Domitorem Corvo

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Zaak
I turn to face Li and First.
"It wasn't him. Not really. I created replicas of myself and altered their appearances to that of my Core Existences. They are out patrolling and identifying vulnerable Blackouts that we can remove from play." Zaak seems to hesitate like he wishes to say more but doesn't. Come We have work to attend to.

With that He opens a gateway and steps through to a city filled with automobiles and sky scrapers. His clothes are instantly fit for the era and the people around him pay little regard for his unusual entrance. He sets off with a determined purpose.

Outside of a club two mafia guards act as bouncers. An obvious front for a racket. Zaak strides up and the two men stop him.
"Exclusive members only."
There is a powerful pulse of Umbra as Zaak contorts reality into the shape he desires.
"I'm Mr. Bazi's three o'clock." Zaak says smoothly. "Me and my associates have a proposition for the family." Zaak motions to Li and the First.

Li-li receives a faint but unmistakable twinge of psychic energy. A message. "Come alone." followed by Coordinates in time and space within a specific reality. A reality that doesn't exist anymore. The Meadow of First Awakening.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Shadow Hold
Baruss pins both hands down with multiple limbs that sprout from his back.
"You are being saved. Do not resist." Baruss says. He looks over his shoulder. Lexianna has captured the other Hands. One of the Hands in his grasps bites down shattering his hidden tooth. He reforms some distance away and begins to flee. A clawed hand erupts from the ground and seizes him. The hand is one of Baruss's. Baruss reels him in and holds him, with one hand, suspended in the air. "What did I say?"

Raven appears.
"That was faster than I anticipated." He says. "I have questions about those seals of yours, but that can wait." Raven then turn his attention to The Hand "I can free you from the leash of your creator."

"You can't. It's impossible." The Hand spits.

"You saw L. He chose freedom." Raven replies cooly. "What is your Name."

"I don't have a name." The Hand says. Then after a moment. "My friends call me G..."

"G, I won't force this on you. You must choose. Know only that it will be painful."

After a moment G meets Ravens gaze. "Pain isn't anything new."

All the Hands are watching as G lies down on the ground. Raven places a hand on his chest, the unmistakable surge of seals pulses, and he begins to channel powerful sonic waves into G's body. As G's atoms begin to shear apart Raven extracts The Father's Light and fills it's place with a mote of Arcane energy. Raven removes his hand and stands. "We must hurry if we are to save them all. The Father will show himself soon."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Father's Throne
Nevermore leans against the door, listening to the corridor outside.
"He's a replica of Galen. Given to me to protect my world from collapsing into chaos. He sacrificed himself in a fight against some unknown enemy. I don't understand how he can be here. But..." Nevermore looks at her ring. "His parting gift to me was this ring. He must have forseen this. This ring is allowing me to use my seals. Or rather it is negating the effect this reality has on them." Nevermore peers out the door and down the hallway. She motions Razz to follow and steps out.

From behind the both of them The Father's voice rings out in the empty building.
"Where do you think you're going with my Messiah." The Father seems out of breath. Tired or pained, maybe both. "You pesky little insects are bothersome to no end. Why can't you just lie down and play your part!" Nevermore lunges at the Father to strike him down but with a wave of his hand she is sent hurtling through several walls.

Affixing his gaze to Razz the Father seems to smile underneath his mask.
"Give me The Messiah, Fire Demon. And I'll let you see your beloved little whore."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Nevermore
"Razz, Please. Just... please." Pulling her hood up Nevermore kneels to pick up her sword. Taking a deep breath to steady herself she forces down all her emotions the way her adopted father taught her. Gripping her sword more firmly she turns away from Gale. "Don't worry about fighting. I'll cover you if anything happens."

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Baruss
Following closely behind Lexianna Baruss receives the location of more Hands. Five ahead in the courtyard. It looks like Gaul's team is headed to the ramparts where three are. Breaking into the courtyard they are in direct sight. Baruss shifting the muscles in his body and digging his heels into the ground propels himself into the fight by crashing into one and tripping another.

The Ninja
The ninja running in tow with Smough follows Gaul.
"The bite down is a powerful poison they can use if subdued to induce death. When rendered unconscious or killed they become momentarily ethereal and their injuries, ailments, etc. are healed." Smough explains. "If we can subdue them, Raven can remove their forced loyalty to The Father."

The Ninja spots them. They stand ready to intercept. The Ninja draws his blade and prepares for combat.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Shadow-hold
The Raven kneels on the stone floor and presses his palm to the floor. There is an audible pulse as he sends a wave outwards. Finding nine of the twelve he relays the information over the Seal Telepathy with surgical precision. He stands and in the blink of an eye vanishes. Karnariel turns to Shadow.
"Look after her. I'm going to help." He says before running out of the room. Stella starts to make a move like she's going to reach for him, but stops before she actually does. Turning on her heel she strides towards Shadow.
"Do you have a safe room?" Stella asks. Shadow nods. "Then let us take those who cannot fight there."

