FateGuard

[Zen]

Sleep didn't come to Atlas and instead he laid in bed, blue eyes open. He played through that day's events through his mind, watching his comrades move through the wilderness and some of the others pick for herbs and edible plants. Atlas would have joined as well but alas, he had to keep his wards up. But now that he was mulling over the events, he wondered why he was even needed. Nothing horrible happened... He was drained of energy and magic for almost nothing.

Drowsiness was starting to overtake him, causing his eyelids to droop. The sound of running feet shook him awake. The woman he bedded that night still slept, which was a miracle. Despite how well she performed in bed, Atlas did not like having to deal with a fretting woman. He sensed something was amiss - the mage couldn't explain why, perhaps it was intuition. He donned his robes on as quickly as possible, slipped into his leather boots and left his home. The footsteps he heard were those of Corben. Not wishing to alarm the city by hailing him, Atlas merely followed. In his rush the mage forgot to bring his equipment. He had a moment's respite from using his magic, hopefully the brief rest was all he needed to perform. He arrived at Helm Street shortly after Ferrick finished speaking.

Panting from the run, his eyes fixed onto the dead body and the knife. The mage was itching to get a closer look but didn't dare in case there was some sort of poison or disease on the corpse. Instead the man watched with a stern and straight face.

 

[Asmodeus]

The night was still, the sky cloudless. In the hue of moonlight Corben crouched opposite Ferrick, peering into the alcove of the ruined building. He pulled at another plank, tipping it towards Derek, who lifted it clear. The corpse had almost been stuffed inside, and the marshall could not tell if the debris had covered him accidentally or been placed there by the murderer.

A slaying under the cover of the dragon attack. Almost the perfect crime. If the corpse-handlers had found this body last night it would have been heaped on the wagon with the other victims of the dragons and carted to the cemetary. No one would have been the wiser. Fortune had smiled.

He looked up to see Atlas watching behind Alyss. "Anything?" It took less than a second for the Alchemist to shake his head, confirming there was nothing magical lingering around the body. Or at least nothing Atlas could detect.

He would need Aloysius here. Corben hoped Castanamir's raven had roused his friend from sleep. Only Aloysius would see the finer details of the crime scene. Only he would track whatever did this.

Unless...

Corben reached into the space, his hand drawing close to the mangled, half-eaten flesh, and curled his fingers around the hilt of the dagger. He drew it out, peered at the bloodied edge of the blade, then glanced upwards. "Malwin!" He tossed the dagger vertically, up to the eaves of the rooftops, where Malwin caught if deftly. "What can you sense?"

In the flare of Ferrick's torch, he also noticed another figure on the opposite roof of the alley. A boy was watching them, his eyes shimmering darkly. It seemed at least one urchin was not afraid to indulge his curiosity.

"BE GONE, BOY!" he yelled at the stranger, waving his arm at Tahan.

 

[Delnoir]

Derek heaved the plank out of the way as Corben pushed it up to him before kneeling down and looking at the corpse. He shook his head at the sight. He had been fighting not two blocks from here last night. That fact alone was a tad unnerving. Derek looked up to where the debris would have fallen from despite knowing that he would have way to tell if the debris was placed or not. But what really ate at him was...

"Corben, I don't like this. If the clean up from the dragon attack was meant to cover for this, why leave the dagger? I don't see a sheath on the body, so its obviously not his. Also, why not come back to make sure the body was taken? The area around the attack has been evacuated for the time being. It wouldn't be hard to sneak in at all unless perhaps he feared running into the clean up crews."

Derek remained quiet as Corben threw the dagger up and called to Malwin. When had he shown up? Or had he been there from the start? It didn't matter.

"Perhaps if we--"

"BE GONE, BOY!" Derek visibly jumped when Corben started shouting. He looked up to where Corben was looking. A boy? Here? Derek stepped over a pile of debris and approached the newcomer.

"You should get out of here. This isn't a good place to be...why are you here, anyway?"

 

[TheNeverThere]

Castanamir had just returned from helping escort the logging party, he himself in charge of logging operations. He was still a little sore from wounds sustained a few nights before, which had put him out of action up until today. He had his mind set on a nice quiet supper and a little relaxation before heading out for the nightly watch, when he noticed Clara, Corben's daughter, running towards him. We waved to her and called out, "Greetings Clara. What is it that brings you to me in such a rush?" As she drew closer, he noticed a grimness about her face. Something serious had happened. Something worse than a monster attack.

