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

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Loque, finally drifting off to sleep, tries making an effort to dream of happier times... It doesn't work. She tosses and turns restlessly as memories of herself relaxing back at home are burned away into something a little less recent.

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-200 years ago, somewhere deep within the Abyss.-

The soft noises in the vast expanse of the forest grew louder, those of untamed fires consuming everything in their path, those of large trees becoming weak and falling down into the inferno, but louder still was the sound of dried leaves being crushed into pieces under the quick feet of an almost bare, bleeding, and terrified madwoman. She had to keep moving, no matter how higher and intense the fires became; being devoured by them would be a far greater mercy than whatever it was she was running from. Where she's fleeing to however, didn't matter. All that mattered right now above all else was that she needed to get away. She wasn't interested in seeing where she was going, something which proved to be a mistake when a tree fell over and nearly crushed her. Another one fell behind her, and another one, as did another. Within moments she'd been surrounded by flames, yet she was frozen stiff upon seeing something else circle around her. Through the fire, she almost saw something was moving within them. Something large, something tall, something that was burning brighter than the fires around her. It stepped forward to her, almost without a sound until it spoke:

"Step towards me child, do not be afraid... I shalt offer thee salvation from this torment."

Instinctively, she picked up a few rocks and hurled them at this thing. "F-Fuck off!" she screamed. "Get away from me!" This didn't deter this knight of embers one bit as it ominously kept it's pace. "I said FUCK OF-" A swing of the knight's blade cut her off from finishing her threat without warning. The woman fell back screaming as a new wound was sliced into her body, a bit of her blood being splattered on its armor. Before she even hit the ground she felt the knight's foot slam right into her chest, pinning her on the scorched dirt. Its sword came swinging down at her once again, blocked only by a rock and some very quick thinking. "Wh-What do you want from me!?"

The knight speaks again. "Only to grant you release from your suffering, child."

The woman screams back. "Does it LOOK like I want to die!?"

The sword got closer and closer to her face as it began splitting the rock in half by the knight's weight alone. There weren't any more stones nearby, and a stick wouldn't do anything, so she grabbed a fistful of the only thing left she could possibly use: dirt. Without any other options, she flung all of it at the knight's face. Miraculously, the knight stumbles back wheezing in pain, taking its foot off as it tried wiping the dirt off underneath its mask. A well-placed kick is planted on its shin as well, almost causing it to fall over. The woman wasted no time in rolling to her side, barely avoiding another blow from the knight as its sword came crashing down the very moment it regained its balance. It slashed manically at her, its sword nearly tearing her apart as it struck her again. She had no choice, the knight forced her to take her chances with the fires as she ran to leap through them. They were painful, they burned her, but it left her alive longer than that knight ever would allow. The knight followed, but when it emerged on the other side, she was gone. She disappeared, not even a blood trail was around to track her with.

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Perhaps, once she's gathered her wits and the necessary courage, she ought to ask Gödrun why she didn't bother chasing after her.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos was taking off guard by Takato's question such that he nearly choked on what he was eating in surprise. He looked at the oni quickly before laughing. "Erm, well... how do I best explain this? A succubus is a demon born of lust that uses people's darkest desires and wants and... well... uses that against them. In a variety of creative ways I might add. For example, the Mad King Ostarion who ruled a large portion of Northern Adonia many thousands of years ago summoned a succubus and it was well known that his lusts was what caused the downfall of his empire as his court fell more and more to depravity... to the point where his own subjects rebelled and executed him for this debauchery. While the succubus left as if it had never existed in the first place."

Venextos then sighed and looked down at his meal again. "Such is the fickle nature of men it seems."

 

[Damian0358]

Takato nodded slowly as Venextos explained the nature of the succubus, with an example even.

"Never has such a thing been discussed in the writings of Northern Redonia, though there are yokai that drain the life energy of others, the Three Treasures, through sexual contact, such as the kitsune seen most commonly in the north-east half, and the termagant ghost within Upper Redonia," Takato revealed, mentioning the nü gui as the pōfù gui, as commonly said in Southern Oni speak, though adapting it into Atracan using a gender-neutral term, "the termagant ghost..." he began musing, "most commonly female, though not only, a vengeful spirit it is, generally having experienced some sort of injustice... generally of a sexual fashion, having returned to take its vengeance against any whom may come across them, stealing their essence, or jing. Though some may kill them to take it, most will use some sexual means to draw it out. For humans, jing is often said to be stored in the kidneys, and that, in men, the production of a certain fluid, is among the most strenuous things on one's jing," Takato chuckled.

"Though, if I may continue," he said, before continuing anyway, "they don't merely seduce, as the kitsune would, but they terrorize too. Reminded am I of the zhiguai, the, ehm..." he tried to think of a translation, "...short anomalous story entitled the 'Drawing Out of Intestines', Chou Chang [抽腸], or the Disembowelment, named after one of the mythical eighteen tortures of the Abyss."

"In it, a male voyeur, one day, laid down to take a nap, when he saw what looked to be a woman enter his bed chamber. The woman bore herself, revealing a swollen stomach, to which she took a knife, cutting herself open from breasts to navel, before reaching into her bowels, and pulling out endless intestines. Soon, the chamber began to fill and the voyeur began to be buried in the entrails. He fought up frantically only to trip and fall, suffocating in the intestines," Takato finished his summary, "Though an example of what a termagant ghost could do, the Douean literatists near the old Imperial capital tell me of many analyses of the zhiguai, speaking how kitsune stories eroticize, while stories with these ghost horrifize, overpowering desire with nightmare. Inversely, claimed they have, this principle is for the stories where the ghost is of the opposite sex..."

Takato realized he was rambling on, looking as though he was speaking with someone else entirely, someone with whom he was far more chatty with, before additionally realizing that regaling the Chou Chang had probably made Venextos lose his appetite.