Raia helps Sia to her feet.
"Come on. Now's no time to be hung over." She says. "I'm getting her out of here. Does anyone want to come with?" Stella looks to those still here and shakes her head.
"Those of us here can see to our own safety. Thank you for offering." They say and head out towards Shadows safe room.

Raia calls for Chron and as soon as she places her hand on his fur she and Sia are back in Raia's castle bed chamber.
"Stay here. I'm going to go help your friends." Raia says to Sia before Chron vanishes her back to the fight.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Zaak
I turn away slightly. I don't know how to answer her question. But I should. So I do.
"The same way I told you. He was an impostor. He usurped my throne while I was recovering from... from death." It's still hazy. I died. But was that really me? Who am I now that I've taken on this power? I shake the thought from my mind. I am real. I AM real.

My replica appears. This one has the appearance of Sin. My aspect of honor and duty. He holds out his hand. The Umbra swirls. I take it from him and use my power to dispel it. He vanishes again. Everything will happen as my will dictates. I am real.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Meeting Room
There is a a soft uniform crunch as the conscious Hands bite down shattering their false tooth and crunching into their hidden death pill. The misty shadows pass through the light barriers and room fills with swirling shadows. The unconscious Hands quickly follow suit. Four more Hands emerge from the main door. They throw down a smokescreen and all twelve scatter into the castle.

Smough turns to his ninja servant. "Shall we free your brothers and sisters?" The ninja nods and removes his visor, revealing his amethyst irises. The Ninja produces a scroll with the kanji for Raven. Smough cuts his thumb and smears blood across the kanji. The Ninja Hand rolls the scroll up and with a loud pop a man in a tattered cloak appears. As he stands up he glances around the room. His mask is linked to his suit and staff. His gaze settles on Smough.

"More Hands?" He says. Each word and syllable pulses with power that is channeled into his armor.
"A whole dozen. Plus others." Smough says.
"I noticed. We can get acquainted later." Raven says. "Aim for non lethal attacks that leave them conscious. Have they used their bite down yet?"

Eternal Realities: Umbra

Father's Prison
Nevermore can smell it too. She knows the scent. It fills her with both hope. And terrible dread. She steadies herself. Breathes. And draws her sword. Resolved to face this she strides forwards.

There is an altar at the center of the room with a body and a sheet draped over it. Nevermore walks closer eyes fixated on the covered body. She knows. She can smell it. Taste it. Grabbing the sheet with a trembling hand she pulls it off.

Her sword clatters to the ground. The world tilts dangerously. She has to force herself to be okay.

"Razz, I need a favor. Can you carry him for me?"

Nevermore steps aside to let Razz get a better angle. Gale Dark lies on the altar.

Eternal Realities: Umbra

The Meeting
Everyone is enjoying the food and drink. Raia and Sia discuss "important" topics and Shadow pretends not to be off put by Sir Barrus's constant vigilance. Servers replace the finished platters with new fresh food. The chefs brag about whose food was more thoroughly consumed. Gaul and Smough discuss what their fist move will be once their fleet has been made immortal. Lexianna tends to Jalen who is a messy eater. Karnariel and Stella chat while eating from a single plate of food.

Without warning a harsh golden light floods the room and fills every corner with radiance.

Sia, Lexianna, and Blaze are stricken with an blindingly agonizing pain as their blood curdles and their powers are stripped away.
Flame, Gaul, Smough, Stella, and Karnariel can't access their powers but aren't afflicted in any other way.
As the light fades eight Hands appear in the room and strike all at once.

Karnariel, who was moving before the light faded, throws himself at the Hand targeting Stella and using his forearm blocks the strike aimed at her. Stella draws her sword and is instantly encased in a suit of armor that seems almost alive. Stella engages Hand 2 and locks blades with them.

Hand 3 which was targeting Smough lunges to impale him. Smough snaps his fingers and the shadowy figure that broke up Flame and Blaze's fight comes crashing down on Hand 3's sword, the blade of which gets stuck in a crevice. In a single fluid motion Smough's Ninja cuts deeply into Hand 3's shoulder. Opting to forego the obvious deathblow.

Shadow throws up his hood completly obscuring himself from sight. As Hand 4 impales an empty cloak he is hamstrung with an arrow. Three more in noncritical body parts and Hand 4 is crippled.

Hand 5 should have had an easy target in Lexianna but Sir Baruss crashes into him like an avalanche. Sir Baruss body checks Hand 5 instead of producing a weapon. Hand 6 is in hot pursuit but as he engages Sir Baruss it is obvious he never stood a chance. Sir Baruss lays into him with a flurry of heavy blows.

Hand 7 is about to tun his blade through Sia. Raia flings a platter of sushi at Hand 7's face. It hits but only just so. Raia attempts to grapple Hand 7 but in her drunken state is outmatched. Hand 7 easily slips her grasps and cuts deeply into her arm.
"Traitors." Hand 7 whispers as his second attack bites into her thigh. Before Hand 7 can make another attack he is chomped by Chron who violently jerks him back and forth, killing him.

Hand 8 who has chosen to hang back fires a crossbow bolt at Flame. The bolt whistles through the air, straight for the base of Flames skull."

Servants flee from the chaos and guards who should be aiding in the fight are all dead.