[IC] The Academy of Solomon

[Rex]

“That’s true Ms. A Necromancer is a soul chosen from hell to torcher souls of both the living and those who have gone to heaven. That is the one exception in terms of the undead,” Alex said to Li. His calm demeanor suddenly changed when the thought of a Necromancer was involved and he became enraged and ranted, “But that does not mean they are the same as the souls they use for their actions! A Necromancer is nothing but a seed of the Devil that is sent to the living plain to create chaos. They are able to pull souls from heaven into their dead bodies and control them. The more hatred a Necromancer has for the souls in heaven the more powerful they become! A much more powerful Necromancer does not need the soul of the dead body, but instead can pull any soul into a random body. No matter if it belongs to it or not!” Alex was not yelling like the mentioned of a Necromancer seemed to pull up a horrible memory.

“However, the worst part is that when a soul is released from its undead prison. It does not go back to heaven? It is sent to limbo for all eternity! It doesn’t matter what kind of soul it is, but the most venerable souls are,” Alex said before he stopped and looked around at everyone. He took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes before he said, "I apologize for my rant there. You all didn’t deserve to see or hear that. I’m sorry.” Alex went back to his calm demeanor. Until his weapon twitched on his back and both his fists clinched and he tensed up for a moment before he took another deep breath.

Alex looked Eisen and laughed a little before he explained, “A bullet to the head will not work since whatever is controlling the undead will just bring them back. A holy enchanted weapon will do the trick because it will release the soul inside and turn the body to ash. However.” Alex said as he reached behind him and took out a small vial of water and continued, “A drop of holy water will make any weapon into a holy enchanted weapon, but only for upwards to an hour. If you use magic instead of weapons then you put a drop on your dominate hand. This will make your magic infused with holy magic as well.” Alex gripped the vial and looked at everyone and his demeanor changed again into a more stern and strict one.

“However, make sure you are all prepared for what you are about to do because you might think you’re saving lives. However, the souls you release from those undead will not return to heave, but got into limbo forever. That is unless we kill the Necromancer that’s controlling them first. Then they will return to heaven. Just be ready for that to be on your shoulders forever. “ Alex explained before he handed the vial to everyone to use.
@coolbro@Frettzo@karamonnom@Weird Tales@Magnato@Vocab@Maharet@Apollosarcher

[coolbro]

Eisen took the drop of holy water. His hammer was blessed by pope Pope Sixtus IV in the 13th century when his ancestors started hunting witches, but he didn't know if it really had holy properties or not. He did not understand enough of the arcane to risk condemning some poor soul to purgatory for his incompetence so he decided to put a drop of the water on his hammer just in case. He had an hour from now to make it count but that's all he needed. Worse case scenario he could just cripple a zombie to make it nonthreatening to anyone until they destroyed the source.

[Apollosarcher]

Edge nodded as he began to walk away from the pub and down the street towards carefully looking along the walls of this older section of the city. His eyes darted back to Alex for a moment. "Their is always the other route, break the bones and leave them. The undead are brittle, you can destroy the limbs and leave the torso intact. Long as the head stays on they just keep putting themselves back together." He told them as he stopped beginning to run his hands along the wall. "Weapons blessed or made from a used by a holy figure generally do the trick as well." The wall clicked and he soon moved on wards. One hand on the wall feeling for the next switch. "Mercy was made using some shards of Joan of Arc's armor so she'll be useful." He paused hearing a second click he walked down and pushed on a carving that must have been three centuries old at least.

He looked back at them all. "So I'm just going to take a guess but I doubt it's a necromancer. Their rare as is and they prefer battle fields, places where the owners suffered. This is probably a demon cult or a bunch of witches trying to bring back a certain soul. Sometimes magic restless dead will get up and walk when enough magic moves through the air." He told them moving up and down the clicking more switches and looking at symbols glancing back at the book. "The route were using is from World War 2, French resistance used it, the switches are just to disarm traps Hunters have set since then." He explained as he clicked the one then returned to a very elaborate door craving with a lion of it.

