Fantasy The Order of Seven - accepting

[MrBossMan]

By now many could guess Jonathan was terrible with children. Right off he just didn't know where to put his hands on one or what to say to them. His lack of experience was astonishing because even as he chased the boy he did not realize he was the cause of the kids fear. That and he didn't care, the rat speaker was a witness to a serious murder which was reason enough for Jon to capture him. By any means.

He was no less than ten feet from the boy when he saw him flee into another room. Jon heard Luna hollar his name a ways back behind him however Jon didn't hesitate. He'd still chase the boy. Running into the same room the boy ran into Jon saw his small leg climb up the roof. The kid was obviously dirt poor, his pants torn and covered in grime.

Instantly Jon jumped up and climbed the roof with a surprising amount of agility. He saw the child work his way across the roof via a stashed ladder. This was the moment Jon did hesitate. He walked closer to the edge of the roof and looked down. Swallowing hard Jon closed his eyes, then after a deep breath he readied himself for the crossing. One step at a time Jon walked across the ladder which was the only thing from keeping him from falling.

He didn't know why heights always intimidated him but they did. He figured it was more the fear of falling to his death that worried him. Rather than the height itself. It was funny in a way, a man who fights and slays monsters as a job being scared of heights. When Jon found the strength to raise his head he saw the boy open the door leading downstairs in the adjacent building. Whether he ran to run away or to hide remained to be seen.

Finally Jon reached the other side and as he did so he began his sprint. Although this time his speed was detered greatly because of the fear of slipping and falling off of the roof. He did however reach the door and immediately started down the stairs after the witness. He was greeted by darkness and the sound of silence.

Jon was no fool however and the silence only told him one thing. The boy was hiding, but there were many rooms in which a small child could hide. So Jon walked carefully and quietly, aware of the fact that the boy was near.

"I'm here to help you son," he said aloud, hoping the boy could hear. "I understand you've seen a murderer, someone I need to find. If you help me, maybe I can help you." His voice travelled but he did not hear a response. Instead he heard the slow and steady sound of crawling. A sharp whistling filled the air and Jon knew exactly what it was. The rat speaker called upon those who could save him in his blind panic. Suddenly rats where seen ahead climbing in and out of every hole inside the building.

Jon knew no magic which could help him. Instead he relied on his sword and pistols. Sadly both of his chosen weapons were useless in this scenario. The rats which were now within twenty yards of him were approaching fast. Some, the first arrivals, were biting at his feet which Jon kicked away. Looking around in a blind panic Jon saw a lamp hanging on the wall. Drawing his sword Jon made a swipe at the lamp which he knew was filled with oil. Then quickly he drew his side pistol and shot the weapon in the dark. The flash lit the hallway with a blinding light and Jon saw just how hopeless his fight was. Hundreds, no thousands, of rats charged at him. Suddenly the lamp oil caught fire from his powder spark and quickly the old building caught fire.

Jon knew it was a terrible idea, having the witness remain in the building which would soon envelope in flames. However his chances were greater to escape the rats which would otherwise eat him alive, the flames holding them at bay. Still he struggled to keep them from biting him. London was full of the vermin after all.

"Boy!" He screamed over the roar of the flames which was now growing louder and spreading quickly. "Face your fear and come to me now." He didn't know where the others were but they needed to arrive quickly. The situation was getting out of hand. Jon just knew he bit off more then he could chew and it came in the form of a small child who could speak to rats.

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

Prenkus continues his sprint. He huffs and puffs as the sound of running feet banging against the floorboards thumps about his vicinity - The boy flings open a door to the end of the corridor, fleeing into an abandoned part of the district. Jon was first through, climbing up the caved in roof to the surface. Prenkus is a ways behind, and before he can reach the room... he hears it - chittering, squeeking, tinkering. It takes a few seconds, but it hits him: Rats. His mouth twists into a sneer, and he reaches into his coat - A metal button snaps, and he withdraws a sawn-off. The hammer clicks back as he sees their little black bodies crawl out of every possible crevice, gnashing their dirty yellow teeth and glaring with their glassy dark eyes. The sneer stretches thus to bare his teeth, and the weapon snaps forward - A bright blast sends lead balls towards the swarm, scattering a clear path paved in bone and viscera. With a gritted grunt, he takes his chance to charge through. Suspicious cracks and minor slips make the worst of his inconveniences until he reaches the hole in the roof, climbing up as the vermin are just about to reach him.

He climbs to the above, patting down his coat for a quick moment. He peers into the cave-in, quite happy to not be with what is below. Looking to the nearest adjacent building, he sees a ladder leading towards it. He spares no time to hesitancy or fear, running to the crossway and lowering himself to use his hands. The ladder rocks, like itself doubts its stability, but Lohmeyer only speeds his pace. On the other side, he can hear more of the awful sound of rats - He's about to grab his shotgun for another blast when he hears two things: Shattering glass, and protesting squeaks in response. It wasn't like the threats before - Something was scaring them.

He hurries down the stairs to Jon's location, unsure whether he should be ready to fight or not. He rounds the corner to be hit with quite a sight: A ring of fire surrounding his comrade, outside its border circled by more of the disgusting factory-slum rats. "Boy! Face your fear and come to me now." The old man reaches into his jacket, taking the trinket from one of his pockets - The other follows, but to grab his shotgun; it seems obvious now that he will need to defend himself. He holds the trinket up, unsure if the boy really is in the room - "Irwin is helping us, boy! We're not to cause ha-" already he feels vicious biting at the bottoms of his pants, and he quickly kicks it off. Another grabs the other side, and he smacks it away with the shotgun's barrels. "Verdammt! Here!" he throws the trinket to John - "It's from Irwin! Ensure the boy sees it!" He turns his attention from the circle, smacking another of the rats away. It was a small group that now tried to assault him, but as more and more came around corners and through vents it was clear the situation would worsen - He retreats up the stairs, letting the little bastards follow their prey through a funnel. He waits for enough to gather that he's satisfied, and fires the second barrel's cone of death. It clears the path, eviscerating more small bodies into an explosion of gore, but then more come clambering to replace their spaces. As Prenkus unholsters his second sawn-off, he hopes Jon will be able to calm the boy down soon.

 

[Drunkle Qrow]

Madison Bradley

Madison gave a curt nod to those who acknowledged him in the err... interrogation room. He was more than uncomfortable, and more than a bit irritated that the brutish man still stood at his flank. For those who glanced at him, he could tell they gauged him by not his appearance, but by the man beside him. It was, however, an accurate assumption that these people had, but Madison would have appreciated it if he didn't look like he was being babysat. While he was introduced, Madison kept a tight lipped smile, nodding curtly at the chancellor, though his eyes flicked around the room. Once introduced, Madison sat back on his heels, tilting his head inquisitively as they spoke of the boy. It would seem as if they were to head out soon.

