Illyria - Illyria Act 1 - Midnight Wandering
[Toggle Names]Description: Pressing deep into Illyria, the scouts of the Sacred Order have located the remains of a village of the lost kingdom of Illyria. Munin and Hugin, operatives working for the crusaders, soon discover that the hamlet is more than simply abandoned. Franziska, the undead Nazi abomination, has dug her clutches into the village, extinguishing what little life that was there to fuel her desire for power and artifacts. With her horde of undead, she seeks to dispose of both Munin and Hugin, before turning her attention deeper into Illyria.
[FRANZISKA]
Illyria.
Like many of the smaller nations scattered across the vast expanse of Europe, this sea-side country is one oft overlooked by the grand powers of the world. Covered in thick rolling mountains that reach all the way to the western shores along the Adriatic Sea, the vast majority of the cities where the bulk of the population lives are large sprawling affairs with buildings sprinkled in haphazard layers over the uneven terrain. The larger of these cities look much the same as any other modern metropolis with towering skyscrapers of steel and glass looming high overhead, great monoliths to the ingenuity of mankind.
However, far more common are the small villages that dot the rugged surface of the craggy mountainsides. While a few of these have been dragged into the modern era, most look like something that was lost in time from a few centuries past. Buildings made of white stone with red shingled rooftops are the norm, sturdy and aesthetically pleasing little dwellings clustered into loose groups wherever space could be found. Electricity is common in such places, provided by noisy chugging personal generators rather than towering power poles, and the occassional rusty old automobile can be found nestled against the side of a home or business. It's a quaint bit of rustic atmosphere that sees a surprising amount of tourism, drawing those who wish for a reprieve from the constant bustle and hurry of city life.
It's also what makes these places such a wonderful target.
The sight of one such village greets the two travellers as they make their way up the final bend of the long mountain road. A few old wooden signs had pointed them in this direction promising the chance to take a rest from their wandering or perhaps soak in a bit of the local culture. However the journey had proven a fair bit longer than anticipated. Even by car, the twisting serpentine pathways leading around the towering peak would have sapped several hours of time from the day, leading them on a merry loop around one side of the mountain and then back down the other to the small valley where their destination lies.
The sun has already begun to vanish over the horizon when the first of the old stone buildings comes into view, the sky glowing a ruddy orange as the daystar offers its final rays of warmth and light for the evening into the faint cover of wispy clouds spread out like a patchy blanket in the sky. It's a peaceful and pretty sight, the sort one rarely gets to see in the city. It would have offered an excellent backdrop to their first view of this quiet little village if it weren't for all of the blood spoiling the mood.
As soon as the pair draw within range to get a good look at the place it becomes painfully clear that something has gone terribly wrong. The old white-washed walls of stone have been painted almost completely crimson as if a some crazed artist had swept through the town with a gargantuan brush and a score to settle. Large drags marks marr the dirt road leaving dark smears where something heavy was pulled through the vast puddles of sticky fluid, most of them originating from the doorways of each building as if something, or someone, was hauled out rather than walked. All of the trails lead off further into the village, converging into one massive bloody trail that vanishes around the corner of a particularly large building, easily identifiable as a church by the large cross on its peaked roof.
Investigating the interior of the buildings would offer yet more visual horrors. Bloody handprints dot the surface of ruined furniture while large sweeping gashes can be found in the stone, left behind by impossibly strong hands or massive claws. Again, blood covers everything, and I do mean everything. The stench of death is overwhelming an omnipresent, a rotting cloying odour that aggressively invades their senses. It's like they've stepped onto the set of a Tarantino film right after the big fight scene. Perhaps more disturbingly is the that they find no signs of anyone else, not even bodies.
[HUGIN]
This far out into the countryside there's no need for the White Raven. Hugin has given up her vigilante facade and is simply going about as herself. The people she's hiding from could hardly be bothered to come out to a dinky little hamlet out in the middle of the Balkans. She's enjoying the simple freedom of just being herself, and travelling with her sister, it's been such a long time and she loses herself in it. Enough that it takes her a moment to realize something is off as they approach the town.
This time of day there should be noise, even in a country hamlet. Animals, children finally allowed play between chores and dinner. The smell of cooking food. But once she notices the missing pieces she finally sees the rest, her face going a mite pale at the first streaks of blood. Silence is broken by the soft creak of leather as her gloved hands ball up into fists, and her initial shock gives way to bubbling anger with every sight her eyes come across. She simply looks at her sister, brows drawn down then casts her lilac-colored gaze back towards the buildings. She has no need to tell Munin to stay on alert, and she trusts her twin to know what needs doing with unspoken looks and gestures. It seems almost wrong to break the deathly silence with words.
[MUNIN]
Like Hugin, Munin is doing her best to merely enjoy the trip. After the battle with Heihachi, and the tactical retreat, she and her sister have done their best to lay low, and generally let injuries, both old and new, heal as properly as possible. When word got out about a new place, it seemed perfect.
After all, what could possibly go wrong?
The silence does bother her, and the scent of blood on the wind tips her off to something being off before the village even comes into sight. She merely meets Hugins eyes and gives a nod, as a dark mist begins to drift off her form. Her footsteps become silent as she masks them with careful technique long-since practiced to second-nature, and the faint glow of her deep purple eyes brightens. As they move cautiously in to investigate, Munin keeps tabs on the angles of vision opposite her sibling, so each has the others back covered.....
[FRANZISKA]
The atmosphere is heavy with tension as thick as the coagulating blood on the ground. And the walls. And the ceiling. And, well, you get the point. This once isolated peaceful village has been turned into a scene of carnage the likes only found in cheap horror movies from the tail end of the previous century. It's so ridiculously over the top it almost doesn't look real. The stench of rot and death puts the lie to that pleasant thought, however. If this is some kind of a prank, it's quite thorough.
When the eerie silence finally breaks it is not at the hands of the two wanderers. The faint traces of what might be a voice drift down to them on the chill mountain wind, brushing at the edge of their keyed up senses. At first the sound could easily be dismissed as their mind playing tricks on them, desperate to find something rational to latch onto, but a few moments later the voice cries out again, faint but loud enough to be recognizable.
