Topic: Dangerous Ground - Steeple (Read 47067 times)

Drakilian · « **Reply #100 on:** February 06, 2016, 07:35:37 pm »

Taking what measures he can to hide himself through both obfuscate and stealth, Steeple scuttles along the ceiling of the temple after whatever men are left. He nearly spills the contents of his bowl down to the ground, forgetting for a second that Gravity didn't work for the bowl the way it worked for him, but the Prince sets him straight.

His ears pick up two more groups of men scouting out the ruins, again they are two groups of three - they appear to have split up along a crossroads in the ruins.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #101 on:** February 06, 2016, 08:27:06 pm »

Steeple cautiously heads after the group he thinks would most likely reach Celestyn first - giving the two groups time to separate enough to prevent one easily hearing the ambush of the other...

Drakilian · « **Reply #102 on:** February 06, 2016, 08:41:14 pm »

Steeple finds that one group appears to have stopped moving, blocked by rubble - and so chases the other group from his position on the ceiling.

(For expediency and because the encounters will be so easy):

He finds them quickly enough, and jumps from his veiled position on the wall, twisting midair so as to land on his feet while sprinkling the sands of time down into the group.

He lands in the centre of the group of three. He notes one of the flesh crafted hounds slinking along very silently - though still held by the sands.

Drawing his sword cane from it's sheath, Steeple uses the motion of the pull to open one of their throats. For a second Steeple is captivated by the beautifully slowed down burst of blood - the line in the man's throat becoming visible as blood begins to well out of the cut.

Droplets fly out into the air and with a smile, Steeple sticks his tongue out like a child in the rain, catching the droplets as they reach his tongue.

"Back to business Steepleton!"

Spinning with mad glee, Steeple moves around the blade of the ghoul who had managed to get his sword nearly to the malkavian's back. The man has a furious look in his eye, and his two beefy arms look to be driving his sword forward with terrible strength.

"I don't like the look he's giving us Steepleton!"

Finding that he agrees, the madman stabs the ghoul twice, once through each eye. Leaving the sword cane well-embedded in his skull, Steeple takes out his mace and casually bashes in the ghoul hound's skull.

Just one left. Steeple notes that this one appears to have decided to run away. His back is turned to Steeple and he currently hangs midair, looking for all the world like an extremely realistic painting of a running man stopped in place.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #103 on:** February 06, 2016, 08:56:39 pm »

"That is so cool!" Steeple says in awe, admiring it for a moment, before baring fangs once again to top off his blood pool!

"Do you think we could take out that war ghoul with this stuff?" he asks Maurice as an aside.

Drakilian · « **Reply #104 on:** February 06, 2016, 08:59:13 pm »

Steeple runs up the side of the wall and opens his mouth, letting the man run slowly but inevitably into his fangs, the momentum carrying his neck into Steeple's mouth.

Steeple finishes draining the man before the sands of time are spent, when he hits the ground (along with each of the others) it's as a bloodless corpse.

Drakilian · « **Reply #105 on:** February 06, 2016, 09:07:54 pm »

Maurice thinks to himself for a bit,
"Normally, I'd say no. I mean, I'm not sure wend even be able to hurt it normally. But if you strengthen yourself on their blood, you use that burning weapon enchantment, then you might be able to wear it down considering it's already pretty badly injured from being set on fire and breaking itself against the gate.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #106 on:** February 06, 2016, 09:58:49 pm »

"Sure would be keen to try haha!" Steeple laughs, "But I don't fancy having to kill an army just to get to it. Too much 'wet work' there for my taste. Nasty business this killing. Probably should just stick to the script for now I guess."

Steeple, mindful of the Sands of Time, heads in the direction of the other group now.

Ironically (and in spite of his recent thoughts on the unsavory business of killing), he really looks forward to jumping them and anyone else he finds lurking about in the ruins.

"The jungle bat/cat lurks," Steeple whispers, "in the darkness, searching for its next meal, searching for something to pounce on."

Drakilian · « **Reply #107 on:** February 08, 2016, 05:45:30 pm »

Steeple catches the next trip of ghouls off-guard. Deciding to be a little innovative, and save a bit of his sand, Steeple strikes from stealth - viciously hacking apart the back most ghoul with blood-boosted strength and frightening precision. A second slash opens the belly of another ghoul, grabbing the interest of the flesh-hound (who immediately starts indulging itself). Letting the momentum of his swing spin him around Steeple takes out his mace with his left hand and smashes the third ghoul's jaw apart mid swing.

All of the disoriented and down, it's child's play for Steeple to finish off the remaining ghoul's and top off his own blood pool.

Having executed the scouting party, Steeple waits for further action from the vovoide's childe. About half an hour passes and the sun sets outside the temple before Steeple hears them - the scrabbling of claws on the tiled temple floors, the barking, the howls - it would appear the childer has ordered the hounds to sweep the temple.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #108 on:** February 08, 2016, 07:28:33 pm »

Steeple takes a moment to rip the bottom of his shirt off and seal the container holding the Sands of Time with it. That way, he can deal with the dogs the old fashioned way, without having to worry about spilling the precious cargo.

