Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Infab]

"A bit early to be reveling in the chaos you've caused, is it not?" she said, her words dripping with venom. "So early before the summit. Tell me, have you come to create more widows, perhaps announce genocide of a different people?"

Velin froze, looking down at the woman dressed in armor and decorated in purplish-black feathers. She instantly recognized the face and voice. She didn't speak, however. Instead, her expression shifted to one filled with great remorse. She looked down towards the ground, her grip loosening on Undite's hand. But Undite tightened her grip, and soon spoke up for her fellow goddess. "Have you the slightest inkling of any shame whatsoever, you disgusting vulture?!" spat Undite, her voice filled with an anger that actually made Velin look to her in shock.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"I am here on business. Not your playful game of dumping degenerates into the sand and watch them wrestle. I'm not one of your little pirate buddies, either. I am an ordained government Ambassador. You do know what that is, right? Right? You see our ship out there? That is ours. We also have a navy. With bigger boats. You know what big boats are, right? Bigger than any of the floating shit heaps around here. Military vessels."

Piki narrows his eyes at Rupbert. He complied, but that doesn't mean Piki's any happy about it. It's always the pompous and arrogant types that get dumped here he hated, but also wanted to see broken the most. Maybe if he's still lucky, he might just see that. That's at least worth not torching this man for.

"...Fine." he grunts. He pulls out a flaregun, loads a white colored shell into it, and fires it into the air. "Oi, an' 'ere's a teep, poes. Jus cos ahm a fuckin' 'merciless tribal savage' as jou fucks say, it dun't mean am not smart. Ah know wot a fokken 'militri vessel' is. Ah fought dem."

Meanwhile, in the distance, the door to a nearby warehouse opens up and out comes a Staafman; clad in his prison jumper and clipboard in hand. Trailing behind him are two other Warders acting as bodyguards. "Yes, yes, what is i-" He stops, squints at Rupbert curiously, and circles around him slowly until he stands in front of him. "...May I help you?"

Fortunately for Rupbert, this man's Atracan is not blemished by any sort of uncivilized accent.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille was rather taken aback by that response, not understanding who the woman scolding her was yet not backing down in the slightest. She tightens her lips, remaining all the more furious internally. "The ability to feel shame was robbed of me long ago. I criticize your friend openly because the world burns around her and she is the one who lit the pyre."

"Pardon me for saying such, but I do not recognize who you are. Are you one of her angels?" At this point it was clear the huntress had little care for earning the favor of gods, let alone recognize them or fear them. "With all due respect, and I mean that sincerely, my questions are legitimate and I am expecting answers."

 

[Infab]

"With all due respect, and I mean that sincerely, my questions are legitimate and I am expecting answers."

Velin spoke up shortly afterwards, her voice soft instead of commanding like it normally was. "...This is Undite. My fellow goddess of the Five Divine." she said, looking to Camille only for a moment before looking away. "Oui, I am Undite. I am trying to help her fix things, mademoiselle. She has renounced her old ways, she has ended the purges, disbanded her Order, is reforming the Inquisitorium and Church, and is trying to fix the state of the world through peaceful means instead of wanton genocide. That is why we are having a summit in the first place." stated Undite, motioning her bloodied hand towards Velin as she continued looking at Camille. Something seemed a little off about the visor-like cloth over her eyes, as faint traces of a glowing red were bleeding through in the now dulling light of afternoon.

 

[Dmaster]

A vampire goddess? This was news to Camille but that did explain the outburst, at least partially. Even still the huntress made little effort to be any less confrontational, her stance shifting its weight slightly as she continued to look to the both of them.

"I am Camille Giguere, not a vulture as you described." she says flatly. "As thrilled as I am to make the acquaintance of yet another conveniently-absent deity I cannot say I am particularly happy to meet you like this."

"As the world is in turmoil thanks to the decisions of your friend, said decisions have also affected my life adversely despite not being targeted by her purges." the huntress said, glaring at Velin where the goddess could not even stand to look at her. "Feeling shame, trying to pick up the pieces. It does little for the lives lost, for as difficult it is to admit one's wrongdoing. By the time this summit is over, I will make my standpoint perfectly clear. Once the decisions are made, the both of you should leave us to go and meander about in heaven. Leave the world to the people still living rather than putting it in jeopardy."