%And it's coming from the direction of the church, where those bloody trails converge.
[HUGIN]
Hugin reaches behind her and slides her shield off her back and latches it in place on that odd bracer on her left arm. Just a small tink of metal in the silence. From traveller to battle-maiden in one small action, her entire demeanor seems to change. The anger drains from her face to be replaced with steely resolve and righteous indignation. The ones who did this are going to be found a punished. Who needs a judge or jury. Just a willing executioner.
At the cry Hugin's gaze once more flicks to her twin, her free hand making a few quick signs in succession. Like any good pair of twins who would get up to mischief in their younger years they have their own little ways of talking without letting those around them in on the secret, but the message is simple this time. 'I'm going first, cover me.'
With that Hugin picks up the pace, moving towards the church with a bit more speed, hoping her ears pick up any danger or ambushes before she stumbles into them on her way to the building.
[MUNIN]
A simple nod is Hugins only response as violet chi forms around Munins fingers and hands. She hangs back a step and a half, a silent shadow, waiting for a target or threat to make itself known. She so far has seemed unphased completely by the sight of this place. Deep down she feels as Hugin does: whatever did this must be stopped before it can repeat this act. It never reaches her face, though....
As they close on the church, Munins positioning changes, keeping to darkened places, a shadow in the shadows, almost disappearing from view to those not looking for her, the only thing revealing her presence being those glowing pinpoints of violet light.
[FRANZISKA]
Alert and wary, the twins move carefully but swiftly towards the church. They find no signs of resistance as they move down the empty street. Each building they pass is the same as those near the entrance, home to naught but nightmares and death. Not even flies buzz about to feast upon the grim buffet of precious effluent, yet another sign that something very wrong is happening here. Unmolested, they make good time, coming at last to their destination.
The voice which has drawn them close grows steadily stronger as they approach the church, its nature becoming more clear. Rather than some desperate cry for help from a lucky survivor, it seems to be conversational in its tone, perhaps even cheerful. The speaker becomes recognizable as female, though the language that she speaks is quite gutteral and snappy. Pretty much anyone who's grown up in the modern era of television and the internet will be able to tell that the words being uttered are German or something very similiar in sound. Rather than coming from within, however, the voice leads them to rear of the large center of worship where they are a treated to a sight they will likely never forget.
A small iron-wrought fence extends out from the side of the church, more for decorational purposes than any attempt to keep anyone out as the waist-high barrier of wide bars hardly offers any sort of deterrant to entry. Perhaps the only relatively flat section of terrain for miles, dozens of graves fill the large expanse of grassy land encapsulated by this fence, wooden crosses and stone headstones dotting the field in relatively neat rows.
The thick trails of bloody drag-marks lead up the small dirt path that hugs the side of the church, marking the way to the gate of the cemetary. The gory red carpet continues on for several dozen feet, paving a fresh walkway through the center of the graveyard until it finally comes to a stop at the base of a massive mound of bodies. It doesn't take but a moment to tell that everyone in that heap is already dead. The horrid stench of death grows ten times worse as they draw near to the edge of the building as if they had run into a literal wall of nausea and decay. Blood stains the ground for meters all around the dreadful pile, the grass slick and stained so dark that it almost looks black.
The owner of the voice stands at the base of the corpse-pile, speaking out loud to a half dozen or so others in a lilting and friendly manner, as if she is in a particularly good mood. From behind, it's difficult to make out many of her features. Long pale blonde hair hangs loosely about her shoulders from beneath the rim of an old military-style officers cap, draping down her back almost all the way to her waist. A heavy greatcoat of stylish design hangs openly about her shoulders, granting glimpses to the equally fancy shirt and trousers underneath, all of them composed of a black fabric - with the exception of one particular item. Wrapped about the woman's arm, a band of bright red stands out it complete contrast to the dark design of her uniform. However, it is not the color of the band that marks it as particularly noteworth, but rather the symbol upon that piece of cloth.
Standing out in bright relief against a pristine white circle is a large plus sign, its ends bent sideways into a crooked pinwheel known the world over as the swastika.
The Nazi, or Neo-Nazi as is more probably the case, gestures with white gloved hands to the figures standing before her, drawing attention towards them. Though they might have missed the details in attempting to come to terms with the viscious brutality of the scene before them, it becomes blindingly obvious that the people standing around the officer are all former members of the mountain village. And they're all dead.
Or, they should be. Gaping terrible wounds coated with thick layers of gore and blood cover every single one of the half dozen figures. Some are even missing a limb or have massive holes in their torsos, yet they seem uninhibited by these injuries, standing quite easily before the pale-haired woman engrossed in whatever it is she might be telling them.
She points at the pile and one of the should-be-dead villagers turns, shuffling awkwardly over to the body she indicated. It hoists it up on its shoulder, ignoring the wet squelch of innards that tumble free from the large hole in the woman's stomach as they spill across its already filthy shirt. The cargo is transported over to the officer and dumped on the ground, sprawling lifelessly into the center of a massive pentagram surrounded by black candles. The woman frowns for a moment then shrugs, pulling a roll of duct tape from one pocket of her greatcoat. She kneels down, stuffing the bits of loose ropey organs back into the opening and then patches the hole up with the tape, the sharp familiar zipping noise filling the air for a few moments. Satisfied, she rises once more, grinning as if amused.
Suddenly, the air grows heavy around the church, the already overpowering smell of blood becoming practically unbearable. Dark red energy flares up around the woman, oozing from the edges of her silhouette to flicker like liquid fire in the evening light. She holds her hands out over the corpse, fingers splayed out in all directions as the energy starts to concentrate in her outstretched arms. The power builds steadily for several long hideous seconds, the miasma of gore becoming something more sinister, a palpable sense of violence and destruction swirling around the two interlopers even at such a distance.
