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

[Evrant-Knight]

Lady Fiorla De la Croix - Dean's Mansion - Tinsdal

"The masquerade ball will be the perfect setting and opportunity for our reunion, Jastis. I can't believe it has been 28 years since I last saw him in person. His personality reminds me much of Angello, its a shame that the two will never meet, at least in a physical sense, but I think he would of been happy." Fiora remarked with a sadden expression on her face, as memories of her husband came back.

"From what I could gather of his sixth sense, Shade's Vision as he calls it is progressing rather well, but it hasn't reached potential, perhaps, I can stimulate its evolution."

"Still the ball is a few days away, there is enough time to prepare for it. The waterfront makes for an excellent backdrop to the festivities. It will certainly be a night to remember for many it seems."

"Anyway, I have some invitations to send, good day to you two." Fiora then finished off with a bow, and then made her way back to her room, to begin preparations.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Champion's of The Tempest Tournament Arena - Uegan

Vergil heard a large explosion coming from the arena. He quickly went in to see that it had descended into chaos. There were bodies everywhere, and those that had survived, were running for their lives.

Amidst the smoke, ash, sand, and desperate townspeople, he could make out the vague shape of The Vessel lying on the floor. Surprisingly, she wasn't hurt, but looked dazed. Vergil barged his way through the people, reaching her.

Before he picked her up, Vergil used one of his remaining bombs to clear a path through the crowd. He then picked her up, holding her in his arms, and made a mad dash back into what was the winner's tent, part of it had been destroyed in the blast.

The pair escaped into the city streets, crowds were starting to investigate. Vergil slipped his way into one of the side alleys, away from all the noise and commotion. After a few minutes of walking, he came across a inn, its sign read: The Ace of Ales.

Its inside was fairly quiet, there were a few patrons, but they were mostly paying cards to notice the new arrivals. He made his way to the counter, still carrying Vessel. The owner was a tall, slightly pale faced man with dark purple hair, he seemed to have a friendly look on his face.

"Welcome to The Ace of Ales my good sir. What was that explosion just now?" He enquired.
"There was an explosion at the Champions of The Tempest tournament, it caused by an unknown party. In any case, do you have a room available?"
"Yeah, course I do. In fact, a double one has just been cleaned. I'll eh, go and open it for you." The innkeeper remarked, noticing the dazed woman.

Vergil followed the man upstairs, a nervous look on his face as he was making sure that Vessel was still conscious; she was, that seemed to calm him down somewhat.

"Here you go, I'll leave you to it then." The innkeeper remarked as he quietly left the room, a brief smile appearing on his face.

Vergil set Vessel down on the large bed, and found himself a armchair to sit in.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - The Ace of Ales - Uegan

Out of the corner of his eye, Vergil could see that Vessel had jumped out of the window, and was limping her way towards a hospital, which had smoke coming out of it. He quickly went up to the window.

"My god Vessel, what are you up to now? Best go after her then Vergil, you did make a promise to her."
"Your right V, I did."

Vergil remarked as he briefly conversed with himself, he then leapt out of the window, and started to pursue Vessel.

"Vessel! Wait up!" Vergil called out to her, unsure if he would relieve a reply.

Lady Fiora De la Croix - Dean's Mansion - Tinsdal

"There, finished." Fiora remarked as she completed her set of invitations, two of which bore her family crest. She then left her room in the mansion, and made her way to the delivery room. She handed them over to a courier.

"Make sure these are delivered top priority, they are invitations to the masquerade ball in a few days time." Fiora ordered the man, who gave a silent response, and quickly exited the door.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - The On the streets - Uegan

Vergil followed Vessel down into a side alley near the hospital, it wasn't long before the pair of them could hear a loud scream coming from an upstairs window.

"What was that?" Vergil shouted.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Hospital - Uegan

Vergil helped Vessel up into the hospital, after which she passed him her harp, Vessel then went around the corner, and out of sight.

"Wait, why have you left me this?" Vergil asked sounding confused at why she would leave him this.