//

As his well-polished shoes hit the streets in London, Madison gave an inward sigh. He'd been locked up for quite some time and nothing felt better than being in his element -- Or one of them. Taking a deep breath, he felt his nerves calm, nodding to the man who had guarded him as he took off. Subconsciously, Madison rubbed his wrists, paranoid of shackles though they had long since been removed. After stepping out of the carriage, Madison smirked a bit at the responses of the group, some seemed disgusted, others horrified, sad, or a combination of all three. Having grown up himself amidst these horrors, nothing seemed new to Madison, though he'd kept himself far away from these parts of London for decades. He would tell you it was because there were no riches to be found in those dingy, dirty streets, but if he were honest, he'd tell you otherwise. The hellspawn had changed since his days in places just like this, and preferred not to acknowledge it was a major part of his life. Though he could navigate these very streets eyes closed, Madison was more ashamed of that fact than proud. It served him well, though, keeping an even facial expression, drifting behind the Order and avoiding every bit of rubbish, filth and rat that crossed his path. Madison thought perhaps he looked like a ghost, his coat trailing just behind him as he kept up a brisk walk.
As they entered the factory, Madison couldn't help but curl his lip, eyes narrowing. Having been comrades of a sort with boys much like these in his younger years, he knew their struggle. He felt bad of course, that he hadn't ended up somewhere like this, instead choosing a... somewhat dishonorable line of work.
His gaze didn't drop from those of the young boys, even as the work master spoke, though his hand twitched, aching to have a gun in it, and to pull the trigger on that vile man.
Madison did, however, look up when Thaddeus spoke, eyes now resting upon the boy they were looking for.
From that moment forward, his companions exploded into action, leaving Madison a bewildered mess. Looking around frantically, he tried to decide what to do. He could escape if he pleased, everyone preoccupied, work master bellowing angrily as several of the Order chased down the boy. Shaking his head, trying to focus, Madison shuffled closer to Briar, and though he had no intention of listening, he found himself edging closer as the man procured a box with a rat in it. It fascinated him to see what kind of curious things people had hidden up their sleeves. Madison watched as Briar released the rat, trailing it with his eyes until it disappeared, Thaddeus not far behind. Sighing, the half-demon gave a quick, awkward wave to those who were still there, making his way back out of the factory to the streets. He wasn't too keen on helping, after all it was none of his concern, but perhaps aiding them would get him out of serving them just a bit faster.
Running down the street, Madison listened for any noise, ignoring the ever-persistent sounds of agony echoing quietly in those dirty streets. He had all but given up when the sound of a gun going off alerted him, several more following. Pinpointing the location was somewhat difficult in the dark, but Madison had navigated in much more difficult situations. Checking to make sure no one was around, Madison started running, moving at an inhuman speed to reach his destination. As he drew closer to the building, which now had flames visibly bursting from inside out, Madison froze in fear for an instant, the sound of writhing bodies and screaming rats stopping him in his tracks. Looking down, he took an involuntary step back, eyes wide as he realized there were hundreds, if not thousands swarming the building. Cursing, he frantically looked around for some sort of escape. His mind was ablaze with fear, having avoided the little beasts for years as a child in fear of getting ill. As one brushed against his shoe, Madison gave an high pitched squeal, this time stumbling backwards to get farther away from them. Backing away, Madison drew his daggers, the familiar burn sending shockwaves of pain up his arm. Madison grit his teeth. His daggers were an excellent way to focus, but after relaxing and easing up on their grips, he realized with his weapons he wouldn't be much use against the rats. Instead, he turned around, calling out, trying to find the other members of the Order that had strayed behind.
"Hey! There's a fire!" Madison sneered as a rat drew too close to him, and in one swift movement the man instinctively skewered the animal with a dagger.
"And rats!" He added, albeit in a more quiet tone.

The Gunrunner MrBossMan Anyone Else?

 

[Epiphany]

SirGrey

"Before you ask the boy can talk to rats, ergo rats may like ergo use a rat to find and maybe even calm the child, especially because Imagine before long he will find a place to hide, young boys are always good at that as well," he says as the rat heads off up the stairs. "Right now you can either join the terrific trio following the lad or help me follow this rat. Brair by the way"

"Mrs. Byng, if you please," Bryony said to Briar, finding the man's friendliness endearing if a bit informal for new acquaintances. Americans. She didn't mind abandoning her initial plan of catching the child in the streets or alleyways when presented with a better strategy. Though had she come across a rat, she might have had a similar idea.

...What was Mr. Churrliaa doing with a rat in his pocket?

"Slaying monsters is a very far cry from dealing with children." Thaddeus also seemed a voice of reason as he spoke quietly. "Most in the order are probably not used to dealing with anything that doesn't want to take their heads off."

"Yes, well, let's hurry on then before something dreadful happens. This is not exactly the Order at its best, now, is it. Let's see to that."

Her words seemed prophetic. For while Thaddeus' transformation into a wolfhound had been fascinating to see, the flood of rats rising was not. At least the creatures were climbing, likely in the direction of the boy. Unfortunately, that's where they needed to be as well if they were to catch him. Craning her neck towards the sky in hopes of spotting the child, now that they were outside, the Viscountess nodded in satisfaction and pointed as she saw instead his ladder. "There. Perhaps we ought to try these apartments? The boy's likely to be in them and the path may be much clearer for us. And perhaps I can do something there too."

Despite the chancellor's identification of Bryony as a 'glamour mage', her powers needed no magical incantation, no mystical designs or ritual objects. She simply lifted her hands and the world blurred for those with Briar and herself. A bit like having had too many pints but without sensation, none of the heaviness of alcohol but all of its disorientation. While the courtyard and the buildings seemed hazy and indistinct for a moment, everyone else seemed even more so. The world dimmed then, like the fading of consciousness before abruptly brightening once more.

And as everything came back into focus, Briar, Bryony and those with them found themselves looking like boys and girls, like children about the same age as the running lad. They had the same grubby clothes, dirt-streaked complexion and undernourished frames, though their facial expressions and posture where entirely their own. The Viscountess Endfield herself seemed a short, redheaded girl in the same workclothes as any child and she grinned with an impish delight that did little to hide her sudden pallor. She wobbled on her feet a second before catching her balance against a wall.

"Well now," she said, regathering herself. "I'm not in my element here or I'd have just made us invisible instead. Can't be helped. On with it, lad!" And she urged on Briar's rat to lead them on towards the boy instead of confronting the incoming rats. As the torrent approached, one of the 'children' who were obviously not with the Order spoke up to the rats. "Oi, let us through won't you? We're friends of Charlie, aren't we? Go on, we're here to help!" And while her voice lacked the power to compel that it once had, her words were perfectly understood to the small panicked creatures trying to help their Ratspeaker friend. As were anything they had to say in return.

As the group made their way up the stairs of the apartment building, Bryony heard bellowing above and grimaced. It seemed the more athletically inclined members of the Order had made their way across to this building as well. At least Briar's rat led them onward still but the conversation might very well be a confrontation no matter what she did now.

They reached the top landing of the stairwell just as the first trickles of smoke reached her nose. She peered through the dimly lit apartments and spotted flame under a door. "Titania Wept, what now?" she swore.

As the shotgun went off and the flames spread, Bryony looked Briar's rat and said "Charlie's only chance is to be rescued. Help us save him!" And then she picked up the rat and urged him to guide them right to the child's hiding spot before it was too late.

(tl;dr Bryony's disguised the not-chasing-the-kid group as children and they took the stairs up to the apartments and are now using Briar's rat to find the kid, nearby or in sight of those directly in the path of the fire)

 

[BloodLightning27]

Everything was just happening so fast. Jon wasn't about to listen. He was terrible with children and obviously could not be trusted them. Then there was Prenkus, who wasn't any better. Did none of them have any experience with children?? Then again, it wasn't like Luna did either besides her younger sister, but even then their age gap wasn't even that big. As they continued to chase the boy, things only got more complicated when they came into contact with a horde of rats. Disgusting. She didn't have enough arrows for all of them not to mention her blade wasn't exactly capable of reaching such disgusting creatures. Without a proper weapon, she just stepped on and kicked the rats that came her way despite their attempts to climb onto her and eating their way into her boots. Honestly, if they hadn't called out and started chasing the boy. "From now on, me and Lady Bryony will be the ones talking if there are children involved!" She rambled while attempting to make her way to the young boy. Not to mention all the rat corpses...

 

[SirGrey]

Looking up at the apartments that Mrs Byng Epiphany pointed out, the American eyes darted back to his friendly rat which now seemed to be heading in that general direction. Looking up he could hear the yelling of the others nearby, no doubt seeing the young boy heading there. After demonstrating all the grace and tact of a bull in a china shop, Brair take in a deep sigh, he takes his staff in hand and goes to follow the rat, however, he sounds feel an odd sensation overpower him. It felt like some sort of magic, also felt like you'd one too many. Everything became dim before the light came back on.

Looking over himself and the viscountess he gives her an odd look. He was no a small, brown messy haired boy, poor hygiene and ragged clothes coming as part of the package. "You Know," he says before stopping amazed at the squeaky London accent now coming from his mouth. "Well never mind I suppose, though this wasn't exactly what I had in mind for a plan," he says as he too falls around before finally regaining his equilibrium. Following after Byng and the rat he sees her speak to the rats. "He's got such a good relationship, he's got the rats to understand humans" he musses under his breath as he continues to follow his now young companion to the apartments. Looking back part of him did want to help Thaddeus SilverFlight but he knew that man could handle himself. His mind also briefly drifted to the convicted man Drunkle Qrow who was following them but now seemed to have taken a different turn

While jetting upstairs he catches a brief sight through the cracked wall of the other members of the Order. "I do wonder if Prenkus The Gunrunner would nurse his own child with a shotgun" he mutters his anger at the other Order members showing through. "And I'm sure the fire is a great comfort," he says as he looks around the fairly drab room. Find a bedsheet on a washing line hanging out the window, which he throws around his now small form. "I shouldn't be long, I'll either find him or die," he says as the rat finds the scent finally through the smoke, where it jets under the door and threw a whole down to the underfloor below.