"A-Apologize do I, it has been a while since I could just... share information like so..."

 

[EdwardDewey98]

The train was certainly an impressive wonder. As huge as its creator's ego, Jakob figured. He didn't have a lot to say as the others boarded the train. He did notice the succubus host, but didn't say much to them. He knew of the lust demons, but wasn't interested in whatever they were selling. When Jakob walked into the cabin, he walked straight towards an empty bunk. He noticed Inari's lack of clothing, and simply looked away as he covered his eyes and sat down on his bed. "What a long day, eh?" he said, while glancing to Riberta. "If you girls need me to leave the room at some point, please do tell me. Last thing I want to be is a pest." As Aliana got on her bed, Jakob sat down on the couch in the room, sighing a bit. He took off his hat, rubbing his hand through his curly hair. Being a lycan had some benefits, really. When he was 25, Jakob was 'diagnosed with permanent baldness', but ever since he became a werewolf, his hair had been growing out. Cecil certainly didn't mind it.

Jakob chuckled as he thought about his wife. That woman was something else. Stronger than he ever could be on all fronts, and it only took a curse to break her down. No matter what, she continued to look at things from a positive perspective. If it wasn't for her, and people like his son or his friend William, Jakob would have been a closed-minded nobody. Working down in the mines or living with the other swampfolk in the swamps. He reached down into his jacket's pocket and drew out a little instrument. His mother's harmonica.

The little harmonica had witnessed the best moments of the inquiry three years ago. That evening at the vampire tavern was something else. He remembered how Camille gave Aleister a kiss! That was a good day. If only things didn't go the way they went. If that bastard Wallace didn't toy with him the way he did, he wouldn't have been so careless. He could have been there when Valeria needed the inquiry the most. He could have been there to help Rosanna. He could have been there to tell Mariette how much she actually mattered. He shook his head. There was no need to ruin the good memories with those painful reminders of failure. He was here to set things right again, after all.

He looked down at the harmonica, and smiled. He hoped that Rosanna still had the guitar that he gave her that day. He began playing it again, just a few minutes, to not annoy those around who were trying to sleep. At least, not too much.

 

[Frankafurter]

Uloth half-listens to Takato's story with her posture resuming the one prior to her meal, head propped up in her hand with her eyes closed and elbow on the table. She feels satisfied by Loque's meal despite not eating a large amount of it. She's used to rationing food out so she never got attached to gorging oneself on food unless there was an absolute glut of it. She dozes in the chair, never truly falling asleep but feeling vaguely restful in her state. She's ready to react to people addressing her though, or any suspect noises for that matter.

 

[Fubuki]

Aliana laid there with her face buried into the coat, trying to find some semblance of rest. She was supposed to be happy she's finally off her strained feet, able to lay down for once in what felt like years. Yet she wasn't, for a reason that eludes her still. She was supposed to be glad she's safe, to be in a warm spot next to someone she cares about. Yet...she wasn't.

She removes the coat from her face, looking on about the cabin from her position. Riberta is still there with her, Jakob is playing some...odd contraption and creating noise. It wasn't particularly wonderful to her sensitive ears, but she finds the melody soothing, in some way. Though, it does remind her of something.

Aliana recalls a song her mother would teach her, of a similar tone and note structure. She forgot the lyrics long ago, something she still chides herself over even now. It was some small Tsavanian nursery rhyme, supposedly every mother would sing their son or daughter the song and they'd go right to sleep. That would be a blessing right now, for her. She sits up, and moves herself near the edge of the bed, leaving her legs to hang off of it. She removes her rain cape, the uniform blouse she's wearing and her belt, leaving only a small undershirt left. There was a long running scar on her right arm, a remnant of a turbulent time.

She remembered the occasion, much too vividly. The knife burrowing into her skin, the piercing hot pain and all the blood. Men surrounded her, one driving the knife into her arm to demonstrate how she could heal faster than anyone they've seen, calling her a freak and an abomination. Aliana remembered screaming for her mother in that time among all the pain, and if she hadn't had the amulet with her at the time she would have surely slaughtered them all in a blind rage. She saw how her parents warded the men away, standing in front of her, then she sees Riberta, and Jakob only... Did she forget what her parents looked like now?

Her fingers gently run over the scar, before pulling it back. She lets out a small gasp, glimpsing her hand covered in blood, but a blink later and it's gone. She really does need sleep, wondering just how long she's been awake for, and if there is even any way to measure time here.

"Why do you persist resisting your fate?!"

Her voice screams at her from inside, "You are your past! A monster then, and a monster now!"

A headache is starting up, leaving her to hold her head. Her heart beats faster, and harder. Miserable, a mockery of all werewolves, she tells herself. A moment later, she slinks down to the floor with Riberta, cuddling up next to her as she shuts her eyes again, the voices seemingly stop as soon as she makes contact with her. "Safe," she thought, "Mother is here..." She repeats that over, and over, until her heart realizes she's not in danger.

Have some faith, that's all, Aliana.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari remained in her bunk, hands behind her head and eyes closed as she rested herself. Meditation was a good art to practice from time to time, though her mind was a little too busy to drift so easily off to a peaceful state of mind, including sleep. Nearly everything she had heard about the Abyss so far in their journey was marvelous. To many it was clearly a dark pit of despair, though with the unbridled release of passions, warfare, intrigue, and politics... it was more a dreamland to her than anything else. No doubt some nightmares lurked beneath the crystal waters of this dream, but those could be tackled with determination and strength. To think... taking land here, subjugating a clan of demons, carving out a bloodied little empire...

She heard Jakob say some words in the cabin as he arrived, along with a few notes from his harmonica as he gently played it. Fortunately for him, she wasn't trying to sleep. She was simply remembering more entertaining days.