"Guess she thinks she ain't coming back, in that case, I guess I'll hold them off for her, and buy her as much time as I can." Vergil thought to himself in a triumphant manner. It was then that Vergil could hear the sound of armour coming ever closer towards him. He managed to attract their attention, and drew them to an open area at the back of the hospital.

Standing before him was a group of ten moderately armoured soldiers, each wielding an assortment of weapons, ranging from swords, maces, and halberds.

"Gentlemen, lets dance." He called out to them, and proceeded to laugh.
"You dare mock the Champions of The Tem..." The leader of the group shouted before a throwing knife was embedded in his heart, causing him to collapse instantly.
"Does that answer your question?"
"GET HIM!" One of the other soldiers ordered in a furious manner, as the two groups clashed.

Vergil launched himself at the first soldier driving his wrist blade into him, and then threw the body at another, causing him to topple almost instantaneously. One of the soldiers wielding a halberd then swung his weapon at Vergil, but he quickly rolled to the side, causing the halberd to become stuck in the body of his dead comrade. He quickly rolled over the spear man, and grabbed the small dagger at his waist, and plunged it into his back.

Vergil then found himself between two long swords, both poised to strike. He carefully sidestepped out of the way, causing the two blades to kill the other. They soon fell. Vergil carefully dodged a swing from oncoming flail. He quickly pulled out his katana, and trapped the flail in mid-swing, and then threw the wielder into another pair of soldiers. Afterwards he quickly dispatched the remaining group of five.

Within a short space of time, Vergil managed to defeat another twenty; using careful manuvers and well placed strikes from both his katanas and wrist blade.

"Well, that's thirty of them down, where are the other twenty?" Vergil pondered as he walked amongst the dead bodies, and panted occasionally from exhaustion. It was then that he could see shadows appearing on the walls above him.

"Crossbows... they have crossbows. Oh... [expletive]. That is really just great, NOT." He questioned to himself sarcastically.

It was then that the crossbows started firing, despite his exhaustion, Vergil managed to dodge the hail of crossbow bolts heading towards him, and made his way to the walls. He picked up a tower shield on the way, and used it to deflect the further hails of crossbow bolts.

Vergil then charged along the wall, knocking over the crossbow men and off the wall.

"Well that wasn't so hard." Vergil remarked, but he saw another group of ten.

"You must be the final wave? Very well then." Vergil called out, as he leapt from the walls, and whipped out the katanas, and engaged the last group.

"Hope this has bought you the time that you need Vessel." Vergil thought as he blocked and parried the blows coming at him.

 

[Korten12]

Lorel Ion ? Dean?s Mansion - Tinsdal

Malina..?

He didn?t know how to respond, why was she here? ?Malina, what are you doing here??
She ran up to him and hugged him and then tears ran down her eyes and then she backed away. ?What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!?

?What, banished yes, but killed? No. Who told you that?? Lorel asked trying to keep cool, in honestly he did miss Malina, and they were good friends.

Malina wiped some of the tears. ?All of us had been told by Amelia, she said you were dead along with your whole family.?

Lorel?s eye?s narrowed. ?Of course she did? I should have expected that, if they knew I was alive and she let me live. Her reign of power would be questioned. But Malina what are you doing here??

?I am here in the north with my father? He will be so happy to see you,? She sort of drifted off and he noticed she sniffed as if smelling a strong scent. ??Large amounts of it are around??

?Large amounts of what?? He asked looking around and trying to smell something himself.

?I am sorry,? she yelled and then suddenly rushed at him and before he could react she unbuttoned his jacket and saw what was beneath. The various red marks and the ominous blood that was on top of them that never dried. Her eyes almost looked like they sparkled. ?So much of it??

Lorel pushed Malina back and covered his shirt. ?How did you??

Suddenly she slapped herself. ?Sorry? I almost lost control of myself for a second??

?Malina what??

?I never told you did I? I am a Vampire??

Lorel almost thought she was joking. ?What?? He yelled out loud but then lowered his voice. ?Vampires like in the old stories? They never existed.?

