Made a little sheet for my NPC Calvin
Takida Inigo Member
☦ The Fallen ☦
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“Did you just rob that store?”
Calvin was immediately on his feet when Valon came out with a bag filled with at least over two thousand dollars in cash. Sweat was gently playing down the side of his still from earlier and the sudden influx of cash was starting to make his head swim all over again. He was almost afraid to go back inside the shop and confirm his fears, he was pretty sure he did not just ask politely for a large sum of money than get it.
“Relax I sold an antique ring one of my associates gave me. He was adamant that I would need some.. money to fit in better around town. Says small towns tend to pass along information quite quickly. So in simple terms, at least in his terminology, I am not allowed to just sleep somewhere outside like I usually would to avoid unnecessary suspicion. Thus the money.”
Calvin sighed in relief realizing it was made legit and cleanly, so that was the entire point of going to a antiques shop. Knowing this now made him feel slightly bad, he had insulted Valon and even though he had payed for it twice already he felt like if he had just asked in the first place it could have been avoided. He had to remember that Valon was not just some person he had to look after, but he was a Guardian who could do as he pleased when he pleased. Even more so he probably had a plan to follow as well.
“Look I apologize for earlier, I was out of line on both accounts. This has not been the most easy of pairings so far but we really gotta make this work. So if I promise not to touch you or call you anything volatile... can you please fill me on your plans and work with me?”
Valon shook his head, these human sediments were really giving him a headache. He had a point though, within the short time of his arrival he had almost broken Calvins hand and shoulder. As much as he hated to admit it he had an obligation to make this work. Calvin didn't know it but the whole reason they were working together was because of Valon's inability to blend into the woodwork. His low knowledge on current technology, trends, and everything else that advanced while he was locked away didn't exactly make that fact any easier.
“I will try, I am not used to working with others, especially humans and especially even more so ones that were once aligned to a group I despise. My hands... are tied in either case so I am stuck with you and vice versa so I can at least try to make it less hostile. Here...”
Valon reached into the bag and pulled out a couple hundreds, in the process he dropped the business card to the ground, Calvin bent down and picked it up giving it a read before having the money thrust into his hands.
“I have to go do something important and you can not come along with me, I only ask you trust me on this, I can not reveal the reasons why. Go... buy some food or... woman or whatever you humans use money the most for. I will return shortly.”
Calvin closed his fist over the money as he rolled his eye's at the woman remark, Valon truly was a demon out of time. Valon turned to leave but Calvin caught him before he left by slipping the card under his nose.
“You dropped this, you and that lady in there hit it off or something? I don't really see any other reason for her to slip her card into your bag of money.”
Valon growled lowly under his breath and took the card as he turned to see Calvin shooting him a rather snide smile as if he had just revealed some dirty little secret. Reaching his hand inside his coat he placed the card within, he than took the money from the bag and did the same with it securing it in an inner pocket. He than took the bag and quickly put it over Calvins head and pushed him away.
“I will take that as yes. I will be at Wicked Pizzeria just down the road from here, I will for now trust that your going to come back without blowing up half the town.”
Calvin removed the bag from his head, crumpled it up and slid it into a trash can before putting his hand up as he turned away doing some weird little curtsy wave with his fingers. That almost seemed too easy, getting rid of Calvin should have at the very least took two threats and a show of physical force. The man would probably try to follow him, at least he could try anyways, Valon turned on his heels and walked down the road. Soon the main part of town seemed to shrink away and Valon was walking towards a very large structure in the distance. From what he had heard the mundane only saw a some rundown state hospital, he had never seen it so he wouldn't know the specifics.
As he walked it grew and grew, in the distance he heard the snarling of what sounded like rather vicious dogs. He proceeded further along the road, he had been informed that there was a gatekeeper who made illusions to ward of mundanes who got too close, so that was probably what he was hearing. Soon he was near the outer boundaries. He had to admit that would be rather unsettling to a mundane to see a pack of vicious rabid dogs.
Calvin was silent as he followed Valon, he was deathly curious as to where he was going and he couldn't help his curiosity. It seemed that Valon was heading directly for the old state hospital, that place creeped Calvin out, he had never been there but he had heard stories of it, mostly of ghosts and haunting s from the locals. He didn't really care for the ghost stories however but they also said a pack of rabid dogs had chased them but he wasn't so sure about that either. He had heard that from more than one source already and rabid dogs did not tend to live indefinitely. Calvin rubbed his forehead for the fifth time since he started trailing Valon at first it was because he was afraid Valon would spot him... but now he was starting feel quite unwell for some reason.
Calvin breathed hard as he slowed his pace, Valon was getting far ahead of him now but he just seemed to feel more and more unwell. He had to keep going, he had to see what Valon was up to, he kept walking forward was Valon was already out of sight. He was nearing closer to the old hospital now, he didn't see Valon at all... where the hell had he gone? He didn't have much time to think about it, when he heard the several growls of what sounded like large dogs he froze in his spot in the road. It was sudden but a bunch of dogs foaming at the mouth came running to each side of the road. To say he was petrified may have been... well... quite the understatement.
“Um... nice puppies... nice puppies.”
Calvin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled afraid to even breath properly as he slowly took a couple steps back. The dogs growled and took steps towards him.
“Nice puppies, you don't want to attack Uncle Calvin now do you?”
With a final growl the pack of rabid dogs went for Calvin like a single chicken wing that only one could have. Calvin screamed like a teenage girl who just got a car for her sweet sixteen as he turned and started to run as fast as he could.