---

Many Years Ago
Kowareta Warring States

"Susumu!"

The cry went up among thousands of throats as another section of the Nakatomi clan's venerable castle collapsed under a lengthy barrage of bronze cannons. It had taken several days and nights for the gun pieces to blast away at the stone, and several of the artillery pieces had deteriorated so badly that they were unable to be used any more. Already, two pieces had exploded from the weakening of the barrels, killing several gunners behind their wicker barriers. The guns had been old plunder from the now near exterminated Misho clan, who had a large store of these bronze beasts in already ailing condition. It was better to see them put to proper use in a single battle than take the time and supply to maintain them over any significant period while using them sparingly.

A retainer in light armor with cloth pulled up high and girded about his hips to keep from tripping during lengthy runs approached the command area, another section of the battle line shielded by wicker barriers, all coated with arrows and burn marks. Daimyo Shaguma Inari watched him run the gambit of bowmen and cannons. He was a young man and in good health to be a runner, taking it upon himself a task as important as actually fighting in the battle itself. He prostrated himself nearly a dozen feet away before jumping back to his feet and doing so again much closer now, settling down at the base of her feet with his forehead firmly against the ground.

"My Lady! The Shinsomori band has successfully taken the vanguard and the gatehouse is ours! The Nakatomi have constructed deep barricades within the castle grounds and appear to be fighting to the last."

This much was evident from where she sat, for she could already see their bright yellow sashimono banners upon the backs of each man - and woman - of the band perform a marvelous charge against the collapsed wall. The Shinsomori had swore fealty to her when their original masters, the Koto, surrendered to her after betraying their masters to avoid a war with her. The Koto were now dead and the Shinsomori, eager to prove their worth on behalf of the dishonor of their former liege, had put themselves at the front. The core of her army was often always bowmen and cavalry, with special bands of veteran samurai and retainers, leaving a vast bulk of peasant, foreigner, and simple levy forces to carry out the main tasks. The survivors of these forces eventually created their own bands within her army as they became veterans. It kept her from having to manage an impossibly large warhost while retaining a core of seasoned troops no matter where she went. The Shinsomori, for example, numbered nearly six thousand warriors. They would likely number less than one thousand after this. Like the tides and the moon, her host swelled in size depending on the campaign, going from many tens of thousands with normal levy troops, to merely a few thousand experienced warriors with their own retinues and retainers. She was a firm believer in improvisation and working with what you had. Only a fool would commit dearly to a set army size and panic when things went awry. War was meant to be fluid, as were her warriors, and so would be the organization.

Inari said nothing for a moment, waving her fan at herself as she observed the fight from afar. She alone couldn't tear down walls, unfortunately. "Find Majima. His blades will support the Shinsomori," she said to the messenger, finally standing up from her stool. Her personal retainers, also seated behind her, stood immediately. Several servants hurried over to present no-dachi to their masters, and help in fastening additional armor. Horses reared in excitement not far away as they, too, realized what this meant.

"We will follow Majima. Go, now." A squire appeared by her side and took her cloak, which she unfastened with one hand. Beneath was her full armor in the expected style, but with a metal multi-segmented chest piece. Black and red. Those were the colors for fall and winter, while white and red, sometimes with highlights of blue, marked spring and summer for the cloth of her legion. Aside from tradition, she enjoyed the colors of her troops when they resembled darkness in the cold, dreary months. There was also the additional practicality that black armor and cloth under the bright summer sun was less than enjoyable.

Her inner retinue - the Divine Hands - numbered about a hundred of the most seasoned and skilled samurai, all masters of their personal weapons and more. It was an open secret among those close to her that she was indeed a kitsune, that the Shaguma Clan was entirely kitsune with some adopted humans and yokai. To the common troops, the rabble, and the vast swath of Kowareta, it was a fiercely debated rumor as to what she was. Endearingly, or perhaps as an icon of their fear, the common troops called the Divine Hands by another name - the Bloody Paw, for they were used in direct strikes at the enemy. Fox motifs flourished in her army whether she wanted them to or not. The kitsune were as feared as they were worshiped, though none ever dared to speak aloud that Shaguma Inari was anything but what she presented herself as in public - a human woman.

At the sound of drums and horns, the Divine Hands took to their black warhorses and advanced down the hill and towards the broken wall of the castle. Their thundering hooves and musical accompaniment were clear - get out of the way. Those that were too slow or unable would have to pray that they wouldn't be trampled too badly underfoot. Inari led the charge, her retinue forming a monstrous hammer strike against the enemy barricaded in the courtyard. Most horses weren't keen charging into objects or spears, but not these beasts. They had been carefully trained and bred - and armored - to handle this method of attack. Light cavalry was best in most areas, Inari felt, but a small core of heavy cavalry was unstoppable.

The bodies of her own troops and the enemy littered the ground so thoroughly that it was almost impossible to avoid trading upon them. Majima, one of her trusted field officers, had formed a plug behind the Shinsomori band to ensure that they didn't become overwhelmed by the defenders counter-attacking them. His men were out of the way well before she arrived, but many Shinsomori in their yellow attire fell by being too slow.

As strong as the defense was, it began to crumble as her horses reached their barricade, some holding on with spears and others fleeing for the safety of the halls and inner chambers of the castle. Her horse barreled through and over the rubble they put up, and her yari-spear sliced heavy arcs to either side of her as she cut down the valiant defenders. She leapt from her horse as it finally came to a stop, still baring the spear and using it against several men who rushed forwards against her. The weapon never stopped move. A stab here, a swing there, a feint... the intensity of her attack couldn't be arrested and these common men fell like the rabble they were.

