back to Broken Sanctuary


On to Forgotten Snow


Inquisitional Operatives

Stuff that I'm momentarily keeping here, until it's ready to post. ~~ [Greyfrost] ~~

Arrows singing in predawn Grey. Battle in the Snow

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Looking for paragraph rp, preferably story-driven. Dominant or submissive, furs or otherwise. Open to setting and kinks. Flexible with characters, including creation of new characters to fit specific requests. Looking (Currently) for anyone who would enjoy a bit of feral/shape shifter play. Grammar, Punctuation, spelling, and general grasp of literacy would be requested. PM or note me if interested.

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Depending on the specific time frame, there are seven main kingdoms, and then three separate, unique world areas that govern themselves more or less, that make up my personal World Setting.

On the main continent, there are three kingdoms to the North. Kest, in the northern arctic region, and then Aedynsrea, a large and powerful kingdom. The smaller third Kingdom, is Averia, which is closely tied with Celestial influence within the mortal realm. To the east, is the Great Divide... a large ocean. To the west, is a dense wilderness of forest (With swamps further to the south) And then mountains, which are all but impassable. Over the ocean, lies the Island continent of Fa'Raehn, (Similar to Australia for size) Which is mostly plains/steppes, and mountains. Mongolia/India sort of terrain and people. South of that is a chain of Islands, known as the Silver Isles. High Elves, and the other main Celestial-influenced kingdom. On the main continent again, the entire place is divided at the middle, by a row of mountains known as the Dragon's Teeth, which divides the northern kingdoms from the southern areas. Around the mountains, both north and south, is the Lyshalle forest... the elven nation and stronghold. South of that is Gaere, an alliance of nomadic groups and merchants, forming an incredibly large nation/kingdom, only loosely held by treaties and alliances. Most things there are run by the merchant guilds and families.

The three other areas, are the Kamykktas Desert, The Shadefall, and the Under-Realm. The Kamykktas is a huge wasteland desert, edged by cliffs to the north, dividing it from Gaere, and rows of dense, barren mountains. It is run by the Empire of the Sun, a very powerful egyptian styled system of rule and government. The Shadefall, lies to the west, and is actually the majority of the main continent/landmass of the world. The Shadefall was the birthplace of magic, and is the site of the strongest naturally occuring magic in the entire mortal world. This also makes it the most dangerous place, since the magic has given rise to a type of race known as Deamons. The Xyccane Empire rules the area, but keeps itself to magically warded and protected cities and specific areas within the jungle/forests and mountains that make up the geography there. The under-realm, is a secondary world more or less, made up of all of the interlocking caves and caverns that lie beneath the surface of the world. Run by Drow, Dwarves, and similar fantasy races, which vie for power amongst themselves, and only rarely venture to the surface.

There's two main... driving points for the setting. One, takes place in the Shadefall... the birth place of magic and thus the area of the mortal realm that is the most potent source of magic. Historically, there was a massive war fought there, between the Deamons and demonic kin, and then those living in the mortal plane, accompanied by Celestial and Fae forces. The Deamon clans were defeated and forced, scattered, into the Shadefall forests. The Celestial forces withdrew most of their power, leaving behind three Silver Towers (One in the Silver Isles, and one in the kingdom of Averia, and the last in Aedynsfell, the capital of Aedynsrea). The Fae, after the death of their queen during the war, withdrew to their own realm... which is where most fantasy settings have them. Elusive, the fae court exists outside of the mortal realm, with Full blooded Fae rarely seen by mortals. Their traces can still be found in Fairies, pixies, and elves and such. The thing is, that there are a select few entities working to gather the Black Legions... the different tribes and groups of the Deamons, to start another war.

The other plot point, is the Rise of the Empire of the Black Hand. If you read my character profile for Shane, he plays a pretty big part for that. They essentially, through vast amounts of planning, the Empire gathers forces, a mix of mercenaries or corrupted field armies and militias, well trained and supplied orcish forces, golems, and then undead. They wipe out most of the royal families in the three northern kingdoms, and take control of not only them, but the Southern Alliances as well. They have immense influence on Fa'Raehn, but have little actual presence there. Upon their initial assault and take over, one of the Empire's four Generals, wipes out the Silver Isles... turning the entire chain of islands from a thriving high-elf society with powerful ties to the Celestial Court, into a Necropolis... the entire place turning into one of destruction, decay, and a massive amount of undead.

