Monsters and Men

A chill wind has blown in a deep and heavy fog that roils along the ground and obscures everything in sight. Dark clouds blot out everything in the sky save the light of the full moon which is hidden and revealed in turn. It peeks out from behind the clouds to shine down and turn the fog to pure silver. Yet that only serves to deepen the obscucation. Tonight is a night that has most people scurrying to their doors. Anyone wise has long gone to bed and only those with important business risk themselves out and about at this late hour.

Seldan has never been one to fear the night, and even less so now. Wariness, sure, for he openly wears the moonlit armor, Reunion at his hip, and robe over the armor beneath the cloak. Ginger-blonde hair is loose, confined only by a steel headband, and he turns his eyes to Malik as he talks. "Do I have the right of it, this one has a cooler head, and may not be tempted as Kol was. A different tack shall be required."

Verna may be less impacted by the night, whether visually or superstitiously, yet her business is of enough import to seek Seldan regardless of time, weather, or the impact of either. Such that upon locating and reaching him, her words are direct. "Greetings, Seldan, Malik. I spoke with a witness to an attack, and I believe with confidence that the information confirms our initial suspicions as to the attacker, both type" her hood focuses upon Seldan, "and individual."

Malik walks beside Seldan, practically a shadow himself. Between his own natural talents and the cloak he wears, he seems at home in the darkness as the creature that they hunt, though his gait is unhurried, listening to Seldan speak as he offers his own thoughts. "I'll defer to your expertise," he tells the other two, lips drawing a bit tighter as he flashes a glance to Seldan out of the corner of his eye before looking to Verna. "What should we be looking for, then?"

A low howl, like that of a wolf cuts through the night air. The sound of a creature on the hunt, but it's... close. Surprisingly close. The sound of it is startling and it is unnerving. Not a sound meant for the wilds of a city rather than those of a forest location.

About to answer Malik, Verna, or both, Seldan straightens at the low sound of the hunting wolf, too close to be in the mountains or the forest. "I see," he remarks, the response serious, focused, and quiet enough not to carry. "Something hunts this night," he adds. "Too close to be but a wolf pack." His eyes go to Verna. "Surely it is not our quarry?"

Verna frowns at the sound, hood panning briefly about before returning. "The murderer is male, dressed in fine attire as if a noble, attacked the victim with his teeth. He was known to the victim as 'The Hunter.' None of the victims were native to this city. The victimology appears too selective to be random, thus, if the appellation holds true, they were hunted. They were the quarry, though I do not yet know why."

Malik, too, frowns at the howl, eyes narrowing as he tenses up. A glance between them, here, as he takes a step back, eyes scanning the darkness as he glances to the others. "I am no ranger," he tells the others, "but I know what it is to be hunted. City streets can be a blessing and a curse. The scents can mislead the hunters. The turns can trap the quarry. And we have no Pathfinder here." A look to Seldan. "Should I be ready to take us elsewhere? Where to? Home?"

GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Verna rolls perception: (2)+25: 27
GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (4)+23: 27
GAME: Seldan rolls survival: (13)+25: 38

Seldan focuses, listening as if to something beyond hearing, and his features split into a black scowl. He turns toward his left, listening hard and staring at the darkened alley nearby. "Move beneath the streetlights," he directs the others. "That is no wolf of nature. That one belongs to the Hound." His name for Caracoroth may not be known to all. "A werewolf, from the sound." He takes his own advice, only belatedly replying to Verna's remarks. "I will not permit it to stalk this city unchallenged, Mal. That is a curious choice - perhaps it has agreed with its host that it shall not stalk the natives of the city? Does it have such an agreement with a noble, such would protect the nobles' reputation."

Verna peers back towards the faded echoes, and catches sight of a moving ghost of a humanoid silhouette within the mist that moves away from them and towards the echoes. One hand lifts to point towards it as her voice drops to a whisper as she notes, "The howl draws other interest to it." Yes, this is a disconcerting thought... though now another possibility begins to tickle at the back of her mind.

"There is a difference, my love, in letting it stalk the city unchallenged and allowing oneself to be torn to pieces in a trap we could not have foreseen. One is temporary. The other is far more permanent." A glance to Verna. "Mostly." Though something seems to distract the wizard, voice trailing off. Malik turns, eyes narrowing as he looks through the fog. "No one sensible is out this night," he says in that tight, tense way of his that suggests distrust of whatever it is he's seeing. "That -- is bait."