Finally, the magic hits its crescendo and a pillar of black and red fire erupts from the ritual circle, engulfing both the officer and the corpse as it flares up towards the sky. The geyser of death is mercifully brief, fading away after only a few moments. The woman lowers her arms and clasps them behind her back, waiting patiently as she stares down at the taped-up body. It only takes a few more seconds before the impossible happens, the corpse twitching violently in sharp spasms as it slowly pushes itself onto all fours then rises to its feet. The woman glances around with dull glassy eyes, spinning in a slow circle until she comes to face the uniformed Nazi, who welcomes her with a brilliantly cheerful smile that seems utterly out of place in this nest of horrors.
"Guten tag!"
[HUGIN]
Nazis. Why does Hugin keep finding herself in these situations? Secret government black sites. Megalomaniacs bent on conquering the world. And now Nazis. Though that probably works into the previous point as well, but that's beside the point. Hugin stares at the grotesque sight before her, though the zombies and pile of corpses is pretty unpleasant as well, barely contained rage visible across her features. She's going to give them away and lose the advantage of surprise, she's going to do it. At this point, Munin most likely knows her more volatile twin is going to erupt.
"Defiler!"
A spear of pure chi forms in Hugin's hand, gleaming brightly like captured starlight. "What have you done to these people?! You.. BEAST!" One might think this uncharacteristic behavior for Hugin, but then they'd have to admit they didn't know the woman at all if they thought her reaction might be any more subdued than it is. Her lips peel back from her teeth, her normally quite pleasant features twisted into a grimace of barely contained fury.
[MUNIN]
From a shadow opposite Franziska, Munin appears, pincering the woman between the two. In direct contrast, Munins expression is near deadpan, devoid of emotion. Her eyes remain locked on the neo-nazi, and at range enough to have vision on all of them. "It is one thing to torture and slay the living. To deny them death in such a manner......". Her eyes pulse brightly "This is a crime against life itself".
Internally, Munin is as angry and offended by the sight as her sister. All the things she has seen and encountered..... none of it even comes close to this. Her mind drifts to memories of history, and photos she once saw of one of the concentration camps during World War 2.
Such a think cannot be allowed to happen unchallenged.
Or unpunished!
[FRANZISKA]
The sudden outcry of rage earns no immediate response from the necromancer, nor does the words of harsh condemnation. Slowly, the woman tilts her head around to peer at the pair of them, her bright smile undeterred by the arrival of the two people clearly ready to strike her down at the sight of her ritual. A jovial chesty laugh fills the air as she turns to face them, amusement rather than worry presenting itself as her first reaction to their presence.
"Ah, velcome, frauleins! I thought I sensed something scampering about. Come, come, zere is no need to be shy. Let me have a look at you."
True to her word, Fraziska takes a few moments to peer at the two women, which in turn gives them ample time to take in her own countenance.
There is little to see from the front that was not evident from behind but they do get a decent look at her uniform, finding that the black dress shirt sports a few decorations that they may be familiar with. A large black cross rimmed with silver is pinned to her left breast pocket alongside a smaller circular button containing another swastika. Another splash of red breaks up the monotony of black in the form of an elegant tie, the long strip of fabric starting at the base of her neck and vanishing into the bottom of the V-shape collar of the shirt between her breasts. It too sports one of the little swastika pins.
The front of the stylish cap is adorned with its own bits of fluff, most notibly the spread-winged eagle clutching a swastika at the peak of the triangular rise. Just below that on the brim is a small silver skull.
The woman's face would be hard to describe as anything other than beautiful her soft pale blemishless skin molded into elegant patrician features. Her eyes in particular are quite striking, narrower than most people of her ethnicity but possessing a hawk-like intensity that is only magnified by their soft sky-blue color. She looks like a figure pulled right out of a fairy tail, a pale queen gazing beneficently down upon her subjects. Only the sight of the bloody aura still clinging her like thick jelly and the twisted undead retainers loitering around her ruins the atmosphere.
"Hmm hmm hmm. Very interestink. I do so find modern fashion trends to be quite intriguing. So, vhat brings you to zis humble little village, mm? Some fresh air? I hear ze view is quite lovely in ze morning!"
[HUGIN]
Hugin lowers herself into a fighting stance as she faces the woman, her shield forward facing, the white raven made of complex Viking knotwork clearly visible. Her spear leaving streaks of light through the air as she spins it once in her hand placing it atop the shield with the tip aimed right for the woman's chest. It seem there is no friendly banter soon to come from Hugin, just a continued glare. Sharp, angry, and as pointed as that lance of chi.
Her meaning is clear without even a word having to be said. Petty words will not be exchanged, not now. Now is the time for fighting. Her boots shift slightly on the ground, the crunch of small stones shifting underneath the only sound that comes from her. She's ready to spring forward from her solid stance into an allout attack at any moment. Perhaps some sense of honor allowing for the woman to be made aware of this intention before it comes.
COMBATSYS: Hugin has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|
[MUNIN]
Just as Hugins lance of chi burns with bright white light, in contrast Munins aura darkens, seeping off her like black mist, as she pulls up her hood. The shadows within deepen, hiding her face in thick shadow, the only indicator of a face being there is the bright purple glow of her eyes. With a moments concentration, a spike of purple chi forms in each palm as she assumes her own combat stance. Like her sibling, she sees no need for words, the choice of how to respond to such a sight without question in her mind.
Watching Franziska closely, she tries to estimate the womans particular specialties and abilities, while also appraising the undead around her and the threat they may pose.....
COMBATSYS: Munin has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|
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Munin 0/-------/-------|
[FRANZISKA]
Franziska continue's to smile silently for a few seconds, waiting for their responses. They'd be quite keen to mouth off at her a few moments ago so their sudden unwillinginess to speak is unexpected. Her eyes drift closed and she lets out a small exasperated sigh like a mother being given the silent treatment from a pair of angsty teenage daughters. Despite the obviously threatening gestures calling her to action, the Nazi seems unconcerned with defending herself or preparing for a fight. Likewise, the shambling corpses of the former villagers simply mill about in a loose group around the pentagram, staring blankly at the two women with bloodshot eyes.
"Hmm..." She makes another amused sound, peering back and forth between the twins. "Vell, zis is quite odd. Normally, ze vomen I encounter are little chatterboxes yet you are qviet as church mice. You must be very popular wiz ze men!"