As soon as she reached Castanamir, she paused shortly to catch her breath. "Castan, my...my father..." she gasped, still clearly short of breath. "Slow down, Clara," the FateGuard said. "Finish catching your breath or you might pass out before you can give my your message." After the girl had caught her breath, he continued, "Now, what did your father wish you to tell me?" The apprentice smith straightened herself and took one last calming breath before relaying the message. "My father needs you to send word to the other FateGuard to meet him and Ferrick at Helm Street. Something to do with a murder."

The woodsman nodded in acknowledgement. "Alright, I'll do so immediately. Now, it's getting late, so you should head back home now." Clara thanked the man for his time, turned and left, heading back towards her residence. "Ket!" Castanamir called, as he headed into his house. Seconds later a falcon swooped down out of the sky and in through an open window, coming to rest on a perch. Castanamir quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and scrawled "Orders from Lord Marshal Corben, relayed through FateGuard Castanamir. Meet Lord Marshal Corben and FateGuard Ferrick on Helm Street immediately. Send message on with Ket." He then rolled up the message and tied it to Ket's leg with a piece of string. Taking the falcon onto his arm, he headed outside. "Alright Ket, I need you to take this message to the other FateGuard, except Corben, and Ferrick, then return here for the night. I'll be gone when you get back, but I'll make sure to bring you a treat when I return." He stroked the bird's head, then flung him off into the air, where he spread his wings and flew off into the sky to deliver his message. Before heading to Helm Street himself, Castanamir steeled himself for what he might find. Monster attacks were a regular occurrence, but a murder was quite rare, and quite serious. Having prepared himself, the FateGuard headed for Helm Street.

 

[Lady of the Dragons]

[DASH=gray]Aloysius came jogging quickly, already seeing the body and sensing the dread in the air. He had heard Corben shout from far off, prompting to him to run faster. He knelt next to the body, and by pure habit started to observe the smaller details. The murder was sloppy, the blood was spilling out in a large puddle on the street. The poor man's flesh was ravaged by whatever had attacked it.

"This wasn't an accident."

Aloysius dragged a finger gently across the bloodied flesh of the corpse. Some of it rubbed off onto his finger. He rubbed the stain on his finger, seeing it smudge around. The blood was wet.

"This is not a human's doing. Though is it connected to a human? It may very well be..."

Aloysius's face was distorted by disturbed features. He blinked slowly. Once. Twice. Then he slowly got up with a grim look on his face, his usual humor drained. He examined the blood on his finger before wiping it carelessly on his armor, leaving a faint red streak.

"It might be magic...but I cannot be so sure. I feel--" He suddenly made a sound like he was choking, but he quickly regained his breath. "--a dark aura coming from this kill. I do not know what it means. It could be someone is skilled in a dark type of magic...Or that the killer is connected to someone who has been dabbling in the dark magic. It is not a serious form. But I can still feel the darkness. Faint, but it's there."

Aloysius looked towards his fellow FateGuards with a look of dread. "The culprit could very well strike again. I highly advise we catch it soon...but we must use caution. This trace of dark magic is not a good sign. It means what we are dealing with is quite formidable."

Aloysius was now pacing back and forth, thinking very hard. Occasionally he would stop and stare at the body before resuming to pace again. "Why?" He muttered to himself. "Why? Who would resort to dark magic? And why? How? Are they not aware of how illegal it is? It's punishable by death--" His eyes wandered to the sky, the body, then back to the ground. "So many questions...Yet all of them cannot be answered...This must a powerful person...It can take many years to master dark magic. Many die in the attempt...All the dark users have been killed... He then shook his head. "So many, many questions..."

He gave the corpse another sharp glance. The sight gave him a strange dark feeling, as if something brooding and ominous was on its way to target them. [/DASH]

 

[Woodrat]

"You're also missing the fact that the poor fool was half eaten. That is not all damage done by dark magic."

Eric walked up upon the scene behind the other FateGuard members, his eyes staring at the body. He wore the same leather armor from the night before, the damage and soot still visible on it. With a wave of his hand he brushed back from his face and examined the corpse by the torchlight. Eric paid particular attention to the mauled chest cavity and torn limbs.

"It probably was a clean kill, the look of shock is still on his face… but look at the state of it." Eric pointed at the limbs, the throat, and the chest.

