Hey! I'll be around. Nice cover btw!

h e w w o
I might be here n there oof

(Aggron) Thanks!

(King) Alrighty. If you can try and do a reply from DB when you have a free moment, that'd be great, since we can't really do anything until then. XD

Yeah, sorry about that..
I've been pretty M.I.A :')))))))))

Well, it gives everyone more time to do random stuff. XD

I might be in and out tonight, too - it's incredibly hot here so I have to keep going outside and all my electronics are slowly overheating.

Yeah but
I'm keeping the story from progressing :'))))))

So I guess I'll start or something abxbcjjdjfnndm,,,,,,,

(King) Go ahead.

@Radiant
//Then it shall be done.//
Dark Brink's grin twists into a spiral of teeth before his form swirls into a black, cloudy mass. A tendril ropes out, curling around Sargon's upper body.
//You have asked and you shall recieve. You have followed correctly and done my deed. With your goal so clear and your soul so dark, you are worthy enough to bare my mark.//
His voice rasps out, the darkness almost seeping into his skin as the mark burns onto him. Sargon would be able to feel the new power rise within him - the knowledge of being able to disappear through shadows and arrive elsewhere being brought into his mind. Soon enough, the tendril recedes, the black mass reforming into the feline spirit.
//With my mark forever on your skin, your powers shall awaken from deep within. Your heart shall never be too tender or mild, for you are now Dark Brink's child.//

(Hydra [to Sargon]: Soon, Sargon, we will meet. Big, strong man, to tiny, baby man.)

Hi um
sorry I haven't been attending recently
i've mostly been occupied whenever they've been on.
i'm not even sure if i fit in to the timline anymore
so how i'm going to come back i don't know

(King)

Sargon frowned slightly as the dark tendrils receded and Brink finished his speech, not entirely liking the idea of him being forever connected with the spirit. //But to protect my people, I will do anything,// he decided, and felt a new resolve harden in him along with the dark power Brink had given him.

'Thank you,' he said, offering Brink a small respectful bow. 'I trust that your gift will aid me greatly in keeping my people safe from our enemies, and if possible, winning us this conflict.'

(Dracop - Hmm I could give a summary of what's happening if that would help
Then you can decide if you want to jump back in or mot)

(mot
GET YOR M.O.T.)

(Sargon: I am not afraid of Dianne's abominations...)

no im not getting my mot shhhh

a summary would help

(Hydra [In Yoda voice]: "You //will// be.......You. Will. Be.")

(ok long story short:

Sargon is, in a few hours, going to march his army from Shacklestone to Sovereign City (the place where Sheldon and Tochi are now) and try to take it over.
Jerry and Co. travelled there and warned the King about it, so when Sargon arrives at the city, there's going to be a big battle between the two sides and they're gonna try to kill him for good.
But Sargon also made a deal with Brink to gain teleportation powers, so DB is probably going to try and interfere in some way/keep him from getting killed.
It's currently around nightfall in the RP and Sargon is setting off at midnight.

that's the basic plot at least
i could tell you what every character is up to but i'd be here all night)

(Armin, Dianne and some of Jerry's family are just chilling in Riverside
Crowley is chilling with Mia in Shacklestone
Sheld and Toch are in a city which is soon going to be a battleground)

okA i think i can get tochi moving a little

also yes they're the only ones who aren't chill about this

(i think we'll be doing a timeskip in a bit, skipping to early morning when Sargon heads out for the city, so we could wait and do some Sheld/Toch after that)

(the King is supposed to be evacuating the city but maybe he forgets Sheld/Toch so they wake up just as the attack is about to happen
and then they get killed wait no)

alright lets wait for the skip
to make them d i e
in a p i l e
o f
b l U d

(Actually, skip to 12:01. Magnus and his posse has some things to do with Sargon.)

(Dianne has something to do then as well.)

(Aggron - Alrighty. So we'll be skipping to the time when Sargon is just about to leave Shacklestone with his people.)

(Wow, he's fast to be leaving one minute after midnight. Ok.)

(He'll only be getting ready to leave.)

I mean, star wars will be on soon
i don't know if it'll be a couple of hours before we timeskip, but
i'll be back

hopefully

i have no idea what'll be going on when i'm back tbh

(Draco - you should probably be back in time to do something later)

alright- see you laterrr

(King? You alive?)

(Back abdncnnskd)

(I died while on a quest to get bottled water for my uncle because he's picky and can't drink tap water)

(Well
Bottled water is probably nicer)

(Also Draco when you return do you wanna just carry the timeskip with the doggo squad? Maybe we could say they camped out in a building somewhere oof
And Aggron I realize I didn't do a thing with Morty so do you want me to do that after the timeskip)

(Yeah
No chlorine in it
but like
it's easier
idk)

(I never drink bottled water just because we don't want to have to buy it, but I only drink tap water out of the kitchen.
Probably because the bathroom sink never looks that clean.)

( @King Sure, if you want. Although, Everyone in the immediate area might be a bit preoccupied with Sargon's people. If you keep him close to the tower, I think we can work something out.)

(Just
Don't drink tap water, guys.
Lead ions are a real thing
So is algae
and bacteria
Just
no
pls
:/ )

(We can't buy bottled water all the time, it'd cost too much. I'll just take the risk. XD
I've been drinking tap water all my life and I'm still alive.)

(Can't argue with that. XD)

(.....?
In some respects I suspect you got a respectable side
When pushed and pulled and pressured, you seldom run and hide.
But it's for someone else's benefit, not for what you want to do.
Until I realize that you realize, I'm going to say these words to you.
You don't know what love is, you just do as your told.
Just as a child of ten might act, but you're far too old
You're not hopeless or helpless, and I hate to sound cold
But you don't know what love is
You just do as you're told
-Magnus serenading Ana in Shacklestone)

(Ana: *hears music and looks around* 'Oh... That was quite pretty actual - wait, WHAT? What did you just say? 'I don't know what love is and just do as I'm told'? That's ridiculous. I DO know what love is and I'm not some kind of robot.')

