Rifts Adventure IC

[Purr]

Once Eric shuts off the engine, the side hatch opens up and out step the three men. Eric comes over to Terra and Snowfall and shakes your hands. "Good to see you guys again. Let me introduce to you Sir Alan and Dr. Nickolas Curie. Guys, this is Terra Alvana and Snowfall."

He gives a small bow at the waist, overly formal in his mannerisms. "Lady Terra, a pleasure to meet you, and you as well Sir Snowfall".

Snowfall (at the moment) appeared as a very handsome young Japanese man with long black hair neatly tied into a ponytail by a red string and wearing a sharply-embroidered brown and red robe of Japanese origin. There was an agelessness inside Snowfall's attentive brown eyes that, to the astute, hinted that he was no 20-year-old, but someone far, far older. He carried a pack on his shoulders, also one of Japanese design. To the average person, he seemed like a young traveler from some far-off Asian country who dressed well and carried himself with energy and humility. If Snowfall had recently undergone some strenuous spellcasting of his own, he tried to hide it well.

"Hey, Eric! Good to see ya in one piece!"

When Eric introduces them, Snowfall returned the handshake with the indomitable human. In truth, he knew less about Eric than he did any of the others belonging to Miss Terra's team, but he was an ally of Miss Terra's and that was enough. When Dr. Curie bowed, Snowfall immediately returned a slightly lower, longer bow as was custom in his native Japan. He listened to their conversation and noted how tremendously open these strangers were to one another! How different things could be in America! Snowfall, being more direct than most other Kitsune he knew, liked how the conversation went straight to the point, for vampires and the safety of native tribal people was no matter to dance around with.

Then he addressed the Cyber-Knight in their midst. To him, Snowfall bowed first and with meaning.

"Sir Alan! Wow! It is my honor to meet you, sir. To have one of your organization here is quite a blessing! I have worked with your people before - yours are as daring and as brave as they come. And maaan, no one dishes out the justice quite like Cyber-Knights do! You wouldn't happen to know of a Sir Cooley, would you?" Snowfall smiled and made a vague sword-swinging motion.

To Dr. Curie, clearly a man willing to dive into his work, Snowfall responded with curiosity of his own. Kitsune as old as Snowfall had a way of needing to get to know just who they were dealing with before they started talking shop, and somehow this doctor being in the company of a Cyber-Knight just wasn't enough to satisfy him.

"The pleasure is mine, Dr. Curie. I guess you're... maybe a Techno-Wizard then? A merger of magic and technology, right? While I can guess as to Sir Alan's reason for being here in Central American vampire territory, what's a guy like you doing in a haunted place like this? Wouldn't you rather be holed up in some place like Lazlo, England, or the Magic Zone?"

 

[Mirgris]

"The pleasure is mine, Dr. Curie. I guess you're... maybe a Techno-Wizard then? A merger of magic and technology, right? While I can guess as to Sir Alan's reason for being here in Central American vampire territory, what's a guy like you doing in a haunted place like this? Wouldn't you rather be holed up in some place like Lazlo, England, or the Magic Zone?"

"The truth is always a complicated thing, but yes I am a Techno-Wizard by most peoples measures. Do not make the mistake of assuming I stand by my ethics any less than Sir Alan simply because I choose to create. People die of hunger, disease and thirst as easily as vampires. I have built water filtration systems, repaired infrastructure built defenses and arms so people would be safe long after I was gone. Not only that I have done so well standing side by side with Sir Alan, I dare say our hands are at least nearly equally bloodied at this point. If you must judge me, judge me by the company that I keep, and that chooses to keep me. I choose to be where I can make the greatest difference."
There is a slightly pained edge to his voice, a hint of something beneath the surface of a man who takes such efforts to keep himself perfectly clean and calm, always appearing in control of the situation.

He sighs for a short moment and runs a hand through his hair.

He avoids the truth, he avoids speaking of his past. He avoids the word collation. He lies only once. He knows that of them two of them far more blood is on his hands than the cyber knights. It's just the doctor would never want to admit how much of that blood is of innocents. He would not so easily admit he is on a quest for redemption, one that can not be finished in anyway except by his eventually death trying to save others.

 

[Purr]

"Ah" Snowfall approved. Detecting the tinge of pain in the human's voice, Snowfall tried to lift the fellow's spirits. "A fella that thinks of people's futures! That's the way to go! As for judgment, there's another American concept I can't quite wrap my head around. I'm not here to judge, but like yourself, to ask, learn, and discover! I think 'to judge' means to make assumptions without learning first. And you've taught me just now that you like to think big! Not a bad thing, Dr. Curie! I think you and I are gonna get along!"

