Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was some distance from the scene, far enough away that he couldn't be seen by the naked eye, that a completely obsidian lion emmerged from the earth. Marching up from beneath the surface as if climbing a set of stairs from another realm, six scarlet eyes beaming, the monstrous cat came to fall in a rested position on its belly at the peak of the hill.

Looking over the scene some mile and a half onward and below, the cat simply watched, tail idly swaying about behind him. With all links to Dagoth cut off, he watched the ongoing situation without much apraent fuss or concern. He had been aware to an extent of what was going on, and whilst laying their, purring even, the glorious shadow beast began musing.

.:I wonder how few more minutes it will be, before that gnat realizes his own dillema. Dagoth isn't less of a tactition then me, nor is he less educated...He only has his own form, o the criteria.:.

Even through the adverse...Intense, outrageous even distractions that now swarmed around him, the Lion Did not so much as emmit a snarl. it simply lay there, for its blood, its passion, its ego, was its gyroscope. He could not have his will, nor stability swayed. He was nothing but blood, war, and will.

"I have had but one father. And he rests on the other side, fallen to my blade. Who ever you speak of stranger, is no father to me, nor you kin. I grew up in fire, was born in dissillusion. My first, and still greatest ability, is illusion, and mental strength. Dont think you can intimidate me in any way shape or form. Who are you, and why should I care. Another Of Truth's pawns?"

Now Dagoth was angry more than he could ever remember himself being in the last few years, as the woods around the tow fighters exploded into more violence and chaos. The cainite blinked wildly at Truth this was all very flashy and over the top, after all this was a similar tactic that Dagoth used himself bringing the broad smirk back to his face. The attack raced towards him the wall felt of nothing drawing in the energy around him, the ground beneath Dagoth was being torn up he dipped his foot into the soil flicking the toes upwards. Catching his blade with his right hand turning drawing the weapon the sudden rush of escaping energy echoing in a high pitched screech, drawing the dust away from Dagoth his deep voice bellowing through the now empty forest.

"BAN-KAI"

A deep rumbling came from beneath as the entire floor began seeping thick purple ichor, The tendrils wrapping around the cainite pulling him into mixture before retreating further into the earth. Only a few moments would pass before two giant fists burst down towards Truth, the spiked steel cuffed fists trying to do nothing more than squash and absorb Truth. As Truth would turn to face this new attack before him would stand I giant Void Walker, the beast pulsed with void energy as Dagoth still could not been seen for the moment. The cainite moving himself into a better position, this wasn't the time for him to be charing head first in.

Having touched him, having known him, having been intimate with him, Roan would feel a kind of... Amusement by Truth to her words. It was almost like a game, and to him such threats were almost hollow at this point. The creature looked up to the winged, feathery little observer, even as Dagoth made his move. It almost seemed as if he found it... Difficult to keep his attention on the very man he was fighting. This did not stop him from evading the attack, doing so by simply leaping toward the fists with a slow, turning spin. He narrowly leaped in between the two fists, flipping in mid air and landing below the arms. "Come now, my boy..." his form slipped out from the side of the creature, a single black step used to gain a quick burst of momentum. "...When do you intend to take this seriously?" He said, the form carrying itself just inches off the ground with its thrust. It landed with a skid, sliding toward one of the few remaining broken trees left, and leaned on it. "I cannot simply idle forever, playing these games. You... You can do so much better then this, young DeSeer. Yet you continue to linger, why? What is it you allow to hold yourself back so? What is it restricting an otherwise greater strength?" he tilted his head, his words seeming to send a brief, flashing pulse. A wave of thought, only brief though, merely a second of imagery. He did not direct it at Dagoth; so much as direct it in through the air, producing the mere forms of Roan and Corbin. It was the intent to make Dagoth aware of their presence there, perhaps?

Meanwhile...