“I hate you Valon!!!!”
The words seemed to echo as Calvin ran back towards town, Valon turned as he heard the high pitched squealed, he smiled. He was standing next to Rocko, he truly was good at his job, Valon had a feeling Calvin would try to trail him. He was going to ward him off but it was well worth just letting him get near Gringore so he would meet Rocko's masterful illusions. Valon nodded to Rocko as he walked past the gates, reaching down he removed the ring from his finger as soon as he was under the protective magic of Gringore and slipped it into his pocket. It was nice not being a version of his younger self for a little while. Climbing the large grand stairs Valon entered the academy for the first time. He was meant almost immediately with many various others walking around, talking, laughing.
Ah it finally felt like he was in a place where sort of fit in, no one was looking at him which was a good sign and he was just another supernatural in a whole little world of them.
“Hey nice costume bro! You a steampunk man or some kind of pirate!?”
Valon felt a hand hit him right across the back, his eye's went total mental scary as he turned to face a younger man in appearance. Again... again with the damn... stupid... Talk... OF A COSTUME! The young man he turned on didn't seem at all phased by his glare of death, in fact he laughed loudly and slapped his hand onto Valon's shoulder.
“Dude those eye's are scary as all hell, you have got to be coming to the party! You would scare so many of the others with that glare! You are dedicated to your part my man!”
Valon growled deeply in his threat, his face twitched against his will as he raised his hand up to the hand on his shoulder.
“Breath.. Valon.. Breath. You don't want to do that.”
Valon heard an all too familiar voice as he turned around and saw one of his former pupils standing behind him with an amused smile on his face. The younger man whom had been talking about Valon removed his hand as he quickly changed his attention to some others in a small group.
“I know that stare, thats the “your one inch from death for touching me glare”. I would know I did after all make it my mission to give you as many hugs as possible to try and lighten you up.”
“Heh heh heh”
Valon gave a low chuckle as he raised out his hand, his former pupil whom simply went by Devon took his hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
“Its been a long time Devon, I had heard you would be at Gringore waiting for me. You had some information about our missing friend?”
Devon's look became rather serious as he nodded his head and looked around, there were far too many people to be discussing something like that in the open.
“Yes please follow me into the Courtyard we should have some more privacy there.”
Valon nodded as he followed Devon into the courtyard, the courtyard was huge by comparison, and it was far less crowded than inside the academy itself. Valon silently bent down and scooped up a piece of orange paper on the ground and read it.
“Their throwing a party? I am guessing its the party where my glare would scare everyone I take it?”
Devon sighed shaking his head, it was hard not to feel sorry for the one who had to clean up this mess. He already saw someone picking up the pieces of orange paper and bagging it. They made their way in that direction as he spoke.
“Not a good time for a party Valon, the mere fact it coincides with the disappearance and the deaths makes me want to try and get all festivities shut down until this is resolved. I am sure you saw the pattern already, whatever is doing this is moving straight for Nowhere at an alarming rate. Broms disappearance just makes it even more disconcerting.”
Valon and Devon walked past a younger girl picking up orange leaflets as they talked among themselves. They headed for a grove of tree's on the other side of the courtyard.
“There are a lot of issues being risen right now, I must ask though, what measures are being put in place around these festivities? This many all in one place, none the less all dressed up for Halloween is a disaster waiting to happen. It is the perfect place to hide and strike from the shadows, if it was me it would be my perfect strategy. Lucretia can't send anyone else here, after those Hunters disappeared he fears a large amount of Guardians would only bring worse risks.”
Both Valon and Devon were sitting on some stone benches in the shade of the grove of the tree's now as they talked.
“To be honest we don't have near enough to watch over these events, even I have had to leave the school to patrol at night outside of town. I have been toying with the idea of using the Gringore Auxiliaries to watch and report anything heavily out of the ordinary but I am hesitant.”
“Gringore Auxilleries?”
Valon posed it as a question looking at Devon, he had never heard of which he was referring to so he was curious.
“Its a group here at Gringore, its an organization of students who are training to become Guardians someday in the future. Its a rather intense program and from what I have seen they work hard everyday and train even harder. But my fears are that if we use them and they try to do something besides watch and report and one of them gets hurt or worse, the implications could be really severe. I have heard the rumors from Rome already on what this might be, none of them are ready for that.”
Valon sat back on the bench and crossed his arms. He had not even been aware that such a program existed outside of the Guardian facilities. This was most definitely news to him, to have such a group was in a lot of ways a benefit to their current situation. They were short handed as it was and Valon could not survey an entire area full of people by himself or even with Devon. As it was already he had to head out and start tracking the most recent disappearances.
“We don't have many options right now, the count is raising higher right now and it will only continue to grow as time presses forward. I share your concerns but if they are training to become Guardians and you hold their efforts in high esteem than I think it would be prudent to look at this option. Let me see them with my own eye's and assess their abilities.”
Devon looked a bit uncomfortable at this suggestion, the truth was Valon was the hardest instructor in Rome, at least in Devon's eyes. He was very direct, precise and often times more than not his students limped away with fractures bones. His training was most effective, Devon did not discount that, it showed them how the real world would worked, but this, this was not the same as in Rome, these were students at Gringore.
“I don't know Valon, they are students at Gringore, and you can be rather foreboding and serious when it comes to assessing worth. You broke two of my ribs on our first day of training so I can vouch for that statement.”
