The Crossing

[Black9]

Later that day, Anna stared at the sky as the sun was slowly replaced by the moon while thoughts of this entire situation came to mind. To tell the truth, Anna knew that the ability to use magic was inherited through her bloodline, yet never had she figured out quite how to conjure it. The fact of the matter was...the power scared her. For most of her life, she was told that she was a being that should have never been born. She was told that her mother and father had far too much power to procreate and that may just spell trouble for the future. Truth is, Anna didn't know what she was. On the outside, she was nothing but a normal girl...that just happen to know how to fight. On the inside...who knew what dwelled within. Anna had always imagined it as a beast...a beast fighting to break out of the cage within her soul. The incident back at the mirror only heightened the fear from within. Fang had all but possessed her for the second time...that was when the beast immerged and showed its ugly face. It fought back with a level of consciousness that would even boggle Fang's mind.

 

Citizen-"So, you coming in or were you planning to sleep on the roof again?"

Anna-"Not quite yet. I think I'll go check out the mirror one last time."

Citizen-"Alright, I'll see ya later then?"

Anna-"Count on it."

 

Slowly making her way back to the mirror, Anna once again entered the temple and almost immediately noticed the citizen was still asleep near her last location. Not wanting to disturb the man...Anna instead focused on the mirror's entrance. She could feel some kind of power eminating from the other side. Was it the people that had saved her before? Better question...how could she feel them? It was the beast...Anna trusted it as far as she could throw it...and that's not very far. How could anyone trust her when there was always the chance that she could lose control? Feeling overwhelmed, Anna turned and retraced her path out of the temple.

[Solivagus]

Briefly Tanuchan studied the figure infront of her. It looked like Heinrich. The same height and build, same cynical look, same face. And yet there was something about his eyes...an overlying air of menace and violence that forced her to surpress a shudder. His apparel was changed as well. In place of the robes he previously wore he was dressed in a loose tunic elaboratly decorated with blue flames. At his side was a curved katana, the hilt set with gems of many colours. Then the figure spoke.

 

"Hail, mage. I am honoured that you choose to come to talk to me yourself!" Despite the mocking overtone of the voice the figure bowed respectfully to Tanuchan. He seemed to pass Vanessa off as some form of escort.

 

"I bring you greetings and warnings from Lord Kharmask, ruler of the Abyss. My Lord recently gained knowledge of a Vampire who travelled from another realm to this one. Judging that there was insufficiant time to discover the strength of this realm, I was sent. I am of the Death Guard and am here to serve you within my abilities and my Lords guidelines."

 

Bowing once more, he folded his arms and waited for any questions Tanuchan might have.

[Tanuchan]

"I am no mage... Heinrich" said Tanny levelly, hiding her surprise at him brushing Vanessa off. "And how one of the Abyss' Death Guard has got possession of the body and... mind... of one of ours?"

 

Several questions pressed her mind, each one more urgent than the previous one, until she forced herself to focus on the exact words that the demon-turned-human said. Never taking her eyes from his, she continued carefully, "What do you know about the Vampire lord, and what's the interest of Lord Kharmask on him?"

 

As Heirich sneered, Tanny cut in with another question, "You say also you are here to serve within your abilities and your Lord's guidelines." She stressed the last phrase significantly. "What are those guidelines?"

 

Can we trust someone who comes as a demon? Is he still Heinrich or... some twisted version of him, who comes with his own purpose and won't stop at anything to succeed... even attacking his former friends?

Edited November 9, 2004 by Tanuchan

[Black9]

It didn't take long for the town of Silent Hill to fall to the shadows. Silence filled the streets with the exception of a few high pitched cries and low tempered moans that randomly were heard from various areas of the town. Darkness blanketed the entire area within ten feet of the Silent Hill's borders and the voice of only one vampire ruled the town with an iron fist. Fang inhabited the central most building, as it was the most grandeur and also towered above all others on a hill of grand size. It was said that the dead now ruled this town, as the very thought of a living soul still remaining within the Town walls was now preposturous. Fang sat on his throne with the ego of a dragon upon its lair. Phase one was complete and now is when the fun would truly begin.

