Twilight IV: No More Heroes!

[Cracklord]

Spoiler

Show

Basically, this will be a diplomacy-esque game of wits where you play one of the most awesome vampire hunters in fiction, and try to score the most kills, while ensuring your opponents don't get as many. Make and break alliances, manipulate and perpetrate gory violence, all to kill as many canon Mary Sue's as possible. Each kill will be a test of wits, daring, initiative and sheer dumb luck, and you will be able to do feats that even game systems like Exalted struggle to emulate, of acrobatics, will, and high-octane nightmare fuel in a few cases.

Each turn, the Twi-vamps will be randomly redistributed, so if you fail to kill it, it will get away. They will be randomly selected, there will never be more then ten in the game at once. Other things, such as capture, are possible, and a player is not docked points for doing so, but gets the total award.
If two players unite to overcome a challenge, the points are not divided, but rather, both get all the points. But, remember:

There can only be one!

Each day there will be a turn. The first turn is spent introducing your character, and no actions may be taken. If a player does not post, the game does not wait for them, and they simply spend that turn doing nothing.
In a turn, there is several phases. First is movement, in which they can travel to another district. They may not cross zones unless all vampires in zone are dead.

There is combat, which occurs when a player decides to engage. this must be declared before other actions, otherwise the character is assumed to be silently observing. If, after moving, they meet a vampire, they must decide whether to engage or simply observe, and may not take other actions in between. I have grown up. I will kill you. And i will laugh about it. thi is not an empty threat.

In an engagement, your character must free form dictate the actions taken. The more complex and detailed, the more likely it is to succeed. Actions considered to be out of character will be ignored.

Special actions are actions using you characters abilities. Naturally, they are subjective, and the ruling of their effects is decided by the DM. They are not useable in certain conditions. For instance, a scientist may not attempt to use his abilities in the middle of a forest far from any equipment he needs.

Instead of engaging, if you encounter a group that is too much for you to handle, you may simply keep your eye on one, and will follow them to whatever new district they go to when they move for the next turn.

Characters backed by considerable organizations may use the full resources of them.

All alliances are informal, and can be ended at any time.

Killing other members is A-OK!

Wrapped in the womb, the baby listened to it's mother's heart beating. It didn't sound like anything it'd heard before. The rhythm was off, fast but somehow weak. And it was fading.
Her screams still echoed in the amniotic fluid, the real mother, not what it had become. Those sounds had scared it more than anything. It had never felt emotion so sharp, so jangling, from it's mother. The vibrations were less now, but still coasting through the liquid medium.
It had felt the distance grow between itself and its mother, something alien after the terrifyingly short gestation. Pressure constricted around it. It's space had grown smaller recently, which it had come to expect, but this was different.
It shifted, unable to feel comfortable, It didn't like this. Its mother already knew because it had let the mother know, and yet nothing changed. It began to feel pinned.
Then the constriction was so tight it hurt.
There had been warning signs the last few days that it's primitive mind had been able to rudimentarilly sense, but it hadn't processed it, so everything that happened seemed normal.
It moved again, wishing mother would sing t it.But mother moved away even more.
Then a cold, burning sensation filled its whole body. Something invaded it, fed down the umbilical cord. It hurt.It tried to scream, but it couldn't.
And then it was over, the child's brief life snuffed out before it began.

Turn the right corner in Sin City, and you can find... Anything.

The Bride
The dessert was cold at night, so they'd made a fire, that crackled and snapped merrily, the flames seeming t dance.
Bill Albacea was sprawled against the bonnet of his Matt black BMW, his suit casually disrayed, his hands casually holding a bamboo flute, twisting it around his fingers as though unaware what he was doing. You are used to him being like this. Sometimes he'd tell a story. Sometimes he'd play music, or they'd talk about nothing in particular. This was different.
"Got another job for you, kiddo." He drawled, seeming relaxed. "Paid for by Roarke. I suppose his dirty money is as good as anyones', though I won't complain if you kill him too." That was like Bill. He was good, but he wasn't professional.
"Big city. Everyone who lives there hates it, and none of them ever leave. It... does things to you. It should be easy. Cops are so corrupt they forget who their taking bribes from. Normally he'd just get a hitman, they're practically in the yellow pages, but for some reason he wants too show off, so he's gone all the way to the best." He touches your nose. "Which is you, kiddo."

Kirby
Darkness. The cage is six steps by seven. There is a bucket, and every now and then rodents are thrown in for food. They do not speak to you. It's like they have forgotten you exist.
Then, after two weeks, the light snaps on. It hurts your eyes after so long in the darkness. It's the boy. Edward. A determined look is on his face, masking his uncertainty. His hair is tousled, and he's blinking far too much.
"I have questions." He begins.