(King are you out getting bottled water again)

(No I'm still here
waIT FUCK I FORGOT SARGON AND BRINK)

(XD)

@Radiant
Dark Brink nods back at him, a slight smug tone to his grin.
//Of course. My gifts are great, and yours is particularly so. And, while I may not be able to guarantee that you will win, despite the power of your army and the King's cowardice, you can call upon me if you need to heal you or...anyone you particularly want keeping alive. I only aim to help, of course.//

(*SCREAMS*
I AM THE WORST AT THIS)

(XDDDD We all forget about interactions every now and then.)

(I can see your man can't help but win any problem that may arrise.
But in his mind there can be no sin if you never criticise.
You just keep on repeating all those empty "I love you"'s
Until you see you deserve better, I'm gonna lay right into you.
Ooooh,You don't know what love is, you just do as your told.
Just as a child of ten might act, but you're far too old
You're not hopeless or helpless, and I hate to sound cold
But you don't know what love is
You just do as you're told
(Enter sick guitar riff here.))

(King)

Sargon stared at Brink for a moment longer, then nodded decisively and turned away. His silver cape flapped soundlessly around his ankles as he paced the room, thinking.

'I must go and ready my people to leave,' he announced. 'While we may be trapped here until midnight, I can still begin the preparations. Dianne will know nothing. And when midnight passes, we will be ready to depart... and to take the King's city by storm.'

He looked over his shoulder, seeming almost surprised to find Brink still there. 'Is there anything else you need to discuss with me?'

(Ana: *scowls* 'You're being rude, little draugr.' *grabs Magnus's guitar in her jaws and tosses it away*)

(Magnus: "My guitar! *Cries* You're mean! D:<"

(Ana: 'That's what you get for being rude to me! Go and play your stupid music somewhere else!')

(Magnus: "I was just playing music! You didn't have to listen to it! D:<" )

(Ana: 'How was I supposed to NOT listen to it?! You're standing right there and I'm not allowed to leave this tower!')

(Magnus: That's....not...I mean...uggh, Fine! I'll just get my guitar and leave! Not my problem if you have no musical taste!"

@Radiant
//No. That is all. I should be finding Mortikai before he gets lost in your movement, I've left him alone far too long.//
He drops to the floor silently, grin curling tight.
//I bid you adieu, and good luck.//
He paces towards the shadow of the Count's desk, then pauses, looking back at Sargon.
//You'll need it.//
With a dark chuckle, he disappears into the shadow, leaving Sargon alone.

(Ana: 'Yes, leave! Before I take your guitar and smash it over your ugly head.')

(TIIIIIIMMMMMMEEEEE SSSSKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPP!!!!!!!!)

Sargon didn't wait around. As soon as Brink had disappeared, he swept out of his room and went downstairs to tell his high-ranking soldiers and Ana exactly what was going to happen at midnight.

//Nearly time. For better or for worse, this will soon be over.//

(No, NOOOOW TIIIIIIMMME SKIIIIIIP)

(Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!)

(Who's going to start?)

{Five minutes to midnight, an alarm rings out in the hotel. In a room, Dianne wakes and snoozes the alarm. Sitting up in bed, she reaches to her night stand and gets the vial with the last of the curse, and looks at it, almost woefully.} "Almost time." {She grumbles}

{Meanwhile, in Shacklestone, Magnus stands on a building, overlooking the city. Fourteen centaurs stand behind him.} "Almost time." {He says. Looking down, he spots something interesting. Oliver's body, still on that rooftop where he was killed.} "Hmmm..." {Magnus hums, a devious smile splitting his face.}

(Me!)

tfw sargone got a big balloon butte

'It's... it's almost time, my Lord.'

There was a hint of a nervous tremor in Ana's voice as she stood beside Sargon. They were in a large car park outside Atlas Tower, where the majority of the troops were gathered. The dragonshifters were in their human forms to save space.

Sargon nodded. 'Now we wait until midnight passes.'

(dracooOOOOOOOH D:<
Well we just timeskipped to 23:55
so you can wake Tochi up or something if you want)

(draco no)

(also King asked something about the dog squad way up there somewhere)

@king
yees let's do the skip w/ the squad - I need to get jedding again
haven't jedded in a while

@ead
okay i'll wake Land up

( @Draco Who is Land?)

Armin was in his room in the hotel when he suddenly woke up, for no apparent reason. He took one look at the digital clock on the cabinet beside him, groaned, and tried to go back to sleep. //Five to midnight? Why? Just why?//

(Draco - i don't want to know how you spelled Tochi as Land -- wait I get it)

(Land is what Tochi's name is supposed to mean, right)

Tochi awoke very suddenly and sat up in bed. She looked around for anything that could've woken her, but there was nothing.

And yet, something was off. Even though she couldn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary, nor did she have sensing-powers or something silly like that, she could tell that something was going to happen. Soon. And it might not be good.

(i thought it meant 'torch' or 'light' or something but when i translated it back it meant 'land'-)

Beside her, Sheldon was shifting restlessly, somewhere between being asleep and being awake. After a moment, he stirred, and rolled over to face Tochi directly, eyes blinking sleepily in the near-total darkness. 'Wh-what's going on?' he asked, worried when he saw her expression.

"Nothing really," she murmured, not wanting to alarm him. "Just woke up. I must have been having a dream or something..." she tried to believe herself, but she still couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

Sheldon wrapped his arms around himself and stared into space. 'I sort of feel like... Something is going to happen. Like... we woke up at this time for a /reason,/ you know? ...Maybe it's nothing. Maybe I'm just being paranoid again.'

