Expanse: The City Reboot (Dark Fantasy Epic) Main Thread (Open, Started)

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford/The Vessel - Entrance of Mo - Grim

Vergil listened with some interest to the conversation that The Vessel, Lucian, and Vincent were having about the ethics of the Mage Hunters, and their reasons for why they control them. Afterwards, Vergil called to The Vessel.

"Vessel, mind if I have a word with you in private for a moment, there is something I'd like to discuss." Vergil asked her, gesturing her over to him.

"Certainly Vergil, excuse me gentlemen." The Vessel replied with, excusing her self from the conversation with Lucian and Vincent. She then made her way to Vergil, and sat down next to him. "Now then, what is it you wanted to discuss."

"I would like to discuss the plan you have concocted to rid the group of our Mage Hunter problem."

"Ah right. So have you worked it out?" The Vessel asked Vergil, curious to know his answer.

"Indeed I have Vessel. You have drugged the tea with some sort of poison, counting on Lucian and Vincent not trusting you enough to actually drink it. But in reality, the tea is merely a decoy. For you have actually placed in the tea, some sort of immunity to the poison you are going to place into the fire, which when combined with the heat, will generate some sort of poisonous gas cloud, rendering anyone who hasn't drunken the tea unconscious."

The Vessel, amazed at the correctness of Vergil's deduction, began to slowly clap in applause.

"So, you are as good as you say. Well done Vergil, I never would have guessed you'd figure it out, then again, coming from someone who knew much about Lanadrii, I wouldn't be surprised if there were other vestiges of knowledge hidden in that mind of yours."

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Scarlett looked a little bored, the new arrivals had proven to be less interesting than she had hoped for and the situation was beginning to make itself abundantly clear, they had no intention of starting trouble. She crossed her arms and sighed quietly under her breath. Scarlett was quickly beginning to feel a little useless, her talents lay elsewhere from conversation.

Although the Vessel had raised a good point. It was an age old question. Who watches the watchmen? Vergil called to the Vessel about a word in private and suddenly Scarlett resumed listening. Staring into the distance she activated her gift and began mapping the sound of the area inside her head. Whatever Vergil had to say to the Vessel Scarlett would know soon enough.

 

[tobi the good boy]

Lucian Grey - Entrance of Mo ? Grim

?Hey, Vincent, mind if I have a swig of that? The green eyed lass scurried off before I could get one.? Lucian pressed the palms of his hands against the coarse stone road and pushed his body upright, his grey strands of hair slicked by the water and clinging to his angular features, his personal mask; unkempt being the perfect description of the jovial hunter.

?You don't seem particularly thirsty anyway? Lucian chimed, reaching out and letting his hand hang in the air, awaiting his partners charitable disposition. The smile that graced Lucian's face dwindled as time flowed, he was well aware that his partner wasn't the most talkative of fellows but to outright ignore him.

"Can i interest you in some tea?"

Lucian, bewildered, glanced over his shoulder to notice that the woman with the goldleaf harp had made her return.

"Might as well, If you haven't any milk it'll have to do." Lucian recoiled his hand and turned to face the woman in front of him, his head bobbing once in a sage-like manner. The vermilion haired woman retreated to the pot hanging in the flames embrace and returned with a cup filled with the sugary brown liquid.

?Sir, may I kindly re-ask; what is it that give the Mage Hunters the right to judge those they hunt??

?You'd have to ask the council. Me and Vincent are merely weapons to them, we're contracted to kill or capture a mage and get paid to do so. I'm aware they have some sort of dogma they follow that allows them to justify what they do, but I've never much cared for it. If you're asking for my justification; I just enjoy a good fight.?

?I see... and what of the powers of divines, opposed to that of magecraft??

Lucian furrowed his brow and scratched his chin, he was considering this question with a great deal of intrigue before ultimately delivering his answer.

?Well, that is an interesting question... one I'm unsure how to answer. Perhaps if I'm ever contracted to kill a god I'll be able to tell you.? Lucian concluded before drinking deeply from the fruit-flavoured concoction.

 

[DragonofDecay86]

Vincent - Entrance to Mo - Grim

"How can we trust you? You say you won't attack a Mage for doing nothing wrong, but I know of you Mage Hunters, you will hunt for sport. Hell, soon after I was kicked out of Upper
District, a bunch of you ganged up and attacked me. It had only been a mere hour or so."