He stepped back and sighed, he kicked it hard and the doorway clicked moving off to the side. He stuck his in and whistled, the echo carried down and down further until it faded away. "Well that's creepy as Hell." He looked back at them and nodded. "If they are from a Necromancer their going to scream and cry when we meet them, if they don't then just break into bits. Remember their if they are mindless freaks of nature then you protect yourself, you are alive they are not and don't want that to change." He explained as he pulled three flares from his jacket setting two down he stepped on to the old metal ladder that lead down into these tombs. "Nothing ventured..." He said lighting the flare he jumped in grabbing the sides of the ladder as he slid down a ways grabbing the sides he took the flare out of his mouth. "Right, I have not been mauled to death by angry bone men, single file come on in shut the door behind you. Don't need locals trying to treasure hunt and getting ripped to pieces." He yelled up as he started to slowly make his way down. "If it is witches then we call it it in, if they are over the age of eighteen odds are they are going to try and turn us into frogs or whatever." He said his voice echoing up as they began the long climb to the right level for them to begin their search.

[Temporary]

Following Edge, James listened to his explanations about the undead and who or what may be controlling them. The French must be different if their witches try and bring back souls of the dead. Back where he came from, witches were interested in only one thing; alchemical research. Most witches are based down to potion making, which in of itself is just another form of alchemy.
"You know Ive never had the pleasure to deal with undead. Most witches I fight are interested in creating the philosophers stone of elixer of life, so they're not that hard to kill." he said, following behind Edge into the hall and creating his crossbow, Checking it was already loaded as he went and creating some extra ammo to load up later. The light of the flares licked at the shadow, causing the shape to flicker and move. Taking the ammo, he shaped it into his other favoured weapon; the gun blade. Shaping the crossbow into a smaller form and fusing it with the blade created a great and useful gun blade for both close and long ranged combat.
"Soo... Necromancers. I heard they are just witches turned corrupted by the Thanatos force. Any truth in that, Hellsing? I'm kinda surprised I haven't been contracted to kill one if that is true." he said walking with him and making sure everyone was still following.
@ApolloSarcher

[karamonnom]

Darlene listened to Alex's explanation on holy water and took a drop for her ax. "Thanks," she said graciously. She really did have a lot to learn and was relieved that her teammates were so capable.

"As soon as this mission is over, I definitely need to study up... I just hope I live long enough to get to that point."

Edge also had things to say and she listened diligently. Soon enough, they have arrived at the scene of the crime. Edge found a switch that revealed an entrance. He went on ahead, making sure it was safe then called for the rest of them to follow him, single file. Darlene followed behind James and took a deep breath.

[Weird Tales]

Michael was a little surprised by Alex's rant and the anger that seemed to be coming off his voice. He had taken his roommate for being rather controlled in his emotions. Michael was at least glad that Alex apologized for his rant and showed some humility, he was interested when he heard that holy water could temporarily turn a normal weapon holy. He hadn't heard of that before and realized that he still a good amount to learn from his fellow students. Michael followed Edge down into the crypts and got an uneasy feeling about the place. Something just didn't feel right and he couldn't figure out what.

When Edge got out his flare Michael made his axe glow a light blue as the divine power within it sought to peel away the darkness. He kept at a lower level of luminosity so that it wasn't too bright and he followed the others down the ladder. Once on the ground he listened to the talk about it being witches who made the undead rise from the grave and Michael decided to voice his own opinion on the matter.

"There is also the possibility that a very powerful demon is behind this. I've heard stories of demons possessing souls and raising the dead. That could also be the cause of this and if it is then we will be in for a very hard and deadly fight. Demons will fight with all of their strength to prevent themselves from being sent back to hell" he said to Edge and James. If it did turn out to be a demon behind this then Michael was glad to have also brought along his bible that he kept in his pack. An exorcism would be needed to help weaken the demon and make it vulnerable enough to send it back into the abyss

@Apollosarcher@Vocab

[Frettzo]

Li took a drop of holy water for her Naginata, being extremely careful not to get any of the water on herself and not to stare directly at it. She then followed Edge and the rest into the catacombs, minding the change in atmosphere very little. All the talk about witches and Necromancers and demons was a little over her head at that point. Did it matter, at this point? They hadn't even found the first enemy yet. The worst case scenario for her would be for it to be a demon, considering her little friend inside of her mind. Any direct contact with Holy items was enough to damage her both physically and mentally.

'Lu, I'll give you some control over my eyes. Let us see in the dark.'

