Vlad watched warily as Tenele's squadron rode into the city. He hoped they understood the signal of the smoke; there could be no letting their guard down. This was what they had wanted. It was just a matter of time before they made their move.
Sure enough, just as the last of Tenele's men entered the city, the heavy gates slammed shut, seemingly of their own power. An unseen blade cut one of the outermost men from his horse at the left flank of Tenele's army. The soldier screamed before crumpling sickeningly on the ground at his mount's feet.
For a long moment, there was still, alarmed silence as this soaked in. Then all hell broke loose, and they were under attack. There was nothing to be seen of the enemy, but dust and sand swirled at the feet of the invisible soldiers that suddenly pressed in upon their forces.
Vlad cursed under his breath. He'd been hoping they wouldn't make their move so soon. The men were going to fall like dominoes under the brutal hand of an invisible enemy. For all their sakes, the priests outside had better be doing their part quickly.
Which brought him to his own job. He threw Atul a quick nod before grabbing the arm of the priest he was to protect and tugging him away from the rest of the soldiers. A whirring of wind caught his attention as they broke across open ground toward the edge of the city wall. He put one hand on the priest's head and forced it down under the swipe of an invisible sword. The vampire threw a fierce kick at the unseen soldier's chest, which was possible to pinpoint thanks to his keen awareness of the man's heartbeat. After the brief diversion he grabbed the priest and yanked him forward again. Of course, teleportation would have been the preferable option, but the priest was wearing so much holy gear that there was little hope of Vlad porting him without incurring a massive backlash reaction upon himself.
The priest seemed unsteady on his feet as Vlad pulled him in a safe path through the enemy at what, for him, was an impatient jog. For the human, it was an urgent sprint that soon had him gasping for breath. Vlad focused on the task at hand; he couldn't afford to worry about what was happening to Tenele right now.
LORE: Training a Hell Hound (MATURE)
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Soran Nightblade
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Tenele’s horse reared when the doors behind her closed so suddenly. She’d been standing in the doorway when they shut, and the force of them closing pushed them into the city a few more feet. By the time she’d turned her attention to the crowd of her men that were going there ways as she’d instructed, there was a deafening scream… and then chaos.
Something pulled her form the horse, something she hadn’t been able to see, and she’d flailed wildly with her drawn sword until she’d struck something very solid, and blood splattered across her face.
In the midst of dust she could just make out figures moving, ghosts it appeared. She swallowed hard, her mind racing with how to solve this problem. Sadly, there were no easy answers… actually there were no answers at all.
Her eyes darted around and she jumped up onto her horse again, kicking him swiftly. She had to find something to help her men see there attackers… But, what?
Her mind raced as she road into the city, and then she caught sight of it. Spice. She saw it sitting in bags outside the shop, and she rushed to it. She held the saddle-horn with one hand and leaned over to grab the bag of powdered spice with the other. It was a large heavy bag, and when she snatched it off the table she didn’t think she’d be able to hold on to it. She strained to pull it into her lap, and managing to do so she held it there as she turned the horse through the crowd.
She hoped this would work even just a little bit to help them see what was happening. Tenele began to throw it out as she went, cutting a jagged hole in the canvas sack and letting the wind spread it as she galloped zigzagged down the street. The spice filtered down into the crowd and settled on the skin of her men, as well as the ones that were unseen.
However, she didn’t have enough time to do this for all of them… or enough spice. By the time she made it back to the gate the sack was empty and floated to the ground behind her. What was she supposed to do? Vlad and Atul had told her to keep to the back… They basically wanted her out of the fight because of her injuries… But, she couldn’t afford to watch people die.
Tenele swallowed hard and dismounted, pulling her sword from the saddle with her as she did so. She pulled the scarf from her and down around her neck as she walked quickly towards the crowd, exposing her hair that was made her nearly unmistakable in the crowd. But she found it terribly annoying to try and fihgt with it about her head. She noted the sand shifting in front of her, as if something was walking through it. Satine swung towards it blindly. She liked being sure of her attacks, she liked waiting for the attacker to make the first move, but sadly Tenele could not do that here… and she was left to fight spastically, like a beginner.
It ticked her off to say the least.
Something pulled her form the horse, something she hadn’t been able to see, and she’d flailed wildly with her drawn sword until she’d struck something very solid, and blood splattered across her face.
In the midst of dust she could just make out figures moving, ghosts it appeared. She swallowed hard, her mind racing with how to solve this problem. Sadly, there were no easy answers… actually there were no answers at all.
Her eyes darted around and she jumped up onto her horse again, kicking him swiftly. She had to find something to help her men see there attackers… But, what?
Her mind raced as she road into the city, and then she caught sight of it. Spice. She saw it sitting in bags outside the shop, and she rushed to it. She held the saddle-horn with one hand and leaned over to grab the bag of powdered spice with the other. It was a large heavy bag, and when she snatched it off the table she didn’t think she’d be able to hold on to it. She strained to pull it into her lap, and managing to do so she held it there as she turned the horse through the crowd.
She hoped this would work even just a little bit to help them see what was happening. Tenele began to throw it out as she went, cutting a jagged hole in the canvas sack and letting the wind spread it as she galloped zigzagged down the street. The spice filtered down into the crowd and settled on the skin of her men, as well as the ones that were unseen.
However, she didn’t have enough time to do this for all of them… or enough spice. By the time she made it back to the gate the sack was empty and floated to the ground behind her. What was she supposed to do? Vlad and Atul had told her to keep to the back… They basically wanted her out of the fight because of her injuries… But, she couldn’t afford to watch people die.
