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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jan 29, 2011 22:13:22 GMT -5
Claudius was walking around in his human shape, a few hours before sunset. He was scoping out the city since it had been some time since his last actual patrol. This was his first actual patrol since he had been sentenced to death for treason. If he wanted to get this organization rolling again....... his own organization of law that would show the witches society as a whole can work together, he would have to take the first step. He was showing his old 'friends' apprentice the city as well.
" How many patrols have you been on?" He asked her as he adjusted his glasses, a slight wince on his face signaled to his pains of holding the counter curse in place. He had to make sure he memorized every little thing. Once dark hit..... in human form he was limited to human sight, and shifting to his alter form would cause a commotion unless they stayed to the shadows.
" I mean, you know how much were experience do you have?" he asked again as he turned teal orbs her direction as he looked around one of the city corner's where they were building a new bank.
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Post by Varian on Jan 29, 2011 22:36:01 GMT -5
"Two." Thee red haired witch replied as she followed along beside Claudius, though a little behind. Vanessa felt a little out of place being on the streets again, especially without her master. Though Claudius had been kind enough to take her in she couldn't help but wonder how Tilan was doing right now. She'd not heard from him since she had arrived and it worried her. For the time being though she had to focus on the task at hand and prove to Claudius that she was capable.
"Tilan kept me from patrols after Delano took over, he didn't want me to get harmed. I don't have much combat experience, but I've been trained to handle myself, I won't get in the way." She explains, moving her hand to the hilt of the sabre at her waist. She had yet to ever put it to use outside her training, hopefully she wouldn't have to this night. The weapon was shrouded from the sight of those without a sense of magic until it was in use, so she wouldn't draw any attention to herself. Not that she didn't stand out quite readily with her dress and exceptionally long hair.
"Sir I... I assume I'm forbidden from using my... specialist arts?" She asks in a more subdued tone. She didn't want to think she wouldn't have her blood magic to rely on if things got out of hand. She could understand the distaste for the power though. If she was to be barred from using it, she hoped even more that it would be a quiet night this full moon.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jan 29, 2011 22:46:13 GMT -5
Claudius stopped for a moment going still. He was not as familiar with blood user magic as Tilan though he knew it was a darker magic.
" ....... only as a last resort." he told her darkly.
" I won't leave you weaponless....so in an emergency you may use that magic." He added as he turned teal orbs to look upon her in his usual serious manner.
" Make sure you take note of the area's we travel through. You'll need to remember it once night comes and we have to move swiftly." he told her.
" Stay by my side at all times, if we get separated go high to the building tops. The were's for the most part are land hunters, it's harder for them to get to us when we go upwards." he added as he put his hand on her shoulder as a gesture of friendliness.
" I am sure you can pull this patrol off." He told her with a manner that said he believed in her and would come to her aid if need be.
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Post by Varian on Jan 29, 2011 23:04:06 GMT -5
vanessa turned away a little as Claud went still with her question. She far from liked having to draw on the blood of others to be effective, but her natural power just wasn't all that great. She would rather be able to do something than to be powerless, even at the cost of being despised for it. She didn't have all that much with her tonight, only a couple vials of liquid attached to the back of her choker, hidden by her flowing hair.
"I understand," she replied simply to the command. She hadn't expected any less and if it came down to saving Claud or herself than she would have used it anyway. She didn't want to rely on it, though she wasn't very confident in her natural abilities either.
"I will do my best, and thank you." She smiled a little, at the reassuring touch. The words comforted her some, she hadn't been very sure of herself on setting out onto the streets. Training and practice was one thing, however it was a far cry from the real experience. Her last two patrols had been back when the coven was at full strength, before it was decimated in the civil war. She couldn't begin to imagine how many had died or left during the trouble that followed.
"Are you expecting much trouble?" It would pay to have some idea of what to expect to come tonight. Considering there was only the two of them on patrol they'd have to be extra careful as well. She wasn't about to stain her master's reputation though, she'd pull this off.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jan 29, 2011 23:34:27 GMT -5
Claudius shook his head at this. " I don't really know what to expect. The witching presence here has died away. Some having head back to their birth covens, others waiting for a new leader to be appointed to lead them since ...... well you know." He told her as he stopped mid sentence and looked off down a side street and headed in that direction.
