Jane awoke from the ashcan in the far corner of her office right below the sign above bearing the symbol for no smoking. Her hair a mess and suit with a few wrinkles she made her way over to her desk her answering machine had over thirty messages. With a soft smile she pressed the delete button. Turning to her monitor she looked at her email and started to read. They were requests for work or sick time or vacations for family. These made her happy because they were electric prayers. People hoping to her for answers and she felt it was her responsibility to answer them in the most confounding way. For those with time off she gave it to the one person she chose to be the new target in the office. This insured all their pent up angst went to them and not her. It was normally the one that did the most work and wanted the most time. After approving that one worker, Jane started to deny the others and some she asked for them to resubmit for different times knowing that they only wanted the times they asked for in the first place and would have to loose money to reschedule. As she worked to do less the phone rang she let it go to voice mail. She truly got a perverse joy out of calling them back five minutes before the close of business and playing phone tag. Never letting them get anywhere but encouraging them to try. In front of her office there was a figure at the front of her door a bout twenty minutes until she was required to see them. Jane gave a soft sigh of ecstasy watching the figure out there waiting patiently to see her. Watching to see if he gave up or stood there was better than any game show. Her heart gave a tiny flutter as Jane started to hear more flocking to her door. Two minutes until nine she looked outside to see them all in a single line down the side of the hall. Leaving the door open she turned off her computer. "Next." She said in a mono toned voice.

The first guy entered he was in a suit and well groomed. Sitting down, "Ms. Smith. I'm from the director of infrastructure and development and I have been trying to get the signature for approval on much needed transportation projects. I sent you the documents along with the required signatures and permits in tripplicate awaiting you to sent them up to get the final approval. I need them done today so we can begin. All the material was bought last month and the equipment is just sitting on site waiting for the approval to begin work and the funding for the job positions."

Jane smiled a calm smile. "I understand. I have just returned from vacation and am more than willing to accommodate you. However my computer is down and the minute I can get tech support here to fix the issue I can begin to review and approve your request. However I noticed you failed to mention the approval from the appropriations committee and it would have their signature before reaching this office."

A vein from his upper temple jumped up. "But Ms. Smith I cant get that without the approval from higher on the project as a whole!"

"I'm very sorry but this is the way it is done. If it gets a signature now then you could bypass the appropriation committee and begin work. We cant allow this."

The guy leaned forward gripping the armrests. "But the committee doesn't reconvene for another month and they are back logged two months as it is. Everything needed to begin construction is ready for my district except for payroll. My voters wanted this done over a year ago!"

Jane looked calm. "I'm sorry there is an outline I am forced to follow and my hands are tied." She waited for him to give up and leave before asking for the next person in line.

Arthur sat in a small booth in a small cafe. He was dressed in male skin, because he didn't want to be noticed. Males attract less attention, even ones as strikingly handsome has himself. People generally ignore men as long as they don't smile or make eye contact. Attractive women aren't afforded such anonymity. Arthur learned these truths many, many years ago.

Today was like any other for the crusading angel. He would lay low and use his senses to detect mall intent in the surrounding area. And even though the sun hadn't set yet, he could already feel another kind of darkness stirring in the air. The sensation put a foul taste in his mouth, more foul than the coffee he sipped.

But he could not act on the first sign of trouble, no more than he could stop sipping his drink and risk being asked to leave the cozy shop. He would have to wait until he felt something truly disturbing, such as a demon or a soul too corrupt to let live any longer. Anything less would be a waste of his power and could possibly scare away the big fish. That's basically what this was after all... fishing.

After two and a half hours of waiting, Arthur decided to leave the shop. One could only order so many coffees and pretend to read a book before looking suspicious. So he got up and left without a word. He stepped outside, into the light of a setting sun, and began to walk. Patience. That was the name of the game. He would move on to the next spot, probably a dive bar. There he would take the far corner of the bar and order anything but booze.

That was the plan... until he felt a spike of evil in the air. It was distant, many blocks to the south, but it was worth investigating. With a target in mind, his strides became longer and more determined. But he didn't stand out too much. He could easily pass for a business man on his way home after a long day's work.