The figure - seen but briefly and only by Verna and Malik disappears quickly toward the sound of howling which begins to itself fade off.

A tightness, a tension, begins along Seldan's shoulders as well, even as he smiles fondly at Malik for a take that is not unexpected. "We are not the target - but if the hunter is as we suspect, that may be an innocent, mind-controlled. I shall not dive in without thought, but neither shall I stand aside. Which way?" He turns towards Verna, tones low and swift.

"You do not stand alone," Verna states as adamant fact. "I will not allow another vampire abomination hunt within this city." It is a violation of her Mistress' order of things. The last vampire here dismembered a majority of her superior clergy. It then dominated Verna. All valid justifications, and assuredly prioritized in that order. "Nor any other creature.

Her pointing hand lowers as she immediately begins walking in the direction indicated. While not intrinsically adept at stealth, her lack of heavy metal objects on her person, drab attire, and enveloping fog might aid her. Still, she is not wholly foolish, a brief utterance conjuring a protective force about her person before she steps far.

GAME: Verna casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 17 DC: 16

Malik just gives a long-suffering sigh, knowing that this is a fight that he's lost with the two Temple servants before he even has it. He, at least, is somewhat better at stealth, even if he has no sense of how to track something through the hard city streets by anything other than the senses available to him in the present. He mutters something in that flowing Tsuran language, but is already unshouldering the bow, ready for action *when* it comes to such.

Ahead of you, you can hear the sound of growling and then... The clear sounds of a fight. You quicken your step, but the fight is over by the time you reach the location. A man stands beside the body of another man. The man on the ground is quickly shifting form from that of a were-hybrid shape to that of a normal human. The one standing is obviously of xian descent, but tall for it. He wears the clothes of a nobleman, and his silver sword is drawn and bloodied.

He turns toward the sound of you, weapon at the ready, but seems surprised to find - you. He blinks and he hefts a sigh, black eyes falling on Seldan lastly.

It's probably a good thing that Seldan hadn't yet drawn a blade. He strides firmly into the light, eyes looking the Xian man up and down. "We meet again," he greets, coolly and evenly. "You are unhurt?" A formality, to be sure, but one required. "How did one such come to be within the walls?"

The thought that was nudging at the outer edge of her thoughts and probability comes to the fore, now, with what is witnessed. She does not speak of it, however, and simply regards the man. His finery. His rather apt weapon with which it can be surmised he holds some skill. As she steps forward alongside, if now half-step behind, Seldan, she offers, "I suspect it is far from the first."

Malik -- has no idea who the black eyed Xian with the silver sword is. But he *does* know a de-shifting lycanthrope when he sees one. The wizard falls a bit short, eyes widening as he watches the transformation, taking in the details. Who the man is, and what business he has here, seems to be something that the other two are far more clear on, and the Tsuran has at least learned to keep his mouth *shut* in his time with Seldan, rather than just letting his unfiltered thoughts escape.

"I am." The man says, eyes wary and his body language suggesting that he's ready to fight if it comes down to it. "I have been tracking a pack. So far I've managed to kill four but the rest have escaped me thus far." He looks toward Verna and then Malik and shakes his head. "I understand that there is a lot of explaining to do, but I have not the time for it. I must find the other lycanthropes. They mean to use this night to spread their disease to the innocent, and slaughter anyone who stands in their way. I beg you to stand aside and let me do my duty."

GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (12)+19: 31

"You do not wish assistance?" Seldan's eyes narrow, but he hasn't yet gone for a weapon despite the cool reserve that he wears. He, too, stands straight and tall, balanced, but non-threatening, his hands clearly visible.

"You are The Hunter, I presume? There are currently many threats to this city," Verna notes flatly to the man. "Lycanthropes may not be held as high a priority to others as yourself." Could her choice of words be interpreted in more than one fashion? Yes. Is either possibility less true than the other? No.

Malik, probably wisely, keeps his thoughts to himself. Though his eyes do flick to Verna, the barest hint of a raised eyebrow there as he takes in the woman's words, weighing them without comment. For now, though, it doesn't look like he plans on standing in the vampire's way, just shifting subtly behind and to the side of Seldan. The bow is in his hand, but held loosely to the side, not as easy to put away as a sword.