“Well students or not I believe they would be allowed to make their own decisions. Besides I have no intention of fighting them or being physical I merely want to see what they are capable of.”
Devon sighed somewhat in relief and also in exasperation, Valon may say he won't get physical but if one of them challenged him to prove their strength, he doubted the Mezmer would deny them the opportunity to prove themselves. Still Valon never killed any of his students so Devon did not believe he would start now.
“I will speak to the head of the group and see if they can set up a demonstration. No promises, after all most of them have classes and other responsibilities so they can't drop everything and come running. When I get back we can discuss the particulars of Brom, I am sure your gonna want to hear this. If you would please stick around the courtyard this place is rather big, hard to find people sometimes."
Valon nodded as Devon got up and walked out of the grove in the opposite direction back toawrds the school.
@BlueAjah
“Oh no, sorry ma'am, Val here is new to town and he started to wonder around. He is quite interested in the old world. You could say it's almost like he lived in it somedays. But me and him have to get going, we got lots of places to be.”
Cal placed his hand on Valon's shoulder and turned to go out the door, his arm pulled rather hard as Cal was not expecting to meet a resistance similar to a brick wall. He damn near tripped himself over, he caught himself haphazardly his coffee sloshing under the rim of his cup spilling on his hand. Cal bite his tongue as various words of dirty nature crossed his mind like a well figured woman. His face creased into a mix between agitation and misgivings. He was about to say something but when Valon reached his hand up and placed it on top of his the look of pain was replaced on his face as there was a very low crack in the joints of his fingers as Valon squeezed his hand. His fingers crunched together as his mouth opened to scream but he forcefully smiled at Alice like nothing was really going on.
“Val... we really gotta... go.”
Cal was speaking liking he had to take a huge dump and was squeezing for dear life. His face twitched as sweat poured down his head, there was another very low crack as Cal let out a yelp and quickly forced it into a weird laugh.
“Well perhaps.. we can spare.. some time. Yeah we.. we definitely.. got time.”
A low squeal was holding in Cal's throat before Valon finally released the grip on his hand, he yanked it back, slowly though. His fingers looked like spiders legs, they somewhat bent inward and blood was pooled the tips of his fingers. He quickly put his hand in his pocket as he smiled at Alice again.
“Why don't we go over here I think I see something interesting.”
Cal walked further into the store and found a nook out of sight and a distance from the counter, at least as far as he could. Valon followed almost methodically disappearing from view as Cal's eye's were still slightly popped out of his head. The blood was slowly starting to leave his face, he was furiously shaking his hand like it had fallen asleep, it was white as a ghost but regaining its color. Cal moved in and spoke very lowly to Valon, his tone was of anger.
“Damn it, were you trying to break my damn hand you psychopath. What the hell is with you? I told you to wait by the car, I wasn't in there for longer than five minutes and you were gone.”
Cal hissed into Valon's ear as he bore his eye's into Valons, to be honest Valon didn't give a damn one way or the other about Cal or his demand. Even the insult about him being a psychopath didn't bother him, however Cal placing his hand on his shoulder and treating him a child who didn't listen, that was another story entirely.
“Shut...up... or your going to find that squished fingers are the least of your worries Calvin. I do not work for you, nor do you have any kind of pull over what I do or where I go. The only reason I am entertaining this fellowship at is all is because it was requested of me. Don't mistake that smile from earlier as a sign that I like you, or even that I care you exist.”
Cal's face crunched up into an expression of one who was hurt and equally angry, very much like a man just got slapped right in the face by a perfect stranger on the street. He shook his head frustrated at the whole situation. This had to be by far the worst situation he had ever found himself in, at least when Valon had him chained to a wall he knew where he actually stood but this was far beyond that. In fact he was afraid for his life, Valon was not the nicest of demons, in fact he was known for working alone. Anyone who worked with him couldn't handle his cold attitude, or the fact that he knew about one thousand ways to kill one, if they be supernatural or man. He wasn't a Guardian but he damn well knew about Valon and his tendencies to kill in the blink of an eye.
“You know what I don't that you exist either.. I truly don't. I thought you might be different but you are the exact same. I must have been crazy to think this kind of match up could ever work. Do what you want, I have better things to do than entertain a monster such as you.”
Cal turned to walked away but when Valon's hand hit his shoulder and squeezed with the force of of two large rocks crushing against each other he found him seeing stars through the pain. He found himself lowering to his knee's.
“Call me a monster... one more time... and you will know what a true monster is...”
Valon whispered the words directly into Cal's ear, his entire body shook, for the first time since they had meant each other again his danger intuition was screaming inside. He could feel panic bubbling up inside as he turned his head slowly to face the demonic gaze of a thousand deaths. He couldn't bare to keep eye contact as he forced himself to look away. What was worse is Cal could feel the anger radiating from Valon's every syllable, it felt like a pit of infinite hatred. He had hit quite the sore spot and he felt his life flashing before his eye's now because of it. When the hold on his shoulder suddenly relinquished he found himself normal again, the feeling of fear slowly fading from him. He shook his head, the transition was so instantaneous it felt like he had for that moment just been in some sort of dream.
When he looked back Valon was holding out something to him, he looked at the object and realized it was his cup of coffee. He must have let go of it when Valon grabbed him, he got back fully to his feet and took the cup from him swallowing hard. What was it with this demon? One second he was so cold and scary you feel like your life is about to end and in the next he is emotionless like nothing had ever happened.