Malina collected her thoughts and thought for a second on how to explain it. ?Your right, they didn?t exist. Until they were created? Back in 5242, during the first major City war, Professor Albon Von, was in a bit of a wreck and his district was going to fall. So in an attempt to secure that, he looked over old stories, and saw Vampires. Being humanoid they seemed to be the easiest to create. Getting volunteers of families of his district, he began to experiment. Knowing full well what the side-effects could be,

?At first he was just going to give them the strength of Vampires but decided to add some other parts to make it more ?authentic? but didn?t add things as foolish as: burning in the sun, and such things like that. Also we aren?t technically dead like the legends speak of. Our heart beats as normally, so does our blood flow, but our skin was modified to look paler. He used magic? But not any known magic, he literally rewrote their DNA?s. But not all of them came out as good as our family, apparently some families while they did gain the strength gained other features that he made sure didn?t happen to us, such as burning in the sun and such. We were one of the few lucky ones.

?After he finished? He vanished soon after and to this day is unknown what happened to him or how he gained such magic. Now for hundreds of years we have been in secret but our populations are few. Vampires were forced into existence and we were literally made for war.?

Lorel didn?t know how to respond, she wasn?t human, well not exactly, more of a sub-species
of human rather than a whole new species. ?How is this..? I don?t even know how to respond.?

?I am not surprised? I think you?re the first person I have told. But Lorel? I must ask? Why is there blood like that over your chest??

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Hospital - Uegan

"I have done as you asked me too. The fifty men that were here, lie broken, battered, and bruised, pretty much, all dead. I don't think the Champions will be a problem... for a time at least." Vergil remarked, telling the Vessel what he did in the struggle.

"Here, I'll think you'll want this back, not a scratch on it." He added as he passed back her harp. Vergil then surveyed the scene.

"Well, it seems we both enjoyed our fun. What in hell happened." Vergil mentioned looking at the bloody corpse. He then turned to see a face he didn't expect.

"Oh, you... What is she doing here?" Vergil asked Vessel whilst pointing at the ****.

"I knew it." He said quietly.

"Oh my god, I can't believe it. I basically acted as a decoy and risked my life, so you could rescue her; a woman that, did things to you that no person should be forgiven for. What reason is there to justify all this?" Vergil asked in shock, waiting patiently for a response.

"This is totally ironic, but I guess if you can't beat them, join them." He then muttered under his breath.

Before either could respond Vergil stated, "This better be good... from the both of you."

 

[FinalDream]

Kalyn Alexander Vaalender - Dean's Mansion - Tinsdal

A long sigh escaped his lips, there was something in the detail of the report he had just received from a contact in the middle district that troubled him greatly, but the exact nature of it refused to make itself clear and had so far managed to elude him. Kalyn Vaalender, known to all as the Dean of the North?s right hand man and loyal friend, had decided to leave his office on the ground floor of the mansion and take a short walk to clear his mind of distraction in an effort to work out exactly what was beginning to trouble him. So far it had failed and only further added to the frustration of the problem.

Harold Nehelem had never been what Kalyn would describe as a close friend, but they had shared a passion for life?s two great vices (or so his wife would have you believe), drink and women, and when they got together a lot of fun was had. He smiled to himself. He was actually going to miss the old man. His murder, and that of many guests, had come as a great shock to Kalyn. None more so than the fact that he was in charge of security for the Dean?s masked ball and feared for a repeat of the incident.

It came to him in a flash. Sera. His long time personal contact of the Red Stain was down in the middle district, but further more she had failed to check in with him about the incident. Was it possible that she had been involved somehow? Kalyn swallowed hard at the implications. The fact that the report identified multiple assailants did little to calm his thoughts.

Kalyn walked into the entrance hall and stopped.

Joanna! If she is involved in this then gods help us all.

A scandal of that magnitude would bring the wrath of the entire north onto the Dean's doorstep.

 

[CrazyBlaze]

Telnor- Uegan

"Actually Hailen on second thought I think I will go it alone," Telnor said. "So good luck with whatever you have to do. Maybe you should come visit us in Tinsdal."

Telnor turned away from the group and made his way to where the carriages. Approaching the kiosk he asked, "One carriage to Cryka please."

"Certainly sir. That will be 50 kiel." the attendant said. Signalling to someone leaning against a fence," You, Jihel. Your up. Trip to Cryka. First long trip. Don't mess this up."

