Thom snorts. "Too long the same? We had a war with the werewolves a mere couple of years ago... That one is sure to go down in the history books. They made more progress toward receiving acceptance in that short war than the last hundred years combined. There is even a hotel run by werewolves in this very city. They have church sanction so I hear. Lots of people wondering if it will last."

He sighs and takes another sip. "As to traps... No. Thinking about it, even the statue probably won't do anything unless you take a swing at it or something. VanHelsing is not going to have live traps in the halls you walk... At least, he hasn't before. Still, with the statue, I'd err on the side of not being dead."

Thom glanced at the clock again. Time was ticking away, he needed to move soon... But the girl had given him leave for a question. "And last a question: Forgive my forwardness, but did you fight in the were-war? I so rarely find individuals with a perspective on... the other side of events."

Alara hung her had a little. "Yeah...the war." She remembered it and didn't want to right now. "The acceptance we have now is pretty much a farce. Thanks to that war there are towns that hate us just as much if not more. The government still doesn't do much about the crimes against my kind, but my kind has done much after the war to make efforts better for themselves. Besides the ones who want to live among you humans properly. I only manage to keep my aspects hidden because I try so hard. Others don't hid it because of their pride of what they are...what pride is there." She was in her thoughts when she was saying all this and shook herself out of it. Her eyes had transformed and her teeth were a bit sharper. "Oh I'm sorry." She said as she covered her mouth and her eyes went back to normal. "I did participate. Against the werewolves. I was part of a program in the military." She pulled up her sleeve and showed his the bracelet. "This think is called a Helix. It is programmed with different types of ammo and guns. It is also connect to my DNA so that no one else can use it. and the cerebral chip in my brain connects me to it so that I can call forth any gun with ammo that fits. Silver bullets are my trade mark and well I proved to be an effective weapon. A secret but good weapon. Guess it is why I might have been summoned." She cleared he throat and pulled her sleeve back down and took another few bites.

Alara hung her had a little. "Yeah...the war." She remembered it and didn't want to right now. "The acceptance we have now is pretty much a farce. Thanks to that war there are towns that hate us just as much if not more. The government still doesn't do much about the crimes against my kind, but my kind has done much after the war to make efforts better for themselves. Besides the ones who want to live among you humans properly. I only manage to keep my aspects hidden because I try so hard. Others don't hid it because of their pride of what they are...what pride is there." She was in her thoughts when she was saying all this and shook herself out of it. Her eyes had transformed and her teeth were a bit sharper. "Oh I'm sorry." She said as she covered her mouth and her eyes went back to normal. "I did participate. Against the werewolves. I was part of a program in the military." She pulled up her sleeve and showed his the bracelet. "This think is called a Helix. It is programmed with different types of ammo and guns. It is also connect to my DNA so that no one else can use it. and the cerebral chip in my brain connects me to it so that I can call forth any gun with ammo that fits. Silver bullets are my trade mark and well I proved to be an effective weapon. A secret but good weapon. Guess it is why I might have been summoned." She cleared he throat and pulled her sleeve back down and took another few bites.

A Bio-keyed weapon. Advanced stuff too based on her description. She probably had a great story behind how she got it, but inquiring after advanced military technology was not safe. And there was a bigger issue.

Thom snorted dismissively. "Silver bullets do not a trade mark make. Every hunter and their uncle thinks that they can make silver bullets their trade mark." Thom shook his head at the idea. "That's like a kitchen making a pot their trademark. EVERY cook has a pot. EVERY hunter has silver bullets. Every time I hear a hunter say 'silver bullets are my trademark' it frustrates me! How am I supposed to tell a unique story about someone if they want silver bullets to be the theme!"

Glances were being shot in his direction now. Perhaps he had been a little too loud just now...
He took a calming breath and a sip of his drink. "Pardon. That was rude of me."

He gave her a more serious look. "Seriously though. Try something like fire fang. Wait, no. You said you didn't want to advertise what you are...Also not unique enough... Fire flower? No... Flaming Rose. Yes... Yes. I like that one. Flaming Rose."