Immediately after that thought, Li could notice her eyes catching a lot more detail in the pitch dark catacombs, and she could see further away than the tiny spot that was covered by Edge's flare and the others' own sources of light. The only downside was that she couldn't help but stare at her companions' bodies for a little longer than she normally would.

'Can you cut it off? Being distracted like that will get us killed.'

'I just love the images that come into your head when I force you to look at them with those eyes.'

Li groaned and readied her stance for combat, keeping up with the group.

[coolbro]

Eisen followed the others. His stomach grumbled some more from hunger but now was not the time to worry about that. Being the normal human he was, he had to learn how to focus his mind in order to ignore pain and fatigue. He couldn't worry about these things when a witch was coming to tear his throat. But still, he was only human and he could only handle so much. Eisen instead went over his previous training in his head to ignore the hunger pain. He was also listening for orders and being vigilant for danger and ambushes. Just because this passage was a secret didnt mean the enemy didnt know. And what better means to set up a surprise attack for hunters then to attack them where they least expect it.

[Rex]

Alex placed the Holy water back onto his pocket and followed the rest. The idea of a demon in the catacombs eased his mind. Facing demons was something he could handle, but Necromancers was something completely different. As he listened to the others, Alex spoke up, “Mr. Hellsing, are these catacombs like the legend says? Were any who wonder into them; see their most horrific fear? Or is that nothing but myth?”

When Michael brought up the fact a demon would fight for its very existence so it wouldn’t be sent back to hell nodded and said, “Yes, the fear of being sent back to hell is always in the back of their minds. However, if this truly is a demon. being sent back to hell is the least of its worries.” Alex’s weapon twitched on his back and a smile formed on his face.

“Only room for two more, but once I advance my skills at this academy. I’ll be able to trap all of you evil spirits inside the void of Soul Eater,” Alex said. With that another thought came up and Alex said, “I must ask that even though Mr. Hellsing is the leader, that you all comply when I ask you to cover your ears. I’m not sure what type of effect you’ll all have once the screams start.”

[Apollosarcher]

Necromancers can come from many back grounds, lots of religions and plenty of them seem to have gods who are active." He said carefully stepping off the ladder and onto the ground. He began to walk down one of the old tunnels.

He spoke to Micheal next. "Demons prefer battlefields or places with history's of tragedy. I doubt we'd find one down here they would want be near majors places from the revolution. Demons make the undead fight like they did before they died." He said as he made his way along the tunnel, finally they came to a large room, more and more of them seemed to just go with doors separating them.

He looked at Alex as he stopped drawing both his pistols now. "I don't know... I just know their are things that should stay buried. Anyway this is the bottom level, these chamber house the dead dating back to the Romans. If they start moving cut them down." With that he pushed open the first large door leading into the next burial chamber. Faint glows emitted from wooden torches on the wall.

Edge paused opening his journal he nodded. "It's witches, the fire their is magic in origin and is used by mages to judge magic in the air. Bright the glow, more magic around us." He concluded placing the book back in his pocket. "However these tombs go on for miles... So anyone got any good stories?" He chuckled walking onward towards the door opening it gently so they could continue through the old stone crypts.

[coolbro]

Eisen took a moment to think of any stories he could tell. None could come to mind at the moment. The smell form earlier was getting worse. It seemed oddly familiar almost like... the dead.

"Sir Hellsing, i think we may not be alone down here."
@Apollosarcher

[karamonnom]

Darlene shifted uncomfortably; the smell was getting worse but it definitely felt different. She already felt like throwing up, pinching her nose with her free hand. "...They are coming our way... aren't they? she said in a hushed, yet nasal-y tone.

"Come on Darlie, this is nothing. But Jesus Christ, what a way to start of the first day of school."

Witches... Some of her team had to be Witch hunters, right? They should have at least some experience. She decided that she would do anything that they would tell her to do, as she is not quite familiar with witches. Actually, she did not know much beyond werewolves and maybe a bit about vampires. She'll play it safe for now, maybe act as a support. How long did they have again until the holy water wore off? An hour, right? Was that enough time for them to complete this mission though? Jeez, this sucked...

[Rex]

Alex followed the group as everyone prepared their weapons. His Soul Eater was still chained and clothed on his back as to keep the screaming of the three souls mute to the others in the group. He would use all their suggestions and use close quarters combat to break the bones of the undead. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was better than subjecting them all to the screams. When the Hellsing boy asked for a story and no one offer he figured he’s pass the time.