 

Fang-"Ha! The inhabitants of this world think they can bring ME down? I have swatted more powerful flies in my sleep. Now that phase one is complete, it's time to put the next piece in place. I will find that little brat if it takes my entire army. You hear me, Anna...your soul will be mine...one way or another! Guards, send me one of our vampire brethren!" The social structure of Fang's army was simple. He was of course their master. Below him were only a few chosen souls that were given the opportunity for advancement. Fang had under him a mere total of ten vampire brethren. These ten were chosen as they were the most deserving of the town's population and therefore the only ones Fang really gave a hoot about. The vampires commanded the remaining legions of the dead in a strict manner. After all, Fang's patience was little to none and that was overstating the matter. The remainder of his army was built of infectious zombies...zombies that if bitten...their foe would quickly fall to the virus and become one them. Wraith, the final component to the force, had the power of a deafening scream and weren't bad wih their bone swords either. It was at this point when one of the ten vampire entered the Great Hall, the main room of the capital building and honored Fang with a bow.

 

vampire-"You called for me, Master?"

Fang-"Took you long enough! Yes, I called for you some time ago!"

vampire-"But Master Fang...it has only been five minutes...this town is no small area to patrol."

Fang-"I don't want to hear your excuses, vampire...just do better next time. Now, it is time to execute phase two of my master plan. I want you to take your minions and find a girl for me."

 

vampire-"A girl, sire? Is this all you ask of me? I have better uses of my time. What possible use can this...GIRL...be to us?" To this, Fang slammed his fist into the floor boards with such force...that they split on contact. The angered glare in Fang's eyes was all but self evident to anyone within his vacinity.

 

Fang-"First of all, YOU are not one to lecture ME! Second, this...GIRL...has everything to do with me...not us! You would do well to remember this! I should have your head on a platter right here and now...but this time and ony this time, I will look the other way! Now, this girl is recognized by the name of Anna and is from an adjacent world to your own. Beware...she way seem helpless at first appearance, but don't underestimate her power. I have already given you the specs on her appearance. Now, go and do my bidding! Oh, and get someone in here to fix this floor."

 

vampire-"But Master, you..."

Fang-"What did I just tell you?"

vampire-"Yes, sir! Right away sir!" And with that, the vampire left post haste It was just now sinking in that Fang ment business and that could very well bring a damper in his new found undead life. Before the Commander could leave, though, Fang was heard one last time.

 

Fang-"And Commander...don't disappoint me...for I have been known to kill the messenger! Come back empty handed and I will have your head!"

 

vampire-"But master Fang, you only wanted me to locate the girl...did you not?"

Fang-"You know very well my orders. Now be gone with you...before I find myself in a bad mood. Trust me...you don't want me to be in a...Bad mood!"

 

Commander-"Aren't you in bad mood already, Sire?"

Fang-"THIS IS NOT A BAD MOOD!"

[Tamaranis]

The consumption of Silent Hill by a plague of undeath happened so suddenly that it was completed before it was detected. Tendrils of darkness spread out from it in the form of patrols of zombies and wraiths, but didn't extend very far.

 

Except for one tendril. A single vampire of significant power moved away from the necropolis of Silent Hill and approached the Mighty Pen keep, following the trail of one called Anna. It was this particular tendril that was first noted.

 

Unknown to Black, tendrils of darkness already covered much of the Mighty Pen keep and its surrounding area. This was a darkness different from his master, a sublter one that did not darken the day, but rather hid from the light. These subtler tendrils, however, where not unaware of Black. When the vampire moved across them their dark energy resonated from the proximity of his own, and that resonance flowed up the tendrils to their source.

 

In a spire of black stone, easily visible from the walls of the Pen Keep, Tamaranis was alerted to Black's movements and his attention was turned in that direction.

 

***

 

It seemed to Brygad that everyone but him was in on this little mindspeak club. He was regreting that right now. Even though she probably knew it already, he wished he had some silent way to warn her to be wary of that creature, and to try and give him a clear shot if it suddenly attacked. Normally he'd be quite confident in his ability to put a bolt through the demon before it got anywhere near Tanuchan, but he'd just missed, something that happened very rarely, and it unnerved him.

 

He'd never met a creature from the Abyss that he hadn't had to kill in defence of his own life. Granted those creatures had been summoned by demonologists and were only following summoner's orders, but they had all seemed to take a delight in doing so.

