A Purge Of Sin

[Panther385]

((Well, y'know, I did post something in the Vacation thread...

*tosses old Zelda cartoon boxes at Goron*

EXCUUUUUSE me, princess! ))

"...Goron?" Kiba said after a moment, his eyes going wide. "By the Goddesses, where have you been, sir?!" The Pokemon's emotions were mixed- annoyance at the Leader's absence, joy that he had returned... But, all in all, it really didn't matter right now.

He did a small bow before turning back to the attack Flock members. "We're being attacked right now, sir, I can tell you everything after we fend these guys off."

****

Looks like I won't get a striaght answer...

Neko stumbled out of the ship, rubbing his head and wincing. He'd bumped it during the descent. Ouch.

The werecat mumbled incorherently as he walked to Father Mac.

And, apparently, a robot and some kind of demon-thing.

He was pretty sure he hadn't hit his head that hard.

[Goron40]

((That's "princess, sir" to you!))

"... I... went for a walk."

Goron flipped the steel katana to his left hand and activated the plasma blade on his console. Now apparently fighting two combatants up, this was definitely the kind of edge to swing the battle. He searched for a moment, than chose another gargoyle as his target, and a fragmentation grenade as his weapon.

Goron palmed the explosive in his right hand and bit the key off. Immediately, he let the grenade fly at a gargoyle's feet.

"We'll talk later, Kiba."

[LordPsycho]

Blackfoot was still in a dream-state of sorts when Danikat approached the group.

"Who...cat-lady?" is all he could get out through the fog-of-sleep.

[Azaria Matthews]

((Azaria is back... and bloodthirsty...))

Azaria had been hunting. She had to, unlike Zek and Shaithis she couldn't just entrance someone. They'd kept that secret, and a few others, to themselves. Not only that but the recently turned Wamphyri found the idea of being dependent on them repulsive. That is why she had been hunting.

Azaria had been stalking a lone lifeform in a Wamphyri's wolf form, it was larger and more muscular than a normal wolf, as well as being grotesque to look upon. Yellow eyes were framed by tangled black hair as she followed the one she was after.

The other in front of her stopped to check that they were alone. Azarias muscles tensed as she licked her lips, she was hungry and food wasn't far away.

~It's behind you~

She teased, making the being, a human like she had once been, whirl around to face her just as Azaria pounced. His eyes showed his extreme terror as her paws hit his chest and long claws raked through his shirt, drawing blood and causing pain.

Azarias bulky lupine form knocked him over and pinned him to the ground, though he struggled to get away. Azaria changed right before his eyes, becoming herself again. She looked human now apart from being a little larger and more muscular, although her yellow eyes where the things that the pinned man stared at most.

Azaria smiled at him, at his fear of her and his struggles as she used her newly formed arms to pin his to the ground. She took great pleasure in watching his expression as her mouth grotesquely retracted until it revealed rows of needle sharp teeth.

Without anymore hesitation or play, Azaria plunged her head down and sank her teeth into his neck. She drained him of his blood and savored the fear until not a drop remained.

Azaria released her jaw and his now completely limp arms as she brought her head back up and cleaned the blood off her teeth with her tongue. Her hunger was sated for now, so she morphed her jaw again until it became more human like. The new Wamphyri stood up and paid the body no more attention as she looked up at the sky. She could see flying creatures, but they weren't Wamphyri. No, these were creatures of stone, gargoyles. She wondered what had been going on while she'd been obsessed with her hunt.

[Goron40]

((No gargoyle response, continuing with vague attack sequences...))

The grenade exploded, but Goron didn't look to see if it had hit it's mark. Goron spoke into his comlink.

"Goron to anyone with a free paw, I need a volunteer in the hanger now. Be ready to ride."

The sun had risen high into the sky by now, casting shadows all around the complex. Goron sprung to the nearest one and vanished.

---

The hanger was cold. The Guardians had never really installed a heating system in this place, but Goron had sometimes wished they did. Ignoring his minor discomfort, he bounded across the enourmous room and slipped into a tank's driver's seat.

"Excellent," Goron said as he rolled the tank over to the exit which lead to the courtyard.

[Falhado]

((I believe this is what you have all waited patietly for. I apologise for the delay. However, I am glad to see so many wish to continue this.))

Father Mac winces as one his students, one of whom he has a keen liking for, a willing student in her own right, suffers a severe injury. He knew many of his flock were attacking, or were themselves under attack. He trusted they know how to look after themselves and had healers nearby. However, Blue is a reluctant fighter, and he could feel through her mind the attack she had suffered.
He turns and looks towards her position, knowing that something is terribly wrong. ~Blue, are you in need of assistance? ~ he asks.

