Chapter 5 " A Path Set On Skulls And Paved In Blood " page 22 ' Lost Brothers Reunited And First Blood Is Drawn ' ~ Prologue ~ The Skimmer Airship flew through the sky with a trail of smoke following behind it marking its flight path. Aboard the tiny airship were two passengers. The Elf took her attention off of the wheel to look back, "We're slowing down. You have to fix it because if we don't make it in time . . ." He looked back holding a wrench in one hand, "You know this isn't my expertise, if you'd like to switch places I'd be happy to steer for awhile." She smirked, "You know how inept I am with all of this technology. Sorry I didn't mean to rush you." She looked down at her son putting his full effort into another job like he always does. It pained her not to tell him but . . . "How did he find out about it? I mean do you really think that Micheal would do that to the entire city?" he intterupted as a tear then ran down his cheek at an old memory. "We both saw what he did to East Cameron," She looked ahead to the setting sun, "I just hope that we are in time to save Miragon." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Ball was in full swing now, with the fireworks about to be set off, Enutrof and Celine danced under the chandeliers. Celine was having the time of her life twirling under the twilight with the dress she just bought the day before. She was happy to be able to wear it for such and occasion. A cracking noise could be heard from above and Cade looked up to see a large section of the roof breakway and fall to the ground. Landing on and killing a few of the dancers everyone else made a circle around it not knowing how to react as a blond man landed on top of rubble. Looking around at everyone Lucian says, "Which one of you will be the first to die," as a large cleaver forms in his hand. Six of the Crimson Knights who were guarding this area rushed forward to complete their duty while Celine and Enutrof rushed back to get their weapons and armor. Lucian made quick work of the soldiers and moved his attention to the crowd cutting many of them in two. Kai was able to keep up with his speed and punch him for some heavy damage so Lucian attacked back nearly killing Kai and draining some of his constitution away from him. Enutrof let a few arrows fly when he got back into the room. Lucian kept attacking Kai and Enutrof until he got annoyed at their inability to die so he went back into the crowd to find others to kill. From her vantage point behind the pillar Violet was too scared to move and Cade saw her standing there wide eyed as Lucian darted directly at her. Cade knew that she wouldn't be able to stand up to Lucian's attacks and pumped his crazy legs as fast as they could move, but was unable to get to Violet before Lucian did. Lucian raised his cleaver and brought it down through a pillar that started to fall over to be blocked only a few inches from Violet's face. Dio's dagger was the only thing keeping this six foot long cleaver from tearing into her flesh. "Why do you protect them Dio?" Lucian asked. "Because this one gave me mercy and protected my body," was Dio's answer. "You've gone soft Dio. Actually bonding with these meatballs. They are nothing compared to us and we should kill them all for just living." Dio stated, "Not this one." Lucian knew of Dio's determination and said, "fine," before he jumped/flew over sixty feet through the ceiling, making yet another hole. Dio jumped up to follow. Back at the not-so-secret underground base of the rebels, Nicholas quickly ran out of his room with Myr close behind him. Nicholas knew only of one thing down here in the rebel's hideout that could do damage to them. Running down the stairs and turning right towards the metal door that now was slightly ajar. "No," whispered Nicholas under his breath as he opened the door to see a large gaping hole in the ceiling leading to the streets. Xenio was no where to be seen. Rose and Orin turned around to see both Nicholas and Myr. Rose grabbed the side of the hole tearing it from the cealing and folding up her portable hole to put it in her pocket. "I think that you have more important things to worry about then us especially since we don't have a quarrel with you since our job is now done. Besides its not like this was Micheal's only plan," said Orin as they started to walk out the door. Myr demanded to know what is Micheal's other plan and Rose turned to him and whispered into his ear, "There are a dozen Bulettes that will attack the city any second now. Have fun." Nicholas knew who the bigger danger was as he rallied all of his men to get to the upper levels to help protect the city and Myr followed along taking flight once he got above ground. With all of the commotion that was happening inside the ball no one knowticed the large rumbling of the Bulettes breaking out of the ground to attack the people that have gathered for the festival. As Cade, Celine, Enutrof, and Kai exited from the ballroom they could hear hundreds of people screaming for their lives and they quickly rushed to the streets. Knowing he had to do everything that he could to protect the people that ridiculed and shunned him before Alminster joined behind the group of adventurers who seemed to surpase all of his expatations. Looking over the halfling he saw that there were some three bulettes just outside of the castle. Alminster used the power of his dragon blood to enhance his magic as he started to release several fireballs at the bulette to the west before it could hurt anyone else. To the ease a bulette finished off the last person near it then turned its attention to Elly who was trapped between two of them, she let out a loud scream. Far above her and moving quickly closer to her Clive and Charisma were getting everything they could out of their skimmer airship. Clive knew that something was wrong, he could feel it and when he heard Elly's scream he knew that there was only one thing that he could do to get down there to protect her. Taking two steps before jumping out of the ship several hundred feet off the ground he did a spin and started to fall. Before she knew his plan he had already jumped and Charisma yelled out, "Clive nooo," but he couldn't hear it with the air rushing past his ears. Back on the ground Kai tumbled past one of the bulettes so that he could get close to Elly since she had already fallen to another bulette's attacks. After Kai revived her he took a couple of chugs of saki before he started to put the hurt on the bulette in front of him. When Enutrof and Cade came into range they released some arrows while Myr was hot with his spells. Celine approached Kai's bulette to help out with that one. Cade was able to get one of the bulette's attention and suggest to it that it would be better if it left here. Alminster was able to get the bulette from stopping its attacks on the pedestrians by making it turn its attention to him. Backing up to the rear of the Party they were able to turn around and help him finish it off. The last bulette came to face Kai and Elly and release its attacks on them. Hitting the ground hard but taking no damage Clive rolled to get between the bulette and Elly. With Kai stunning that bulette it was easy to take it down. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sebastian opened to door to where he held his experiment, which had left its cage. Hearing the final rumbling of the bulettes breaking through he left that room to walk out onto one of the balconies to see what was happening. Seeing the destruction that this MAN named Micheal was doing to his city Sebastian clutched the token that Orin gave to him earlier. "You would dare attack me Micheal? Me, Longinus! If you want to call yourself God then I will do the same thing to you that I dream of doing to all gods. I will destroy you!" with that Sebastian/Longinus turned to go out in search of his prize experiment. In another part of the city Dio stood upon a roof watching as Lucian slaughtered men, women, and children alike. Lucian asked to Dio, "Why would you stop me? I mean the world is teaming with unnessary people. Its Gods desition that I fight. As a Knight of honor, as a protector of the Seal I sacrifice myself to the blood of these criminals." Dio looked down on him, "There is always exceptions." Lucian answered, "There is never an exception Dio, you know that. Delphine is disgusted by all of them just because they live, that is why we kill.And only that one makes her hesitate, once we take that Micheal from her view she will be able to continue. That is what we are here to do." With that Lucian quickly left to kill more people without Dio's intervention. Dio took to the skies to look for his youngest brother. Xenio dropped another person to the ground. He wipped the blood from his mouth with his tongue. Feeling strong once again Xenio took flight to the sky and sensed a strong power that he never felt before comming from a human that was hovering over the city. Xenio came up from behind and bit deep and hard into his neck until everything was drained away. He then released Dio who fell two hundred feet down to the streets below. Even though this blood was very rich Xenio got something along with it that he never expected, a metamorphisis that transformed him into something more powerful then he had ever been before. A purple bubble of energy surrounded him as it sparked outwards like lightning. Dio hit the ground hard making an impact crater and didn't move a muscle for almost thirty seconds before he stood up and brushed himself off to continued looking for his brother. With the deal that he made with them all he needed to do was to grab Elly and take her with him. Python waited patiently with his back to the wall that was only feet from Elly. Until he heard Clive's voice and he knew that there was no way that he would give Elly up to that bastard. With that he phased his body and jumped down at Clive releasing a full volley. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The last bulette came out from one of the side alley ways destroying much of the buildings around it. Looking around it only saw Enutrof, Alminster, and Cade close by. Giving a couple of attacks before hand it finally decided to do a jump attack on Cade missing with all of its attacks. Cade saw his opportunity with the soft underbelly of this beast right in front of him so he released a bolt right into its chest making it fall down and having it almost fall down on him. At the same time Python came out of nowhere to fire all of his rounds at Clive and phase through the ground below so he could reload in peace. He then came back up through the ground to see the one who hurt him so much before, Kai . "Painful Reckoning!" he yelled as he put both of his shotguns at Kai's chest and fired. The pellets tore through Kai's body almost taking him down. Kai was then able to trip Python and do a spinning kick while landing on his chest. Python got to his feet fired at Kai and Clive then started his ethereal transformation as he made a mad dash for Elly. With Kai down he was almost unopposed until Myr pierced him with some magic missiles and Enutrof got a really nice hit with one arrow that severly hurt Python. Only wanting one thing Python ran directly at Elly wanting to get her all for himself. Grabbing hold of her arm he was about to phase her so he could take Elly down to the catacombs with him until he was hit by Enutrof's arrow and fell to the ground regaining full form. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A dozen feet under the ground Rose and Orin stood waiting for Python. "If he comes down here let me kill him. I can't believe that he expects someone like her to actually fall in love with him. Please brother let me do it," pleaded Rose. "I only want you to be happy Rose," answered Orin. However they soon realised that Python wouldn't be joining them which only bothered Rose because she wanted to kill him. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As the Party stood over Python's body Nicholas leaned over him, "Forgive me, I should have been a better father." Landing behind Myr he looked over and said, "Ahhh, Fresh Meat!" Xenio's gaze penetrated deep down into Myr's soul to take him over. Xenio was unable to turn him against his friends but used him as a defensive measure. Cade was able to fasinate Myr and make him follow him back out of the fight. The only people who could possibly remove this from Myr were inside of the Crimson Knight castle which Cade took him to. Luckily Cade was able to find Jonis standing in the open courtyard staring up into the sky. High above everyone Dio and his brother Lucian were fighting but Cade was only worried about his friend when he asked Jonis to cure Myr. Jonis agreed and hit the top of Myr's head with his staff which released Myr from Xenio's control. With the two major spell casters gone Enutrof was the only one doing any real damage the the Uber-Vampire Xenio. Nicholas, unable to fight as he once did threw his sword, Shadow's Bane, to Clive who rushed directly at Xenio. Clive was able to do some serious damage to Xenio before he was body checked and dropped to the ground. Celine dragged Kai back to Cade so he could be healed. With Enutrof, Cade, Myr, Celine, and the now healed Kai all to the west of him Xenio went in close to draw some blood. Elly rushed over to Clive to treat his wounds but since she was unable to do anything more she just held him in her arms so she could protect him as he had always done for her. Seeing a mage in the group Xenio grabbed Enutrof and threw him hard into one of the crumbling walls. Xenio approached Myr and delt a heavy blow to him and knocking him back some thirty feet and almost killing him. As Enutrof took Xenio's attention off of Myr with some arrows to his back Myr was able to release another heavy volley of magic missiles. Being hit by Myr's magic Xenio dropped down to one knee knowing that in another ten seconds he would have enough power to take them out. Nicholas saw his opportunity and taking back his sword from the downed Clive he approached stealthfully from behind and brought Shadow's Bane down through Xenio's neck killing him once and for all. Seeing all of their enemies lying at their feet the Party thought that their job was over with but little did they know that there was another battle of both mind and might happening far above them. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Experiencing another form of death Dio stood up from the crater that his body made when it fell some two hundred feet out of the sky. When he finally caught up with his brother again he told Lucian once again that there were exceptions. Lucian unable to even comprehend what Dio was telling him took a hostage and asked, "What? Is this one of those things that you like?" With that question Lucian took the man's head clean off. Dio said that it wasn't and if Lucian actually tried to that he would regret it. "And what Dio, you'll kill me? We've both died hundreds of times both from our existance and our battles. So when I find which one of these things that you like I WILL kill it." Dio didn't like that response and took to an airal battle in the skies aboue Miragon. Dio gripped Gui'sa'mir, the chain-blade that Delphine gave him as a gift, it grew in size from a dagger to a shortsword. The two brothers charged each other exchanging blows a few times. Knowing that he couldn't win like this Lucian formed another Cleaver and attacked Dio again. With that Gui'sa'mir grew in size to a long sword as Dio deflected Lucian's attacks while dealing some heavy damage him. Lucian knew that he would never be able to win in a straight duel with Dio instead headed back to the ground to the only things he saw still out on the streets. Lucian moved full force down at them. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The party was licking their wounds when Lucian landed directly behind Enutrof and lifted his two blades to the poor rangers neck. Dio landed some twenty feet away from Lucian as he asked, "How about this one Dio? Did you enjoy this one? How do you like him cut or cooked?" Dio lowered his head while keeping his gaze on Lucian, "I told you to not get in my way or you would regret it." Lucian answered, "Come on Dio let's kill them all like old times. It's life means nothing." The only sound Dio made was a low growling sound as darkness started to spread from the farthest corners of the city. The lights and stars were growing dimmer as the darkness circled around their location. Lucian looked around knowing what was comming next, "Dio?!? I was just kidding! you know how much that hurts, don't do it." But it was already to late since Lucian made the move for Enutrof's neck. From the shadows a dozen spines flew out tearing into Lucian's flesh and leaving Enutrof completely unharmed. Enutrof thanked Dio and got the hell out of there. The spines manipulated Lucian like he was a puppet while Dio slowly walked towards him. "I told you that you would regret it," Dio said as his hand started to amass some dark magical substance around it. Lucian screams out, "No Dio don't do that I'm not as strong as you!!!!" Dio plunged his arm into Lucian's body and began to dominate him. Lucian screamed out as he died a thousand deaths and Dio's darkness enveloped him. When Dio was finished Lucian's eyes turned pure white and he fell limp. Dio extended his arm to created the pool of dark water that sucked Lucian down into the ground. As Myr approached Dio from behind abd asked if Lucian is dead to which Dio replied, "Yes. Perminitally." Although he was greatful Myr said that is must have been hard for Dio to have to kill his brother to which Dio simply replied, "No, it wasn't. He got in my way. This is the fate of anyone who would dare get in my way." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Orin and Rose were able to make it past all of the traps to find what they were looking for all along, Garabaldi's flying fortress. They didn't have to defeat many of its defences until they made it to the control room. Orin activated the tower and commanded it to rise. With the city built over it the Tower had to break through some dozen blocks as it raised up out of the ground. Orin pulled his sister Rose close to them as they both looked over the horizon. "I have finally given you a castle worthy of you Rose, just like I promised." She put another arm around him saying, "I never doubted you brother." With their new found solitude Orin fell back to the ground as Rose mounted him. They began to really enjoy themselves. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ From his vantage point of what Dio did Sebastian saw everything that he needed to see. "So there is more then one of them. I wonder how I can use him to my advantage?" He smiled a broad grin as he approached the party, "We need to talk." Session on Monday February 16th, 2 - 7 pm page 22