Franziska chuckles at her own joke, but quickly shrugs, and turns back to the pile of corpses making a show of examining the bodies.
"As much as I enjoy company, I don't haff time to engage in pointless starink contests so if you vill excuse, I must return to my verk. As you can see, I haff quite ze pile to attend to. I'm sure you understand. Do feel free to drop by und visit some time!"
Well... looks like they've been ignored. Probably not the reaction they expected.
COMBATSYS: Franziska has joined the fight here.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers has joined the fight here.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[HUGIN]
"I don't bandy words with abominations." Eyes seek out their twins on the otherside of the soon to be battlefield and there's an almost imperceptable nod of the head. Another shifting of pebbles underfoot signals Hugin's intent before she leaps into action. Despite the shield, she's quick, and she's pumping out every iota of speed she has to quickly close the gap between herself and Franziska, shield leading the charge, spear still placed just so at the apex of the circle.
A few feet away she springs off the ground, only then lowering the guard she kept high to protect her in her charge and lands next to the woman with the poorest taste in 1940s vintage fashion in the world. Coming to ground on one foot, she uses her momentum to spin, arcing that lance of chi around her in cutting circle of dazzling light.
[MUNIN]
Right on cue......
The nod returned, Munin likewise shifts into action. While Hugin goes at the boss, Munin goes at the supporting mobs for the time being!
Closing in quickly on the zombies, she abruptly shimmers and splits, two other Munins appearing and going at two different zombies! Only one is real, however, and on closing she attacks her target, the newly raised woman, with a chop to the neck in the hopes of breaking it enough to make the body no longer capable of responding. The strike done, she blinks past, attempting to move back out of range of any followups the undead may have!
COMBATSYS: Franziska blocks Hugin's Kara.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers blocks Munin's Mirror Image.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
The smiling officer continues to ignore the pair of women, not even offering a reponse when the spear-wielding twin decides to pipe up once more...just to say she isn't going to talk. Well, that's productive.
Hugin's bold charge into battle is met by no resistance, the zombies either too slow or too stupid to realize what's going on until the dazzling warrior has landed in their midst. Even now, with the threat of being slashed by that weapon of light, Franziska continues to peer at the pile of corpses as if nothing else in the world matters. It is not until the last moment that she reacts, her hand snapping up to intercept the whirling cut of deadly spear.
The blazing blade stops cold on the surface of the Nazi's gloved palm, her fingers closing around the light without fear. A faint sizzling sound fills the air as the bloody aura contents with the spear's energy but overall the strike seems to do little more than add to the scent of burning flesh to the stench already permeating the cemetary.
Franziska slowly turns her head to regard the shimmering spear, still smiling as she twists her wrist to tilt the weapon back and forth at her leisure. The officer is hellishly strong and any attempt to withdraw the weapon from her grip is likely to result in a scene comparable to the old Disney movie about King Arthur where the unworthy knights futiley try to draw Excalibur from the stone. Unless she can just banish and resummon the weapon, ofcourse.
"A spear and shield? A razer curious choice of weapons for ze modern world, don't you tink? Ach, but I am van to talk about anachronisms!"
She chuckles again, turning to face Hugin properly as she does so. Her eyes narrow slightly at the woman, the good natured smile shifting into an amused smirk. Casually, she lifts her empty hand up, pointing the palm at the twin's face as dark ruddy energy gathers around her fingers. A bolt of crimson lightning explodes into Hugin from near point-blank, terrible primal energy of death and suffering pouring into her in a continuous stream. The dark energy writhes as it lashes at the young shield-maiden, flowing more like a fluid than electricity, as if the bolt of power is itself made of blackish-red blood.
Munin's efforts are met with similar results though the shambling corpses make it look for less impressive. The pair of Munins both strike their target, each zombie lifting its arms to shield its body with whatever limbs they have available. The real attack slashes into the already mangled flesh of an arm, earning a reproachful moan from the creature but the strike seems to have done little more than carve up a bit of meat. The horde turns, moving more quickly now, their blood-shot eyes beginning to glow with a dark red light as the necromancer feeds fel energies into their bodies.
Two of the undead rush at her in unison, coming from both the left and the right as she attempts to flee. Their speed is not at all like the slow shuffling gait presented in the stereotypical movies, rather they run at her in a full sprint, the motion somewhat off due to their injuries but nevertheless quite rapid. Both of the creatures let out shrill cries of battle as they close in, lashing at the second twin's sides with blood-caked nails and balled up fists, bringing the rotten stench of decay against her in full force.
COMBATSYS: Munin blocks Zombie Villagers' Threnody of the Sweeping Mists.
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Hugin 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Hugin blocks Franziska's Blutstrom.
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Hugin 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[HUGIN]
Hugin smiles faintly as her attack is caught, at least the woman is paying attention now. Nothing is more annoying than an opponent being dismissive. Her response to the spear being grabbed is simply to let go herself, as once he hand is off the lance the chi just breaks apart into glowing mist that fades from view. This allows her to back up just enough to get her shield between her and that stream of energy in time for it to wash right over the metallic surface. It doesn't keep all of it from her but the worst of the attack slides off the surface.
In response to the comment from Franziska, Hugin simply bangs her other metal bracer against the shield, once, twice, three times, the resounding clang of metal on metal sounding through the curchyard. She may not be bandying words, but that glare is clear. She's perfectly happy with her choice of archaic armament.
Then, just as it looks like the frisky twin is about to launch herself into the fray against the nazi once more, she spins on her heel and attempts to drive the edge of her shield right into the face of one of the stumbling corpses, with a battle cry shouted at the top of her lungs.
[MUNIN]
As Munin zips past, it is all she can do to bring her arms up to ward off the attacks. These zombies are FAST!
Mental note made: the movies lie.
The nails and punches scratch and bruise her arms, which bleed a bit on their own, but otherwise the damage is rather minor as she makes her pass.
Another move is made once Hugin moves in. Ignoring the necromancer herself for the moment, Munin once again moves on the zombies, attempting to kick the OTHER side of the head of her sisters target, in an attempt at a hammer-and-anvil style strike!