" I don't know how strong their prescence will be tonight. I have a few other small patrols out from those that returned under my new order..... So this will be a new experience for us both." he told her as he looked around and stopped as he studied a brick wall with scrape marks all over it. He ran his hand along the cuts in the brick and frowned.
" More claw marks then just a passing brawl..... looks like this could be a hot were path since there is no windows facing this alley street." He remarked to her as he tried to make a mental note of it.
" We'll have to stop back later." He added as he looked up to see a good position to spy on this street from the upper buildings. " See a good place to spy?" He asked letting her speak to help her realize details of her surrounding.
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Post by Varian on Jan 30, 2011 16:47:46 GMT -5
Vanessa wasn't very put at ease. The city had been safe to a degree under the old coven but there were always incidents. With such small numbers and a divide between the witches that were still around she wasn't sure the streets could be made safe at all. There wouldn't be much of a way to change that though without actually working on either overpowering the old coven or working out the differences between them. Neither of which seemed very likely.
"If we could get onto the roof we'd have a good view, otherwise the fire escapes might work if we could get some boxes up there for cover." She replied, looking up along the sides of the buildings. There wasn't really much to work with apart from the lowest roof giving them a good vantage and a quick way down.
"Maybe that roof, the fire escape goes all the way to the top." She pointed at the lowest building, knowing full well that it would mean weres would have an easier time getting to them as well.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jan 30, 2011 16:56:38 GMT -5
He nodded at this. " Good perception, though what is wrong with that area as well?" He asked not knowing she had already thought this out fully.
" Mistakes are few to make in his line of work, mistakes mean your dead." He told her honestly.
" Though it is the best place sadly to spy. So that will have to do anyway, this means though we have to be up and ready for a counter attack. with two of us though we should be able to watch our backs easier. If worse comes to worse I can fly us to the higher building." he remarked as he judged everything. Sadly though Claudius found himself slowly accepting that he would never be a normal human witch again.... Though the other creature he had become did have it's advantages.....
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Post by Varian on Jan 30, 2011 20:47:16 GMT -5
"Weres can use the fire escape too. We'd have the advantage of height though. We would have time to escape if needs be." Vanessa explained. She realised the issues with the position just as well as the benefits.
"We could get down more safely too if we had a need to with speed though." She continued, smiling a little. There were a lot of things that could go wrong, that was for sure. As long as they minimised the risks, they should be fine.
"That is true. Being alert never hurts, so we'll manage. There wasn't a lot of other choices. Just let me know what you want me to do." She informed the elder witch, knowing that she would be fine under his judgement. If Tilan trusted him then she would too.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Jan 31, 2011 7:50:40 GMT -5
Claudius nodded at this.
" Very good." he smiled at her as he looked around.
" We will return later once the sun goes down, for now lets look for some other hot spots. We won't worry about the forest edges for now. This is cause most of the were's heading for the woods don't want to injure anyone..... it's the ones that stay in the city that we have to worry about. " He explained as he pushed up his glasses a bit. He turned his head, teal orbs looking about.
" We also have to be careful of other night breeds who would love to help us along to a early death. They know how to goad a were to go rouge on the moon so their own hands don't get dirty." he frowned as he felt themselves being watched.
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Post by Varian on Feb 5, 2011 23:14:37 GMT -5
Vanessa gave a quick nod, casting her own eyes around. She was used to being alert, even around other witches. It always paid to be alert, even around friends, one would never know when they would be attacked.
"Then we can only hope to incapacitate them and try to stop them from hurting themselves and others." She replied, not very eager to end the life of one who didn't have any control. She would of course, if it came to it. There were a lot of things she did for self preservation that she wasn't proud of.
"Have you tried to talk with some of their leaders since the coven split? They might be more receptive when they know they won't be killed outright." She comments, moving her hand back to the hilt of her sword.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Feb 5, 2011 23:39:17 GMT -5
Claudius smiled at this, genuinely for once.
" I wouldn't be so kind... a rouge is a rouge..... but I am glad you are thinking with a kinder heart. We will incapacitate them though if we do not think they mean it. " He told her honestly. He then listened to the rest of her words as he shook his head.
