate those two, you may need to extend your explanation beyond two words. Now, I will ask again, sir, and I will only ask once more. What.... happened."
That said and out of the way, that is one of the best scenes I have run, and have to thank everybody invovled for making it what it was. For it truly is the players that make this place a place to play and fun. I feel encouraged and gratified in my resolve to stay despite earlier doubts. Kudos to all and lets continue to have fun.
Faruza nods to the guard captains, setting them over with a wordless glance to Temple's full command. Faruza remains where he is, standing beside the corpse of Benjamin Alair. "Stay your fury at me, Alair. It is Whitehand shields that guard Benjamin's corpse, not our blades that took his life. If you do not understand who or what Chaos is, then the explanation you require is -definitely- wise to be a private one." Faruza's tone indicating that it's exactly the sort of thing the Alairs probably wouldn't want discussed publically. Faruza, keeper of many noble secrets, extending the professional courtesy of his position and knowledge.
Faruza gives an almost sympathetic look to Cormac, as sympathetic as Faruza's face can express, at any rate. "Best to send for bearers. Let's not let the dirt have any more of Benjamin's blood."
Temple pages, "actually you may want to write the ic post..it'd have more meaning coming from the governor than his assistance..giving the importance of the person killed" to you.
Sion has left.
Of course Marduke's body just sits there on a barrel. Still resting, rolling over a bit he slumps off, still unconscious
Cormac lowers his hands to his sides, nodding only briefly at Faruza before stepping forward to kneel at the body of the lordling. Touching a hand to Benjamin's brow, the soldier murmurs, "I am sorry, little Lordling... I have failed you, and the General..." He looks up at the mention of bearers, and simply shakes his head, slipping his arms under Benjamin's neck and knees. "...Thank you for your courtesy, Sir Whitehand... House Alair will care for our own."
Three Knights take up Marduk's unconscious form at the direction of a Captain and starts to take him to the Longhouse, the Whitehand Compound to rest and heal.
Faruza gives a warm bow in return. "Summon me when you would have that explanation, m'Lord. I will tell you what I can, when there are fewer ears about."
Marduke's body is carried off to the longhouse to rest then. Is he villen, is he hero here? Only time will tell on how people recount the story...
Cormac stands, cradling the young man's body in his arms, and gives Faruza a thin-lipped nod. "One half-hour, Sir Whitehand. I would prefer to hear before preparations are made." Without another word, the older Alair turns, bearing alone the scion of House Alair out of the area.
Cassie watches the guard scurry about and after awhile clear out of the are. She gives a small sigh..picking temple up off of her shoulders, and placing him down. "Think you'll be okay..first time in a long time I feel like drinking soemething alcoholic."
An honor-guard of the whitehand knights falls into step around Cormac, blades sheathed, shields readied around him, escorting him far enough towards his destination until Cormac can be met by his own house knights. Benjamin scrambles up on Cormac.
Cormac has left. Benjamin has left.
Temple sets down and he nods, "Thank you Colonel." he remarks and then he walks over to Faruza and looks up at him, "I'll be joining you." he says as he dismisses the rest of the Guard to their poses now that their guarding isn't needed.
Faruza nods softly to Temple. "I'll have a captain send word of the events to Ryoichi and Gabriel." he rumbles softly.
Temple takes breath and lets it out, "I think we better explain to Gabriel personally. I don't want a Knight to since he wasn't here for the mess." he says, "The Lady won't be happy."
Faruza glances down to Temple. "Let's have a knight dispel that, and we'll be on our way." In a page-pose to you, Benjamin works weekends normally, and I don't want it to take too long, but I do understand.
Temple waits as a remaining Knight dumps a spell on Temple and he pops back into his present form. He sighs and sits on his ass and then gets up and looks at the chuckling Knight. Temple growls, "Back to your post." having the knight move along. He looks at Faruza, "Sad..," he says softly as he looks down into the dirt with the drying blood, "very tragic."
Cassie has left.
Temple takes a breath and lets it out slowly. He nods and then looks at Faruza, "Let's go and explain what happened." he says as he motions, "It's been a long day...from imps to spirits. I'll follow you."