Tenele swallowed hard and dismounted, pulling her sword from the saddle with her as she did so. She pulled the scarf from her and down around her neck as she walked quickly towards the crowd, exposing her hair that was made her nearly unmistakable in the crowd. But she found it terribly annoying to try and fihgt with it about her head. She noted the sand shifting in front of her, as if something was walking through it. Satine swung towards it blindly. She liked being sure of her attacks, she liked waiting for the attacker to make the first move, but sadly Tenele could not do that here… and she was left to fight spastically, like a beginner.
It ticked her off to say the least.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
It wasn't simple, but Vlad finally managed to lead the priest to the southeast corner of the city without being followed. There, the city wall met the jagged cliffs of the sea. This was where the other priests' circle would leave off, unless he could keep this one alive long enough to continue the line through this border of the city. "Alright, get busy," he prodded the breathless priest who looked ready to pass out. After the chase they'd just gotten through, Vlad could almost sympathize. Almost.
Behind them, he could hear the discordant noise of war. He heard altogether too much screaming and not enough steel clashing. He didn't need to see what was happening to know that Atul's army was getting creamed. Was Tenele being careful as she'd promised, or was she being a hero? Unfortunately, Vlad suspected, he didn't need to be there to know the answer to that question, either.
Behind them, he could hear the discordant noise of war. He heard altogether too much screaming and not enough steel clashing. He didn't need to see what was happening to know that Atul's army was getting creamed. Was Tenele being careful as she'd promised, or was she being a hero? Unfortunately, Vlad suspected, he didn't need to be there to know the answer to that question, either.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Tenele swung wildly about her, the person she’d been trying to fend of skidded and danced in the sand around her almost tauntingly. The motions of fighting her made the ache in the back of her head throbbing, and she found the movements nearly disorienting.
“Will you just stand still so I can kill you, damn it,” she muttered angrily to the invisible person.
Something struck her hard and she was knocked off her feet. It was blunt, but hard. She scurried across the dirt as the feet stalked towards her in the sand, kicking up dirt as it went.
People were screaming all around her, and bodies were piling in the streets. She stopped her useless flailing, knowing it was doing no good but making her nearly too dizzy. He could have killed her moments ago if he wanted too. So, Tenele stopped her panicking and she stood with her sword slightly pressed into the sand. Her eyes glanced around her, and this thing seemed to be so confident in himself that he just kept walking in a slow stalking pace.
Then, she couldn’t scurry anymore. She felt a hard grip on her ankle, and for some reason it brought back the image of being in that dark maze… and that thing grabbing her just as she and Vlad had made it through the impossible obstacle course. Instead of kicking, Tenele swiped at what had grabbed her with her sword. It let go. As she assumed she hadn’t hit him, she stumbled to her feet and turned into the battle.
There her eyes caught it, the sight of a little girl staring at her from the midst of chaos. She looked vaguely familiar, but Tenele could not place her face, and where she’d come from to find herself so surrounded by battle she didn’t know. All Tenele knew, was that war was no place for a child, and these invisible beings would kill her if she was in the way.
Tenele rushed forward to grab and snatch her from the crowd when the girl turned, holding a ragged stuffed animal to her chest, and ran down the alley. For a moment she thought about not following, and considered the girl safe from harm… But, a little voice in the back of her head said that she should, for these things could be anywhere and the city was not safe for her.
So, against her first better judgment, Tenele followed her. She was fast, for Tenele was having a hard time keeping up. She saw her movement in blips as she disappeared around corners until finally Satine came to the alley way that melded into a dark tunnel. She remembered them, why the girl looked so familiar. It was the child that had sold her the flowers on there first arrival, and she was standing at the entrance of that tunnel crying.
“Little girl,” Tenele whispered faintly, the wind catching her hair and she had to hold it out of her face as she walked dizzily forward, slipping her sword into her sheath. She edged closer, slowly so not to frighten her. The child slowly looked up to Tenele and then backed into the darkness fearfully. “No, wait!” Tenele called, knowing full and well what was down that dark tunnel and it was an even worst place for a child.
She heard the child scream, and that was enough incentive for Tenele. She charged head long through the tunnel, going into the darkness and heading towards the dim lighting in the distance. When she reached the end of the dark hall and turned into the dim torch lit chamber she saw the little girl standing at the top of the stairs leading down to the peer and the alter which was clear and void of the mutilated and burned corpse. The child looked at Tenele and her tear streaked cheeks tugged as a wide and almost horrific grin spread across her face.
Tenele suddenly felt foolish, for she should have known better. When an entire city is deserted and only a child remains in the midst of chaos… Then, again, that was hardly uncommon in the war scenes of her home. She backed away as the child shifted and contorted, growing and morphing into something very inhuman. Large and bulky, it was unlike any creature she had ever seen. Long thick arms dangled at its side, and a flat faced head was mounted on his broad shoulders. Its black beady eyes looked at her as she stepped into the seclusion of the dark hall, hardly expecting it to shield her now. Then, it moved, and Tenele turned, diving into a run as it slammed into the wall she’d been standing in front of. Bricks and mortar began to rain down as she ran towards the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The beast slammed his fists into the tunnel, almost as if he meant to collapse it so she had no exit. She burst into the glorious light of the outdoors, running down the narrow street. She didn’t glanced behind her only once, and it was at the very moment the quick large grasp of the demon found her waist and lifted her off the ground.
Tenele screamed involuntarily, the noise shaken out of her when the grasp squeezed. She kicked, unable to believe that the creature could hold her entire body in one hand. He turned, slinging her in his hand as he headed back towards that bleak dark tunnel, and she couldn’t fathom how he’d been able to fit in and out of it. Her hands fumbled to the necklace around her neck. She jerked it off and wrapped the chain around her hand. She began to punch him, each time the amulet burned his skin until he dragged her deathly close to his face and roared.