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- Rather than trained, learned and blood line I have: Natural, Foci-based and Learned - which amounts to pretty much all types of magic. There are 10 or so schools most characters can access 5 in the 'nature' side Earth, Air, Wind, Water, Nature and 5 in the 'spirit' side, Life, Death, Chaos, Order and Mind Magics.
- Enchanting is an overall group, but it is broken into: Warden, Augmenting and Permanence (magic items).
- Script, Runs and Incantations are three separate means to use different types of magic, however for instance you could be a Natural Mages (e.g. you just KNOW it) but your knowledge is based on the making of runes.
etc.
- Runes can have wide focuses - as they can be used to create spell forms, or store spells, or create wards, or be part of summoning circles. etc.
- Divine is a type; rather than a select area. Divine acts like a carrier. So you have Divine (Both Holy and Unholy), Ancient, Draconic, and a few other ones that get slipped in there.
- But those types of magic serve as a means to describe the conduit you use. So Nessa, in essence, is a Natural Mage, who uses incantations and evocations to channel divine magic. for instance
- Natural because the majority of what she does and or uses, was stuff she learned before she died, so she retains it
- Then you have people like say, Thala, for instance, who while can uses magic from both Nature and Spiritual schools of magic, have all of their magic codified as Divine, as She evokes it through "divine" means.
- of course there is over lap, but it allows for people to do the same thing, a unique, and diverse number of ways
- And each way has certain advantages and such in certain circumstances. Like defeating certain types of wards created by certain times of magic
etc etc.
- Shit like Time magic and matter magic and corresponding magic are pretty much off limits to most.
- Except for a few, like Prophets and seers and such, who get what I call 'Entropic' magic: predictive abilities, future seeing, possible outcomes, etc

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The Abyss


Essentially the world I've written up, has the same system as D&D, with descending levels of hell. The God of the Abyss is Sissidious, originally the god of death, who was imprisoned within the abyss after murdering another god, during the creation of the world. Under his power, are Nine Arch Demons. A Demon is from the Abyss.

A Deamon is a creature of magic, infectious and powerful, manifested into the physical plane through wild magic. Similar to Fey folk, with their beings having blood of magic, more or less. They range from feral, animalistic vicious vermin or predatory, semi-sentient plant life, to powerful, vastly intelligent creatures. All shapes and sizes. Deamons are most commonly found in the Shadefall.

Demons, are specifically not supposed to be on the mortal realm, at any point. Most commonly, demons choose human avatars or champions, or thralls in order to influence more mortals into damning their souls.

One interesting thing behind the ten Arch Demons, is that some are very clearly viewed/thought of as Gods, while others are seen as Arch Demons... when there's generally little difference, since they are all lesser gods, more or less. Also, Ur'Kahl fell during the Deamon Wars, after making the mistake of taking the field in the mortal realm. He was defeated, and slain as far as pretty much any creature knows... celestial or demonic.

And Sissidious is technically an Arch Demon, but isn't a lesser god. He was originally part of the Council of Deities, who was cast down. He's the most powerful, of the Arch demons.

The list itself is thus:
Sissidious- Keeper of the Deadlands, Master of Curses and Pestilence.
Hazdrubahl- Patron God of Orcs, Bringer of Slaughter and War
Y'Gol Nassier- Master of the Ocean's depths and the depthless oceans of the Abyss specifically
Kaschk 'dar Sleschk- Master of Lies
Graal Den- The Watcher, Patron 'God' of many spies
Ess'Irimn- Arch Demon of the Nightmares
Charir Oposs- Arch Demon of Blood and the Glory of the Kill
Kalden- Arch Demon of Law, Binder of Contracts
Leshtan- Mother of Monsters and Abberations
Ur'Kahl- Arch Demon of the Earth, with the focus of Strength/might/power

While each Arch Demon has a specialized element or focus, just because one Arch Demon is the 'main' for a certain power, doesn't mean that others can't use that as well. It does mean, however, that if an Arch Demon specializes in that set element or focus, they tend to be more powerful than other Arch Demons when it comes to using that element or focus.

Charir is the main Arch Demon attributed to fire. Her name translates into Blood, or Red depending on context. Her Title, during the Deamon Wars, was Charir Oposs, the Red General, or Red Queen. (The name means something roughly equivalent to Rain of Blood. ) Charir also would be the being most personifying or 'in command' lust/carnality.

Darkness, or the use of Shadow magic is used by Sleschk and Graal Den.

Ess'Irimn both feed on Sorrow.