Draco's right eye twitched at Corbin's arrogant response, sneering at the boy. His eyes remained narrow as his brother spoke, both irritated and frustrated by him. "Realm Hopper? Toreador An... What does anything have to do... You are ignorant, even now you prove your unworthiness to this clan." he clenched his hand into a tight fist, shaking it in frustration. It was only more irritating that he would respond to his presence in such a... Half-hearted way. "I have come to ascend!" he shouts out, baring his fangs as his stance lowers. His form is reduced to mere slithers of light and color, rushing at Corbin angrily. He appeared in front of him within a matter of seconds, right hand raised, claws bared. "I have come to take my rightful place below mother!" he exclaims, swiping his claws downward at the beast. A trail of red light and hazy crimson flame followed in the path of his claw swipe. The strike itself would not simply tear into and through Corbin's body though, but cause it to near burst open and rip apart. The strike was not specifically aimed at a point, but rather meant to hit the bulk of Corbin's body so as to get the full effect. It did not end there though, following his swipe at almost the same time would be a series of thin, blade like crescent swipes cutting across, diagonal, and horizontally like the slash of many blades. Each of these smaller cuts would be just as sharp as the actual claw swipe, though with more precision. Ideally, after Corbin's body was torn apart in separate directions from the initial strike, the smaller aftermath strikes that followed would cut those pieces into further portions. Though, this could potentially hit Corbin should he attempt to dodge, or prevent him from staying too near the frontal region of Draco.

:: Durem ::

Through the least accomidating of alleys Corbin, strolled accompanied by two of his standard Gouls, all of the three dressed to suit the Masquerade, of course. However they did of course wear their side arms, the Ghouls atleast.

"Pardon me sir, but just how much further is it to the target?"

"Not much son. Just around the corner. You both have spare magazines, right?"

After a few short paces and no answer, Corbin stopped, turning his head to find that both of his ghouls, no longer followed two paces behind. With a somewhat puzzled arch of the brow, Corbin reached for a cigar, bit the end off, then sought after a box of matches.

Upon pulling the matches free, and lighting one, there was a sudden shadow cast over the alley, accompanied by a hollow groan and then, the scene seemed to close with a thunderous crash, wind, dust and debris such as discarded boxes and papers flying out from the alley ends.

The lights in the alley flickered briefly, though despite they're effort the cables had been damaged, this didn't mean however that the alley would remain enveloped in darkness. Corbin's markings birthed through the illusion of his more kine form, glowing vibrantly with indigo. It was now possible to see, the large, whale flipper like mass of flesh, crafted from merged arms, hands and talons. Beneath it Corbin stood with his left arm raised, palm open and flat holding the mass of bound flesh over his head, as he lit his cigar.

"So. Didn't count on your prey haveing eyes in the back of its head. Let alone the top, right?"

His response was a loud, echoing groan that rose up from beneath the alley, leaking out through the drains. Minus the one this 'arm' had broken up through and now plugged with its girth. This, as the arm made an attempt to sweep Corbin across the alley floor, and into a brick wall, the many hands and talons that made up its structure grabbing onto his body. Corbin felt he would oblige to a degree.

Again, a crash, bang and debris flew from the alley, however as the arm embedded in the wall shook bricks from its form, Corbin stood behind its elbow, as if his body had passed through the arm the moment it hit the wall. He now stood with his hands hidden in his pants pockets, cigar puffing away between his lips.

"So is their a master to this Szlachta?...Or have you already made for the hills?"

With one eye darting back and fourth, Corbin shrugged it off. Although, there was the slight confusion. He couldn't sense any Cainite of any sort near by. Obfuscation, maybe..But unlikely. There weren't many that could hide so efficiently from him.

Corbin's attention however suddenly darted back to the Ghoul, as several of the arms were encased in shadows, before whiping out as tendrils.

"What the devil?!"

In response Corbin Had his own shadow leap up in defense, entangling itself in the tendrils, before pushing them back.

"That wasn't a Cainite..."