Thom leans back and considers quietly. "Let me tell you a tale of the Flaming Rose. Yes. Rolls right off the tongue." His eyes focus on Alara again and he lifts his hands. "Not that I want to make a major life decision for you or anything. I'm just a story teller, I'll leave the important bits to qualified people like VanHelsing and yourself."

Loud noises approached the village as a convoy rolled down the road in heavily armored and weaponized vehicular transports. Two heavy machine guns were mounted on each Loud noises approached the village as a convoy rolled down the road in heavily armored and weaponized vehicular transports. Two heavy machine guns were mounted on each one... There were seven transports in total. Were they mercenaries seeking out fame and fortune with the reports of recent attacks plaguing the cities and roads of Darkova? On the contrary they are merchants; though it was more than likely just funded by merchants while using their own personnel to safeguard the contents. A caravan. Finally the one who was at the head of the convoy (still really a caravan... though both terms equally apply) stopped and opened up the door that led into the main compartment of the leader of the 'pack'.

A booming voice came out of a woman with a smaller build than some, rustic red hair that fell down to her shoulders, and eyes that were like that of sea foam. “Stop the caravan!” the woman leapt down from the transport with a rifle strap around her body and with the very weapon hanging around her. A fresh looking scar lay upon her face that nicked through her nose... In all reality it wasn't fresh at all, in fact it came from a creature that the merchant lady now despises as a whole while hating fire at the same time... and fearing it. The scar upon her face burn continuously with the same fire and talons that created it, never letting the pain go away from that night. A reminder. Some could say that the scar glowed like the very flames that caused it as well...

With the convoy stopping the rest of the guards and any other merchants who may be with the group departed from their vehicles and worked on unloading the equipment and supplies for the village folk. Izzie Kenzie, first and middle name only, was the one leading this band. This investment had to pay off or everything would come crumbling down for her. She just relished the fact that they weren't attacked by the mangy beasts that gave her the line of bad luck she has today. The only survivor from that one attack on a deserted road... three transports turned into burning heaps of metal as sweet, burning flesh of many humans roasted. The stench still clung to her nose... All werewolves she hates now, especially those of the Hi Okami.

(OOC: I talked with Zarkun about it so I went ahead and introduced a character that both him and Zanon knows somewhat about from the other Darkest Heart.)one... There were seven transports in total.

Alara looked at him cross. "As much as I would love a tale about me. I am not partial to the name Flaming Rose. Also these bullets as my trademark because of how I can produce them as well as their engraving of a wolf on them. I am a werewolf killer. If anything you can call me the Silver Wolf or something." She smiled and laughed lightly. She had gotten frazzled by the old man's assumption that she would like Flaming Rose or maybe this was a thing to where you didn't get to choose your name but either way she liked the name she gave herself. The clock of a nearby church rang out and she looked at the time. "Wow it is getting late. I wonder were my companion is?" She was wondering where he was and why he hadn't come back yet.

Thom frowned. You couldn't beat originality into people (not that he had tried). "Then the Etched Hunter. However, I doubt I am going to change your mind anytime soon and I too have places to be. Silver Wolf it is. I'll put your patch right next to the other three silver wolf stories I possess. It will help me remember." He eyed the woman for another moment.

Thom knew his hammering it home was in poor form, but such blandness offended his very lifestyle. He told stories. Colorful, variable, wonderful, stories. If everyone had the same name, not only was it a pain to separate stories, but it dulled the story in his opinion.

"Your companion is over there." He pointed. "Rendering assistance to some poor soul who ran headlong into a lamppost."

As the Undead Knight fell to the ground, a hole it's head and the barrel of the revolver it had come from smoking, the man who'd begun this attack sighed. Half way through the Necromancer's forces and I'm just positive he's raising them again behind me. Instinctively he ducks to avoid a swipe from a Locust, the claws rustling the top of his hat. Holstering a pistol faster than most eyes can follow, he draws the sword from it's sheath, the blade glowing a bright golden color, and swing at the Locust, cleaving the annoying over-sized insect in half. Even as it burned away, now two halves of one whole, it shrieked a warning to it's fellows.