Getting a run up he burst through the door, seeing both Johnathan MrBossMan and Luna BloodLightning27 the now tiny American says "Below" as he jumps through the weakened floored boards. Landing with an almighty thud, he sees the rat scratching a cupboard door. Opening he finds a crying boy who is awestruck by fear. "Don't worry mate we are here to help, now lets we get out of here?" he says in a nice calm cockney voice before yelling "Get down here now you bloody wankers!

 

[MrBossMan]

It wasn't long after Jonathan started the fire that Prenkus arrived on scene. In all honesty Jon welcomed the help. Quickly things were going from bad to worse within the apartment building. A ring of fire was surrounding Jonathan, spreading away from and towards him. The fire did help tame the rats, forcing them to flee from the flames and away from Jon. Instead of attacking him in large numbers they fled to Prenkus who, like an experienced veteran, forced the vermin in a choke point. Over the roar of the flames Jonathan could hear the seemingly continuous barrage of gunfire. Before the older man left he tossed Jon a trinket and told him to make sure the boy sees it. Jon simply gave Prenkus a nod before he saw the man lead a majority of the rats away as a distraction.

Luna was next on scene a little behind Prenkus. The woman seemingly scolded Jon as she kicked and stomped her feet at the many rats now swarming her. Apparently her chosen weapons were useless against them much like Jon's. She said something to him about children and how she'll deal with them next time. Jon hoped there was never a next time. He much preferred his lone fight with the wolf Irwin than finding this boy.

The flames and smoke were now outrageously out of control. Already Jon was covered in a boiling sweat. It took everything for him to stay in control and breathe. The rats at his feet now seemed to scurry away realizing that they might burn up themselves. Jonathan was left alone within a wall of flames on both sides of him. His plan did keep the rats away but now instead of being eaten alive he was very likely going to burn to death. Trade one hell for the next it seemed.

Then he saw something unusual, a boy who looked vaguely familiar in an unusual way came bursting through the far door. He yelled "Below!" then Jon watched as he jumped through the floorboards. Jon understood enough to know that was no normal kid. So, trusting his gut Jon decided to follow. He looked down at his feet and and then on both sides of him. He'd burn alive for sure if he didn't act fast. He stood tall and with all his might Jonathan jumped up, and then through the weakend floorboards. The wood underneath him was forced to crumble under both his weight and the flames. Jon landed hard and the floorboards above him came crashing down on his back. Burning red hot wood seemed to hit him all over. The pain registered instantly with him, then he stood up as best he could fighting against the crippling affect of the burns he no doubt received.

He looked ahead and down the hallway. The smoke was still thick making it hard to breathe. He had to focus his vision to see through it and down the narrow path to the two kids. He made a hard step forward over the burning wood that had just landed on his back. Then continued on to both of the children. Upon reaching closer Jonathan now knew why the first boy was so familiar, it was Briar, he must have been glamourd or something.

Reaching for the trinket that Prenkus gave him earlier Jon showed it to the crying boy. "We've been sent here by Irwin, let me take you now." He said to the boy. Looking over at Briar, who was just a kid, Jonathan doubted he could carry the witness out of here. Quickly Jon tore his thick coat off and wrapped the boy in it. Leaving Jon with a torn and tattered grey undershirt. He had to bite his tongue hard from the pain of simply removing his coat. Maybe his injury was more severe than he let on.

"Lead the way Briar, I can barely see...." he said quieter than he intended. Then he picked the kid up in his arms, albeit awkwardly, then stood tall. His coat was much larger than the boy so it covered him almost entirely. Jon hoped that would help him breathe better in a room full of smoke. Him and Briar than quickly led the boy out of the hallway and hopefully out of the building.

Soot and sweat covering his face. His skin red from the heat of the fire. It wasn't long until they reached the stairs and Jon could see Byrony and Madison waiting for them.

@everybody

 

[SilverFlight]

Did he say fire? Thaddeus was distracted for a moment, which allowed a particularly large rat to bite into his paw. he yelped and threw it off, cornering and snapping at the rest, keeping the majority focused on him in the courtyard while his companions proceeded.
He dodged this way and that, barking and herding with the best of them, it was only when the scent of smoke teased his nose and his teammates had gotten safely into the building that he turned and, with a flying leap cleared the river of black bodies, fighting still more to get to the stairs.

Iona was shocked. She had barely seen one rat, or two, in the occasional farm house or small town, but the ocean of them that poured into the corridor that Jon and Luna had just sprinted down made her pause with her eyes wide.
Suddenly she was moving, drawing her sleeve back and brushing several of the runes tattooed on her arm as they came for her. A rush of sparks crackled down the hall, snapping at the tiny bodies. Electricity crackled and stunned some, frightened others. They scattered in confusion for a few moments and Iona dove through them. She knocked them off the fallen roof beams and clambered up, seeing the ladder she made for that, but by then smoke was billowing from one of the apartment windows.
"What in God's name?.."
When she arrived in the room she had already heard gunshots and glimpsed the carnage of broken rats in the hall. She nearly gagged for the strength of the smoke caught in the corridor and saw the light of flames dancing against one wall. She dashed inside the room just in time to see Jon burst through the wall of fire and vanish down a hole in the broken floor. That left her with still more rats and a rapidly spreading fire.
Wasting no time she dove into a pocket and withdrew several stones, each inscribed with a different marking. She whispered to them quietly and then cast them to all corners of the room. The temperature began to drop. Frost painted the windows and the fire slowly began to die. The rats huddled and shivered and seemed to at least slow their attack in not stop it. The fire had done a fair bit of damage to the room, but thankfully no structural damage to the building. Suddenly, the rats stopped attacking all together.

The boy was too frightened to resist the large hands that picked him up, wrapping him attentively in a warm coat. He was half-stared and dressed in threadbare rags, his face and scruffy mouse-brown hair was coated with soot but his green eyes shone with intelligence. The presence of Briar and Bryony in the form of young children made him feel more at ease and he didn't struggle or try to escape. It was when he was shown the talisman however that he looked at the all in shock.
"You're from the order in't you?"

Mist trickled through the opening in the floor, which soon admitted Iona, tight-lipped and snow-dusted, a layer of ice making her hair a shade whiter.
She glanced at each person in the room before looking at the first two who had reached it. "I'm no master of physics but I do know that rooms tend not to spontaneously combust...What the Hell happened?" She demanded stiffly.

Not long after that Thaddeus appeared, back in human form, though with the glamour still applied he was a slender youth, though he still sported wild brown hair.
"We're from the order." He confirmed, surprised for a moment at his high voice. "Irwin told us you might be able to help catch whoever is murdering the werewolves...he says you're a fond acquaintance."

"You gots' a funny way o showin' ur friendly. Shootin' at everyfin an' setting me hidin' place on fire."
Iona's eyebrows disappeared into her frosted hair. She looked critically at Jon and Prenkus.
The rats hung back, watching carefully, some sniffed at the glamoured figures and hissed. The boy watched them for a moment.
"An' you might've fooled me wif ur magic but you can't fool them. If'n you three are kids, then I'm the queen mum!"
Thaddeus grinned at Bryony. "I like this one."
"We should get the lad back to headquarters and into safety." Iona announced.
"And no doubt Irwin will be grateful to know Charlie is safe." Thaddeus added.

Back at the workhouse, a figure appeared on the roof of the building, he signaled to a pair of men who walked quietly to the open door of the apartment complex. All men here cloaked and hooded, with their faces hidden under scarves. The man on the roof had his visage concealed by a delicate silver mask. This man placed a small needled vial into a long bamboo tube and aimed it through the window of the apartment, leveling it at the neck of the boy in Jon's arms.