 

[Breadman]

"I hope you understand her clearly class." Theodore spoke after Angelica was finished. The children nodded, either because they did or because they wanted to seem like they did. The boy seemed to be less uneasy now. He looked more relaxed. Maybe they got through to him? They would find out soon enough. Hopefully this entire day would stick with them. They met plenty of people already from different walks of life that chipped in with some life advice, a vampire that showed the very same characteristics of any ordinary human would should serve as a reminder to them to be more careful with their judgement. At least he hoped so. You never know these days. He quickly glanced to the clock to see how they were doing, then he turned his attention back to the Madam.

"Unfortunately our time is running short and we wouldn't want to keep you from any important work you're doing. Should your circus come to town sometime in the future, please do send the word out. I'm sure the kids would be delighted to see the sights and meet your entourage."

"Yeah, please do!" an enthusiastic voice cried out, followed by the others agreeing in their own loud way.

"So far everyone they met has given them some parting advice and you've given plenty already." The teacher continued "But is there anything else you would like to tell them?"

 

[SniperComZero]

It seemed that Victorié was not the only one running towards-- as opposed to away from the danger. A small crowd had formed a respectable distance away from the alleyway's exit, observing the three bickering figures that had emerged from it. The two mages from earlier, and a third-- in garb not entirely unlike her own... though, the way it fitted to her, it would certainly more be Gwenaelle's style than hers. Her ears pricked up at the mention of something else, however. There are gods, meandering around, right here? This would be an unbelievably valuable learning experience for her. Even more than she'd initially thought.

She shoved her way to make it closer to the front. Not to have a front row spot to draw that much attention to herself-- her dress already did that enough by itself, when compared to the suits and gowns she was surrounded by. This conversation is far more fascinating to her now than she'd anticipated.

 

[Infab]

"As thrilled as I am to make the acquaintance of yet another conveniently-absent deity I cannot say I am particularly happy to meet you like this."

"As the world is in turmoil thanks to the decisions of your friend, her decisions have also affected my life adversely despite not being targeted by her purges." the huntress said, glaring at Velin where the goddess could not even stand to look at her. "Feeling shame, trying to pick up the pieces. It does little for the lives lost, for as difficult it is to admit one's wrongdoing. By the time this summit is over, I will make my standpoint perfectly clear. Once the decisions are made, the both of you should leave us to go and meander about in heaven. Leave the world to the people still living rather than putting it in jeopardy."

Undite seemed to twitch slightly. "Conveniently absent?!" she spat, before Velin tugged on her hand. Undite's head snapped about, and Velin gently shook her own head. Undite exhaled sharply, before looking back to Camille. "I would have preferred to never meet you at all, as I told Mariette and Aleister both on Grimtham years ago. But now, it is for a completely different reason." She glanced to Velin once more, then back to Camille. "I am not leaving, vulture." she responded, saying the word with extra spite. "I will help right the path of the Church and the Inquisitorius. I will continue to help the Mortal Realm in every way I can until my body fails me."

 

[Dmaster]

Camille sucks her teeth and shakes her head. "Quel dommage..." she mutters to herself, sighing before looking up to Undite again. "All of you gods are the same. You sit on the highest seat of power with thralls of servants ready to do your bidding in an instant, yet the lot of you are petulant children tugging on strings that bind the world together. Uncaring like an infant near a harp."

"You met Aleister and Mariette on Grimtham, goddess?" the huntress spits as she crosses her arms over her chest. "The former is now a terrorist leading a sovereign group of desperate refugees which he manipulates to attack the innocent, the latter betrayed our inquiry before unfortunately turning herself into a pile of ash in self sacrifice. Enlighten me Undite, what exactly did you discuss with them?"

"Your 'help' is unneeded. You only serve to make things worse than they were before you arrived. As for Velin, she tried to sway me to kill my comrades after our mission - and arrived much too late to use her almighty powers for something good for once. Yet I was the one called useless." Camille utters, gritting her teeth. "Because of the both of you the kill I am owed now has diplomatic immunity, my husband is likely burning in hellfire, and I've had to tear myself away from the remainder of my new family to state just how sick the situation is."