He then writes a note on a scroll for the Viovod's Childe and rolls it up - tucking it into his belt.

That done, Steeple then heads back up to the ceiling with his mace, seeking out the hounds to kill them one-by-one from above - save the last hound. That one, he only wants to grievously wound - enough that it will run back to its master, with Steeple's note pinned to its back by a dagger.

The note Reads: "Too easy. Send in something Bigger."

Drakilian · « **Reply #109 on:** February 13, 2016, 11:12:13 pm »

To enact his plan, Steeple begins with spending a prodigious amount of blood to physically strengthen himself as much as possible, massively increasing his level or resilience, strength and slightly increasing his strength. He keeps his reserve of vital energy topped off by draining the remaining corpses he'd made fully, and then decides to keep his positional advantage on the ceiling.

Then they come.

The hounds all run in a mass of rabid, furious flesh, making no sound save the unsettling scrabble of dozens of claws against the stone floors of the temple. They seem to know exactly where Steeple is, and head towards him almost instantly, over 20 of the things coming his way.

It occurs to Steeple with terrible certainty (as he takes in the incredibly muscular hind legs of each hound) that they will be able to reach him if they jump, ceiling or no ceiling.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #110 on:** February 14, 2016, 09:55:18 am »

"Hmm... that is a hell of a lot of teeth!" Steeple remarks, retreating back through the hole in the ceiling he had made earlier.

There, he readies the Sands of Time, to throw some pinches down on the ravenous beasts, if it looks like they will overwhelm him (using celerity to ensure he goes first).

From there, he'll taunt them, and smash their heads as they try to jump up through the hole.

Drakilian · « **Reply #111 on:** February 14, 2016, 02:13:47 pm »

Steeple's superior dexterity (and a little incantation to grant him the elemental speed of the wind) allows him to outrun the pack to the hole he'd made in the ceiling, which he pulls himself through.

Having outrun the hounds, Steeple sets himself up like batter at home plate and simply waits for the beasts to jump through the distinctly Steeple-sized hole (which means they'll have to jump through one at a time).

From the way the first one is crushed by the mace, Steeple quickly realizes (with much relief) that these aren't ghoul-hounds but far, far more fragile simply fleshcrafted beasts. He's literally just fighting a pack of dogs.

It's almost comically easy for Steeple to bat the dogs out of the air with his mace as they leap up into the hole, sending them flying into the thick temple walls.

"Steepleton, I think these things were meant to point out your position and reveal you - be careful!" Maurice whispers in suggestion to his long-time companion.

After 8 of the dogs are batted out and killed with comic speed, the remaining dozen or so of them stop jumping into the air to their deaths and wait at the bottom, barking and growling at him.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #112 on:** February 14, 2016, 03:09:10 pm »

Relieved to find them less durable (and toothy) than he originally thought, Steeple takes the Sands of Time and goes back down through the hole to finish the rest of the pack off, before any reinforcements can arrive.

If possible, he'll try to stick his note onto the last of them, but failing the success of that, will simply set the note atop the pile of wrecked dogs for the next wave to find.

Drakilian · « **Reply #113 on:** February 18, 2016, 10:52:14 pm »

As steeple spreads the sands down into the pack below, he hears the telltale clank of armoured men heading his way. He'll have to be fast.

Dropping to the ground Steeple burns blood and attacks with wild abandon, ripping into the dogs like the madman he is with his mace. 12 lie dead, crushed horribly wounded in various places before the soldiers show up. He hears shouting as they point him out.

"Lots of them there," Maurice says.

"Perhaps lead them on? If this many soldiers are in the tunnels, they have to have left their master lightly guarded... Well, unless you count that monstrosity back there.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #114 on:** February 19, 2016, 08:46:23 am »

"Now's our chance, hehehe..." Steeple grins wickedly, leading the men deeper into the ruins, so he can double back on them with obfuscate when they are sufficiently committed to following him.

"HA HA HA HA HA!!!" Steeple laughs mockingly, to ensure they'll follow - using Celerity if needed to keep just out of reach.

Once he loses the men in the tunnels, Steeple will hurry out to see what sort of guards the Viovod's Childe has left to protect himself from a mad Malkavian's mischievous machinations of murderous mayhem.

Should the opportunity to 'top off' on a straggler or rear watch present itself, Steeple will take advantage to refuel his blood pool once again.

Drakilian · « **Reply #115 on:** February 20, 2016, 04:36:17 pm »

His clever maneuverings and the occasional use of blood magic to open and close paths literally makes the soldiers chase him (or go in) circles and let the Malkavian get through the small army chasing him through the temple while ensuring Celestyn's safety.

Using some of his remaining Sands of Time Steeple captures a small cadre of soldiers and devours them all to fuel his upcoming confrontation. He notes that he is now coming to be dangerously low on his remaining stock of sands - perhaps only 7 uses left in total, which should still be enough to deal with whatever the childe has left to protect himself.

"Here it comes Steepleton. It's.... The Final Countdown! Dananana! Dananananaaaaaa! Dananana! Danana-na-na-na-naaaaaa-nananaaa-nanaaaa-na-na-na-nanaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

With sick music blaring in Steeple's head, the Malkavian prepares to confront the childe. He steps through the final corridor into the wide entrance room - where the gate that the Vozhd shattered leads to a cool, clear night sky.

