all around me are familiar faces

I'M FASHIONABLY LATE

Theres THUNDA andLIGTINONG

I'M WHEEZING AT THE PLAYBACK

"ANGO MUM EGG"

THUNDEEEEER

(King) YES ANGO AND HER MUM were the best things

That and the ugly balding Sargon

I LOVE IT ALL SO MUCH AJXBWNNXKA

IT'S BEAUTIFUL

Oh by the way, Aggron said they might not make it today, so I thought maybe we could use the time to catch up on some dog squad and Sheld/Toch stuff?

cHOKES ango mum egg

yes tochi sheldon and the dob squad

dog

dog squad
dob squad
dodge squad
doge squad
dodo squad
dad squad

dAD SQUAD

dad squad
it's ironic because there's a severe lack of dads

I mean to my knowledge there's only Armin and Morty who are dads in this
Kane (Keenan's dad) existed briefly
there's probably more dads in jerry's army

Yes nobody has a dad

Jerry has a dad (but he doesn't have a name)
Sheldon and Tochi had parents but I think they're dead

Is Ango the only person with both parents
that's
that's actually really sad

Yes
Everyone else has at least one dead parent

Heyy, should we start with something? I might be a little bit slow.

tochi's dad is dead, jed's dad is probably dead, and thorn's dad was... mentioned??

- Armin's parents are dead
- Ivy's parents... might be dead
- Crowley's parents might be alive, actually? He doesn't live with them, but I think they're around somewhere.

Crowley's parents are missing, Keenan's dad and grandma are missing
Everyone else is dead or human

Also yeah staring something would be good

I don't know what the dog squad are are to right now. I think they were on their way out of the city, right?

And Draco, I'm gonna skip forward to Sheld n Toch arriving in the Old Kingdom if that's alright--

yis skip them

Alright Draco I will write a post for them now *adjusts monocle*

Keenan and Thorn were catching up, Jed and Toby just found a disembodied arm, and Ango and Emilia were just waiting for them to catch up.

(Hey I should totally have Mia drop in on someone--)

(Draco)

After many hours of driving (which became uneventful after Caroline took the wheel) the car was rumbling along a wide, smooth road. Sheldon jerked awake from an uneasy nap and stared with wide brown eyes as he took in the sight that lay before them; a majestic walled city illuminated by a thousand lights, complete with a massive modernised castle standing in the centre.

'I-is that Sovereign's City?' he stammered. 'The ROYAL city?!'

(I'm going to have Sargon call Dark Brink again once he's done with Dianne's messenger bird.)

(Aggron)

Armin smiled. 'That sounds nice. Living in the middle of nowhere, I mean.' He glanced over his shoulder at the village that now lay a little way behind them. 'I used to live here. That's why my family are all buried here. I've always preferred quieter places...'

----

Sargon stared at the phone for a moment as though he'd never seen one before, then nodded and picked it up. 'I will call her when I have time,' he said quietly, slipping it into his pocket.

(Actually I could probably do that now and he can call Dianne later)

(oh nice I'm here
I'll do a quick refresh on the doggo squad)

"The one and only," said Caroline, glancing up as a bird flew out in front of the car. "Looks a little scary doesn't it? I prefered our small village, but at least this place isn't overrun by vampires."

@Draco
Keenan begins to jog, looking down alleyways to see if he could find the missing part of their group.
"Hnnng...I'd call out but I don't think we'd be able to stand any more attention from that dragon guy's dudes."

Toby recoils back from the arm, initially terrified and thinking of the worst, then quickly realises that his mind had betrayed him as he scents that Ango and Emilia had continued on past where they were, borking softly.

Ango looks about worriedly, linking arms with her mother to make sure she would stay put. Slowly, she takes her mask out of her hoodie pocket, her heart sinking as she realised how much more damaged it had become. The cracks had snaked around the right eye socket and the tape that was previously holding it together was hanging limply to the side. She sniffs quietly, the reality of the whole situation finally crashing down on her, but she couldn't cry - not now anyways. The others could appear at any moment and she didn't want to break down in front of them and hinder their escape of the city any longer.