MrBossMan Epiphany The Gunrunner BloodLightning27 SirGrey Drunkle Qrow

 

[Drunkle Qrow]

Madison Bradley

Having fended off a few rats who wandered too far from their companions, Madison felt quite pleased with himself, though pain made the muscles in his arm quiver in agony. Sighing, shoulders slumping, he sheathed his weapons, relief instantly flooding through him. It was a good thing he'd been at this for a few years now. He remembered first discovering his heritage, and examining purified objects. The pain had been intense, and his first set of daggers were so diluted they were just about as useful as any other mixed metal weapon a Tainted could wield. He remembered his body feeling like it was on fire, dropping the daggers almost as soon as he'd picked them up. Between a set of thick leather gloves and a higher pain tolerance now, his weapons were just slightly less than half silver, the rest a mixed iron metal. Taking a long, drawn out breath, Madison tilted his head when he saw the dancing tongues of flame retreat back into the building, their light dying from inside. Even from a distance, Madison's skin rippled with goosebumps as he senses the unusual.
Pressing his lips together, Madison strode forward, absentmindedly kicking the corpses of the rats he'd killed, eyes trailing the diminishing river of rodents that now seemed to be running a bit more panicked and erratic. He figured damn near all the rats in London had to be here by now. As he approached the building, Madison's bright gaze snapped up to the windows, which ever so slightly crackled with the sound of frost clawing at them from the inside. Curious, Madison removed a glove, laying a single, pallid finger on the windowpane. Cocking his head, Madison's other hand reached for the doorknob, but his movement died down when he picked up on the incredibly faint noise of something else happening outside.
Though he figured it was nothing, and wanted nothing more than to figure out what had happened to the Order, the faint sound gave him pause. For a moment the man stood silent on the doorstep, one bare hand on a window, the other clutching the doorknob, knuckles white. In one swift movement, Madison released the doorknob and stepped backwards from the door whilst pulling his glove back on his hand. Crouching, coat just barely brushing the grimy ground beneath his feet, Madison crept towards a ladder on the outside of the building where he peered up, eyes catching on the slightest of movements on one of the buildings, though whoever produced it was silent. He could alert the Order, however, if it was a false alarm and they lost their subject he was sure he'd be reprimanded. On the other hand, should he ignore the hairs now rising on the back of his neck and find out it was some sort of evil, he'd also catch some trouble. While his inclination was to avoid the effort, the growing excitement in his chest made Madison firmly grasp the ladder attached precariously to the side of the building and start climbing. He didn't give a damn about the order. But if his instinct proved correct, Madison would find himself in danger, and quite possibly face to face with a demon. As he silently climbed, his head danced with visions of his father's twisted, demonic face.

"You're pathetic." A sneer as the creature Madison called his father circled him as a predator would his prey. "Weak minded... A failure. No demon would choose books over debauchery."

Even now, years later, Madison could sense the spot on his flank where that wretched demon had driven a knife, he could feel again the pain as he relived his father twisting it deeper into his flesh. Fury flooded hot in his blood and for the slightest of instants, Madison's illusion, his glamour, flickered, showing a glimpse of the monster beneath the magic.
By the time he'd reached the top, Madison felt calm again, pistols in hand as he crept across the rooftop towards the door leading back into the building beneath him. So focused on his task, however, Madison's foot caught on a rooftop fixture, and he hit the rooftop loudly, cursing angrily. Gone were his chances of being stealthy. Hopping back into his feet, Madison frantically looked around, pistols at the ready, eyes scanning the rooftops.
"Where are you?" He snarled, though his voice was less of a yell and more of a feral warning. While he saw nothing, still, the predator in Madison felt some sort of presence. Whether it was friend or foe, or anything at all was yet to be seen.

(I don't care if the Order hears him or assassins or whatever. Or no one. I'll keep on-a-writing, my apologies if this post doesn't make much sense. I always seem to write sleep deprived. Will edit as needed)

SilverFlight MrBossMan Epiphany BloodLightning27 SirGrey Everyone and anyone?

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

Prenkus' chokepoint lit up to another echoing *BOOM,* the ringing in the maker's ears fading to an abrupt shattering of wood. As he readies to fire his last round of buckshot, the rats suddenly stop in their tracks. A few of their little heads lift and sniff the air, before the group scurry off to the corners and holes they'd spawned themselves in. The old hunter puffs out a breath, shoving away the gun. He was still wary as he stepped down the stairs and turned the corner to where Jon once was. His eyes scan around in confusion, but then he sees the hole. He wraps his jacket around the mouth, and holds it shut at the front, before storming through the ring of flames - He hastily drops through the floor, barely catching his fall. After a stumble, he steadies against a nearby wall.

Mist trickles through the hole above them, mixing with the dust and splinters of wood scattered in the air. Iona is the first to appear on the above floor, peering down to them. "I'm no master of physics but I do know that rooms tend not to spontaneously combust...What the Hell happened?" The elder man chuckles, though it soon turns into a cough. "You'll have to ask Mr. Reys. Otherwise, quite a shame," he starts, voice hoarse "I wanted to finish this catch with some time on my pipe, but I think this was enough smoke for me." The others appear soon after, and their line of questioning begins. The boy says something related to the shooting, and Iona gives both Prenkus and Jon a stern look. He brushes the woman off with a wave of his hand, justifying himself, "I'll not apologize for the rats." She turns her attention to the boy, but Prenkus still detects an air of judgement directed his way.

The hunter steps away from the scene to let the others ask their questions, contradicting his earlier statement as he reaches into his coat for his pipe - He bites down on the wood, while another hand reaches into the left flap of his coat for a flat box of tobacco. As he looks out the window, packing the tobacco into his tool, his brows furrow... There was a figure there. He could see the man make a gesture with his hand, and Prenkus follows the look - It was directed somewhere outside, to the ground floor. Strange... Then the man lifted the chute of bamboo. Prenkus' eyes widened in shocking recognition; he had seen the tool before, enough times during his station in the northern Americas to become familiar with it.
The pipe drops from his mouth as he spins around, no words offered before his boot lifts to kick the boy and Jon over. It was as hard as he could make it, using the weight of his body with the move - Regardless of its effect, whether he'd end up on the floor from missing or on his feet in success, his focus then returns to the man on the roof. His hands would already disappear into his jacket to retrieve his revolvers. "Assassin!" he bellows

 

[Epiphany]

Bryony found the spectacle of Iona's power compelling and she watched in unfeigned fascination as the woman singlehandedly ended the blaze before it consumed them all. Once the boy was safely among them, the Fairy put a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was tempting to shed this illusion and resume her 'natural' appearance of a well-to-do Victorian woman but it would only add confusion to a situation that very plainly didn't need more. Instead, she nodded along when initially recognized as like him.

At least until his rats spied through the glamour.

Chuckling, Bryony shed the illusion covering herself and those who came with her. Instead, she crouched down with the train of her dress discreetly tucked so as not to touch the sooty floor. The motion put her lower than Charlie's head, a position she'd long learned engendered feelings of strength and security. "The situation's been managed, Charlie. While most of us don't have much experience with children, we have more than enough experience with anything that would hurt children. That makes us worth having around, don't you think?"

Bryony leaned in close, letting her eyes draw the young boy in with her natural Fascination. "Why don't you relax and come with us. You can see Irwin again, perhaps manage a bath and a good meal as well. While you're at it, I'd like to hear more about this..." she glanced back in the direction of the factory they'd all emerged from, "...this...workplace of yours."

In her decades among mortals, Bryony was no stranger to human suffering. And she'd heard rumors of children being impressed as workforce. The size and scale of this was something else entirely. Did her husband know this took place? Were England's peers aware of the systemic abuse? She rather hoped they weren't. Those with power had certain responsibilities to those without, a truth as binding for the Courts of the Fairy as it'd been in England's past. Bryony's opinion of humanity was mixed as it was. Understanding how far they could sink was something few Fairy ever had the opportunity for and she had an obligation to her kin to bring back what wisdom she could manage in the trappings of a mortal life she wore for now.

Bryony's musings were interrupted when Prenkus abruptly shouted and kicked Charlie and Jon to the side. The Viscountess dove as well, heedless of how the dirty apartment floor mussed her fine silk dress. Seeing the Order springing into action, Bryony did the one thing she knew could add value to the situation.

She reached out a hand, drew Charlie close to her and swallowed them both up in a spell of invisibility.

 

[MrBossMan]

Jonathan stood with his back to the window of the apartment, Charlie still in his arms. Jon may not care much for children however this was different. Charlie was a witness first, who just so happened to be a boy. Make no mistake Jon cared more about what the rat speaker knew then anything else. After all the ultimate goal here was to stop a murderer from killing more innocent people. Jonathan never lost sight of the goal.