The vozhd is exactly where Steeple saw it last, laying motionless in the rubble. It no longer heaves in pain like it did some few hours ago, at least.

Steeple spots the silhouette of the vovoide's child sitting by the beast on a stone chair. Where he got it from is a complete and absolute mystery.

No other living beings are in sight, as far as Steeple's senses can tell.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #116 on:** February 21, 2016, 01:59:21 pm »

'That chair?' Steeple thinks to himself, 'That's weird... unless... Oooh! That rotten bastard is using his bodyguard as a stool! Typical teet zee shit right there!!!

---

Using Unseen Presence, Steeple Blood Boosts Strength and Dexterity to Max; then overpowers his might with Strength of the Earth!

Seething with raw power - and a giddy sense of euphoria at the glorious battle about to commence - the crazy Malkavian activates Celerity and sprints to his prey!

There, he tosses the Sands of Time on the Childe, his stone chair, and as much as needed to slow the monumental monstrosity that is the Vozhd! Following that, it's the wooden stake through the Childe's heart, the mace for the bodyguard, and the Burning Blade for the Vozhd!

"THIS IS FOR YOU MAURICE!!! GLORY!!! GLORY!!! GLORY!!! AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

Steeple allows himself to be embraced by - nay, Exalts in - the savagery of his assault! (Burn Willpower as needed to ruin that farking Vozhd)

Drakilian · « **Reply #117 on:** February 21, 2016, 03:41:09 pm »

The vovoide's childe stands as Steeple rushes towards him, noticing him before the crazed malk can attack!

"Watch out!" Steeple feels the air around him heat and he flings himself to the side just as the space he'd previously occupied bursts into flame. With the Red Fear clawing at his resolve, Steeple nevertheless rolls up and throws a pinch of the Sands of Time into the childe's face - freezing him in place! The vovoide's hands struggle to reach towards Steeple and lay some magical curse on him. One that will never reach him, of the Malkavian has his way.

As he deftly pulls the stake he'd prepares from his belt, Steeple's attention is captured by the sudden roar and burst of putrid air that violently assaults his senses as the vozhd stands with unfair speed, it's massive body and arms reaching around to hammer Steeple into a stain!

In a fit of panic, Steeple throws a handful of the time dust out, closing his eyes and holding his hands up to protect himself from the massive misshapen creature's unstoppable charge.

A second passes.

"Are... Are we still alive?", Maurice seems to say?

Opening his eyes, Steeple scrambles back on seeing the Vozhd's clawed arm - easily twice as large and thick around as Steeple himself - a bare inch away from his body. Another second and there would have been two Steeples in this fight.

Taking out his stake and stabbing it into the Tzimisce's chest, Steeple prepares himself for the grim task of dismembering the giant vozhd. He raises his sword and prepares to hack at, uh, one of it's sort-of heads.

"Wait - do you hear that?"

A... A cracking, gurgling sound coming from somewhere... Wha

Steeple grunts stumbles, feeling his legs give out from under him - though he seems to be standing just fine regardless. He looks down at the bone spike that is currently protruding from his stomach, and his eyes fully follow along its length up to the vozhd, where the spike comes from. He sees it exit what approximates the Vozhd's chest. It retracts itself, and Steeple rapidly heals his severed spine so as to keep his feet, stumbling back from the Vozhd.

He sees the Vozhd's flesh bulge and squirm. Loose skin and flesh part or is ripped apart to reveal a terrible bone-armoured creature with a scorpion like tail that protrudes from its back and reaches up to over its head, covered in the blood and flesh of the Vozhd. It moves unhindered by the time stopping spell placed on the Vozhd. It stands not nearly as tall as the Vozhd itself, but a comfortable 7 feet regardless. Steeple feels it could reach higher than that were it not stooped due to its long tail.

As Steeple watches, it's left hand seems to extend into a long, discomforting weapon-like scythe. On its back broke little wings flutter.

Scrambling through his pouch, Steeple realizes he has none of his time dust left - maybe a trickle at the most, enough to lightly slow the thing. Will it be enough?

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #118 on:** February 21, 2016, 04:03:08 pm »

"Dirty trick!" Steeple shouts, activating Celerity and sweeping the Viovod's Childe up over his shoulder to use as a human shield.

Throwing the last trickle of Sands of Time at the horrifying monster, Steeple prepares to flee with full Celerity and full defense away, if the sands don't offer at least a minimal tactical advantage.

All the same, he yells at the thing - "BACK OFF! Unless you want me to rip the Childe's heart out!"

Drakilian · « **Reply #119 on:** February 21, 2016, 08:35:31 pm »

The last of the sand is thrown onto the thing and it slows down... For a second. Steeple is given enough time to sling the childe over his shoulder and uses him as a shield. He notes confusion in the thing's eyes as it begins to move at nearly a quarter of its intended speed. It seems to struggle for a second, as if to power through the enchantment - and Steeple's eyes widen as it moves again at normal speed!

"Holy shit!" Maurice exclaims.