The xian man makes a low noise that's almost amusement. "They might call me that." He motions with his free hand toward the lycanthrope that looks fully human now. Just very... dead. There's a low howl, followed by another and they are on separate sides of the city and the man curses low and in elvish. Suddenly his unfamiliar accent makes sense. It's a mixture of regions. Elvish and xian. "I said I have no time to explain and I do not. If you wish to aid me... I could use the help, but I will not ask it because these beasts carry a dangerous disease that can twist even the most righteous soul." He steps back, toward one of the sounds of howling, then seemingly deciding to trust you turns and begins to hasten away.

Glancing at Malik, Seldan steps away and begins to follow. "She demands that I not ignore the children of the Hound," he explains briefly, then looks at Verna. "I shall risk it. I ask it of neither of you, but neither shall I refuse."

Malik already knows what choice Seldan will make. He doesn't need to be told. And nobody needs to be told what choice Malik will make in turn. He hurries after the paladin, following after the Xian.

Verna does not trust the Xian, not for a moment. His actions may be helpful, in the end, but she holds doubts as to the reasons behind them. Still, if he is to be upon the city this evening, it is best that he have some manner of leash. In any case, they would be all but forced to chase after him, regardless. As well, she did assure Seldan that he would not stand alone. "Let us go before we lose track of him..." she states with an audible frown as she begins to move after Seldan.

You follow in the man's wake and two more lycanthropes fall to your combined efforts. It's easy enough to find them by their howling, and you manage to make it in time to prevent any loss of life. Yet it's not all that easy. You come upon the last group of werewolves, and they've formed a pack in the market district. Already a few late-night customers are screaming and fleeing the wolves, some bearing marks that worry you, but Ketsuki ignores them in favor of heading for the group of werewolves directly. Their leader is a brute of a monster, huge and hulking and mauling everything in his way.

GAME: Malik casts Haste. Caster Level: 16 DC: 19

The spell is practically already off of Malik's lips by the time they see what's going on, the Transmuter firing off one of his most known spells, wrapping the group, and the Xian vampire -- because an ally is an ally until proven otherwise -- in the magics that might give them a slight advantage in speed and edge, bow still in hand as he assesses the situation. "This could be nasty..."

The werewolves in turn attack those closest to them. Which effectively downs a number of people, and clears the path between them and the rest of you - including Ketsuki. Particularly since people are fleeing the sight of them as quickly as possible.

GAME: Verna casts Shield. Caster Level: 17 DC: 16

"It already is!" Verna offers an unhappy addendum as not all manage to flee the lycanthropes. It is only a small consolation that Ketsuki, and perhaps they, themselves, hold the pack's attention and they do not chase after those fleeing.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (10)+28: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+12: (8)+12: 20

In a rasp of metal on leather, Seldan strides forward, calling, "Reunion, I need you, for evil once again stalks this place."

"I thought you'd never ask," a crotchety old man's voice responds, the remark at once excited and more than a little snide.

"Think you're up for this, Kanian? I don't know, you're a creaky old thing-" A middle aged man with a khazadi accent chimes in.

"Shut up, whippersnapper!" the old man chimes in, to the laughter of several voices of mixed gender and timbre.

Seldan is ignoring them, in the meantime, instead bringing the blade to his face. "Holy Dreamer, guide my blade as I throw down those who would oppose Your will!" Even as Seldan draws Reunion, Ketsuki charges forward, cutting his blood-stained silver sword across the chest of the werewolf to the left and scouring a deep wound there. The wolf howls in response, but Ketsuki doesn't flinch in the face of the beasts. "It is time you were put down!"

GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (20)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 43
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (7)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 30
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (10)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 33
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+8+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (20)+8+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 38
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+3+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (14)+3+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 27
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (7)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 30
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+8+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (14)+8+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 32
GAME: Malik rolls 3d8+48+1d6: (9)+48+(5): 62
GAME: Malik rolls 3d8+48+1d6: (12)+48+(4): 64
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (3)+5+3+6+2+(3): 22
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (4)+5+3+6+2+(1): 21
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa: aliased to weapon1-4: (7)+24+-4: 27

Malik doesn't waste any time. He sees Seldan moving in for the fight as the vampire moves after one of the smaller werewolves. And given his assessment of the situation -- there's one, in particular, that he needs to worry about. Nimble fingers deftly fit arrows to the bow string, firing them off with a practiced, easy motion that almost blurs the eye under the movement of his arm, the individual motions too fast to observe as arrows fly into the night. Of the five fired, four strike their targets -- and, miracle of miracles -- two stick out from the ruined sockets that were once the werewolf's eyes, Malik's stoic features a mask of killing calm.

