Draconis

"Shit, I need this," exclaimed Draconis, lifting the bottle to his lips, "But honestly, I didn't think that Amarth would wear that stupid ribbon the whole time. [turning to Amarth] You really are quite a good speaker. Maybe there's a career in it for you since it seems you can't even take care of one lousy colonel."

That was just too much fun. It's a shame it took them so long to get that taken care of.

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

Amarth

Don't mind this post if it's stupid. I'm blackout drunk. I love you Petra. Do whatever you want. :-P I love this thread too. I love everything except Rebecca... may she rot. Oh well.

"Hmph" spoke Amarth as he walked away. Shoan and Enzeru stood aside, watching the situation progress.

Enzeru - "Y'know, I'd expect him to be angrier. I mean, Draconis messed with his very moral fiber."

Shoan - "Oh, he's angry."

As Shoan spoke those words, small pieces of ribbon fluttered by their faces as they carried on their conversation.

Shoan - "See?"

SSJwrestler

"Um...well." Enzeru said running his hand through his hair and looking around at the group. "What now?"

There was a collective silence from the group. As Enzeru looked around the group, Xyven simply looked away, Shoan ran from pile of rubble to pile of rubble looking for another intact bottle of liquor, Draconis was smirking and finishing off his bottle of booze, and Petra was holding her injured arm looking down at the floor.

Seeing Petra, Enzeru walked over to her and pulled her shirt down slightly to reveal her wound. Though alarmed at first, Petra quickly gave in as Enzeru flashed her a reassuring smile, showing her his benevolent intentions.

"Have any of you guys got any bandages?" Enzeru asked.

The gunman was quickly answered as a roll of clean linen bandages struck him in the back of the head and bounced off. Enzeru caught the roll before it hit the ground and turned around to offer his thanks.

"Uh...thanks?" Enzeru said hesitantly, not sure who to direct his appreciation to.

The gunman then tended to the scouts wounds, taking as much care as was possible not to hurt her, and apolgizing when she winced with pain. After the bleeding had stopped and the wound was covered, Enzeru sat Petra down and brought her the remaining pieces of her bow.

"Sorry." he said placing the two pieces at her side.

Enzeru then turned to the others and began to speak, "A clerk yesterday told me of the 'fellars to the north' who knew how to make gunpowder. I think he was talking about Abanaku's forces. I think we should head up to the north. What do you guys think?"

Amarth

Once again... blackout

Amarth and Shoan both shrugged simlutaneously at the bandages comment. They had both practiced the art of regeneration for decades, and thus... needed no bandages so long as they survived the battle (though... they had never seen anything like Draconis). After the question about the north however...

Amarth - "Abunaku's headquarters lies north of here... I'm not sure exactly where, but I journeyed these lands for a long time and heard much about them. Somewhere north... slightly northeast if my sense of direction does not fail me."

Shoan - "Knowing Amarth, it probably does."

Amarth shot Shoan a look of agression which was returned, but Amarth could not argue this point with Shoan, and so quickly backed down.

Draconis

"Well then, are you two going to sit around and make eyes at each other or do I have to turn the hose on you two?" smirked Draconis, "'Cause I'd like to actually get going. [turning to the wounded scout] Where are those horses you bought?"

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

Dixie

Petra, who had hoped her affinity for Enzeru had gone undetected, blushed furiously at this remark. She was almost alarmed by the thrill she had gotten everytime Enzeru's fingers brushed her bare skin as he tended to her wound. She had pretended that she was trembling under his touch from the pain, but she knew better.

Feeling weak and slightly dizzy from the combination of her wound and Enzeru's attentions, Petra hesitated a moment before answering Draconis.

Where the hell did I leave them???

Remembering suddenly, Petra looked up with a weary smile.

"I hitched them to some trees on the edge of town. I'll lead the way if we're all ready to get out of this dump."

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

Dixie

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

SSJwrestler

Dixie

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

SSJwrestler

After Petra had revealed the location of the horses, Enzeru tore his gaze away from the scout and back to his party.

"Let's get going then." the gunman said as he walked to the tavern's door, helping Petra when ever she needed it as they walked over the rubble.

As Enzeru walked out the door, he heard the chuckling laugh of Shoan. "A bit pointless to use the door isn't it?"

Looking up, Enzeru saw what was funny. The rest of the group was already standing outside on the street, having used the gaping hole in the tavern's wall as an exit.

"Well.. I guess you can just call me old-fashioned." Enzeru replied, smiling and running his hand through his hair.

As the gunman exited the tavern, he looked up at the sky.

Strange

The morning sky, which started out completely clear, was now covered by threatening rain clouds. A few hawks could be seen flying on the distant horizon.