It cocks its head at Steeple and his proposition, then it leans forward, it's tail lashing out at Steeple with terrible speed. Relying on the childe for protection, Steeple places him in front of the path of the tail - and the blade of the tail rips straight through the childe's midsection, nicking Steeple, before pulling out with terrible force - Steeple could hold onto him but he decides against it as he would be sent flying. The childe is launched directly into a brick wall and Steeple winces at the tell-tale sound of snapping bone. He hits the ground nearly rent in half.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #120 on:** February 21, 2016, 09:00:18 pm »

All sense of glory, bravado, and self-confidence, instantly deflate, flatter than the head on a cheap tavern grog.

"Holy shit that's farking unfair!!!" Steeple screams, as he flees, full Celerity/full defense, away from the devilish monstrosity about to waylay him.

If his luck holds out, he'll make for the tower he originally entered the ruins in. Maybe the sleep trap there can offer a modicum of protection from the foul thing?!?

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #121 on:** February 21, 2016, 09:01:32 pm »

"If I live," Steeple remarks to Prince Maurice on the run, "We'll have to leave this part out!"

Drakilian · « **Reply #122 on:** February 21, 2016, 09:08:45 pm »

Steepleton takes off running, moving with prodigious speed! He doesn't look back but he can tell that the thing is falling behind him, still slowed by the remaining time dust.

He reaches the wall just as it regains full control of itself, and scales it effortlessly. He reaches the hole when it slams into the wall, it's limbs finding or making handholds to help it climb after him.

"Or at the very least," Maurixe shouts back, "we'll need to spin it a little better!"

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #123 on:** February 22, 2016, 05:52:03 pm »

Steeple hurries into the area protected by the Tremere-boosted sleep trap and draws his burning blade - ready to make a final stand.

As the thing climbs up the wall, Steeple uses Animate the Unmoving to drop the upper face of the tower on top of it - or, should it get up before then, the ceiling directly above it.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #124 on:** February 23, 2016, 10:26:01 am »

"I only have one regret," Steeple laments aloud, "I was fooled by a stone chair!"

Drakilian · « **Reply #125 on:** February 23, 2016, 08:45:02 pm »

"NO REGRETS!!" maurice cries out.

"JUST FREEDOM!"

Steeple reaches into the crumbling facade of the temple with his thaumaturgy and digs into the cracks. The sound of stone grinding against stone fills the air as chunks of the temple come free and begin raining down on the ghoul chasing Steeple.

Though he cannot see it, Streeple tracks the monster's movement through his sharp hearing. He can tell it's avoiding the falling rocks, stabbing into the wall and swinging itself around the chunks with frightening agility.

With increasing anticipation, Steeple waits to see the thing pull itself over the edge of the hole - when he's struck by a sudden bit of brilliance! Tracking the path of the thing's dodges, he reaches into the part of the wall it's about to latch onto and weakens it - when it tries to latch onto the area the wall crumbles and it falls with it!

The sound of a heavy thud and the sound of cracking bones fills Steepleton with a sense of satisfaction.

"HUZZAH!" Prince Maurice exclaims.

Walking over to the edge of the hole, Steeple sees the thing - its tail and part of its head stick out from under a massive pile of rubble.

For the moment it stays unmoving, eyes closed, muscles in the neck limp.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #126 on:** February 23, 2016, 09:16:28 pm »

Without hesitation, Steeple sprints down the wall at the thing - ready to dodge the tail - truly expecting it to strike out at him from the ruin.

Hoping to shove the burning blade down through the top of its skull to finish it off, Steeple also bares his fangs, just in case it's only playing possum. If he can sink his teeth into its neck, perhaps it can be drained!

The thought occurs to Steeple that blood from this foul thing might not taste very good (in fact, he imagines it will be something akin to sucking festering pond scum through a dead raccoon's bloated carcass) - but that's a small price to pay to keep one's skin...

Drakilian · « **Reply #127 on:** February 24, 2016, 03:47:00 pm »

Steeple's suspicions are proven correct - as soon as he is wishing reach, the thing practically explodes out of the rubble, sending rocks and dust raining down on the surrounding area. Steeple twists out of the way as the ghoul's tail slams into the wall besides him, ripping through and becoming embedded in the temple wall. A quick swipe of his burning blade cuts through the damaged armour plating and severs the end of the tail.

Roaring in what sounds like indignation, the thing darts in and seizes Steeple with impossibly fast and powerful arms. It pulls him into a bear hug and begins crushing Steeple's body, squeezing the undeath from him.

As it does this its ghoulish head just forward and it's teeth lock on Steeple's nose, tearing it (and half the skin on his face) off. It swallows the flesh without chewing.

Another bite removes Steeple of his lower lip and all the skin on his chin, then a third locks onto his left cheekbone and breaks it off.

His face undoubtedly ruined (he'll have to grow it back before facing Nadia!), Steeple relies on the few weapons he has left to him - his fangs, and his blood.

Boosting his strength and healing a small amount of the damage done to him, Steeple darts forward like a wasp stinging a bear and sinks his teeth into a weak, broken point in the armour, breaking through it and reaching the thing's throat.