"It is all the fault of your meddling. Things would be better without you and your Church."

 

[Infab]

"It is all the fault of your meddling. Things would be better without you and your Church."

Undite actually paused for a moment, tilting her head slightly. "...Petulant children?" she said, her voice almost a whisper. "Camille Giguere, I have walked this world for hundreds of years. Not once have I ever asked my servants to do anything for me. I have done things myself for as long as I can remember. I care about every single living being in this realm. That means you too, as much as I absolutely despise you right now. If you say I don't, then you don't know me in the slightest. Adona cares for you. If he didn't, you would all have perished a long time ago. Or, you would have never been born. Even if fate willed it."

"Yes, I met Aleister and Mariette on Grimtham. I attempted to help them as well as your group, while I searched on for something that I had been looking for for countless years. I've come to realize that what I was looking for doesn't exist. I warned them both not to ingest Romanov blood. I gave Mariette one of my grimoires to assist your group. I gave Aleister one of my blessed necklaces to enhance his holy magic. Am I responsible for what they did afterwards? No. Their paths were likely already chosen for them by fate. Only Adona knows. Do I feel horrible for not staying to help you? Do I feel horrible for not helping them stay on the path? Yes. I do. I regret it every day. I regret a lot. So many things through history, I regret. It physically hurts."

"As much as you hate the gods and divine, we will always be here. We will be here to help those that wish for us to, regardless as to if you wish for us to or not. I will make no excuse for Velin's absence. It is one she has already explained, and one she regrets. She has renounced her old ways, as I've said. She is trying to correct herself and the things she's done. She is trying to fix the world, and I am going to help her. And if it makes you feel better in even the slightest way, she will be leaving after everything has been settled. She will be going to Nirdonia to live in solitude until she fades away. I will lose the closest friend I've had in my long existence. So I hope that, when she's gone, you will be happy."

"Without the Church, you likely would have either never been born, or born into demonic slavery. The Church worked with the archangel Raziel, located our artifacts, and banished Taranoch and his horde back to the Abyss. Yes, that's right. Divine intervention was needed. Your 'kill' is right down there at the end of the street in the Fairweather Hotel. Go get it. I caution you, however. You likely won't make it to him. And frankly, I'm surprised you are married. I feel sorry for your husband, both for being sent on the mission into the Abyss and for being married to you. I hope he returns to the Mortal Realm safely. I feel sorry for your children as well. I shall be praying for them, especially if they're being raised by you."

 

[Dmaster]

Camille laughs hollowly at that explanation, finding the lecture to be absolutely asinine given all that she has suffered through. "Do you expect pity from me? You care so deeply yet I am met with outbursts and insults to my character and parenting." she replies back, a hand she raised to her cheek falling and making a sweeping motion between the goddesses.

"All I hear from you is contrivance and empty calls to action. Oui, I shall be elated to know that Velin will isolate herself from us so that she may never cause further damage again. Oui, I am certain that Adona and your hodgepodge of heroic friends work in mysterious ways far too complex for a mere mortal such as myself to grasp. You all care for us so much you cannot stand to be present for more than a few moments at a time. There is no convention, no order. You are all just all powerful children who pop in and out at your leisure, laying mighty artifacts in the dirt for madmen and monsters alike to pluck because fate ordains it."

"The gods continuing to be here for us does not instill me with much confidence, as I am certain that this is only the beginning of your mistakes catching up with you. When divine intervetion is necessary, who comes to intervene when the intervention was shortsighted and stupid?!" the huntress asks with yet more venom.

"And for the record, I am here for my children to make sure Velin does not make yet another horrible mistake. It is far too late for me to kill Aleister now that he is so deeply embedded as a political leader, but I will be sure he is brought to justice. Not 'rot in a prison cell to think on what he has done', true justice. If I have to call the both of you divine idiots to even bring me a single meter closer to that goal, I shall. Gladly."