Sheldon kept on gazing at the beautiful city. He wondered if they would need to stay in a hotel somewhere; he doubted very much that Caroline secretly had property owned here just in CASE the vampires invaded someday.

He glanced sideways at Tochi. 'It's quite nice-looking,' he said in a quiet, nervous voice. He thought about himself and wondered if the people here would hate him for being a werewolf.

"Agreed." Tochi looked bright-eyed at the city, seeming to be more pleased with it than Caroline was. "Imagine what could be there, waiting for us to find it!"

Henry had fallen asleep.

'A-are we going to park s

THE FRICK IT CUT OFF HALF MY COMMENT

'A-are we going to park somewhere? Where do we even go?' said Sheldon, who seemed awestruck by the sheer size of the city alone.

(King)

Sargon turned away from the bird draugr, dismissing it as he would his own messengers after they'd fulfilled their duty. With the phone still in his pocket, he walked slowly and soundlessly to the middle of the room, and then spoke as if to thin air.

'Dark Brink. I request a meeting.'

"Hrmmm." Thorn inspected her drifting paws, but she knew there wasn't much they'd be useful for. "If only we could use telepathy... Or if we had a bird or something that could fly up and look around."

Jed whoffed quietly, taking a moment to respect that person who had somehow lost an arm, then carried on walking and following the scent trails.

@Radiant
//And a meeting you shall receive.//
It's voice is heard before it is seen, materialising into a semi-solid form and looking as if it had entered through the ceiling.
//I have a few ideas about what this meeting shall be about, so...enlighten me.//
It's grin curls at the slight joke in it's words.

(Dark Brink's pronouns go from he/him to it every other time it gets used and honestly at this point I'm just going to continue doing it lmao)

"I had a house here just in case vampires invaded," Caroline answered, then laughed. "I'm kidding. We'll find a decent hotel... oh, look, straight ahead, the Bluebell Hotel."

(I couldn't think of a better name for the hotel ech-)

(King - XD)

Sargon stood motionless, watching the ethereal cat appear out of nowhere.

'First of all, we must talk about the power you promised me,' he said. 'While the magic you gave my assistant might not have saved her from defeat at the hands of Dianne... I still wish for it myself. A little extra power never goes amiss.'

He gazed curiously at Brink as he spoke, as always unsure whether the creature intended itself to be evil, or simply neutral in terms of its moral alignment. He knew that Brink would give power to anyone who performed tasks for it, but was it capable of showing true loyalty?

'I see it,' said Sheldon, looking out of his side window. The city was quite busy, as one might expect from a large civilisation. Cars of every description kept rumbling past them, and the occasional motorbike. But unlike in Shacklestone, there wasn't a trace of any non-human activity. It was a little odd, he thought, being somewhere where you won't see dragons circling the skies or werewolves walking down the street.

(I might just cancel this session)

@Radiant
//Of course. Do you have a power in mind? I suppose you have had enough time to think of one by now.//
It floats about slightly, aware of Sargon's studying gaze and staring back with his slit eyes, head tilted ever so slightly.
@Draco
"Yeah...if only."
Keenan shifts into his lion form, mouth parting slightly as he takes in the scents of the surrounding area.
"Ugh, still smells like blood around here. But we're on the right track!...I think."
Toby keeps his nose to the ground, snuffing as he paces along. They were getting closer, he could tell.

(oof okay)

(King)

Sargon began to pace around the room in a wide circle, with Brink at its centre.

'I have heard of someone in this city... a young dragonshifter, who has the ability to move from place to place instantly, and at will. I think this would be a useful ability to have, especially since as I often need to travel quickly to aid my troops, and I cannot be in multiple places at once.'

(King - Yo, I'm going to head off for now. See you!)

(Soooo, I watched the playback......I'm afraid to ask. XD)

{Eliza smiles and looks down.} "Yeah, the family can be a bit grating at times. Living in the wilderness is actually pretty nice."