“Wrong move,” Tenele breathed, coughing at the horrible smell of his breath. Then, she simply dropped the amulet down his throat.
She was let go of in an instant, and running once again as it coughed and hacked to get the silver medallion up, turning to stalk after her. Every step it took shook the earth beneath her feet and rattled the roof shingles around them.
“Will you just stand still so I can kill you, damn it,” she muttered angrily to the invisible person.
Something struck her hard and she was knocked off her feet. It was blunt, but hard. She scurried across the dirt as the feet stalked towards her in the sand, kicking up dirt as it went.
People were screaming all around her, and bodies were piling in the streets. She stopped her useless flailing, knowing it was doing no good but making her nearly too dizzy. He could have killed her moments ago if he wanted too. So, Tenele stopped her panicking and she stood with her sword slightly pressed into the sand. Her eyes glanced around her, and this thing seemed to be so confident in himself that he just kept walking in a slow stalking pace.
Then, she couldn’t scurry anymore. She felt a hard grip on her ankle, and for some reason it brought back the image of being in that dark maze… and that thing grabbing her just as she and Vlad had made it through the impossible obstacle course. Instead of kicking, Tenele swiped at what had grabbed her with her sword. It let go. As she assumed she hadn’t hit him, she stumbled to her feet and turned into the battle.
There her eyes caught it, the sight of a little girl staring at her from the midst of chaos. She looked vaguely familiar, but Tenele could not place her face, and where she’d come from to find herself so surrounded by battle she didn’t know. All Tenele knew, was that war was no place for a child, and these invisible beings would kill her if she was in the way.
Tenele rushed forward to grab and snatch her from the crowd when the girl turned, holding a ragged stuffed animal to her chest, and ran down the alley. For a moment she thought about not following, and considered the girl safe from harm… But, a little voice in the back of her head said that she should, for these things could be anywhere and the city was not safe for her.
So, against her first better judgment, Tenele followed her. She was fast, for Tenele was having a hard time keeping up. She saw her movement in blips as she disappeared around corners until finally Satine came to the alley way that melded into a dark tunnel. She remembered them, why the girl looked so familiar. It was the child that had sold her the flowers on there first arrival, and she was standing at the entrance of that tunnel crying.
“Little girl,” Tenele whispered faintly, the wind catching her hair and she had to hold it out of her face as she walked dizzily forward, slipping her sword into her sheath. She edged closer, slowly so not to frighten her. The child slowly looked up to Tenele and then backed into the darkness fearfully. “No, wait!” Tenele called, knowing full and well what was down that dark tunnel and it was an even worst place for a child.
She heard the child scream, and that was enough incentive for Tenele. She charged head long through the tunnel, going into the darkness and heading towards the dim lighting in the distance. When she reached the end of the dark hall and turned into the dim torch lit chamber she saw the little girl standing at the top of the stairs leading down to the peer and the alter which was clear and void of the mutilated and burned corpse. The child looked at Tenele and her tear streaked cheeks tugged as a wide and almost horrific grin spread across her face.
Tenele suddenly felt foolish, for she should have known better. When an entire city is deserted and only a child remains in the midst of chaos… Then, again, that was hardly uncommon in the war scenes of her home. She backed away as the child shifted and contorted, growing and morphing into something very inhuman. Large and bulky, it was unlike any creature she had ever seen. Long thick arms dangled at its side, and a flat faced head was mounted on his broad shoulders. Its black beady eyes looked at her as she stepped into the seclusion of the dark hall, hardly expecting it to shield her now. Then, it moved, and Tenele turned, diving into a run as it slammed into the wall she’d been standing in front of. Bricks and mortar began to rain down as she ran towards the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The beast slammed his fists into the tunnel, almost as if he meant to collapse it so she had no exit. She burst into the glorious light of the outdoors, running down the narrow street. She didn’t glanced behind her only once, and it was at the very moment the quick large grasp of the demon found her waist and lifted her off the ground.
Tenele screamed involuntarily, the noise shaken out of her when the grasp squeezed. She kicked, unable to believe that the creature could hold her entire body in one hand. He turned, slinging her in his hand as he headed back towards that bleak dark tunnel, and she couldn’t fathom how he’d been able to fit in and out of it. Her hands fumbled to the necklace around her neck. She jerked it off and wrapped the chain around her hand. She began to punch him, each time the amulet burned his skin until he dragged her deathly close to his face and roared.
“Wrong move,” Tenele breathed, coughing at the horrible smell of his breath. Then, she simply dropped the amulet down his throat.
She was let go of in an instant, and running once again as it coughed and hacked to get the silver medallion up, turning to stalk after her. Every step it took shook the earth beneath her feet and rattled the roof shingles around them.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
It took some time, but the priest finally managed to get out his tools and begin the work of crafting his part of the circle. Vlad felt compelled to grab some chalk and help speed up the process, but he knew nothing he drew could be imbued with holy power later. Occasionally, a few men would spot them. Vlad could hear them coming from yards away and slaughter them easily. Fortunately, the priest did not have to see the invisible bodies the vampire slowly racked up while he worked. The man did, however, cast an occasional glare at the vampire, which Vlad didn't quite understand.
"I may be an abomination, but I'm protecting your spineless hide," Vlad pointed out the priest when he glanced back at him for the tenth time. "Just get it done, and we won't have to spend another minute in each other's company."
"You've got that right," the priest muttered darkly, turning back to his work.
