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 Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:22 pm
 Beneath the bustling city of Antonia lies a hidden world. A myriad of tunnels built to carry the waste of thousands of people, but which also harbor society’s other kind of refuse… The tunnels range from cavernous, gaping corridors to cramped, claustrophobic slipways. Each one echoes with the sound of gushing, filthy water, but if you strain your ears and listen beyond the swirling streams, you can catch the sound of scurrying, whispering and, occasionally, muffled screaming… Candles flicker sparsely along the treacherous walkways, probably left by some fool who ventured too far in, and did not make it out of this hellhole. As you walk by the waterway, the occasional bone floats to the surface only to be swallowed once more by the murky waves. The walls of the passageways are made from stone, worn down by the constant trickle of water leaking through the ceilings. They are slick with slime, the mould creating dappled wallpaper on the smooth stones. Their tendrils reach out towards passersby like skeletal fingers, clawing at tender skin. The smell of this underworld is like nothing else. It reaches deep inside your nostrils, carving a sensory gash. The smell of feces, urine and rotting flesh mixing together to create a soup of stench so thick you can taste it – it hangs within your throat, and creates a slimy film upon your skin. Though the sewers are used as a causeway by the Assassins’ Guild, they also provide a home for society’s misfits – mutants, throwbacks to a time of misconducted experiments and mistakes. Sometimes not even half human, these creatures tend to be unstable, and so only the brave dare venture deep into the darkness of the tunnels. The sewers also provide a hiding place for fugitives, dangerous criminals on the run from the law, who will stop at nothing to remain free… So venture into this labyrinth if you dare, but if you do so be sure to prepare in advance. Bring weapons to defend yourself from the unspeakable creatures that roam this warren of horrors. Bring candles and matches in abundance, for there is no fear like that of being lost in the darkness, surrounded by treacherous waters and unfathomable dangers. Bring money, as the fugitives that hide out here are not against helping out a lost adventurer, so long as the price is right… But most of all bring your skill and your courage. Nothing else will help guide you through this maze – you, and anyone accompanying you, must rely on your own strengths, your own cunning and your own ability to survive…
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:39 pm
Ruger looked down the hole, and saw it was very dark. The moonlight offered very little light, and the sewer was not one to soak up any. Ruger wasnt afraid though and grabbed ahold of the ladder, and with his feet gripped the outter part on each side. Looking up he said,
"going down, into the a**s of Loki himself"
with a wink to Sasete who stood above him. Before sliding down he also noticed and managed to say,
"great view from here"
while looking up at her. The he slid down the ladder and reached the bottom.
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[ RedPillow ] Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:37 pm
Cayne fell down the ladder almost instantly afterwords, rolling out of the way "yup, that is the place, watch out, He has assmites too" he appearantly hadn't thought of *using* the ladder at all. He stood up "okay now ministral, if you see something fift-"
He was cut off by a small creature that scurried in front of him. A Scamperer. He had the body of an extremly skinny man, and a face that looked like the combination of a rat and a horse. it chittered at Cayne, sho spoke calmly "what do you want?"
The small creature, with its patruding eyes and grotesque face tilted his head, then let out a shrill voice "milord! there is a rhakghast in the tunnels, and also a smill swirm of kirish, beccareful" it obviously did not speak very well, but the look on Caynes face told that he knew what he was saying
"thanks" he tossed the creature a candy bar, and it squealed with extasy, scampering away. Cayne did not hesitate to draw and load his pistols, then put them away "okay, these tunnels have rhakghast and rhakgouls... the gouls are pests, bit they ar epoisonous, but the rhakghasts, hard to miss...:
HE began walking, his inhuman beasuty accented by the candlelight, it looked like he was meant for the dark. his body almost creating an aura in the dark. His eyes were also very hyptnotizing
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:01 pm
Laughing at Ruger’s cheekiness, Sasete made sure her wolves were in the hole safely, and then followed down behind them and Cayne. The ladder was rusted, and she made a mental note to get it replaced. After all, a good escape route could mean the difference between life and death...
The smell of the sewer hit her nostrils and she felt herself blanch – being a Changeling, her nose was overly sensitive anyway, and so the smell was magnified for her. However, she was used to the smell, and it was always at its worst when you first entered. After a while, your nose seemed to become numb, and it didn’t sting as much.
As her feet touched the ground, she was just in time to see the creature Cayne had been talking with scuttle off, and she smiled. She felt strangely at home in the sewers – perhaps because the maze of dark tunnels and the somewhat unusual inhabitants reminded her of home.