Sam Oliver
You are watching TV when it happens, a sudden clap of sound, like a million voices shouting 'hail,' and your father is standing there. He looks... different. "Still dribbling away all I gave you I see." He says, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I don't know why I'm surprised. When are you going to make something of yourself? I don't care which way you take it. Just as long as I don't have to see you like this."
Suddenly, he smiles, the smile is too wide, and chilling. "Like a politician. I can see it now. Trust me, you'd be good at it."

[darkblade]

The Rider

Through the traffic of the night a man rides on a motorcycle and not just any old motorcycle, no this was a fancy high end stunt model. Despite it's loving wear and tear it would still fetch a small fortune on the black market and it's rider knew it. In a sense he was counting on it.

Johnny Blaze could smell the sin of every man, woman and child he passed within the limits of Basin City even in his human form. He'd been to Hell before and not on the best of terms either. He was begining to wish the new caretaker had sent him down there again instead of into the pit of Sin City.

Pulling up to a run down bar, the kind where the worst mankind has to offer discuss their heroin and child pornography, he steps away from his twenty-five hundred dollar prize stunt bike. The bike that had faithfully taken him across every inch of land in between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, to the lowest depths of the inferno and to the pearly gates themselves. He leaves it behind, keys and all and heads into the bar.

***

The Bride

"Basin City then? I can't just break into the Pentagon and nuke it Kingdom Come?" the woman smiles, "Once they see the coordinates they might just give me a medal."

The woman who one day would be known as the bride when she returns from the almost dead for revenge against the very man she was kidding around with now was no stranger to the worst of this Earth. Or the best. She had killed them both and for the right price. This was to be her last job as the Black Mamba, one simple last hurrah before settling down into a peacful civilian life and if you belive that I got some swamp land in Florida for you.

Brushing aside her hair and looking at the older man she turns serious. "Who's the lucky man then?"

***

The Cannibal

"Well, well, well..." the short pink ball says in an almost sing-song voice.

It had been a long time since he used the Mushroom Kingdom's fabled Warp Zones to enter this so called "real world" of course the small town he picked to be his first buffet had to be home to some larger if less significant predators. Simon Belmont had told Kirby all about these wonderous creatures, these vampires. How they feasted on the blood and souls of the living in the shadow of the darkness. Such a terrible waste.

Oh well, he'll show these poor children what a monster truly is.

"Mister Cullen it has been quite a long time. I trust the mises is looking as delicious as ever."

[Cracklord]

The Bride
Bill puts down his flute. "That would probably be easier, now, wouldn't it? He's called Carlisle Cullen. Can't say more then that, four million dollars in cash can buy a lot of no questions. Probably caught Roarke and a choir boy with there pants down, in a manner of speaking of course." He smiles at you, then reaches into the car and removes a black object. It takes you a second to identify it, a beautiful sword.
Bill winks, then tosses it at you. "I want it back, of course." He says, mock serious. "With not so much as a scratch."
It's his Hattori Hanzo sword. Flawless, beautiful, so sharp it could cut a falling leaf. He winks. "Well, that'll do me Kiddo." He says, getting into the car. "I'll pick you up in a couple of days."

Johnny Blaze
The bouncer looks like a failed Heavy metal enthusiast who began taking steroids instead. Long hair, a wild look in his eyes and huge arms, like your legs. "Members only pal." He says, in a sort of growling drawl, a a home-rolled dogend cigarette defying gravity by somehow remaining stuck to his lip. "Which is French for piss off."
Behind, you Hear AC/DC's 'You shook me all night long', punctuated by loud voices and laughter and can smell the alcohol from here.
A few big men are licking their lips and looking at your bike. Their intent couldn't be more plain if the carried a giant neon sign.

Kirby
"Leave Bella alone." He says automatically, then winces, and forces himself back under control. "We're all fine. Carlisle is still missing, Jasper's gone native and Alice won't answer our calls. How are you, Kirby?" He's telling the truth, or else he's learned to lie since you last spoke. Either way, he wants you to trust him.
"When Carlisle... caught you, did he say anything about where he was going? He left a few days after."

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride draws the sword from it's sheathe and admires it for a few prolonged moments. Bill doesn't want her leaving the Deadly Vipers, he only breaks out these kind of things when he wants to form a sentiment. She'll worry about that later. She has a job to do first.

It's a long ride to Basin City but she makes it in due time. Traffic coming into the city is always light. A bullet to the skull is a faster road to hell. Once there she drives around aimless in an attempt to get a feel for the geography.

***

The Rider

"Fair enough. I'll be on my way but first..." Blaze pulls a cigarette from his coat pocket and places it in his mouth. He doesn't smoke, he gets emough smoke on the job. Usually he uses them to bribe small hoods who aren't worth the time to beat into submission or worse.

"You got a light?"

***

The Cannibal

((Did Carlise tell Kirby anything?))