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers blocks Munin's Diving Kick.
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Hugin 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers interrupts Fierce Strike from Hugin with March to the Bitter End EX.
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Hugin 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Franziska
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Munin 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
The bolt of power dies in Franziska's hand after only a couple of seconds, the necromancer clearly seeing that her efforts are wasted this time. She cannot argue that a shield is a useful tool in battle, even in the modern era. It's actually pretty surprising that more people don't use them. Ofcourse, she has little need for such things herself. The body granted to her by her magic is all but indestructible and even its full annihilation wouldn't be enough to finish her for good. One of the benefits of being an 'abomination'. Not that she has to worry, neither of these two sisters seem to have the necessary strength to pose a true threat anyways.
The Nazi lowers her hands, leaving them resting at her side in preparation to defend against another attack, however, it would seem that the Captain America wanna-be believes that her minions will make for a more appealing target. An understandable mistake in judgement but a mistake nonetheless. She quirks an eyebrow and steps back, allowing the aftermath of this foolish decision to unfold.
Hugin's battle-cry draws the attention of the zombie she had picked out to be her victim and it spins around to face her, its bloody maw gaping open to unleash a bellow of its own. That scream is cut short as the hard edge of the shield is jammed into its mouth, forcing the flesh of the jaws to snap shut tightly on the metal disc. Rather than find this a troublesome scenario, the zombie simply glares at the woman across the surface of the shield, its eyes glowing with red hate. It's teeth grind noisily as it bites down, locking both its mouth and steely-fingered hands onto the far side of the shield. Unlike her spear of light, the shield is rather firmly attached to her, making the prospect of ditching it a lot more troublesome.
Munin leaps to the rescue, attempting to aid her sister but another of the zombies quickly interposes itself between them, catching her kick on its upraised arms with similar results to her opening strike. The two undead that had chased her before circle around and start to close in from behind, attempting to cut off her escape while the other half of the mob moves to deal with Hugin.
Displaying the same sort of inhuman strength as the officer, the zombie tosses its head up, hoisting the hapless shield-user up into the air as if she were no heavier than a pillow. It quickly reverses the motion, slamming her back down but with even greater force, forcing her to take the brunt of the impact with her legs or go down even harder on her back. It repeats this attack several times, swinging its head wildly around like a dog with a chewtoy, flinging the woman back and forth with violent and likely very unpleasant jerking motions.
"Hmm hmm hmm! It seems he has taken a likink to you!"
Franziska grins, amusement evident on her face and in her voice. She refrains from joining in just yet, allowing the zombies to have their fun, though the aura of power around her continues to churn and bubble with fresh intensity as she grows eager for the chance to whet her appetite for violence.
COMBATSYS: Franziska is surrounded by a glowing red aura of dark magic!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[HUGIN]
Shields, by their very nature are meant to be ditched when their presence becomes a hinderance, but for some reason, Hugin holds on anyway like a cowboy trying to break a particularly stubborn bronco. Sure, she's taking damage from it, but the zombie is occupied for now, and it's one less her sister has to contend with at the moment. Once the flailing calms down somewhat, with Hugin on her knees on the ground, she stares over the shield.
"I'm sorry if you are still in there, you don't deserve this. You especially don't deserve having to listen to that bitch, is she still going?" She draws back her arm and hammers it into the edge of her own shield just as she did before, but with the added complication of it being in a zombie's mouth. Sure, the ring of metal on metal may not be as pure, but it's gonna suck to have a shield held between your teeth that someone is attempting to drive further and further back into your skull.
[MUNIN]
A snicker is Munins only response to the banter, though more to Hugin than their opposition. For now, she still feels putting the dead to rest is her priority....
Or is it?
Ducking a mistimed swipe from one of said undead, she shifts around it, leaps into a spin, and slices upwards at it as she passes, a blade of chi forming from one hand like a katar blade! She aims the arc of her leap towards Franziska however, and as she comes around and drops back to the ground, she bolts forwards, passing by the necromancer as she strikes low at Franziskas abdoman in the same strike!
COMBATSYS: Munin blitzes into action and acts again!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers blocks Munin's Spin Slash.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Hugin successfully hits Zombie Villagers with Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Franziska blocks Munin's Shadow Spike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
"Vell, you're quite ze rude van, aren't you?"
Contrary to her words, Franziska doesn't seem particularly put off by the insult, her joking tone and amused smirk still fully intact. She doesn't make any comments on whether or not the consciousness of the former townsman is still residing within the ruined shell of a body. It wouldn't matter if they knew anyways. And besides, the way things are going right now they'll get the chance to enjoy the full zombie experience themselves very soon.
Still stubbornly clinging to the shield, Hugin's swift strike to the far end drives the metal edge several inches deeper into the zombie's rotten maw. The flesh of its face parts stickly around the wedge leaving trails of disgusting black ichor on the surface as the creature gags noisily, refusing to let go even as it is nearly decapitated. The reason for that becomes clear a few moments later as the other three zombies come up behind the shield-maiden, throwing themselves upon the woman in a heap of flailing limbs and gnashing teeth.
The officer claps her hands together, applauding the twin for her short-lived victory.
"Zat's van down! Still six left though, might vant to pick up ze pace."
Munin's twirling slash cleaves into the arm of another zombie, lopping the limb off with a dull plop as it raises it to take the brunt of the strike instead of its head. The creature blinks and peers down at its stump but quickly turns and runs after her, seemingly unperturbed by the loss.
Franziska shifts her focus to the more agile of the twins, smiling as the woman launches herself into a graceful acrobatic assault. Flashy but far too obvious. The blade of energy is met by the Nazi's shin, a flare of red energy engulfing her leg in a shield of blood moments before impact. The shadowy sword glances off almost harmlessly much the same as her sister's spear of light had, earning her the same burnt flesh scent for her efforts and little more.
"Oh, are we switching partners now? Very vell! Let us danse!"
Adjusting her hat with thumb and forefinger on the brim, Franziska turns to face the darker half of this power duo. Rather than launch herself after Munin, however, she strides casually towards the nimble illusionist, one hand held up at her side engulfed in sinister oily red light. Some dozen feet away from her opponent, the Nazi does something strange. She holds the glowing hand out, as if presenting it for Munin to see, then clenches her fingers into a tight fist, grinning smugly as she does so.