(Aggron - That's what happens when me and Draco draw together. XD)

As they entered the edge of the woods, Armin started to walk more quietly, casting his gaze around for signs of the deer. 'I ought to thank you, too,' he said lightly. 'For trying to stick up for me in the creeper discussion on the way home.'

(That reminds me, both of the cool immortal dudes (aka Armin and Morty) been called creepers XD
r.i.p in peace lads we know you don't like kids)

(Poor dudes. XD)

@Radiant/Aggron
Hearing Vitis behind him, he spins around and attempts to deflect the blade, but it instead catches his arm, cutting through his coat and skin with similar ease. Mortikai barely registers it as he throws his knife into his left and makes a stab at him.

(King/Aggron)

Crowley laughed madly when he saw Vitis's blade cut through Morty's coat. 'First blood! First blood!' he yelled, dancing on the spot with excitement.

@Radiant
//Ah, yes...Teleportation would be useful for a leader like yourself. Appearing to those in need, to those who request your audience, to those that doubt your power. Why, I'd say it's a lot like myself.//
It's grin curls tightly, following the vampire as he paces around the room.

(King)

'Then that is the power I request from you,' said Sargon. 'Assuming, of course, that you are capable of it.' He stopped pacing, standing in front of one of the huge arched windows, and turned to look directly at the spirit cat. He didn't trust Brink's sly grin. The sooner he could get his army out of Shacklestone and marching south, the better.

{Vitis grins at having landed a blow on Morty, but frowns at his counter attack, which forces him to jump back to avoid being stabbed.}

------

{Eliza gets quiet as well, speaking quite softly.} "Oh, don't mention it. I know you're not a creeper, and it's not fair when everyone gangs up on you."

(Aggron)

Armin shrugged, eyes scanning the dense trees around them. 'Still, thanks,' he persisted. 'I'm very glad we met, you know. I think you're the only person here who doesn't dislike me.' He looked down and gave her a lazy grin, before returning his attention to the woodland.

Outside Atlas Tower, Frederick walked until he spotted Wendigo on a shadowed street corner. The dragonshifter was in his human form, with black hair spiked up and hands thrust aggressively into his pockets. He glanced around when Frederick stepped over to join him.

'Still don't know what the old guy's planning, then?' he asked.

Frederick looked annoyed. 'I was hoping to overhear him talking about it with Ana, but then they were interrupted by Pythia. And THEY didn't talk about his plans, either.'

'Well, he's not gonna stand in the street gossiping about his plans for everyone to hear, is he?'

'I'm sure he must intend to move the army soon,' said Frederick, ignoring his companion. 'He always meant to attack the King's city as soon as he'd driven the humans out of Shacklestone.'

{Eliza chuckles.} "Well, I think you're a wonderful person who just had a bit of misfortune. If the others would just give you a chance, I think they'd see that too."

(A)

'Hmm, maybe...' Before he could say any more, he spotted something moving in a clearing up ahead. Four or five small deer were milling around among the trees, where a narrow stream ran through the forest in a wavy pattern.

'Anyone brought a bow - or a gun?' Armin whispered.

{Eliza produces her revolver.} "Will this do?" {She whispers.}

(Aggron)

'Let me try.' Armin took the revolver and carefully took aim at one of the closer deer by the stream's edge. There was a pause, and then he pulled the trigger. The targeted deer fell instantly, while the rest of the herd scattered into the surrounding woods.

Smiling, he passed the gun back to Eliza. 'Well, the others got scared away, but we have one.'

{Eliza smiles back.} "Better than nothing. How many should we bring back?"

(Aggron)

'Two? Three?' Armin hazarded a guess. 'Wait, how are we going to bring all of these back? We'll need a pickup truck or something.' He walked over to examine the dead deer.

{Eliza frowns.} "Well, then we bring them one at a time, or come back with a vehicle?"

(A)

'Hm... hold on. I'll be back in a second.' Armin turned and hurried back towards the village, leaving her alone with the dead deer.