A wounded man with his helmet broken and a gash across his face roared a direct challenge against her. His eyes were blinded by his own blood and he raised his katana high in a two handed strike as he charged her, bellowing a strong "Banzai!" at the top of his lungs. He was already a dead man, but he wanted to go out against the enemy leader in the most honorable way possible. She respected his wish and charged him back, grinning, as her spear reached him before his blade could her. The point shattered the wood plate on his chest and she hefted his entire body up on the yari. Blood rained down upon her from this kill and she licked her lips. The blood of the bold always tasted best. Still holding the yari with the body hoisted up on the end, she squared her shoulders and jammed the opposite end of the spear into the grassy courtyard earth. A retainer hurried over and grasped the polearm with her to hold it in place. A death banner. The cheering was deafening.

Inari drew Kioshi, her spirit blade, and strode into the main hall amid the tumult of the battle around her. The Divine Hands bled into the groups of the Shinsomori and Majima's own soldiers, bolstering their attack as the fighting quickly reached its peak. Nearly a dozen common bannermen of the Nakatomi clan were waiting inside with swords in hand, and upon seeing her, they threw down their swords and prostrated themselves, their helmets banging against the stone floor. She paid them no mind as she strode past, hunting for the real prize. The family's retainers and chosen men, always located in the back with the family wherever they would be.

The first retainer didn't bother with any formalities as she found him in a nearby hall. His vigil had finally come to an end as his enemy approached, and within moments they were embroiled in a duel. Their blades occasionally clashed, metal on metal, though their fight resembled more of a dance as was befitting between two skilled warriors. Near misses, feints, and momentary disengagements as both fought for the definitive killing strike. The man was good - he lasted nearly a minute before Kioshi entered through the front of his neck and out the back. When she withdrew the sword, there was not a drop of blood left upon it as the blade drank it all deeply. The next retainers nearby came in a pair, and she toyed with them a little as both tried to keep her on the back foot, always flanking her. She dismembered one's leg in a low strike, and performed a chambering stab into the other's groin. Kioshi drank, and grew stronger. The following retainer at an intersection lost both his arms as her blade sang through his defense immediately.

The Nakatomi champion stood alone in the back of the castle, guarding the paper doorway into the family room. The lanterns were already out as it was sundown, and she could vaguely see a few seated figures on the other side. Inari smiled at the champion and bowed low, but as she looked back up, he was on his knees offering his sword. Her smile remained, but her eyes grew so intense, so fierce, that the man visibly paled behind the red oni-styled mask upon his face.

"I honorably surrender my sword and the charges of this house to you, feared one, Daimyo of the Blood, Shaguma Inari," he spoke, holding his sword as high as he could. "You have your prize. With the surrender of the house the fighting may cease. Please."

"The bodies lay so thick outside within the moat that one can walk over them, and now you choose to surrender?" She asked, stepping towards the man. He remained motionless. "You tease me with nearly a week of fighting, whereas pyramids of the heads of your men and mine adorn each sides respective battlements, and at the final moment... you choose to surrender your sword and the house?" There was a slight tremble in his arms now as she spoke, his katana wobbling in his proffered hands.

"Lord Nakatomi has already fled with his wife. He has left his daughters and third son to you as an offering of peace," the champion said. His voice was growing hoarse already. "And what of the first and second sons?"

"Hayoshi is out of the province, my Lady. The second son... took his life when the wall fell."

Inari sheathed her katana and drew her tanto, stepping around behind the prostrated samurai. She kicked the sword out of his grasp and knelt behind him, wrapping one arm around his neck and holding him in place. "Remove your helmet and mask."

With shaking hands, the samurai complied, tossing the headgear aside as her tanto casually lingered against his chest as he was held steady by her other arm nearly crushing his neck. "Please, my Lady..." he choked out.

"I graciously respect your surrender. Your desire to end the fighting is laudable. And for that, I shall not take your life. Instead-" She brought her tanto-dagger not to his neck, but level to his eyes. In one one simple horizontal slice she pulled the blade across his face. His screams were loud enough to shake the paper on the door behind him, and as she stood, she planted one foot against his back and kicked him to the ground.

"Your master is a craven and a coward, and for not taking his life when you should have, you will never have a chance to fail that duty again," Inari said, looking down at the screaming, blinded samurai writhing upon the floor. She watched him for a moment before delivering a kick directly to the side of his head.

"And that is for denying me a champion kill. Your failure of duty disgusts me."

Without a further glance at the disgraced champion, Inari turned to the door behind her. She could already hear crying within, and her grin returned as she opened the door. Within were the people promised - three daughters and a son - dressed in their best kimonos. They had at some point been seated beside each other in a presentable manner, but now they were huddled together, holding each other and weeping. The son tried to look presentable as he stared up at the bloody samurai in the doorway with their champion spasming on the floor outside, face drenched in blood.

"Mmm... so the Nakatomi clan is as beautiful as they say," Inari said, stepping inside, her shadow lingering over the heir to the house and his siblings. She twirled her bloody tanto, allowing the crimson to fly off and splatter upon the floor and skirts of the Lord's children before sheathing it.

"W-what... what is it you want from us?" The third son asked meekly.

"Well, aside from your riches and the land..." She stepped closer towards them. "Perhaps I shall take a husband, too?"

 

[Infab]

It wasn't long before the train started to move, lurching forward as the whistle outside sounded off once more. The massive engine began to slowly pick up speed, pulling the train away from the station and down the tracks. Cat and Wesix departed from the hallway where Gödrun was standing guard, moving back through the passenger car to some other location. It was likely they'd be back to check on them, but for now, they'd be left to rest.

Riberta glanced over as Jakob began to play on his harmonica. She never really saw the appeal of the instrument, as it simply sounded like noise to her. The same went for that weird instrument the Atracan Highlanders loved to play. Bagpipes, or whatever they're called. She pulled a knee up closer to her chest, resting her arm on it, before noticing that Aliana was moving. She slipped down onto the floor with her, cuddling up to her arm. Riberta eyed the elf for a few moments, wondering why she wasn't using the bed, before sighing.