Edited November 11, 2004 by Tamaranis

[Vanessa]

Suddenly Vanessa recoiled from the figue she and Tanuchan were facing, her expression full of fear and recognition, a look of shock entering her eyes. At the same time Maralasoth let out a shrill cry of terror. The people upon the walls of the Keep tensed, and Tanuchan barely resisted the impulse to look about nervously. Recovering herself, Vanessa let out a hiss of recognition.

 

"Mazrim!" The name was uttered with loathing and hatred, escaping her mouth as if she could not bear for it to remain upon her tounge any longer than needed. Tanuchan saw Heinrichs eyes flare suddenly from the previously intense blue to the deep dark red of flame. From the figures mouth came a cruel, mocking laugh.

 

"So, little elf, you have learnt to see clearly past the phsyical, that is good. You will need such skills in the times ahead."

 

"We need no aid from you, now or ever! Go back to whatever hell you came from!" Vanessa's voice wavered slightly, as if she could barely force herself to speak.

 

"You are a foolish child playing games, elf. Even now I see you trying to recall the lore of your ancestors. You cannot truly believe that you are a match for me? Mazrim of the Forsaken?" Laughter issued forth again, weighing heavily upon Vanessa's shoulders.

 

"You should be grateful, princess. We have returned Heinrich to you. You are reunited once more. Congratulations..."

 

Vanessa shuddered under the wieght of the demons words before turning to Tanuchan. Her voice when she spoke was weary but strong, filled with conviction. All sign of drink seemed to have been taken from it.

 

"Open the gates. He...he is a friend."

[Pillow]

"Presidente," Collie Pawell informed the former Sharpein dictator,"The first of our gliders are ready for take off."

 

Pilocanci nodded," Very well. Arm it with duster missiles and guilded plaster rounds. I will pilot it myself!"

 

Jawl Arfcroft padded over to Pilocanci,"Mr. Presidente," the brown and black spotted sharpein informed,"According to intellegence reports from that mercenary squarrel commando force we hired, a large area of the population south of here have turned into zombies."

 

" I see," Pilocanci commented,"What do we have that can take down zombies?"

 

"We have the 'Dooker" tank," Mr. Pawell offered. The 'dooker' tank was more or less a large armored septic tank on wheeels that had a modified water cannon that could knock down an advancing charge from an attacking army. The smell wouldn't do much to the zombies, but the acidic discharge that was flushed through would rapidly disolve the bodies of the undead. Pilocanci could drive it, and Mr. Pawell could load the septic cannon, but they would need someone to fire the darned thing. Looking around, he saw a likily canadate in Brygad. "Mr. Pawell, could you ask that gentleman there if he could give us some help?"

 

"I'll see what I can do, Mr. President," Mr. Pawell offered before trotting over to Brygad. In Nrygad's native tongue, the Sharpein former Secretary of State asked Brygad,"Excuse me, but I was wondering if you could lend us a hand?" Brygad looked down at the small dog, puzzled, as Mr. Pawell explained what the Shapeins needed.

[Tanuchan]

Tanny narrowed her eyes at Vanessa's reaction, frowning. Heinrich saw the doubt on Tanuchan's face, felt her uncertainty of him surrounding her like a palpable aura. And, suddenly, the powerful mind-touch comes again to Tanny.

 

:The Death Guard do not "take possesion. It is a joining between demon and spirit, and only the most powerful are chosen for the joining. I must have been great in my former existance. Unfortunatly the joining between demon and and spirit is not perfect, even when performed by the Lord. Memories and former feelings of the spirit host are almost totally erased.:

 

She made an unconscious gesture of denial at the forced contact, and felt in surprise the alien mind leave. The Death Guard looked at her, continuing with his peculiar, mocking overtone, "Lady, you asked what I knew, and I know this. The Vampire Lord has already taken over at least one town in this world of yours. The people have become slaves to his will, servants to his tyranny. When he first came to this land he was but one, now he is many. You may open up holes in the ground for eternity, but eventually he will succeed. Your chances of success will be greatly increased with the help of the Death Guard."

 

Looking at Vanessa, now so sure of herself, then again at Heinrich, who waited in cold silence, Tanny finally nodded.