He drinks some of the thing's blood - knowing it must already be weak from all it had already spent. He then jerks his head back - the muscles in his neck standing out thickly as he strives to tear open the monster's throat before it kills him.

"FOR THE GLORY OF STEEPLEVILLE!"

What little of the bone ghoul's blood remains in its body pours out of its throat, washing over Steeple. He can feel the thing's grip weaken and struggles out of it, letting it fall back to its gradual death.

In the distance, the temple shakes as the Vozhd - freed from the time spell - makes its discontent known.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #128 on:** February 25, 2016, 07:22:12 am »

Steeple drinks deeply, swilling on the crimson flow, using the blood to heal his face.

When it is clear that the thing is good and dead, Steeple pulverizes its head and chest with his mace to make sure it wont ever be getting back up.

"NO GOOD ROT-TEN CHEAT-ING JACK-IN-THE-BOX HID-ING UG-LY MOTH-ER-FAR-KER!!!" Steeple yells, pounding with each syllable.

When the deed is done, steeple steps back laughing nervously.

"I... I can't believe we did it! Haha!" he remarks to Prince Maurice - "We actually did it!!!"

Then, with the Vozhd's angry roar bringing reality abruptly back, Steeple grimaces.

"Faaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrk..."

Taking the note he wrote earlier out of his belt, Steeple pins it to the remains of the ghoul monster with a dagger and hurries back up into the tower - to look out and see if the Vozhd knows which direction he went, trying to think of what to do next.

"That thing is going to wreck this place! What the heck are we supposed to do now? I really hope Celestyn is about finished with whatever it is he was doing!"

Drakilian · « **Reply #129 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:28:52 pm »

The thing twitches as Steeple destroys it, first in pain, then in nerve damage, then not at all.

"If Celestyn was done I think he would have sent us a message. Maybe we should check in on him anyway?"

The temple shakes again at the Vozhd's furious assault.

"Or maybe take down that Vozhd before it brings the whole place down on Celestyn's head."

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #130 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:36:20 pm »

"Maybe I can lure it on a wild goose chase?" Steeple replies, heading back into the tower to drain the two men he had captured earlier of their last remaining drops of blood.

"Sorry boys," he says consolingly, "But it's for a good cause - 'the preservation of self' I like to call it!"

Steeple then heads back out toward where he left the Vozhd.

The plan it to try to find the Childe's body first, dismember it and take the staked heart, then (staying way way way back), taunt the Vozhd into chasing Steeple to the opposite side of the ruins from where Celestyn is...

Drakilian · « **Reply #131 on:** February 26, 2016, 12:17:29 am »

Steeple finds his way back unhindered (to be fair, most of those who would hinder him are dead or broken) - everything is almost as he'd left it - save the Vozhd seems to be in the process of dismantling the temple. It attacks with haphazard fury and destroys vital load-bearing columns and decorative walls alike. Steeple can hear the panic in the soldiers inside.

It doesn't take him long to find the childe, still ripped almost in half and abandonmed where his own protector had flung him.

As Steeple sets himself to the bloody knife work he'd planned he feels a dizzy spell coming on.

Oh, that sweet immortal blood...

"Steeple. You won't survive this without some blood in your system. Kill the childe - the Tremere will take the blame, there will be no witnesses. Drink."

Some small part of Steeple wants to protest at the thought of diablerie - but it is a weak voice and holds little substance in his mind. Maurice's urging seems to overcome and wash awaY his doubts.

"Feed Steepleton. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Feeling the beast begin to claw its way to the surface, Steeple struggles for a second - and then another soothing word by the Prince puts him to rest.

"Just do it, no doubts, no regrets..."

Steeple's fangs slide into his throat.

Pure, undeniable ecstasy wracks the malkavian's body. Around him the ruins of the temple crumble under the assault of a monster of terrible strength, and not a single care in the world could be found on him. The vovoide's child has been pulled into an embrace more intimate than a lover's, his head cradled in the shoulder of Steeple's false arm. The vampire's face shows nothing but bliss.

Hot fire pours through Steeple's veins when he reaches the Heart's Blood - a pleasant burning, like the strain in the muscles after intensive excercise.

Memories begin to flood into his mind, memories of years spent as a favoured ghoul in a Tzimisce court, memories of over a decade of learning the archaic rituals of the Tzimisce - they are fleeting but there, the fire of his soul holding enough light to illuminate the vampire's life for Steeple - but not nearly enough to overcome Steeple's will.

In this short battle of minds Steeple feels the colossus - his beast and his madness both rage through him with perfect unity, driving him forward. He snuffs out the childe's soul like a man pinching a candle wick and swats aside his beast. He consumes him and then destroys him.

When he regains consciousness Steeple groans out loud in pain. He suffers but not physically, the best way he could describe it is that fragments of the Tzimisce's soul scratched up his when he tore it to pieces. He feels like little bits of it are still embedded in him.

His name was Artur, the thought comes unbidden to him.

Artur, childe of Rostog

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #132 on:** February 29, 2016, 07:15:18 pm »

Artur, childe of Rostog, Steeple thinks to the memories...

Undone by Steeple Carson Olaf Trevesky the Fourth. Your Judge. Your Jury. Your Executioner. The punishment for your arrogant cruelty; the sentence for your unbridled hubris - exile in the mind of a madman until the end of time!