Dixie

Petra had discarded the broken remnants of her bow and as the group left the town, she scanned the ground for any bamboo or lancewood she could use to rig up a new one.
Suddenly, the group stopped short. A blood-curdling roar could be heard in the distance. Petra knew that sound too well. It was the sound of an army moving to attack. Petra's hand dropped to her sword and she quickened her pace, spotting the horses lashed to a stand of trees just ahead.

Withdrawing a crude halter from her bag (a bridle and bit were not necessary with her "ability"), Petra spoke softly to the largest of the studs as she slipped the halter over his nose and ears and tied it beneath his jawline. She slid a pair of leather reins through the rings on the front of the halter and layed a rough blanket across the animal's back as she had not had time to purchase a saddle. Leading the horse up to a stump on which she could stand, Petra mounted the animal and wheeled around to her companions.

"I think you'll find these mounts to be quite agreeable. They shouldn't require any roughness. I'll ride on ahead and find out what's going on."

With that, Petra bent low to the horse's neck and whispered inaudibly to it and the horse bolted off in the direction from which the roar had come.

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

SSJwrestler

Two things. First, I thought only the generals were gonna attack, not an entire army. A bit premature for such a big battle isn't it? Second, I'm dissapointed in you Dixie. I thought the 'halter' was for Petra, not the horse. Tsk,tsk,tsk.

Enzeru watched as Petra rode away, leaving himself and the group a little lost. Enzeru, for one, had always been cautious about riding horses since the time he was six and got punted about thirty feet by one.

Approaching the large animal surrounded by a sense of foreboding, sweat began to run down underneath the gunman's head band.

Awh, fuck it!

Enzeru rushed forward and jumped onto the horses back.

SHYYIIITT!

Enzeru was on his ass, yet again, as quickly as he had jumped onto the horses back. This time taking a smarter approach, Enzeru rubbed the horses mane while he hopped on it's back. However, this plan was quickly abandoned for a "spur the horse and hang on for dear life" stategy as the gunman realized he was alone.

The steed bolted forward as Enzeru clung to the reins. In a matter of moments, he had caught up with the group, and seconds later had past them. Looking back and watching the group get farther and farther behind him as he rode through town, Enzeru was very shocked when the horse came to an abrupt halt next to Petra on the other side of town.

As the gunman whipped his head forward, he was met with a gruesome sight. Batallion upon batallion of demon warriors were charging towards the city of Shinsen. They were no more than a mile away, and closing fast.

As Enzeru quickly drew his pistol, emptying it's casings and replacing them with all blue ones, he thought to himself.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

Dixie

Uh, SSJ, I don't think we're prepared to fight an entire army between the two of us. In fact, I'd venture so far as to say that the entire group isn't prepared for this. Petra and I are out like a fat kid in dodgeball.

Turning to Enzeru, who had suddenly appeared beside her, Petra nodded grimly toward the approaching army.

"It would be suicide to take them on, Enzeru. We can't save the city now, but if we save ourselves, we'll have a better chance of regaining Shinsen later."

Petra spoke in a foreign tongue that Enzeru had never heard before to the horse beneath her and, in an instant, the horse had turned on its heels and headed off to the right of the city at break-neck speed.

"Get the others and follow me," she called back to Enzeru.

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

Draconis

Upon seeing the army, Draconis turned to Amarth, saying, "I think I'm finally going to have some fun." With that, he lept from his horse, hurdling through the air and landing in between the scout and the gunman.

"Now I know you love to claim your kills and what not, but with your permission, I'd like to lend a hand now."

Enzeru and Petra simply shook their heads, still dazed at the mass of soldiers in front of them.

Hell, I'd have done it anyway.

With that, Draconis began slowly walking towards the army.

"I've died once today," Draconis shouted, "Are you going to try to kill me again? Do your worst."

All of a sudden, a cloud of arrows came crashing down out of the sky, pinning Draconis to the ground. The army let out a collective cheer, but it was soon silenced by a thunderous laughter.

"That's it. Hahahahaaaa. If you were smart, you'd have saved those for my mortal companions instead of wasting them on me," sneered Draconis as he lifted himself through the arrows and off the ground, "Now...it's my turn."

Draconis lifted off the ground, his entire body engulfed in black smoke, save his piercing red eyes. The smoke began to congregate into two groups on his back, forming massive black wings. He looked at the horror in the soldiers's eyes and grinned, soaring high into the sky and crashing down into the center of the group. His wings had disappeared, dissapating across the army, enveloping them in impenetrable smoke. All around the soldiers, there was black. They could barely see their hands at their sides, let alone each other. Then, glowing red eyes began to appear around them, each pair extending from the smoke to form the top half of Draconis's body. In the confusion, the soldiers began to hack away at their vision of Draconis. When the smoke cleared, 10,000 lay dead or dying and upon the pile of bodies stood the demon, eyes aglow and hair on end. The soldiers had struck each other through the smoke, the army unintentionally slaughtering itself.

