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 Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:45 pm
Azraels body crashed to the ground amidst the torrent of dark bloody goo, and his bone masked face gave a contented sigh. With the beast satisfied once again, the bone splintered away in the wind, and Az's body returned to normal, his skin charred and cut, only his tattered hakama remaining mostly intact.
Dragging himself to his feet, he stumbled slowly over to Caelan, scooping her up into his arms. He forced a weak smile, brushing some hair from her face, and looked around as the plane became unstable. He stood and watched as the sky seemed to shatter like glass, oddly beautiful in a way...
He quickly snapped back to the realisation of the fact they were not 'out of the woods yet'. With the way the realm had been morphed to Azamoras' will, he could not simply use his own obtenebration to get them out.
"Cae, honey, we need to go home, right now. Here, I'll help as best I can..."
He focused on what remained of his reiatsu, allowing it to flow passively around him, and subsequently through her, hopefully giving her more than enough 'juice' to get them back where they came from.
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:50 pm
Caelan stared at him, her eyes glassy, and she nodded understanding. It was surprisingly easy, their escape from this place. Perhaps Azamoras was aiding them, and that was why the world suddenly grew dark around them and they were pulled through, back into the realm of light, as the last of the sky shattered and the earth crumbled to red dust. Before things were ultimately destroyed, the servants of the being called Azamoras were rushing about in a panic, and in their haste, several attempted to escape. It seemed that at least one had managed to slip through the rift before the world crushed in on itself and vanished. The pair were deposited where they had began, in Azrael's room, Caelan laying half conscious, half crushed against the young Lord DeSeer.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:39 am
Gambino. Place of sun, sand, and waterfront property. Considered a resort by Gaian standards, it certainly had its allure; particularly in the summer months like these. It was a shame, for Iden would have enjoyed the chance to take in the sun. Alas, he could not, nor could he enjoy more than a passing fixation with the moon and the stars. He was present on business.
He had been doing some research since he'd left the air base. The rest of that night had been devoted to digging up known cave systems under or near the island chain. It looked like he'd be going for a swim.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:51 am
It had been many months since the war that had changed so mcuh, and months more since Iden had last seen Korbinian.
Apparently, the old wolf had taken Iden's words to heart... and started a crusade. It hadnt been easy. Initially, it had been other wolves the Nazi had sought to free, comrades whom he knew would see his views, felt as he did. It was them he had tempted away first, not knowing the awful retribution the Wyrm would pursue when it realised what was happening.
Instead of putting the small group off, it had made them more determined, more assured there WAS an out, if the Beast was that afraid of losing its minions. Ceilicans had been a tough effort, but after the first...
The Wyrm had turned from furious to homicidal as the number of rescued cats, the Beasts' preferred agents, moved beyond 3. When it got to 5, no expense was spared trying to find the growing resistance.
Eventually, they had been driven from the cities, here to Gambino. The cave systems had been investiagted thoroughly by the Wyrm's agents, scouring the islands for their prey, and yet... the rebellion lived on. Hidden, where even a plethora of searchers had not found them.Iden was going ot have a hard time finding them, but that was ok.... they;d likely find him.
The searchers had foolishly split up at first when scouring the caves, only to lose members to the resistance - members that were often then removed from the Wyrm's influence. If Iden dug far enough, for long enough, it was likely somoene would detect him before he detected them*
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:01 am
Search time was no big issue. He had all night to scour every inch of the caves. With his PDA sealed in its watertight case, his ammunition swapped for a pair of knives and his claws, and his outfit cut down to a wetsuit, he was good to go and well prepared. The information he possessed on the cave systems were already loaded into the PDA. That would be his map underground and underwater; getting lost was not a concern. What was a concern was how extensive this search would be. He had been insistent that he go this one alone, he refused to pull resources from the house when it wasn't needed. He'd spent too much time getting things organized JUST right to start pulling people from their jobs.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:13 am
*Within two hours, Iden was being watched. Eyes from deep in the water of a submerged cave system observed him, barely disturbing the water as they closed and vanished.
Twenty minutes later, five pairs of eyes were watching him. And the number kept growing as they followed, much lower in the water than him.
Two hundred meters further in, the cave roof lifted and presented air and land once again. Five more sets of eyes waited in the darkness there too.
