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November 18, 8:55 P.M.
West Commons, The Pale HorseMorgan smirked as he thoughtlessly waved a hand at Baldwin's rebukes towards old names,
" Of course Baldwin, I hardly mean to dredge up old tales and stories," he replied, refilling his own glass after Baldwin had set it back down, watching the man eat, obviously enjoying the meal. Something about the man tickled at the back of his mind, like a riddle half remembered, the answer just out of reach.
"After all, we are now citizens of the fair city Voldoa, whose walls protect us and hosts see to all our needs, no longer must we stay sharp for fear of being hunted, nor isolate a meal as the hunter" he continued in what sounded like rehearsed lines ,
"I'd like to think of myself as a testament to such, after all, I've got a business with customers and everything, just like any well respected man," he said, a thin trail of smoke escaping as he spoke, whipping around in the air like an animal in a trap,
"Hell, I'd even go so far as to say we're positively civilized," he said with a sigh, a dark chuckle following after.
Morgan paused, tilting his ear as he thought he heard a baying out in the street. It was probably just some stray dog or perhaps a werewolf, but the sound brought him back to the days where he had ran with the faes of the hunt, the few instances he'd indulge more base insincts. His eyes widened as the memories made him realize what had seemed off about his friend.
Morgan shivered at the memory before his normal calm demeanor returned in a flash, the moment gone quickly. He watched the fellow eating carefully, soaking in the familiar feeling. He'd never be able to explain it to someone who'd never experienced it before. It was that feeling of a power in the air after lightning struck the ground, fast and certain in its arrival. With it came feelings of both immense anger and a tranquil acceptance of peace. It was inevitable and it would not negotiate. Death was a part of Baldwin's near future, and a fair amount at that. With a large grin appearing and tendrils of smoke that writhed and grasped for an unseen target seeped from his collar, Morgan finished his drink and poured himself another glass, topping off the ancient lizard.
" But enough of such talk, perhaps you are right, mayhaps it's the future we should set our sights," he said, a laugh escaping his lips.
"After all, who knows what could come next."________________________________________________
November 18, 1:20 A.M.
Market->Arboretum->Overlook The roads were wind and fury as Morgan sped through them, a mad cackle that had chilled man's blood for centuries issued from his throat as he whipped down streets and through alleyways. Gone were the suits and baubles, all finery of men replaced with the vestiges he had been born with, metal armor of a faded grayish purple tint covering his form, ancient druidic runes carved along them glowing faintly. The night was alight with both the light of a waning moon and the dull blue coming from the iridescently glowing mane of his steed, the creature now resembling less a horse and seeming like some reptilian ancestor, large dark scales covering its skin, save for the head, which was little more than bone and tendons, a sharp whiny escaping the beasts throat now and again, the staccato of hooves on road a war drum to Morgan's ears. It had been much too long for the two of them, hidden behind these walls. While he enjoyed the slice of life he had gained for himself, this is what he had been made for.
He knew he had been following Baldwin's trail, the constant call of death death in his ears had been with him even after the old lizard had left, and mere hours into the night he had handed over control of the tavern to Jacque. The cats knew what he needed tonight, and he was sure they'd come through for him, but little entered his mind now save for the hunt. The air was growing thick with electricity as he entered the Arboretum, passing by trees, wildlife, and dryads with nary a look. He felt two lives coming to an end on the mountain. One of the men was lucky, a blow to the neck on a boulder killing him instantly. The second was not so lucky, as Morgan felt the slow ebb of life drain, he could tell the man had landed on some sort branch, the limb having pierced through his lung, the organ filling with blood every time he breathed.
Morgan looked to where the lights of life were fading away, seeing the mountain peaks in the distance, his destination made clear by the bright flare,as something set ablaze, men on one side of the inferno, a strange winged being on the other. Morgan urged his steed towards the flames, dropping the reins as he grabbed his head from atop his shoulders. His other hand plunged into the gaping hole left, the tendrils of smoke seeming to caress his hand as it entered, searching for a relic of days gone by.