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​

Hundreds of years ago in the forests of eastern Daristein, during the early part of the Age of Darkness...

"[...By the gods...What have you done, Riberta?]"

"[What I needed to do.]" responded the muscular woman, cutting a hateful look to the tanned, long haired spearman nearby. She slung the broken iron sword in her hand down, the weapon hitting the dirt with a thud. Punctuation to the act she had just committed. The other half of the weapon was still lodged in the chest of Chieftain Drogon, whose corpse sat still on the ground inside his hut. His blood stained her clothes and skin, dark red covering most of her torso and face. The village around them was littered with corpses, most of them belonging to Drogon's own forces and their families. No one was spared. Men and women had been cut down in combat, children had been run down by horses, babies had been slain in their cribs. None would survive this night.

And Riberta was the one that had lead this massacre.

"[You could have simply fought Drogon, like tradition demands. You didn't have to massacre his entire clan.]" said Orderic, as he motioned with his spear at the surrounding bodies. "[Tradition?]" responded Riberta, her voice bearing an angry tone, "[Did Drogon follow tradition when he ran my husband through with a spear during a hunting trip? What about when is men invaded our village and killed most of us? Or when he personally killed my children?]" She paused, glancing over to where her men were moving about. "[Damn tradition.]" Orderic went silent, as he looked away. Nearby, some of Riberta's fighters were lighting the various huts of the village on fire. Reducing whatever was inside to ash. As one hut nearby went up in flames, Orderic finally spoke again. "[...The rest of Drogon's warriors will return and find what you've done. Then they'll want vengeance.]"

He glanced over to Riberta, only to find that she was now smiling. And her eyes were now a bright yellow. The eyes of a lycan. "[Let them come. I'll be happy to send them swiftly to whatever afterlife awaits them.]" she said, glancing to Orderic, "[...then once they're all dead, I'll begin hunting Giseler's clan. And then Lothar's. All the others that refused to help us...refused to help me.]" Orderic's eyes widened. "[You can't be serious, Riberta. You can't just hunt down every clan in the region and slaughter them!]"

Riberta's eyes traveled back to Orderic, locking onto his. "[...And who will stop me? This is something they brought on themselves. And now that I have the strength to do it, I'll see it through. No one will harm my clan ever again.]" Orderic looked horrified. The grief and power has driven her mad! "[...If you do this, I won't help you. It's not right.]" he said, finally turning about and starting to walk away. He wouldn't take very many steps, however, as soon he was grabbed by the back of the throat. As he struggled to free himself, he felt himself being dragged. Right towards one of the burning huts.

The other warriors of Riberta's small army looked on as their warlord tossed one of the few remaining original members of her clan into the fire. And stood there as his agonizing screams filled the night air. She showed no sign of emotion, her yellow eyes gazing into the intense flames of the hut until his screams faded to nothingness.

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​

The Present Day, elsewhere in the Abyss...

"And so I was tellin' him that ya gotta watch out for those demons of gluttony. Those fucks will eat literally anything. Includin' other demons." said the fleshy, pink demon as he stirred the spoon about in the pot before him. The stone demon nearby chuckled. "Yeah, a friend of mine got his leg bit off by one. Surprised they ain't all fat fucks like the Icon himself." As the fleshy demon stopped stirring the pot, he noticed that it had become eerily quiet inside the cavern they were in. Far more quiet than usual. Often times, there would be squeaks from some of the vermin or bats that flew about. Now, there was nothing.

​

"...What the hell happened to the sound? Did I go deaf?" asked the stone demon, with a bit of a grunt afterwards. He glanced over to the fleshy demon, whom shrugged and looked about as well. Then, there was a faint whisper in the darkness around them. Simply two words. "Get out." The pair of demons looked at one another, then chuckled. "Oh great, we got one of them spooky types." said the fleshy demon, with a grin.

Then the voice was louder and more forceful, and said far more than just two words. "Get out of here before we cave your skulls in." said the voice. A woman's voice. The stone demon grunted, before looking to his comrade. "Let's go. Thought this place was empty, but I guess not." he said. The fleshy demon whined, but stood and took his pot with him. They wandered out of the cavern, heading towards the opening where faint light was gleaming through.

Soon, the cave was quiet again, as the fading footsteps of the demons finally vanished. Then, forms began to manifest out of the darkness of the cave itself. They shifted and contorted, before eventually forming several humanoid figures. "How interesting. It seems we're being called upon once again." said one, whom eventually formed into a man wearing a robe and hood. "Indeed. There's something in the Abyss that doesn't belong." said another man, whom was wearing a cloth mask bearing splotches of blood. He fixed the top hat on his head, before glancing around at the others. "Shall we get to work, ladies and gentlemen?" Each of the figures nodded in agreement, and soon they began to depart from the cave.

------
​

The next day, close to Sheol...

A knock woke each of the group up after a good rest, as a male demon poked his head into the door of each room. "We're rather close to Sheol now, should you wish you begin your morning routines!" he said to each cabin. Riberta glanced up and stood, stretching a bit as she looked around at the others. She needed a bath, really, but she'd get it later. For now, she'd make sure the others got up.

 

[Fubuki]

Aliana had fallen asleep somewhere along the day, her fatigue finally managing to catch her. The train had started moving, but she could barely hear it, or feel it for that matter. She'd only been woken up when Riberta stood up, falling onto her side, throwing her out of her dreams with a start. She'd almost thought she was back home for a second, wanting to head back into the dream she was having. It was disappointing to her, really.

She sits straight, then stands up. It feels like she managed to sleep somewhat peacefully, having not had the privilege for a good while now. After a long, and wonderfully stress-relieving stretch, she looks around. Everyone was starting to wake up.