Electricity sparked and flashed around the rooms many electrical junctions. The wall of multiple monitors feeding Thalia information faster than a normal human could absorb it. Each screen a different manufacturer some horizontal others vertical scrolling a a 3-d image of DNA model strands. She typed furiously in her lair reconstructing her latest model from her newest subject. Her nimble fingers typing away on the keyboard as a tentacle moved the track ball back and forth between screens. Only stopping to prevent her skin from drying out from the air in the warehouse. Grabbing a mister to spray over he face and head. It was one of the drawbacks to being in a alien environment surrounded by a lot of heat producing equipment. She leaned back in her chair stopping to re examine her work for the week. Swiveling to see the subject in one of the large specimen jars.

She stood and walked over to her feeding barrel catching some fish before moving to the newest subject. It had so many wonderful features that Thalia lacked. The only thing that might of held it back was its size relative to the other life forms on this planet. Once she analyzed it she found so many wonderfully new features she had to capture it. Sadly it was not difficult. Now, this very night, she would gain all its secretes! Adding them to her own impressive list of abilities. This world never failed to inspire her need for self improvement. There were just too many choices to ignore one over the other! She had to have them all!

Initializing the sequence before removing her clothes and submerging herself into the green gelatinous ooze of the connected container as she closed the lid beginning the process. The machines whirled and sparks flew across the room from the power surge! Slowly the subject dissolved among the furry of bubbles in its chamber the liquid flowing through tubes and molecular analyzers then screened and hydraulic pumps pushed the refined goo into Thalia's chamber! The pain was intense as her body was surrounded by the new fluid and the added liquid compressed her body forcing the new substance into her. The chemical broth coursing through her tissue and even deeper still. The skin on her body began to bubble and bulge until her own container began to bubble and churn making it impossible to see the exact changes unfolding. The tube moved on a set of pistons to a horizontal position from a vertical one. The fluid drained from the pod after twelve hours of processing. The computers sending a signal to the chamber water rushed through the interior filling then draining two times. Another signal unlatching the locks and filling the room with some steam.

Thalia emerged sitting upright swinging her feet towards the floor but giving her body a moment to adjust. Stepping onto the floor with her full weight resting on her feet, the new creature moved to her mirror. She could see so much more! Looking at the reflection her smile grew! The four additional eyes adding to her vision she could see the ceiling at the same time as her normal peripheral range. It gave her by the previous calculations an additional forty percent increase in range. Lifting her mouth tendrils reviled a massive change! Her beak now was transformed split in half to form two large mandibles. Closing all of her eyes she now felt everything in her room! Every moving humming machine sent vibrations up her legs giving her a different way to see things. She could even sense the fish in the container swimming. flexing her arm she felt the new tensile strength of her muscles! With a slight push from her calves she leaped into the air and landed perfectly behind the food tank. She darted her tendrils into the tank and her new mandibles struck the side of he fish injecting the venom into her prey before it slid down her throat. The fish that would normally flip around being merely bitten in half now did a few death throws before becoming still. The poison worked and even better it seemed she had no difficulties digesting it. So many new and exciting benefits to this latest transformation! This world held so many wondrous possibilities!

Thalia leaned against the empty tube and imagined what the next subject would yield to her abilities! She walked cautiously over to her mirror and dressed herself once more. Soon it would be time to really test this new form for weaknesses against the growing outside dangers. The violence that threatened the inner cities would not remain there. It was only a matter of when would the violence spill out into the lair of Nil.

The underground hideout was filling up fast. The top of this hideout served as one of Downtown's most prominent nightclubs. But through a side alley door, one could descend into the warehouse style basement. Here, members of The Disruption were told to gather. Most knew the reason, but some of the newer recruits were still confused.

The Monk (leader of The Disruption) was sitting in a back room with two of his trusted angelic advisers (influencers). There were couches in the room, but no one was using them. The Monk sat on the floor with his legs crossed while his angels stood behind him. They were discussing tonight's attack on the Annual Political Gala, an event that would start one hour from now, at a large mansion on the north side of the Governing District.

Discussing, in this case, meant meditating while the angels stood silently, bowing their heads. They were communicating telepathically, running through countless scenarios of tonight's events. After many minutes of silence, The Monk opened his eyes and the angels raised their heads. It was time. They were ready.