"That should level the field a bit," he says to Seldan, glancing to the man with a look of tight-lipped concern.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (7)+13: 20
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (5)+13: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (6)+28: 34
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (7)+28: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+11: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+11: (4)+11: 15

The werewolves attack as a pack should. Though one of them is blinded and the other engaged. Either way, the wolves attack everyone but Verna - whom they haven't the manpower to attack. One of them actually manages to sink claws into Malik however, bleeding the man.

GAME: Malik rolls Fortitude: (10)+13: 23
GAME: Verna casts Flesh to Stone. Caster Level: 17 DC: 21
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (12)+22: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma: (4)+24+-4+8: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se-5: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma-5: (19)+24+-4+8+-5: 42 (THREAT)
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se-5: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma-5: (9)+24+-4+8+-5: 32
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se-10: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma-10: (4)+24+-4+8+-10: 22
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+pa+se: aliased to weapon1-4+charisma: (15)+24+-4+8: 43

Lo and behold, now there is a partial pack of angry lycanthropes incoming. Given that the one stumbling into Seldan is blinded, and Seldan is armored, and Malik is getting nommed upon, she focuses and looses magic upon the one chewing him. An instant halt would be preferable. One perhaps not permanently fatal would be even better, as there is always the remote possibility of a cure. Alas, her attempt is shrugged off by the lycanthrope

GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+2d6 holy: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+2d6 holy: (5)+9+8+8+(12 holy): 42
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+2d6 holy+padmg+sedmg+reuniondmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+2d6 holy+8+8+1d8+9: (8)+9+8+8+(3 holy)+8+8+(5)+9: 66
GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+padmg+sedmg+2d6 holy: aliased to 1d8+9+8+8+2d6 holy: (3)+9+8+8+(2 holy): 30

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (20)+28: 48
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (17)+28: 45
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+23: (13)+23: 36

"Quite," Seldan agrees, without taking his eyes from the brute. "In the Dreamer's holy name, do you not yield to her, you shall yield to me!" The moonlit blade flashes once, twice, and two more, supernaturally fast and hard, leaving deep, bleeding wounds in its wake. The last strike is a thrust, hard and fast, into the thing's throat, sinking to the hilt and dropping the brute where he stands.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (17)+18: 35
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+13: (4)+13: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+26: (4)+26: 30
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+13: (4)+13: 17

Almost seeming to mimic Seldan's fluid blows, Ketsuki's sword flashes and flows, taking out the werewolf standing before him.

GAME: Malik rolls Will: (18)+16: 34
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (17)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 40
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (6)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 29
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+13+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (13)+13+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 36
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+8+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (3)+8+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 21
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+3+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (3)+3+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 16
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (5)+5+3+6+2+(1): 22
GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (6)+5+3+6+2+(6): 28

You know what makes it *remarkably* difficult to shoot a werewolf? When that werewolf has it teeth and claws in one of your appendages. Malik ducks and dances as best as he can, but there are only so many clean shots he can take, most of the arrows flying past the thing as the wizard attempts to keep his insides on the inside while aerating the wolf's. Still, two manage to find their mark, Malik bleeding and -- straining, visibly attempting to keep control of -- something.

GAME: Verna casts Chains of Light. Caster Level: 17 DC: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27
GAME: Seldan casts Resilient Sphere. Caster Level: 16 DC: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22

Verna is concerned that Malik will be further mauled when the creature breaks and runs. "We cannot let them escape!" At least she agrees with Ketsuki in not letting them roam free. An immediate gesture follows, conjuring golden chains of light to emerge from the ground in attempt to snare it. The lupine proves nimble as well as resilient as it avoids the attempted ensnaring.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (15)+28: 43
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+13: (7)+13: 20

Seldan casts a worried glance back at Malik, and seeing him struggle says only bad things. Still, the thing cannot be allowed to escape! He seems to have the same idea as Verna, a few quickly drawn sigils and shouted words of power conjuring a globe of pure blue-white-golden _magic_ that attempts to wrap itself around the fleeing werewolf, and nearly succeeds. It ducks out just in time, and the paladin scowls.