//I bet I can find someone's vehicle to borrow,// he mused, looking around intently as he entered the main village. Sure enough, a moment later he spotted a large, old-fashioned pickup truck, with chipped red paint and a big space on the back for carrying things. He picked the door lock, jumped inside, and began to drive the truck back to the clearing in the woods.

{Eliza sits and waits patiently for Armin to return.}

(A)

A minute later, Armin arrived back in the clearing, parking the truck and climbing out. 'Sorry about that,' he said cheerfully. 'But we have something to carry the deer in now, at least. Shall we go and look for more?'

"Yeah. Let's go." {Eliz turns and begins to walk in the direction the deer ran off.}

(A)

Armin followed, leaving the truck behind them under the trees. The deer had long since scattered, but their prints, and other signs of them, would be easy to follow for any experienced hunter.

----

Bored with having nothing to do, Ivy had slipped outside to explore the village again. She stayed away from Dianne's basement this time.

(If you want anyone to interact with Ivy the feel free, if not then you can ignore her. XD)

(*then)

{Eliza followed the tracks of the deer, stopping just before a clearing with a pool of water where a 10 point stag was drinking}

---

{As Ivy was out, so was the Old Man. He was leaning against the side of a building, smoking, as Ivy walked by.} "Nice night." {He said plainly.}

(Aggron)

'You can shoot that one,' said Armin. 'I want to see how good your aim is,' he added with a grin.

----

Ivy started at the sound of the voice, then looked around, frowning, to see the Old Man standing there. 'Oh... hello. Yes, it is,' she said.

{Eliza took aim with her relvolver and fired a few seconds late, dropping the selected deer.} "So, how's my aim?"

(*Later)

{The Old Man nods.} "So, what are you doing out here?"

(Aggron)

'Great,' he replied, sounding both amused and impressed. 'I think two is enough for now. Let's bring them back to Dianne. It's starting to get late.' With a glance up at the sky, which was steadily darkening as night fell, he grabbed the deer and started to half-carry, half-drag it back to the truck.

(Aggron)

Ivy shrugged and leaned against the wall as well. 'Nothing much. I was just bored.' //Actually, I'm just not tired yet because I overslept this morning...// she thought, but didn't say so.

{Eliza follows along.} "I hope two's enough. Those centaurs are pretty big."

{The Old Man nods again.} "Well, we took out any resources Sargon could lay claim to, so there's not much to do now."

(Aggron)

'We could always come back for more later.' Armin put both of the deer into the back of the truck, then climbed up into the driver's seat. He started the engine and waited for Eliza to get in as well.

----

'Yes, that's true...' Ivy didn't really know what to say, so she lapsed into silence. After a moment, however, she said in an undertone: 'The non-humans who are helping us... Dianne and Armin and that Frederick guy... are you SURE we can trust them?'

{Eliza gets in} "I suppose that's true. Good thing there's a lot here. So....Dianne.....I noticed that you two really don't seem to get along. What's up with that?"

{The Old Man takes a moment to think.} "Honestly, no. It's no secret that humanity hasn't been the kindest to their race, and Sargon's been rallying people to his side under the pretense that he will give them freedom. Because of that I fear they may turn on us at a moment's notice."

(Aggron)

'Oh, her?' Armin gave a casual shrug as he steered the truck out of the forest clearing. 'We've never gotten along. I don't think she trusts me. I'm pretty sure she thinks that, because I used to work for Sargon, I might backstab you all at any second... And I might have insulted her a few times, too.'

----

Ivy looked thoughtful. 'I don't trust Frederick. He showed up WAY too suddenly, and we never saw proof that he's really on our side! ...But I think I trust Armin and Dianne. I know they've fought for us, helped to protect us. If they wanted to betray us, they could have done it already.'

{Eliza chuckled.} "Yeah, I figured as much. I know you won't betray us though. After everything Sargon's done to you, what reason could you have for going back?" {Eliza looks out the window before continuing.} "Although, you shouldn't be too hard on her. I get why she might have trust issues, after all."

{The Old Man tilts his head.} "Perhaps for now. Vampires are natural parasites, and dragons once preyed on everything smaller than them, including humans. Both species are full of pride, and look down on us. Once Sargon is dead, the interspecies conflict will still exist. How long before another Sargon pops up, perhaps one they might agree with?"