“I... will wait outside.”
Cal sounded defeated as he rolled his shoulder a couple times reappearing from around the shelving, he smiled at Alice but it was a rather pitiful smile, he exited the shop as Valon came around the shelving and walked up to the counter. Slowly reaching into his pocket he removed something from it, it was small, reaching forward he lay it on the counter for Alice to see. It was a ring, a rather ancient looking ring, from appearance it was bronze in nature and very faded, the band had small delicate engravings that spiraled the band, the head of the ring was a roman coin depicting a roman emperor. He looked into her eye's briefly before he spoke, the light Albanian accent playing through:
“Do you buy antiques here? If so I would like to sell this, it is Roman made, many years old. From the various items within your store I can tell you appreciate antiquities. This one in particular could use a new home, if your interested.”
Valon was direct with Alice, a convincing teenager he did not make that was for certain however when it was all said and done a human Alice did not make it seemed. So in this instance he supposed that it made no real difference at this exact moment.
Valon sat in the passenger side of the car silently as the mile markers quickly passed them by, neither one of them had bother to look at the other since leaving the train depot. Cal probably out of fear or concern for his well being and Valon because he did not trust even in the slightest the man he was sitting next to right now. Thirty years ago he had captured Calvin if that was even a real name and chained him to a wall, broke his jaw, slit his cheek open and nearly choked him to death. So in a real manner of speaking how was it that thirty some years later he was sitting next to the older version of Calvin and him as his partner? The only thing he could think of was it was a trap, somehow this Hunter had played the good guy long enough to be trusted and this was the moment where he would get his revenge. Although... in many ways such a thing was damn near impossible, trying to fool the upper levels of the Guardian's was no simple task, not by any means. When Valon had taken his first test, the man whom interviewed him... saw right through him as if his entire life was a book in big print.
“I am not going to stab you in the back, just so you know.”
Valon looked over slowly as the sudden voice made a remark of sincerity, Calvin was sort of looking his way, as much as he could while driving. Sweat was dripping down the side of his face even though it was not really all that hot inside the car or out. The fear in his eye's were all too evident, Valon looked away again returning his eye's to the road, he said nothing but Calvin did continue to speak.
“I know what your thinking man... honestly I thought about it too for a long time. You an me... we ain't exactly had what one would call a pleasant history with each other. I tried to kill you and you than almost killed me and gave me this scar on my cheek. I won't lie I wanted to kill you for a long time after that.”
Valon hardened his brow as he listened, likely words from someone who was trying to deceive another. It was not the first time a Hunter tried to lull him with false words of friendship or that they had seen some light that showed them the way.
“I know you don't trust me and honestly I don't trust you all that much, in fact when I saw those eye's back there I nearly had a flashback to the wall you had me on. But things ain't like that no more man, I had to make a choice and I made it. Whether you understand this or not, I chose to become an exile among my own blood. You don't have to love me, hell you don't even have to consider me as part of this existence... but I have a job to do and I am going to do it if you want my help or not. So for the time being can we forego the tension and just co-exist until this is done?”
Calvin slowly pulled up his free hand and offered it to Valon in what could only be assumed as some sort of an olive branch between them. Valon glared at Calvin's hand as he slowly looked up and caught Calvin's eyes for a couple moments. Ever so slowly, like it was some game Valon raised his hand from the arm rest and gripped onto Calvin's hand an closing his fingers around his. Calvin's hand was full of tension as Valon gripped it. Calvin sighed lowly to himself as Valon shook his hand, he didn't expect Valon to tighten his grip enough that his knuckles were cracked for him.
Calvin yelped in surprise as the car swerved wildly before he got control over it again, Valon released his hand as he pulled it back giving his a rather angry look.
“What the hell was that...”
Calvin was surprised to see Valon giving a small, barely noticeable smile, Calvin merely rolled his eye's as he shook his hand. He scoffed lowly in amusement.
“Thats real mature Valon, while don't we try to act our age. Me a fifty year old single man and you somewhere between God and Jesus.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend... don't mistake my intent. I still don't trust you but I will at least give you the benefit of the doubt... for now. But if you make one wrong move towards me, your head will fly for miles before it touches ground again.”
Calvin went white in the face as he put his eye's back on the road, well that pretty much took that little moment of break through and ruined it... with authority for that matter. Both of them sat silently after that not really making much conversation, at least until Valon lite a cigarette and blew the smoke all around the car.
“You know those things will kill you right?”
Valon slowly turned his head and looked at Calvin with an expression that made him nearly bust out laughing. Maybe Valon wasn't so bad, he was rough as hell but he seemed okay minus the death gaze and the head rolling comment.
“By the way on a more serious note we really need to think about some new clothes for you, maybe a wig too or something. You stand out pretty good Valon, no insult meant but even though Halloween is here you would still look sorely out of place. I know a drift store in town th...”
Calvin's face went into shock as he accidentally jerked away from Valon, the car flew into the other lane hard coming right at a semi.
“Shiiiiiet!”
Calvin yelled and he pulled the car back into the other lane, the semi was blaring its horn at him as he got the car back under control. He looked over again, Valon was no longer sitting next to him but some other dude, younger and prettier.
“Is this better?”
Calvin's heart was still beating out of his chest as he pulled the car over to the side of the road and bent his head back taking large deep breaths.