Vlad ignored the comment and turned his head, listening again to the details of the battle beyond. Something out there was really, really wrong. Something extremely strong was out there. His skin prickled with the energy of something much too evil to be mortal.
Enjoying my little party, Vladimir? a voice that was all too familiar broke into his thoughts. Your lady friend didn't seem to be enjoying herself, so I decided to...spice things up. I'm a very diligent host.
Vlad's jaw tightened. He glanced back at the priest, who was working safely behind him and clearly had not heard any voice. It was no contest who he wanted to be protecting right now, and he very nearly bolted for the center of town. But if this priest died, all of Atul's men would be slain, the rebellion would be crushed, and Verin would control this land, possibly forever. The no-life king glared alertly in the direction of the power that was raising hairs on his arms. What was over there? Was Atul with her?
"I may be an abomination, but I'm protecting your spineless hide," Vlad pointed out the priest when he glanced back at him for the tenth time. "Just get it done, and we won't have to spend another minute in each other's company."
"You've got that right," the priest muttered darkly, turning back to his work.
Vlad ignored the comment and turned his head, listening again to the details of the battle beyond. Something out there was really, really wrong. Something extremely strong was out there. His skin prickled with the energy of something much too evil to be mortal.
Enjoying my little party, Vladimir? a voice that was all too familiar broke into his thoughts. Your lady friend didn't seem to be enjoying herself, so I decided to...spice things up. I'm a very diligent host.
Vlad's jaw tightened. He glanced back at the priest, who was working safely behind him and clearly had not heard any voice. It was no contest who he wanted to be protecting right now, and he very nearly bolted for the center of town. But if this priest died, all of Atul's men would be slain, the rebellion would be crushed, and Verin would control this land, possibly forever. The no-life king glared alertly in the direction of the power that was raising hairs on his arms. What was over there? Was Atul with her?
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Tenele was panting as she ran, shaking her head to clear her thoughts as the beast bounded along behind her. His roars a bit more high pitched since he managed to hack up the holy amulet, probably had seared his esophagus to the point of no return. She saw an old wooden wall up a head that was holy, and looked like it was merely temporary. It stretched down the ling of buildings at the end of the alley, going off down another street. When she turned the corner she slipped into the temporary wood structure to realize it was built around wooden scaffolding, a construction project not quite finished. There was about four foot distance between she and the wooden wall, so she ducked under a platform and crouched there, watching through the thin cracks to see the shadow of the beast come around the corner. Then, all hell seemed to break lose as it punched one fist through over her head and boards slammed into the platform above her. She covered her head and clenched her eyes as dust rained down on her. Then, there was silence.
The silence was eerie, because it was all too quiet. She shifted quietly to look through the holes, but saw nothing. Tenele waited a moment longer before crawling through the sand to peer through one of the holes. She saw nothing but an empty street… and then a child’s hand reached through the hole towards her. She giggled as Tenele flew backwards, only earning a dizzying reaction from her hurt head.
The child peered through another hole at her. “Come out,” she said happily, no longer the sad and frightened little girl that Tenele had followed into the tunnel. “I’m not going to hurt you. Master wants the pretty safe and sound… for now.” Her tone was like a sweet melody, a sing-song voice.
“Master can kiss it,” Tenele growled, slinging sand towards the little girl as she shoved her foot forward fast to kick the hand away.
The personification of an innocent child jerked back as sand went into her eyes. She started crying, and then her cries turned into shrieks. Tenele watched through the holes as the shadow grew outside. She ducked out from under the platform and began to climb the scaffolding as he tore through it beneath her. She ran and leaped onto the next platform, spinning back to face him as she drew the holy dagger from her boot. His hand swiped aimlessly through the wood and took out the pilings bellow the platform on which she stood. It groaned and tilted forward and Tenele readied herself as it crashed through the makeshift wall. She fell down towards the beast and as she fell her feet skidded over his shoulder, her arm came out, and she caught him around the neck.
Twisting she poised, holding him around the neck, her knees drawn up onto his chest, and she plunged the dagger into his neck. He bent forward, trying to sling her off, and she held fast with the blade in his neck, slinging her body to the side to avoid his large hands as they grasped for her. Then, he got smart and grabbed the arm around his neck. Tenele lifted the blade and stabbed it into the side of his head. He roared, slinging her from his back.
She landed hard across the ground, skidding and rolling in the sand until she came to rest in the middle of the next street between the outer wall and the city buildings. She knew the throbbing pain in her shoulder all too well, and she didn’t need to be a doctor or a genius to realize it was dislocated. She cradled it against her chest as she dizzily rolled to sit up.
She had expected him to be dead, but he was considerably slower. His jaw was going slack as he stumbled towards her, her eyes fluttered up as his shadow encased her and he groaned, his head tilting up. Then, his body went slack and his knees buckled. Fright suddenly filled her features as his body toppled towards her. She scurried back as fast as her legs would allow her too in the sand and he just came crashing down. She drew up her knees and he fell right where her legs would have been, her back now pressed flush with the thick stone wall.
She stared at the body for a long moment before tilting back her head and giving a long heavy sigh of relief. So much for staying out of trouble, and Vlad was going to murder her….
The silence was eerie, because it was all too quiet. She shifted quietly to look through the holes, but saw nothing. Tenele waited a moment longer before crawling through the sand to peer through one of the holes. She saw nothing but an empty street… and then a child’s hand reached through the hole towards her. She giggled as Tenele flew backwards, only earning a dizzying reaction from her hurt head.
The child peered through another hole at her. “Come out,” she said happily, no longer the sad and frightened little girl that Tenele had followed into the tunnel. “I’m not going to hurt you. Master wants the pretty safe and sound… for now.” Her tone was like a sweet melody, a sing-song voice.