"This murder simply was not just to sacrifice someone for some dark art… or just a message. That would've been simple. Messages are meant to be found, it would've been displayed on a well travelled street. Without Ferrick here, this could have gone unnoticed for another day or so... Perhaps that was the point. A delayed message that Ferrick here found earlier than wanted? Whatever happened, something feasted upon the poor soul after or while he died. A hunger for flesh or blood perhaps…"

Eric glanced at the other FateGuard members. "Whatever it is, here is a decent enough question. When will whatever it is strike again?"

 

[Zen]

At the mention of being a possible target, Atlas grew worried. He looked behind him, his robes flapping from his sharp turn. Blues eyes scanned through the dark narrow alley, and then he looked above him. Nothing so far... Biting his lower lip, he allowed the rest of the Fateguard to examine the corpse while he was watching their back. There was not much he could add on to their investigation.

Exhaling made a small puff of mist, reminding Atlas of the cold they were experiencing. The man knew he didn't have much magic left in him, but he couldn't allow his comrades to get attacked by an unknown threat. He glanced behind him at Corben and Derek, then back to the roof where Malwin was. If their investigation was going to continue he would rather they do it with some amount of protection.

Atlas didn't say a word, but everyone could feel a change in the quality of air around them. Those versed with magic or had some inkling of knowledge would know that the mage constructed a barrier, even fashioning one for Malwin. Although the shield for Malwin wasn't as strong as the one on the ground. This was because of the distance between Atlas and Malwin. Both barriers felt heavy, and to protect all of them from getting a chill, Atlas' protection was encrypted with a bit of heat. If the threat suddenly did attack, the barriers would separate to follow each person. The spell would remain active so long as Atlas kept his concentration.

The mage didn't say anything out loud to inform the Fateguard. It was best that the enemy didn't know of their protection just yet.

 

[Spammy]

Ferrick shook his head as he leaned his spear up against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest as he listened to the explanations being put forth, none of them sat well inside him.

"I don't think it's a message, even a delayed message. The body was... hidden. Whatever did this... it didn't want someone to find the body. The way it was covered with the debris makes me think that it wasn't meant to be found. We weren't supposed to know about this. Why else would it pick this dark corner of town? It wanted to eat, though... some kind of predator... but it didn't want to present its kill..."

He looked up and down the street, deserted except for the Fateguard, clearly anxious. Something could find them like this... whatever found this poor man. Something could easily come out of that darkness to attack.. or run into it.

"We need to start looking for it... it might still be in the area, or some clue of it might be. Maybe in one of the houses, or maybe we can find some sign of where it fled to... if it didn't want the body to be found then it might stay in this unlit area of town, or someone might of seen it...

"Either way, we need to start searching." Ferrick picked up his spear once more, lifting his torch out of the crack it had been wedged into. He crossed over the body, looking for any sign of a trail, but finding nothing very conclusive. He took another step, wanting to illuminate the darkness, but something stopped him from advancing further and leaving them without light. He turned to his fellow warriors, holding the torch between him and the others, the darkness behind him. "Who knows this area of town, or knows the people who live here?"

 

[Kino]

"Oh, I'm stuffed. That was a wonderful meal, Karina."

Dyne had just finished eating the delicious dinner that his younger sister Karina had prepared. He was smiling at her and rubbing his stomach in delight, to which she replied with a sincere smile of her own. That was something Dyne was very glad to see, as it was the first time that he had seen her smile since their father died of pneumonia just over a week ago. He had been taking time away from his duties with the Fateguard in order to mourn the loss, but even more, to take care of his younger brother and sister in order to make sure they would be ok.

"I dare say that may have been the best rabbit stew I've ever eaten. Shame Kino is running so late. I'm sure he would say the same."

Their brother Kino was late to dinner, but that obviously hadn't stopped them from starting without him. Kino had a habit of being late for dinner, so it wasn't something that worried them. He usually showed up just in time for his food to get cold, which he was trying to work on since he hated it.

"Yes well, perhaps this time he'll get here before it spoils. What could he be doing this time?"

Karina couldn't help but wonder about Kino whenever he stayed out like this. They both might be fraternal twins, but they were as different and night and day.

"Oh you know him. Probably out trying to get some pretty young girl to give him the time of day. Sometimes I wonder if he'll ever learn how to properly charm a lady."