{At Midnight, Dianne opened the vial and hesitantly poured the contents onto her palm. Absorbing it, she grimaces, breathing heavily as if it was causing her great pain. After a minute or so, she returned to normal, looking around the room. It was done. The curse was recalled, and the truce was officially over.}

Somewhere across the city, a massive clock chimed out the time. The sound echoed over the deserted streets and houses, distant and mournful.

Sargon looked up alertly as he heard the noise, the cold night wind ruffling his cape. Ana stood tensely beside him. 'Midnight,' he breathed. 'The truce is now over. We are clear to leave.' Raising his voice to be heard, he turned to address his troops.

"You feel it too...?" Tochi got off the bed and approached the window to look out. "Something's different, something's coming. It reminds me of what I felt back in Shacklestone, when..." she thought back to when she and Sheldon had lived with their families in the city. "...When the murders first started happening."

{Before Sargon's men had a chance to leave, Magnus' voice rings out of the darkness with a slow playing guitar.}
"The truce is over.....
So come on closer.....
You've angered a disciple of death...
So take your last breath....
Oooooohhhh,
I'll make the whole world deaf
With all of your screams
Doodly doodly doooo!"

'Oh god, Tochi - what if the same thing happens here? What if everyone gets killed and we'll have to run away again? We're NEVER going to be safe, EVER!' Sheldon's voice rose to an almost hysterical squeak. He scrambled up out of his bed, but didn't join her at the window. He was scared he might see something.

Ana's head swung around as she heard the distant thrum of guitar strings in the otherwise silent night, but she didn't say anything. If Sargon or the troops heard, they didn't react aside from a few uneasy glances and whispers.

'Let us head out,' Sargon commanded. 'We should not waste any time here. Dianne and her people could be planning anything.' He waved an arm in a sharp gesture, then climbed onto Ana's back along with three other soldiers. All along the car park, dragons were shifting and letting their humanoid comrades mount them before leaping into the sky.

"Hey, Sheldon, calm down," she said quickly. "Maybe we're wrong. And even if they come, we'll get away. If - if we have to get a boat to another island, so be it."

She hugged him supportively. "We're going to be okay," she said determinedly.

'O-OK.' Sheldon hugged her back, tightly. 'Should we go and wake up your grandparents? If something really does happen then - then we should be ready to leave at a moment's notice.'

(I'll probably have to go soon. Not sure when our wifi is going off, but I'll try to give warning before it does.)

{Like a streak of lightning, Magnus leaps from the shadows, taking off the head of a smaller dragon with a swing of his mighty sword. From around them, the centaurs appear and start to jump and clamber upon the backs of the leaving dragons, tearing into the people on the backs of them.}

( @Radiant ok, let us know.)

Ana's scream of fury nearly drowned out Sargon's shouted command as the draugrs appeared out of nowhere. The dragons who were under attack tried to fight off the monsters, with little success, though they managed to kill a number of them. Meanwhile, the dragons who had avoided the initial ambush quickly flew high into the sky, where they were safe.

'Fly south!' Sargon called out. 'Fly over the southern wall and continue onwards to the King's city!'

On the ground, the shapeshifted werewolves sprang forwards, tearing into the draugrs with claws and teeth.

(I mean centaurs, not just draugrs)

(Gotta go!)

{The werewolves were met with unbridled fury, as the centaurs mercilessly tore into their assailants. Tooth and claw, they brutally tore into the wolves, leaving them ripped and broken on the ground. Magnus was fighting them as well. It seems he took Oliver's cloak, so he could hide in the shadows and ambush them.}

(K Bye!)

(One more)

Some of the werewolves managed to leap onto the backs of fleeing dragons and thus survived the massacre, but the others all died. By then, the dragons and their riders were well on their way towards he city's south border.

{Magnus and the remaining centaurs regrouped and watched Sargon's army leave.}
Magnus: "How many did we lose?"
Centaur: "Eight centaurs."
Magnus: "Fine. Sweep the city. If Sargon left anyone here, kill them all." {With that, Magnus texts Dianne a sitrep. Once she receives it, she walks out of her room and to Fred's door. Knocking on it, she speaks. Something in her voice, however, is different, like she's.....angrier than usual.} "Fred! Get up! Sargon's on the move! It's time to end this."

Tochi nodded. "Mmhmm. Let's go get them.

Henry was still sleeping, but Caroline had woken and was staring at him as he snoozed, probably very peacefully. She wondered how he could stay so deeply asleep when there was such a strange feeling in the air.

The door opened immediately and Frederick came out, looking alert. It seemed that he'd been awake all night. 'We're ready,' he affirmed, just as a low roar echoed across the village from wherever Wendigo was.

Sheldon walked up to the door of Caroline and Henry's room and knocked tentatively, hoping that he and Tochi were right about something happening. Otherwise, he was going to look really stupid waking everyone up for nothing.

Sargon looked over his shoulder to assess the state of his army. It was almost too dark to see anything, but even from a glance he could tell they had taken heavy casualties.

//How many have we lost?// he asked one of the old veteran soldiers.

//Roughly a third of our force, Sir,// the other vampire confirmed. //I think all of the werewolves are gone, aside from a couple clinging onto the dragons. We've lost about twenty dragons and their riders, too.//

//What were those creatures?//

//I'm not sure, Sir. At first I just thought they were normal draugrs, but they looked like they had animal bodies. Whatever they were, they were incredibly fast and hard to bring down.//

Back in the city, a small number troops had stayed behind. Most of them - a handful of dragons and a skeleton force of werewolves - had spread out across the city in an attempt to catch their enemies if they showed up. Lord Grimm was among them, sweeping over the city in his 20ft dragon form.