"So how does a guy like me help a guy like you, well, help all of us? Sure, you need a workshop and all that, but what else can a fellow doctor do?"

 

[Mirgris]

"Ah" Snowfall approved. Detecting the tinge of pain in the human's voice, Snowfall tried to lift the fellow's spirits. "A fella that thinks of people's futures! That's the way to go! As for judgment, there's another American concept I can't quite wrap my head around. I'm not here to judge, but like yourself, to ask, learn, and discover! I think 'to judge' means to make assumptions without learning first. And you've taught me just now that you like to think big! Not a bad thing, Dr. Curie! I think you and I are gonna get along!"

"So how does a guy like me help a guy like you, well, help all of us? Sure, you need a workshop and all that, but what else can a fellow doctor do?"

The doctor nods along light to the first part of the mans speech but only directly responds to the seconds.

"Well importantly, I need to know what to build so I need to know how each person fights, their current equipment and their needs, not to mention how much magical power they have to call upon, it would do no good to make them equipment that drained to much power to use. Though I can produce non-magical equipment as well. I must know what tools, weapons or armor can provide the most value.

After that is the pedestrian needs, materials, skilled assistants, gem stones in large, large quantities. "

 

[Purr]

Turning to include Miss Terra Eric, and Sir Alan, Snowfall began to pace with his hands behind his back. "Well, I don't know about the 'skilled assistants' part (huh, maybe Shaona would give that a twirl?), but I spotted one heck of a cache of goodies in the Were-jaguar's pyramid! Looks like those vampires in there have been rakin' it in for ages! But... from where? Can't be just the Were-jaguar tribe, can it?"

"Hey Doc? Where'd Eric find you and Sir Alan anyway? How'd you wind up with us? And for starters, you think you can whip up something that can restore Potential Psychic Energy at a faster rate than normal? Maybe an amplifier of some kind?"

"Miss Terra? Maybe it's time we got Doc and Sir Alan here and rendezvoused with the rest of the team, huh? If anybody's got good ideas about what ta make to ruin the vampires' lives, it's Daisy! And I'm sure ol' Zeph will have somethin' to say too!"

 

[Psychie]

Terra watches with interest as Snowfall and Doc Curie talk, sizing up the man. "Well, I need to get my Automations closer to the bad guys, and that will take some time, since they are not the fastest nor the most maneuverable vehicles on the planet. If you two would like, you can hitch a ride on the back of Junior and Baby," she points over at the two shorter stone constructs, "while I take Tiny here. You can then meet the rest of our team. I'm sure they would like to see the two of you."

"There is a cache of equipment that the were-jaguars are offering us to help motivate us to get rid of the vamps in their ancestral pyramid. I don't know exactly what gear is there, but you can talk to Daisy, since she was the one that checked it out. As far as the gear here in this fortress, we only recently acquired it, and we don't know precisely what is in it. We need to get a good read on what we have here, possibly move the fortress closer to the pyramid."

 

[Sherwood]

"Sir Alan! Wow! It is my honor to meet you, sir. To have one of your organization here is quite a blessing! I have worked with your people before - yours are as daring and as brave as they come. And maaan, no one dishes out the justice quite like Cyber-Knights do! You wouldn't happen to know of a Sir Cooley, would you?" Snowfall smiled and made a vague sword-swinging motion.

Sir Alan is looking about the large hangar bay with curiosity, up until Snowfall directly addresses him. "I hardly think that I am really all that. I just do what I can for those less fortunate than I. And yes, there are few Cyber Knights in this area that have not heard of the exploits of the famous Sir Cooley. If I can do half as much as him in my life, I will have lived well indeed. Why do you ask about him? Is he here?" Alan looks around as if expecting Sir Cooley to step out from some hiding place.

 

[Mirgris]

"Hey Doc? Where'd Eric find you and Sir Alan anyway? How'd you wind up with us? And for starters, you think you can whip up something that can restore Potential Psychic Energy at a faster rate than normal? Maybe an amplifier of some kind?"

"We were in town getting supplies, ran into some vampire lackeys, I decided to kill them while those two provided a distraction, the rest is history."
He gives a small shrug non-pulsed by admitting to having killed a few people.