They both chuckled a bit at the thought. Kino was a young man now, no longer a boy, and was eager to find himself a woman. Perhaps a bit to eager, as he had a nack for coming off too forward. Dyne had tried explaining the finer points of courting a woman, but Kino always seemed to forget all of his advice the moment the conversation ended.

"But what about you? You're of age now too. Have you given any thought as to whom you might like to be courted by?"

Karina blushed and shook her head. She had always been rather shy. If it wasn't for Dyne pestering her to be more social, she might never leave the house. It seemed like the both her and Kino had finally started to get back to their normal routines.

The door opened up, letting a sudden gust of cold air into the house as Kino walked inside, shutting the door behind him. Dyne and Karina both looked to him from the far side of the room. Kino walked over to them without even acknowledging that he was late, as was the norm. He looked to the pot of stew as he spoke.

"Please tell me it's still hot."

"Warm maybe. But i doubt it'll still be hot." Dyne spoke while laughing.

"Good enough for me."

Karina shook her head whole silently laughing under her breath. As Kino went to prepare himself a bowl, he spoke again.

"Oh, and i have a message for you Dyne. Sounds like there is some sort of meeting of the Fateguard over on Helm Street. Someone asked me to tell you that."

Dyne suddenly looked more serious now as he replied.

"Who was it that gave you the message?"

"I don't know. Some person, I assume they're in the Fateguard as well."

Dyne sighed heavily and shook his head.

"Fat lot of good that does me Kino."

Kino shrugged and sat down at the table with his bowl of stew, and began eating. Dyne got up and started making his way to his bedroom.

"Wait, you're going?"

"Yes, I'm going..."

Dyne stopped and turned to face them both.

"Listen, we've done our mourning for father. Now it's time for me to return to work. It's what he would want."

They both silently nodded, reluctantly agreeing. Dyne made his way into his bedroom to get changed into his armor. If he was going to make his return to the Fateguard, he was going to do it like the professional he was. After a short while, he emerged from his room dressed in his full armor, with his Creed blades sheathed on his back and his helmet held under his left arm. Kino had just finished eating and Karina had started cleaning up. When they heard the loud thuds of his heavy footsteps on the wooden floor of the house, they both turned to look at him as he entered the room. They couldn't help but admire him whenever they saw him in uniform. Their parents had always been proud of him for joining the Fateguard, and that pride had carried on to his siblings as well.

"Stay inside tonight. I'm not sure what's going on that requires the entire Fateguard to meet, but whatever it is can't be good. I will return as soon as I'm able."

The twins nodded to him, and with that, he exited the house and began making his way to Helm Street.

 

[Lady of the Dragons]

Aloysius continued his pacing, ignoring comments from any of the other FateGuards. He constantly muttered to himself under his breath, his eyes clouded with the thoughts in his head. Eventually, seemingly out of nowhere, looked around at the FateGuards.

"Where's Ark?"

He looked around again, then shrugging, he answered back.

"No worries, I'll go get him."

Aloysius quickly jogged away from the scene, still muttering some bits under his breath. When he reached Ark's house, he softly knocked before stepping back. Knowing Ark, he decided to assume he would barge out of the door.

"Ark? FateGuard duties are calling, my dear friend."

[SPOILI]Aloysius continues muttering random stuff under his breath. Then he goes to get Ark.[/SPOILI]

 

[Kitti]

It was lucky for Erilyn that Ark's house happened to be near where she was searching for some clue as to the commotion that her brother had mentioned. If she had not seen Aloysius knock at his door. She paused and then headed in the direction of Aloysius, certain that if something was amiss, he would know about it. She didn't want to seem as thought she were following him, but she had very little choice. Stepping a few paces closer, she heard him call at the door, which Ark would no doubt soon burst out of, that Fateguard duties were calling. She was perhaps a bit hurt that, yet again, it seemed as thought she'd been looked over. Did they not need her help? Was she perhaps superfluous?

"Aloysius, my friend, is there something the matter? Another attack of some sort?" Erilyn asked, taking on the facade of cheerfulness at least. Wounded feelings had no place on the job, even if the feelings were directed toward her fellow guards. They would need to work as a seamless unit to overcome the dangers that they faced on a near nightly basis and if that meant that she held her insecurities close to her breast and never let those nagging worries see the light of day then so be it. For this reason, she wore a smile on her lips, no matter how little she felt like smiling.