“I got one,” Alex said before he begins, “once there was a man who was sick and twisted. He would do dastardly and horrible things to his victims. However, when he got board of the older victims he began targeting the innocent children of his village. For years this went on until finally he was caught and hung for his crimes.” Alex stopped speaking for a few seconds like he was trying to remember the rest of the story. Why this story? Maybe it’s because? Alex thought before he lost his train of thought and continued.

“Many years later; we’re talking about 50 years later mind you. The man returns as a Necromancer and terrorizes the living with his un dead. A group of Demon Hunters is sent to deal with the Necromancer and his undead army. Among the demon hunters is a young apprentice who is told to deal with the undead while his superiors handle the Necromancer. The young apprentice cuts down every undead he comes across until word comes down that the Necromancer is defeated. However, this stories ending is not a happy one. The young apprentice slays 21 undead before the Necromancer is destroyed, but he is unaware of what happens to the souls trapped in the undead bodies when slain before the Necromancer is destroyed. This Necromancer was the powerful type and could put random souls into undead bodies. Every soul the Necromancer took from heaven was a child’s soul and the young apprentice is told what happens when a soul is released from the undead body while the necromancer is still around. The young apprentice has sent 21 child souls to Limbo,” Seth tells before he stops and finishes, “the young apprentice wonders how he can slay monsters when he himself is a monster? That’s the end of the story.”

[Frettzo]

"Heaven sounds like the most unsafe place in existence, what with mere Demons and Necromancers being able to steal souls from there... Your God really should start acting and stop watching." Li said, having heard Alex's story. The story seemed too biased to her. Did they even make an effort to understand the Necromancer they had killed before tainting his memory? Do Necromancers steal souls? Did Heaven even exist? These people assumed too much.

'I don't know about Heaven, and neither about that so-called "God", but I do know of Angels. Those things are armed to the teeth with Holy stuff, and every single one of them has a stick so far up their ass that you'd do better staying away from them.'

'Figures Angels would be like the human fanatics.'

"The answer to that question is that monsters don't exist and neither do heroes. You do what you have to do, and it ends there." @Rex

She stopped talking for a second, and then spoke to Darlene, "I believe they might be watching us. Expect them to be in the unlikeliest places. They might be hiding in the piles of bones we have as walls." @karamonnom

[Apollosarcher]

Edge stopped in one of the chambers. "Spread out, weapons ready." He said carefully walking towards the door. He pushed it open and their in the center of the room was five girls, each of them looked to be about the same age them.

However stepping forward was a man, dressed in pure white robes brandishing a great sword. He moved gracefully and his blonde hair fell around his face framing it. "I am the herald of Gabriel, you shall fall before-" Suddenly five cracks filed the air, the man gasped and tumbled to the ground, his robes turning red as the blood pooled around him.

Edge raised his pistols at the witches. "Surrender or face death." He called out, stepping towards them pistols trained on the girls. When the ground gave out from under him. Edge fell down gunshots echoing, from the hole the undead began to pour out dozens of walking bones some clinging to weapons as others swiped wildly with their hands.

The witches themselves took each others hands and vanished. Their spell or whatever had cause this outbreak remained on an altar in the center which they had been gathering around.

Edge had fall into one of the mass graves, he'd managed to rush back onto a pile of rubble in the room below, blasting skulls open as they tried to take him. "Get back you damned lifeless horrors!" He kicked at those he couldn't shoot. However he was he was running out of standard ammo.

[coolbro]

Eisens instincts took over. He assumed if the altar was destroyed, then maybe the undead would stop and no one would risk sending souls to an enternity of limbo. He ran to the altar and brought his hammer down with a mighty thud. It didnt do much damage the altar was more durable then he thought. He looked back toward the group.

"I suggest some people help Mr.Hellsing and others help me brake this altar. We might be able to stop the dead if we do."

He went back to hammering at the altar. He was ready to throw himself at the undead if needed to protect his team and leader.

[karamonnom]

Darlene frowned at Alex's story. "Well that was a fun story," she thought sarcastically to herself. It was a bit too overly dramatic and had too much religious undertones for her taste. She kept her opinion to herself however. Well, Li had plenty to say on that matter anyhow.