"The depths of your care go ever so low, Undite. I feel nothing but comfort for how you restrain yourself to not bare your fangs at me and also wish my family the best as if living with me is torture. As I said before, the both of you are so utterly disappointing."

"Such a disgrace." Camille states with a tone of finality, turning on her heel and storming off. She slips back into the crowd and back into Red Gorge proper.

 

[Infab]

Undite and Velin watch as Camille turned about and stormed off, disappearing back into the rest of Red Gorge. Eventually, Velin gently tugged on Undite's hand. "...She's...determined to be right, Dominique. Its like arguing with...Well, me." she said softly. She then looked at Undite, whom was still staring at where Camille had disappeared off to. "...Dominique?" she said, trying to get her friend's attention. Eventually, Undite looked about at Velin. "Are...Are you alright?" she asked, a look of worry on her scarred face.

Undite stared at her for a few moments, before looking back through the crowd. Eventually, Undite spoke. "...No, I'm not alright. That woman is just...unbearable." she replied, before looking to the small crowd that had gathered around them. "Everyone, please...go on about your business. This is a matter for the constabulary and the Atracan military." she said, motioning to the alleyway. She waved down a pair of soldiers and a constable, explaining what happened in the alleyway as Velin stood off to the side, her arms crossed. She didn't want to be here. Not right now. And when Undite looked back around, she wasn't there. Undite looked about, before eventually sighing softly. She hoped she'd be alright.

Undite took one more look around, before moving through the crowd herself. She wiped her hands off on her robe as she went, not caring if it got dirty at the moment. Her mind was elsewhere, on one person in particular. If she was right, he'd be in the graveyard. And if she wasn't, the gravedigger would know where he was.

------
​

Purgatory, a few minutes later...


Velin sat leaned forward on her seat, looking down at the ground as she held herself. Elbows resting on her knees. The two angels beside her looked to her, wondering if their goddess was going to speak or just needed a moment. And soon, she did. "...Bring me Francis Adams." she said, still gazing down at the fallen leaves in the expansive misty forest.

 

[SniperComZero]

Victorié ended up shocked at the whole ordeal. Never in an eon did she think she'd see a god up close. Much less two-- and someone berating them up close like that. Though, the more she thinks on it, the less she recognises either of them. The names she can vaguely recall being tossed around in the paltry amount of new literature she's been studying, but otherwise, she just doesn't know. Was it some sort of new human pantheon? But what could have possibly--

Focus, Victorié. You can conduct your research when there are less important matters to hand. The crowd was dispersing at the hooded goddess's behest, meaning that she'd be best to ask anyone now. "Ah, pardon, excusez-moi?" She tapped one of the-- or, what she presumed was one of the peasantry here on the shoulder, with a practised, but quite dry delivery. "Would you know where I would be able to secure lodging for a dozen-and-half of people?"

 

[Infab]

Victorié's tapping forced the one in front of her to turn about, and soon found herself gazing upon...another elf. This one, however, did not come from their native lands in northeastern Escaria. This one had a far different accent, sounding more like some of the humans that were wandering about. "Ah, finally. I was wondering when you and your lot would show your faces." she said, placing her hands on her hips as she turned about. Now with a good look, Victorié could clearly tell. This was one of the elves that had broken away long ago, wandering away from their native lands and moving across the continent to the northern coast of Atraca. Her head was half shaved, the left side cut almost down to the skin with sheers, while the rest of her hair was still long and swooped over to the right side of her head. She bore a few scars and some tribal paint, and dark colored clothes and leather. She certainly looked different compared to her eastern counterparts. "Arwen Nist. Was a queen, now I'm not."

She pointed towards the north end of town. "There's a field where the rest of us are staying. We've made camp there...and I guess you're welcome there too. The farmers don't mind. If you don't want that...there should be a hotel around here somewhere with some rooms left."