(Aggron)

'Oh, I know. She probably has good reason for it.' The truck emerged from the forest and began to trundle towards Dianne's basement. 'I respect her, even if I don't always like her. She's a good ally to have.'

----

Ivy thought about this, then shrugged. 'Well, we still need their help,' she said. 'And surely, if we humans keep on mistrusting non-humans, then we're only giving them more reason to look down on us?' She could hardly believe she was saying this, but she went on. 'Maybe they wouldn't hate us if we just TRIED to be more friendly.'

{Eliza smiles.} "Yeah, she is. But sometimes I wish she'd lighten up, y'know? She always seems to find something or someone to be angry about."

---

"That's true, but I don't think a little common courtesy is going to erase decades of abuse. We really won't know until this is all over."

(Aggron)

Armin parked the truck just outside the entrance to the basement and climbed out. He then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for her, grinning. 'Maybe she just likes being angry,' he suggested.

----

'I suppose we won't,' said Ivy thoughtfully. 'Well, thanks for the chat.' She pushed herself off the wall and began to walk back to the hotel. It was almost fully dark by then, and though she wouldn't admit it, being out here was starting to give her the creeps.

{Eliza chuckles.} "Yeah, huh? Wouldn't be the first person I've met like that."

---

{The Old Man nods at Ivy's departure before looking up to the night sky.} //Best to let her believe that things can get better. From here, though, they will only get worse.//

(Aggron)

Armin went over to the basement and pushed the door open a crack. 'Hey, Dianne! There's some deer outside. I'm not bringing them into your house for you,' he called out, not bothering to go inside.

----

Unaware of the Old Man's ominous thoughts, Ivy returned to the hotel. //I am SO bored,// she complained to herself. //There must be SOMETHING to do around here... Maybe I can go and look in the kitchen...//

{A few seconds later, she called out.} "Fine. Thank you."
he door guards walk over to the truck and take the deer inside.} "Slim pickings out there, huh? I need at least four to finish a centaur."

(A)

Armin looked unconcerned. 'You'll have to make do for now. I'll get more tomorrow, but I wasn't going to stay in the forest all night.'

Ivy went into the hotel kitchen and started to make herself some sandwiches. She hadn't had dinner yet, and was too lazy to cook anything else. While she was doing this, she spotted a large bottle of wine on a high shelf, and after a furtive glance towards the doorway, she pulled that down as well.

"Very well. Goodnight, then." {Dianne says from the basement.}

---

{As Ivy was pulling down the bottle, Uncle Steven walked in.} "Hey, pour me a glass too. It's been a weird night."

(Aggron)

'See you.' Armin stepped away from the basement doors and glanced towards Eliza. 'I'm going back to the hotel. You coming too?'

----

Ivy looked annoyed, before she noticed that there were two more bottles of wine behind the first one. 'Oh, all right. I guess there's more than enough.' She found some glasses and poured one each for her and Uncle Steven.

{Eliza nods and walks after Armin.}"Ya. I'm done for tonight.

------

{Uncle Steven gratefully accepts his glass and goes to sit down in the lobby.}

Leaving the truck outside Dianne's place, Armin returned to the hotel with Eliza. Spotting Uncle Steven entering the lobby with a glass of wine, he went to the kitchen and found Ivy there, eating her sandwiches.

'There's alcohol here?!' he said, sounding surprised. 'Nobody ever told me that. Ivy, can you pour me one as well?'

'I am not a freaking bartender!' said Ivy irritably. However, she did give him a glass, albeit grudgingly. Armin returned to the hotel lobby and sat down, humming cheerfully to himself.

{Eliza got herself a glass, and sat down as well, addressing Uncle Steven.} "Hey, dad. Rough day?"
Steve: "Eh, sort of. I've been tending to that woman and her child all day. Y'know, the one who survived Dianne's curse?"
Eliza: "Oh, yeah, how are those two?"
Steve: "Well, the child is in perfect health. Can't say the same for the mother, though..."