So The Monk stood from his meditation and crossed the simplistically decorated room. The angels glided along behind him, faces without expression. They emerged from the room through a door to the left of a small stage. The crowd of rioters, who had become more restless in recent minutes, were now hushed by the sight of their leader and his assistants. Even the demonic possessor hiding in the shadows tamed their blood lust.

The next ten minutes was inspiring. The crowd roared its approval as The Monk gave his speech, which outlined their plans for the night. The Monk himself, along with a small group of rioters and a few demons, would infiltrate the party disguised as guests. Everyone else would disperse in groups and take different paths to surround the building where the gala was being held. Their movements would be guided from high above by the angels.

One hour after the party starts, after all the major politicians arrived, the attack would begin. The demons would possess unknowing party guests. The riot would begin inside the gala itself, and when guests would try to escape, the rioters outside would keep them contained while fighting off the police. If all went according to plan, many dirty politicians would either be abducted or have their lives ended tonight.

With one final roar, the meeting was finished, and everyone split into their respective groups, as directed by the angels. The Monk and his group left first. The rest would follow in waves to avoid attracting too much attention.

This would be the largest coordinated attack in the history of both The Disruption and Pandemonium as a whole.

The night had only just fallen over Spero, it was always viewed as a time of fear for the denizens of the district, But to Wrath, it was a time when he was most calm and at peace. He felt safe. Most Importantly it was when his doll, Madeline, was safe. That safety was interrupted by the Blair of sirens and policeman. They had been searching for a newly freed felon from the institution 3 miles to the north.

Nngh-ukh He thought making a pointing direction.


Agreed The doll said. While though the doll wasn't alive, it always spoke to Wrath, giving him power and strength.

With a quick jump off the roof of one of the most distraught buildings onto the street, he began his escape out of Spero. It all had gone well, until a misplaced step thrust him into the light of a policeman.

"There he is! After him!" The man with long ears shouted "This is officer Bog. We've spotted him heading southbound!"

"Run, quickly." The doll said as Wrath broke into a full sprint. He didn't want to kill, but if he got trapped he would.

Only barely managing to outpace some of the quickest officers by wading through crowds of vagrants and homeless who littered the streets, he managed to get to the border before getting sandwiched in-between two groups of officers.
"Feed." The doll said.
The bloodbath had begun.
All officers had rushed him at once, hoping their combined numbers would overwhelm Wrath. But Wrath had accounted for this, taking out one of his daggers and jamming it into an officers leg, disabling him. Turning around swiftly, Wrath unleashed his Vultures pounce on the closest man, killing him. Grabbing his dagger out of the officers leg, Wrath decapitated him.
"Four more."
Wrath quickly turned throwing his axe into the 3rd officers head, leaping towards the 4th and putting his dagger through his neck.
The 5th officer had managed to get a grasp on Wrath with the 6th beating on his chest with a wooden bat.

Wrath coughed blood that had accumulated in his mouth from the beating into the 5th's eye, causing him to stumble back allowing Wrath to gather enough force to knocking the officer holding him, back. Allowing him to grab his dagger and finish the 6th and the 5th with a quick Vultures Pounce.

He had to go. Somewhere North. The south would be covered with people now. Wrath grabbed his Axe and went on his way. His ribs broken from the beating.

Those men.... They didn't have badges. Nothing. They weren't police. I don't know what they are. Why didn't you unleash me? The doll said

"Ung ugh"


Fair Enough.

He'd only just made it to downtown silently, before collapsing from a combination of his injury, exhaustion and his hunger.

Although the Disruption did its best not to draw attention, it wasn't their number approaching the gala that was going to give them away. One demon. A single possessor that had been blending in with all the others. A single possessor that had followed the Monk's group out, then turned off into another alleyway when no one was looking. A single possessor who did not have the name of a Disruption member at the bottom of its contract. At the end of the alleyway, a smartly dressed dark elf with several cybernetic implants across his body stood with his arms folded neatly behind his back. "The Monk's left first" the demon said "They're making their way there in small groups to avoid drawing attention, so he's not got many friends backing him up. There are two angels watching up high though. Once they see you, backup won't be far behind. If they haven't seen you already that is".
"We are invisible to them" the dark elf stated "My pecuniamancy has seen to that. Thank you for the assistance. Your contract is complete. You may now return to the Bank. Do give Lady Astoria my regards".
"Good luck Mev" the possessor said before vanishing into the night.