Mortikai turns at the sound of the clock chime. Something felt...different. Then, the dragons flying into the sky and screeches of battle could be heard in the distance. He barely registered the weight of Dark Brink on his shoulders as he stared up at the night.
//Sargon's leaving for the King's city. Dianne's interfering again. Shall we go take a look?//
"No. I told you, I'm not doing anything until I find that woman."
//Oh, fine. Just as well, Dianne's little creations are going to sweep the city and kill anyone they find.//
The dark feline was bending the truth a little. They were only ordered to kill Sargon's people, but how would that encourage him to work out the next part of his plan?
//They're somewhere out there. Actually, they're suprisingly close to the gate, hiding out in a broken home. A shame that they might get killed, what with the traps Dianne's people have put around there.//
Mortikai's heart sinks, his blood running cold. Now he /really/ needed to find them, and take them someplace safe.
//You could always take them to that temple. Or, to that village just outside Shacklestone. I'm sure Dianne would be happy to see you after your little pow-wow with Pythia.//
He visibly winces.
"Ah...I had a feeling you knew about that."
//While I'm curious as to what you all talked about, I trust you enough that you didn't relay any information about our plan...//
"No, of course I didn't. It was more being questioned about why I still follow you. That's simple. You're the only real thing I have left."
He was lying, of course, simply trying to get on the spirit's "good" side before anything else happened. Dark Brink knew this, deciding to humour his right hand for a while.
//Good. Now, make haste. Undead centaur are surely faster than you.//
With a slight nod, Mortikai shifts into his bengal form and runs off, Brink floating in place for a moment before disapperating.

(B R I N K N O V E L S)

(Oh yeah, what should we do with Mia and Crowley now that we time-skipped? We could have them hanging out somewhere with Mia's robots, or anything really. I don't mind.)

(Ohheck yeah
Uhhh they could've hidden out at Mia's little hovel cus Claw was a bit broken or something so she had to fix him?)

(That works for me! Maybe Mia is finishing fixing him and Crowley is just hanging around watching.)

(Crowley: *whining* are you done yet??
Mia: *taking her sweet time* maybe I'll be done quicker if you stop complaining ;)
Crowley: >:(

I'll actually write something abdnnrk)

"Good." {She said shortly. Walking over to Steve's room, Dianne knocks on his door as well.} "Steve! We're leaving! Fifteen minutes! Get Armin and meet me outside." {Steve emerges, looking tired.} "Jesus, ok, I'll get him." {As she walked away, he grumbled under his voice.} "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed..." {Knocking lightly on Armin's door, Steve enters.} "Armin? Dianne says it's time to go. How're you feeling?"

{As Grimm's people sweep the city, Magnus and his remaining centaurs begin to stalk the wolves. Clicking noises and laughter can be heard echoing from the alleyways surrounding a few of the stragglers.}

Armin was just getting up when Steve came into the room, looking half-asleep and with severe bed hair, but walking unaided for the first time since getting shot the day before. 'Now?' he grumbled. 'I hate early mornings. And it's not even morning, it's the middle of the night.' He picked up his long sword from the corner of the room. 'I'm ready, though.'

Grimm flew high above the city, keeping a lookout, ready to help the troops if necessary, but mostly just grumbling about how he hadn't been allowed to go to Sovereign with the others. 'Blasted Sargon, thinking he's better than me...'

A pack of ten werewolves ganged up on one centaur, leaping on the monster in an attempt to bring it down with sheer numbers.

{The Centaur leapt at its enemies with no regard to being outnumbered. Screeching and snarling, it tore at its assailants, taking copious amounts of flesh with each claw swipe. As it fought, the sound was heard by the other centaurs, and they came charging in. }

The werewolves fought back, bit they didn't have a chance. As they heard the other centaurs approaching, the survivors turned tail and fled through the narrow streets. All except for one werewolf, who had been standing behind the first centaur during the attack and now leapt on top of it, closing its jaws tightly over its opponent's neck with a snarl.

*but

{Steve nods and walks outside. There was Dianne, raising every draugr she could. The other Hydra was kneeling down, with its rib cage open. It seems it was built to do that, as the draugr centaurs were crawling inside and hanging on. When she finished, Dianne turned to the group.} "Alright, listen up! We're going straight for the city. Wendigo! You are going to carry this dump truck full of unraised minions and put it just out side the gates. The rest of us are going straight for the tower. Once you're done, meet us there. Let's move!" {Dianne shifts into her dragon form and waits for the group to get on.}

Following everyone else, Armin jumped up onto Dianne's back. A short distance away, Wendigo saluted with a clawed hand before grabbing the dump truck and taking flight. He seemed to have no difficulty carrying it, despite its weight.

Frederick hesitated as he watched the hydra sweeping off into the darkness without a backwards glance.

//Be careful,// he said telepathically. //Don't get into trouble you can't deal with.// With that, he climbed onto Dianne.

{The centaur screeches and starts bucking and kicking. The other centaurs pulled the werewolf off and each grabbed a limb. Then, they very slowly started to pull him apart, limb from limb.}

{With everyone ready, Dianne takes flight towards the city, flanked by the two Hydras. Within minutes, the city was about to become a battleground.}

The werewolf yelped and tried to claw itself free, but the centaurs were far too strong. By then, the survivors had run to the edge of the Gold District and climbed onto the roof of an abandoned house, where they had a good viewpoint. Within moments, Grimm flew down to join them.

'It's a massacre out there,' growled one female werewolf. 'There's nothing we can do against undead creatures that strong.'

'Oh, don't panic too early,' said Grimm. 'I found some things in old Sargon's basement that I think might be useful...'

Grimm was clutching something tightly in his front claws as he took flight. Soaring high over the streets, he found the place where a group of centaurs were busy mutilating one werewolf. 'Try an explosive, fools!' he shouted, and revealed the thing he was carrying to be a hand grenade as he pulled the pin and tossed it down into the centaur group.

Wendigo fell in beside Dianne as they made for the city. Once they passed the gates, he swooped down and landed heavily, placing the dump truck carefully beside a pile of rubble. Then he took off again, following the now-distant shadow of Dianne and the other hydra in the night sky.