" I have talked to them, the rouges are usually not from their pack or separated from the pack. They take out what threats they can but they can't nail all the rouges and moderate the loners all the times. So that is why we must oversee the full moons. The pack can't do it in their native states too easily. Thats why they move out to the woods. What is left.... well. Most of the time it's those that don't see the need for human safety." He explained to her with teal orbs looking back into her eyes mysteriously with little emotion being revealed behind his glasses but a almost invisible smirk did play on his face.
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Post by Varian on Apr 8, 2011 20:04:43 GMT -5
"I imagine that would be the case. It is still a shame though. Such a waste of life over things that can not be controlled." Vanessa lamented quietly. She knew there was little that could be done right now to help with the problem, though she knew that not all of them could be saved. That wasn't likely to change any soon though, or ever perhaps.
"I wish there was more we could do for them. We shouldn't all be fighting with each other." She sighed, looking out across the streets before them. She hoped the night would pass calmly, or as calmly as a full moon ever did. She was nervous that she wouldn't perform well, that she would mess up. It had been so long since she'd been out without her mentor watching over her. Despite her faith in her training, she wasn't so sure she could utilise it fully.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 11, 2011 20:16:51 GMT -5
" I wish there was more to be done, but until we can make all night breeds aware they can not hunt humans on a whim.... there will be a need for us and a need for death." Claud frowned as he looked away and then turned back to the woman before him.
" But I am hoping to get those who are on board with the base rules of human interaction to join my own law force.... one that is a mixture of witch and nightbreed alike..... maybe working as one would help to sooth the hate set against humans.... but it is a silly idea... just as some humans hate for skin color or looks.... so will the night breed hm?" He asked her as he started to walk again back onto the main street trying to get lost in the crowed and away from the feeling of being watched.
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Post by Varian on Apr 16, 2011 19:20:53 GMT -5
"Maybe, but there is a difference between those who might think that way and those that will act on it. Maybe they won't like it, but at least they might accept it." Vanessa replied as she followed along with Claud. It would take time, and obviously it was going to be difficult. If they stopped trying though nothing would get done.
"Still, it's not like even we'd be safe if humans ever got wind of us as a whole. It's hard to blame them for not trusting humans. Even if we don't attack humans, we're still dangerous in their eyes I'm sure." She smiles a little, "Even those of us as noble as you." She knew that no human was likely to enjoy her craft just as much as other witches despised it.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 16, 2011 19:44:42 GMT -5
Claudius sighed at this deeply as he nodded his head teal eyes looking over to his current student.
" There is always fear of that in which one does not understand. I still remember studying the burning times. It was a bad period for us all....." Claudius mentioned as a shiver went down his spine. If he had a tail at the moment it would of shook with the mere thought of it. Burning alive.... was not one of the ways he wanted to go, along with the whole beheading thing the coven liked to do to those who 'betrayed their species' as they put it. The law that stated those who were cursed were to take their own lives or the coven would do it for them. The thought was they would sympathize with their new species and give away secrets of the witch. Secrets they could not afford others to learn. Sympathy.... it was a horrible thing to have, it made people weak and weakness made those who were once intelligent do foolish things. Another shiver ran through Claud's spine as he remembered the metal collar he was forced to wear and the shackles when they took him initially to slaughter, to be beheaded months before. The cold steel, it was well set in his mind and only with luck had he escaped that fate.
" It would cause a mess for us all the same....... if we could only learn we all have similar goals to remain in the darkness undiscovered." He sighed then turned teal orbs upon the girl as he peered through his tinted glasses.
" I need to find others that see things like us." He confided in her softly.
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Post by Varian on Apr 17, 2011 17:59:04 GMT -5
"Like us?" Vanessa asked quietly, obvious a little amused by that statement. "I don't think you should be too quick to liken my views to your own, sir. After all you're not the one drawing your strength from others." She was only able to do as much as she was thanks to her arts, something she wasn't proud of as such.
"My mas... that is Tilan, might have held extreme views but... I would be lying if I did not at times believe they might be the only way to truely move on from where we are. If the histories are to be believed, it's always been this way between us, the humans and the night creatures." The red head looked down a little before turning back to Claud, clearly a little troubled by her thoughts.