Luckily Ketsuki puts on the speed and catches up with the werewolf, striking it down before it can get too far away. He huffs, looking back at the group, his black eyes grave.

GAME: Malik rolls Will: (4)+16: 20

Verna watches as the lycanthrope appears about to get away, when Ketsuki rushes up to bring it down. The moment she sees it downed, she looks to Malik as the one injured. "Are you well?" As the Xian vampire returns toward them, her attention then becomes split between. While somewhat concerned for Malik, she trusts him far more than the undead.

A few things happen in quick succession.

Whatever Malik was about to *do* -- that doesn't happen. He gives a little shake of his head, rubbing at his eyes.

And then he screams, dropping the bow to the ground as he falls to his knees, arms going around his stomach as he doubles over in what is very obvious pain.

The mental connection that he shares with Seldan -- slams shut. Malik cutting it off on his end in an instinctual effort to protect the other man from whatever it is he's feeling, jaw clenched and eyes tightly shut. "BAG!" he manages to get out through gasping breaths, a nod to the haversack at his shoulder.

"I've a better idea. Mourner, get his bag, does this not work." Lips set in a tight, thin line of worry, Seldan begins another spell, this one sounding like half a prayer and half a spell. Sigils, yes, but Eluna's crescent and sphere are among them, unifying them, beseeching Her holy power -

only to be ripped apart and fade into sparkling nothingness as Ketsuki reaches out and grabs his arm, effectively ruining the sigil that he drew. In a flash, Reunion is raised and leveled at their erstwhile companion, his body between the Xian and the suffering Malik, his features twisted and snapping in stone cold fury. "Just what do you think you are doing? I mean to stop it, here and now."

"I have known and fought this affliction." Ketsuki says, raising his hands and keeping his eyes squarely on Seldan. Though he does not drop is sword so the pose is awkward. "You must wait for his eyes to turn gold, or curing the disease with the spell that does such will do worse than nothing. Trust me on this if you would see your ally live."

GAME: Malik rolls Sense Motive: (3)+17: 20
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (4)+19: 23
GAME: Verna rolls sense motive: (8)+12: 20

Malik, for his part, can't do anything but lay on the ground, clenching his teeth in pain. A howl of -- something. Agony, or something very different, escapes from his throat, head rearing back to the sky as his eyes flick open -- and are already starting to flicker the strange, amber color that marks the change.

The vampire does not appear to be lying, but appearances can be deceiving. They can be especially so when dealing with a vampire who may well be influencing them. She looks between Ketsuki and Seldan, and back, saying nothing and likely leaving the decision to Seldan.

It doesn't take _long_ for the flickering of Malik's eyes to solidify into gold. But it feels like an eternity. Ketsuki says nothing more. Does nothing to interfere as Seldan makes the choice to trust... or not to trust.

The sword does not waver, and neither does Seldan's furious gaze - but neither does it move, until it lowers and he turns his back on the hunter, to face the man in agony on the floor. "Get clear, all of you," he orders, a low, tight, somehow almost level tone. "He shall attack none but me." For some reason, the paladin is very protective of the archer, but why is unclear.

He waits, then, until the gold of the change overtakes the brown eyes he knows so well, and then begins his casting again ...

GAME: Seldan casts Remove Curse. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21

Malik snarls at Seldan as the paladin draws near. "Get back!" he tells the man, though it sounds less like a command and more like a plea. Still, as Seldan starts to work his prayer again, some of Mal's suffering seems to ease, the pain seeming to melt away as the magic takes hold, leaving the wizard exhausted and calmer on the cool stone of the market road. He lets out a long sigh, tears running down his cheeks as he simply closes his eyes and takes a few moments to -- do -- whatever it is he needs to do to bring himself back from wherever he just was.

Ketsuki relaxes the moment that Malik is once again fully himself. Even going so far as to sheathe his weapon and nod to the group of you. "Now you know the fearsome foe I face in full. Many have been lost due to that strain of the disease." He sighs and looks out across where people have fled. "I fear that there will be more lost tonight. I must seek them out and cure or kill them, but I think you done tonight. I will seek you out in a few days when things have died down to explain myself before I leave."

He nods low to each of you in turn, but most deeply to Malik. "You have my thanks for your aid. And my sincere gratitude that you did not turn." He touches his hand to his chest, and makes off into the night. Leaving you to tend to Malik.

-End