 

"I... will trust you. At least... a measure of trust."

 

Then, turning to the battlements, she also asked in a voice surer than her own thoughts, "Open the gates. I... agree with Vanessa."

 

Slowly, in spite of some audible grumbling coming from above, the gates opened.

Edited November 10, 2004 by Tanuchan

[Black9]

Meanwhile, while all this was happening, Black (the name of the commanding vampire...not me) advanced ever closer to the Mighty Pen. Black, noticing that his soldiers were acting strange, called for them to halt, and slowly turned the squad's direction. The look in Black's eye could only be described as deadly serious...it was clear that humor of any kind would be lost to the Commander. Black stared down upon his troops from a few feet in the air...they were looking about...searching for something.

 

Black-"What is the problem, soldier?"

Skeleton-"Master, there is something following us."

Black-"Do you think I am not already aware of such an occurance? I don't have time for your petty problems and observations! I will tell you right here and now, that if this soul decides to show himself...he will be met with extreme prejudice. After all, I can sense some kind of darkness to this one. A darkness somewhat different to my own. He would be a fool to take us on in such a rash manner." Turning to the surrounding area, Black spoke out to the dark forces he had felt moving about them.

 

Black-"And if you are listening, which I am sure you are...I request you speak up and stop this foolish game of tag. I am on a mission given to me by my master. I am in search of a young lady by the name of Anna. If you have seen her and you deliver her to me as soon as possible...you will be handsomely rewarded. What do you want? Would you like a weapon of unimaginable power...or would you rather have a town of your very own. Perhaps I'm thinking too small...Master Fang will give you an empire for this one simple gesture. What do you say? Think about it...if you decide to cooperate...feel free to speak up...and for (blank) sakes...reveal yourself! I am tired of talking to shadows!"

[Black9]

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of travel, a great structure was just coming into view. Black knew not where this was, but he knew one thing and that was the fact that Anna had journeyed this way. It was only logical to suggest that she was hiding out in the community before them. By the time that Black and his little army approached the Keep...the door had just finished being shut and it looked as if they had simply allowed some poor soul to enter their walls. Ordering his army to hold their ground, Black approached the Keep with extreme smugness and spoke with a loud and easily understood voice.

 

Black-"Greetings...I am Black. My master has sent me here on a mission of utmost importance. I am to retrieve a young woman by the name of Anna. If you would be so kind as to bring her to me...willingly...you and your people will be greatly rewarded. If you choose instead to resist...I have orders to get the job done using any means possible. Now...what is your answer?"

[Pillow]

For a moment, silence fills the air. Then, a loud screech lets loose over head as a Sharpein combat glider flies low over the heads of the undead army in a warning pass. The glider arcs high in a wide turn, making another strifing run.

 

"This is Presidente Georg W. Pilocanci," A voice from inside the compound said over a loud speaker. The voice was understandible to all due to the newly finished translators the Sharpeins had made. "You will order your army to stand down now or I will be forced to have my combat gliders and tanks engage and destroy your army! You have five minutes to comply!"

 

Pilocanci put down the microphone and headed over to the make-shift hanger to finish readying his glider. He know the vampire wouldn't surrender without taking a lot of casualties. If it was war he wanted, it was war he was going to get!

Edited November 16, 2004 by Pillow

[YanYanGanaffi]

Yan Yan Ganaffi watched as more and more Sharpeins poured through the mirror gate. The one called "Mr. Pawell" had discovered that the mirror could be set to more then just one realm, including the Canine homeworld.The Sharpeins, not much bigger then large raccoons, carried an assortment of weapons and gadgets. Next to Yan Yan stood Mr. Pawell, who barked instructions to the incoming troops. Yan Yan could understand the dogs now thanks to the translator in his ear that was provided by the Sharpein scientists Pilocanci had brought with him. One grey furred Sharpein entered the room throught the mirror. He raised his paw in salute, which Mr. pawell returned. "Welcome, General Barker. We have a situation. Appearently, an army of undead are outside the humaniod compound. We haven't finished Black Star Air Base yet, but we have our vehicles and aircraft already here. We just don't have anyone other then the Presidente's cabinet to operate them. That's why we called on you."