Mevoreth Vanovar looked up at the sky. High above the rooftops, a normal man would just about make out something flying up above. Mevoreth's cybernetic eye allowed him to see the influencer gliding up above with perfect clarity. The angel still hadn't seen him and would continue not to do so until Mevoreth decided otherwise. Mevoreth hacked into the city's security network and brought up live security footage of the Monk's group on the move. Judging by the street they were on, Mevoreth had a pretty good idea as to what route they were taking and where the best place would be to cut them off. Mevoreth smiled a cruel smile as he moved out of the alleyway and made his way to the ambush point with stealthy haste. A lot of people were willing to pay for the Monk's head, others wanted him alive however, most likely so that they could personally exact revenge on a very painful thorn in their side. If all went well, Mevoreth would be selling the Monk off to the highest bidder before the last stroke of midnight.

20 minutes later, Mevoreth was lurking in a dark alleyway looking out onto a secluded street the Monk was about to pass through. Mevoreth readied his six shooter in preparation. The camera footage showed he was only two streets away. It wouldn't be long now.

Breavoei wandered the near packed streets of the Red District. It was always packed, at least at night, people came here to forget their lives and indulge themselves in their simplest desire.

Breavoei needed a drink and some company ASAP which led him to the door of some shady Orc brothel.

"There's a first for everything, lets just hope enough drink makes them...Prettier." he muttered as he wandered inside. Most in there had been either an orc or some variant of the sort. So, upon his entry, all eyes were on him. Most muttered about the treatment of their species and ask why a human had entered, after all most humans preferred their own species.

After an hour of drinking and 'company' Breavoei fell asleep next to an adequate companion. The next morning and after paying the staff for a couple of shattered glasses Breavoei left to head towards downtown, there had to be something there that would let him be the hero, like he was many years prior.

Just on the edge of the district he was approached by three orcs, one with a hand axe, and the other two with knives.
How'd you enjoy our business yesterday, human? The first orc said.
"A little dirty, but, nice all the same..." Breavoei said cautiously, as the second orc piped up
Dirty, huh? You humans think you can fuck with us out there in the world, but expect to come into our business and expect no problem? Wrong. I heard about you, bounty on your head. Big one, some kinda con artist are ya? Well here's what's gonna happen. We WILL kill you, get that money and use that to help our brothers and sisters that YOU killed in that town. Oh yea mister 'Gazelle'. What a stupid name." He said as he lunged towards Neacho.

Able to adopt a quick defensive stance, Neacho dodged the incoming attack slamming his palm into the orcs back unbalancing it, as the other two charged Neacho focused his energy, hitting the downed orc and killing him. Quickly turning and hitting another with two fingers sending him flying through a piece of loose rebar, The last one managed to get a slice but was grabbed and but to the ground in retaliation by Neacho

"Ya know.... That kinda hurt." He said sarcastically using his hand to chop into the orcs neck, breaking it.
"Weak, no form or coordination. You should be ashamed." He said as he healed and continued downtown, hopefully there he could find a job.

20 minutes later, Mevoreth was lurking in a dark alleyway looking out onto a secluded street the Monk was about to pass through. Mevoreth readied his six shooter in preparation. The camera footage showed he was only two streets away. It wouldn't be long now.

The Monk walked calmly through the streets with five of his rioters. At first glance, no one would guess who they were. They were dressed in fancy clothes. They sure looked like they belonged to the party they were headed to. Two of his Possessors followed closely behind, lurking in the shadows. And from above, the closest angel kept one eye on the important group.

Arthur had decided to run after sensing the presence of so many ill willed souls, as well as a handful of ill willed soulless (demons). In his sprint, the world moved in slow motion around him. Few would notice the blur passing them. Along the way, he even sensed a few of his own kind flying high in the sky, out of normal sight.

Arthur wasn't sure where all these "people" were headed, but he could guess based off their paths. They seemed to be converging on a large building on the north side of the Governing District. If he remembered correctly, there was a large party going on there. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He should have been staking out the area much sooner.