"Probably eventually, but it's not in any reasonable type of time frame, and that seems like it would be a device created purely magically, a bit outside of my scope, not that I don't think I could do it, but I believe we should be focusing on tools to kill the vampires, or which I have on in particular that would be useful."

Terra watches with interest as Snowfall and Doc Curie talk, sizing up the man. "Well, I need to get my Automations closer to the bad guys, and that will take some time, since they are not the fastest nor the most maneuverable vehicles on the planet. If you two would like, you can hitch a ride on the back of Junior and Baby," she points over at the two shorter stone constructs, "while I take Tiny here. You can then meet the rest of our team. I'm sure they would like to see the two of you."

"There is a cache of equipment that the were-jaguars are offering us to help motivate us to get rid of the vamps in their ancestral pyramid. I don't know exactly what gear is there, but you can talk to Daisy, since she was the one that checked it out. As far as the gear here in this fortress, we only recently acquired it, and we don't know precisely what is in it. We need to get a good read on what we have here, possibly move the fortress closer to the pyramid."

"Sure I can do that, or take my flying motorcycle" He says with a slightly shrug. "Also if you want them to be faster that also falls in the wheel house of what I can presumably do with a bit of time and effort maybe even without magic, I've worked on robotics before a few times." He gives a small shrug and moves to grab his motorcycle so everyone can go meet the rest of the group.

 

[Purr]

"Probably eventually, but it's not in any reasonable type of time frame, and that seems like it would be a device created purely magically, a bit outside of my scope, not that I don't think I could do it, but I believe we should be focusing on tools to kill the vampires, or which I have on in particular that would be useful."

Snowfall nodded. "That is precisely what I am trying to replenish. The tools I am referring to... are us." He indicated himself and Terra.

"The less time we spend meditating, the more time we spend fighting. But if this is out of your reach, it cannot be helped." Snowfall closed his brown eyes, smiled a little, held out his open empty palms, and then bowed gratefully to the other doctor. "Let us instead focus on the attainable.

"Repeating energy-based crossbows that launch wooden bolts with water balloons that fill en route and detonate on impact perhaps?"

And yes, there are few Cyber Knights in this area that have not heard of the exploits of the famous Sir Cooley. If I can do half as much as him in my life, I will have lived well indeed. Why do you ask about him? Is he here?"

"I do not know," Snowfall admitted. "A Crazy fellow we have recently met speaks highly of Sir Cooley and is perhaps an acquaintance of his."

 

[Mirgris]

Snowfall nodded. "That is precisely what I am trying to replenish. The tools I am referring to... are us." He indicated himself and Terra.

"The less time we spend meditating, the more time we spend fighting. But if this is out of your reach, it cannot be helped." Snowfall closed his brown eyes, smiled a little, held out his open empty palms, and then bowed gratefully to the other doctor. "Let us instead focus on the attainable.

"Repeating energy-based crossbows that launch wooden bolts with water balloons that fill en route and detonate on impact perhaps?"

The doctor rolls his eyes.

"It's not that I could not do it, rather that the time and expense would be not worth it. Time is our most limited resource, I could quickly make energy weapons that burned with the light of the sun doing great damage to vampires, or a rocket launcher that launches fireballs and lightning bound with sunlight as well. Armor that replenishes it's own force-field, where as an item that generates power while possible would require study and theory crafting. Originally, I was discussing making a great number of rifles and pistols that fired sunlight energy bolts, so that the people of the city would be safe even after we left, but I digress.

This is why I said I must interview each person, because explaining all I can and can not do, or rather the time and resources constraints, is far more complicated then asking what you need and making offers. Currently my best planned weapon to kill the vampires is a sword that would be perhaps twenty times more potent than any other MDC sword one could buy, and inflict wounds that could not be healed"

 

[Purr]

"Eh?" The Kitsune raised his eyebrow.

Snowfall was not certain what he had said or done for the Western doctor to roll his eyes (a sign of disdain, haughtiness, or impatience, at least in Japanese culture). In over seven centuries of interesting times, few things perplexed the adventurous kitsune more than the expectations of people from other cultures.

Snowfall felt his current youthful appearance might be to blame; perhaps the doctor felt he was addressing an inferior. That was nothing new. More likely, the Westerner didn't like the conclusion Snowfall had arrived at, which is far as Snowfall was concerned, remained true. What Snowfall had requested was indeed out of the doctor's ability to provide - Snowfall saw no shame in that, but clearly the doctor and his ego felt differently. Snowfall decided to let that go.