Looking up he saw Iona on the floor above, her face having a layer of ice and snow. A stark contrast to Jon's blackened face of soot. However her tone and expression was like that of fire. He heard and prepared himself for what he knew would come.

She demanded to know what happened while Jon was alone. He was hesitant to answer, knowing full well this woman was his superior, and what he did could be seen as a violation of the Orders tenents. Luckily Prenkus interjected and for a moment Jon was set at ease. Relaxing himself against the back of the window seal. Then Prenkus told her to ask Jon directly. Almost immediately his posture grew more stiff when Iona eyeballed him directly.

"We got the witness, that's what happened." He said simply to her in a matter of fact tone. Dismissing her brief anger with his cold rationality. After that Thaddeus appeared who almost immediately began speaking with Charlie. Forcing Jonathan to focus in on multiple conversations and people at once. He didn't exactly know what to do so he simply did nothing and continued leaning against the window. Not exactly wanting to let go of Charlie as he found the kid kinda beneficial for changing the subject of his mistake.

Then kids do what they do best and ruin everything. Charlie made a remark about Jon setting the fire and Prenkus shooting his shotgun. He and Iona locked eyes but neither said anything. Which was good enough for him but he wondered exactly what was going through her mind.

Now all attention seemed to be on the boy. This time in the form of a fairy who came close, to close for Jonathans liking, and spoke to Charlie. She bribed him with a good meal and a bath but when she mentioned Charlies workplace he had to intervene. Something about the Fairys tone had a distinct feel Jonathan didn't like. As if she was trying to spit on humans.

Fairys all so superior

"The boys a witness to a serious murder. I could care less about where he works. We need answers and we definitely need them as soon as we can get them." He then spoke directly to Charlie. "In the meantime boy you need to try and remember exactly what happened."

Maybe he was being to hard on him but Jon didn't look at it like that. The kid seemed smart enough to know why the Order was involved. Plus Jonathan didn't dive through a fire and the floor for nothing. He'd get what he needed.

The next few moments seemed to happen all in a blur. Iona called for a regrouping at headquarters which Jonathan agreed to with a nod. Then getting up he stood straight, Charlie still being held tightly. Taking a step forward when out of nowhere he felt a sudden kick into his lower abdomen. Reflexively Jonathan spun sideways. Since he was caught off guard he easily was pushed away. However he tried to control his fall and made sure to fall on his back so he didn't crush the boy underneath his weight.

Jon hit the ground hard with a thud and he heard Prenkus's voice shout "Assassin!" He looked over to his right and the fairy was beside both he and Charlie. Unsure exactly how she got there. He gave the fairy a look, his earlier opinion of her now having no weight. For now a fight was soon to come. When she reached for Charlie he willingly handed him to her. Watching as she instantly made them both invisible.

Jon reached for his sword and used it to help prop him up to his feet. However when he finally stood the room seemed to get all fuzzy. Instantly the room started to spin and keeping his balance was now a hard task. At first he didn't understand what was happening. He didn't hit his head when he fell and no kick could do this to him. Then he felt it, a sharp and unbearable pain in his left tricep. He instinctively reached for his arm and felt his hand against a sharp needle. Plucking the thing out of his skin Jon tried to examine it through foggy vision. The room was now rapidly spinning and Jon felt like it was vibrating as if he were riding a train.

He looked at Iona and her icy blonde hair. The only thing he could focus on as he tried to fight his fleeing consciousness.

"Poison."

Is all he could say before he fell down to his knees then back against the wall. His silver sword ringing as it slipped out of his hand and crashed onto the hard floor.

 

[BloodLightning27]

With Prenkus being trigger happy and Jon's recklessness, Luna couldn't figure out what was more agitating. Despite her initial intention to speak with the young boy, Charlie, Lady Bryony had reached him, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Danger has yet to pass. Someone was after the boy. Probably to silence him so that he would not speak about the deaths of the three werewolves that the order was currently looking into. When Jon slipped agianst the wall and seemed to be losing consciousness, she made her way to him after hearing his sword clanging against the ground. She did her best to help him to his feet, handing his sword to him as she offered to support him. Something hit him, or was there poison spreading through the air? Either way, Luna held her breath and was now making sure that she could get both herself and Jon out alive, despite the fact that they didn't get along.

Sadly, she was unable to reach Bryony in time to be swept up in the Invisibility Spell. Her current focus was to make her way to the Carriages to find an antidote for Jon. Hopefully it wasn't a fast-acting poison that had hit him...
MrBossMan

 

[SirGrey]

Brair was busy coughing a storm as everyone was going over there asking the young boy questions. He seemed a bit shaken though the viscountess Epiphany glamour spell seemed to have work in calming him down. Though the disguise didn't seem to be fooling the boy what so ever. With the illusion now shed, Briar check over his form, glad to be back to how he was. It seemed that was not too soon.

As Pernkus The Gunrunner yets the yell of assassin go, Brair hits the deck whiling scrambling through his jacket. Remember he left his weapons in the carriage he sighs. Looking around he sees Charlie being taken care of by the aforementioned viscountess. He wasn't close enough to be caught up in the speel instead he was up against the wall, however that all changed when he saw the state of Joh MrBossMan

Seeing him fall to the floor, he rushes over with Luna BloodLightning27 already there trying to help him. When she ran off to try an find an antidote, Brair laid the man down by some cover and started to look him over. "Its paralyzing toxin, its spreading through the poor bastard's body, it's working fast very fast" he mutters to himself as he searches his pockets for anything useful. The only two things were smelling salts and a healing tonic. Neither would cure but they might help. Open the container of salts he buts it near the man's nose while saying "Come you big lug you were yelling a storm up earlier and know you're laying down what are you tired". Open the tonic he waits to see if the man stirs before trying to force it down him.

 

[SilverFlight]

Maddison's ( Drunkle Qrow ) fall startled the marksman on the roof. He fumbled the blow gun and the shot flew through the window zipping over the lowered pane. The team inside had seen it coming and the dart landed wide of its target for both reasons as they boy was tackled to safety.
The assassin cursed under his breath, glancing quickly at Maddison before making a dash for the apartment roof where he had fallen, skirting the chimneys to obscure his movement. He came at the half-demon with a flash of a silver dagger, swiping sideways in an attempt to cut Maddison's throat. His silver masked gleamed in the weak sun, dark eyes barely visible behind it.

Iona was just about to fire a retort at Prenkus ( The Gunrunner ) before he yelled "Assassin!" and the room erupted into chaos.

Charlie cried out in surprise, feeling himself fall, Jon's arms protecting him. The he felt himself being passed on and felt a strange sensation as the glamour fell upon him. He clung tight to Bryony's ( Epiphany ) side, too frightened to do anything else.

Iona caught the tail end of a coat vanish behind the workhouse chimney and turned to follow the track of the projectile. Bryony ( Epiphany ) was nowhere to be seen, and the boy was gone too, she guessed the fairy had acted quickly to conceal the boy, but she didn't have long to dwell on it. Jon ( MrBossMan ) pulled the dart from his body as he stood, already swaying. He said what she had been thinking and all of a sudden his legs gave way.
"Jon!" She shouted in surprise, but Luna ( BloodLightning27 ) was already at his side, trying to get him up and Briar ( SirGrey ) was there soon after.
"Thaddeus! Help them!" She barked and her cousin obeyed quickly, following Briar to Jon's side.
The scent of the poison drifted to his nose and he winced. "If this is what I think it is, he won't have a lot of time."
Iona was preparing her rune stones to go after the sniper when she turned at Thaddeus' warning.
"Its a neurotoxin. Made from cobra's venom, it will paralyze his body in five minutes...in ten, it will stop his heart."
Iona was going to ask how he knew that, but of course he had traveled the world, Thaddeus was likely full of strange secrets. She tried to hide the growing worry on her face.
"They can treat poisons back at headquarters."
"But it's at least an hour by coach back there."
Iona's expression had not changed from the grim one she wore. She held up a small runestone, on it was a complicated sigil Thaddeus did not recognize.
"The spell is called 'borrowed time'," She was speaking directly to Jon ( MrBossMan ) now as she took his hand roughly and pressed the stone into his palm.
"I have one of these, and one only. It will keep the toxin at bay for one hour, though you need to keep your heart rate down or it will lose potency. You'd better hope we finish this in less than ten minutes."
She turned back to her cousin, "Go with Luna and prep the coaches. I'll see about this cat on the roof."
They exchanged serious nods before Iona charged up the stairs to the roof while Thaddeus went down, toward the main door.