“Master can kiss it,” Tenele growled, slinging sand towards the little girl as she shoved her foot forward fast to kick the hand away.
The personification of an innocent child jerked back as sand went into her eyes. She started crying, and then her cries turned into shrieks. Tenele watched through the holes as the shadow grew outside. She ducked out from under the platform and began to climb the scaffolding as he tore through it beneath her. She ran and leaped onto the next platform, spinning back to face him as she drew the holy dagger from her boot. His hand swiped aimlessly through the wood and took out the pilings bellow the platform on which she stood. It groaned and tilted forward and Tenele readied herself as it crashed through the makeshift wall. She fell down towards the beast and as she fell her feet skidded over his shoulder, her arm came out, and she caught him around the neck.
Twisting she poised, holding him around the neck, her knees drawn up onto his chest, and she plunged the dagger into his neck. He bent forward, trying to sling her off, and she held fast with the blade in his neck, slinging her body to the side to avoid his large hands as they grasped for her. Then, he got smart and grabbed the arm around his neck. Tenele lifted the blade and stabbed it into the side of his head. He roared, slinging her from his back.
She landed hard across the ground, skidding and rolling in the sand until she came to rest in the middle of the next street between the outer wall and the city buildings. She knew the throbbing pain in her shoulder all too well, and she didn’t need to be a doctor or a genius to realize it was dislocated. She cradled it against her chest as she dizzily rolled to sit up.
She had expected him to be dead, but he was considerably slower. His jaw was going slack as he stumbled towards her, her eyes fluttered up as his shadow encased her and he groaned, his head tilting up. Then, his body went slack and his knees buckled. Fright suddenly filled her features as his body toppled towards her. She scurried back as fast as her legs would allow her too in the sand and he just came crashing down. She drew up her knees and he fell right where her legs would have been, her back now pressed flush with the thick stone wall.
She stared at the body for a long moment before tilting back her head and giving a long heavy sigh of relief. So much for staying out of trouble, and Vlad was going to murder her….
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Outside the city, Stalker stood obediently with the priests, watching over them as they scrambled about constructing their share of the spell that was to save the city. The holy men did their best to give the creature a wide berth, despite Atul's assurances that it was safe. If the hellhound had a problem with their company, it didn't show. The beast was as black and silent as ever, but every now and again his head would twitch toward the city walls. He would watch it closely, ears peaked alertly, for several seconds before returning his attention to the priests.
It had been an uneasy consensus between Vlad and Tenele that the beast would remain outside the city during the battle. Vlad had intended it to stay at Tenele's side, but Tenele had pointed out that Vlad would not be able to spare time to track the beast down and take it with him when it came time to escape. While sacrificing the beast seemed plausible to Vlad, it apparently did not to Tenele, so despite her obvious need for a reliable bodyguard, the vampire had commanded the hound to remain here.
Meanwhile, Vlad was growing increasingly uneasy with the words Verin had spoken to him and the strong sense of power that had been enormous in the air a few minutes ago, yet now seemed to have slithered into a hole somewhere. Had the danger been defeated, or was it waiting to strike? If Verin was really after Tenele, she could not be left alone. His growing sense of alarm wasn't enough to make him abandon the mission Atul had given him...but it was enough to make him break his word to Tenele. He wanted his familiar at her side, whether she was attached to it or not. He could summon her a new hound after this was done, if she really wanted one. Leave your task and go to her. Now. his command carried across the plane of his psychic link with the beast. He could feel the beast's agreement like a silent bow, and he knew the hound was racing across the sands toward the city.
It had been an uneasy consensus between Vlad and Tenele that the beast would remain outside the city during the battle. Vlad had intended it to stay at Tenele's side, but Tenele had pointed out that Vlad would not be able to spare time to track the beast down and take it with him when it came time to escape. While sacrificing the beast seemed plausible to Vlad, it apparently did not to Tenele, so despite her obvious need for a reliable bodyguard, the vampire had commanded the hound to remain here.
Meanwhile, Vlad was growing increasingly uneasy with the words Verin had spoken to him and the strong sense of power that had been enormous in the air a few minutes ago, yet now seemed to have slithered into a hole somewhere. Had the danger been defeated, or was it waiting to strike? If Verin was really after Tenele, she could not be left alone. His growing sense of alarm wasn't enough to make him abandon the mission Atul had given him...but it was enough to make him break his word to Tenele. He wanted his familiar at her side, whether she was attached to it or not. He could summon her a new hound after this was done, if she really wanted one. Leave your task and go to her. Now. his command carried across the plane of his psychic link with the beast. He could feel the beast's agreement like a silent bow, and he knew the hound was racing across the sands toward the city.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
She slid her back up the wall as she stood straight, cradling her arm. Bending, she pulled the holy dagger from the head of the demon, wiping the blood on her coat and sticking it back in her boot. There was something strangely nauseating about it, but she chose to ignore it. She stumbled, a bit too dizzily, over to a post that had been driven into the ground very close to the brick wall. Wedging her arm between the post and the wall she gripped the top of the post and took several deep huffing breaths. She swallowed, clenching her teeth, and she jerked her body around, feeling the painful pop of the shoulder moving back into the correct position. She didn't even consider how screaming could alert someone to her position, after all she'd momentarily done that quite a few times. She hit her knees, taking deep quivering breaths as her hands fisted in the sand, trying to regain her composure. She slumped back against the wall, lowering her head and closing her eyes. Gods, she was so damn tired...
It wasn't safe to be out in the open, especially with people she couldn't see possibly lunging in for the kill. She felt uneasy, almost as if the problem she'd dealt with had been too easy. Though, it hadn't felt easy to Tenele. She hugged her arm to her, knowing it would be sore for a while.