 

"Very well," the General replied," I have a force of two hundred infantry and twice that in support personnel. It will take time to get them all through the gate, but we're doing the best we can. Where is Presidente Pilocanci?"

 

"He is up on the battlements demanding the enemy to stand down. Mr. Arfcroft is using a glider to buzz the enemy troops,"Pawell informed,"Most of the gliders are ready."

 

"And the tanks?"

 

"One is up and completely operational," Mr. Pawell continued," The others can be readied shortly. Our Flea-Hopper Transports are still in storage, however, they do have enough fuel to run the course of this engagement."

 

"The Flea-Hoppers are not neccessary," General Barker responded," The enemy force is much to close anyway. What about them?" General Barker pointed at Yan Yan.

 

"Well, General," Mr Pawell said," Most of them know a primative form of sub-electron manipulation that has been somewhat effective in combat so far. They call it magic. Presidente Pilocanci has limited use in non-permanent trasformation of biological masses. This one, a Mr. Yan Yan Ganaffi seems to be able to create small vacuums in the air that forces wind to shift into whatever direction is needed. From what I've seen, he can make the equiviant of a small twister."

 

"And how, exactly, does that help," the General asked.

 

"I don't know, sir," Yan Yan interjected," but when I added that bail of burning hay and made a fire tornado out of it, it took that demon outside down a notch."

 

The general raised a wrinkled eyebrow,"Demon?"

 

"I'll tell you about that later, General," Mr. Pawell assured as they went to see Pilocanci...

[YanYanGanaffi]

Yan Yan stood there as the pair went off to find Pilocanci. After a moment, Yan Yan stopped one of the Sharpeins carrying what looked like a small metal tube about the size of an aluminium baseball bat. "Excuse me," Yan Yan asked. The dark brown and black striped Sharpein stopped and looked at the scout,"Yes?"

 

"What is that you're carrying?"

 

"It's a CX-12 Plaster rifle," the little dog like creature explained,"It fires a stream of gel that becomes rock hard on contract with the air after 30 seconds."

 

"Really," Yan Yan smiled," I have two questions; how do you fire it, and did you bring any extra ones?"

[Black9]

Surrender? Black knew of the word, but had never acted on it. Being of Fang's mind frame, Black calculated that it would be a far better use of his current troops to see what kind of resistance this...Keep...had to offer. Still, he had not achieved his goal to find out if Anna was inside and would have to do so if he was to keep his head. After all, he was quite the escape artist...that is...if he was caught in the first place. Telling his army to stand down, Black flew closer to the compound and landed on the nearby wall. The first thing he noticed was that weapons were pointed his direction...weapons created by man. These did not concern him as the only power he really feared was magic.

 

Black-"Please, mortal weapons? Thay may affect my troops...I, however...don't give a hoot." This little speech didn't seem to change much as the forces on the wall only grew in number. Black expected this...he would like to say it was what he would have done...but it wasn't. If it were up to him, all interlopers would be put to a swift death! Few...perhaps...not so swift.

 

Guard 1-"Stand down, Vampire!"

Guard 2-"Do you surrender?"

Black-"Yes, but I demand to speak to someone with authority! I will not carry on this conversation with an underling like you!" 'The fools don't know who they're dealing with! There is only one path to the top...know your enemy...know yourself and you hold the key to victory!' Becoming impatient, Black spoke out to all inhabitants of the Keep.

 

Black-"Is someone going to deal with this situation or not? I refuse to negotiate with your underlings!"

[Pillow]

"Presidente," one of the Sharpein elite guard inform Pilocanci," the vampire wishes to surrender and settle terms."

 

"I bet he does," Pilocanci snorted," Begin the attack runs with the gliders and deploy the tanks. If the vampire tries to use magic, then we have enough Pennites to counter him. I want his army to be destroyed to the man. If we can, I want the vampire captured. If nothing else, we can lock him inside a tanning bed and extract information out of him. If he runs, he'll go straight to his master. I want to avoid that."

 

"Yes, sir," the guard informed. About that time, Mr. Pawell and General Barker came up to Pilocanci. "Welcome to the Pen, General."

 

"Thank you, Presidente," General Barker bowwed," I see that word of our troops getting here has reached your ears?"

 

"Yes," Pilocanci affirmed," And it is a god-send. What news of Wrinklestan?"