It did not take Thaddeus long to hear the thundering of heavy boots on the rickety steps below him. He leaned over the stairwell railing to see two more men in dark coats bounding up the steps like the devil was at their heels. Both were equipped with blades and one had a pistol too, Thaddeus could see that the weapons were silver. He swore and picked up his pace. One of the wooden rail posts was broken nearly clean off and he yanked it free, brandishing it as a make-shift club. With a twist of his will Bryony's glamour melted, leaving a thin but angry man pointing a wooden club at the heads of his opponents.
"Right then! If you want up these stairs, you go through me!"
The man with the pistol raised it and fired, just as Thaddeus ducked and slid feet first down the flight of steps separating them, he landed right in front of them and kicked up with a foot, catching one in the gut. He swing his club only to have it caught by the second attacker, who slashed down at his neck with his knife. Thaddeus soon realized he might be in trouble.

Beaurmont YaddaYadda

((The choices: Go up to the roof and help Iona and Maddison, or go down and help Thaddeus))

 

[MrBossMan]

Jonathan had never in his whole life been posioned before. After this experience he'd wish it on no man. His left arm, where the needle had hit, seemed to be burning from the inside out. The pain made his face pull tightly as if he were carrying the weight of the world. The numbness set in soon after and it seemed his whole body was limp and there was nothing he could do to fight it. That alone scared Jon.

In all his years he'd relied on himself to find his way out of countless situations. Now he was at the mercy of his companions which didn't sit well with the independent hunter. Luckily they all managed to catch on to what exactly was happening to him quickly. Luna was the first by his side, a woman Jon had not taken the proper time in getting to know better. She gave Jon his sword which meant more than any words could describe. His parents gave him the weapon when he graduated to a full fledged member of the Order so many years ago. He promised himself a long time ago that if he ever did die, it'd be with his blade in his hand.

Briar was next and the man offered the help he could provide. Confirming it was poison Jon watched hazily as Briar reached in his pockets for anything to help. Thaddeus came next as Iona requested and he offered no good news. Cobra venom the wolf said, Jon would die in ten minutes.

After that Jonathan lost his focus and his mind wandered as the others spoke. Their voices became little more than background noise to his ears. He looked over to where Byrony and Charlie were last seen sitting, hidden by her invisibility spell. The dart was no doubt meant for the boy. In a weird way Jonathan took comfort in that fact. Knowing the boy was safe and the mission could go on...

Then he felt the ever so slightest touch of his hand. A sign the paralysis was starting to take hold. Looking back up towards the group he saw Briar, Thaddeus and Iona in front of him. Iona spoke first and Jon had to really focus on her to hear. She gave him a rune, 'borrowed time' she said, it'd buy him an hour if he stayed calm. Jon clutched the rune with desperation, as it meant his life.

"Okay," he said through a scratchy voice. Almost as soon as he did he drank the healing tonic Briar forced down his throat. A bitter, disgusting taste filled his mouth but Jon swallowed it all. After that he saw Thaddeus and Iona disappear out the door. Everyone's job was clear.

"Help me to my feet Briar and carry me to the carriage. I can hardly walk." Then he looked back at Byrony and Charlie, whom were still invisible. Jon was now on his feet, silver sword in hand. He gripped Briar's shoulder hard for what he had to say next. "But if anyone gets out here alive it's the boy." He said as he looked at Briar deeply, his tone letting him know he meant it. Then he handed Briar his second pistol loaded with six silver bullets.

"I hope you know how to use this." Then with that he spoke more softly, relying mainly on Briar to carry most of his weight. "We should all make way to the carriages." He said referring to Byrony and the boy Charlie.

SilverFlight BloodLightning27 SirGrey The Gunrunner Epiphany

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

Prenkus' kick had sent the two over. His foot hits the ground to stop a fall, and his hands disappear into his jacket - They are filled with his revolvers quick, and the metal flashes free from behind the cloth in a blur. The hammers were cocked back, pointed out the window in full preparation to fire. He's able to do little more than Iona, catching a coat-tail disappear behind a chimney. "Scheisse." He steps around the corner, keeping himself covered from another shot. He looks back, seeing Jon stumble as he pulls a sharp needle from his arm. "Poison," he says simply. Iona and Thaddeus diagnose and treat the man, or as much as they can. She pushes a stone into Jon's palm, explaining its magic. "I have one of these, and one only. It will keep the toxin at bay for one hour, though you need to keep your heart rate down or it will lose potency. You'd better hope we finish this in less than ten minutes." Prenkus repeats it, "An hour," keeping note.

Iona turns to her cousin, "Go with Luna and prep the coaches. I'll see about this cat on the roof." However, as Iona ascends Prenkus can hear the thundering of boots downstairs. Prenkus peeks through the window again, unable to see the man who'd nearly killed their witness. As Thaddeus rushes downstairs, it's only a few moments before Prenkus hears "Right then! If you want up these stairs, you go through me!" He swears, his knuckles turning white from his grip on the revolvers. "Someone assist Iona on the roof, I'll be with the wolf to clear our path!" He doesn't wait for a response, hurrying down the stairs as he replaces one of his revolvers with a worn, chipped throwing axe. As he rushes down, he hears the sound of a pistol go off - His adrenaline spikes, and his mind slowly subsides to his combat instincts.

Just as the men come into view he can see Thaddeus is in trouble; using a makeshift club, he swings for a head - It's caught by another man, and he slashes a silver knife towards the half-man's neck. Prenkus wastes not a second, the barrel snapping forward, the sights aligned on the man with the speed and precision of a machine - The hammer clicks forward, and a sharp *CRACK* bounces along the walls. Prenkus fires with the intent to splatter the second attacker's brains. Following the attack, he yells "Duck!" to the wolf, using his position on the stairwell to get an angle on the man with the gun - His axe-hand swings back behind his head, and he throws the weapon forward. Overcompensating for the sake of Thaddeus' safety, it was either to hit a piece of the man or miss entirely.

 

[YaddaYadda]

Dagenham, London. A peaceful part of London. People who lived here preferred happy and easy life than those in Central London, which started advancing forward. On a rather quiet street in the corner of the town, there lie a rather peculiar tailor shop. It was unlike any other tailor shop around there, which boast colorful and sample of the products that being sold there. Rather, the store's front was covered with purple curtain, although this made a nice combination with it's furniture which was painted in black.

Inside, when you enter the store, you would see a woman in his 20s, clothed in old-styled noble dress sat in front of a large table. Sometimes you would see an unfinished dress there, sometimes a nice tea set would be there on another day. And you would also see her assistant, or rather, her maid stood by behind her. Ready to be given any kind of order that her master would command.

This woman, Valeria, was a well known tailor of the town. She often got order from a wealthy family's lady or viscountess that asked for a dress to be made. It seems just like another tailor shop, if one would see from the outside. But beneath the shop, separated with just a thick wall, lies a house that no one would even dream about.

Valeria Visconty was a vampire. Their ancestor, their progenitor. If her memories serves her right, she would be the third one of their kind. She became a vampire after her late 'husband' ate her and left her to die. And by devil's name, she would remember this until she could pluck her 'husband' heart out of his body.

And today, as usual, she was setting up her shop with her newly acquired 'maid', Alicia. Preparing clothes that close to it's due time, fixing mannequin, and tidying up the store. Just like any other boring day for her. Suddenly, she heard her doorbell rang and the door opened. At first, she thought that one of Duchess Milleta's servant came to pick up the clothes. But, seeing the man's clothes, she quickly knew that something went wrong. One of her informant in the city. She kinda forces him to became her informant, after she threatened to kidnap his daughter if he didn't agree to her proposal.

"Milady, I saw something irregular in the slums. Some people chasing another, and it seems that they are not entirely human. One of them smell like a puppies, when they walked past me." Valeria frowned her eyes, and then looked over her maid. "Well, I think we should look over this, Alicia. And as for you, my little informant, you can excuse yourself out and leave my home. Your very smell disgust me, mortal." With that remark, the informant clicked his tongue, and then walk away from Valeria's house.