It wasn't safe to be out in the open, especially with people she couldn't see possibly lunging in for the kill. She felt uneasy, almost as if the problem she'd dealt with had been too easy. Though, it hadn't felt easy to Tenele. She hugged her arm to her, knowing it would be sore for a while.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Stalker ran indifferently past both friend and foe, his powerful legs hurling him at a monstrous gallop across the battlefield. The creature reached a place in the middle of the battlefield and paused, seeking her scent amidst the sea of tracks and blood on the ground around him. He picked up something he thought seemed like hers, and took off after it.
The scent led him through the less populated parts of the city and finally to the mouth of a tunnel. The trail went on into the tunnel, but it also departed from the tunnel. The departing trail became mixed with a new, unfamiliar scent, as well as the unmistakable scent of blood. Tenele's blood.
Stalker exploded into motion after the scent, following it further through the city as it grew stronger. The cry of a familiar voice up ahead drew him to lengthen his stride. He burst around a corner, and there she was, kneeling on the ground next to the body of a very large creature a few yards away. It appeared to be dead, but the hellhound heard two hearbeats in the clearing. Only one could be Tenele's. The faint disruption of sand a few feet behind Tenele gave away the location of the second presence like a siren, though it would have been hardly noticeable to a human. The soft sound of a blade against air followed, and then Stalker was done observing.
The hellhound closed the distance between he and Tenele in a few rocketing strides and then leapt the rest of the way, tackling her invisible attacker to the ground. Stalker's teeth closed on the soldier's throat, crushing it, but the gesture was more like a formality. His claws had already done enough damage to the man's chest to make him as good as dead. Raising his head from the kill, Stalker looked at his ward with bright ruby eyes.
The scent led him through the less populated parts of the city and finally to the mouth of a tunnel. The trail went on into the tunnel, but it also departed from the tunnel. The departing trail became mixed with a new, unfamiliar scent, as well as the unmistakable scent of blood. Tenele's blood.
Stalker exploded into motion after the scent, following it further through the city as it grew stronger. The cry of a familiar voice up ahead drew him to lengthen his stride. He burst around a corner, and there she was, kneeling on the ground next to the body of a very large creature a few yards away. It appeared to be dead, but the hellhound heard two hearbeats in the clearing. Only one could be Tenele's. The faint disruption of sand a few feet behind Tenele gave away the location of the second presence like a siren, though it would have been hardly noticeable to a human. The soft sound of a blade against air followed, and then Stalker was done observing.
The hellhound closed the distance between he and Tenele in a few rocketing strides and then leapt the rest of the way, tackling her invisible attacker to the ground. Stalker's teeth closed on the soldier's throat, crushing it, but the gesture was more like a formality. His claws had already done enough damage to the man's chest to make him as good as dead. Raising his head from the kill, Stalker looked at his ward with bright ruby eyes.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Tenele whirled in the sand to look at Stalker, her eyes wide with surprise. How had he known she needed help? How had he known where she was? She just sat there dumbfounded for a moment, unable to really think of what to do besides be very greatful to him. "Thank you," she said as she watched blood pool in the sand from an invisble source. She stood up and reached out to him, rubbing her fingers through his head.
"You can tell where they are... I'll need you to be my eyes," Tenele whispered to him, glancing back at the large body.
His words had been that Verin wanted her safe and sound, which was frightening in itself since she thought that they weren't on friendly terms. She wondered how long it would be before the spell was complete...
"Wait... no. Go away! Go back outside the city, you silly dog. You'll die!" Tenele said as she pushed him with her good arm gently.
Her head tilted at the sound of laughter coming from somewhere she couldn't pinpoint. It was deep, dark, and familiar yet not all at once. She straightened. "Come on, lets go." Tenele followed the outerwall around, knowing it would eventually lead her somewhere, but at least she was doing as she'd been told and keeping out of the battle.
"You can tell where they are... I'll need you to be my eyes," Tenele whispered to him, glancing back at the large body.
His words had been that Verin wanted her safe and sound, which was frightening in itself since she thought that they weren't on friendly terms. She wondered how long it would be before the spell was complete...
"Wait... no. Go away! Go back outside the city, you silly dog. You'll die!" Tenele said as she pushed him with her good arm gently.
Her head tilted at the sound of laughter coming from somewhere she couldn't pinpoint. It was deep, dark, and familiar yet not all at once. She straightened. "Come on, lets go." Tenele followed the outerwall around, knowing it would eventually lead her somewhere, but at least she was doing as she'd been told and keeping out of the battle.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Stalker heeled closely at her side as she began moving. He didn't seem to have any intention of stopping her, but he stood so close to her that the coarse fur on his sides brushed against her clothing. He monitored their surroundings protectively as he followed her lead.
Vlad withdrew his claws from the corpse of yet another attacker. As the priest made his way along the shore of the city, their location was less and less concealed. To make matters messier, Vlad was leaving a trail of bodies behind as they proceeded with the holy ritual, making them even easier to find. Still, they were making some progress. The northern limit of the city stood just a few hundred feet ahead, where the shore reunited with the city wall. There, if the priests outside were doing their part, the rest of the circle lay, waiting to be completed.
"Speed it up, priest. They're coming faster now," Vlad snapped as he found himself defending against three more men, and he could see more pointing at them and shouting from a distance.
"These things can not be rushed, vampire," the man snarled back, though he was clearly aware of the danger he was in. All Vlad had to do was let one man past him, and it was all over.