Welcome to the Assylum.

AH HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Drakilian · « **Reply #133 on:** March 06, 2016, 10:41:14 am »

Maurice takes a long time to answer, when he does it is shakily and with confusion.

"Welcome to the asylum indeed", he says, echoing Steeple's words.

It feels like something in Steeple's mind shakes itself awake then, and Steeple can feel Maurice's amusement.

"It was getting rather lonely here after all.

I do believe Celestyn must be done by now, don't you Steepleton? What say you, shall we run through this collapsing temple or do we challenge the beast in front of us and stick one last thorn in Rostog's side?"

Steeple feels Maurice's desire to do battle with the Vozhd, to prove his greatness in yet another battle.

And who knows - with the blood of the childe giving him strength, maybe it isn't so foolish a notion after all....

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #134 on:** March 10, 2016, 06:50:56 pm »

Something about Maurice is different, but Steeple can't tell whether that might be 'greater confidence' or 'greater recklessness'.

Either way, what kind of Malkavian would Steeple be, if he passed up the opportunity to charge headlong into certain doom?

Besides, that freakish monster that popped out of the Vozhd really killed Steeple's buzz earlier - and a rematch with the Vozhd might be just what the doctor ordered to lift his spirits again. That, and while the demon-ghoul thing was a nasty surprise, it might also be just what Steeple needs to undo the Vozhd.

If that seven foot tall monster could hide inside the Vozhd, then so could Steeple...

Hatching a truly insane plan, Steeple uses the blood of the Childe to heal his wounds and then bumps Dexterity to max. He then uses pure (non-Discipline) Stealth (and the cover of the ruins) to sneak up behind the Vozhd, as it is distracted rampaging on the temple.

When he is close enough, Steeple plans to bump Strength, use Strength of the Earth, and Celerity (and Burning Blade if necessary), to rush up and dive into the cavity that once held the war-ghoul!

Once inside, Steeple will sink his fangs in and suck it dry! - burning off the excess blood each round with Celerity, Healing, Stat Bumps, and just plain purging if needed. It will have to harm itself to blindly stab at Steeple inside, and hopefully, our friendly neighborhood Malkavian can keep up with the draining, healing, and not getting impaled repeatedly, long enough for it to fall in battle before he does!

Drakilian · « **Reply #135 on:** March 10, 2016, 08:17:07 pm »

Steeple sneaks up to the Vozhd effortlessly, the large monsters senses not being the sharpest in the world. It is a creature to be directed, not to act on its own.

Steeple makes it to the monster's very feet before it takes notice of him, and by then it is too late. As the creature pulls back to take another chunk out of the temple foundations, Steeple leaps into the hole left in it's body - climbing in with incredible ease through help of his ritual on the creature's flabby, bloodied skin. He jumps forward and drives his cane sword deep into the Vozhd's flesh, right up into the hilt.

The creature roars and swings around, clawing furrows into the stone and swinging Steeple about. The Malkavian burns blood to increase his strength, then holds on the cane sword anchored in the Vozhd's flesh to keep himself in place.

Steeple starts to feel dizzy from all the blood he's spent... The smell of the Vozhd's blood hits his nose...

"STEEPLETON", Maurice roars into his mind, "FEED!"

The beast grips digs claws into Steeple's mind, the Malkavian can feel its chains break as it rides his skin like a vengeful wraith.

Steeple shoves his face into the Vozhd's flesh like an overly enthusiastic lover and begins draining the creature's blood. The life force of the dozens of injured creatures that make up the monster fight back against Steeple's Beast, but Steeple clings to the thing's side like the parasite he is, his savage attack on the thing increasing in intensity as he steals the Vozhd's strength.

Already weak from the myriad injuries it's suffered, Steeple can tell that there isn't much fight left in this thing. Worse, Steeple's Beast can tell it too.

In its arrogance, the Beast guiding Steeple's hands underestimates the Vozhd.

The thing starts jerking its body with incredible speed, it's day and muscle and limbs twitching about and throwing Steeple back and forth. It grabs hold of a ruined pillar and uses it to help its efforts. The cane sword snaps in Steeple's grip and he flies out of the Vozhd, hitting a chunk of rubble with a frightening snap. The Vozhd slowly turns around to face him, dragging its arms across the floor.

Healing his broken spine, Steeple rolls nimbly out of the way of the Vozhd's next attack, which craters the bit of ground he'd been resting in.

The next flurry of blows each misses, though Steeple grows increasingly desperate as he uses up the little bit of blood he'd taken from the Vozhd giving himself the speed to do so.

Still on the throes of Frenzy, Steeple's Beast is nevertheless a cunning fighter. Wary now, and on his last limbs, Steeple steps into the Vozhd's guard and back into the hole carved into its gut. He reaches into the Vozhd's stomach and grabs his cane sword by the blade, grimacing in pain as he cuts his hand down to the bone on the edge of his own weapon. He pushes the blade further into the Vozhd's body, then rios open it's flesh to burrow deeper into the monster. Blood is everywhere, and a fair amount finds its way into his mouth, but that isn't what the Malkavian was looking for. He reaches a massive wall of bone plating inside the Vozhd's body and punches at it, once and then a second time, shattering the armour. The Vozhd's body contracts wildly on an attempt to crush the Malkavian from within, but Steeple is far too deeply embedded to be stopped now.