“Damn you... its been all but twenty minutes and you nearly killed me again... what the hell is that? Are you some sort of shape shifter too? If your gonna do that shit can you at least give me forewarning or something, heart attacks ain't much to you but to me they are very real... jesus. How did you do that?”
Valon raised his now youthful hand and move a ring on his pointer finger back and forth silently, the same ring he had removed from his pocket moments before putting it on his finger.
“Its an enchanted ring, it was made for me years ago so I could go on high profile assignments and not be sighted by Hunters, well at least not easily anyways. It is among the same concept supernatural creatures use to blend in as humans just a bit more powerful. Not even Hunters can see through this easily, not unless they know who they are looking at anyways. Try it... think of my face and look at me again.”
Calvin did as he was told and pictures Valons face and just like that the illusion the ring created was broken and he could easily see him again.
“Damn... thats a nifty little ring to have, did you choose the appearance or did they naturally want you to look like an emo pretty boy?”
“This is what I looked like when I was younger...”
Calvin was going to say something but than decided against it, he slowly pulled back onto the road continuing their journey.
“So... do you know what the hell this is all about by chance. I keep thinking vampire but there are characteristics that just don't add up.”
“It could be.. an rogue Elder Vampire. But as of yet I am unsure, I won't know until I can do some looking around.”
“Elder Vampire?”
Valon sat watching the tree's pass by outside as he thought about his last encounter with an Elder Vampire. He had been much younger back than and he was not a Guardian at the time. He had crossed paths with it when he was but a wanderer.
“Its a Vampire that is about one thousand years or so older, as you may know some supernatural the older they get they stronger they get, the more their abilities develop. Elder Vampires for the most part are usually tycoons or billionaires in this day and age, most live the good life. But there are a few that turn to a life of darkness for one reason or another. Think of it like this, a supernatural being of immense strength speed and agility with an army of newly blooded vampires under its control.”
“Under its control?”
When he had encountered him, he had been taking shelter in a large cave system for awhile to rest. He had stumbled into the nest by complete accident, by time he had realized what was happening the children had swarmed him. Most of them were barely older than eighteen.
“It rare but vampires who reach high age can develop an extremely rare ability to control the vampires that they blood, its tatamount to mind control but more like a hive. Every blooded is connected the Elder, they can feel each other, its been said they can even feel each others pain. They start what we refer to as a nest, the Elder finds an out of the way spot, usually well hidden and bloods new vampires, these become known as their children. Once they do this they send their children out to bring more humans to be blooded or for food.”
“If this is a distinct possibility than why kill other supernatural than?”
Truth was supernatural were enemies to rogue Elder Vampires merely for the fact that they only fear other supernatural creatures that could put up a fight. Naturally he had been a big threat and what happened afterwards would be something he would never forget.
“There are various reasons, the most likely one being that other supernatural could find the nest, its very possible they got too close and were killed for their trouble, maybe they knew something. There is no way to know right now and speculation is a worthless sediment.”
“Have you ever faced an Elder Vampire before?”
Valon became silent as he looked out the window of the vehicle and saw a sign indicating that they were nearing their destination, looking ahead he could already see the outskirts of the town coming up.
“Once. A long time ago.”
Valon said nothing more, the tone of his voice was enough to deter Cal from asking any deeper into the topic, atleast for the time being. As they drove into town Valon watched the tree's turn to houses and very soon the houses turned into buildings of various natures. For such a small town there were plenty of people within, everywhere he looked people were decorating, children were running around. This was the perfect playground for new bloods.
“You want a coffee? I need a coffee, I hate mornings.”
Valon looked at Cal shaking his head. Did it really look like he was someone who actually drank coffee, hell he barely drank water. The car slowly pulled to a curve within the bustling streets in front of a building named Coffee Central. Cal shut off the engine and got out of the car quietly, Valon did the same, he took a step outside into the crisp air. Reaching back into the car he retrieved his blade and attached it to his back and tightened it, making sure it was firmly in the square of his back.
“Are you really going to carry that thing around town? Never mind stupid question, listen try not to draw attention to yourself. I will be back out in a bit so stay by the car please.”
Cal disappeared into the coffee shop as Valon shook his head at the man, he was not a child nor did he need some glorified babysitter. Cal could have his coffee, Valon on the other hand was curious too look around, after all this was the first time in 8 years he had been allowed to leave Rome. Valon walked quietly down the sidewalk as various people passed him by, most seemed to not even pay him any heed as he went by. His eye's darted back and forth from store front to store front, the one that caught his attention was a place called Treasures of Time. The name was interesting enough to catch his interest, walking up to the entrance he opened the door with a ding as he walked into the shop.
Valon stood in the doorway looking around almost methodically as his eye's scanned the room he was standing within. It seemed that this was some sort of antique shop. At least in some sort of way he kind of felt like he was somewhere he kind of felt familiar with. Unknown to him Cal was already standing outside with a coffee in one hand and a look of annoyance on his face.
“Really Valon... I knew I should have gotten the coffee before picking him up..”
Still accepting?