"Aw crap." Realizing the sound was coming from behind a nearby door that didn't look too sturdy, the man sprints away from it towards the direction he could feel the Necromancer's power emanating strongest from. "I've got maybe ten seconds. Make 'em count."

Almost on cue, he heard the wood on the door burst all the way down in the two additional hallways that he'd managed to cover in his ten seconds. However, rather than the sound of the wings growing more distant, they grew closer and angrier. "Great," he mutters, "mind linked." Rounding a corner close to the Necromancer, he spins and drops something on the ground that sends out several smaller versions of itself and then activates, creating an invisible net of holy power.

"That should do it." Turning back around, he finds himself being slammed into with a giant fist and sent flying, passing through several walls. The holes were fairly large due to the force of the blow and there was more than enough rubble to provide proof on top of the now dazed man. "What in the hell..." Slowly working his way free, I looks up to see an Undead Frost Giant approaching him bent over so as to fit in the building.

Pulling himself free the rest of the way, he steps towards the Giant and through the hole only to realize his mistake. They were now in the central courtyard. OUTSIDE. Where the giant had size on it's side. Making a mental note to scout out the place himself next time, the man jumps to the side as the giant's hand passes through the space he'd just occupied. Standing at it's full height, it let's loose a mighty roar, causing the man to cover his ears. "Alright, buddy, I hear you." An answering series of yells comes from behind the man as vampires rush out of the halls, Drawing the revolvers, the man smirks as the blade on his back released a brilliant light and the building's courtyard and halls are enveloped in the shining light.

When the light disappears, all that's left are three other's besides the man, now holding a single revolver and the sword, shining slightly with golden light. "So, I now have the Necromancer, Vampiress and Shadow Walker where I can see them and kill them all at once." The two Vampires hiss at the man and slide into attack stances, their clawed nails poised to strike. The Necromancer simply blanches in fear and immediately surrenders, falling to his knees and babbling something about how he didn't mean to hurt anyone. The man, who's eyes never left the vampires, snorted. "Good, the priests would rather heal you than kill you anyways. Now then," he brings up the singled edged long sword, setting it in front of him and looking at his vampiric opponents, his blue eyes flashing in the moonlight, "let's the three of us dance."

Alara got up and bowed. "It appears that those stories will form a pack on your cloak some day. Please enjoy your meal and the rest of what they bring." She dropped a what she owed and a little more for the waiter and for Thom himself. After she ran over to Darius. "Darius is she ok?" She said as she bent down and looking at them both.

"As well as she can be for someone who ran into a lamp post Alara." He said a little annoyed. He took he hand and helped her to her feet. "Come on we should take her to the clinic sense it looks like she might be dazed since she isn't replying to us." The girl flopped her head to one side and smiled as she pointed upwards and then passed out.

Standing up and nodding Alara looked at the girl with a worried expression as she passed out. "Yeah she is going to be out it seems. We should hurry!" Alara grabbed the girls stuff and hefted her other side onto Alara to brace her more. "Come on Darius." Off they went to the clinic with people giving worried stares here and there. Once they made it the woman at the desk hurried over to get the door frantically asking what happened. Darius answered her. "The young lady ran straight into a light post and isn't responding after she passed out in my arms." The woman quickly moved from the door to behind the desk where she brought out a wheel chair. Pressing a button on the desk doors opened and two burly men came in. The three of them ran off into the hallway calling a doctor over. The doors closed and Alara looked over at Darius. "Well that was a bit over done I think." Darius scoffed and exited the building.

"So did the old man offer anything?" He said as Alara exited the clinic with him. "Well he gave the basic direction to where Van Helsing is located. She pointed. "We head that way till we hit his mansion. Also we don't enter until some escorts us in. The old man warned about the house and courtyard." Darius nodded and started off and Alara followed. Before she started at the same pace she sniffed the air and caught the sent of the smell she had sampled from her letter. It had been on the girl. Was she supposed to meet with Van Helsing too? Shrugging it off she went on catching up to Darius and clapping him on the back.