The ground beneath the shadow dancer turns pitch black almost instantly as dark blood bubbles up from the soil, the sticky fluid washing over her feet as it expands into a broad circle. A dozen skeletal arms suddenly explode from this weeping wound in the earth, clawing fingers reaching out for her clothes, her legs, her feet, whatever they can grab hold of to hold her fast to the ground. Franziska continues to approach as her minions attempt to pin the little interloper down, quickly drawing within striking distance to take advantage of her predicament if she doesn't slip away soon!
COMBATSYS: Hugin blocks Zombie Villagers' Diving Kick.
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Hugin 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Munin fails to counter Groll des Toten from Franziska with Terminal Response.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zombie Villagers
[MUNIN]
As her strike is guarded against, Munin backs up quickly, trying to surmise what this necromancer might be capable of. She doesn't look down until the last minute however, and with a burst of speed attempts to leap forwards, out of the area and into striking range of Franziska in a suprise attack!
She stops suddenly in mid-air, pulled back to the ground by clawed skeletal hands that dig into the flesh of her leg, holding her fast despite her struggles to escape!
[HUGIN]
The shield is wrenched free of the zombie's mouth just in time for Hugin to hunker down amid the walking corpses' assorted blows. Like a particularly foul-mouthed turtle. If there's one thing to be said for the duo, they seem to know how to move around each other on the battle field, neither one seeming to get in the other's way. Both circling the same point but never quite coming together. But she's also quick to respond to her sister's need.
Hugin rolls free of the zombies, coming to her feet facing them, which leaves her back deliciously exposed to Franzisca for all of a moment, as he choice of direction seems intentional.
The shield on her arm blazes to life with the same brilliant white chi that her spear was made of, giving her her own personal sun, the momentum from her backwards roll still carrying her towards the nazi. She halts her lower body by planting one of her feet firmly behind her, working all that built up motion into a twist that bring the face of that luminous disc right up in front of Franzisca in an effort to introduce her face to it on a more personal level.
COMBATSYS: Hugin successfully hits Franziska with Thrud.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
A hint of devilish malice twinkles the corner of the Nazi's eye as she stops short, Munin's failed lunge falling just shy of catching her in the midsection. The bony arms latch onto the woman's legs with the same supernatural strength that the pair would likely have come to expect at this point, dragging her back to the center of the bloody black smear on the ground. The touch of the foul substance, even through the protective layers of her clothes, is like being slathered with pure corruption. It burns at her very essence, bringing forth nausea and weakness in equal measure like a particularly nasty virus.
"Step into my parlour... and all that... hmm hmm hmm!"
Franziska chuckles as she draws back her hand, once more gathering dark magic into her palm. It is only the sudden introduction of a violently glowing shield to her side that stops her from unleashing whatever foulness she was preparing. The Nazi staggers sideways from the impact, forced to take a couple of steps to keep her balance. Her hand comes up, tucking in tight against her side to shield her from the searing light as if warding off a physical blow. However, rather than look pissed off or annoyed, her smile only grows even wider.
"Oho, look who came to play. Vwer you feelink left out, fraulein? Ah, but you had all zose vunderful playmates! See, here zey come now!"
The gaggle of zombies, having risen to their feet again, rush at Hugin from behind, the entirity of the horde coming down upon her from all directions this time. Like before, they hurl themselves bodily at the warrior woman, attempting to pin her down under sheer numbers and superior strength. That part the movies got right, atleast.
Franziska smirks and turns away from Hugin, once more placing her attention on the trapped twin. Her hand flares with twisted magic, fingers wiggling playfully.
"Now zen, vhere vere vwe? Ah, yes!"
The Nazi holds her hand up and the hue of the reddish light in her hands grows several shades darker, a ball of blackish-red goo churning in her grasp. It steadily grows in size until nearly the width of a beachball before she tosses it onto the ground with a casual flick of her arm. The blob of dark mass hits the grass and immediately begins to shift and change, long sleek legs tipped with tearing claws and a narrow snout full of razor sharp teeth taking shape from the darkness. It only takes a moment or two for the transformation into the familiar form of some hellish wolf, its eyes twin glowing points of light in the void.
The dark creature instinctively turns to the fallen Munin, its viscious fury guided by the necromancer's will. It snarls at her with a burbling roar, leaping upon her exposed body. Though they have almost no physical presence, the teeth and claws bite and tear at her without mercy, easily ripping into whatever bits of flesh they can take hold of as if they were real. The wolf's assault lasts only a few seconds, though it might seem far longer than that to Munin, before its body suddenly swells up like a balloon and explodes in a violent ball of black fire.
COMBATSYS: Franziska successfully hits Munin with Hellberus EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers successfully hits Hugin with Elegy of Lost Opportunity.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/---====/=======|=======\====---\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
[MUNIN]
Unfortunately for Munin, she is unable to pull or break herself free. The claws simply dig into her legs and hold all the tighter. She gives a cry of pain as the wolf-like familiar or whathaveyou rushes at her, and bites down on her forearm as it comes to bear the brunt of the attack! Blood flows freely from the limb as she fights to keep it at bay. This comes to a head as it explodes, sending her flying back, torn free of the arms holding her!
She rolls backwards, skidding to a stop and pulling herself up slowly and painfully.
Moving in again, seemingly without regard for the damage she just took, she slips in and out of the zombies as some close, getting in on Franziska again before launching a palm strike at the womans chest. If she attempts to block, the potential exists the strike will be knocked upwards into her face nonetheless!
[HUGIN]
Well, Hugin seems to come to a conclusion, her focus turns right on Franzisca. "I'm going to wipe that smug, shit-eating look right off your face." She's not paying attention to the zombies anymore, and even when they come for her they get a few licks in, her attempts to keep them off half-hearted at best. Instead she spends her energy once more closing the distance between herself at the necromancer.