Iden was surrounded. As and when he emerged into the end chamber, they'd move in, a powerful mob of Ceilicans and Abominations, hell bent on taking him down in seconds fla.....*
HALT!
*The sound reverberated around the cave as a figure in a dark cloak stepped out of the darkness, snarling at those around him*
Do you not RECOGNIZE vhat iz bevore you? Haf I not dezcribed ovten enough? On your kneez, and gif thankz. Zis... iz Iden DeZeer.
*Korbinian stepped into what little light there was as a torch was lit and the mob fell away from Iden*
Zis is our zafiour. Zhow him zome rezpect. Velcome, Herr DeSeer. Velcome to ze reziztance.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:19 am
He had that crawling between his shoulder blades near enough to two hours in. Something wasn't sitting right with him, for all his senses were picking up little. He wasn't scouring the area too hard; he was counting on Korbinian finding him, not the other way around. If the Wyrm's forces couldn't unearth the old nazi's operation, Iden wasn't even going to try.
When he hauled himself onto (relatively) dry ground, he shook the water off...then saw them. Almost instinctually he dropped into a low slung stance, with both arms held in a tight guard. He couldn't say if they were friend or foe, but damn if he would go quietly if they attacked.
And then, the voice. Iden blinked as recognition crossed his features. Clearly his foes felt the same way; they were withdrawing, obeying the commands of a gruff old soldier's orders. Slowly, cautiously, Iden rose from his spike of adrenaline.
Korbinian. Stop filling them with delusions of grandeur...I'd rather nobody be kneeling, mate. My ego ain't that big.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:25 am
Do not mizunderztand, Herr Iden. Many ov zem are ztill Vyrmsvayed.. az are ve all. You haf been ze prime target on many of zere huntz und training, and iv ze level ov rezpect iz not zet here und now... ze dezire to lizten to ze voice in ze back of z mind.... it can become overvhelming.
Zey are even made to bow vor me, und you already know how I veel about ZAT...
*A greyer, older Korbinian came forward to take Iden's hand in a shake, kicking one of the growling ceilicans on the floor as he snapped at him in passing*
Ve are hunted beings, und zere is alvays ze risk ov a traitor. Vhat ve do iz only by necezzity und ve have had zo much zuccezz. Zince YOU zhowed me ze path, and zat zere is hope. Vor zat alone... you dezerve all ov us at your veet. You haf given uz hope, Herr DeZeer.
Come. Zis iz not ze place to talk. Ve have light at leazt, vurzer in.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:35 am
They can respect me by standing and looking me in the eye. But...it's your outfit, I s'pose I shouldn't try and micromanage something I've no hand in. I'm impressed, you old b*****d. You should've dropped a message sometime.
Iden accepted Korbinian's hand, and shook it with a strong grip. He met the old abomination's eyes, and stared long and hard into them, as if trying to scrutinize the nazi's soul. Whatever the blue-topped brawler came away with, it was clearly satisfactory; he joined the old soldier in the short walk towards the light.
I heard about this group of yours not too long ago, I didn't know what to think at the time. I'm...glad. To see you're making a stand.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:49 am
Vhat I did to you... und to your kin... it iz unvorgivable. Vhat you zhowed me avter... zat vas incredible und I did not dezerve to valk avay alive. Zis iz not zelf pity, zis is juzt truth.
At ze time, I could not tell you zat it vas NOT my vill to harm you all az I did. At ze time... I knew only my dezire to vollow my commander. I ztill ztand by zat. Gunther vas a gute man. But... he vas az blinded and uzed az ve all vere. Blind loyalty unto him, and to ze Vyrm, whom he alzo zerved.
How could I apologize vor zomezing liek zat when ztill I believed in my vriend? A vriend who vas dead, wiz all my comrades. I knew only ze mozt bazic of woez for knowing ze pain I cauzed.
MONTHZ it tok me to realize ze truth ov everyzing. And to realize... I did NOT dezerve to live, nor did I VISH to, but zat I had been zaved vor a better pupoze. One vhich YOU gave me.
To break free, und prove it could be done. To help ozers do ze zame. Zat iz all I haf been doing zince. It iz like kicking an addiction. Every day ve vind a new caze, and zere trial is different to ze lazt man, their trauma and ze zick thingz zey have endured and done, been zrough and zurvived a new zet of horrorz to help zem overcome. Never iz it ze zame vor two people. Between ze zhame I veel, knowing you vould be buzy and how you reacted ze LAZT time you saw me... I did not veel I COULD call you. You haf done your part a thouzand timez over. It iz not up to you to vight vor each of uz yourzelf.