Y'gol Nassier uses cold, but it's the cold of the depths, rather than winter. Nocturna, is the goddess of Winter/Cold... but she's a Lawful Neutral/Good Goddess, and not an Arch Demon.

Kaschk would be in charge of Pride/Beauty.

Madness/Insanity can be derived from either Leshtan or Ess'Irimn- Leshtan is crazy, and Ess'Irimn enjoys playing with her victims. Sorrow, fear, horror... that sort of thing is right up her ally.

Hazdrubahl would personify Hunger/Gluttony, Hence Slaughter. He is also seen as a Butcher... though on a massive, wasteful scale.

Hazdrubahl, Y'Gol Nassier, and Leshtan are all worshiped by a number of bestial/monstrous races. Gnolls and Orcs worship Hazdrubahl, most of the more evil-inclined aquatic races worship Nassier in some form or another, and then Abberrations are living tributes to Leshtan.

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Sesshara


Race: Cursed Fox Kieran (Anthro Fox)
Age: N/A though she looks about 18
Height: 5'5''
Weight: 84lbs (somewhere around there)

~General Appearance~

Unaged, Sesshara's fur has taken on a dark shadowy grey black colour, with glimmers of red and gold. Her markings were pale silvery white, such as the tips of her ears and tail, paws and throat... while across her shoulders, back and legs, she bore red markings that highlight and extend from her glyphs.

Sesshara wears a sleeveless black tunic, and loose hakama pants (Japanese leggings, like samurai wear. Very comfortable, and non-restricting for movements.) Black-grey cloth wraps her ankles up to the knee, and her wrists to the elbows. Under layer of her clothing is a fish-net mesh.

Her armour consists of metal braces along the back of her wrists, and hands. Her Left shoulder and hip are protected, three sectioned plates that are form fitting enough that they don’t add bulk, and don’t hinder her movement. Her clothing and especially her cloak have sections of metal fabric mesh, that acts the same way as kings-cross chain mail, without the weight and sound. Metal plate armour also protects her elbows and knees/shins, black finished.



~Magic~
She has five glyphs in total. (Glyphs are a magical marking, like a tattoo, except it grows with the person.)
-Two on her wrists, are healing glyphs. Both of these expand up her arms, shifting into dual frost glyphs.
-On Her back, she has a major glyph, Healing Purity.
-On her chest, scarred over her heart, is a glyph of death- this is one of the reasons she doesn't age.
-The last one is on her stomach, and is a Flame Glyph.

With these, she has the ability to heal nearly anything, including resurrection of newly deceased creatures, and removing curses and magical injuries. Unfortunately, this taxes her body greatly. She can also summon and weild frost, even going as far as creating weapons from it that don't melt or shatter easily. Fire is limited more to touch attacks, such as lighting enemies on fire, or setting a ring around her in a fierce blaze to defend herself. Both Fire and ice, can only be used one at a time, not both at once (for obvious reasons) and both tend to be useful only on the close-range, or hand-to-hand. 

She is also extensively trained and well-practiced in shadow-arts. A shadow dancer, she has the ability to create shadows, and even jump between them, or seal herself inside them. This leaves her motionless and relatively blind and unable to attack, but cannot be attacked or physically affected in turn. Shadow-meld allows her to become invisible and silent, but is negated as soon as she moves quickly or effects her environment. (such as opening a door, or touching/attacking a person)



~Weapons and Combat~

Decent with ranged attacks, Sesshara is incredibly deadly once she closes in on a target, even if her magic is disabled and she has no weapons. An excellent shot with a bow, she still tends to use stealth tactics.

-Metsubishi blinding powder: A dangerous mix of razor-sharp shards of metal, powdered Pepper and a fine ash-like powder, so that once released, the particles all float in a bit of a cloud.

-Throwing knives: Small daggers, she carries both stiletto-blades and leaf bladed knives

-Two Short swords- Blade of Tears: Enchanted blades, marked with glyphs of poison- Ashen Sphinx, which has the ability to slowly turn an opponent to stone, or kill from a severe fever. If not poisoned, the wounds heal very slowly, and bleed. (Poison acts as an anti-coagulant, even to Basiten.)

-Throwing Spines: Also called Tenbon Needles, they range between two and seven inches long, she probably carries a few hundred of these. Also used for acupuncture healing, and lock-picks etc.

-Shurikens: Four pointed and five pointed stars.

-Caltrops: Four pointed small items, made so that one spike is always up.

-Mankri Chains: Small heavy sections of metal connected by lings of chain, or a chain weighted at both ends.