The Westerner earnestly wanted to help, perhaps only to belong, but seemingly using only his own rules and from inside his own comfort zone. "Ah, I see," Snowfall replied. "Please do speak with the others. I bet you'll find they enjoy melee weapons just like Miss Terra's boys here. Thanks for your time, pal."

Believing his "interview" was over with Dr. Curie, the kitsune effortlessly hopped up on Baby's shoulder in a single leap. There, Snowfall vanished momentarily and reappeared in the form of a handsome white fox. He curled his nose to his tail, closing his eyes but keeping his ears open for signs of danger.

Snowfall let the finicky but well-meaning human be and returned to attempting to recuperate what energy he could via meditation. Only fate knew when they would need it again.

"And thank you for the ride, Baby," he barked softly in spirit-speech. Then he let his meditation take him.

 

[Sherwood]

It takes Terra's Automations several hours of time to slowly make their way through the thick trees and other plant growth, leaving you at full darkness by the time you get back to the small village of the were-jaguars. Everyone is present there, and the few people of the village that are still up are giving Eron a lot of room to not freak out at being around so many cat-people.

Eric and Sir Alan ride on the Automations, with Eric sharing the seat with Snowfall, and Doc Curie is taking his flying motorcycle, at the moment leaving the Badger back with Shaona in the mobile fortress. She promises to keep the old Mechanoid base sealed up tight and to keep in touch with everyone while you make your plans for the attack on the pyramid.

As the three Automations come into the outskirts of the village, Maja and Jorge come out to investigate the three giants they have heard so much about but have never seen before. They both seem to be quite impressed with the three stone figures, rattling off between the themselves in rapid fire Spanish.

Sir Alan slides down from Junior's back, turning to Terra to thank her for the ride. He looks around for Eron, since he has learned that he's been speaking well of Sir Cooley, and wishes to meet him.

Eric jumps down, offering Snowfall a lift down if he wants. Either way, the big man looks around at the were-jaguars with curiosity, showing no signs of his former employer's paranoia.

Rykon Silanon Purr Psychie Mirgris

 

[Silanon]

Back in the village, pretty much. Keeping his distance, like he did before; they keep theirs, so it's quite alright, for a while. Sure, he might test the boundaries of what still counts as the village, and what's the forest's beginning, and his trusty metal horse Hooves is ready and prepared to bolt - but those are minor details, not really of importance. Not like he's wary, or anything of that sort... the sword in his hand, freed from its sheath, is clearly just for practical reasons, not for self-defense, right? Right. Plus, one doesn't need to get all that close to ogle those gigantic, magnificient creations. Those Automatons are eye-catching, that much is certain; at least, they caught his gaze for dangerous seconds of carelessness.

Luckily, it's not cats, or assassins, or him to call for his attention. Just a man's gaze. Not any man's, though. The stories always describe the knights as different because they are - they move differently, and speak differently, and waste years and years of practice to summon a mighty sword, instead of using the one on the counter instead. If not for the last part, Eron might have made it himself. Sure, it took him a year of travel, too, and there's the service afterwards; but he's where he is now, and knows what he knows, and he couldn't have found that in any chapel, north or south, even if he would've spent twice as much time... back to the man, though. And the others. There's another warrior too, and a flying motorcycle, and a man on it, and the others, none quite as impressive as the mighty Atlantean servant constructs; but they're still there, and non-cats, and so that's good. And there's that knight, looking around. The crazy raises his sword, to get the man's attention. Bows, a little briefer than formal standards demand, but this is a war against him, not a ball at court. Waits impatiently, wondering if that's enough to call him over. Decides that it's not, and waves, too. It's important, after all. There are words to be shared. They don't know yet, after all - that he carries the sword, and Sir Cooley is no more. There was no time, after all. There's never time, with him. Even now - the crazy eyes the sky. Darkness. Not good. It's his time, not theirs. No movements thus far, as far as he noticed, but that might change now, with the undead hordes. Scary, dangerous. Not the monsters on their own, but him having initiative. Can't be changed, now. Takes time to get everything right, after all. These Automatons should be worth the time investment.

 

[Rykon]

Zephiron was casually cleaning the bones of what was left of a defeated Brodkil when the party approached. He looks up to see yet more newcomers riding on Terra's automatons. "More strangers huh? Just what's been going on out here?"