"There must have been others like you. Ones that tried to change things for the better, the right way. If they didn't succeed then..."
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 17, 2011 18:12:51 GMT -5
" Similar then." He interjected as she spoke of others like himself.
" Well...... the ones who were brave enough to speak out were just allowed to do so if they were of important blood. The coven entertained their ideals and those thoughts have lead to the basic law that we have always abided by. Unless they broke the law the night breed is to be left to be and such. If it was some of the others ideals then we would of had a night breed burning or beheading every Friday night like Delano's idea of entertainment." he sighed.
" I still don't know what twisted upbringing caused that man to see that as a fun source of entertainment." He sighed as he looked back to see her troubled face.
" May I ask? Is something bothering you?" He asked when a wince crossed his face from his migraine that decided it needed to take a good poke at his brain for a moment to remind him ..... this really was not the true him either and he was a nightbreed more so then a witch anymore at times.
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Post by Varian on Apr 17, 2011 19:05:01 GMT -5
Vanessa remained quiet for a little after Claud's question. She too couldn't fathom what Delano, or those like him, hoped to gain by what they had done. Others would no doubt continue that path as well.
"I... guess I've just got a lot on my mind. It's still hard to believe that the coven is in shambles and that I'm here, instead of with Tilan. He... seemed different when he sent me here. AS if he was saying a goodbye that would be more permanent than it should be." She shook her head a little, turning her eyes to the sky.
"I do not wish to sound disrespectful. I would not expect many to show the patience that you have with him, or with me. I just... wish I knew what I was to do with myself now."
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 17, 2011 19:17:51 GMT -5
Claudius was silent for a few moments, knowing some of the truth behind Tilian's words. He shook his head trying to act as if he was dismissing it. His face stern and cold as it had been when he was lead of the coven, hiding the truth and being a leader as usual.
" With all this chaos about none of us know if we will be here long. I myself know I have a price on my head. There are those who would love to see me dead despite the fact that we are in a technical stalmate of sorts." he told her, trying to assure her.
" We all can not be perfect Vanessa. I know that too well know. I am no longer human so to speak.... and carry my own weight and dishonor upon my shoulders. I know others look down upon you too for your magic type but that is what we were given. You know you will always have a place at the tower..... if you wish. I will not turn my back on others as the coven has done to me. " He told her as teal orbs looked down to her in a soft manner for once, a flicker of the emotion Claud only showed when he was in gargoyle shape and did not have the muscle control to hide these emotions.
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Post by Varian on Apr 24, 2011 18:01:20 GMT -5
"Mm, perhaps it is just the adjustment to all this making me worry more than I should. Thank you though, again. I will try not to use my less desirable magic unless the situation calls for it." Vanessa nods a little, shaking off her doubts for the time being. She had to pay attention to her surroundings after all. It wasn't safe when patrolling these streets, especially not after the recent events with the coven.
"If helping you will help the city be safer again, then it will be wor-"
"For humans and witches right? Or are you just going to start using witches blood for your spells?" Another voice chimed in, interrupting the red-headed witch. The main path had fallen quiet as they had wandered away from the main night hubs. The voice echoed from above, a young looking teen aged girl crouched on one of the street lamps, watching the pair of witches below.
"You still stink like that man. Maybe if I break you a little he'll come out so I can pay him back hmm?" The figure continued, as it sat, half cloaked in darkness above them. The voice might well be familiar to Claud, after all the young dragoness had fallen into his care for a while.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 24, 2011 18:18:21 GMT -5
Claudius looked up knowing all too well the voice of the familar dragon that had befallen his care for awhile.
" Lycos, please do not start. We are all on the same side here." He called up to her with a frown on his face. He did not want any trouble and he knew the dragoness had a score to settle with the other witch.
" You know I very well wish to make the city safe for everyone, or have you forgotten yourself I am not exactly human anymore?" He spoke as the side street they were in was deserted and out of earshot of those on the human pathways of the main city.
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Post by Varian on Apr 24, 2011 18:35:14 GMT -5
"Was I threatening you Claudius? I thought it was pretty clear I had a little something to discuss with the bleeder here. If she wants to play along I can go and deal with who I need to without troubling you further." The dragoness continues, leaning forward a little on the lamppost.