{Magnus had followed the wolves and was watching Grimm from the rooftop. Jumping down, he dispatches two wolves with a single swing. } "Really? Pray tell what you found."

(I’m late!)

(Hey, what gate did Wendigo place that truck at?)

{The centaurs looked up at Grimm. Once the grenade exploded, it took out the weakest one. Shrieking, the centaurs ran after Grimm from the ground.}

(The front gates of the city.)

(Which city?)

Grimm flapped higher into the air, where - he hoped - any attacks the centaurs had at their disposal wouldn't be able to touch him. In his other claw he clutched a second grenade, which he flung down at the ones trying to chase him. 'Out of ammo! Out of ammo!' he roared, flying back towards the tower.

The werewolves yelped and scattered as Magnus appeared, fleeing in opposite directions.

(Shacklestone, there weren't any other cities in the vicinity.)

(Ok, good. Dianne doesn’t have to yell at anyone now. XD)

{The centaurs learned from last time, and leapt away from the grenade. After it detonated, they continued their pursuit.}

Grimm looked down to see the centaurs still pursuing him. //What's wrong with these creatures? Are they all stupid? They can't hope to catch a flying dragon!// Spotting Atlas Tower up ahead, he folded his wings and dived towards it. Landing in front of the tower, he shifted back and ran inside. The basement still had weapons he could use...

Unnerved by the sound of the centaurs' hooves galloping after him, he hurried into the basement and started filling a bag with all the weaponry he could get hold of.

{Now flying into Shacklestone, Dianne and her hydra land in front of Atlas tower. The Hydra's ribcage swings open, allowing Dianne's wide assortment of abominations to roam free.}
Dianne:"Take the tower! Leave none alive!" With that, the abominations charge foward into the tower, breaking the doors off their hinges and storming the lobby, searching for Sargon's men to kill.}

{Meanwhile, Magnus watches the wolves scatter with a grin. Looking to the side, he sees Dianne's group and decides to head over there.}

Grimm's head jerked up as he heard the draugrs breaking into the tower, eyes going wide with fear. //Now how am I going to get out of here?//

He ran to the basement doorway and stood by the side of it, keeping himself partially hidden in the shadows. Then he started throwing grenades up the stairs, trying to hit the draugrs, and destroying large amounts of the architecture at the same time.

'I hear explosions,' said Frederick. 'Something's going on in there.'

Meanwhile, the few minions left inside the tower were trying to flee from the abominations, hindered by the narrow corridors.

{The abominations ran down the stragglers in the halls with ease, seemingly used to enclosed spaces. The screams of the draugrs and their terrified victims echoed through the halls.}

{The first grenades really didn't do much, as the draugrs had lost track of Grimm. That is, until he started chucking grenades into the empty room.}
Abomination: "Over here! I found one!"
{Dianne waited until Fred and the others got off her back to shift. Drawing her sword, Dianne enters the building. Gun drawn, Steve turns to Fred.} "That sounds like grenades. Fred, does Sargon have military grade weaponry?"

Grimm slammed the door of the basement shut and pushed some heavy boxes of weapons up against it, trying to prevent anyone from getting inside. Breathing hard, he scanned the weapons he still had left. A few grenades and some guns. Grabbing a AK-47, he leaned against a wall and waited.

'Yes,' Frederick replied. 'Not very much, I think, but he did have some stored in the basement.'

{Dianne hears the door slam. Motioning to her draugrs, they surround the doorway. Moments later, a burly centaur starts smashing down the door to get to Grimm.}

{Magnus shows up, not a minute later and turns to Armin.} "So, you made it. What did I miss?"

Grimm took aim towards the door and opened fire. Bullets pounded through the door to strike the centaur trying to break it down.

Armin looked around in surprise on hearing Magnus's voice. 'Oh, nothing much...' he replied nonchalantly. 'What about you? Have you been lurking around this city all night?'

{The centaur doesn't react to being shot. Taking a step back, it charges the door with all its might and breaks it off its hinges, sending the piled boxes tumbling down the basement stairs.}

"Yep." {Magnus says while smiling.} "Stupid Sargon believed me when I told him that I leave at midnight. Anyway, I need to hunt down the wolves that ran off into the city. Want to come?"

'Sure,' said Armin. 'That sounds like--'

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion, followed by several loud crashes. Grimm had shifted into his massive dragon form and burst his way out of the cramped basement, using a grenade to help him destroy the ceiling. His transformation left one wall of Atlas Tower crumbling to ruins. Ignoring the centaurs, Grimm crawled through the piles of rubble and out onto the dark streets beyond.

'You won't kill me that easily, youngsters!' he yelled as he ran.

'--fun,' said Armin.

Dianne: "Get your ass back here, old man! Wendigo! Titan! Bring that fool here!"
{Magnus just chuckles as Grimm runs away.} "Youngsters? I'm like ten times his age. Anyway, Dianne has that handled. Let's go hunting."

Grimm leapt into the air and started flying in a southward direction. He seemed to be intent on following the rest of Sargon's force to Sovereign City. His breath came in short gasps and his heart thumped fast, reminding him that his days of fighting were long since over. //I'm too old for this nonsense...//

Armin chuckled. 'I suppose she does. Alright, then. But I probably can't keep up with you on foot, so...' He shifted into his hawk form and flew up to perch on Magnus's shoulder. //Let's go kill some werewolves.//

From the other direction came the sound of heavy flapping wings. It was Wendigo, who had finally caught up with the group and was now speeding after Grimm like an arrow, roaring a challenge to the old dragon, which went ignored.

{Dianne growls in frustration At Grimm fleeing.} "Titan! Stay here and mop up." {The hydra complies as Dianne shifts and flies after Grimm, gaining fast.}
{Magnus nodded and took off into the street with Armin on his shoulder. It wasn't long before he found a group of werewolves that had been routed by centaurs.} "There we go. Dianne wants all of them dead. Ready, Armin?"