Valeria then stood up and walked back to her room, followed by Alicia. She changed her gown with a more comfortable and functional one, and then started walking to the slum that her informant told her. There, she could saw from the distance that some of the Order's member were chasing and fighting with an unknown person. "I think we are late, Alicia. Say, should we join in the fun, or just watch all of it from the sideline, hmm? Anyway, I think we should do some reconnaissance a bit. Alicia, go check over there, and told them that Lady Valeria sent you."

Alicia, already wearing battle-ready attire, nodded and took out her dagger. "Yes, Milady." She then took off to meet with the Order's member. Meanwhile, Valeria looked around, and saw a swarm of bat not far from where she stood. "And for you, little cretins, I will use you for now. Ti shte izpulnish..." She then waved her hands, and pointed it at the swarm of bats above her, which cause a faint reddish glow from them. "Dobre, go there and become my eye from the sky." As she said that, the bats followed Alicia from behind. "Now, I just need to follow them. Oh my, This kind of chore didn't suit me at all. I think I need nourishment in near future."

***

Alicia, who arrived ahead of her master, looked at the work house and saw that it became a messy battlefield. She cleared the area so that her master may took a rest there. "Oh, how nice of you, Alicia. I do need some rest, but seeing the situation, rest is not an option. Let's go over that house. It smell like a wet puppies that ask for some food." Just a few steps from the house, she heard cracking sounds from inside the house, and then an axe flew out of the wall, which Alicia moved quickly enough to block it with a dagger and sent it away. "What kind of moron think that throwing an axe is a good way to solve problem? Tch, I guess there's no other way. Alicia, go check inside the house, and help those pitiful people. I need preparation for my spell to works."

((OOC : Sorry I took long enough. Correct me if I need to change something in my post))

 

[SilverFlight]

Thaddeus heard the command and flattened himself against the stairs. An ear-splitting gunshot roared in the cramped stairwell and the man in the rear doubled over with a hand clamped on one shoulder. Prenkus' ( The Gunrunner ) axe flew past, sheering the other man's ear clean off and he screamed, his swing for Thaddeus going wide. The werewolf took this opportunity to kick him in the groin and he tumbled back, knocking into his comrade and they both of them together tumbled down the flight of stairs.
The one injured in the shoulder recovered first, swearing in highborn English and drawing his pistol round to aim it at Prenkus. He fired, too late for Thaddeus to intervene with it, however the wolf was up and changing, he landed on the men with a growl, subduing the pistol hand of the one standing with a tight hold of his jaws. He jerked his neck and sent him crashing into a wall were he lay still in a shower of cheap plaster and broken wood.
A flash of pain burned Thaddeus in his thick hackles as the echo of more gunfire rang in his ears. Thankfully the shot was not silver, but the power of the pistol then drew several silver throwing knives. He stood in the entrance way one floor down. Out of the window Thaddeus could see a young girl, seemingly wandering towards their place of battle without any knowledge of what was going on inside. Was she deaf? Had she not heard the guns?
Thaddeus forced himself up and stumbled down the rest of the stairs, ploughing into the third attacker to keep him from aiming his second shot at Prenkus. He felt the silver bite into his flesh and howled in pain, rolling away to avoid the daggers. The wound burned and between that and the bullet wounds before Thaddeus' mobility was compromised, but while the man's attention was on him, perhaps Prenkus or another teammate ( YaddaYadda ) could catch him unawares...

Epiphany MrBossMan BloodLightning27 Drunkle Qrow SirGrey

((I will post for the second party when some people have replied to that scenario))

 

[Epiphany]

The scene quickly disintegrated into mere anarchy and chaos. As battlefields usually did.

Bryony's hand tightened on Charlie, the young boy tucked against her. She was grateful for the concealing grace of her glamour so the child wouldn't be frightened by the sudden spike of predatory hunger that awoke in her. The Fairy were not murderous but they were a passionate, lusty people who found delight in battle as much as in mischief or lovemaking. She'd set aside sword and spear for her husband, though, and now she wore the trappings of mortality. As long as her wedding ring remained on her finger, she'd sworn to act as she'd promised. And right now, that meant protecting the child was more important than indulging old habits dusty with disuse.

Thaddeus, delightful werewolf that he was, kindly led the way downstairs towards the carriages where he immediately ran into a spot of trouble. With Prenkus backing the man up, she'd thought the odds evened out but frowned in dissatisfaction as the melee only grew more dangerous. The Order was in danger of being overwhelmed.

"The boy will be preserved, Mr. Reyes," Bryony said to the badly wounded warrior nearby, helped by the thoughtful Briar Churrliaa. Shrouded in cloaking glamour, her voice whispered like the whisper of the muse, inspiration and moonlight woven into words that conjured fantasies and stories unbidden to the mind. "But we're in dire circumstances at the moment. I'm afraid I'll need to act."

"Cover your ears, child," she said to Charlie, not unkindly.

The masking cowl of invisibility bled away from the Fairy a moment later, as if she were an image glimpsed through a sea of leaves, the boy still hidden in her wake. One arm remained to comfort and reassure the mortal child, so like her own sons had been.

Her other arm lifted and, with an elegant twist of the wrist, a .436 Deane and Adams Revolver slid out from one sleeve and into her palm. Following the men down the stairs, she took aim from her superior vantage point and fired on the third attacker before the man could stick that dreadful silver blade into her colleague again. Once the shot was made, a fluttering of leaves seemed to sweep over her once more, rippling the air and shrouding her again though a perceptive, cunning eye could just spot the distortion of her glamour as she accompanied the young witness down.

The Gunrunner SilverFlight SirGrey MrBossMan YaddaYadda

 

[SirGrey]

Placing his arm around the injured John, he takes some of his weight. The man could stand to perhaps be a bit lighter but hunting vicious bloodthirsty creatures is rarely work for a unathletic man. The American had placed his staff on a holder which Brair kept on his back. Hearing the commotion from the stairwell, Brair got the sinking feeling this would anything but an easy escape.Adding to what Bryony said Brair says "Now don't go saying that we are all going to make it out of here, though I fear some us maybe limping". in a light-hearted tone trying to relieve some tension.

Taking the gun from the hunter he says "The bang comes from this end right" in a sardonic tone. While maybe not as much of an expert in combat, Brair was still trained in the use of firearms. Looking to the stairs which supposedly lead to the carriages, Brair sighed. "I feel it may be best for us to find an alternative route, the stairs are too much of a risk for now".

Scanning around the room, he finds what looks like a disused loading door, locked of course. Walking over with the injured John in tow, he aims the gun at the rusted locked. "I'd look away" he mutters as he pulls the trigger, breaking the lock and swinging the door open. It seemed Brair assumption was right, this suite was used to load and offload materials. The door leads straight down to a couple boxes. "Doesn't look like too bad a drop, still hold on tight," he says as he and Johnathan drop to the welcoming wooden boxes which surprisingly take their weight. Slowly getting off from said box, he says "To the carriages then"

 

[MrBossMan]

Jonathan managed to make it into the hallway without incident. Biting his tongue hard to focus the pain away from his arm. He held tightly to the rune Iona gave him previously; literally for dear life. It helped slow the poison down so it wouldn't kill him. However only now Jonathan understood the cost he paid for 'borrowed time.' It only made the poison linger within him. It still are away at the man, slowly, painfully, but it gave him time.

Almost all of Jon's weight was piled on Broad. Which was a testament to Briars strength because Jon seemed to dwarf the man. He let out a slow exhale of relief when Briar took his pistol. Then a quick inhale when Byrony said the boy would be fine.

He could faintly hear fighting up ahead near the staircases. The sound of yelling and gunshots barely registering to him. Then, was that Byrony with a pistol? His vision must be worse than he thought. However he couldn't dwell on it long because Briar shuffled him into another room. Something about the stairs not being safe.

Jon didn't argue or didn't want too. All he was thinking about was an antidote, this was quickly becoming unbearable, even for him. Next thing he knew Briar was aiming his pistol at a lock, a spark of light, then the lock fell to the floor. Jon's ears ringing in a dull kind of way. Briar walked towards the drop off then told Jon to hold on tight. He positioned his sword in the safest way possible (Which was still unsafe) then tumbled in the chute. Holding on to Iona's rune tighter than ever before.