Father Mac sense a mind closed off to him. One who has much to think about and more to keep hidden. He could tell this was one of high intelligence, carrying much wisdom about with it. And yet, he could not enter its guarded thoughts. Getting ever closer, he watches from where it comes, a bird of prey, flying gracefully towards the Sanctuary.

Looking back towards Chris, and Wrath, Father Mac was unsure if it was right for the creature to be associated with him. But, it did appear to be somewhat confused about certain teachings and standards. “Young one, for one to be created from sin is no great thing. For one to overcome their original intention and use what they have for good is a great thing. But one cannot be sinful without a soul. Every living thing has a soul, just not as pure or heartless as others. You have a soul. Know that.”

A slight faraway and concerned look encroaches on Father Mac’s features, “This is not what I envisioned. The purging of sins is a great thing. To start again with a clean start, and the stopping of all evil. But many have decided having evil is a good thing. Such a strange notion.”
A slight pause followed by, “Your brothers and sisters at The Evil Councils cave appear to be struggling, go forth as fast as you can and help them if you would?”

Several Gargoyles report the arrival of the aircraft that had left The Guardians Citadel. Also noted was the not so safe landing, however, none of the crew and passengers appeared to be hurt. They certainly appeared to be heading for The Sanctuary. Many guards stationed at The Sanctuary remained ready to defend, but make no aggressive advances. Whatever their purpose, Father Mac would wait to see what they attempt.

~

The Gargoyle feels Tala’s powerful blow, and, although slightly fazed, begins to roll his weight slowly further up Tala’s body, even with one of his hands caught by Tala’. He uses his free hand to try and pin down Tala’s other hand, to stop her from striking him again. If it took crushing her to bring her into the light, then that is what he will do.

Shaking his head, the Gargoyle frowns in dismay at Syllak, “Those who corrupted the eggs of the good are those that must be punished. How do you not know you would not have had a better life in which no servitude had existed would have been yours were your eggs not corrupted? Join us, and see what harmony we can bring to all living things. The abolishment of evil. Fair trade for all. A living community as diverse as it may be now, with the acts of evil removed.”

The Gargoyles continue batting at the small fire lizards. They had not taken the warning, so those with bladed weapons begin to strike to kill, rather than knock unconscious. They must be made to see the error of their ways.

The Gargoyle approaching Nomeeia turns as some quills bounce of its stone skin. It had brought no harm against this creature and yet it attacked him. Brandishing its war hammer, it begins to charge towards Alakin, bringing its hammer into a smashing blow towards him.

Kiba appeared to be of little threat, but such a creature has proven to be a persistent menace. The Gargoyle continues trying to hit the creature with its hammer, sending the message home that it will loose unless it gives up now. However, the arrival of Goron, nothing short of being dramatic was a new surprise. Pausing its attack as it waits for Goron to regain his bearings, “Where has the Guardians leader been hiding?” it bellows.

Goron’s answer was some kind of grenade. An aggressive act. With little time to react, even this rotund Gargoyle is adept in the air, and leaping upwards as the grenade explodes, the hot air allows him to travel a little better. Travelling towards Goron, it descends swinging his war hammer towards him. It was also upset that its rock hide had been scratched by fragments of the grenade, causing further chips to its exterior.
Goron however seemed to have run off in the commotion as he came in to land. Left with only Kiba as a target, he swings for he.

~

Nodding sagely, the Gargoyle’s understand the dragons need for her rider. Inquisitively they ask, ~Would your rider consider helping us, for the good of all living kind? ~
However, Danikat shortly joins her dragon asking who would be Blackfoot, in response one of the group answers for him, “My friends are speaking to him. He is lost and confused. We are helping him to recover. Once he is well again, I am sure he will speak with you, but please understand his mind is a jumble right now.”

The Gargoyles around Blackfoot begin taking his attention again. “Blackfoot. Our brother. Do you remember us. We are your family. Come with us and help us show evil that it has no place here. Blackfoot?”
~

The cat like Gargoyle was in pain, one of its hind legs and its tail had become jelly like. This made it feel woozy and disorientated. The moment it started being bashed against a wall was a very uncomfortable moment. But another creature was now trying to grab it. Just as the clap was about to take place, using the alchemist as launching pendulum, it releases her arm and flies towards Panthers face, claws out-stretched. Teeth bared and hissing. If it could, it would have been thrashing its limp tail.

The Gargoyle’s all relay the fact that Holloweyes had left The Evil Council’s presence and had headed off into the Black Forest. The last sight of him was when he was briefly seen in the air. Watching inside of The Black Forest is a difficult task, and Father Mac had no-one posted within it. The outside of it on all sides is now being watched for Holloweyes emergence. It is important to know where all members of The Evil Council are. All surprise attacks must be kept to a minimum.