Another light-lance forms in her hand as she closes in, standing right besides her twin. And as Munin strikes high, Hugin aims low, attempting to drive that lance straight through the woman's foot and squarely into the gravedirt beneath her feet.
COMBATSYS: Hugin successfully hits Franziska with Sanngridr.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/--=====/=======|=======\======-\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Franziska interrupts Fierce Punch from Munin with Gemetzel.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
Franziska's eyebrow quirks upwards in amusement at the declaration that she would soon be regretting her wicked ways. Well, she supposes it was inevitable that someone would start trying to resort to cliched one-liners. If she actually felt threatened that might have been a good one, but even in tandem this pair is almost comically easy to handle. Her lips part as she gives a proper laugh for the first time, enjoying the feel of the hellish power coursing through her body as she finally finds an outlet for all the pent up bloodlust.
"You are velcome to try, fraulein!"
Despite her retort, it is not Hugin to whom the Nazi necromancer devotes her attention but the wounded shadow walker. A half-hearted effort is made to bat the lance of light aside but when it dips low to strike at her leg, she simply lets its happen. The blazing spear jams into the flesh of the woman's calf, punching cleanly through without any resistance. The scent of cooked meat once more floods their nostrils as the chi clashes with the bloody power running through every inch of Franziska's being, but if she is suffering even the slightest bit of pain from this wound there is no evidence of it on her face or in her body language. Even worse, her smirk is practically Cheshire Cat in magnitude now.
Munin's half of the two-pronged assault fares considerably worse. The seemingly unflappable officer simply puts her hand in the way of the obvious punch, catching the girl's fist in her palm as the fingers snap down like the jaws of a flytrap, stopping it cold. Franziska's other hand is held up infront of the unlucky twin, showing it to her as the sickly crimson light slowly extends from her fist to form a short blade much the same as the ones she herself uses.
"You might vant to take a deep breath. You're goink to start screamink now and you vouldn't vant to choke, mm?"
Holding fast to the hand which she has caught, Franziska lifts the dark magical handblade and brings it down on Munin's shoulder, carving into the sensitive flesh with a quick deliberate chop. She leaves it there for a couple of seconds, thick acrid smoke rising as the unholy power sears at her body and soul, then withdraws it. She holds the blade aloft again, giving the woman a moment to recover then does it again, this time stabbing her in the gut.
Each time the blade makes contact the aura about Franziska churns and grows a little stronger. Tiny motes of red light swirl in the air like fireflies from the gaping wounds left by the fel sword's touch, fluttering up into the air only to sink into her body wherever they make contact as the necromancer draws Munin's essence into herself, bit by bit.
Hugin, meanwhile, finds that while she is willing to ignore the zombies, they are not about to do the same. Her desire to pin down the puppetmaster has left her exposed as well and the half dozen remaining creatures once more fall upon her from behind, fists and feet flailing in an effort to keep her too besieged to aid her sister.
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers successfully hits Hugin with Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=====--\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
[MUNIN]
It isn't quite a scream, but a sharp cry of pain echoes from Munins lips as Franziskas weapon bites into her shoulder! her clothes are stained with red in multiple places, but this is one of the more serious injury sites....
She doesn't seem quite willing to give up however. Not quite yet, at least. Munins vision is hazing around the edges, and if things go any worse she knows falling back may be the only course of action left.....
Reaching up, she grasps the arm holding the blade, puuushing at it. Once it is out, she moves! In a blink, as if becoming a shadow itself, she blurs forwards in a burst of misty black aura, blade of chi blazing from her hand once again! A swipe is sent once more at Franziska in passing, both to try to damage the woman, as well as to get out of the situation!
[HUGIN]
"You let her go!" Sure, the words may be a little whiny, but her tone of voice is thinly veiled iron. Once again thezombies continue to take ther shots at her, her shoulders hunching up against the blows but she's keeping her focus on the puppetmaster, not the puppets. She holds her shield in the direction of the zombies, though it doesn't do much to ward off the attacks this time, but she manages to put some distance as she continues to lead them on a chance around their master.
Somewhere during the game of 'round the mulberry bush, Hugin feels she has enough distance to free herself up to aim a blow at the nazi while she's still hopefully focused on the other twin, rounding behind the woman she aims a kick square at her hopefully exposed side.
COMBATSYS: Franziska blocks Munin's Blink Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Hugin 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|======-\-------\0 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Franziska interrupts Strong Kick from Hugin with Opfergabe EX.
[ \\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Hugin 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=------\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
Franziska grins as the little fly she's caught in her web tries to struggle free. In a contest of pure strength, Munin hasn't even got a prayer. Fortunately, the necromancer is feeling playful so she allows the woman to think that she's overpowered her captor, inching the blade out of her gut little by little.
The blinking slash is met by the Nazi's arm, the aura around her diminishing the damage down to little more than a bruise. Franziska slowly turns to watch the dark twin zip away, her attention apparently unfocused on the silly game of ring-around-the-rosy that the wielder of light is chosing to play. The zombies stumble over one another, fast and strong but still somewhat clumsy in their attempts to give chase, though once they do rise to their feet again they close the gap rather quickly.
Normally, Franziska would just order them to surround Hugin from all sides. Running away only works if you have somewhere to run to. However, she's pretty sure that the little hero is going to try something foolish to buy her wounded sister a chance to escape. Sure enough, she attempts to go for a supposed blind spot, failing to realize that the necromancer doesn't rely on sight alone. She can feel that spark of life as clearly as if she is a blip on a radar, so when she suddenly darts in to attack, she finds that it is not an unguarded flank that meets her but that searing blade of bloody power.
Hugin's heavy kick lands fairly dead on, the Nazi not even bothering to defend herself, nor needing to apparently. What's one more bruise to a body numb to pain? Instead, she uses the shield-maiden's own strategy against her, striking in the moment of her own attack when her defenses are weak. The dark blade lances into her chest, punching all the way through her ribs to jut out of her back, glowing like an ember as it siphons the life out of her.
"Hmm hmm hmm. Don't vorry, little van. I didn't forget about you."