She halted her approach near Aloysius, but on the other side of him from the door. She'd hate for Ark to get panicked about the house call and trample her by accident. He meant well, but he sometimes seemed to forget his own size. How that was possible, Erilyn didn't know, but then she was one of the smallest members of the Fateguard. Perhaps it was different, the larger you grew, to know where to put your body.
​

 

[Abracadabra]

FACES PRESSED AGAINST frosted windows in her nightmares. Their icy fingers could not melt the rime. As she watched, they melted, skin sliding slowly off, eyes turning to red jelly. Their corpses could not have looked much different than this atrocity. Only this was real. Elayna pressed her lips together and her brows furrowed with apprehension. A fellow FateGuard had woken her from her disturbing dreams … and brought her to a disturbing reality. She recalled her conversation with Voker Dane not long ago: the murders could just be another one of his pranks. Him and his gang and their gambling and their drinking and their brothel visits. Someone was always owing them something and they were always owing someone else something until one of them vanished after a night of dragonslaying. She'd heard Dane spreading rumors that these deaths were the FateGuard's fault … Shouldn't they be more careful while they prance about the roofs and cobblestones, throwing anything they can get their hands upon? I'll bet you safe at least half of these deaths didn't come from anything dragon.

She wished she could have reprimanded him with a clear conscience, but that was impossible. Too often, deep down, she feared he had a point.Elayna approached her friends, eyes dark with the gore she saw. Up close, the corpse was even worse than she had thought before. Many things could be said of Voker Dane and his gang … but this? Mutilation? Was he really capable of that? Well, that wasn't the question. The question was motive. It was one thing to kill someone, another to disembowel them and shred apart their innards. Was it the work of a human? "How long has it been dead?" she asked. Her voice was naturally hushed in the darkness and the presence of a torn soul. "Is it magic?"

Her hands grew clammy and cold at the thought. If there was a mage in the walls of Gothenheim, what good would it do were the best FateGuards to leave its premises and embark upon a journey into the unknown night … leaving behind innocent citizens to be killed by an invisible hand? Perhaps it was some sort of sign, or curse. The only god Elayna knew was Dagain the Dawn Paragon, but if there was one, surely there would be more. Her hand strayed to the greatsword strapped to her back. She could sense the perpetual heat coming off it, its steady golden glow.

 

[Jack Shade]

He caught the dagger from the air, stowing it back in his cloak and looking down at Corben. Between them, only the bridge of duty separated the chasm in their relationship. For a moment he was simply quiet, crouched at the edge of the roof and looking down at them all. It felt natural, to be on different levels. There were few he felt close to in the group, few who understood his diurnal blindness...his unsettling black gaze. Still, the town was the last or perhaps the first of many...and he had given his strength to them at the beginning.

It was there now.


Even if not completely honest.

"Right on many accounts," He said quietly, his resonate voice filling the alley, "A great beast fed only briefly on this man, and with such strength and ability, it should have been hungry enough to eat him...bones and all." He let that sit for a moment, digesting the possibility. "It's angry, whatever it is. A monster that feeds on rage and fear...no natural creature, but a skinwalker, shapechanger." He put a hand forward, catching the edge of the roof and swinging down, feet clattering against wooden shutters briefly, grabbing hold of a window ledge before falling again, crouching near the corpse. "I do not sense its presence any longer, which means it has a method of hiding itself." A lie, but they couldn't know. "It changes to sate its rage and appetite, likely a Rugaru, or werewolf, something we are not as trained to deal with."

He looked up at Corben

"At least while it still walks as a human."

He straightened, walking past Corben and to the edge of the alley, affording Tahan a moment of interest...the boy's aura was strange, before looking out to the streets. "Someone we protect is an enemy, and they likely do not know it." He turned back, frowning, "I have an entry for skin walkers at home, give me leave to retrieve my book and I'll suggest a course of action."

 

[Cosmic Orion]

Right at the moment Tahan would get a chance to answer Derek's question, Saint came running around the corner at an impressive clip. Boots skid along the street a good three inches when he stopped thanks to the momentum created by his weighty weapon. Panting from having sprinted most of the way there he leaned onto the Combat Crucifix while catching his breath. Corben's yell had given him the precise location of where to head after losing track of the boy. It amazed him somewhat that his charge had taken to the rooftops so easily. Youth certainly had advantages.

"Leave the boy alone. He is FateGuard."