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Valon lay on his knee's, his body was straight and his head was bowed down with his eye's closed tightly. The area around him was cold, an early morning chill had taken the it, mist clung to the ground lowly obscuring a small portion of Valon's ankles. All around him tree's of various kinds were scattered in every direction, the place he was kneeling was deep within what appeared to be a wooded area. The entire area was silent save for the crunching footsteps from Valon's left. They were steady and nearing with every second, Valon moved his arms slowly up, pulling them in he removed the overcoat he was wearing revealing the red long sleeved shirt below. Gently he placed it on the ground, folded neatly beside him. The footsteps increased in sound as they drew even closer, Valon slowly unbuttoned the red sleeves and moved them up his arms cuffing them at the elbows. The chain tattoo on his arms was now showing, the black loops almost glistened, the spikes on the edges looking as if they were digging into his arm like thorns. Each chain held a word in its loop in a language that looked long forgotten.
The footsteps which had been increasing in sound suddenly stopped, the entire area going silent around him save the creaking of tree limbs in the wind. Valon's eye's were still closed as he reached down his dominant hand and lay it on the hilt of the sword within the sheath on his back. The sword was broad in nature but slightly more slimmed down, the hilt was black and enlarged, a red gem lay in the center between the guard, the handle wrapped by black cloth tightly wound. There was a sound of metal against metal as he pulled it out, the sword was divided into what appeared to be pieces, each one connected to the next from hilt to tip of blade. Valon did not moved he stayed in his current position the sword half unsheathed on his back, the world around him was completely still and silent, not even a bug dared to breath. The attack came from the left, a tall muscular figure flew down from the tree above Valon, their face was covered with a leather face mask, their body draped in light black leather armor.
The sword in their hand aimed straight for Valon's head, it seemed like it would almost definitely hit, the sudden clank of metal upon metal however shattered that certainty. Valon's sword was above his head now, the opponent who had tried to strike him pressing down with all their might but unable to move Valon's sword down and further towards his skull. The figure quick in speed removed their blade and jumped back hitting their feet and sliding across the ground. They placed their sword before them pointed at Valon. The Mezmer demon remained still, his legs bent up at a weird angle as he got to his feet, a couple pops sounded as he did. He cracked his neck once to the right and than once to the left, each crack loud and cringe worthy. Turning his eye's were still closed but he faced his opponent, he said nothing, did nothing. Merely stood there for a couple moments as if in thought before he finally did open his eye's.
“Too loud.”
The words were simple and direct to the opponent before him, their eye's closed into slits at the remark, they quickly moved forward with intent to kill. Their approach was steadfast, their sword arced and came from the left of Valon. The sword in Valon's hand moved, the blade pointed to the ground, he lowered it as he caught his opponents blow blocking his legs. As metal struck metal once more Valon drove his sword out forcing his opponents sword back, in the same instance he turned his entire body in quick succession, his sword changing direction in his hand, the blade now facing up, he used the momentum from his turn driving his blade in a horizontal arc for his opponents mid section. His opponent blocked the attack, but their sword was driven back from the power behind the blow, just barely they held the block. They grunted as they tried to force Valon's sword away, unable to overpower him the opponent quickly let go of the sword and flipped back, Valon's sword barely missing their legs.
“Sloppy.”
Again Valon spoke directly to his opponent, placing the sword over his back after twirling it he clicked it into the sheath with a metallic zing. Reaching forward he took the discarded sword from the ground, he tossed it sideways at a hard arc as it hit a trick and stuck in deep. His opponent took a fighting stance, they raised their fists in anticipation. Valon did not bother to raised his guard, he stared down his attacker, daring them to approach him. They did not hesitate moving from their spot at great speed, the blow came for Valon's chest. The blow landed squarely in Valon's chest, he had not bothered to block it. His opponent looked up in confusion just in time for Valon's forehead to slam into theirs with a sickening thud. His attacker yelped loudly as they fell backwards and slammed onto their back. Valon moved forward slowly, almost methodically, sadistically as his opponent was shaking their head, trying to clear the cobwebs from the decisive blow.
They quickly regained their composure and flipped backwards head first and landed on their feet. They flung forward and threw three quick punches. One struck Valon's stomach, another struck his chest and the last landed across his jaw. The blows barely seemed to register, his opponent than quickly flipped back onto to their hands, their feet going into the air, twisting on their hands they threw a kick for Valon's head. There was a loud smack as Valon caught his opponents ankle, a small sharp blade was sticking out of his opponents boot just inches from his face. The counter attack was unexpected as Valon let go of the ankle and bent low, he drove his legs right into his opponents arms knocking them off balance and forcing their momentum upwards into the air where he drove his fist forward and caught them mid air in the stomach rag dolling them across the field. Their body crumbled on the ground as they rolled a couple times before coming to a stop at the base of a tree.
“How did I beat you so easily Elise?”
Valon watched as his pupil slowly got to their feet, they were holding their stomach with one hand and leaning on the tree with the other. When she was steady she removed the leather mask over her face and head revealing long black straight hair, a soft fair complexioned face with eagle like green eye's.
“I faced you head on... when I should have pressed a medium to long distance attack. I should have worked on fast strikes and than retreating and thinking my next moves.”
“Exactly. You do not face an opponent with superior strength in close combat unless you know you can fell them before they can strike you. You must always take into account what your opponent is as well as their strengths and weakness's. What is one strength a Mezmer has in close quarters combat?”
“A Mezmer has inhuman strength so their blows at close range are lethal if not deadly. Mezmers are also capable of taking a lot of pain, some in fact can not even feel pain, so attacks with hand to hand are useless unless combined by some form of magic or ability that makes the blow more effective.”
Valon walked up to Elise, his face was expressionless as it always was but he raised one of his hands and put it on top of her head.