 

[SniperComZero]

Out of everything, the last thing that Victorié had expected was an honest-to-the-gods elf standing right in front of her. Of course, it was one of the western variety, who would treat her with about as much disdain as she'd treat the common dwarf. ...Perhaps she should follow up to check how they're doing one of these days. Regardless, it left the mage dumbstruck for a moment or two. She always had a sort of interest in how they carried themselves. It's like they were trying to ape off of the look of mages, but just... all of them. It was a second before she had actually processed what the-- the supposedly queen had told her. The options laid out before her were either to try and exchange currency and have the unlikely prospect of finding a 'hotel', or a few with rooms for everyone, so that they can brood on their own. Or, potentially have a stronger delegation of elves, and really, just have some nice catching up.

"...Oh-- well, I suppose that I am able to spare the comfort of... whatever humans live in here to catch up with brethren, non?" Her voice, what with being much less ancestral, and overall familiar, to Atracan had a tough time adapting, leaving her voice a bit stilted in its speech. "Victorié Kynewearde." Her introduction was short, sweet, and punctuated with a bow of her head. "Expect me there soon, if you are heading in that direction." With that, she left Arwen to her own devices, vanishing back amongst the crowd in the direction of her horse.

["We're heading that-a-way."] She pointed in a northward direction as she saddled up. It did seem strange to her that they had to stay outside of town, however. Perhaps it's just by choice?

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Hampton glared up at the approaching Staafman from around the lank handkerchief which he used every other minute. Gods, if only that sun would go down faster. And now he had to deal with another one of these dogs. Seeing the man in that dreary, hideous uniform with a clipboard reminded him of a similar scene nearly... what was it, nearly forty years ago now. Unsurprisingly, things hadn't much improved since then. Why Atraca didn't burn this place to the ground when they had the chance was beyond him. At least this one spoke like a person. Mostly.

"I don't know what you people hear about what happens on the continent aside from whatever filth those buffoons spill," Hampton said, gesturing at the ships around the coast, "but to make this as short as possible... there is an island, a nation, of supernaturals way up north now. Nocturne. Following the mayhem of war on the continent, there will be a national summit in Atraca. All the nations are invited. Not a single Adonian nation gives a rat's ass about this island, and frankly, neither do I. I've already been here once and if I had a choice in the matter, I'd say you should all be thrown into the mining pits and buried. Regardless... my masters sent me here for two reasons. First, to extend an invitation to your... ahem, government... to join the summit. Second, to work out a business deal. In short, we need manpower. For manual labor. Factories, mining, things that you are already all acquainted with. In exchange," Hampton took a deep, manual breath, wincing, "we would be willing to recognize Caraborough's right to self-government following their abandonment. That means, legally, no country from Adonia can mess with you, outside formal warfare. In which case there is the possibility that Nocturne could feasibly... work in a defensive capacity to protect this island."

The words made him want to vomit, but he finally got them out. If there were enough vampires and werewolves with the commitment, they could just kidnap these fools and make them slaves. Like in the good old days with the colonial runs. Having to ask the convict scum was the equivalent of asking a dog permission to beat it. It was absurd. And to think he volunteered for this task to curry favor....

---

Angelica shook her head. "No, sir, I do believe I have said all I can. I am not the most learned woman around so my scholarly thoughts are limited. But, yes - should things return to normal, or get better, I do wish to return here with my troupe. I'd love to make a free visit here for all these delightful darlings."

"Now, if there is one thing left to do...." Angelica waved at one of the butlers and pointed at the kids. He had a tray in both hands that was half-filled with fresh croissants and small cheeses on little skewers. "You never let a child leave your care without food, of course!"

 

[K0mori]

Shortly after Velin's request, Francis was presented before her. He had a strange, lost look on his face, disbelief at his own death was evident in his eyes. "What... is... this? Am- am I dead? ...I'm not ready," he said in a low, breathy voice barely above a whisper. It didn't sound like a plea, but more of an observation, a statement of fact. "The work isn't done... there's so many of them."

 

[Infab]

Velin quietly listened to Francis, gently twitching slightly at his last comment. She glanced up, noting the lost look on his face. Soon, she spoke. "Yes, Francis...you're dead. This is Purgatory, where the souls of those who die are judged." she said softly. She looked back down to the ground and soon began her duties. "Francis Adams. You are here because you were killed by a constable of Atraca. A law enforcement official. The same official you murdered in cold blood. You have, in my name, killed countless innocents. I condoned this...which makes me just as horrible. I brought you into my order to murder and slaughter people simply because they were different...I never should have done that."