"Where are the baths.." She asks, in her rather zombie-like waking up voice. With how long she was travelling, she was remarkably dirty. Her hand reaches about, trying to find her uniform shirt. She finds it, and lazily puts it on over her shoulders. What does demon soap even smell like?

 

[Frankafurter]

Uloth dozes a little too far and rouses back into wakefulness again, except, she's not actually awake. She finds herself standing in that dusty barren field where she was captured, her kin fighting but losing against the massed fire of the Daristein forces. The soldiers had a better defensive line than she initially surveyed, the trenches and defensive emplacements were better planned than she initially could see. Clever, really, don't reveal all your defenses until the targets were in the killing fields themselves. She realizes this was her mistake much too late, her second in command rushed up to her, a scavenged steel plate being held up to shield his head from the whizzing bullets, he speaks in the gutteral orc language to her, "Chief Shazgub, we have underestimated the humans, they were much better prepared for us this time!" He kneels down behind a berm to add extra cover, "We need to fall back and rethink our plans for raiding them! We never encountered weapons like this before!"

Uloth hunkers down slightly as she hears the howl of an incoming shell and then the thump and shower of dirt as it impacted away from her position. She watches two of her kin get cut down by raking tracer fire from a machine gun. She looks to her second in command and nods, replying, "We made a mistake, now it's important we survive to learn from it. Put out the call to retreat, fall back to the ridgeline and break sight with the humans. Also, Marduk, you're the new Chieftain until I either return or one of the kin takes it from you." The second in command stares in shock for a moment but gets no chance to protest what he knows Uloth is about to do. He simply turns and barks out some commands and the orcs start making a retreat to escape the humans' superior numbers and weaponry. He spares one last glance to Uloth's back before making a small salute to her and heading off.

Uloth is off and running, her legs carrying her quickly across the killing field towards the human's defensive line. Dust and dirt kick up around her as a machine gun sweeps its fire across the ground near her. She uses any bit of terrain she can to prevent actual accurate fire from being brought upon her. As she reaches her destination and crests the trench, the humans waiting for her start to panic, the first one to try and stop her from leaping into the trench gets chopped in half by the large axe she's carrying. She is upon them and now that they're in the trench, they can't use their massed fire to get her. Soldiers in her immediate reach are chopped and hacked apart by Uloth's vicious berserker rage. The ones further down the trench fix their bayonets and try to charge her, she's a whirlwind of fury though and does the warrior's dance of death through the trenchline. They quickly give up on trying to stop her in melee and they fall back to the junctions and blind corners and either take pot shots at her or try to throw grenades at her. She doesn't fall into those traps though, instead she cleans out the weapon crew on the nearest machinegun and drops her axe, hauling the thing up into her arms and turning it to bear on those still in the trenches she has line of sight down. The gun barks and chatters violently in her arms as she begins drawing lines of fire down the trenches and at the other nearby machine gun nests. There's a full on retreat out of that sector because they don't want to try and contend with an enraged Orc Chieftain. Unfortunately for her, standing atop the trenches leaves her open to other soldiers, that isn't the problem though, the problem is she empties the gun's box of ammo and just as she turns to see a curious set of men in top hats, they throw something in her direction and-

*Knock-knock*

Uloth snaps out of her dream and lunges to her feet with her machine gun in her hands, the muzzle pointing straight at the door. She breathes heavily for a moment then realizes it was just the male demon coming to give them a wakeup call. She lowers the Vickers and sits back down in the chair with an exasperated sigh. She looks around at the others and tries to collect herself, "Mus' be gettin' about tha' time I s'pose."

 

[K0mori]

Anya had already been awake for a while before the male demon arrived to rouse her. Although she had slept, it was the shallow sort of restless sleep that doesn't give many dreams, and throughout the night she spent many disjointed lengths of time staring at the bottom of the bunk above her, processing everything that had happened the day before. At first, it was a relief that no one had confronted her about the incident involving Aliana, but during those quiet hours at night, she began to feel less and less secure about it. Did they truly understand her lack of control, or did they simply care so little for one another's safety that an attempted murder could simply be forgotten entirely?

And if the latter was the case, then could she really trust them?

She sat up on the edge of the bunk and took stock of her body. Sleep had taken the edge off of maintaining her human form, and with a nod of satisfaction she confirmed that no part of the wolf had reappeared during her slumber. Slipping her feet into her loose-fitting stockings and then into her even looser-fitting boots, she stood and was ready to depart. She didn't bathe much in "civilized" showers, preferring instead to wash in cold streams she found along her travels. She frowned, realizing that it wasn't going to be easy to find a clean stream of water in the Abyss, and resolved not to be vain about her hygiene until she could return to the mortal realm. If there were showers on the train, then perhaps she would use them, perhaps not. Besides, no amount of scrubbing was going to fully remove the canine smell that hung about her.

Hanging her head, she departed into the hall in search of food.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari woke up rather fast, her eyes going open and darting around the room from the top of her bunk at the sound of the knocking and the demon's voice. It was a habit she had developed long ago. When one was on campaign, being groggy was hardly something one could afford struggling through - and likewise, being a heavy sleeper could be rather dangerous. The clack of the train on the tracks, and the occasional odd sounds throughout the night had woken her several times, but she always went back to sleep when it was apparent there was no danger.

She glanced down from the bunk to see Anya already on her way out the door. "Ohayou," she said, pausing, before making the switch. "Ah, happy early day... morning."