Pulling himself blindly through the bone plating, blind, deaf and covered in liquid - not all of it blood - Steeple reaches the string of hearts that beat within the Vozhd, and devours them all.

When the Malkavian regains control of his own faculties, he finds himself terrified and horrendously sick. He slowly drags himself out of the Vozhd and slides onto the floor, covered in bile, shit and blood. He retched and looks on in disgust and surprise when a large stream of bloody chunks leave his stomach. He winces at several broken ribs and a hole in his side that seems to have gone into his lungs (for he has difficulty making sounds) and left a long cut down his side.

"Another notch under our belts lad," Maurice says softly.

And indeed, the Vozhd lies broken, dead or dying as Steeple lays his back against its cooling flesh.

He doesn't even hear the soldiers marching out into the field of battle between him and the three monsters. Doesn't notice their horrified faces until they start dropping their weapons and undoing their armour, running away to their vovoide in the throes of terror.

Good thing too. They'd have probably killed him.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #136 on:** March 11, 2016, 05:44:22 pm »

"Holy shit, we did it haha!" Steeple laughs - then abruptly grimaces from the pain of doing so.

"Think I'll just wait here for Celestyn," he says, not really wanting to move at the moment.

"Yeah, just gona rest a bit."

Drakilian · « **Reply #137 on:** March 11, 2016, 06:49:53 pm »

It's a few more minutes before Celestyn pops out of tin air, an escort of Tremere and gargoyle's (at least 10 of each) with him. He looks at the scene, ridiculous surprise etched on his face (and everyone else's).

One of the mage's mutters a spell, then exclaims - "He's still alive!"

Celestyn rushes over to Steeple's side then, and kneels by his side.

"Holy shit Steeple, you've been raising hell haven't you?", he murmurs.

The burly mage lifts Steeple up telekinetically, another murmured spell powering the effort.

"What happened?"

"Time to tell our story!", Maurice exclaims with extreme enthusiasm.

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #138 on:** March 11, 2016, 09:57:27 pm »

"I broke my cane sword," Steeple explains wearily, "inside the Vozhd."

"Could I trouble someone to mend it for me?"

Then realizing they meant about the whole battle, Steeple begins (rallied by Maurice's prompting), "Oh this? Yes, Rostog's Childe and I had a bit of a disagreement over the matter of disemboweling our good friend Celestyn here."

"I said, Vozhd or no, I wouldn't stand for it. Though I must admit that war-ghoul was a bit of a nasty surprise - confounded thing popped up right out of the Vozhd - can you imagine? That's tantamount to cheating right there I say!"

"I had to drop half of a tower on that one to even put a dent in it!

"The Vozhd though, that was my favorite haha! Had to get up close and personal with it to take it down. Which, as I mentioned before, was how I broke my sword."

"So, you can fix it right? I'm a bit partial to that sword - especially now, more than ever, given the current circumstances and all."

Drakilian · « **Reply #139 on:** March 11, 2016, 10:09:30 pm »

Celestyn looks to another of the mages, who nods. He starts shaking his head, and a deep, rich laugh rumbles out of his throat.

"You're unbelievable! I don't think our Clan has ever been so well-gifted with such clever friends. Not even in the old days.

Can you walk?"

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #140 on:** March 11, 2016, 10:27:40 pm »

"I can try," Steeple grins; genuinely lifted by the Tremere's compliment and laughter. He then attempts to stand and walk on his own.

'See my Prince?' Steeple thinks to Maurice, 'We have allies who see that we are a boon! That appreciate what we have to offer! And I couldn't have done it without you!'

Drakilian · « **Reply #141 on:** March 11, 2016, 11:03:54 pm »

Steeple manages to move after he heals some of the damage to his legs. He grows pale from the lack of Viate however. Noticing, Celestyn takes out several blood-red rubies and floats them through the air to Steeple.

"Bloodstone. I'm skilled in many of our Paths, among which is the path of Transmutation. With that path we solidify blood for storage. Drink."

He flicks his fingers and the bloodstone liquifies into orbs of blood that hang before Steeple.

"I will have to repay you for this. You've done much more than was asked of you - much more than I could ever have asked of you, for that matter."

Another motion and the pieces of Steeple's cane fly out of the Vozhd. Celestyn mutters a spell Steeple recognizes - Animate the Unmoving - and another that he doesn't. The cane is soon back in one piece, and seems to be in better condition than it has been before his attentions.

"I am limited by the wishes of my masters but what repayment I can give, I will. You wanted knowledge from our libraries.

Ask, and you shall receive.

One of the Tremere looks indignant at this, and steps up to Celestyn - "We cannot give this outsider our-", "QUIET!" Celestyn roars out at him. "Do you not see what he has done for us? Do you not understand how easily he could have abandonned me? He is loyal, and more that, he is competent. I will not hear any more from you."

Celestyn mutters another spell and the tremere tries to answer hi back - only to find that he can no longer speak. Not even a faint croaking sound can be produced.