Grimm gasped when he realised Dianne was chasing him. 'What do you want? Can't you just let me escape? I'm only a minion!' He twisted his head over his shoulder and shot a fireball at her. Meanwhile Wendigo was still following the old dragon, but from some way below, hoping to catch him unawares.

//Let's see who can kill the most,// Armin responded. He leapt off Magnus's shoulder, shifted back to human form and instantly decapitated one werewolf with a slash of his sword. The whole pack was in disarray, most of them bearing minor injuries. Two of them pounced at Magnus, while several others attempted to run away.

{Dianne spat her own fireball to intercept Grimm's, still maintaining her pursuit, still gain on the old man.}
Dianne: "None leave! You've seen too much!"

*gaining

{As the two pounced, Magnus swung his mighty sword, dispatching the pair in mid air. Before more could be done, however, a voice came out from above. It was that werewolf that Dianne had cured and was talking to Armin.}
"Never fear, I am here! I will punish the evildoers with my fists of justice! Take this, Armin! Kyaaaa!" {The wolf lunges at Armin from the roof while wearing a sheet as a cape.}

'Now, that's ridiculous... What will you do if you catch me, o angry one? Kill me? Or do you take prisoners?' Grimm asked as he kept flying, trying to keep some distance between him and Dianne.

'Hey look a crazy guy!' Armin dodged the werewolf's lunge, mostly because the creature had been kind enough to announce its arrival, and then got his hand around its neck. He held the werewolf as far from himself as possible. 'You're one of the minions we saved from the curse, aren't you? What a nice way to repay us.'

{Dianne wasn't having it. Every time Grimm would speed up, so would Dianne. } "Stop, old man. Why don't you find out?"

{The wolf snarled and tried to claw at Armin.} "How dare you jerks bully my brethren with your...your monsters! How is that fair?"
Magnus: "Yup, he's definitely crazy."

'Pah! As if I'd trust your word! I've heard about you, youngster. You're a violent killer.' Grimm shot another fireball backwards at Dianne, and started to fly higher.

(I decided that Grimm calls everyone 'youngster' even when they're older than him. XD)

Armin leaned back and held the werewolf further away, grimacing. 'Well, this wouldn't have happened if you idiots hadn't helped Sargon destroy this place... But it's probably a waste of time arguing with you.' He placed the tip of his sword against the wolf's throat. 'Any last words?'

{Dianne didn't intercept the fireball with one of her own this time. Instead, she accelerated, smashed through it with a grunt, and caught the end of Grimm's tail in her jaws. Being a western dragon native to a volcanic region made her relatively fireproof. With the tail in her grasp, she starts to pull him backwards.}

{The wolf gulps when he feels the tip of the blade.} "Y-yes, actually...did you know there's a church in this city?" {Suddenly grinning, the wolf splashes holy water in Armin's face and laughs.}

Instead of resisting, Grimm stopped flying and went limp, becoming a deadweight. Given that he was about Dianne's size, he doubted that she'd be able to hold his full weight without being dragged down herself.

Armin looked thunderstruck for a moment, then he wiped his face on his jacket sleeve and laughed harshly. The holy water seemed to have no effect on him. 'Nice try.' He pushed the werewolf to the ground, still keeping his sword against its throat. 'Guess I'll kill you now. You don't seem to have anything worthwhile to say.'

{Flapping her wings furiously, Dianne growled and started to reel Grimm in as they steadily lost altitude.} "Wendigo! Help me with this lug! Have you given up, old man?"

{The wolf chuckled nervously.} "Eheh, I thought that would work...Then, how about this!" {He thwacks Armin in the head with a wooden cross.} "The power of Chrysler compels you!"

Wendigo flapped upwards to Grimm's altitude and grabbed the older dragon's neck, stopping them from falling any further.

'Of course not!' growled Grimm, sounding thoroughly put-out by what had happened. 'I'm just waiting for a good, strategic moment to make my escape.'

'Ouch!' Armin kicked the cross out of the werewolf's grip. 'That's literally just a wooden cross! What were you expecting to happen?' He glared down at the werewolf and let his sword cut slightly into its neck. 'Why are you carrying all this cra.p with you, anyway?'

{Dianne keeps one hand on his tail while she speaks.} "Wendigo, break his neck, kill him. I'm sick of him already."

{The wolf just growls.} "What the heck!? You were supposed to burst into flames! All the vampires in the movies are weak to this stuff! Hya! Eat garlic!" {Throws garlic cloves at Armin.}

Wendigo wrapped his hands around Grimm's neck. Grimm burst out into horrified speech. 'You're no better than us! You're upset over us killing a few humans, but you're doing the same to us! You... you barbarians!'

'You shouldn't have sided with Sargon, you old geezer,' growled Wendigo. He moved his hands quickly, and there was a sharp snap as Grimm's neck broke. Instantly the old dragon's eyes glazed over, and he slumped in their hold.

Armin caught the garlic clove and threw it back in the werewolf's face. 'OK, vampires don't LIKE garlic, but I promise it wouldn't hurt me unless I ate it. And even then I wouldn't actually die.' He sighed impatiently. 'The only things that can kill a powerful vampire are decapitation, stake through the heart, or being completely torn to pieces. You aren't carrying a stake, and I'll kill you before you try any of the other things.'

{Dianne sighed as she flew in place next to Wendigo, her rage subsiding.} "Wendigo....Is it weird that I'm more upset about Sargon wrecking my house and trying to have me killed than I am about the humans?"

{The werewolf just starts to sob and cry.} "That....that's not fair! I watched you people kill all my friends...I had to watch as the curse took them from me, hour by hour....And now that it's gone, you bastards are just going to finish what it started! *Sniff* Why can't you just leave us alone?"

Wendigo thought about it. 'Uh, well, I don't think it's THAT weird. I guess it's natural to be more angry about the things he's done to you personally. Besides, you're non-human yourself. Probably no-one expects you to care that much about the humans.'