I did not mean to become zeir leader - I do not dezerve zuch a role nor am I bezt zuited to it, but I haf managed, zrough telling ZEM about YOU. You gave me ze ztrength to zee zat ve are only zlaves zo long az ve let our mindz be held. A man whoze mind is vree... iz zoon vree in body also. You haf incredible villpower, Herr DeZeer. Wizout you... none ov zis vould exizt.
*Korbinian led the way into a communal hall. Here, roughly a hundred people, all rescued Wyrmkin, sat eating and sharing the space, helping each other in much the same way as could be found in human addiction clinics across the world. No overtones of religion seemed to be present, but as they all looked up, and realised who Iden was, a hush fell across the room as the odd twenty behind Iden also joined the throng, watching him almost expectantly*
You are our role model, Iden. Vhere vonce you vere MY zpawn... now, ve are yourz. DO not tell ME you are glad. Tell ZEM.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:01 pm
What you did led to what's happening, so don't ******** around with self pity, mate. You got screwed, I got screwed, life goes on. Just...don't play my role in this mess up too much, would you? I got killed, that's all that happened to me. A friend brained me with a shovel, and when I came to I was in a different body without any of the urge to maim s**t. Honestly, I didn't do a damn thing but wake up and realize something was missing in a good way.
The communal hall had far greater numbers than Iden had expected. It was a strange sight, that caught him off guard. He paused as soon as the sight met his eyes.
You've....been busy. Holy s**t.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:16 pm
It iz not zelv pity, it iz vact und ze virzt ztep to becoming ztrong enough to ZTAY vree. Ve do not haf ze luxury ov zpare bodiez az you did.
Even viz zat bonuz... you ztill proved your own ztrength, ezpecially in giving me a chance to redeem meinzelv. You opened my eyez, und you gave me true vreedom. Zomezing zat hurtz zo much to achieve, iz vorth VAR more zan ze empty promizez ov glory I haf been zo uzed to, all my life.
*The worn Abomination smiled as Iden took in the room*
Every day, ve gain anozer ov ze Vyrm'z zlaves. Moztly, ve are able to zhow zem another vay. Und vor zose we cannot... ze ende iz zwivt. A better vate.
Zat zaid, I do not zink Iden DeZeer zeeks me out to azk about ze vork he helped me start - und do not vear, DeZeer, zis iz MY vork, not yourz. I vill not make you zere paragon. Vhy haf you come? Vhat iz it you zeek?
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:25 pm
Yup...empty glory just doesn't do much for a man, does it...
The momentary pause wore off, leaving Iden to turn his gaze back to the nazi. He nodded, acknowledging Korbinian's claim.
You're right. I did come here for a reason, though if I'd have known I'd have pitched in a hand here. Seriously, mate. I found out you weren't dead in the worst possible way. I'm hoping you might have some information for me. Is there anyplace we can sit down and talk this over in private?
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:31 pm
Nein, empty glory is like azh on ze tongue, und doez not leave vun vull.
Come. My roomz are zis vay. Ve vill talk zere. I vould ovver you vun ov my volves, or myzelf az zuztenance, but I do not zink you vill accept or appreciate it.
*Korbinian smiled and walked to the back of the large cave, where a thin passage led to the rooms beyond. They werent plush by any means, but functonal. Korbinian sat in a wooden chair, and looked expectantly at Iden*
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:38 pm
I wouldn't...no offense, mate, but you don't need me parasiting off of you and yours, your lot's hard enough as it is.
When led into the room, Iden gained a bit of an appreciation of the complex as a whole. He was casually inspecting the place from square one; finding the details of the living quarters made him approve just that little bit more. He kept it unspoken, choosing instead to seat himself and get to business.
Javos would s**t himself with glee to see this kind of thing happening. I should've brought him. So...how is it you run this kind of gig? Hm? I'm hoping you might have some intel I'm looking for, one way or another. I need to know if a group of Sabbat based somewhere in northeast China are operating with the Wyrm as a patron, or of their own volition. You're the premier expert on the comings and goings of the Wyrm, of all the folk I know. I was hoping you'd be able to shed light on the matter.
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