Tears were now dripping off her chin. "You murdered others as well before I even recruited you. Vampires, Werebeasts...You are a murderer...as well as an abuser, Francis. Through and through." Velin went quiet afterward, still staring at the ground. The angels on either side of her were watching her more than they were Francis. This was a shocking sight, truly.

 

[K0mori]

"Cold blood?" Francis said, dumbfounded. "Ma'am, he shot me first-" he started to argue, but closed his mouth as Velin began to describe his long history of violence. Slowly, his shock turned to fury as he watched the goddess begin to cry. "A murderer? For killing parasites and monsters!? What in the blasted hell has gotten into you, woman? I marched through a frozen wasteland, culling those rotten, twisted eaters of human flesh and blood under your banner. There was nothing horrible about it; I'm proud of what I did! And I'm proud that I chased them out of my village back in Grimtham; just look at what happened with that Duke Ashwood and his army of ghouls! You want me to pity those thrice-damned walking terrors after they've done, and continue to do?

"...Mark my words: if we don't finish them off, that Aleister, deranged, deviant priest that he is, will bring about an atrocity on a scale not seen since the Age of Darkness. He's gathered every vamp and werewolf that can fit on that accursed isle of his and he's already formed it into a force against common decency! Destroying harbors and killing innocents... and now he wants the blessing of the world, the blessing of the church, to do as he pleases without opposition! And you- you weep for their kind!? You haven't just abandoned us, you've betrayed us, vile woman!" Francis stood and marched up to Velin, spitting on her in disgust. "And of course you bring my wife into this - demon whore that she is - you women are all the same, aren't you? She deserved it. And if I wore the mantle of a god, I'd give you what you deserve as well!"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"I don't know what you people hear about what happens on the continent aside from whatever filth those buffoons spill, but to make this as short as possible... there is an island, a nation, of supernaturals way up north now. Nocturne. Following the mayhem of war on the continent, there will be a national summit in Atraca. All the nations are invited. Not a single Adonian nation gives a rat's ass about this island, and frankly, neither do I. I've already been here once and if I had a choice in the matter, I'd say you should all be thrown into the mining pits and buried. Regardless... my masters sent me here for two reasons. First, to extend an invitation to your... ahem, government... to join the summit. Second, to work out a business deal. In short, we need manpower. For manual labor. Factories, mining, things that you are already all acquainted with. In exchange, we would be willing to recognize Caraborough's right to self-government following their abandonment. That means, legally, no country from Adonia can mess with you, outside formal warfare. In which case there is the possibility that Nocturne could feasibly... work in a defensive capacity to protect this island."

As Rupert spoke, the Staafman wrote down the details of what he was saying down onto his clipboard. The insults didn't faze him, of course. Unlike Piki, he understood well that as a gangster there would be times where you'd have to sit and take lip no matter where it's coming from. Though what he proposed was rather... interesting. A partnership with Nocturne? What would a bunch of runaway vampires and werewolves want with an island full of outlaws, criminal scum, and social outcasts? If Nocturne of all places is coming to them, then truly straits must be dire back on the mainland. Still, whether this is a falsehood or not, he'll have to show this to Rigo; he will want to know. A partnership with a superior power could help their great plan come to fruition quicker.

"Nocturne..." The Staafman rubbed his chin in curiosity. Now where did he read that name before?... Oh, right. It was in a newspaper where the entirety of the front page was practically a blood oath against them. "Oh, you were the ones who bombed Devontown, right? That was some truly impressive work, might I say! Between you and I, we've spent years preparing to carry out the same." he says, adjusting his stance. "Regardless, I will have this message relayed to Lord Rigo. If he accepts, then you may expect us at this summit to speak with your leaders to better work out this partnership... Unless you prefer speaking to Lord Rigo yourself?"