'My god, how stupid do you guys get?' Armin complained. 'YOUR army took over Shacklestone and killed everyone else! After that, did you really think that we'd leave you all in peace? Here's some life advice: if you don't wanna get into trouble, don't be a jerk.'

{Dianne nods and looks back to Shacklestone. } "Ok. Let's go finish up back there so we can get to the real fight. Bring the old man's body with you." {With that, she starts flying back towards the city.}

Wolf: "I'm not the jerk, you're the jerks! We almost have what we deserve! Freedom from the humans! Everyone we killed had it coming, so stop ruining it! Fist of justice!" {Knowing he wasn't getting away in one piece, the werewolf makes one last desperate attempt to free himself by taking a swing at Armin.}

'Ooff.. I'm glad I'm stronger than I used to be...' Wendigo grumbled as he hauled Grimm's body up onto his back and flew after Dianne.

Armin leaned back to avoid the blow, then slashed his sword across the werewolf's throat, killing him quickly and cleanly. 'You might be an idiot, but I'll give you a painless end,' he muttered, standing up and looking around to see what Magnus was doing.

{Magnus had just been watching the whole time.} "Well, that was dramatic. Anyway, let's go get those other guys." {Magnus turns and runs in the direction of the other wolves.}

{Dianne lands back at the tower and shifts back, waiting for Wendigo to catch up.}

Armin quickly shifted back into his hawk form and, after a final glance at the werewolf, took off after Magnus.

----

With a grunt of effort, Wendigo landed some distance from Dianne and let Grimm's body fall to the ground. 'Don't know how carrying this thing is harder than carrying a dump truck of corpses... Maybe those ones were more rotted or something...' He kept up a constant stream of mumbling as he stared at Grimm.

{Magnus didn't take long to find the wolves they routed hiding under a hot dog stand. As he started to approach, however, one jumped out and got to his knees.} "Wait! wait...We surrender! Don't kill us, we submit!"

{Dianne looked at Grimm's body with loathing.} "Wendigo, leave him there and go help remove the rest of Sargon's people." {As she spoke, she walked away into the city, looking for any other hostile forces.}

Armin landed on Magnus's shoulder, still in hawk form, and spoke telepathically. //So, do we let them live? Or did Dianne specifically say she wanted everyone dead?//

Wendigo growled assent and stomped off. With his great height, he could easily see over the tops of most of the buildings, and it wasn't long before he spotted a group of werewolves lurking in an alleyway nearby. They were all in their human forms and were smoking cigarettes and laughing.

'Hey, asshoIes!' Wendigo roared.

The werewolves looked up, and instantly stopped laughing. 'What the heII is that?!' the leader of the group yelled.

'Find out for yourself,' said Wendigo with a grin, before taking off in pursuit of them.

As Dianne walked away, Frederick appeared and began to follow her. He was holding a revolver that he must have taken from Sargon's stores. 'Need any help?'

{Magnus was quick to decapitate the werewolf in front of him.} "Dianne was very clear. Leave none alive. Let's get going." {As the other wolves fled terrified, Magnus took off after them.}

"Yes." {Dianne said simply.} "There are more wolves. I can smell them. We need to kill all of them."

//Hmm, alright.// Armin took off in pursuit of the wolves, his bird form's speed easily outpacing Magnus. The werewolves had split off into two groups, one group climbing a building and running along the rooftops, and the other disappearing into a dark network of alleys. //Get the ones down there,// said Armin, before flying after the ones on the roof.

'I agree,' said Frederick. 'And I think I smell them, too.'

In the distance, they could hear the sounds of Wendigo brutally tearing apart another group of werewolves.

(I wonder what Pythia is doing during all of this?)

(She just becomes the living embodiment of the "this is fine" meme)

(Lol no. XD She'll probably show up rn and say something disapproving. )

{Magnus runs through the alleys, chasing the wolves. As they split up through the alleys, one group runs right into Dianne and Fred. Dianne wasted no time pouncing on them, stabbing them and decaying them away. As Dianne dispatches one, another runs around her, pleading while trying to avoid getting killed. } "Fred! Please, call her off! You're one of us, aren't you?"

Frederick just gave the werewolf a cold stare. 'No. If Sargon bothered to tell you anything, you would know by now that I have been working to destroy him all along.' With this short speech, he raised his revolver and shot the wolf dead.

The werewolves on the rooftops put up a good chase; in their shifted states they were able to reach speeds up to 50mph. But Armin's hawk form was quicker, diving in front of them and transforming back to cut off their escape route. 'Race is over, kids.'

The werewolves scrambled back, trying to dive over the edge of the roof and escape, but Armin leapt into their midst and killed them all with lightning-fast sword blows. He paused momentarily to drink the blood from one werewolf's slit throat, feeling it replenish his energy and heal the remnants of his wounds.

{Dianne showed no emotion to the horrible states she left the wolves in. Magnus appears next with a worried expression.} "Hey, we might have a problem. Pythia showed up when I was chasing those wolves and she let them lock themselves inside her temple." {With a growl, Dianne starts to walk for the temple.}

(This is RR)

Frederick went to follow Dianne to the temple, not sure what to expect.

Meanwhile, Wendigo had finished destroying his group of werewolves and was walking through the deserted streets when he spotted Armin on the roof. 'Hey, Fred's Dad. Seen any more of those freaks?'

Armin turned to him and grinned, showing bloodstained fangs. 'I think I heard some running away in that direction,' he said, pointing south. 'Let's go and look for them.'