The men were on to him now, and they were coming in packs. THankfully, they seemed more focused on the vampire as the source of the threat and didn't seem to understand the task of the feeble man busily scribbling on the ground behind him. If they recognized the circle, the entire plan could be scribbled out in a matter of seconds. So Vlad focused on being his most ferocious, attracting all of their attention. The more he killed, the more riled up his attackers became.
Finally, they grew close to the wall. There was, however, the slight problem of getting the chalkline OVER the wall. "Use the stairs," Vlad called to the priest, indicating a case of stone steps that led to the top of the wall. The priest began ascending the steps, marking the wall with chalk and holy water as he went. Vlad followed slowly, backing up a few steps at a time while he fought the men crowding around him. The humans dropped like flies, but their invisibility and sheer numbers made them complicated to keep track of. The good thing was that once he was on the steps, they could only come from one direction.
However, no sooner had he put his heel down on the eighth step than his entire body locked up. A strange heat gnawed through him, and his own muscles seemed to fight him viciously when he tried to move his legs. Vlad knew the nauseating sensation all too well. Holy magic. "Don't play games, priest. You can't do this alone," the vampire growled, batting a pair of humans that were right in his personal space off of the stairwell. More bodies rushed forward to take their place.
"Your part in this plan is done," returned the priest, sketching symbols against the stairs above him. "Now you must accept your own place. Perhaps the good you've done today will spare you from some degree of the torture you will face in hell."
"You need me to protect you," Vlad spoke very slowly, as if to a small, moderately retarded child.
"I do not. In case you haven't noticed, you are blocking the stairs. Do not worry; your destruction will be instant and painless."
Vlad snorted. "Painless," he scoffed. "Does your religion really condone betrayal?"
The priest looked up from his work for only a second. "You and I were never on the same side," he said very certainly before continuing up the stairs.
Vlad roared angrily, knowing this argument would do him no good. He threw his long claws through the body in front of him, which was making a clumsy effort to stab him in the heart with a stake. Really, where did people get this stuff?" He wrenched his arm sideways and threw the body off the stairs, where the crowd of men gathering around him was growing larger. Fighting them was like swatting off mosquitoes. However, his legs still would not allow him to move from this spot, and his muscles seemed lethargic and slow to respond. It took a lot of effort to move under the priest's binding spell. He could probably kill these men single-file all night before growing truly weary, but he wouldn't have that long to wait.
Vlad withdrew his claws from the corpse of yet another attacker. As the priest made his way along the shore of the city, their location was less and less concealed. To make matters messier, Vlad was leaving a trail of bodies behind as they proceeded with the holy ritual, making them even easier to find. Still, they were making some progress. The northern limit of the city stood just a few hundred feet ahead, where the shore reunited with the city wall. There, if the priests outside were doing their part, the rest of the circle lay, waiting to be completed.
"Speed it up, priest. They're coming faster now," Vlad snapped as he found himself defending against three more men, and he could see more pointing at them and shouting from a distance.
"These things can not be rushed, vampire," the man snarled back, though he was clearly aware of the danger he was in. All Vlad had to do was let one man past him, and it was all over.
The men were on to him now, and they were coming in packs. THankfully, they seemed more focused on the vampire as the source of the threat and didn't seem to understand the task of the feeble man busily scribbling on the ground behind him. If they recognized the circle, the entire plan could be scribbled out in a matter of seconds. So Vlad focused on being his most ferocious, attracting all of their attention. The more he killed, the more riled up his attackers became.
Finally, they grew close to the wall. There was, however, the slight problem of getting the chalkline OVER the wall. "Use the stairs," Vlad called to the priest, indicating a case of stone steps that led to the top of the wall. The priest began ascending the steps, marking the wall with chalk and holy water as he went. Vlad followed slowly, backing up a few steps at a time while he fought the men crowding around him. The humans dropped like flies, but their invisibility and sheer numbers made them complicated to keep track of. The good thing was that once he was on the steps, they could only come from one direction.
However, no sooner had he put his heel down on the eighth step than his entire body locked up. A strange heat gnawed through him, and his own muscles seemed to fight him viciously when he tried to move his legs. Vlad knew the nauseating sensation all too well. Holy magic. "Don't play games, priest. You can't do this alone," the vampire growled, batting a pair of humans that were right in his personal space off of the stairwell. More bodies rushed forward to take their place.
"Your part in this plan is done," returned the priest, sketching symbols against the stairs above him. "Now you must accept your own place. Perhaps the good you've done today will spare you from some degree of the torture you will face in hell."
"You need me to protect you," Vlad spoke very slowly, as if to a small, moderately retarded child.
"I do not. In case you haven't noticed, you are blocking the stairs. Do not worry; your destruction will be instant and painless."
Vlad snorted. "Painless," he scoffed. "Does your religion really condone betrayal?"
The priest looked up from his work for only a second. "You and I were never on the same side," he said very certainly before continuing up the stairs.
Vlad roared angrily, knowing this argument would do him no good. He threw his long claws through the body in front of him, which was making a clumsy effort to stab him in the heart with a stake. Really, where did people get this stuff?" He wrenched his arm sideways and threw the body off the stairs, where the crowd of men gathering around him was growing larger. Fighting them was like swatting off mosquitoes. However, his legs still would not allow him to move from this spot, and his muscles seemed lethargic and slow to respond. It took a lot of effort to move under the priest's binding spell. He could probably kill these men single-file all night before growing truly weary, but he wouldn't have that long to wait.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Tenele kept her pace as quick as she good. She didn't like admitting she was tired, even if she had every reason too. After all she hadn't slept in nearly 48 hours and a giant demon had tried to drag her to hell to keep her safe for the Gods only knew what. It bothered her still, those words coming from the innocent lips of a child. Her hand stayed on Stalker's back as they walked, her fingers flexing in his fur. His presence calmed her and made her more relaxed despite the fact that they were at war. Where they were no one seemed to be around. It was quiet, except for a strange noise up a head.