 

[Emperor Sagan]

"It is a wonder what can be accomplished when you put enough fertilizer on a boat," Hampton muttered. He shook his handkerchief out, eyed it like a venomous snake, then tossed it into the ocean. He removed a second, fresh one from a pocket within his jacket and went back to dabbing his face. "Take my advice, whatever you do, you'll have the rest of the continent breathing down your neck. Imbeciles and hypocrites, the lot of them. The amount of times the Atracan authorities looked the other way when I... well, thats beside the point."

He wanted to leave now, and as far as he was concerned, the business was done. The message delivered. But he knew if something happened and this fell through, it would be his fault. How could he trust this man to deliver the message, or his superior would listen?

"This Rigo chap. I'll talk to him. And besides, I wanted to buy some things before I leave."

 

[Infab]

As soon as Francis finished speaking, the two angels next to Velin began to move. But Velin's movements stopped them. Lightning surged forth, crackling and flowing down off Velin's form. It rolled in waves down the sides of her stone throne, dissipating as it reached the ground. She stood, straightening up and glaring down at Francis. Her eyes had totally changed in color, now glowing solid white.

"How dare you...you disgusting excuse for a man." she growled, through gritted teeth. She stepped away from the throne, walking towards Francis. The lighting had actually shifted color now, no longer yellowish-white. It was now blueish in color, and continued to flow down her form in surging waves instead of singular streaks. "You...You are not even a man. You are the scum I would scrape off my boot." she soon spat.

And soon she would quickly step forward and grab Francis by the throat. The lightning crackled and stung, bringing near blinding pain to Francis. "Scum like you do not deserve to be hunters. Scum like you do not deserve families. Scum like you don't even deserve to live. I'm glad you're dead. I really am. The world no longer has to suffer your cancerous presence within it. And soon, I will not have to suffer your presence in my view." she continued to growl, as she lifted Francis off the ground. "But I will see you again very soon. And I hope you're suffering at that point. If you aren't, I hope I'm in a position to make you suffer."

A portal soon appeared nearby, the inside black and impossible to make out. "I condemn you to an eternity in the Realm of Wrath. Let them show you the same mercy you've shown to all your victims." she spat, before throwing the man through the portal.

 

[K0mori]

Falling into the abyssal portal, Francis realized all too late how truly weak he was beneath his bluster. It did not matter how little Velin's judgement meant to him, as it was not open for debate. His cries of terror were silenced as the portal closed behind him.

---
​

Back in the city of Red Gorge, the sun was setting. Dorothy sat on a bench, silently smiling and rubbing her thumb on the strange charm she wore on a strand of lace around her neck. Strangely, the thread was incredibly strong despite its short length, and could not be broken even if one were to forcefully tug on it. The charm, a gift from her "friend" in the Abyss, the Icon of Vainglory, was all that tethered her to the mortal world, now that her soul had become a mixture of human and demonic kind. Without it, she would find herself sliding through an unseen dimension separate from physical space, a transference from familiarity into the dark land where her soul now belonged. It was a token symbolizing her loyalty; should she betray her new master, he would take it back, and she would soon join him in hell.

But... it bothered her little. She was alive and fully restored, beautiful, forever beautiful, and forever young. It was everything Sazak promised. And now she had fulfilled her first task as his servant, to further torment her former husband by confronting him. She wasn't quite sure of how it happened, but she had known just when to reveal herself- before she ever turned down that dusty alleyway, she had known that it would result in Francis's death. There were other... oddities... to her life, now. But now, the bastard was dead and gone, and it had been so easy and satisfying to watch him crumple when the bullets struck him in the back.

Mysteriously, she felt another purpose to her being in Red Gorge. Someone was meant to meet her here, perhaps at this very bench beneath a shady tree, such an oddly perfect spot in an otherwise overcrowded city. And as she watched a crowd of a thousand anonymous faces milling about, there were suddenly a pair of eyes looking back at her, as if the two were entranced by each other's presence. The man approached, curiously but not cautiously, and soon, Dorothy Cooper and Christoph Heilmeier were face to face. "Hello, stranger," Dorothy greeted him. "Would you like to sit with me?"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"This Rigo chap. I'll talk to him. And besides, I wanted to buy some things before I leave."