[3kul]

The lava golem burst out of the Black Forest, HollowEyes riding safely on it's back as it scuttled from charred forest to icy tundra. Having not been attacked at all in the Black Forest he wasn't exactly sure on what the gargoyles were up to, but he wasn't expecting them to be focusing on him as much as they were. For now he was more concerned with discovering their intentions than he was about having his own discovered, so it would be fairly obvious to an observing party that he was heading in the general direction of the Guardian's HQ in the Frozen North.

Not that this would really make much sense, as the only times that the Guardians and the Evil Council usually ever mixed were to tear at each other's throats.

[Yoshi]

((Oh, well, you forgot me. I suppose that's understandable, though, seeing as I didn't remind you of my post like you asked. Here ye go. A perfect re-creation of my previous post:

[Danikat]

[Goron40]

Many miles north of the Citadel, almost to the abyss, a seemingly insignificant ice chunk slid down the side of a mountain. Behind it a small cave is revealed. There is motion inside of the cavern.

One giant eye peered through the snow. It blinked, and then pushed its way out of the cave. Ice and snow around the entry way crumbled to make room for the monster's large form as it exited. The creature left the cave and threw its head back with its mouth wide open, ready to unleash a roar that would cause avalanches.

"Shadow hungry"

[alakin1]

"You fool Alakin. You utter fool." muttered Nomeeia, as she watched the gargoyle charge towards Alakin. Alakin, suprised at Goron's reappearance, didn't move out of the way until the last instant, he dived to the side, the hammer caught his left leg, leaving it in excruciating pain.

[Swix]

((Father Mac, while I understand that you have a lot to respond and react to, this is the third time you have ignored both Fade and Furnace. So I have gotten the post for you again, and am going to refrain from the rest of my chars posts so you have a little less to deal with .

[HisLordship]

The Sancruary's monastic masonry met the Owl with the ceramic scowl of a disgruntled matron. He still moved more arhythmically than he would have liked to, muscle spasms half-triggered by a divine yelling which shook his meticulous, immaculate mask of feigned impartiality. Impartiality is difficult to attain when one is caught between a row of pawns and a bishop's glare.

He knew strange eyes were on him; In his mind's eye, at least, or in a mind's eye. So close to a place of security and one would be a fool to think one could approach casually and unnoticed.

The Owl was not a fool. His servants agents were not casual. He would rest assured, should he ever allow himself to rest.

The bishop was pinning him. Move a key piece, sacrifices would be made, attrition would follow, a loss of pivotal points and of the game in one fell swoop.

Fairy chess is never as whimsical as it sounds; once the Queen's tarts go missing, a cat grins an Artemis' smile through the looking glass and everyone begins to lose their head.

A gargoyle sentinel in the air had hollered out to the pious ones below. Monks patrolling the battlements stood primed, stoic. The Owl, unarmed saved for his brain, closed in on his cage-to-be.





En passant, capture the nightrider. Remove the power piece and press forward.

It's always that second pawn, the one so innocuous sitting right next to the little man who thinks he's a mover and shaker. The one who lies in wait pounces while his kin are apparently more adventurous

A nightrider is expendable.

And both sides employ pawns

So very true. They suffer, true – they bear the burden of being weakest pieces. But if they survive long enough, and make it to the back of the board -

The opponent must contend with a Queen

In the dark trunk of a tree, where a very precious, very spoilt, very scared little girl cowered, soft while fur fluffed as it scurried over dead bark and little pink noses twitched.

“Squeak?” came an tiny voice.
_________________
If I were I as wise, as many have said
I wouldn't eat mice, I'd be in my bed.
I'm not in my bed, I'm prowling the skies
So mice be aware... I'm not all that wise.
Jack Prelutsky, OwlSong

Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici

Avatar by sighthoundlady

[Goron40]

Goron could wait no longer. The tank rolled into the Courtyard, where scuffles were still occuring. Goron popped open his hatch. He looked around the courtyard for anyone who wasn't busy. There didn't seem to be too many. Goron decided to employ a different recruiting method instead.

"I NEED A GUNNER! NOW!"

He swung the Carbine of Infinite Fears off his back and into his arms. Allissa calibrated it for the Gargoyle who had given up his search for Goron and targeted Kiba. Goron lead the Gargoyle with the carbine, then opened fire.

As the shot left, Goron pondered a thought.

~I wonder what Gargoyles fear more than anything else... I suppose I'm about find out.~

[alakin1]

Nomeeia rushed into the tank, having changed back into her normal form and carried Alakin out of the battlezone,
"I'm ready. Erm...I suppose it isn't 'sir' anymore?"