“Good. Remember that mistakes like this can cause death, do not underestimate your opponents and even more so never overestimate your own abilities. Guardian's have no need to prove anything, nor should they ever live in a mindset where they want to prove something. We protect that which can not protect itself, nothing more and nothing less. Do you understand?”
“Yes Sir, next time I will do better.”
Valon nodded his approval as he removed his hand from her head, he motioned his head for her to leave the courtyard.
“Get something to eat than I want you to return to study and review your texts, more specifically the different types of races and cultures.”
Elise bowed her head and put her fist to her chest in respect and limped slowly to the entrance and disappeared from sight. Valon watched her nodding his head at her, walking back over to his original spot he picked up his overcoat.
“I see your training is as rough as always, I have been hit by many a blows but only a Mezmer makes a point to put so much strength into even the simplest punch. Although now and days you seem to be holding back, seems like a time ago your hits did a lot more damage.”
Valon turned as he unfolded his coat and tossed it upwards in the air and let his arms slide through the sleeves as it slid down his body resting on his shoulders.
“Times change Councilor, Pupils in this day and age are not so willing to have their ribs broken while merely training. Seems like the more time goes on the more soft applicants seem to become. Even Hunters are not as fierce as they once were.”
“Hm. Maybe your just really old. There is no shame in it, I remember once upon a time a Mezmer who barely uttered one single word. His eye's were always cold as steel and his entire being was tense and always on edge regardless of where he was, his first pupils were so scared of him that they nearly quit. Time does change us all in the end, even those of us who look the same as they did thousands of years ago. Alas though I did not come here to ramble about age, there is something I must discuss with you, if you would meet me in my chambers, a situation has arisen and time is short.”
- - -
Valon sat quietly in Councilor Lucretia's chambers. Very much like much of the Rome Facility the office was tantamount to stepping back in time a good hundreds of years. The walls were very tall and large and made of travertine, complimented by white half stone pillars, the floor was made of stone tiles with engravings around each corner. The area was fairly spacious and took the shape of an small oval. The furnishings all appeared to be fair bit more modern when concerning the large desk in the center of the room, the plush large chairs among various other assortments. Much of the walls on the other hand were lined with books, very old and very delicate books mixed among artifacts and a long gone era. It was always did surprise him some that no one ever guessed so many years prior that Councilor Lucretia whom was a ranking member in the old Roman Empire was in fact not completely human. Looking up Lucretia entered through the double wide doors and let them close behind him, situating himself behind the desk he looked to Valon and spoke:
“We have a situation Valon, first and foremost have you ever heard of a town called Erehwon?”
In truth most supernatural had heard of that small town practically in the middle of nowhere, it was a virtual safe haven for supernatural and with the Hunters constantly lurking in every country side waiting to kill... that was a much needed thing in the past years.
“Yes. I have heard of it, its is where Gringore Academy is located and maintained. I have never been there myself, I have always remained in Europe even before joining the Guardians. I believe it is in a state called Vermont.”
“Yes your right, we have a delicate situation brewing near Erehwon and if allowed to continue it could blow up into a full blown Hunter convention. We have been receiving reports from Guardians around Erehwon that humans have been disappearing outside of Erehwon and many supernatural as well have come up missing. From what I have gathered it has been restricted outside of Erehwon but it appears to be moving closer and closer to the town. About three days ago a pack of young Hunters were missing near Erehwon, no trace of them.”
Valon's face took on that of subtle confusion, the news that supernaturals and humans alike were going missing one after another was very disconcerting. It was one think for humans to disappear the reality was Humans were weak and often easily manipulated by the supernatural. Depending on who you asked they were an easy meal in some eye's. But to attack supernatural was another situation entirely, most could defend themselves and many different kinds of supernatural could not be used like humans could.
“Everyone just disappears? No trace?”
“Well the ones who don't disappear are usually found in several pieces without even a drop of blood in their entire body. An most of the supernatural who disappear always return again dead not too long after. We believe they maybe trying to help the humans and being killed for their trouble.”
Valon thought on it silently, obviously this had to do with a vampire, only they would drain a victim completely of blood. An they had the strength to rip and tear their victims apart after their feeding was done.
“A rogue Vampire? Than again Vampires do not usually disembowel their victims after they drain them and leave them to rot in pieces. Nor do they usually find it prudent to kill other supernatural beings indiscriminately.”
“Accept for newly blooded vampires who don't know how to control themselves.”
“Even than newly blooded vampire do not have a natural desire to decapitate victims. There must be some other mitigating factor to make them act in such a manner.”
Valon did not like where this heading, the only thing that he could think of would be an Elder Vampire who had gone rogue. Elder Vampires were a phenomenon all on their own, he had said many times that living a long life can bring you perspective and give you skills beyond that of even ordinary supernatural and Elder Vampires were no different. The older vampires got the more powerful they seem to get and even more so they develop in rare cases a strong telepathic link to the vampires they blood and those vampires are called their “children” whom basically become slaves.
“I believe your right, my suspicion is that we might be dealing with an Elder Vampire who is creating a nest somewhere near Erehwon. We can't sure though, you already know Elder Vampires rarely show themselves unless provoked personally and it seems logical this one is sending it's “children” to hunt for new humans to be blooded or for food. We have been able to hide the the fact that people are dieing left and right, but one body was discovered in a place close by called Ruxbury. Search parties are now being formed and going back and forth looking for the reported missing people.”