The Staafman nods. "Very well. Follow me then. You may take any of your men with you as well, but they'll have to stay outside once we reach his office." he says, gesturing to the walkway Piki descended on. "I'll take you above in the walkways so you won't have to experience the rest of processing... again." The group passes above the crowds of dirty faces on the walkways hanging above, thankfully sparing Rupbert the utterly dreadful experience of having to get close to a mob of flea-bitten and mud-covered rejects from the mainland. Unfortunately, they still have to get through the slums, and the only walkway connecting inmate processing to the main prison complex was damaged and undergoing repairs. They have to make the rest of the journey on the ground; meaning, cramming themselves through several meters of trash and outbreaks of violence among rusted steel and broken concrete.

​

Piki placed himself at the front of the group and strode forth through the slums; clearing the way and menacing anyone who got too close with his flamethrower. Meanwhile, other Warders joined them and formed a protective circle around Rupbert and his fellow sailors. They too shoved off or even shot anyone that was looking for trouble, though that didn't stop other gang members or 'franse' from making rude gestures at him or shouting equally vile taunts to him. Still, they marched onward through the filth towards the bleak, lifeless, and oppressive looking square building towering above all in the distance. Interestingly, the closer they got, the cleaner their surroundings were. The gangsters also gradually began looking more and more refined and well-dressed. Their clothing options weren't an absolute clashing nightmare of color choices any more, much like how the East Atracan Bombers dressed as they marched past their hideout, but far more appealing to the eye, like the blue button shirts, blue work pants, and black bandannas of the Florentine Blazers. In fact, the air itself smells a lot better too. It almost smells like someone was burning incense nearby. Seems like all the higher ranking, more powerful gangs of the Ridge were allowed to establish their territory around the Staafman's own turf; and unlike the other gangs, they actually tried to maintain the little land they owned. Eventually, they arrived at the main gates of the prison complex itself. The most obvious detail, perhaps the only detail on it there was besides the vandalized Atracan flag mural on its side, is a smaller mural painted on its massive metal doors. It's of three people: a geldmakker, a staafman, and a warder. The Geldmakker was dressed in fancy clothing and was in a pose showing off the many golden rings on his fingers. The Staafman stood high and looked down on Rupbert with a look of merciless authority in his eyes. The Warder was scowling heavily and was brandishing a long shiv. Above their heads was a number. A 76, a 77, and a 78 respectively. These marked the wings of the prison each of them originated from. Above that were also a set of words:

KEN DIE NOMMER. VOLG DIE NOMMER.
​

A reminder to anyone who's in charge of the Ridge now. The Staafman that had been guiding Rupbert turned around to face him before he orders the guards to open the gates. "Now, one more thing. I'm going to have to ask you for your gun. No one is allowed through if they're carrying 'power'. I'm sure you understand. It's part of procedure."

 

[Infab]

The walk around Red Gorge during the day was rather intriguing, as soldiers showed up finally for the Atracan delegation. Other delegations also began to show up, such as the Elves, the Tsar of Tsavania, the Sultan of Eshax, and the King and Queen of Florencia and Volucia. Even the Atracan Hunter's Guild was now wandering about, meeting and greeting some of the newcomers to their neck of the woods.

"Miss Lockhart, you don't have to continue to follow me tonight. Go, have fun, talk to people...but don't blow anything up unless you're entertaining the children." said Christoph, glancing back to Blair as she looked about. Blair's head snapped around. "Are you sure, Master Heilmeier?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm positive, Miss Lockhart." he responded.

Blair nodded, before strolling away. A smile on her face. He smiled as well, watching as she wandered off, before turning about and continuing through the crowd. And soon, someone caught his eye. It was an odd feeling, as if something was drawing him towards her. He knew that feeling all too well. A particular Icon's influence.

He moved through the crowd cautiously, eventually reaching her at a bench beneath a tree. And then she spoke.

"Hello, stranger," Dorothy greeted him. "Would you like to sit with me?"

"I would be delighted to, madame." he replied politely. He took off his top hat, sitting down on the bench across from the beautiful young woman. His eyes, however, were drawn to her necklace. The source of that powerful aura. Definitely Sazak's influence.