 

"The U.C.N. still has military control over the country for now. We have been receiving both weapons and financial support from Weingerland. The Huskians are sending a few special forces units the reinforce our cells in Wrinklestan. They were kind enough to loan us several static net launchers with ammunition. We brought a few with us."

 

"I remember those," Mr. Pawell stated," don't they destablize electro-magnetic fields generated by both biological and mechanical sources?"

 

"Not only that, but 'magical' ones as well," the general smiled. "I was wondering, Presidente; do we still have the Shristag fuel source captured from the New Fleasians?"

 

"Yes," Pilocanci informed," It is in a small bunker under the Keep. We will move it to the air base as soon as it's completed."

[Tamaranis]

After a quick cursory examination of the cannon of the “Dooker” tank Brygad came to the conclusion that it’s operation was fairly simply and he could fire it easily enough. To really be effective he’d need a little practice, to adjust to the tremendous difference in velocity between a stream of acid and a crossbow bolt. But he could do it.

 

He also came to the conclusion that on the whole this “tank” was the most effective piece of siege machinery he’d ever laid eyes on, and he’d laid eyes on some very effective siege engines, many of them designed by himself. In the back of his mind ideas for countermeasures against Sharpein technology sprung up, unbidden. The habit of a professional mercenary and siege engineer.

 

The thing about it was that he immediately dismissed most of the ideas as hopelessly ineffective, hopelessly elaborate, or hopelessly beyond his ability to construct. A modified trebuchet came to mind, that could fire stones at a low angle with consistent force, and with a skilled team, could be used to accurately against large objects on the ground. He’d built a similar device before, but this one would need further adjustment to be useful against Sharpeins.

 

Some sort of coating to keep it’s operating mechanisms from seizing up if hit with one of those plaster bombs the sharpeins had mentioned. He didn’t know nearly enough about alchemy for that, he didn’t even know any alchemists who knew enough about alchemy to do that. And it would take a few of the plaster bombs to study as well. And the static net they’d mentioned. Maybe an alchemist could find something that would insulate against it’s effect, but probably a mage would be needed to prepare enchantments against it. And once again, that mage would need a few nets to study, or perhaps more than a few, magical research tended to be messy.

 

It would take years before a prototype could be produced, maybe a decade to actually build something really useful. And by then the Sharpeins would probably have come up with entirely new problems for anyone on the other side...

 

Brygad shook his head to clear the logistics from it. These... people were on his side, and it was probably going to stay that way. He didn’t need to worry about the nightmare that would be trying to bring the armaments of any army in the world up to the level the sharpeins were operating on.

 

And at least he hadn’t seen any personal weapons in their possession as directly deadly and powerful as his own crossbow. At least he was still beating them there.

 

As for the fact that he was discussing this with a clearly sentient and articulate, but also clearly canine creature, that would have thrown him off a few weeks ago, but stuff like this was standard around here, and it didn’t seem so unthinkable.

 

“Well, I think before we ride this thing into a troop of zombies I’d like to take a few practice shots and get a feel for the weapon,” Brygad concluded. “I don’t know how effective acid with be against the undead though. Humans and most other living things are usually done for if they’ve got no skin left, but that sort of thing doesn’t really bother zombies. If we could get someone to sanctify the acid first, though, it would probably burn through zombies like parchment.”

 

“We Sharpeins aren’t much for magic,” Mr. Pawell said, “And I’m not sure how mixing it with acid works.”

 

“I’m not really much for magic, either,” Brygad admitted, “But most people around here are, I’m sure we can find someone who can cast a spell like that.”

 

***

 

Several miles above the Might Pen Keep was a creature that looked very out of place so high in the air. It resembled a centipede, except that it was much larger, it’s body stretching out for nearly a hundred meters. The other notable way it diverged from the garden-variety centipede was that it’s many legs seemed to somehow find purchase in thin air.

 

A few decades ago, over a century of effort on the part of Tamaranis had paid off, resulting in a curse being removed from their race. He didn’t directly control the dragoons, but out of a sort of loyalty several still served him. Because they were such useful creatures, he rarely requested that they participate in combat, the risk of losing one was too great. Instead, they gathered information more quickly and efficiently than even the supernatural senses of an archmage were capable.