“An they have no idea what they are going to find if they find themselves close enough to whats causing this.. this is a volatile situation.”
Valon put his hand to his chin, the situation was not good, if this was an Elder Vampire and those search parties accidentally stumbled across it or its next somehow...
“Not to mention with those Hunters disappearing there has been a rise in their numbers in the area. The situation is spiraling, and now the Guardian I had looking into this situation is missing.”
Valon looked up slowly.
“Missing? Hunters?”
“No I don't think so, the Hunters are concentrating their search further west for now, they seem to think whatever they are looking for will be there. His last report detailed that he was looking into something in town, it was rather vague though, he said it was unrelated, it had to do with dragons blood.”
Dragons blood... it was getting better and better. Once upon a time someone had come up with the idea to take the very toxic dragon blood and use as it a weapon against humans and even supernatural alike. There was an entire situation many year prior where Dragons were being kidnapped and held for their blood to make weapons against Hunters. The only problem was Guardian's take a dim view on kidnapping and imprisonment and the operation was shut down. Permanently. Valon had been one of the Guardians present during the raid. Further more the weapons they were creating often times more than not ended up affecting innocent bystanders, it was one big problem. Valon had heard rumors that Dragon Blood was now being used in some sort of drug that gave Supernaturals and edge, however proof on the contrary was the real issue.
“What is the plan Councilor?”
“Your the plan Valon, given the extreme elements of the situation I can not afford to send Guardians whom don't have enough actual real world experience, especially if this is an Elder Vampire in the mix. You faced one before, something not many if any Guardians have had the displeasure of doing and as far as experience goes you have the most in this case. I have an outside Agent who has been working with us for many years now, he has been monitoring the situation with our Guardian who went missing, he will be waiting for you when you arrive. Apparently he had meant you before and is looking forward to seeing you again."
Valon cocked his head at Councilor Lucretia, someone he knew outside of the Guardians...
“Who?...”
---
“Vivo my friend! It has been so long since we last saw each other! How are you doing?!”
Valon's body twitched as a man wrapped his arms around him, enveloping him in a huge hug, one of which violated every rule of physical contact he had made within the last many years. His eye's were wide and scary as the man released him and backed away. Valon looked at him and his eye's become hard, it couldn't be... mousy looking man but older, long medium brown hair pulled into a pony tail, shitty complexion. Valon recalled and incident years ago when a young Hunter tried to kill him in Rome, he had captured him and chained him to a wall for hours on end to soften him up. Though he did not kill him that day, he pitied him and let him live to fight another day when he was not so weak. In all his years though he had never imagined that same kid would not be working on their side. An Vivo... did he just call him... Vivo?
“Okay, the hug was probably a bit over the top but we don't want anyone thinking anything around here, just two old friends greeting each other... and jesus do your eye's ever change or is that hereditary or something? Did anyone ever tell you to try decaf by chance?"
He whispered lower in Valon's ear as the Mezmer looked around the train station quietly. There was quite a few humans in here, he was not used to big crowds like this anymore, he hadn't been in the real world for many odd years now. Not to mention considering where he came from it was almost like he had stepped through some portal into the 21st century. The train ride in itself had been filled with people, all of them on some sort of handheld device, they talked to them like they were people. Playing images with music, something called Youtube.
“Also by the by you wouldn't happen to have any other clothes your looking a bit ancient, you could really use...”
The man stopped cold in his talking as Valon was glaring at him very hard and very scary as if he finished that line of wording he would die instantly. The man suddenly laughed nervously placing a hand on Valon's shoulder.
“You could really use another set so I can have the same outfit! It is awesome its almost like going back in time to another era! Love it! I have always enjoyed cosplaying myself!”
Cosplaying? What the hell was that? Valon didn't get a chance to ask as he was lead away from the arrival platform and through another entrance into the station itself. The man was going on about this and that, about the town in general, and famous landmarks and places to visit. To tell the truth Valon was a Demon lost in time as he looked around, everything was... different way different from the facility in Rome.
“By the way my name is Calvin, or Cal I don't think you ever got my name all those years ago. Also I grabbed this from the post office...”
Cal handed a large wrapped package to Valon, the package was most definitely his sword which had to be sent separately to avoid questions. Valon started to unravel the package but Cal quickly stopped him.
“Lets just uh.. open that in the car while were driving to Erehwon. I already had to convince the post office it was a family heirloom and not to be used in a mass murder.”
“Car? Aren't we just going to... walk?”
Cal snorted before he started laughing really hard like the thought of walking was the funniest thing in the world. When he realized the death gaze was on him again he immediately coughed into his hand a couple times and cleared his throat.
“Um no, its a bit of a distance from here so a car would be faster, you know, vroom, vroom. Please follow me and we will be on our way.”
Valon sighed to himself, maybe the Councilor was right... maybe he was just... old.
@Arachnid0 Amazing what one finds lying around, such a fine thing. If Emma has no objections I say you are accepted ^^ feel free to come as yourself to the Halloween party when we throw it ;)
Understood.👓
@Dutchess Sarah From what I understand this is massive sandbox RP so we can start however we like and do whatever we like as long as the things we do are not conflicting with the mechanics or the lore of the RP itself. For example I won't even be starting in Nowhere, I will be sent there to investigate nearby murders of a rather gruesome nature. So I will essentially be new to town. Your not required to go to the academy, you go if you want to. Your story is pretty much whatever you make it.
My discord practically gets no use. Why not? ^^
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