GrizzTheMauler

The Tower Chapter 1: A New Dawn

Darkspire extinguished her orbs, each of them coalescing into one then vanishing in a soft puff of air. She turned in Ratman's direction and scowled. "Of course it's discrete. There is no one there. Everyone knows this district was left to rot by the City. They'd rather it simply disappear and ignore it. That's why he came here." She motioned to the buildings around them. They were relatively intact in this area. "I spent a bit of time... Hiding out in there as well. It has everything one would need and then some, our family is quite well off."

She let out a chuckle. "There is a relative quiet among this sector of the district. No crime, no MPD, nothing. The building itself is owned in my name, and completely off most records." She stopped at a building. No one was around to observe the group, so Darkspire told them to wait as she flew up to the roof, getting in and unlocking it from inside, letting them in. She "walked" here, heeled steps never fully touching the ground. A look around showed what appeared to be a pretty normal medical clinic, far more advanced than one would guess for the slums. Darkspire told the group that her family had secured the funds for it's construction, since her brother was gifted a very generous budget after the success of his primary clinic. She closed up after everyone was inside the lobby, her orbs illuminating the surroundings. "You'll find whatever you need in here. I occasionally need the services here so I've kept everything in stock. Keep the lights on level one." She walks to an office and presses a few buttons. "Orwell, are you online?"

A robotic voice chirped in the speakers softly. It had a rather natural tenor tone. "We are. I assume the two biosigns and the... Other one, are with you. Updating security logs. They should have access to whatever they need." A green light shone on the doors as the labs and surgical rooms unlocked. The speaker light dimmed.

"If you have any other needs, Orwell can assist." Darkspire sat in a chair. "I met them through my brother, since he knew them before the Tower. They're beyond trustworthy. They probably already knows who each of us are."

"We know of you, and William." Orwell spoke up. "The other two we would need to see their faces and DNA to see who they are. If you have need of us, we will be signing off shortly. In the security office there are secured pagers. We are working on getting a... Care package of food and supplies. We will most likely need someone... discreet to pick it up from a drop. If you need information on the world outside we are able to provide intel."

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

Rex nods. "Yeah... I think Jivarn does. I don't deal in magical artifact-" He stopped outside the door to Jivarns' office. The other Vampire had a strange crystal suspendd in a device in the middle of the room. The Vampire Lord was observing it's affects on his shadows, taking notes.

"They have arrived in the city." He wasn't looking at them, instead he formed a spear of darkness and threw it at the crystal, watching it shatter and be absorbed before it could reach it. "The hunter had this on her. I would very much like to know how they obtained Blood Crystals, and how they managed it invert one. This is beyond normal dark magic. Witches and warlocks refuse to touch this. It's Elderitch in formation. I will need to call in Malkov. This is exactly the kind of thing he warned the council of." He turned towards the pair, anger in his eyes. "Who makes these. They need to be... removed. This is Demonic magic at work and whenever humans use it, it leads to destruction. I understand you'd rather not have them killed, but we need to contain them. The moment demonic taint passes through someone, they are corrupted. How this will go depends on how tainted they are." His voice was firm and commanding. Jivarn looked directly at Jay, trying to gleam the information from the half-fae's very soul.

---

Zion made his way through the city. Despite his appearance, few noticed them, as Vex felt a strange commanding pressure to look away from him and her as well. They stopped at the large manor, the Elder dismounting and walking inside, the horse sinking into the ground. He just walked in, pausing as he looked around the manor, remembering the King who lived here before. "Rest well, friend." He nodded at the portrait, and motioning for the young hunter behind him to follow, he headed towards the labs. He noticed Rex, stepping over and scowling at Jivarn.

"Easy, friend. We will find whoever made these. I doubt they come from the hunters themselves. Probably some warlock with a pact." He sighed. "It's one of the reasons why Marlvos kept them from researching their own magic ability."

Jivarn growled and drifted off to study the stone again. "Find them and bring them here. Because if the Council-"

Rex spoke up. "The Council will never hear about it. We already know the Regent is just waiting to strike out at them. To find a way around his restrictions." He followed after Jivarn, heading to the cabinet which opened up and a box of gems shoved into his chest as Jivarn's familiar, a shade named Vokos appeared, shaking it's head. Rex latched an arm around Jay and dragged him back to his own lab, Zion sighing as he left his friend and followed them.

"Sorry about him." The elder looked a bit older all of a sudden. "We're two old dogs who've seen the depravity the Hunters would stoop to and we thought that after having a bloody dragon curse their land, they'd stop." The Elder slumped in a chair. "Gods above there is no limit to the cruelty of humans..."