Grabbing one of the candles, she strode forwards to catch up with Cayne and Ruger, the wolves close on her heels. Their eyes glowed deeply in the candlelight, and their fur gave off an effervescent shine that made Sasete feel strangely mournful. She knew what was wrong – she was longing to take on their form, but often felt she couldn’t in the presence of other people. Even so, she felt her canine teeth begin to lengthen, and she had to concentrate with all her might to not change…
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[ RedPillow ] Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:35 pm
Ruger noticed that someone was lagging behind, he turned around and saw Sasete. She looked almost manic to him, so he approached her, and put both hand on her shoulders and tried to look her in the eyes.
"Is everything alright? You looked flustered from up there."
He said this in the softest and most calming voice he could possible have uttered.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:03 pm
Annett followed silently behind the group. She kept her wings folded in front of her to protect her from the disgusting moisture that dripped from the walls. Her red eyes glew in the dark making her appear almost like a demon.
She wasn't quite used to the smell but didn't complain. She kept her hand on her whip waiting for anything to give her a chance to use it. When she saw Sasete hesitate in front of her she slowed down. She sensed something might be wrong but didn't press her.
She was a little annoyed when Ruger put his hands on Sasete's shoulder and she watched what he would do carefully. He was only trying to help Annett realized and relaxed a bit.
"Are you all right Sasete?" She asked from behind them.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:03 pm
Cayne’s ears picked something up as they walked deeper into the tunnels "ruger, I want you to run, that way" he pointed down a west tunnel, and drew his pistol, that rumbling, that deep throb, could only mean one thing.... A ghakghast "You need to accomplish the objective" he knew this was bad, not only were rhakgast deadly, but they were fast too "Run" he commanded, just as the creature burst through the wall...
The rhakshast was gigantic, about fifteen feet tall, with a rounded bals head, or just a fleshy one. Its lips had pulled back to reveal three layers of rotten, discusting teeth. It also had eyes assorted around its ugly head. and lastly. Its mouth dripped blood and ichor constantly. It lunged for Cayne and he backpedaled the attack. going one on one was fatal for a human, so Cayne let out his full form
His eyes sharpened and his canines lengthened even beyond normal length. and Two spots appeared on his back, wings ripping free from them. the wings were draconic, scaled, and strangely white. His hair also grew longer and more wild. His claws also grew longer as he removed his gloves and drew his pistols, he then threw a grenade, causing a cave in that blocked him from his friends
Then he began the dual with the monster. The rhakghast lunged at him, its huge clawed hand stretching out to reach him as the now winged assassin jumped back to dodge, firing pistol rounds into the monster, which seemed to be doing a lot of nothing "damn" he swore, circling it as he faught. lunging at the beast and dodging a backhand swipe by the creature a single blade appeared from his wrist and he slashed it across the chest. it let out a deafening roar and he shoved a grenade down its throat, then sunk into the ground, reassuming human form as he vanished, hopefully his friends were long gone and away from the hive
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:44 am
From the moment the hunkering creature had emerged from the shadows, Sasete had been ready to fight. Her hands automatically went for her guns, but as she drew them she knew that she would have no use for them – She was changing.
She concentrated hard, deciding what kind of animal she wished to become. Images flitted through her mind, their shapes within her grasp – wolf, bear, fox, eagle – but none seemed right. At last she decided upon a form…tiger.
As she allowed herself to be dragged under the subconscious wave which always preceded a change, she looked at the changed form of Cayne, and her heart skipped a beat. She did know him. Memories came flooding back, of summers spent wandering the bleak landscape of her childhood, of shared laughter, and of forgotten secrets. Her memories all came rushing, filling her head with sweet nostalgia, whilst her body ripped apart and reassembled itself.
She felt the familiar nausea associated with a shape-change, and knew she was almost ready. With a final glance at the now recognizable Cayne, she dived into the fray; just in time as Cayne released the grenade … her last thought before making contact with the creature was for the safety of her two friends, left in the tunnel. She hoped Annett would be able to look after Ruger for now.
Ivory and Ebony were close on her heels, their hackles raised, and a terrifying snarling emitting from their slobbering chops. Tearing, ripping and shredding the skin of the foul creature, the four beasts fought side by side…
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:22 am
Annett had reacted immediately when the giant creature had emerged from ahead of them in the shadows. She released her whip and snapped it in the air. However, the moment she saw Sasete she knew she had no place in the fight, which gave her one job. She had to look after Ruger. She quickly ran to him and folded him within her wings while she ushered him in haste down the left tunnel.