Kirby smiles a toothy grin. A grin with more little razor pointed teeth than should be possible to fit in that mouth, even if it is half the little monster's mouth.

"Not that I recall but I have been down here for some time and haven't had a decent meal in ages. I'm not in the best position to be remembering much, Mister Cullen."

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Edward stands up. He walks over, remaining just out of reach and leans forward. "I don't negotiate with animals Kirby. Civility costs nothing, so I tried to be polite. ˆt seems you have mistaken that for weakness. Lets try this again." He glances up the stairs. "Where is my father, Kirby."

Johnny Blaze
The man gets up and walks towards you so he is towering down, the smell of stale sweat and cheep booze almost overpowering. prison tattoos decorate his neck and knuckles.
He blows a lungful of smoke in your face. "Only if you kiss me, pretty boy." He replies with the smirk of someone who thinks he's being witty. "If not, cry home to mommy."

The Bride
Twisting streets, claustrophobic alley's, heavy industrialization and women of the night on every street corner.
Faded brickwork, no paint, and twisted, rusted machinery. Only the sky-scrapers and high rise apartments seemed to be clean, everything else was on the way to entropy.
A old fashioned church on the top of the hill, decorated with a statue of a distinguished looking cardinal. Your employer said to meet him here, in confession.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

Looking at his father, Sam raises an eyebrow. It wasn't his fault that he was moping. Well, it was, but still. He had reasons. His father currently owned the soul of the love of his life-Andi. Right now, she was working for him...somewhere. He didn't know where.

"So...new soul?" It was ironic. He didn't like working for his father, but it was one of the few things he was actually good at. And it would get him out of his little depression. He hopes.

The Midnighter

I am not a lover. I am not a father. I am not a friend. I am what Iwas bred to be. And therein lies the problem.

The globe spins, and a leather-clad finger runs across it. In orbit above the world, the model eventually comes to a halt, and the man standing above it grins.

"Basin City? Excellent." Facing the window, and seeing the world turn below him, the Midnighter smiles. There was fun to be had; an entire city of criminals to punish and maim and kill.

"Door."

Nicodemus

The train rolls in, an old-fashioned car from the early Victorian era. The only occupant of the car smiles. While his organization had been shattered, and only five of his kind remained, he had the means to replenish his stock. The Order of the Blackened Denarius would rise again. It only took a touch...

[Cracklord]

Sam
"Several." Satan replied calmly. "Far more dangerous then usual, but then, I'm sure you can deal with that. You're a tough kid."
His smile not budging an inch, he reached into his suit he removed... a harmonica. "Play a few rounds on this, and its done. Oh, and you'd better get packed, your plane leaves in" he checks his watch "forty nine minutes."

Midnighter
You step into dark streets, one in three of the street lights working, with a heavy aura of smog. Gutter chokes the drains, graffiti decorates the walls, and people scurry with their heads down, not wanting to be caught outside.
down the road, you can see a bar, where a man in motorcycle gear is being menaced by whom you presume is the bouncer, and two petty thieves are staring at the bike, waiting for their opportunity.

Nicodemus
The station is almost empty. A few men in long coats trying to sell something illegal, some prostitutes displaying their wares, and a tall man, with the face and physique of a super-model, gently tousled blond hair and a patient expression, who was staring directly at you.

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

"What?!" Jumping off the couch, Sam stuffs some of the clothes, including his favorite tuxedo T-shirt, lying around the floor into a duffel bag, along with the harmonica. Fumbling around for his keys, the Devil's Heir Apparent quickly checks the seat cushions.

"I don't suppose I get a file this time? Or at least a name?"

Midnighter

The perfect way to begin the day. The leather-clad superhero slowly, deliberately walks toward the thugs, cracking his knuckles as he does so. This would be over quickly. He might even have done a good deed in the process.

Nicodemus

The leader of the Order of the Blackened Denarius smiles at the sin and corruption around him. This would be a beautiful breeding ground to rebuild the Order; the only difficulty, it seemed, would be in selecting capable lieutenants. The immortal could already see that there would be street punks aplenty for the lower ranks.

Filling his lungs with the city air, Nicodemus makes his way over to the tall man. He himself wasn't tall, nor particularly muscular. But he still carried a Presence, like an Old Testament Prophet. Nodding to the man, he interlaces his fingers, but not before palming something from the pocket of his custom-made tan trenchcoat.

"Can I help you?"

[Cracklord]

The midnighter
The bouncer looks up, and smiles an unfriendly smile. "Your mistake. The bondage club is two streets along."
You keep on walking. The bouncers unfriendly countenance gets even more unfriendly. "I'm not seeing you move along, ******." He growls. Now push off."
You keep walking. The machines begin their calculations.