"Yes sir," Jihel said. "Come on sir. This way please." Jihel lead the way to his carriage ad Telnor followed. "The trip should just take half a day. So please just take a seat in the back and enjoy yourself," Jihel opened the back of the carriage and Telnor went in and sat down. He closed his eyes as the carriage started to move and soon he was asleep.

Cryka- Telnor- Half a day latter

Telnor yawned as the carriage rolled to a stop. The door opened and Telnor stepped out. Jihel smiled as Telnor handed him the kiel.

"Thank you sir," Jihel stopped Telnor as he walked away. "This came by magic letter a few days ago, for someone matching your description. I was designated as the person who was to give to whoever matched the description, that is why Hal gave me this job," Telnor took the letter with a quizical expresion.

"Um. Thanks. I guess," Telnor handed Jihel an extra ten kiel. "Take care."

Telnor looked at Cryka. It had been so long since he had last been here. Not since the death of his father had he been in the north. It was still as beautiful as when he had left it. Despite being in the north Cryka was situated in a low lying valley so it was warmer than most of the north. Trees were growing everywhere with gardens in front of almost every house. It was a peaceful district because Cryka was home to the best craftsmen in almost the entire city, and who wants to steal from people who might be making their house or other goods in the future.

Cryka was also home to three different major guilds. The Brotherhood of the High Stone, the guild of masons and where stone workers go to become the best stone workers. The Metal Livers, the best blacksmiths gathered there. The third guild is The Healing Crosses, the best doctors in all The City. Hopefuls come from all over in the hope of being accepted into the guild and only twenty make it every year.

Telnor smiled. It felt good to be here, despite his reasons. He made his way to a nearby bench to sit down and read the letter he had received.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Hospital - Uegan

"You know, if you found another way, you could of still helped people without hurting the Vessel. Instead you had to take the easy way out, hurting someone you knew in the process. Of course, you wouldn't see it like that, you'll say that it was a difficult choice. But I can see my words will have no effect on the matter. You both have made your point perfectly clear." Vergil remarked to the ****, knowing already that his argument was in vain. He then turned to Vessel.

"Besides, if it weren't for me distracting those soldiers, the pair of you would be dead by now. I could of just walked away from this, let you die, but I didn't, do know why, because I care for you Vessel. You are one of the most interesting people I have met in a long time."

"What do I get for buying you the time that you needed to pull this off? Nothing, not even a thank you. I even made sure that your harp wasn't damaged. Cause that is how much I care." Vergil mentioned, pointing out the harp in her hands.

"Your going to let her keep the broach, aren't you Vessel. You know its the right choice, even I can see that. Despite her methods of acquiring it, she has done good with its use." Vergil remarked, realising that he had lost this argument.

"Anyway, we should get going, too much sorrow has been created this day, I would not want to feed this beast of sorrow any longer. That doesn't mean you, the ****." He added, referring to the ****.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Hospital - Uegan

"I know this may seem like I'm going off topic, but do you think the **** will be alright by herself?" Vergil asked showing a small amount of sympathy for the woman. He then went back onto the matter at hand.

"Thank you Vessel for that song, it was beautiful. Unfortunately, I can't think of anything for the moment, I may have an idea or two later though, ...in the mean time, I can give you this." Vergil replied with, a tear almost coming to his eye, but quickly brushed it away. He then gave her a kiss on cheek, which seemed to make her blush afterwards.

"That was for your kindness, and that song."

"As for the party, of course I'll attend. It sounds, fun." Vergil remarked.

"I think I saw a carriage station on the way here. It should only be a short walk, follow me." He added as the pair made their way out of the hospital.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Vergil Crawford - Hospital/On The Streets - Uegan

After several minutes of walking through the hospital corridors, both Vergil and Vessel made outside, and onto the streets, it was at that moment, that the Vessel kissed him. Needless to say, he was touched.

"We didn't just destroy them Vessel, we annihilated them. You know, we make an excellent team." Vergil remarked, then joined in with the laughter.

"How about, we celebrate this moment some where hmm. Say, your place? Or, would prefer some where a little more, private."