The others were already getting up, and the kitsune slung her feet over the edge of the bed and hopped down. She grabbed her katana but nothing else. What she wanted was food, a bath, and some entertainment. She poked her head out into the hall, wondering how to summon the demon servants. She looked for a bell, and called out, "Hello! Where food and fun!?" If they were approaching Sheol, there wasn't much time to waste.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

By virtue of being the first inside her cabin to rise and shine, Loque immediately went to the baths to freshen up and clean herself before anyone else did. Though she might've relived that nightmare of encountering Gödrun again, she does feel a little better than she did yesterday. She has to anyway, considering the task at hand requires her to be in top shape and anything less might end with her dead. As she lathers and scrubs over her scarred body, the soap slips from her hands a few times over the chunks of her flesh that just weren't there anymore, causing her to stop and just look at what's become of herself in the mirror.

'Gods...' she thinks. '...pardon my Escarian, dear, but you look fucking awful.'

She's not even sure what's more hideous, her utter disaster of a face, or the bits of her body that were torn off by a very hungry mouth. Every chunk of flesh that had been ripped off of her that she looks at starts hurting the moment she lays her eyes on it. The scars, the burns, the bite marks, it all hurts, and she remembers how she obtained every single one of them. But something feels different this time. She doesn't feel afraid, nor does she feel the same despair she felt last night. Something about it makes her... angry, but also hopeful. Hopeful that, even if she's banded with people she has very little confidence in, she might have a chance at paying back the individual responsible for it all with or without their help. She's stuck in the Abyss, true, but there's nowhere they can run from her now. She'll probably die, she's come to terms with that now, but at least she'll die getting back at the Icon of Gluttony. The very thought of it puts a little strength back in her step as she leaves the bath, having dried off completely and dressed herself back in her uniform. Next on the list after bathing was procuring a decent breakfast, and then maybe a deep massage or two from Wesix. She's gotta get the night stiffness loosened a bit for what's to come anyway.

As she leaves her cabin though, she spots Anya and Inari in the hall, already risen out of their beds.

"Good morning. A little famished for food like I am, are you?" she asks to the both of them.

 

[Infab]

Wesix smiled at the sight of Anya, Inari, and Loque. He directed Anya down towards the left end of the hallway. "The dining room is to the right at the end of the hall. Just keep going straight, and you should arrive at it promptly, ladies." he stated, with a smile and a hand wave. "And if you wish, you may choose to bathe. Water has already been prepared. And I assure you, its nothing like the typical Abyssal sludge you've seen around. It is enchanted to be just like mortal realm water. Pure, clean. Simply wonderful. I shall even bathe you myself, if you so request it."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari was still lingering in the doorway to her cabin as she turned towards Loque. She still was not sure how she felt about the demon after witnessing their tantrum towards Xager over... something. She didn't know the demon language so she couldn't say what it was about, but it had been rather unbecoming.

"Hungry? Always," she nodded. The male demon reappeared and pointed out some directions for where they could dine, and where the bathing room was. She couldn't suppress a grin at his last words.

"Take me to bath. Send all pretty people to help - I am daimyo! In fact, I eat while in bath. You better have good rice and fish." Inari ducked back into the cabin and grabbed her kimono, pulling it on and stepping back out.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Wish you had told me this earlier." responds Loque to Wesix's proposition. "Though, I fear I might have a little 'accidental spill' as I dine." She motions towards Anya to follow as she walks towards the dining room. "Come, I'll reserve a table for us."

 

[K0mori]

"Dobroe utro, Inari, as they say in my country..." Anya replied as they shuffled into the hall. Loque met her and Inari there, and had food on her mind just like the lycan. Wesix then directed them to where they could have a breakfast, and then explained the bathing facilities aboard the train. Still a bit drowsy as she listened, Wesix's proposition made Anya blink and wonder whether she had heard him correctly. Before she could ask, Inari declared her intent to eat in the bath, and Anya flushed at the woman's brazenness. In truth, Anya wanted to follow along just to see the spectacle, but also because, between Wesix and Cat, Anya found herself thinking rather dirty thoughts. She shook them away as Loque invited her to breakfast at the dining room. "You should not worry," she told the demon as she followed along, "sometimes I cannot help but eat like wolf."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Oh, please. You're talking to a gluttony demon, woman!" she says back to Anya. "Besides, there's enough for everyone. And if there isn't, then that's the others fault for not 'catching the worm'."

 

[K0mori]

Anya wasn't sure what Loque meant about a worm, since the expression about early birds didn't translate into Tsavanian directly and she hadn't spent enough time elsewhere to learn it yet, but it was clear from context that Loque felt that everyone was responsible for getting to the food before it was all gone. A thought suddenly occurred to Anya as they entered the dining room. "What... what kind of food served here? Human or demon? Wait, do demon eat same food or am I being rude?" She let out an odd, dog-like whine as she pondered the question.

 

[Infab]

Riberta eventually stepped out of the room behind Inari, Aliana following close behind her. She had heard the incubus speak of baths being ready, so she glanced back to Aliana. "If you need a bath, follow the man with horns. I'm going to go get you some food." she stated, motioning with her hand towards the incubus. "Okay?" She smiled at the little elf, before glancing down the hallway to where Vincent and the others were emerging from their own rooms. Vincent seemed as though he was hungry, moving down the hallway towards where Anya and Loque were going. Riberta eventually followed, taking one of the canteens off her hip and drinking a few gulps from it. Cat soon followed them, giving Inari and Aliana a little wave as she passed.

Wesix soon motioned for Inari and Aliana to follow. "This way, ladies." he said with a smile, before heading towards the right end of the hallway. Once they reached the end, they hung another right. Then, a left at the end of this hall. There were a line of doors stretching up and down the end of the hallway before them, each apparently entering into a private room where one could bathe in peace. Wesix motioned for Inari to enter the first one on the right, while Aliana was directed to the first one on the left. "Please, take as long as you like." he said to both of them, before looking to Inari. "I shall bring you your fish and rice as quickly as possible. In the meantime, enjoy yourself."