++++He will attempt a wild haymaker, then follow through with a kidney punch. Block them both, then counter. Will leave jaw open. Uppercut, then kick knee, will leave him unable to mounter sufficient defense. Hit in temple to insure he is not able to regain his feet. Target neutralized. At this point, 72% chance the thieves will run away. 6% chance they will draw firearms. Neutralize quickly.++++

The bouncer steps forward, his right arm already swinging in a dangerous arc.

Sam Oliver
"I'll give you more then that." He says, withdrawing a manila folder which is way to big to fit in his pocket. "I'll give you a list."
The sheet inside is blank. Figures.
"I'll put the names there later. Now, you're going to Basin city. Enjoy yourself." He turns, then his head rotates 180 degrees to stare at you. "Don't disappoint me Sam. You do enough of that already."
With that, he's gone.

Nicodemus
The man removes his hands from his pocket. "I can see his mark." He says softly. "Like a sooty mark upon your brow." He mutters, then blinks. "Good evening." He says as though the last moment hadn't happened, the very soul of courtesy. "Nicodemus, I believe?"

[industrious]

Sam Oliver

Sam secures the folder...by stuffing it into his inside jacket pocket. Heading out the door, he begins his drive to the airport.

"Basin City? I'd have thought the Devil would have everybody there in his pocket already." Pondering his destination, Sam switches on the radio, hoping that "Radar Love" wasn't going to be on this time.

Midnighter

The computer implanted in the metahuman's brain wasn't particularly accurate when it calculated fight outcomes. in fact, it was pretty bad at doing so. What it was able to do, however, was run through a fight literally billions of times before the first punch was even thrown, and then providing the most likely, and efficient responses.

Quickly neutralizing the bouncer, the Midnighter snaps his right arm forward, causing one of his solid-steel batons to come forth from its spring-loaded sheath, and hurls the weapon at one of the two thugs.

Nicodemus

Matching the other's courtesy with his own, the man inclines his head in response.

"Indeed. I believe you have the advantage of me, mister..."

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Cullen. Carlisle Cullen. Or Dr Cullen if you prefer." The man said, extending his hand.

Midnighter
((OK, I'll try and represent it that way then.))
The bouncer goes down with out a problem, screaming as his world shrank into a tiny universe of pain. The baton slammed into the first thug's face in a spray of blood and cartilage. He staggers, screaming, and the other is distracted for seven precious seconds, his pistol wavering.
A walter PPK. .35 calibre. Obviously he's never had to kill someone before, or he'd be packing a much bigger gun.

Sam Oliver
Leonard Cohen is crooning Hallelujah, the heavy, beautiful song almost painful in your current mood. Be careful what you wish for.
The traffic slows you down, and you have to run through the air port to make it on time.
He booked first-class. With your money.

[darkblade]

The Bride

The Bride parks her bike in front of the church and climbs up the old steps into the chapel and the confessional.

"Father forgive me for I have sinned. I came to kill someone for a couple Million greenbacks." The Bride laughs slightly as she gives the mock confession.

"Some poor soul named Cullen but you wouldn't know about that would you?"

***

The Rider

"Let's see. I tried to do this without hurting anyone and only hurting the bouncer." Johnny smiles as he puts the cigarette away. Suddenly Johnny Blaze is gone and in his place stands a flaming skeleton wearing his clothes.

The strange thing is that he didn't disappear and he didn't transform. No he was Johnny Blaze and then in a blink of an eye he wasn't anymore. He was the Ghost Rider.

"Caretaker can't complain that I had to do this." the bone fist of the rider collides with the Bouncer's face with roughly the force of an eighteen wheeler.

***

The Cannibal

"That is where you are wrong Mister Cullen. Civility is quite an investment, especially for one's such as us." Kirby explains while slowly pacing his cage.

"But I think I shall try and help you. He did not say specifically where he was going but he did describe it. A horrifically corrupt and rotten city. So corrupt it makes the Mushroom Kingdom look like the old Dreamland before I got to it." the Cannibal pauses for a second to linger on the pleasant memories of Dreamland and how he feasted upon it's every inhabitant.

"He believes he has been charged by your God to cleanse it of sin. I can not beguin to understand why, surely those who must feast on the living are not offered divine quests with any regularity."

[industrious]

Midnighter

The thug wasn't worth the beating. Snatching the gun out of the punk's hands, Midnighter replaces it with a printed business card. He's smiling as he takes a step back.

"Read it, kid."

Spoiler

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Sam Oliver

At least the seat was nice. That was the mantra that kept Sam sane during the flight. Inhale slowly, exhale. Inhale, exhale...

Taking out the vessel, Sam examines the harmonica, trying to determine if there was anything...off about it. There usually wasn't, but still. It never hurt to check. Then it hit him. Sock, Ben, and Nena would be returning from Vegas tomorrow. Why Sock had forced himself on the newlyweds honeymoon could be summed up in three words. "Strippers, Sam. Strippers." But they'd be back, and he'd be...working. He hadn't even left a note. Mentally, Sam reminds himself to leave a message on their answering machine.