{Dianne arrives at the temple and knocks on the locked door.}
Pythia:" Who is it?"
Dianne: "It's me."
Terrified Werewolves: "She's here! She's going to kill us all! Wahaa! I don't want to die!"
Dianne: "Open the door, Pythia!"
Pythia: "Dianne, they are protected here. They sought refuge and they have been granted it. You cannot touch them. "
Dianne: "I said OPEN THE DOOR!"
{Dianne kicks the door in with a yell. Inside, Pythia takes a step back and looks a little frightened. The wolves behind her are cowering and clinging to her like children.}
Pythia: "N-now just w- wait a minute, Dianne..."

Frederick was quick to step forwards. 'Can everyone calm down?' he said. 'We can talk about this.' He looked past Dianne at Pythia and the cowering werewolves. 'Pythia, those creatures killed hundreds of helpless people. They deserve refuge less than anyone else.'

{Pythia shakes her head at Frederick.} "Do they not deserve a chance to redeem themselves? Do they not deserve a second chance?"
Dianne: "No." {Dianne walks towards the wolves menacingly, pointing her sword at them.} "These as.sho.les are irredeemable. They blindly follow a maniac and they enjoy the slaughter. They are undeserving of your kindness and mercy."

'Can't we compromise here?' Frederick stepped in front of Dianne before she had a chance to cut the werewolves down. 'Dianne, I agree with you. But if we kill them like this, we're no better than them. Why don't we leave them here with Pythia for now? Our priority is Sargon and the rest of his army. What does it matter if we leave one or two cowardly mutts alive?'

{Dianne looked at Frederick with utmost hatred when he stepped in front of her. As soon as that happened, Magnus steps in and puts a hand on her sword arm, as if he's afraid she'll cut Frederick down and go for Pythia and the wolves. With a frustrated roar, she turns and storms out of the building. With that, half the wolves start bawling their eyes out, the other half just sigh in relief, and one hugs Frederick.} "Oh, thank you, thank you! I knew you were a good guy!"
Other Wolf: Oh my god, I thought we were going to die. I'm going to call my girlfriend Stacy. If she makes here, she'll be safe."
Dianne: "She won't. I'll personally see to that."
{The wolf just makes a horrified face at that.}

Frederick looked disappointed at Dianne storming out, but turned away to address the werewolves, gently but firmly pushing away the one that hugged him. 'You're lucky this time. I'm not on your side. I'd happily see you dead, but I won't cut you down inside a sacred temple. I can't guarantee that Dianne won't do the same. Watch out for yourselves.' With that, he looked briefly at Pythia, then turned and walked out the door.

(Disappointed? Why?)

(Prolly cus she's bein a bit of a meanie oof)

(Also does anyone want to sidetrack Mortikai lmao)

{Pythia just looked frightened, standing there, shaking a little. The wolf whose girlfriend Dianne had just threatened was sobbing miserably while the others tried to tell him she'd make it.}

( @King Yes. Send him over. XD)

(He hoped she might see reason, and he's disappointed at how poorly she controls her temper.)

Once Frederick was outside, the first thing he saw was Wendigo walking towards the group, accompanied a short distance behind by Armin. Both of them were covered in splashes of blood.

Frederick gave a brief nod in greeting. Armin walked over and paused, looking towards the temple. 'Do I hear someone crying?'

{Dianne just stomps off while Magnus does the explaining.} "Yeah, Armin, that's likely Pythia and the werewolves she's sheltering. Can I, talk to you and Fred over here for a minute?" {Magnus says while walking for an abandoned building.}

Fred looked puzzled, while Armin just nodded. Both vampires followed Magnus over to the building. 'What is it?' Frederick asked once they were all together.

Wendigo just sat down near the temple and observed the proceedings from his great height.

{Magnus turns to the pair.} "Ok, I was hoping this wouldn't happen so soon, but it did, so....When Dianne said the curse was a physical manifestation of her darkest emotions, she wasn't lying. Now that she's recalled the curse, she's in constant

"...emotional anguish. She won't admit it, but she is. Basically, up to this point, you've been dealing with the more agreeable Dianne. Now, she's just going to be very angry all the time. Just try not to annoy her too much, ok?"

'I figured,' said Frederick in a dry voice. 'Listen, none of us will annoy her intentionally. She was bad enough before she recalled the curse; nobody wants to get on the wrong side of her now.'

Armin looked at Magnus, then Fred, then back again. 'Wait a minute. Before Oliver took the curse and ran off with it, Dianne was keeping it in her house, in a bottle or something. Can't she do that again?'

{Magnus turns to Armin. } "She could, but then she runs the risk of some other maniac, namely Dark Brink, stealing it and throwing it back out there. As long as she feels threatened by that, she's going to hold it in. What she needs to do is work through her emotions and resolve her feelings, but I think she's too stubborn and proud to do that."

(DB, somewhere in the city: i hear someone talking about me >:(

(Frederick: *throws a tomato at DB*)

Frederick nodded as Magnus spoke, as if that were the answer he'd been expecting.

'I suppose there's nothing to be done,' Armin said. 'Let's just try to get Sargon dealt with before anything happens.'

'Maybe you should try to talk to her about it,' suggested Frederick. 'Help her. She probably values your opinion more than any other person here.'

(DB: *tomato phases through him* ahhhaahahaa you foolish mortal child--)

(Frederick: God damn it)

(Magnus: *Throws ghost tomato at DB*)

{Magnus sighs.} "I can try. But, I can't help someone who won't accept help...Maybe we could try one of those intervention-y things I've heard about?"

'Intervention-y things? What would that be?' said Armin, eyeing him curiously.

Wendigo slid closer to the temple, then lowered his heads and peered into the doorway. He could still hear one or two people sniffing and sobbing. 'Uh, is everything OK in here?' he said uncertainly.

(I'm going to post a new room, just give me a bit. XD)

(DB: oh frICK- *tries to dodge, but it hits him* shdhjdjenfnd hOW THE HELL DO YOU GET GHOST TOMATOES THEY DON'T HAVE SOULS???????)

(Magnus: "Easy! Just grow them in another dimension! >:D )

(New one is up!)