They turned the corner, she looked up from the ground to see a form on the steps of the wall they'd been following. He was batting and fighting effortlessly, and frantic all at once, a being or beings she could not see. For a moment her semi-blurred vision wouldn't allow her the clarity of knowing who it was, but she could tell just by his moments. Then, she could see him clear as day, and her heart shot into her throat. Wasn't it about time? "Help him!" Tenele told Stalker as she started forward in a run, holding her arm to her so it wouldn't flop painfully around.
They turned the corner, she looked up from the ground to see a form on the steps of the wall they'd been following. He was batting and fighting effortlessly, and frantic all at once, a being or beings she could not see. For a moment her semi-blurred vision wouldn't allow her the clarity of knowing who it was, but she could tell just by his moments. Then, she could see him clear as day, and her heart shot into her throat. Wasn't it about time? "Help him!" Tenele told Stalker as she started forward in a run, holding her arm to her so it wouldn't flop painfully around.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Stalker looked up at his master, but didn't move from Tenele's side. Vlad was looking up the wall behind him, where the priest had apparently just finished the line and was sitting down to pray. "Damn it," Vlad muttered, digging into the pocket of his tunic for the flares Atul had given him. It felt strange to continue adhering to a plan that he wasn't going to see the end of. The fact that he wasn't goign to be getting loose still seemed a bit unreal. Maybe it was even comical, in a certain way.
He stuck the flare between his teeth, punching an invisible man just in front of him square in the jaw before digging out a match. He was in the process of striking it when someone grabbed his wrist and tried to tug him down the stairs. Vlad couldn't have moved if he'd wanted to. He dropped his broken match and extended his claws long enough to strike down his attacker before scrambling for a new matchstick. This time someone punched him, and he dropped it. It seemed getting the dumb thing lit was going to be difficult.
He was beginning to wonder if he'd run out of matches before lighting it, when a new problem came to his attention. He looked out across the base of the wall and saw Tenele and Stalker standing there, within a few yards of the men gathered at the base of the stairs. The vampire grabbed the flare out of his mouth and looked down at them sternly. "Oh, no," Vlad shouted at the hound, "You get her out of here!" His eyes shifted to Tenele. "You hear me, Tenele? Get out!" he barked, wrecking another match as he threw his arm out in a gesture for emphasis and wound up slapping someone off the stairs.
He stuck the flare between his teeth, punching an invisible man just in front of him square in the jaw before digging out a match. He was in the process of striking it when someone grabbed his wrist and tried to tug him down the stairs. Vlad couldn't have moved if he'd wanted to. He dropped his broken match and extended his claws long enough to strike down his attacker before scrambling for a new matchstick. This time someone punched him, and he dropped it. It seemed getting the dumb thing lit was going to be difficult.
He was beginning to wonder if he'd run out of matches before lighting it, when a new problem came to his attention. He looked out across the base of the wall and saw Tenele and Stalker standing there, within a few yards of the men gathered at the base of the stairs. The vampire grabbed the flare out of his mouth and looked down at them sternly. "Oh, no," Vlad shouted at the hound, "You get her out of here!" His eyes shifted to Tenele. "You hear me, Tenele? Get out!" he barked, wrecking another match as he threw his arm out in a gesture for emphasis and wound up slapping someone off the stairs.
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Emora Deen
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
"What are you still doing here?!" Tenele shook her head as she ran. "Be my eyes Stalker, I can't see them. You'll need to get them out of my way." Tenele drew the holy dagger from her boot. It would be too much trouble to use a sword with one arm. She'd have to trust Stalker in making her a clear path to Vlad.
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Soran Nightblade
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Re: Training a Hell Hound
Vlad narrowed his eyes angrily on the two figures below him. "Disobey me and there will be hell to pay," he warned fiercely as a knife cut past him and caught him on the wrist. He cursed as the flare he'd been holding clattered to the ground and rolled off the steps. Invisible hands lifted it out of the sand and snapped it in two. Vlad stared at the broken signal in blank fury. Atul... Atul would have no signal. He'd already lost as much as half a minute lighting the damned thing. "Stalker, I swear I will murder you!" he shouted as he looked up and found the hellhound and Tenele still there.
Stalker paused for a second before suddenly diving ahead of Tenele into the throng of invisible men. Shouts and cries of alarm could be heard as the terrifying beast herded the humans away from the base of the stairs, slashing at a few of them with his enormous claws. There was just enough time for Tenele to get to the base of the stairs before the men started closing in again. Stalker turned and leapt up onto the stairs just below Vlad and above Tenele, scaring several of the men crowded on the stone into jumping off. The hound leapt toward the one man remaining on the stairs and tackled him sideways away from Tenele, falling off the wall with him to the ground. It left Tenele and Vlad alone on the stairs, for the moment.
Stalker paused for a second before suddenly diving ahead of Tenele into the throng of invisible men. Shouts and cries of alarm could be heard as the terrifying beast herded the humans away from the base of the stairs, slashing at a few of them with his enormous claws. There was just enough time for Tenele to get to the base of the stairs before the men started closing in again. Stalker turned and leapt up onto the stairs just below Vlad and above Tenele, scaring several of the men crowded on the stone into jumping off. The hound leapt toward the one man remaining on the stairs and tackled him sideways away from Tenele, falling off the wall with him to the ground. It left Tenele and Vlad alone on the stairs, for the moment.