"Don't look so grim. I did spare some of your lives, though I can't say whether I or my companions will take them soon enough," said Draconis, his heart racing in the midst of the carnage, "[turning back to the party] Come on. That is unless you don't mind me killing all of them."

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

Alrighty...we're taking on an army...six people versus 15,000 men...o wait, 5,000 now right Draconis? Let's cut out the etheral net bullshit mumbo jumbo and get back to shit.

As the smoke cleared, Enzeru saw the carnage Draconis had released on to Abanaku's forces. Though shocked, the gunman wasted no time in bringing his pistol to eye-level and firing three rounds at the remaining clusters of men scattered over the body-ridden field.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Three long streams of fire were emitted from Enzeru's revolver. The impressive display was matched only by the three explosions that followed the shots. Each shot had been fired between the clusters of men, rather than right at them, to cause optimal damage.

Seeing about fifty or so men go flying, Enzeru smirked, before holstering his pistol, giving it time to cool, and waiting for the others to join in on the battle at hand.

Amarth

Amarth looked to the others and raised his hand. "There shall be no more wanton carnage on this ground by our hands." Upon hearing this, Draconis stepped to the side of the battlefield, limping the last few and resting upon a tree. Amarth drew his sword and placed one hand on the blade, one on the handle. Slowly the blade began to glow blue, splitting into two identical swords. Without looking ahead of him, Amarth jumped to the tree immediately to his right, quickly ricocheting from tree to tree. He reached the remaining soldiers in seconds. Still darting from tree to tree, Amarth passed through the lines of men. Finally, Amarth slammed his feet down into the ground, gradually slowing until he stood next to Draconis.

Amarth - "You're bleeding. What's wrong?"

I'm leaving this post unchanged until Draconis changes his later post... or I talk to him and find out how I should change it.

Draconis

"I'm fine," snapped Draconis, "I'm just a little tired. It's not safe for you to be around me now. You need..to get back."

Goddamnit, just push it back down and it'll go away.

Amarth did not heed the warning, extending his arm to try to help Draconis.

"I..told you..to get..BACK!"

I can't stop it. Just fucking concentrate. I will not allow myself to be weak like this. CONCENTRATE, GODDAMN YOU!

Tiny wisps of black enveloped Amarth's legs, making their way up his body. Soon they covered him head to toe and a horrific vision began to occupy Amarth's mind.

Bodies strewn across a vast plain. The nearby creek runs crimson with their blood. There are only two left standing: Amarth and a boy, about 16. Both have drawn their swords.

I'm supposed to control this. I CAN control it.

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

Enzeru watched from a distance as Draconis's aura began to engulf Amarth. Enzeru trembled a bit as he began to wonder what horrific visions Amarth was seeing at the present. The gunman knew too well the strength of Draconis...he had seen his greatest evil...and once had been more than enough.

Petra stood next to Enzeru watching as well, and soon moved forward, as if to help her samurai brethern. She was stopped immediately though by Enzeru's outstretched arm. The scout looked up into Enzeru's eyes, which were still locked on Amarth and Draconis and let out the slightest of gasps. The usual good-natured glimmer that sparkled in Enzeru's eyes had been extinguished and replaced by a look of despair and horror.

"Amarth...he...knows what he's doing...he'll be...fine.." the words seemed hard for him to get out.

This is insane...he can't be human...he's...he's still standing...

Amarth

The boy gazed at Amarth with absolute hatred. "You killed them all. My father, my brother, all of them. I don't care if I die, so long as I take you with me!" He wobbled weakly towards Amarth, making some attempt at holding up a sword, but Amarth simply sheathed his weapon and walked away.

"Enough," Amarth said as he walked out of the smoke, "I made peace with my demons long ago. That technique won't work on me. But I want to know, why would you use it anyway?"

Dixie

Petra watched these events unfold with feelings of despair and compassion that came from a place inside her she didn't know existed. Was she actually beginning to care about her companions? Was her fate now inextricably entwined with their own? When she looked up into Enzeru's eyes, she knew that it was.

When Amarth layed Draconis across the back of his stead, Petra stepped forward meekly and spoke to the horse softly.

"Dearest brother, carry my friend with gentle and sure steps. Please honor him and don't let him fall from you."

As she spoke these words to the horse, she felt Enzeru's arm around her shoulders and she let herself be held only for a moment, breathing in the warmth of her companion, before breaking away and mounting her own horse.

__________________
talk is cheap, so i buy every word you said.
scared me half to death, now i'm half dead.

Amarth

SSJwrestler

Amarth

Draconis

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!