When she looked behind her both Cayne and Sasete had changed. Sasete resembled a tiger and Cayne was, well different. She hadn't really witnessed such a transformation before but didn't get much time to ponder because both of her companions had taken off to fight the creature.
Still moving, she looked at Ruger. "Are you all right?" She asked in an emotionless voice. "We gotta keep moving." She said without waiting for an answer.
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:23 am
Cayne swore as another beast burst from a wall, his fangs were bared, and he was in full vampire mode. His wings stiffened on his back, then folded, he was a creature of the lost realms after all. The other rhakghast took a swing at Sasete, and was blastefd from the side by cayne.
Cayne hit the ground, on all fours. Nails growing into claws, and assuming a feral pose. He looked to the girl he had known since his childhood, and lunged at the beast again. Rhakghast can take a lot of damage and the wounded one soon stood up, roaring, now there was two, one was coveres with blood from caynes, weapons, the other was standing up, dazed but unharmed
The second rhakghast, the mutant he was focused on, was even more disgusting than the first. This one had two extra arms too" both katar emerged from Caynes wrist as he sprung foreward, leaving the wounded monster to Sasete
((there you go kitten, you now have your very own rhakghast, enjoy...))
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:32 am
Upon seeing the second Rhakghast rupture the sewer wall and make its way into the fray, Sasete groaned inside. So much for showing the new guy around – now that he’d seen her for a Changeling, he was bound to lose interest in her. Her race was considered somewhat taboo in many areas of the kingdom, though they were one of the oldest inhabitants of this world. But, as her father used to say, people always feared what they didn’t understand.
As these thoughts danced around her now feline mind, Sasete moved to take down the first, injured beast. Its left arm was hanging off at the shoulder, where she or one of her wolves had no doubt inflicted a terrible blow. She crouched, her ears flattening against her furry head, and felt her powerful muscles ripple, tightening beneath her – ready to pounce.
Leaping forwards, she thrust the Rhakghast backwards, placing her paws on its chest, and then leaping on top of it as it fell. Tail swishing back and forth like an angry pendulum, Sasete dug her claws into the beast’s ribcage, and raked down hard. A pitiful moan escaped from the creature’s lips, and its eyes balled up with pain. Sasete softened her grip, but remained firmly planted upon the chest of the Rhakghast. Looking into it’s fearsome eyes, Sasete concentrated on connecting with the creature’s mind and, within a few seconds, had a grasp of it.
She always found it hard to describe how it felt to be telepathic to others – how could they understand the feeling of power than came hand in hand with being able to pries open the inner most sanctum of any living thing? The feeling of a throbbing beat, the electrical buzz that ran through her veins every time she connected with another- their life force seemingly transferred momentarily to her being. From a young age she had been taught to respect her abilities – Changelings had lost parts themselves after fooling around misguidedly with their telepathy, and many had never recovered. She was not so imprudent, and had never allowed herself to venture further into the mind of a wild creature than absolutely necessary…
Here, grasping the pulsating life-force of this creature in her mind’s eye, she felt that recognizable buzz electrify her body. This was a powerful creature, and its life-force represented that well.
Still staring into its wide eyes, Sasete breathed deeply, and began to talk to it within her mind;
{Be still beast, and I shall not hurt you further. To attack my group was a foolish thing indeed to do, and you shall be left regretting it for many moons. You are lucky I do not slay you here and now, vile creature.}
The beast stilled its struggle, blinking in a confused manner, as was commonplace amongst animals experiencing telepathic intrusion for the first time. Shaking its head, it snarled, but did not struggle. Instead, it formed a crude, simple reply for the girl now in control of it…
[Hungry. No food, young starving. Sorry for pain. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Did not know. Changeling. But what about Forgotten Lands? You stray far. Go home. City no good for you.]
Sasete smiled, feeling sorry for the simple beast before her. She released her claws a little more, and replied;
{I understand, but we shall not be your meal today. You and your companion must flee from us, else there will be more blood shed, and I will not be so kind as to spare your life. As for the Forgotten Lands, yes, they were my home long ago. But, like you, I have left them far behind me. Perhaps it is you who needs to return there.