Franziska smiles brightly as she lifts her arm, hoisting Hugin into the air on the energy spike with ease. She holds her there for a few seconds, allowing the blood to drip from the wound where it bursts into more glowing motes of life. The officer leans forward and catches one on her tongue, like a child might do with a snowflake.
"Hmmm... you are... not quite ripe yet. I suppose it vould be a vaste to take you now when you have not yet reached your full potential. Alas. But vorry not, fraulein! One day, I vill let you taste of true power and immortality! Until ze, auf wiedersehen."
The blade of blood suddenly trembles as fresh power floods into it. Franziska lets out a soft chuckle, giving only a moment's warning before the entire thing explodes, sending the hapless warrior flying away in a cloud of searing black fire.
The zombies come to a halt, forming up around the necromancer in a wall. It's clear that they are being given the chance to run but any further attempts to tempt fate will likely not end nearly as...kindly.
COMBATSYS: Hugin can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Munin 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Franziska
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Zombie Villagers 1/------=/=======|
[HUGIN]
Hugin gasps on the spear, but she gathers enough of her strength to spit on the woman in front of her, just in time to have herself blown back and away from the ritual site, landing in a tumbling heap. Warrior's reflexes allow her to at least come to the end of her tumble in a crouch, one knee and the opposite foot planted in the dirt, her hand gripping the grass to keep her up. "You'll live this time. But I swear, I will see your work undone." She nods across the battlefield to her sister waiting for agreement. Munin's subtle nod coming in return.
The two sisters act in perfect tandem for a moment one aiming high and one aiming low. Munin aiming her shadowy chi towards the ground while Hugin's twin light goes towards the sky. Spears of light start to form above, dangling precariously over the bodies, moving and still and the ritual circle. And for a moment they hang there, stalagmites of starlight dangling from the sky. Then all at once they fall towards the ground just as their shadowy reflection bursts free from the ground in a circle around Franziska to pin the zombies in place for the cascade of spears. Two sets of teeth closing in for the kill.
Clean hit or not, the chi bursts apart into a blinding swirl of light and shadow, that once it finally clears leaves no sign of either of the raven twins.
COMBATSYS: Munin has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Franziska 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Franziska assists Zombie Villagers.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Franziska 1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1 Zombie Villagers
COMBATSYS: Zombie Villagers slows Iron Maiden from Munin with Reliquary of Shattered Souls EX and is partially struck by Maw of Fenris from Hugin and Munin.
Glancing Hit
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Franziska 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zombie Villagers
[FRANZISKA]
Franziska closes her eyes as the spittle hits her face, slowly shifting her upraised hand to wipe it away with a wistful sigh. Such fiery spirit even in the face of defeat! She's going to enjoy devouring that one some day. But right now it seems like the pair are up to something nefarious. And after she left them get away too. Some people have no gratitude.
"We've already done zis song und dance today, fraulein. If you have someting new to show me, I'd love to see it."
Well, ask and ye shall receive apparently. The necromancer's eyebrow quirks up curiously as the two sisters exchange nods, her hands clasping confidently behind her back in a parade-rest stance. Light and dark rise up as one at the hands of the twins, the two opposing forces working in masterful tandem to strike not at the Nazi but the prize of flesh that she has spent the day collecting.
A frown creases her face at this, the first sign of annoyance showing on her pretty features since they'd first met the woman. A quick wave of her arm sends the remaining zombies scurrying about in a hurry, each one taking up a position near one of the five candles on the pentagram with the odd one duck out moving to climb atop the pile of corpses. Franziska moves back to the center of the pentagram and starts to chant, her words lapsing into an alien and twisted language that no mortal was ever meant to hear. The very act of hearing those uttered words would be painful for the two living women, their minds assaulted by fel forces from beyond this world.
The thick aura of bloody power surrounding the Nazi flares with sudden intensity as she channels her magic into the ancient symbol, the bright white chalk bursting into black flame in reponse. The zombies along their hands aloft in the air and howl, their mangled voices joining the chaotic prayer to dark powers as each one of them in turn also becomes a pyre of smouldering evil fire.
As the lances of light and darkness close in, seeking to claim their prey, Franziska suddenly raises her arms as well and the crescendo of building energies hits its peak with a massive burst of pressure. The fires completely consume the five zombies at the pentagram's corners, coming together into one gaint ball of flame. It shoots sideways into the body of the zombie atop the pile of dead bodies, immolating it almost instantly, but not before the creature has time to lifts it hands on high and direct the spell to its target.
A burning dome of brackish bloody light explodes outwards from the disintegrating corpse, expanding upwards to meet the spears of light. The blazing lances of white energy strike against the protective ward and explode as their energies are snuffed out, popping like dazzling fireworks in the evening sky.
Unfortunately, there is less that can be down about the shadowy tendrils from below. Franziska attempts to expand her aura into the dark stain of blood around the bodies, infusing it with raw essence but this only serves to blunt the assault rather than stop it completely. Several of the bodies are shredded into useless piles of meat by the twisting shadows until at last the twins vanish, taking their power with them.
"Tch. Arrogant little maggots... No manners at all."
The cheerful lilt to her voice is gone as the Nazi curses at the empty night air where the pair had vanished. She'd tried to show a little compassion. After all, she used to be human herself and she already had more than enough bodies to start building her army. It would seem that sentiment is something she can ill-afford to indulge in.
Oh well, nothing to be done about it now. Turning to assess the damage, Franziska moves over to the pile of dead villagers and starts the process of animating some new workers. It takes her about half an hour to get a sizable enough group up and running but she quickly sets them to the task of laying out each corpse so that it can be inspected for usability. A good third of the bodies are completely ruined, mulched so throughly the only use she'd get out of them would be to fertilize a garden. Hmm, maybe that vampire lady would like a present.
Fortunately, most of the rest remain intact. It's not quite what she'd planned on but it's enough. All she needs to do now is repeat the process on a few more of these isolated villages before anyone started to get wise. A grin spreads across her face again as she peers off into the distance, the scent of fresh victims carried to her on the wind.
Soon, she'll have the foundation of her own army and then the /real/ fun can begin!
Log created on 13:38:39 03/21/2018 by Franziska, and last modified on 00:14:57 03/22/2018.