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

Rex nods. "It's yours. I've already studied what I needed from it. If you need help I can assist as best as I can. It's divided into four sections. History, Genealogy, Culture, and Known Spells. Father liked to take detailed notes on species he came across. One of the reasons why his stuff lies here. If the Hunters ever got a hold of it, it could spell the end of every species. He was working on something big, before he stumbled upon the undead problem. He called it the Book of Anima, said that whatever was being the problem wanted that book as well. What we're looking for in the Steppes is the ruins that have it. The Lich is after that. We find it, destroy it and the Lich, and we win. Simple, yeah?"

---

Zion chuckled at her outburst. "You are allowed to speak freely among us, young one. You'll find that the common practices of the Court don't generally apply here. Especially with the last two Kings rarely ever visiting their own Palace. I doubt Rex even knows that he has four of them now." He laughed then stopped when he watched her transform. "I was wondering why you never showed any of your Fae ancestry. It is very strong, no doubt aided by my blood. I apologize for that. I do not know if the Hunters would take to that kindly..." He sighed. "As it is, our companions await. Hop on your horse and do try to keep up." He spurred his knightmare and charged for the city, cape fluttering behind him.

The horse's steps rolled through the plain like the shaking of earth. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that this was some mere vampire. A soft and steady drifting of smoke trailed the horse as they headed to the gates of the city that quickly approached. They were opened well before he arrived, and he slowed, turning back to raise an eyebrow at his young progeny. "Oh do hurry it along, child. Don't be afraid of her. She is just a horse."

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

That's actually pretty neat. It would make sense since glamour magic has those kinds of rules.

The Tower Chapter 1: A New Dawn

Darkspire let out a sigh. "My deal is that I need to find those who are against Lorne." Her masked face held a spark of anger. "As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They will be stepping up in their attacks and with my only ally being able to only keep oversight on things, I need more." She drifted over to the doorway and floated past William. "If you must know who I am, the name is Darkspire, sister of one of the best men to have ever graced this city, Thoth." Her face darkened. "Due to the circumstances we were never able to recover his body, as I took off after his killer and it was gone when I returned, Lorne's minions surrounding the area. Their official stance is whatever he had was contagious, even after death."

She led them out of the building, her orbs drawing close to her. She palmed one, observing it ripple in her hand. "See, whatever their actions lead to my brother's death, for trying to help save lives, his dream. And for the that, I'll do whatever it takes to get him back and allow me to keep this life I've built." She looked to the pyrokinetic. "The Tower broke apart my family. Killed my child and brother. There is very little I wouldn't do to make Lorne suffer for what they have done. Then after that, well, I'll finish another doctorate on Spatial Theory. I am one of the brightest in my field. Literally."

The Tower Chapter 1: A New Dawn

Darkspire observed the other paras, her scowl deepening in the unnatural shade of her masked face. "I was hoping you would find out more, but I can have my associate look at it. They're a hacker of sorts. It would take time for them. I do not fully know how their ability works, only that they're good at what they do." She sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. "As for medical services... I could offer a place. My brother's old clinic. It's out of the way, and relatively safe. I myself must leave before dawn comes."

She turned to look outside. "Even though they've taken nearly everything from me, I'm going to fight them. Because I have no other choice." She looked to the others. "They will never stop looking for you. I can offer temporary reprieve inside the Clinic for as long as you need. It's an extreme risk to myself and my identity, but if it gives you a bit more reason to let us align ourselves, then so be it."

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

*Skuggi paused his preening to hop around the catvyrn. He nodded and sent an image of Rex smiling and the emotion of happiness. He jumped over to the table with the map and observed the new pins. Rex watched as the skullbird memorized the locations and cawed, sending an image of a burning forest to Jay with the emotion of sadness. Rex translated it for him, frowning. "That's along the same areas we have reports of the forest being burned away. It's forcing several therian groups to move or risk exposure."

He sat down in the chair behind the desk, looking through the pile of books. "But that is for when we finish our current mission. Ah, here it is." He grabbed a robin blue book with strange text. "This is the report on Fae magic that my father compiled. It's written in their language but I can teach it to you." He holds it out for Jay.

---

Zion grimaced at the pendant. With a swift move he removed it from her and held it up to look at it. "Jivarn would be very interested in this. Magical devices is one of his specialities. This looks like the inverse of a Bloodtear. It reeks of dark magicks." He looked down at Vex. "It stops them from contracting the Blood? That is... Concerning. We've only recently managed to come up with a way to do that. I will have to alert Dryder on this..." He rotated it in his hands, noting the burn. It was sharp and insistent like he was holding a prickly ball.

"At any rate-" He stopped casting a shadowy arrow out into a shadow nearby. The arrow seemed to be absorbed as a solitary red eye appeared. Stepping forward, Lord Jivarn revealed himself. "Jivarn! Old friend it has been some time."

"Indeed." He looked to Vex. "I see." His stare was piercing and he seemed to evaluate her before he bowed his head slightly to Vex. "Welcome to the House of Valorian, young Kin." His attention returned to Zion who nodded. "A strong choice. Though it is a new Bond. In response to your letter I took the opportunity to scry. I felt a disturbance in the natural flow of mana and came."