-Three-section Staff: Crafted of metal, she can detach any of the three pieces entirely, or connect them into a single pole. Connected with wire, which she can lengthen. Small blades are hidden in both ends of every section, so that she can use them like a spear.

-Dual Long swords: Katanas- Marked with wave runes, the second marked in kanji meaning silence and winter’s moon.

-Fighting Knives: Larger than her throwing knives, they have seven inch blades, all black steel. Half are single-edged, the other half double-edged.

-Telescope Folding Steel Batons: Both are marked with Glyphs of Electricity- When activated they surge with electricity- only effective on touch, not capable of ranged attack. Not so much killing weapons, but used for silencing a target and immobilizing them, leaving them unconscious. (usually. In the case of templars, she would use them to kill.)

-Fukimi-Bari: Mouth darts, or mouth needles. Like Tenbon needles, but held in the mouth and only used for close-range.

-Kusari-Gama: Bladed kama, attached by the handle to a length of chain, weighted on the other end. One side of the chain is sharpened.

-Poisons: She carries a full range of different poisons, from powders to gases to liquids. Some are non-lethal (used for knocking people unconscious or simply causing pain, for torture purposes.)

-Brass-Knuckles: Black steel, form-fit to her hands. Unlike most keidran, she also packs a hell of a punch- with or without these.

-Razor-Wire: Simple, effective, and brutal, She carries four coils of this razor-edged wire. Looped at either end, so that they can be held or used to create traps.

-Kyshalle CrossRose: A single handle, with a blade curving from either end of it. (Like a chakram, except the blades don‘t touch and make a full circle.) The back edge of the blades, while not sharpened as much as the front, is barbed with spikes. This weapon can be thrown. It is meant to do as much and as severe damage as possible, in the smallest amount of hits. It’s also fairly heavy for it’s size.

-Folding Composite Shortbow: For ranged attacks. She carries barbed arrows, as well as something of her own design, called a Serenity Arrow.

-Serenity Arrows: Viciously effective, these are incredibly slender arrows with a small barbed head, and limited fletching. The back end trails a length of wire. After striking a target, a sharp pull on that sets of a small core of explosives set inside the arrow. While not deadly by itself, it split’s the arrow quietly (sort of a soft pressurized pop sound) and releases six lines of single-edged wire, cutting deeply into the wound and nearly tripling any damage the initial impact caused to the target.


-Martial Arts, hand to hand combat: Sesshara has studied extensively, relying most on foreign arts (Hojojutsu, Jujitsu, Iaijutsu, Ninjutsu, Capoeira, as well as Crane, Snow leopard, Python and Dragon Styles.)



~Interesting Points~
She has a bounty on her head of over 100 000 gold pieces, put out by the Templar. That price nearly doubles, if someone is able to catch her alive. Part of the original party, She has become a bit of an enigma, partial legend. A shadow fox, an assassin that has (from the reports) single-handedly destroyed multiple towers, entire garrisons, and assassinated high ranking templars

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As Ruben followed the shaman he caught a glance of Jh’Tael through the fog, Well at least she was honest about the captain, Ruben thought, but his mind quickly refocused on the task at hand, the shaman and her ‘teachings’. Ruben suddenly paused in his walking, as he remembered what Klannu had mentioned, ‘we’ve both faced death…’ “Madam shaman,” Ruben said, “earlier at the hut you said that I had touched death, and if you don’t mind my asking, what is it that sets me apart from the panther?” Ruben knew that Klannu had been right, and now her sudden intrigue with Ruben was beginning to make Ruben himself worry.

"Chimera will do for a name, if you wish to address me as such. I follow no system of the honour of the living. I am far different from your kind." The wolfess glanced back towards Ruben, then continued into the mist without answering his question. A few moments later, they cam across another structure. This one, while similar in almost every way to the one they had left, was slightly larger, and empty. The bone shaman led him into this structure, with its dim, nearly guttering torchlight. She waited for him to enter, and turned towards him. A movement of one clawed hand, and the door slid shut at his back, shutting the mist outside, and closing him into the building, alone with her. "You seem to not recall... and such emotions, sparked by your... love for death." She paused, thinking. Then the Bone Shaman smiled eerily. With an elegant flowing movement of her hands, sweeping down the front of her own body, she Changed. Her white markings seemed to spread, as if her black fur was being consumed by icy frost as her hands passed over it. Patches of where her bones showed through her otherwise flawlessly beautiful form dissapeared, replaced by satiny soft white and silver-grey fur. Her eyes and features changed. The soft curves, soft fur and thick tail that one would almost call fluffy, until they noticed scars across her entire body... Bare of any clothing. Uniform scars, from rituals and torture... scars that Ruben would know all too well. Her Smile faded into a sort of hurt pout, her silver eyes suddenly welling with tears. "d-don't you remember me?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ruben glared at the form the bone shaman had taken, “You leave her out of this, this wasn’t what I agreed to,” Ruben said in a cold tone. His fists became clenched at his waist as he bared his teeth, and a low growl subconsciously escaping his throat. “Just tell me what the hell you are, and what it is you want,” Ruben finished, never breaking eye contact with Chimera, who had taken the form of the very person Ruben had spent the better part of two years looking for, Asper.