Leonardo kept his words respectful in tone alone. For those words alone some force saw fit to grant him enough breath to speak them with his usual unwavering resolve. He was not apologizing, making excuses, or hardly even offering an explanation to the others. Now was not the time to scrutinize fellow FateGaurd. The fact he hardly wasted a scowl on Malwin was proof enough of that. In fact it was time each of them used their talents wisely. A murder had taken place. One that the murderer did not want found from what the bandaged knight heard his compatriots say as they examined the crime scene.

Turning to to face the boy, he motioned toward himself with his hand.

"Come Tahan. Join us."

Now having caught his breath, the blond turned his attention to Erilyn. A private sigh of self-loathing escaped his lips. He had done her a secret wrong and as a result she did not even know it. Mostly since it came from failing to surprise her with delivery of a prize for her.

Oh Erilyn. . . I meant to give you your present today. A gift to show my appreciation of your dedication to the FateGuard. But alas Father Gregory placed Tahan in my hands. Not to mention the time spent searching for that woman's husband. This entire day seemed to slip away as though the creator himself were prodding along time at a faster pace. Yet I would not take back what I have done today. It warmed my heart to see husband and wife reunited. And it lifted my spirits to take on the task of saving Tahan's soul from corruption. But you will recieve the token of my gratitude soon enough. . . since you saved my life.

Malwin's voice ripped Saint from his thoughts and placed him into a somewhat fowl mood. Every word he heard that voice speak grinds away at his kindness. God have mercy on any foe fought after Saint was forced to interact with his bastard half-brother. For they would find themselves an outlet for that rage and the Combat Crucifix as the conduit. Not that anyone could really tell from just looking at him. Leonardo internalized it almost entirely from the onset and bandages hid the rest. Only his neat looking non-green eyes ever revealed the taint of hatred when it burned in his heart.

"I do not intend to stand here waiting for some shapechanger to kill another innocent of Gothenheim while we wait on a book."

Saint purposely faced and spoke to Corben, only acknowledging Malwin in the slightest. Even then the way he spoke treated the assassin's potential solution as an obstacle to saving lives. More damning than that however. . . was another tone in his voice that Malwin just might pick up on. One that seemed to imply he knew something that Malwin tried to hide. Did he catch the lie that he was not supposed to possess the capability of catching? If so, how could he? Was it just out of his natural distrust of onehe despised the very existence of? Perhaps there was a higher power at work. Either way, the tone remained when Saint spoke out yet again.

"A book that only one man is attempting to retrieve while this hidden beast still stalks the streets. The night is still young."

 

[unanun]

In the midst of pondering, Tahan was caught off guard by the sudden outburst. He stumbled backwards a half step, faltering from his crouching vigil on the rooftops. For a while after their challenge, he simply stared back, running through the possible list of reactions in his head. Should he smile? Shake his head? What did Father Gregory - what would he have told him to do?

The arrival of the his guardian seemed to solve these issues. His features broke out into a beatific smile and he leaped down the rooftops the same way Malwin had, landing a touch less gracefully than him. The robes he was wearing fluttered on his descent, revealing calves densely covered in nearly microscopic scripture. He had vague memories of the incident: various men fussing over him with magnifying glasses, little rivulets of blood running down his legs. They had used pieces of obsidian they had struck off a great volcanic rock (apparently brought in at great expense from the nearby scenery). The pieces of obsidian terminated in a razer thin point, and they had dipped them into an irritating poison to induce scarring (perhaps on advice from Malwin). He stumbled a bit and took up a stance behind Leonardo, face once again rather impassive, pulling out his necklace as he did so. He seemed to remember Father Gregory saying that this would also help him get past awkward situations and questioning ...

---

In the midst of the exchange between the various members, a pain struck him in left shoulderblade. One of the scriptures was tingling, smoldering. As he turned in the direction of his shoulder, the itching transferred to the front of his chest. He found that when he stood still, the sensation would traveling around his body. Sometimes it moved right, sometimes it moved left. It would stay still for a few seconds, pacing back and forth, before leaping around his body at great speed and once again coming to a rest.

"It walks amongst us." His voice was somewhat thin and raspy, rarely used and scratchy. But it was certainly not reticent.

 

[Delnoir]

Derek folded his arms. FateGuard? This boy? That was hardly a good enough explanation for Derek but it would have to do for now. He waited patiently as their new arrivals went through their thought processes and suggestions. A book with information on what they battled would serve useful. On the other hand letting the beast go free was unacceptable. He was about to suggest the group split up. One half to get the book another to stay here. But if this thing was as strong as Malwin implied this wouldn't be the best of ideas. Not knowing exactly what it was was the issue. Could it be in its monstrous form now? He audibly growled under his helmet.