 

[Purr]

Eric jumps down, offering Snowfall a lift down if he wants.

Snowfall took the offer and hopped to the ground. He scampered around a bit, looking for a good spot where he was in or near cover while giving himself a wide view of everyone present with as many options and exits as possible - just like any other mundane fox, really.

 

[Psychie]

Terra hops down from Tiny's back and stretches, then walks over to the group. "Hey guys. Look what followed us home! Can we keep 'em?" She grins over at Doc Curie and Sir Alan, then says, "In all seriousness, this is Dr. Nick Curie, a Techno-Wizard, and Sir Alan, a Cyber Knight, and they had run into Eric in the nearby city and had a bit of a dust-up with the vampire's agents there, and are looking to help us free this pyramid of the infestation of demons and vamps. Sir Alan, Doc, this is Zephiron, a dragon of noble birth. That Glitter Boy over there is operated by Daisy, one of the rogue Dog Boys on the run from the Coalition, and finally we have Eron, a Crazy that has a personal grudge against one of the monsters in the pyramid."

 

[Silanon]

The crazy raises his hand in protest. "Not personal - he is simply the only threat that matters, in the end. The others should be stopped, but he must be stopped, or every other victory will be for nothing. If it's personal for me, it should be for everyone here. He's the darkest darkness, where the others are mere shadows. The brambleberry thicket that comes back again and again, unless you manage to pull it out by the roots." A pause, wondering if that explanation is any good. Probably not. Heck, he wishes they'll never have to understand themselves.

"Well met, though. Merry band of oddities we have here, now. Good enough for the vamps, and demons. Hopefully good enough for him. Got a knight now, though, so that's good. Real good. Should speak, when there's time. Sir Alan, was it? Brought a wizard, too. Always good to have a wizard. Like in those old stories, that people tell. You know, those with the fighter, and cleric, and rogue, too. Got lots of fighters, now. Can be real sneaky, too. Guess I could try preaching as well, we'd be all set, then. Not that we wouldn't be, without it, got those now as well." His hand points out the automatons.

"So, that's the names out of the way, but ti's night now, so there's time. Not really, with him involved, but close enough. Are we resting? Marching? Dancing in the moonlight? No music, though. That'd be bad, real bad."

 

[Sherwood]

Sir Alan looks around, then his attention settles on Eron. With a quiet voice but one that seems to convey his willingness to perform violence, he asks of the Crazy, "Your sword. I have seen that blade before. Where did you get it?"

 

[Psychie]

Terra glances over at the Cyber Knight with a raised eyebrow. "Sir Alan? Is there a problem?"

 

[Silanon]

The crazy hesitates, stands very still - it takes that pause to notice how much he tends to move, under normal circumstances. Then, his thumb points back, over his shoulder, northwards or at least where he expects the north to be. "About a week northwards, on horseback. On his trail, as always. Was close, back then. Real close. Too close. Still too late. Was on my own already, had lost my men. Heard fighting ahead, thought it couldn't be. He doesn't fight. He slaughters, or moves on. And schemes, but that's not the point. A man fought. Chased him off, against all odds. At the cost of his own men. At the cost of his life. Found him, still breathing. The sword can heal, but not wounds like those. He knew. I knew. Still tried, but there was no point. Gave me his name - Sir Duncan Cooley. Had heard it before. Will hear it again, and again, and if not, I'll make sure that he's not forgotten myself. Gave me the sword, too. Was down to this poor excuse of a gun." The crazy points out the weapon on his back, an old model and in disrepair. "Made it quick, after all words were said. Buried him, deep and deeper, where the cats won't ever find him. Lost a day and a half, lost the trail, too. Only found him again after he found his new entourage. Still the right thing to do. Or I think so. I tried. Will try further, until it's over for good. Then try more, and more, to live up to his trust. Don't know if it's right. Maybe the sword should go back. Don't know the rules, or oaths, or traditions. Never needed them, before. Never had the time, after. Maybe you know. Maybe you should take it."

The crazy changes his grip, the hand holding the blade, offering the hilt for the knight to take possession if he wishes. "It's a good blade. Will shoot them instead, then. Got grenades too, a few. Should be alright. But that's the where, and a little more. Could show you the place, once this is over. Can't leave now, not for anything in the world. He's here, not there. So here I must be. I knew that, before. I swore it, then."