The folder, still digging into his jacket, finally gets Sam's attention. Taking out the contents, he begins his study of his latest souls.

Nicodemus

Returning what appears to be a tarnished nickel to his pocket, Nicodemus extends his hand in return.

"It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Carlisle. Your exile from the White Court caused a bit of a stir in 1793. I was...occupied at the time, but the news did come to my attention."

[Cracklord]

Sam
The first Soul appears, in a brown ink that was probably just regular oddly colored ink. His father was a lot more subtle than that So far there is only a single name, and no listed address..

Spoiler

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Johnny Blaze.

The plane lands, and passengers begin disembarking. A taxi is waiting for you.

Nicodemus
The smile fades a second, but then returns, as wide as ever. “I would be remiss if I didn’t offer you some refreshments. Only civil, after all. What can I offer you?”

Kirby
Edward shakes his head. “I don’t believe you. Carlisle hasn’t lost faith yet, but he’s nobody’s fanatic. Either your hiding the truth, or your trying to play me.” Edward leans forward.
“You might pretend you’re not living off rats, but the fact is, you depend on me for succour. All I have to do is make less effort and you’re as dead as a mouse a kid forgets to feed. Now then, I’ll give you some time alone. Reflect all you like.”
He doesn’t believe a word you say. Sensible tactics when dealing with you, even if he is shooting himself in the foot. Just the same, he makes no move to do as he says.

Midnighter
The kid looks up. “Who the ****ing hell are you?” he stammers, shocked but not scared. He hasn’t had time yet.

The Bride
“You are rather less professional then Bill lead me to believe.” The old, quavery voice replies. “Figures he would send a whore to do it. He’s that sort of man.”
So, the cardinal was expecting you.
“The Cullens need to be dealt with.” He goes on like he didn’t just insult you. “They are currently staying in a mansion in the high rise district. The address is written on a piece of paper under your seat. I have, arranged, shall we say, for the police to ask no questions. Will there be anything else?”

The Rider
The bouncer reels back, screaming in pain, then lies motionless. The two thieves take one look at you and run, instantly splitting up.
The bouncer doesn’t stir, either you knocked him cold or he’s pretending you did. The door is open. You can walk right in.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Kid, I'm the Midnighter. You might have heard of the Authority. Group of superhumans. Live on the Carrier orbiting the earth. Took over the US a few years ago in a coup. Guess what? That's me." One punch later, and the kid is unconscious. Not for long though, but still. He was begging for it. Some dentist was going to be very lucky in the near future.

After checking his reinforced gauntlets for blood(Apollo was always complaining about the stains; personally, he thought they looked intimidating), Midnighter enters the club, whistling a tune that he had sung to his infant daughter ten years ago.

Sam

Getting off the plane was much easier when you fly first class. Being near the front does help at times. And there was a taxi waiting. Even better. The young man clambers in, bringing his duffel with him.

"So...where are we going?"

Nicodemus

Absently, Nicodemus adjusts his noose, which at a distance, was easily mistaken for a grey tie.

"It's rather early for anything serious. I would not say no to a coffee, however."

[darkblade]

The Bride

She'd been called worse by clients and victim's alike. No use letting it get in the way of the job.

"Thats a lot of money to off some upper class yuppies. What did they do?"

***

The Cannibal

"Mister Cullen, I am terribly insulted." Kirby simply states. He is unsurprised that he isn't being believed.

"I would not lie to you. You're the one holding all the cards in this exchange and I can't help but like you Edward." The Cannibal extends the vowels in his captor's first name to drive the point home.

"After all. Even this lion has lain with some of his lambs."

***

The Rider

Without a pause the Ghost Rider enters the bar and glares at the patrons. Their very unabsolved sins held their hearts start to burn as if they were a bad case of heartburn form barely even glancing at the fire in his eyes.

"As much as this city deserves to burn I have specific targets. All of you tell me what you know about a family called the Cullens and most of you will live to sin again."

[Cracklord]

The Rider
You get far less attention then a flaming skeleton deserves. A few of the waitresses back away, but none of them scream, cry or beg. It's not that they haven't noticed you, it's that it doesn't pay to be the one who reacts in this situation, and they all know it.
A tall, well cared for man with a British accent and a enough sin to shame Satan down in his fiery hells stares at you. He is surrounded by a combination of big men and gorgeous, scantily clad women, in a corner to himself, discussing something in hushed voices.
The other corner is occupied by a blond, attractive man in a suit, who is staring directly at you with flat, emotionless tawny eyes. Oddly, you can't seem to get a reading on him.

The Bride
"Best you don't know. I'm sure you'd rather not have me send more of your kind after you. Suffice to say, certain interests benefit as long as no one upsets the way things are."
The conversation is at the end. "Go in peace, my child, and think to repent your wicked ways."
You can't tell if he is mocking you.