"I won't tell you anything." Vanessa states firmly, casting her eyes up at the dragoness and watching her, though not otherwise moving.
"Sure you won't. Maybe if I give you some scars like mine you'll be a little more talkative? Perhaps a little bleeding mmm? What does a blood users blood taste like?" Lycoris growls.
"I didn't-"
"You didn't what? I saw you there, you knew damn well what was happening. Let me guess your powers are a joke without hurting others to supplement them eh? Just as bad as the humans, take, take, take."
Vanessa flinched at the words, having to pull her eyes away from the dragoness as she stepped back a little.
"So dramatic. Just tell me where that bastard is so I can gut him already!" Lyco snapped, her form shifting a little ways to reveal it's draconic nature. Her black and red webbed wings flowing from her back, tearing out of the otherwise simple clothes that she wore.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 24, 2011 19:05:10 GMT -5
" Enough Lyco, she is a student under my care. What her power is, is of no concern to you. I would advise you not to charge Tilan anyway with being as weak as you are. I can smell the recent blood loss on your form." Claudius warned her as he allowed his form to falter just a tad for a long forked tongue to slip past his lips in a display that even in human shape he could still smell slightly what others have been up to. Afterwards he seemed normal once more.
" I protected you Lyco just as I protect this woman now. So cool down and don't take your frustration out on her." Claudius warned not at all sensing a shadowy figure looming in the darkness watching the scene unfurl.
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Post by Varian on Apr 24, 2011 19:40:07 GMT -5
"Enough?" Lycoris asked as she dropped down. Her body leaning heavily to one side as she snarled in pain from the landing, though she was more than quick to glare up at Vanessa again.
"I don't have any issues with you Claud. Don't make me have some. You know damn well what was done to me. You think I'm going to let her prance around like she doesn't owe me anything? The little bitch isn't even saying anything what's the matter, out of excuses?" The dragoness hissed. It certainly didn't seem like she was letting this drop.
"I don't have any excuses. What was done to you was wrong. Even so.... Even so I wouldn't tell you where he is even if I knew. What good would hurting him do? It's only going to continue the cycle of violence in this city. I-" Vanessa tried to explain before being cut off again.
"It'd make me feel better. Honestly, you think he's going to stop? You think you're going to stop? I might not give a shit about the other creatures in this city but if he's going to attack dragons then I can't think there'd be much he wouldn't attack right?" She growls again before turning her eyes to Claudius.
"You really going to tell me you trust this bitch? They're the same you know. They'll so what they have to for power. Heh, she barely batted an eyelid when she-"
"Shut up!" Vanessa interjected, clearly not wanting that sentence finished.
"All bark, no bite, make me~" The dragoness grinned, splaying her wings behind her, readying herself to jump.
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Post by xxHuntressxx on Apr 24, 2011 20:30:36 GMT -5
Claudius wondered why Lyco was about to say when Vanessa interrupted. He knew they all had their secrets and some should be left in the dark. Claudius saw the female gearing for a fight, as a witch he was powerful enough to subdue the female if he had to but he could not guarantee his energy would not wound her. So instead of taking the risk he shifted to his true shape, the shape of the gargoyle. He splayed his own wings protectively as his spiked tail thrashed.
" I don't want to fight you Lycoris but I will not allow you to hurt her just as others are not to hurt you as well." He instructed as he followed by a hiss and a pose of threatening nature to show he was not bluffing by attempting to restrain her. He kept himself between the witch and the dragon when there was suddenly a strong command shouted from the shadows.
"Stand down Lycoris! We do not need a war with the Lothairs." Naga spoke as she strode from the darkness up on two legs. She was in her dragonic form, towering over the other players in this chess game as she raised two green clawed hands to pull down her hood. She glared with golden eyes over a small set of glasses balanced upon her dragonish snout. So sleek and snakelike was her head with two white horns swept back. Claudius looked utterly surprised as he saw the Queen herself of the Naga's who had not been seen in some time by any witch. The mother who would extract revenge should one of her children be unlawfully killed. He stepped back now, lowering his head like a animal protecting it's young and standing it's ground despite a greater threat then even it's self.
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