Corbin then noticed just what really was beneath him, moments before the drains errupted with both a maze of reaching hands, talons, bone blades and shadows. Corbin was engulfed.

As twelve or so beady scarlet eyes peered up from the shattered concrete, the sickening sound of something akin to sizzling flesh and bone started to echo, before the Ghoul ripped its offense away, short a couple hundred pounds of matter.

Corbin had engaged disintigration. Falling back to the floor, with a bent and broken cigar, not to mention a snarl at the mess made, Corbin watched as the disgusting mass retreated rather hastily into the sewers.

"Like hell. No Vozhd is running rampant in MY land, knocking off MY Ghouls."

And with that, Corbin dropped down into the sewers, his form shifting to shadows, as he gave chace.

_________________________

OOC::

Work in progress.

"We ask the questions around here, monster."

One bummish looking Ghoul growled as he nudged at the air with his rifle, pointing it at Pride. The Cainite in question only sighing as he shook his head. Raising his right hand as his eyes closed, Corbin started to roll small circles over his forehead with his fore finger.

"Sure as hell are Ghouls, aren't you. Thick, brick headed gitts, right?...No wait thats not fair.."

"Thats more like it leech!"

At that comment, Corbin's left eye shot open with that crippling scarlet and obsidian, a fraction more of his true self being released in an invisible wave, as he spoke harshly with that forked tongue.

"I meant with regards to MY Ghouls, and one of my Sire's. Its unfair to them, for me to bunch you all together. They would have the sense to recognise a monster they cant beat, and given my less then violent approach, lower their weapons. Or atleast, sound civil."

As Corbin ranted, none of the Ghouls noticed what he was doing in the mean time. As he finished his rambling, the Ghouls would notice their rifles somehow lighter all of the sudden, and open looking, notice that the most of the stock had vanished, almost melted away and in place of it, a thin, barely visible tendril of mist weaved about each Ghoul.

Whilst the Ghouls had been distracted, Corbin had turned the end of his tail into mist, and let it gradually creep across the floor towards them, where dicintigration was engaged.

"I could have destroyed each of you, leaving nothing to be found...I could have obliterated you all, before you were even aware I was here. Now then...Where. Are. My. Men."

It was some time of confusion, frustration, and wariness as the Ghouls looked back and fourth between each other, before finally, another Ghoul appeared from further down the tunnel.

"Bring him. His Ghouls know, and refuse to leave him. We will show him."

The Ghoul then vanished back around the corner, and after the concept sunk in, the group of Ghouls guarding the tunnel, gestured Pride follow them. He obliged, and traveled through the old underground with them for nearly a half an hour.

Along the way he noticed a lot of things, most note worthy being the Ghouls hidden in the wallds, cieling and floor, even some Guardian Ghouls. Every single one glaring, watching for even the slightest note of Corbin lashing out. A lot of good it would have done them.

Now, Corbin was just about ready to scream, and move his own way, the much quicker way, when finally he came to the end of the tunnel, and the Ghoul that commanded the others from before, gestured he follow them through the illusion of a wall. On the other side, Corbin cocked a brow, genuinely surprised at what he saw.

A hive of old tunnels and sewers, all broken and built into a thriving shanty town. Completely populated by Ghouls of every type.

The Ghoul with some sense of authority then turned to Corbin, and spoke in a raspy, broken voice.

"Welcome, to the UnMastered."

:: Somewhere in Europe, miles form habitation ::

*Raoul broke ground in a place which to HIM, was as familiar as the city in which he now lived. To Iden though? Coupled with the headache he should have, it would be a blur of green trees and earthy smells, with no scent of feel of people anywhere nearby, save for teh ruins which rose in the distance from where they had arrived.

Providing Iden was as disoriented as he appeared, Raoul would kneel next to him, producing something from his pocket which he would endeavour to place on Iden's ankle, against the skin - a small anklet of sorts, catchless and smooth once attached*