Zion chuckled and handed him the pendant. "That would probably be this. Vex, this is Jivarn of House Regulus, our young King's caretaker and stepfather. And the man I came to see in this city. I assume he's here?"

"Ah yes." Jivarn said, his attention on the pendant. He had procured leather gloves that shimmered slightly as he examined the crystal. "He has made himself an acquaintance with a young Half-Fae Hunter named Jay. From what Rex tells me he's the grandson of their leader. Interesting boy. His magic is rather unrefined though his aura is very active. He managed to tame a Catvyrn."

"I think we found the pair we were looking for, eh Vex?" Zion laughed, waving a hand and summoning a horse.

"No horse for me?"

"You got here fast enough."

"And you don't need a horse." Jivarn pointed out.

"I'm as eccentric as I am old." Zion laughed.

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

Skuggi squaked and bopped Wyf's nose with a wingtip. The feather in the catvyrn's tail give a sharp prick before bonding on the skin before Rex could grab it. "Um.." He sighed, shaking his head. "They aren't exactly... Dead feathers all the time. It won't cause any harm, it just lets Skuggi track her anywhere. Give it a few weeks and it'll actually change to blend into her fur." He pet Skuggi's head. "He tends to accidentally pluck good feathers when he molts."

Rex looked at the map. "Oh yes, please. I don't have everything down since I move slowly on my own as it is. I've got a few experiments running so I haven't finished the map yet." He takes the feathers and places them in a bag, tying it off and setting it down on another table of components. "My father was onto several breakthroughs in ritual lore it seems. He was experimenting with... Our blood. I'm working on a substitute with Jivarn. So that we won't have to take as much from humans and risk turning them. With a few donors we can feed our people. I know that some like being fed from, it's euphoric due to the enzymes we secrete, but this way no Kin will have to starve."

---

Zion observed, holding back the Roc as Vex jumped through the canopy. He was sufficiently impressed. He felt the wind shift as the clouds began to lighten up, revealing the moon. He stood in a moonshaft, a smile on his face for the first time in months as he observed the Young kin in her Trial. It seemed the Forest agreed with his assessment as it let her out at the edge. She was no doubt exhausted after facing the last of the Beasts, a large bear. He summoned a shadowhorse, sitting on it's back and going to her. "You have done well, young Kin." He smiled. "How well can you ride?"

The Tower Chapter 1: A New Dawn

Darkspire sat on the edge of the building, looking out upon the city. It held an eerie beauty at night in this sector. The perfect scene for a story set in a post apocalypse era. She snorted as that's exactly what she had lived through. She had spent the better half of a decade studying the realm of theoretical science, and proving theories. The change didn't effect her as much anymore, leaving a quiet sadness about her. Darkspire, no, Morrigan herself, stood on a knife's edge. A delicate balance between her dual identities.

Morrigan O'Connor, up and coming Physicist working at one of the most prestigious Universities in the States. Married to a man who was well known in the Military circuits of the city. And at night, she became Darkspire, rogue parahuman who constantly tripped over Lorne's affairs. She had very few allies and hoped that at least tonight she'd come up with something.

A flicker brought her attention to the room and she entered, noting that there was another man inside. She eyed him cautiously and looked to see Taylor hugging William. "Good. You are awake." She nodded, settling herself on a levitated rock. "I have a few questions for the pair of you... As it seems that three of the four of us are among the highest ranked threats to Lorne." She spat out their name, scowling. "And I find myself in need of assistance and allies. If you haven't heard already, Lorne will be stepping up their attempts to... Correct their mistake."

Unlikely Team [Sporko+Grizz]

Rex nods, looking down at reports. "And of course, the Regent is blocking anyone investigating things since he can't order anyone to do anything." He sighed.

A soft squak came from the skull as Skuggi poked his head out, looking around and exiting the eyehole of his new nest. He looked a little big bigger as he stood on it, preening his feathers. Rex shook his head as he noticed the bird was about to start molting, watching him drop feathers on the ground. Rex moved to collect them, as they were a useful component in some ritual spells. Jay noticed that a few feathers matched those found on the jacket. "I was wondering when you start dropping those. You took a nasty swipe there, friend."

---

The elder vampire watched in the shadows of the trees. Vex could see little flashes of red all around, as he followed. Using his gifts he created shadowy beasts to assail her, forcing her to fight every few minutes. When she went to the top of the trees, a large roc swooped down, knocking her out of the canopy.

"The forest if indeed hungry for fresh blood, child. You must show that your will shall not surrender." Zion whispered this next to her ear but was gone before she could turn to face him. He stood back on a tree branch, watching. They were making their way to the city and she would soon be free of the forest. He smiled at how strong her will was proving to be. She would probably need to rest when she finished his test but Vex was proving well enough that he would have recommended her for the Rangers.