Vincent turned his head slowly to regard the younger teen sitting across the fire from him. The light from the fire casting a shadow of Vincent's features and hiding his face from the others around him.

"You ask how you can trust us, yet you took part in the slaughter of innocent people. You probably had a bounty placed on your head, and it's a wonder your still alive. You probably had recruits and striker's after you. If a Ragusin or Dissiansha had been sent after you we wouldn't be having this conversation. Ignorant Mage, your lucky I've chosen to act friendly to you and your companions." Vincent hissed, getting to his feet and turning around. Vincent vanished into the darkness in the direction of where his horse had been tether before they had all sat down to the warm fire. Vincent's blood was pumping, and it was taking an enormous amount of self-control to resist drawing his blade and returning to the fire to put his blade into the boy's chest up to it's hilt.

What are you doing Vincent? You're a Hunter, tasked with the eradication of these foul abominations. Why are you sitting around and talking to them as if they are friends?

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford/The Vessel - Entrance of Mo - Grim

Vergil watched as Vincent went off to tend the horses, a brief smile appeared on Vergil's face.

"Well that is one less person to deal with. Unfortunately, with Lucian haven drunk the tea, the whole plan has faltered, guess I'll have to come up with a backup plan." Vergil thought to himself as he rose from the bench, and made his way to The Vessel.

"Bad news I'm afraid, the whole has gone wrong."
"What do you mean, gone wrong?"
"Well, Vincent has left for the stables, and Lucian has drank the tea, meaning he won't be effected by the sedative."
"Oh well, guess we will have to think of something else. You don't happen to have any ideas?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. I have these Smoke Bombs and Flash Bombs, if you signal the others, I'll throw use these to cover our escape into Mo. Granted it isn't a great plan, but is what I could come up with at short notice." Vergil then discreetly showed The Vessel the bombs.
"They could work, okay then, I'll get Lorel, Itsuka, Velen, Scarlett, and Telnor in position, and I'll signal you when we're ready." The Vessel then made her way towards the intended people.

"Right, now we are under way, how best to do this. I could throw the smoke bombs into a wide arch, covering a wide area, and then when they have detonated, deploy the flash bombs. For an additional bonus, add a few throwing knives into the mix, plus with the dense smoke cloud, the pair of them will have difficulty seeing them. Yeah that works, time to get into position, and await the signal."

 

[Korten12]

Lorel Ion - Grim

?Is this man for real? He thinks he can stand up to all of us? If he is to attack us, he is dead. Goes for you also other Mage Hunter. Neither can you together stand up to all of us. Now talk! You sit here and drink tea with us? Is this some sort of joke? Also what are we waiting for? Itsuka and Velen, we can?t just sit here and wait to see if another attack comes! We need to leave now. What if that squad comes back with an even larger force. We may have been able to hold them off for now. But what if there is two more, three more, or even a battalion of guards with them??

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Using her gift Scarlett eavesdropped on Vergil and the Vessel?s private conversation, it was not by far the greatest plan in the world but it would suffice. She nodded politely at the Vessel as if she was hearing the information for the first time. Better not to remind everyone of her ability.

Scarlett got herself ready to move quickly. She looked at Vergil awaiting the signal.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Entrance of Mo - Grim

Vergil saw everyone discussing the plan of escape, he had to admit, it wasn't one of his best, but with the little time available to him, he had to think of something that could potentially work. He then saw Scarlett come near him.

"I take it that The Vessel informed you of the plan, or did you just listen in on our conversation with that ability of yours? In any case, when the smoke field is up, go get Telnor, with him being blind it will be difficult for him to escape." Vergil asked her, knowing of her talent.

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Scarlett nodded. Deciding not to tell Vergil she had listened into the conversation. At least when the smoke screen went up she could use her gift to find the right direction out. She looked across at Telnor who still lay on the bench resting. She could sympathise, a little, been without sight and under the threat of danger must be a scary sensation at the very least. If he panicked at the sound of the diversion she might have to render him unconscious, it would be easier and there would be little time for explanation. Gods she hoped he wasn?t heavy.