'The mother? What's wrong with her? I thought she was all right,' said Armin, taking a long drink of his wine. Ivy, looking disgruntled at being made to play bartender, had stayed in the kitchen with her food.

{Steve takes a sip of wine before looking at Armin.} "Well, she wasn't responding well to the magical damage at first and was in a lot of pain. I managed to stabilize her and put her to sleep, but that's not what got to me. She kept saying things in her sleep. Disturbing things that have got me a bit worried..."

'That's weird. I thought Dianne got the curse out of her, so there shouldn't be anything wrong with her,' said Armin. He paused, wondering if it was an appropriate question to ask, then said, 'What are these 'disturbing things' she's been saying, exactly?'

Ivy emerged from the kitchen, looking annoyed but curious, and leaned against the doorway so she could listen in.

{Steven shakes his head.} "When Dianne removed the curse, it had run its course quite a bit. The damage it caused to her systems doesn't get reversed once the curse is removed, it only ceases. She'll start to heal now that it's been removed, but the damage that was there will have effects. As for what she was saying, well....She kept saying the end was near. The end, the end, over and over again. That's not the freaky part though. She also said, and I'm quoting her here, "The end's one eye will be your demise." Sound familiar?"
Eliza: "Wait, she doesn't mean..."

(*realises they're talking about my End*
*suddenly W O K E*)

(King - T H E E N D I S N I G H)

(Aggron)

Armin looked blank for a moment, clearly not knowing what they were talking about or why Eliza understood when he didn't. Then he said slowly, 'Isn't there a creature called The End that has something to do with Brink?' He finished his first glass of wine.

{Steven points at Armin and nods.} "Yes. And Brink has a very strong presence in Shacklestone."
Eliza: "Do you think she knows something?"

'But she couldn't have seen The End, could she?' Armin stood up and went into the kitchen for another glass of wine, then returned and sat down, looking puzzled. 'I thought that it had to be unleashed by Dark Brink. Unless someone HAS gotten Brink to unleash it?'

Steven: "Seen it? No. The bloody thing will kill anyone who makes eye contact with it. She's probably just heard of it and what she was saying was just fever induced ramblings.....I hope.."

'Well, I guess there's no point in worrying about it right now,' said Armin. 'We can't do anything. Maybe she can tell us more when she's... coherent.' He downed his second glass in one, and ventured to the kitchen for another.

Ivy had finished her food and came out to sit in the lobby with the others, choosing a comfortable-looking armchair.

Steven: "I suppose so..." {The group falls silent while Eliza concernedly eyes Armin's third glass of wine.}

Ivy was clearly following a different train of thought. 'So, some of us are going back into the city tomorrow to get the other cursed people, right? Jerry said I could go this time!' She sounded incredibly proud of herself.

'Of course he did,' said Armin airily, not noticing Eliza's expression. 'He thinks I'd mess up his plans again.'

Eliza: "Actually, I never heard him say that you /weren't/ coming, Armin. Just that Ivy could come."
Steven: "Honestly, Ivy, I don't think you should go. I've got enough trouble here without you coming back in pieces."

Ivy narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed. 'I want to go. I'm NOT going to come back in pieces! How stupid and careless do you think I am?'

Armin gave a low chuckle. 'No, he didn't, but I probably shouldn't go anyway. I probably WOULD mess something up. And besides, I don't like seeing the infected people.'

{Steven lifts a finger at Ivy.}" Not stupid and careless, //inexperienced//. I don't think you're quite ready to take on a mission this big."
{Eliza nods.} "Yeah, I'm going to have nightmares for weeks because of what I saw today. That's mostly why I'm sitting here sipping wine and not in bed."

'Yeah, but STILL,' Ivy protested. 'It's not like I'm going in alone, everyone else will be there. And we probably won't be fighting anything. They only got into trouble last time because someone recognised the bloodsucker.'

'Welcome to my life,' said Armin. 'I did this nearly every night back when I was working for Sargon. 'Specially when he made us kill people.' He drank half of his glass in one go.