"We need the book, but we can't let it go free. I don't approve of splitting into two groups, and I hardly approve of one of us splitting off on their own...dammit, where the bloody hell is Arkaven!? He's late even by his standards and I'd feel much better knowing he was here. He could escort someone to get the book without much difficulty," he looked over to Corben, "I can only assume you sent a messenger to everyone yes?"

 

[Asmodeus]

"I summoned everyone," Corben replied sharply, striding past Derek and Elayna. The marshall was set on the space between Malwin and Leonardo. He stepped into it, slicing through the path of their locked gazes. He did not have time for their sibling feud... not tonight... not with a killer on the streets.

Corben looked beyond Leonardo's shouder, at the tattooed boy who hovered there. "Who is this boy, Leonardo? And why do you give him such title?"

Leonardo gave a little ground, allowing moonlight to fall upon the glinting shape of Tahan's necklace. "The Alchimia Chapter. They placed him in my charge."

A ripple went through the other FateGuard - a hiss of sighs and irritated murmurs. They all knew well the chapter that Father Gregory presided over. Tahan was not the first disciple or legionnaire the priest had foisted on them. It was one of the many clauses of their contract with the holy orders, that from time to time they would take a neophyte under their wing. To date, Melody was the only one who had not proven a burden to them. All the others had been dead weights and liabilities. And from the looks of this boy, and the sound of his raspy muttering, he would prove no different.

"He can barely hold a beard, let alone a sword!" Corben's voice was hushed and urgent, like the draw of a blade.

"I gave my word, Corben." Leonardo's voice was level.

"Your first oath is to the FateGuard."

"I have not forgotten."

"Fine!" The marshall's voice pierced the night air and ended the exchange. "But he is your charge. He prevails or dies by your watch and no other's. We will not be responsible for him."

Leonardo gave only a slight bow in answer. With the silence Corben turned and looked to Malwin. "Fetch your book, Malwin. But be swift. I have summoned the trackers. We will hunt this thing tonight."

He moved back to where Eric, Atlas, Ferrick and Alyss were gathered around the body. Aloysius and Erilyn had departed to fetch Arkavenn. The marshall knew better than to try and keep everyone together. They were FateGuard after all, each capable of holding their own. And if the killer was emboldened by the prospect of smaller targets, then their splitting up was all the better to lure him out. Corben was in this for the city, and each one of his Guard had sworn to die if needs must.

"If Malwin speaks true, then were are dealing with a Shifter." His gaze passed over Eric and Atlas. "Give me good news, friends. Do you have knowledge of these creatures?"

 

[Kino]

It took about 5 minutes of hurried walking to reach Helm street and find the others in the alley. Dyne arrived just in time to hear Corben mention that they were dealing with a shifter. He quickly caught his breath, feeling slightly out of shape from his short time away from the Fateguard. His armored felt a bit heavier than it used to. He looked to the mangled body in the alley, and suddenly his mind paused. The sight of it had pushed him back into the proper mindset, and he became focused on his duty.

Corben had asked his fellow Fateguards if they knew anything about Shifters, and though he did not know much himself, he felt compelled to give an answer himself.

"I don't know much for certain. I've only heard stories... I doubt that I would be much help there Sir."

He had heard tales of various kinds of Shifters before, and none of them involved happy endings. If a Shifter truly was the culprit, he knew that the conflict to come would not be easy. With things like dragons, you know how to deal with them. But with a Shifter... there was no telling.

 

[BulletVixen]

A tiny smile crawled across Nadia's face as she felt her brother shift next to her. They had been sitting for hours slowly sowing on their newest piece of work. It was a large wedding dress ordered by a bride to be from a slightly higher up family. The twins couldn't complain, they had been paid well for the dress and they did enjoy their work. Laula had come in and out regularly bringing them food and refreshments, though they had scolded her for doing so. They could get it themselves but she insisted since they were doing most of the work nowadays.
Nadia giggled softly with the thought of how flustered Laula got sometimes when they had big or intricite orders. And she somehow still felt responsible for the twins well being even though they were supposed to be taking care of her now. Nadia felt her brother flinch as she giggled and she hesitently grabbed his arm wordlessly apologizing if she has startled him from the consistant quiet. Normally they worked in complete silence only the few noises and words coming from Laula on her trips in and out of the small living area. But with Aidans sensative hearing on top of it all, the small giggle after such a long silence had probably made his ears ring.