He would take a defensive position near the gala and wait. That way he could destroy them all at once. That way, it would be less likely any of them would escape. That was his plan, until he sensed a new presence.

And what is this? he thought. So he decided to make a small detour. In seconds, he came upon the source of the energy, a dark elf with cybernetic enhancements. The elf didn't seem to be acting with the oncoming hoard of ne'er-do-well, but his aura wasn't the brightest either.

Arthur called to the elf softly, a few yards away to be safe. "Hey elf, what brings you here?" He could tell this elf was strong.

@rush99999

Arthur called to the elf softly, a few yards away to be safe. "Hey elf, what brings you here?" He could tell this elf was strong.

Mevoreth's ears pricked up at the sound of a voice calling out to him. He wasn't worried that someone had found him. He was one of the most dangerous people in the city. If they tried anything, Mevoreth was confident that they'd be quick to regret it. "Work" Mevoreth said in response to the new arrival's question. With that said, Mevoreth pointed his sixshooter at the sky and pulled the trigger. Instead of the bang firearms usually make when fired, the golden six shooter made a sound similar to that of a coin being flipped. A few seconds later, the corpse of the influencer that had been watching over the Monk's group hit the ground in front of the Monk. Before the Monk or any of his retinue could react, eight more coin flips rang out in rapid succession. The Monk's retinue fell to the ground, each with a hole in their heads. The Monk himself however was still alive. Though he had been hit by one of Mevoreth's bullets, the Monk didn't have a scratch on him. That didn't mean he was unharmed though. After being hit, the Monk had began writhing on the floor as his face contorted into a silent scream of agony. "You'll have to excuse me" Mevoreth said to the person standing behind him "I have a paycheck to cash". With that said, Mevoreth picked up the Monk and made to disappear into the alleyways. But before he could, Mevoreth saw the face of the person who spoke and felt a twinge of recognition. "Do I know you?" Mevoreth asked "I feel like I should know who you are, but I just can't seem to put the pieces together".

Arthur watched as the dark elf took care of one of the angels above, as well the smallest but most powerful group in the oncoming army. Little did Arthur know, the leader of an entire terrorist cell was in that group. Either way, he was impressed. Impressed and then disappointed, it seemed all this dark elf cared about was money, collecting a bounty.

"I have a paycheck to cash". With that said, Mevoreth picked up the Monk and made to disappear into the alleyways. But before he could, Mevoreth saw the face of the person who spoke and felt a twinge of recognition. "Do I know you?" Mevoreth asked "I feel like I should know who you are, but I just can't seem to put the pieces together".

No matter, for now this character didn't seem to be a threat to anyone. He already accomplished his goal.

"No," Arthur said with a shrug. "I think not."

There were others to take care of, namely the oncoming hoard of rioters, demons, and the second angel still in the sky. So without another word, Arthur sped away. Once out of sight, he transformed into his battle form and took to the sky. First up, he would take care of his fellow angel, the lousy traitor.

It was a blood bath, in a manor of speaking, and over in less than a minute. In truth however, there was not a single drop of blood left behind. It was all burned with righteous fire, ensuring that none of his targets would escape to any sort of afterlife. No, with his fire, he erased their existence.

With that, he decided to call it a night. I might want to keep an eye on that elf, though. He thought. Keeping track of a presence that menacing shouldn't prove too difficult.

And so, after finding shelter from prying eyes, Arthur reverted back to human form. Only now, he was a she (Ari). Covered in a hooded cloak, she walked calmly into the night.

The Discrimination had been quiet for a long time, ever since the new Queen took charge many months ago. Before she arrived, attacks by The Discrimination were daily occurrences.

But it was now time to strike. Months of planning had paid off. Their army had grown more than ten times its old size, and for the first time ever, they had a strategy. Instead of rampaging the streets, they would attack from within. Goblins and ghouls hid in the sewers. Fairies and sprites hide in the trees.

Meanwhile, many miles to the west, the Queen was mounting a dragon. If all went as planned, she would arrive at rush hour. From above, she would command her dragon to breathe fire on the helpless humans below. That would be the signal for the fairies, goblins, and the rest to come out of hiding. In a matter of seconds, the proud downtown district would be turned into an apocalyptic nightmare for all humans.