Fuming, the tremere storms off.

Steeple recognizes Mercurius in the lot.

"We found what we needed", Celestyn tells Steeple. "I will have to transport what I can back to our private chantries. Mercurius can bring us back to your Castle. We can discuss more there, yes?"

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #142 on:** March 12, 2016, 12:01:22 pm »

"Yes," Steeple replies with a bow, readily soaking up all the praise and grinning broadly.

Praise was not something Steeple's Sire ever gave (even when he had done everything that bastard had ever asked of him - the last episode of defiance notwithstanding).

Yes, these were Kindred Steeple could give his loyalty to. These were the allies he had hoped to gain. It would be with them (and the Nossies of course) that Steeple would throw his lot in with.

Drakilian · « **Reply #143 on:** March 12, 2016, 03:34:55 pm »

Celestyn looks to Mercurius and the man grabs hold of Steeple's shoulder and Celestyn's own. The scenery shifts and they are then alone in a familiar study - Steeplems own, in fact.

"Thank you Mercurius. Come back for me in an hour, make sure the artifact is transported safely."

Mercurius phases out of sight. Celestyn then immediately begins mumbling a host of spells that Steeple doesn't recognize, followed by a liberal sprinkling of his own blood from rapidly slit wrists onto the walls. The blood fades away without leaving a stain.

"We have a few minutes to speak privately. I'm afraid I was a bit less than honest about the original intent of our expedition. We didn't go to that temple to discover old Tzimisce ritual magicks, we went there for the legendary Koldun who inhabited the temple. While you were defending me I unearthed him in his torpor, nearly woke him up too. He is to serve as fodder to one of our seven council members, to strengthen their ties to Caine and help grant our clan legitimacy. Rostog likely realized what we were doing and likely came to protect his grand-sire."

"Be careful lad. This is information you could be killed for...", Maurice mutters

"I want to be honest with you because I despise the practice and you've risked far too much on my behalf. My master Etrius is against it as well, though he is forced to engage in it lest he be vulnerable to the other council members, particularly Goratrix. I'm sorry, truly, for lying to you."

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #144 on:** March 12, 2016, 06:28:30 pm »

"I understand," Steeple replies solemnly. "Think nothing of it. We all do what we must. And I appreciate your forthrightness in the matter now."

"You have my strictest confidence in what you have shared with me; as well as my sword and friendship should you ever have need of them - both forged in the crucible of glorious battle!"

Drakilian · « **Reply #145 on:** March 12, 2016, 07:32:37 pm »

Celestyn gives a wan smile.

"Yes, well? You won't need your cane much longer I think.

Now, you asked for rituals - I can give you this...."

When the two are done haggling over rituals, Celestyn takes his leave and tells Steeple to expect another, secondary gift in a few night's time. He thanks Steeple for his help once more and gives him a pack of bloodstones "to remember him by".

Drakilian · « **Reply #146 on:** March 12, 2016, 07:44:27 pm »

Three nights later

Steeple is sitting in his study, pouring over the rituals he has recently received from Celestyn, happy at that he's finally gotten the chance to get to studying them (Nadia's been keeping him busy the past few days, particularly enjoying his description of the Diablerie).

He's about to leaf through some pages covered in the delicate calligraphy that he has come to associate with Etrius' works when he hears crashing sounds coming from above. He hears some of his men crying out to sound the alarm before they are in turn silenced. Steeple hears some terribly heavy footsteps move to his door, and then... A knock?

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #147 on:** March 12, 2016, 09:10:10 pm »

Thinking it one of the heavy stone gargoyles, Steeple goes to answer the door himself - opening it with a welcoming smile and expecting some sort of message from Celestyn...

Drakilian · « **Reply #148 on:** March 12, 2016, 10:38:05 pm »

A large, brutish gargoyle wielding a superbly crafted, wicked looking bone sword with a bloodied hilt awaits Steeple behind the door - though, even as Steeple watches, the blood on the hilt seems to fade away - no, it's absorbed by the hilt.

It kneels immediately at Steeple's appearance, its wings tightly secured at its side, and it plants the sword into the stone at Steeple's feet.

"Father, what is my name?"

BerkaZerka · « **Reply #149 on:** March 13, 2016, 12:16:40 pm »

!!! ...

Steeple gawks in surprise at the Gargoyle, his gift, and the query at hand.

'No way!' he thinks to Prince Maurice, 'They didn't!'

'Tell me they didn't just give me my own Gargoyle!!! Squeeeee!!!'

Overjoyed, Steeple gives some thought to the name. It has to be powerful, regal even - plus, 'Sanchez' was already taken.

"You are Maximus Ferrum; you have a heart like iron; the strength of an anvil; welcome my son!"

Steeple places his hand on Maximus' shoulder and nods with approval. Then picking up the bone sword (Strength of the Earth to pull it free), he motions for Maximus to come inside.

"I want you to meet my Nadia," he says, "She is dearest to me, so as my faithful one, it will be your duty to protect her from harm."

Steeple then calls to Nadia to come see the newest member of their family.

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Author Topic: Dangerous Ground - Steeple (Read 47067 times)