Aidan jerked softly as his sister giggled and glared her way slightly. She had a tendancy to think random thoughts and wonder into fairy tales as they worked which brought random thoughts into her head. Which usually ended with his ears falling out of his head or a headache at least. A few seconds later her gentle grasp wrapped around his arm and he sighed. He knew she never meant to bother him but she rarely thought it out ahead of time. He made a clicking sound with his mouth signifying she was fine and to get back to work. Just as he could feel her hands steady and begin working on the beads again he heard the door from the kitchen swing open, which meant Laula was back.

"Back already?" Nadia thought as she paused again in her work. She never hated Laula for bringing them things but she usually did so only every so often, so to not disturb their work. As Laula slowly but carefully tip-toed over to them Nadia could already smell worry on her person. "What could possibly be wrong?" She spoke in a whisper so to not make her brothers ears bleed from sudden loudness. She heard Laula breathe out with an exasperated sigh.
"It's..... It's the Fate's, they've called upon you again." Nadia blinked her unseeing eyes once. The FateGuard? Or the Fate's as Laula had called them since the day they the twins had joined. Though they were considered a part of it, they were rarely called upon and they lived slightly outside of the regular populace. What could be so terrible the Fate's would call on them now? They had heard a dragon had attacked and they could hear and smell the affects of it. But what could possibly call for them merely a day after the attack? Nadia turned her head to her brother and he made a small grunt to signify his acknowledgement. They would have to go, not merely because they had to, but also because they hadn't been in awhile, and Nadia had a feeling this intrigued her brother as much as her.

 

[Deathrillz-Assassin: Class A]

Aidan slowly stood realizing he would have to prepare. As he stood he grasped his sisters arm and slowly helped her to her feet. From there they headed straight to their room and quickly changed into their catsuits. As he was dressing Aidan slowly turned to his sister, "You know they're probably calling us because it's something very dangerous." Nadia giggled softly and responded "You aren't scared are you?" Aidan's face flushed slightly and he turned back to the bed, "Of course not, I merely meant we should hurry." He suddenly felt his sisters arms wrap around his stomach hugging him tightly."It's alright love this is what we were supposed to do. If not this, what else could we do with our amazing abilities besides help those in need. But yes, we should hurry." With that she was already walking out the door and Aidan sighed softly and quickly followed.
As they reached the doorway Aidan heard Laula sniffle softly. Turning his face in her direction, he stepped towards her and smiled patting her head. "It's alright mum we'll be back soon." He could feel her face shift as she smiled, "I know, they said to meet them near Helm Street. Gods be with you." He kissed her gently on the cheek and ran out the door quickly catching up with Nadia.

Nadia shook her head as her brother hid his obvious worry for her well being. Ever since that day with the man he had always worried about what she was doing. It wasn't as if she was the only one who couldn't see, if anything he should worry about himself as well. Though she had to admit, she didn't truly know if he DID worry about himself too. She slowly stepped outside and began walking up the steep hill to the more populated parts of town. Realizing her brother had probably stopped to say goodbye to Laula for the evening she scrunched her face for forgetting. She tended to be a bit scatter brained about such things and as she turned to run back down the hill she felt her brother run up the hill towards her. Sighing she turned to face him as he reached her side. "Know where we're headed?" He merely nodded his head speaking with that deep echoing voice she had always wondered where it came from.
"Yes we're going to Helm Street." Nadia smiled and began to run along beside him, keeping up with his lengthy legs easily.

Aidan breathed roughly as they began to slow their pace. Only a few streets away now they turned the corner to see a few people still standing around. Suddenly Nadia stopped and leaned over hurling quickly onto the sidewalk. Had the smell not reached her before? As he leaned over holding onto her hoping she wasn't sick she grasped tightly onto his arm. "Somethings wrong, this isn't a normal smell. It's being hidden." As she quickly stood and wiped her mouth with her arm she waved Aidan to talk to the others so she could gather herself. Quickly pacing over to the group Aidan picked Corben's gray silhouette from the others and walked over to him.
"Tell me everything you know, Nadia will begin scenting in a moment." He also made a quick half bow signifying his rank under Corben, hoping he didn't take the demand the wrong way. He merely needed to know the most he could the fastest he could. His sister knew something was wrong. Now he just needed details.