?Alright, remember, it would be better to kill them if you get the chance.? Scarlett remarked about the mage hunters.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Entrance of Mo - Grim

"Whilst it would be most convenient for us to kill them, I have this strange feeling that they are important somehow, but not at this moment though. I can however, render them unconscious, it should slow them down for awhile." Vergil remarked in response.

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Scarlett didn?t share Vergil?s opinion in the slightest. She raised an eyebrow out of surprise and looked over at the two mage hunters discreetly, Scarlett certainly didn?t see anything special in them.

?What makes you say that??

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Entrance of Mo - Grim

"I don't know, I just have this feeling that some point in the future, they will be of use to the group, but when that times is, I do not know, nor can I say how they will be useful. Until then, they are an annoyance, an annoyance that we need to remove for the moment." Vergil responded, his words sounding mysterious, as if to suggest other forces at work.

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Scarlett was not impressed with the reply from Vergil. And it showed on her face. Although now was not the time for debate, so she let the matter drop. Almost.

?What makes you think I won?t kill them in all the confusion.?

She was testing him.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Entrance of Mo - Grim

"You could say that Fate has played a rather ingenious hand. It seems that they are not destined to die, neither by your hand, neither by mine, nor by anyone presently here. Regardless of how many times you try, Fate, the cruel puppet master that it is, will pull your hands away at the last moment Scarlett, for even you are bound to it, regardless of what you believe." Vergil replied to Scarlett's challenge, then chuckled to himself.

 

[tobi the good boy]

Lucian Grey - Entrance of Mo ? Grim

Lucian raised the small wooden cup to his lips, letting the last trickle of sickly sweet ichor dribble down his throat. The white haired lad that he had met earlier was glaring him with disdain and spouting his aggression while the Mage Hunter drank, Lucian wasn't particularly phased by the young mages words, and even considered merely ignoring them for a while; but ultimately decided that he might as well grace the boy with an answer.

?You must forgive my associate, Vincent, he isn't the most sociable of people. I'd also ask that you do not bark orders at me; If you wish to know my intentions you merely need to ask.?

Lucian placed the small wooden cup aside and shuffled his body to face the little one who had addressed him.

?As for your little situation earlier, Me and Vincent offer our blades in protection. Whoever those people that attacked you were they seemed to flee when we approached.

Lucian fell backwards, his body laying firmly against the cold cobblestone base.

?And besides, If you think I end up becoming more trouble than I'm worth, just slit my throat in my sleep.? Lucian gave a short chuckle before turning his attention to the ray of light that pierced the veil of the clouds

 

[FinalDream]

Scarlett Verneer - Battle Aftermath at Mo Entrance - Grim

Scarlett looked at Vergil and smiled.

?Fate is what you decide it should be. You walk your own path in this life and fate, as you call it, is born from the consequence of your choices along the way. It only becomes the guide of your actions when you don?t like the outcome and wish to rest blame beyond yourself.?

Scarlett turned around and caught sight of the light breaking through the clouds. A complicated expression crossed her face.

Are you listening Sera? I made my choice a long time ago, and should I come to face it all again in the here and now, I won?t hesitate to make the same decision again. No regrets. No looking back. Not ever.

Looking down at the ground she smiled to herself and walked away.

?Why don?t you slit your throat now and save us all the trouble?? Scarlett remarked passing by Lucian.

 

[tobi the good boy]

Lucian Grey - Entrance of Mo - Grim

"You've good ears girl" Lucian's grin sharpened ever so slightly as the vision of a woman, a few years his senior walked past his field of view.

"Besides, why would I deprive you of the pleasure?" Lucian, amused by his own blatant disregard for his safety closed his eyes and let the rays of light that shine through the silver-grey strands of hair that masked his visage; it's warmth radiating through his very being.

 

[Korten12]

Lorel Ion ? Grim

?You say that, but how do we know we can trust you. How do we know that you won?t slit our throats during the night? Or have an ambush in wait for us.? Lorel spoke.

Velen was surprised Lorel was taking so much control. Itsuka being a mage was inclined to side with Lorel. ?Lorel,? Velen spoke low enough so only Lorel could hear. ?You must calm down. I won?t let harm come to you. These mage hunters won?t have it so easy.?

?But still??

?If it bothers you that much, we don?t have to stick with them. We can just leave. We leave now and we can get going on the mountain trail before they do.?