The cannibal
Edward was at ease, beginning to feel secure again, until the last statement, which nearly made his hair go up. Leaning forward until his face is close to the bars, too close, a matter of inches, he's stopped paying attention, the vampire hisses "I told you not to bring up Bella."

Midnighter
Pretty tame sort of bar. By Sin City's standards, anyway. A few men in the corner are making some sort of transaction that doesn't look legal, six big guys in black are glaring at everyone, the biggest cleaning his nails with a throat slit razor, and a lean, hairy guy is talking to a dark, good looking woman.
Most of the patrons are watching a gorgeous blond in a cowboy suit gyrate against a pole. And they all know how to handle themselves.
You hear a voice to your left. An enormous man, with a scarred face and murder in his eyes is staring at you, idly curious. "That's one mighty fine coat your wearing." He says.

Nicodemus
Carlisle inclines his head. "Then you are in luck, my friend. I happened to discover a delightful place a few days ago. Best kept secret in the city."
He turns and walks towards a Mercedes, silver and not so much as blemished.

Sam
"That's your call, sir." He must work for your father, only his... people call you sir. "But I suspect these are the sort of people who don't mingle with the best of circles, if you catch my drift. We should start in the poor half."

[Draxx]

He felt like he was losing his mind. As he sat there, looking at the broken window, in a trashed apartment filled with broken dreams.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

The harlequin's mask cracks into a lopsided grin. Oh, cruel irony. Cruel fate.
He begins to rock back and forth, the strangely comforting movement done unconsciously, then, just as suddenly, he gets up, drawn by something indefinable, something he can't explain.
Something part of him since he began this life.

Leaping through the broken glass, he falls to the streets and begins walking, not sure where he is heading yet. He'll know when he gets there.

[globdecitus]

VIKTOR
Kraven stalked the fetid sewers underneath Basin city, quietly grumbling under his breath. However much he hated doing it, the alternative, going back to Viktor empty handed, was far, far worse. The six vampyres behind him said nothing, not that he had anything to say to them. It was Khan's fault that he was here, and Kraven was not going to let him forget it.

he wasn't sure what he was looking for. Some sign of the other coven. Like shadows, they flitted along the walls, hunting. Soon they would find their prey.

JOKER
The joker sighed in his armchair, stretching his gangly limbs. It wasn't fun yet, but after last time it would be unthinkable to miss this. It was an old fashioned setup; the lair was a dilapidated fairground, the minions were first-timers too stupid to know what they were getting into, incompetent, as it were, and of course he looked fabulous in his new threads.

New city. Clean slate. No punchline without the bat, but sometimes you had to roll with it. Apparently here there was some guy who thought it was OK to steal the look of his beloved, hated foe, and perhaps he'd even get to meet him.
But that was unimportant. First, he needed cash, and if he could cause some chaos on the way, well so much the better.
Then, he needed to kill someone. He was getting bored here.
And then, the Twipires.
With that, he leapt to his feet with surprising agility. "It's time. Get everyone into the truck." He winked one bloodshot eye. "Just don't forget to smile!"

[industrious]

Midnighter

"Thanks. My husband gave it to me."

Nicodemus
"Ah. Excellent." Nicodemus follows, looking forward to an excellent cup. Sure, he was an immortal bearer of one of the most unholy artifacts in the world. Sure, he eventually planned to send the world into chaos, and its people into Hell. But after two thousand years, you know how to enjoy your own indulgences.

Sam

"I suppose. Though how am I supposed to find this guy anyway? I've only got a name, so getting near him is going to be impossible. Take me to the DMV. I should be able to get more information there." Sam's tone is polite; he's had experience with demons before. Especially since Ben was now married to one.

[Prime32]

Nrvnqsr Chaos
It had been almost a week ago. He had received a tip from one of his accquaintances that the Princess of the True Ancestors was in this city. And so, he had come. Travelling by night, by taxi and plane. Stopping every now and then to feed his chaos.

And now he had arrived. Three lumps disgorge themselves from the oily black flesh beneath his trenchcoat, forming into bluish-black hounds with red eyes. Without a word of command they dash off in different directions, seeking his target. Nrvnqsr heads to find a place he can rest for the day. The man once known as Fabro Rowan retained some respect for the ways of the magus - he would not allow witnesses to his actions. These dogs and the murder of crows currently circling the borders should do for now.

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Fair enough." The Bride says as she gets to her feet.

"One last thing though." Her sword slides effortlessly through the thin wood of the confessional and with only slightly more resistance into the Priest's soft flesh.

"You are forgiven child." Cleaning the blood from her sword she walks back out to her bike.

After a few moments of thinking she rides off towards Old Town. She needs to know more about her targets and if knows what lies in the closet of some new upper class folks with little enough sense to live here it'd be the working girls.