 

[Sherwood]

The Cyber Knight looks at Eron carefully, deep in thought. He finally says, "I can fully believe that Sir Cooley would sacrifice himself in order to try and save another, and I can also believe that he would want his blade to be given into the hands of one that would carry on with the noble tradition that Shining Mirror has had over the years. I know that blade; it would not have accepted being wielded by you if you had darkness in your heart, and I will not besmirch Sir Cooley's last wish by demanding the return of Shining Mirror from you."

He offers Eron his hand, saying, "Wielding that blade seems to suit you, Eron. I would like to learn more of you, and share with you some of the stories of my friend Sir Cooley, and raise up a mug in his memory, if you would honor me so."

 

[Psychie]

Terra says, "I am glad that there is not going to be any issues between the two of you. How about we all settle in and get ourselves something to eat, then we can all hoist a mug of brew in the spirit of remembering the fallen."

 

[Silanon]

The offered hand is gladly accepted - the Crazy's grip is rather firm, the pouch grants strength beyond that of mere mortals. "It'd be an honor, to hear more, and share more. And to wield his sword, continue what he began. Heard lots, of course, during the last few months. Inspired many, along his path. Would like to hear from someone who calls him a friend, not just a hero."

Eron nods at Terra's words, and suggestion as well, though somewhat hesitant at the latter. It's the cats' territory, after all, they can't be trusted. And neither can he be underestimated. But what would one say, against honoring the dead? Nothing, at least as long as one calls himself Eron, and holds Shining Mirror in hand. Both is the case, so it's pretty much settled. "Sounds good, I believe. Not the right time to strike, yet, and food and drinks have saved more lives than any hero ever could. It'd be good to remember the latter with the former."

"And maybe make plans, too. More plans, I mean. There's quite a few more people, now. Was easy before, with just me around. Got tricky with you, and the others, and now it's a mess. Should gather, maybe, share drinks, food and thoughts. Sounds right. Poetic. Think it'd be not the worst. Might be out of demon steak, though, I'm not sure. Dragons have quite an appetite, it seems." A pause. "Don't have much to share myself, I'm afraid. Been on the hunt for too long. Not for game, for him."

 

[Purr]

"Dragons have quite an appetite, it seems."

Snowfall transformed into his elderly human form. Gone was his long black pony tail. It was replaced by nine smaller ponytails each the color of rainless clouds. A thin moustache and wispy beard blew in the wind on his grinning face. Doddering as if inept, Snowfall reached into his pack mumbling something about "should have brought this out when I was younger! Ooh!" and out came a closed wooden Japanese lunchbox (see his Character Sheet > Weapons/Gear for photograph). He opened the tray slightly and held it up to his nose. Oh, the smells were divine! From inside the tray came one pair of his wooden chopsticks and sake cup, and in moments, the ancient one was happily dining on his favorite meal of steamed rice, fried tofu, and warm sake! If anyone took interest, he waved them over (probably with his mouth full).

His voice cracked as he bowed politely to Zephiron. "I have never met a dragon that did not have an appetite for something, including this one!"

Terra says, "I am glad that there is not going to be any issues between the two of you. How about we all settle in and get ourselves something to eat, then we can all hoist a mug of brew in the spirit of remembering the fallen."

Snowfall twirled his white beard, rocked back and forth from his seated lotus position, and chuckled. "Good idea, young Terra! I will raise a single toast to departed spirits, heroes, and friends, for if I start naming them off, by the time I'm all done, each one of you will look me! Ehh heh! And you don't want that! You'll scare off anyone who's good-looking! Hehh heh heeehh!!"

 

[Mirgris]

The crazy raises his hand in protest. "Not personal - he is simply the only threat that matters, in the end. The others should be stopped, but he must be stopped, or every other victory will be for nothing. If it's personal for me, it should be for everyone here. He's the darkest darkness, where the others are mere shadows. The brambleberry thicket that comes back again and again, unless you manage to pull it out by the roots." A pause, wondering if that explanation is any good. Probably not. Heck, he wishes they'll never have to understand themselves.

"Tell me of this him, if he is the threat you say I can assure you I will create a weapon capable of slaying him. I'm far more techno than wizard these days."

The doctor stands quietly while the conversations on cyber knights happens, the truth is that it is a painful reminder to him that some are blessed enough to be born capable of doing good without having to perform great evil first. The injustice of the universe.

"Though in general, if anyone here can tell me of their needs, I will see what I can do in short time frame, I can easily make some guns though that do more damage to vampires"