He fell on cardboard boxes and wood. Which instantly sent jolts of pain all throughout his body. He pushed the unwanted sensations away and regained his composure as best he could. Next Jonathan would rise to his feet unassisted. No hard feelings toward Briar but there are some things a man's pride won't let him swallow. Falling on garbage (or the equivalent of) is one of those things.

However when he got to his feet Jon leaned against the wall. Waiting for Briar to now assist him. Up ahead Jon can see both the Carriages and Luna waiting for them. His pace started to increase without him consciously knowing about it. Jonathan was quickly becoming tired, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep, but knowing he'd never wake up again if he did.

SilverFlight SirGrey BloodLightning27 Epiphany The Gunrunner

 

[SilverFlight]

Thaddeus' opponent was circling him, both just outside the front entrance to the tenement building, where the werewolf had pushed him.
The sound of Jon collapsing onto the rubbish heap made him turn. He was immediately picked off by Bryony's shot, not even having time to register what had happened. The man crumpled to the ground and Thaddeus looked up in puzzlement, then in relief. He let his huge maw hang open in a wolfish smile for just a moment before another shot exploded at his feet.
The man he had thrown through a wall was up, ear bleeding, snarling savagely. His shoulder looked oddly bent, as if it had been dislocated but he aimed his pistol...not at Thaddeus or Briar, but at the heap of rubbish That Jon had just fallen into.
Thaddeus had just a flash of memory telling him that the pistol was loaded with silver bullets. When Briar came into view however he was moving without thinking, aiming to intercept the shot but he was too far away! He was going to miss it!

((Seeing as Iona is the only one up top, I'll just give you all a recap from her after the fight is over.))

MrBossMan SirGrey BloodLightning27 Epiphany The Gunrunner

 

[The Gunrunner]

Prenkus Lohmeyer

An ear severed, a shoulder cracked. Well enough. As the man with the knife screams, Thaddeus kicks the man back - He's caught by another of the villains, and both tumble down the stairs. Prenkus grinned to himself, until he saw the wounded man make a move - The swear drew him back first, and his free hand slapped against the hammer of his revolver to ready it for another shot. The second he does so, his shoulder explodes into pain, and his ears fill with the sound of a pistol's shot. Prenkus yells out a sound of pain, falling back against the wall behind him. Prenkus struggles to bring his revolver up to defend himself, but evidently it was unnecessary; Thaddeus manages to throw the man from the battle, crashing into a wall where the being ceases to be a bother. Thaddeus is then given a sprinkling of pistol-fire, but the agent persists. A third man replaces the fallen comrade with his pistol ready to finish the old hunter. Again, Thaddeus intervenes; the wolf ploughs into the combatant, enduring the pain of silver daggers to draw attention away from the others. The offender is quickly put down by a nearby shot, and Prenkus turns just in time to see Bryony disappear back into her magics.

Throughout it, Prenkus had been trying to perform a quick medical on the wound in his shoulder. There was a simple kit in his leather rig for such occasions, emphasis on 'simple.' He presses a bit of cloth against the wound, grunting from the pain, before he ties it in place with twine. He uses a short moment to adapt to the uncomfortable sensation - Electrical crackles of pain running along his nerves, the intense sting of the hole itself. Blood was soaking into his clothes, making a growing spot of wetness on his dark jacket, and a more noticeable crimson blot on the white shirt underneath. He presses a palm firmly on the wood, pushing himself back to his feet with a dedication. Blood drips to the steps beneath him, red lines coming from the cuff of his sleeves to the ends of his fingers.

Prenkus makes his way down, seeing the battle continue. Somethin- no, /someone/ drops from a higher story, to a pile of garbage on the ground. Hopefully... that person survived the fall. But it seems the fall was not of primary concern now; The man once showered in wood and plaster pushes himself up, clearly in a terrible shape, aims his pistol to the pile. Thaddeus, seemingly on instinct, dives to intercept the shot. Prenkus was able to tell the wolf wouldn't make it, so he acts on his own instinct. His mind, in the short moment it has, does its best to block out the pain - Not through focus, but rather in letting the conscious mind subside. Prenkus gives into adrenaline and ability, straightening himself and snapping the revolver forward. His sight focuses on his target, his breathing slows under his control, and the pain of his shoulder numbs to becoming bareable. His finger slowly presses on the trigger, with the sights centered for the wounded man's head.

 

[SilverFlight]

The Last Hound of London:
Eve of Lycaon's Bane​

“The series of murders that have plagued the streets of London this past month have left the local populous in a state of great alarm, and all of them were of a most peculiar nature: For one, the victims were not human. They were of the tainted, werewolves to be precise, the final victims were taken in a triple homicide, all Order members. At first, we suspected a rogue fanatic. A solitary hunter taking upon his or herself the noble deed of expunging the stain of the ‘lesser creatures’, but as the clues were pieced slowly together I began to question the simplicity of that logic. For one, the first killings seemed violent, bloody, as if the killer were experimenting with the most precise way to perform his grizzly work. There was a turning point about half way in when they became clean, a single cut across the throat with a highly coveted and most rare silver dagger, which is most commonly found worn among the ranks of the Order itself.

Traces of silver power was found on the scenes where there was no struggle and the majority of it was found at the scene where the order members were killed. My theory is that if inhaled by a tainted creature, the powder may have some sort of paralytic effect, rendering the victims helpless.

The most puzzling clues came to us on our latest excursion earlier today, when we were given a lead in the form of a witness to one of the murders, a young workhouse boy. We no sooner collected the boy when we were set upon by a group of unsavory thugs, the attire of whom I could not help but notice did not in the least match the drab surroundings of the neglected tenement building in which we fought.

Their clothes were very well-made, and the crowning clue we found when my cousin and fellow hunter Iona came injured down from the roof of the building where she had engaged one of the thugs alone. This man, she injured and as he fled, he abandoned something unawares on the mud-stained remnants of their battlefield: A small silver pin with a very unique design.

Upon our return to the Order headquarters here in London, situated within the beautiful grounds of Westminster Abbey, I had this symbol analyzed by our experts. It is an image used by a group of secretive hunters called ‘The Bane of Lycaon’, fanatics dedicated to the eradication of all werewolves.

The boy is now safe in the infirmary, and I am here with my companions, presenting today’s events to you noble hunters and huntresses on the eve of my acceptance into the Order.

I am very much honored by your presence here, please, enjoy the celebrations prior to the inaugural ceremony. Thank you.”


Thaddeus descended from the small stage where he had delivered an oral account of the case so far. There were a number of interested order members, though Thaddeus couldn’t help but notice some of the looks he’d received that evening had been less than pleased. He was a werewolf, and as such subject to, mostly justified prejudices and fears. For many werewolves, he would agree that a certain level of caution was always needed. The beast was lurking just beneath the surface, ready to cease control if it got the chance, but Thaddeus’ years of training had paid off, giving him a solid control over the animal inside him, and today, that effort would be acknowledged. Today he would become an official member of The Order of Seven.

“My teammates and I will be taking questions for a little while.” He added above the low murmur of conversation that began to rise.

Soft music played in the background, courtesy of a quartet that had been hired for the occasion. Many of the order had changed into their evening attire, tailed coats and dresses, jewels and top hats. Thaddeus himself wore his characteristic green in the form of a tailed blazer and a Nordic-styled gold pin buttoning the collar at his throat. The garden square in the center of the courtyard had been cleared of chairs and tables, allowing the party goers to dance. Light from the ceremony hall spilled out through the double doors and doused the entire scene in gold.

“My dear boy, the elite team you are part of achieved a great victory today.” Amberdale approached them with a jovial expression. “Now that we know the organization responsible I dare say we’ll have a much better time rounding up those responsible. Job well don eh?”

Thaddeus was surprised that Amberdale was so cordial with him, prior to this evening he had made no secret as to his disapproval off the young werewolf.

“We still haven’t caught the murderer yet Sir Amberdale. I won’t count this case closed until he or she or they are safely behind bars.”

~~~

Iona watched the festivities from one of the pillars supporting the trellis over the garden square. The wisteria flowers cascaded down behind her, thought she chose not to return to her dress, instead wearing a slightly cleaner pair of breeches and a smart, blue coat with wide cuffs and gold trim. She did not look like she felt the job was done either. Something was clearly bothering her. She looked out over the crowd, scanning for the familiar faces of her team. One in particular caused her more worry than the others: She had not seen Jon since they had returned...

Fenris MrBossMan The Gunrunner SirGrey Epiphany