***

The Rider

The Rider approaches the British man and smiles about as well as someone can without lips. Looking at the girls he says, "Get out of here girls. I have some rather nasty business with your friend here."

***

The Cannibal

"Very well Mister Cullen. I will not mention her again." Kirby calmly states.

"Though I am afraid I have told you all that I know about your Father's disapearance. I do hope it will aid you in some small way."

[nanobot_swarm]

It's quite early this morning in that **** hole called Santa Destroy, and already someone is causing a ruckus. Travis awoke from a night of booze and Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly, to the sounds of some crazy landlady banging on his door. He knocks over the trash can as he stumbles towards the door, not noticing his fattening cat Jeane eating up some leftover pizza.
He opens the door and feels the full force of an angry landlady: "There you are you little ****! Listen up, I better get my rent from you pronto, or there will be hell to pay!"
"Probably got plenty of stock in the place, you'd take that right?"
"Listen ****-face, I better get my rent by next week, or I'll drag you out of there and beat your sorry ass to death!"
She slams the door in his face and Travis grumbles with frustration. He drops a save, puts on the worn old coat and Bizarre Jelly T-Shirt, pulls out the Blood Berry from the drawer under the bed, and leaves for K-Entertainment, not noticing his cat attempting to jump to the toy fish on the ceiling fan and failing.

At K-Entertainment he walks up to the counter, and is surprised to find the usual receptionist isn't there, instead replace by some MIB creep.
"Listen buddy, I need to make some quick cash in a week, so tell me who needs their head sliced off and we'll call it a day."
"Ah, Mr. Touchdown, we have a most interesting job for you. Someone wants a specific family dead, the Cullens, you will be well paid for your efforts."
Travis, picking his nose as he says this,"Whatever, just tell me where they are, and it's done."
"You can find them in, Sin City."
"Better than this ****-hole, I hope."

Thus Travis drives down to Sin City to go earn money to pay his rent.

[Cracklord]

Kirby
Edward stands up. "We'll talk again later." He promises, and is gone. He switches the light of when he leaves.

Midnghter
The man raises an eyebrow, then shrugs. "Ah, whatever makes you happy. Your husband has good taste then." He throws back another shot. "So, what are you looking for?"
Behind you, a man in black with odd facepaint steps into the bar, looking at you unsettlingly.

Sam
The demon nodds. "Well, if you want some advice, look for the screams, the chaos. How about we just drive around until then, and you can tell me about yourself."

Ghost Rider
All the patrons move with a speed that bellies their earlier careful ignorance, move around, giving space until the bar is empty, with the exception of you, and the man's flunkies. He hasn't even looked up yet.
"You don't look like a client. The cops keep out of my way, and if Mr Wallenquist had a problem with me, well I wouldn't have woken up this morning. Your not a hitman. There are plenty of far better opportunities to take me down, and if someone was trying to make an example, they'd be more obvious about who they are.
So I have to assume you have either some personal grievance, or you are interested in a job."
With that he looks up. Emotionless gray eyes, white hair cropped short and thin, delicate lines around his eyes.
"So which is it? I don't have all day." The man who was watching you hasn't budged, still staring at you unblinking.

Nicodemus
It's a small cafe, in a fashion that dissapeared in the 60's. Like all of this town, a lend of the old and the new. There could be a path into Nightside and it would be years before anyone noticed.
The coffee is good, warm, thick, strong, and just a hint of some hard to place flavor. Carlisle watches you drink, then steeples his hands.
"Now, to business." He says when you finish.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The first dog to find something is an area two miles from you, a seedy bar in a back alley.
They recognize the scent, and something else, a hint of brimstone, and blood.
The next locates a mansion at the cities high rise district. Before it can get any further, it's gone, and you feel it's essence once more blending with yours.
The third finds nothing.

The Bride
Old town. Most people who go that way are too busy looking at the merchandise to notice the gates, bulletproof windows and automatic weapons the girls had handy.
If they did, they'd soon stop have such a good time, and start fearing for their lives.
You drive, until a woman in a tight red dress with spun golden hair and blue eyes steps into the middle of the road. One of the twins.
"I take it you want something, Beatrice?" She asks.

Travis
Your car threads through the streets, seeing nothing of interest. It's raining, everyone is keeping off the streets, and you are still not sure what your looking for. It's much easier when you just happen to run into whoever you need to kill.

Eric
As you wander, you sense yourself getting closer to the feeling. You come to a bar, the bonce bleeding and two thugs lying on the ground, one practically comatose.
Hands running over them, you sense they were beaten by a masked man. A sense of rightness sweeps over you. In this, he is to be your guide,taking you towards vengeance. With that in mind, you continue, heading into the bar.

[industrious]

Midnighter

"He really does. Even if he insisted that it be 'organic'. What the **** that means, I'll never know."