 

This dragoon was currently observing the happenings at the walls of the keep. It’s keen senses allowed it to observe the details of what was going on, and its psionic ability allowed it to keep track of the motivations of those involved. Another effect of its psionic ability was that it could rapidly transmit the images and feelings it was perceiving to Tamaranis. Tamaranis responded with a sort of vague amusement at the notion of such a creature as Black attempting an assault against the keep, but nothing else.

Edited November 17, 2004 by Tamaranis

[Riven]

Riven had been out for his morning flight when he had spotted the army of the undead.

Riven swooped down, grabbing a two of the undead in his hands, chanting a mantra, the zombies turned to dust. A zombie grabbed Riven's foot and began to pull him into the army of undead. Calling for his warhammer, it magically appeared in his hand, with a single blow, he crushed the zombie's head, forcing it to let him go. Riven knew if he planned to stop this undead army he would need his own army so, he turned back towards his kingdom of North Wind to ready his troops.

 

"Fool!" Black called out to Riven. Riven stopped in midair to face the person calling him. Riven readied his warhammer for a fight, he senced the vampire was powerful, and not to be taken lightly. Riven was not prepared for a battle, only wearing a tunic and a pair of briches, and no weapons.

 

An ampilified voice spoke to the undead army, demanding their surrender. Seeing the vampire distracted Riven flew at full speed towards the voice, to see if he could lend a hand.

 

Riven landed within the keep, and made his way to where Tanuchan and the others were. "Demons!" Riven readied his warhammer as he began to advance on the other demon, Tanny stepped in front of Riven before he could act. "He is a friend." She explained to him, "A friend?" Riven looked confused, "Yes...here let me explain."

Tanny explained as quickly as possibe what had transpired, with that Riven replied, "You have my warhammer and my magic, use them as you will."

[Black9]

Black grew tired of this foolishness. His plan to infiltrate the compound had already been ruined. Not wanting this day to be a complete loss, he ordered his army back to Silent Hill and turned the Keeps direction with an evil glare in his eyes.

 

Black-"Fools! I may not be able to defeat you all...but I can most certainly search your Keep for my master's trophy!" Skilled in the arts of evasion, Black dashed the Keeps way with a dead serious manner and flew over the walls...using his fleeing army as a distraction. That's all they were good for at this point. Besides...they could always take over another unsuspecting town. Flying over the walls, the first thing Black noticed was the fact that cross-bows were aimed his way.

 

Black-"Ha! Man made weapons are nothing to the likes of me!" Black laughed evily as the arrows came flying his direction and flew straight though small pockets of mist as he landed upon the inner dwellings of the Pen's walls. Noticing the glint of a sword charging his way...Black misted just as the balde would have decapitated him. For a second, the head of the vampire lifted off of his body and spoke.

 

Black-"I guess this puts me ahead of you! Get it...a-head?" Receiving no laughs...Black misted back together and dashed the way of the inner keep...quickly being pursued by a horde of warrior and mages. Leaping through small cracks in walls, Black surprised a few Pen members by suddenly appearing and then vanishing without a trace through the other wall. It went this way through most of the Keep...as he started running into more challenging barriers of holy energy...not to mention various other forms of magic. By now, the wear and tear upon his mortal form was becoming increaseningly painful. Black knew that he couldn't last much longer...though a return without Anna's location would mean death.

 

Black-"Better to die in combat...then to the hands of Fang!" Leaping through one last wall, Black found himself in a room with a strange mirror and a few lower ranking guards. Quickly clearing the room of resistance, Black called upon his dark powers to check the last known coordinates of the mirror...besides the one it showed him to begin with.

 

Black-"The Temple of Mythul? It's better then nothing. The girl certinaly isn't here!" Realizing that members of the Keep were stationed just behind him...Black turned and spoke one final time.

 

Balck-"I'm impressed! Most beings can't track me...and you seem to have quite a knack for it. See you at the Temple of Mythul!" Black just misted through the wall before a barrage of magics crashed into his last location. If he'd had still been there, he'd have been torn to cinders. Arriving on the other side...Black felt pain like no other. Grimacing with the excharge of the holy spells...Black vanished into the horizon with little more than an evil laugh.