Now, call off your companion, and let us pass...}
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:06 am
Suprisingly, Cayne had already taken down his adversary, the large creature roaring in pain from a shash to the neck, it had also braught its claws through caynes chest, ripping away his shirt and leaving four huge gashes across his chest, those of which were bleeding heavily. that one had gone beserk, one of the many that had fully lost thier minds. as it ran off. Cayne looked to her "rhakghast were once human, you must be an adept telepath to intrude in its mind" his eyes flashed. his body still dripping black blood to the floor.
"lets hope there is nothing worse, especially near Old antonia, where other things live" cayne was badly wounded, and they did not heal as they usually would for a vampire, for one reason, Cayne had weaned himself from human blood. and without the neutriants, was unable to heal "well, that was eventful" he said, wings retreating into his back, but hair staying the same length, which he simply cut with his dagger as claws retreated into his hands.
"it also looks like we have been cut off" the cave-in was nessessary to save the others, becuase he believed he would be fighting them alone, if the second one would have appeared, he would have been finished.
'well, lets go, we can pick up the ministrel later, lets hope they don't run into anything nasty, any mutants I havn't seen"
So far cayne had only seen the two kinds of mutants here that actually posed a threat "we should cut them off if they make a wrong turn, then we can get your target" he winced, smirking and putting a hand on his injured chest
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[ RedPillow ] Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:20 pm
Ruger flew bacwards to the moist pavement at the side of the flowing sewer waters. He was suprised to actually see a changling, one that especially was so furoscious in changing forms. The second she was done chaging she jumped and ravaged a creature thats intentions were pretty clear. At the same time Cayne had his own foe to deal with, but he would have to deal with it alone seeing that he caused a cave in.
"Well this is exciting!"
Ruger yelled out as his vermilion eyes began to glow. He contained his urge, after years of meditation and practice he had pretty good control over his beserker rage. The only thing that had the power to trigger him now, was if someone he loved had become a prey. This time he knew we would be the predators down here. Mutants were usually weak, and malnourished. Getting back up to his feet, he leaned against the wall of the sewer and watched as entertainment what was going on. He didnt feel bad for the deaths of creature from the Forgotten Lands that didnt value others lives, like the mutants that have been alienated to the sewers.
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:58 am
Sasete watched the hunkering creature she'd fought limp off in the putrid darkness, its tail swinging bashfully as it moaned with pain. Shaking her head, she wondered, not for the first time, how they could survive down here - and why they'd want to.
Admittedly, they had the intellect of a base wild creature - relying on instinct and brawn to do most of the work. But Sasete had the gift of delving deeper into a person or creature than most others would dare, and she knew that inside every single being on this planet, there was the same delicate little flame of life.
Turning to face Cayne, she focused on the dripping corpse splayed out on the floor. A rank smell of sweat and blood permiated the air surrounding the fresh body, and Sasete wrinkled her nose. Swinging her tiger tail, she stalked over to the body, and nudged it with her black nose.
She felt sorry that it had been slaughtered too quickly to escape, but she knew better than most the fever of battle, and that ravenous instinct to be the better - to be the one that survived.
Looking up at Cayne as he spoke, she winked, and felt the wave of nausea hit her stomach like a bucket of freezing water as she began to change. She welcomed the pull of the subconscious wave which always preceded a change.
Slowly, the tiger that stood before Cayne began to take another form - backlegs lengthening, straightening out to the form of a humanoid. The fur twisted and turned, creating a living, flowing pattern as it began to melt into skin.
Within less than a minute Sasete, in her normal form, stood before Cayne. Her long hair was as sleek as ever, and her figure displayed no signs of the change that had just taken place. Well...almost no sign...
"....Can you please pass me my clothes?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:58 am
Cayne chuckled as she trqansformed, leaving herself completely revealed "very nice view" he joked, "well, I believe I am the luckiest male in antonia today" he tossed her clothing to her and turned away as she could get dressed "so, you most definatly are a changeling, and you have seen my true shape as well"
As Cayne looked to the corpse in front of him he covered his nose "also, in that form I tend to be poisonous" his attention went from the drad creature, which now smelled like rot and an acidluke substance eating away the flesh from the mark where it was bitten "I am not when I am in human form though. cayne had a small puddle of blood forming from standing still for too long, and his wounds werbn't getting much better
"well, as I said, we have been cut off Sae... he shook his head, removing the memories from his own mind, once again relizing she was that beautiful girl from hsi childhood, or at least everything came out to seem like that
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![[ RedPillow ]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/20/e7/2acf642e1ae720_flip.png?t=1236885716_6.00_00)