The amoral hero's gaze rests briefly on the newcomer. Ordering a shot of "Whatever's the strongest", he kicks it back without a care. He doesn't; his system was engineered to be the most lethal machine ever. Immune system and liver included. "Had a rough day. Decided to work out. Don't suppose you know who that guy is?"

Sam

"Well, you're the local here." Sam settles into the taxi seat, hands behind his head. "There really isn't much to tell. The Devil tricked my parents, and I got stuck with the consequences. I didn't want to do this when I started; I just wanted...something different. Be careful what you wish for, right?"


Nicodemus

Cradling the mug in his hands, Nicodemus exhales deeply after the last of the beverage is drained. "You weren't wrong about the coffee. To business, then. What would the fine and upstanding Carlisle Cullen want with someone as...controversial as myself?"

[darkblade]

Kirby

"Looks like I might have some fun here after all." With that Kirby finishes off the last of his dead rats and tries to sleep. Even monsters need sleep after all.

***

Ghost Rider

Lowering down closer to the man's face, careful not to make prolonged eye contact wouldn't want to burn away his soul by accident before learning anything.

"It's personal." A skeletal hand reaches for the man's collar, a little bit of hellfire comes off and burns a pentacle into his shirt and chest hair.

"Now. Do you happen to know anything about the Cullens?"

***

The Bride

"No one comes here unless they do darling." The bride smiles at the woman as she approaches.

"It's been a long time hasn't it?"

[Prime32]

Nrvnqsr Chaos

Something had killed one of his hounds? Interesting. He diverts three of his ravens to the area of the mansion, coming from the opposite direction. He's not certain what kind of attack they used, but it should not be able to kill all of them at once.

And now to this strange scent. He cannot identify it for sure, so he sends the dog closer.

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
The man shrugs, and raises a hand. In a split second, everyone at his table is pointing guns at you. It's quite amazing, a few had nowhere near enough clothing to conceal a weapon.
"I discuss neither my clients, nor my employee's, nor my partners. It's a bad idea. Now, if you have a personal matter, I'm sure we can be civilized about it. No need for evasions or half truths. What do you want?"

The Bride
"Too long." Goldie, or maybe Wendy, answers. "So who are you going to be killing?"
Miho, or Fierce Snake, is watching you. Broke Bill's heart to see her go, but she's happier here. You think. Hard girl to be sure about, Miho.

Midnighter
The big man shrugs. "Could be anyone. He seems to be interested in you. Have a talk."

Sam
"well, I wanted to be free, and now look at me. Should have stuck with singing in the heavenly choir."
The streets, in some indefinable way, seem darker, and you get a sudden feeling. This is the right place.

Nicodemus
Carlisle's hands fold into his lap.
"I want you dead, Nicodemus." He says, still civilly. It takes you a moment to process his words, and in that instant the table is thrown aside to break to splinters against a wall, and he is lunging at you.

Nrvnqsr Chaos
The crows can't see anything. To all intents an purposes, the house is empty.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"Why should I be civil with one such as you? Those guns will at best annoy me and I can kill you by looking too hard at you."

The rider does let go of the man though.

"I want to send the Cullen family to Hell where they belong. Now what do you know?"

***

The Bride

"Some new upper class family. The Cullens." The Bride explains looking at the twin she is talking to. Talking to either of them is always a fun game of avoid the pronoun, lest you guess the wrong twin.

"All my client would tell me is the adress. I need to know what he was hiding."

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
"Enough not to be intimidated by you." The colonel takes another shot, still perfectly at ease.
"I am a civilized man. But I'm also a businessman. A man of finance. I know how these transactions work. We both have something valuable to the other. I have what you want. You say you have my life, and I like living enough to believe you. So, we both work to remain valuable to the other. You can kill me, but it will not do you any good. And I can hold out on you, but it runs the risk of you coming to believe I am not going to talk to you."
He takes a sip. "But if I do talk, they kill me. Which is not something I am willing to accept. And I am not prepared to leave a very profitable business here. So you see my dilemma."

The Bride
"Old man Roarke let slip his nasty habit. They were his suppliers. And now he's trying to cover his tracks. A scandal like this... well, the church has got enforcers of it's own. Sure, they cover up scandals, but many of the priests who are accused wind up missing people."

She offers you a cigarette.

"I take it you killed his man?"

Kohaku
Edward emerges from the stares, managing to look haggard. "I didn't get anything. It's like I'm the one in the cage. I'd try torture, except he'd probably turn out to be into that, and I'd only make him happy."
Emmette nodds. "Don't sweat it, that was a longshot anyway. Besides, Carlisle is probably fine. Means we need to get another doctor, but we can deal with that."
Edward looks at him. "Alright. We'd better keep Satan's puffball anyway."
He motions to you. "Go deal with Kirby. Now."
Emmette shakes his head. "She hates you, remember? Try to kep things in perspective, man."