Suddenly, they had reached the chamber where the witches were hiding in. Before she knew it, they had disappeared, leaving the altar behind. Edge was being attacked by the undead while Eisen was trying to destroy the altar.

She decided to help out Edge as he seemed to be in more trouble. She jumped down to join him and began to slash at them with her ax. "Are you alright?" she asked as she deflects one with its sword, and pushed it back. Fighting real monsters sure was different than practice. And there were a lot of them.

[Frettzo]

Things happened quickly. Now Li and the rest were in the middle of a possible slaughter. Her eyes surveyed the scene, adrenaline pumping into her veins. Her heart beat quickly and strongly, nearly deafening her.

And then one of the skeletons ran toward her, arms swinging wildly.

Time slowed down for Li, and her right hand twitched in a moment of hesitation. Should she use her Naginata or her hands? This was an open chamber, after all--Her hesitation was cut short when Eisen ran past her, pushing the skeleton to the ground. Another skeleton ran toward her, this one wielding a rusty dagger. She got into a low stance and deflected its stab, grabbing its arm and pulling it off his body with a kick. The skeleton fell from the force and Li swiftly pulled its other arm off and stomped its cranium to dust.

The first skeleton was struggling to get up, and Li kicked its ribcage to force it back down, then pulled its arms off and stomped its cranium.

Others were closing in now.

'I need more speed!' Li thought.

'No need to say it twice.'

Four more skeletons set their eye sockets on her, and she made a decision that moment. Driven by fear of being alone against this horde and the fear of leaving Eisen without cover, she rushed towards him, dodging a few attacks and skeletons on the way to him. He was smashing at the altar with his hammer.

"Eisen, I'll cover you. Quickly, you must destroy the altar!" She shouted and grabbed her Naginata from her back, getting into a defensive stance. The first wave of skeletons arrived quickly. Three of them, two with swords and one unarmed. With a spin and three sound of clashing metal, the three skeletons fell to the ground, having been cut in half. @coolbro

[Rex]

“Heave is safe; however, god does his best to keep his children say. There are loop holes in many of the Holy Scriptures that the dark one uses and so do the Necromancers, “Alex began to explain before they walked into the chamber and all hell broke loss. Alex quickly reached for his weapon before he stopped. He knew the screams would start when the cloth and chains came off so instead he used close quarter combat with the undead. He quickly uppercutted one of the undead; fracturing its jaw. Alex quickly took out the holy water and let a few drops fall onto each of his fists before he attacked another undead.

He quickly punched the chest of another undead before he was able to get behind it and snap its neck. The undead convulsed before it fell to the ground. he undead that had its Jaw fractured lunged at Alex, but he quickly rolled out of the way. This is getting me no were. I don’t want to do it, but I’ll have to Use Soul Eater. Alex thought.

“Please forgive me,” Alex said before he unchained the weapon on his back. The chain quickly wrapped around Alex’s right ar. As soon as he unwrapped the cloth and gripped his weapon, the screams began. There were three voices coming from his weapon. Each one screaming to be let out from their prison or asking for forgiveness. Using his Soul eater, Alex cut down one of the Undead, slicing off one of its arms.

[Magnato]

Estelle had been a bit more quiet ever since they got into the dungeon, it was just the perfect time to keep a good look at each one of her companions. Sadly outside of an odd stare at her body it was mostly talk about god and heaven which was on the boring zone for her, after all, divination was a skill that took a bit of the glim of divinity.

A bit later they ended up walking in the center of the problem, things took a quick turn and she had difficulty understanding what the hell just transpired, nevertheless she quickly turned her Trickster back into a sword and prepared herself to fight enemies...

A piercing weapon like hers was obviously bad against bones, trying to eliminate the skellies herself would be silly, good thing that many of them were carrying weapons and by disarming them (in both senses) she could be of help to the team. Gracefully she stepped into the fight, quickly intercepting an enemy sword before it finished slashing, from there onward the movement was easy, the skeleton would bring its sword back giving her plenty of time to pierce the wrist, incapacitating it for a while.

After repeating the process a bit more she finally took notice of the altar and of the people trying to break it. "Uh, why don't you soak it in holy water? It will probably jam the magical effect"