As both opened the doors to their respective rooms, they found that the inside of each was quite luxurious. Smooth porcelain tiles covered the floors, with white colored carpet just at the doorway. The gold-trimmed bath tub sat in the middle of the room, a square island unto itself. Steamy warm water already filled it, with a bar of soap sitting just on the edge.There were flowers scattered about in small vases, as well as scented candles. A large mirror was placed in the corner, along with fresh towels and other minor things like bottles of fragrances and lotions.

------
​

As the others arrived at the dining room, they found it to be more like a miniature grand ballroom with two long tables along the center of the room. There was a variety of foods on the tables already, most from various locations in the mortal realm. Did they have these foods imported or something? There were mahogany chairs along each side of the long gold tables, and a large crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling. Large paintings aligned the walls, apparently a mixture of art from painters in the mortal realm as well as in the Abyss.

Cat spoke up from behind the group, as she motioned them in. "Please, have a seat! Enjoy yourselves. If you should need anything, simply ask! We have a fine selection of wines available, as well as harder liquor for those with a less refined taste."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Well, fancy that! A magnificent ballroom to dine in! If only Loque was still wearing her formal suit then maybe she wouldn't look out of place dressed like a homeless veteran... Regardless, true to her nature, Loque piles on the food and drink in her plates and cups as she constantly jogs back and forth between her seat and the platters of food around the tables. Sliced hams, cubed cheeses, toasted breads, branches of fruits, she took more than a little sample of everything. The cherry on top of her mountain of food was a simple ashtray she places right next to her glasses of wine.

"Right here!" she says, waving at Anya to be seated in front of her.

 

[Fubuki]

Aliana stuck to Riberta as she walks out of the room. The horn-y man was definitely interesting to look at. He looks like a very dependable and handsome young man, she thinks. She listens to what Riberta has to say, telling her to follow the man to the baths, and then hearing she's going to bring her food. She wonders what sort of food a demon needs to eat, but disregards the thought as she'll just get her answer in a bit either way.

"Okay, I'll be back soon!" She says as her cheery tone returns to her gradually, returning the smile happily. Aliana gives Riberta a tight and loving hug, before turning and following the horn-y man down the hallway. Inari was so strange, dressing in a bathrobe so early, a level of preparedness she'd not seen before! She'd only spoke to her once, but decided to keep quiet this time as she can't understand how broken her speech is. The horn-y woman gives her a wave, and she does her best to return it. What a polite and caring lady...

Eventually, the horn-y man gives her the directions as they end up at the baths. She hugs the horn-y man as a grateful 'thank you' and heads into the room. We-sex? Was that his name? Huh..

All she could do was gawk at how extravagantly furnished the baths were, like stepping into a royal palace of bathing. She immediately sets to undressing herself and climbing into the already prepared bath eagerly. If anyone were outside the room, they would hear very satisfied giggling and squealing coming from a girl who hasn't bathed in possibly a week.

This was definitely worth the lack of sleep. The soap even smells like...well, she's never smelt it before but it sure does smell great.

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson awoke at the knock, hand immediately reaching for his blade as he sat up quickly. While being on the train was not his ideal situation, it still didn't warrant waking as if he was threatened. He wished he could say that such a violent start was due to being in the Abyss, but he couldn't.

He rose from his seat to move into the cabin's bathroom, leaning over the sink as he removed his gloves and helmet. Checking the water that was available he saw that it was clear and clean, not sludge-like in the least bit. He splashed it liberally unto his face, rubbing it about before he dried himself on his sleeve. After that he put his articles back on, reemerging from the bathroom to follow the flow of team members to the dining hall.

Hudson was extremely suspicious as he sat near the Atracan section of food, eyeing it with a certain kind of contempt. "Werewolves. Sniff up this 'feast' for any poison, would you?"

 

[Doomevil]

Morning was here and everyone in the room started to get up. Senya had trouble sleeping that night, getting out of bed first and wanted to clear her mind with a hot shower. Once she was done, the Warden grabbed the same armor as before, putting it on to start the morning. She left her shield and bag back in Cabin 3 except Dark Shard, Senya always had it by her side.

When the Incubus mentioned something about food and breakfast, she automatically grew suspicious. Once people started clearing out of the cabin Senya entered looking through her bag to find MREs she could eat.

 

[K0mori]

Anya was utterly floored. She had never seen so much food piled up in one place before, so much of it looking utterly delectable. She didn't even know where to begin; her morning meals even before the loss of her family and home were usually austere, often little more than a few eggs, an open-faced ham sandwich or a piece of toast smeared with preserves. Fresh meat was especially difficult to come by, and she was more accustomed to salt-cured and smoked items which left awful lingering tastes in her mouth. Lately, it had been whatever she could steal or forage, or worse- sometimes she would subsist on squirrel or some raw bird meat from the forest as she bounded along in wolf-form. Fish was often the saving grace of her vagrancy. When she could find big, meaty ones in rivers and lakes, she would stop for a week or so and gorge herself, regaining the weight she had lost on the run.

She circled the long buffet tables for a bit, mouth watering incessantly as she inadvertently exposed her fangs. She didn't care; nobody was judging. Finally, she snatched up a plate and began to pile the most appetizing selection she could find, taking small amounts of almost everything she saw so that she could sample it all. When she had finished loading her plate, she poured two glasses. The first was small and she poured in chilled vodka of a higher quality than any she had tasted before. It was early to be drinking, but she did not want to miss the chance to sample it. The other she filled with tea which was steeped in raspberry, a true luxury which would pair better with her food. She intended to eat first, and then drink the vodka last.

She sat down across from Loque and simply couldn't believe what she had assembled before herself. "I am sure, this is best meal I have ever eaten... And I have not tasted yet."