She rubbed a paw to her eyes, brushing her cheeks as the tears fell heart wrenchingly. "Its not fair... have you forgotten the dead so soon?" She asked softly. Somehow, Chimera had perfected every last bit of detail of the one person Ruben had fallen in love with. 'Asper' Hugged one arm down over the front of her hips, looking every bit as innocently shy of her own body, and defenceless and hurt as could be. Even the pose and the way she held her body. Even her scent, matched Asper's. She sniffled softly, wiping away the tears, seemingly genuinely hurt by his anger, if not his words or growl.

“Asper isn’t dead, at least not to me, so stop this perversion of her dignity and just tell me what you’re after,” Ruben could feel his temper raising, and the rune around his neck began to glow green trying to suppress it. “I’m in no mood for mind games!”

Chimera lifted her head, blinking away the tears on a single moment as if they had never fallen. A movement of one clawed paw, and her fur darkened, returning to black. This time she remained fully fleshed out, looking like a truely living being for the first time in quite a while. "I was hoping you would be stronger than that... or weaker, enough that we could have some fun." She shrugged dissapointedly, but made no more attempts to bring up his lost lover. At least, not yet. "So you were interested in the dark arts of my Isle? I should... warn you. It is nothing simple, as one might believe or hope. You well could find the end of you life's path, if you push too hard."

Ruben’s temper calmed, and the rune stopped glowing. Although Chimera’s form was no longer that of Asper, Ruben continued to watch her with a cautious, bordering on mistrusting, glare. “I know my limits,” was all Ruben offered her. He already found it un nerving how she’d been able to pull the image of Asper from his mind, and Ruben silently worried at what else she could find out that he didn’t want others knowing.

She idly flexed one wrist, making the silver bracelets chime softly. "Alright, for the start. Every body has a certain amount of energy... a mix of life force and a will to live. Some people would call it a soul. Most combat arts focus on damaging the physical body. But that is limiting. While it can be powerful, it is still limited by the life forces that make a creature count among the living. First, hold out your arm..." She stayed a few feet away, out of reach, her entire posture non-threatening. "You can feel the pulse of blood beneath the skin and fur. That carries the essence of the mind. With proper channels, the flow can be redirected, broken off, or even reversed. This art strays from the physical, and causes damage to the mind and the dynamics of a living body. That is also the cause of the dangers to learning it, if one is still among the living."

Ruben raised an eyebrow, and set aside the shaman’s previous actions, although he was still cautious. Ruben held out his hand, and immediately expected that the shaman was going to remove it from his body, but put those thoughts aside, and listened to her as she spoke, paying dutiful attention to every word, just like he’d done with his old teacher and master, Davin.

She motioned with one set of claws that he could drop his arm again. There was a subtle movement of her wrist, brushing against the skirt at her hip. A moment later, she held a viciously barbed dagger, seemingly made of polished bone. As Ruben watched, Chimera deftly flipped the knife, and handed it to him hilt first. "If you truely wish to learn this style, then show commitment. " Letting him have the knife, she brushed one claw against her chest, tapping her own sternum lightly. "Surely you have killed before. Set that blade through my heart. If you are afraid, I cannot teach you anything of this art past this point."

Ruben took the knife in his hand and looked it over briefly. It was well balanced and sharp, and could be easily sunk into anyone’s flesh. Ruben threw the knife into the air, and in that space of a moment, made up his mind. I’ve killed more than even she probably knows, both deserving and innocent blood is on my hands. She impersonated Asper, and for that crime, I can easily commit to the attempt to take her life, and without hesitation or regret, No sooner had the handle returned to Ruben’s hand, then he dashed forward with speed the likes of a lightening strike, for in the space of a heartbeat, Ruben had closed the distance and swiftly thrust the knife towards the bone shaman’s chest.

She didn't move... making no attempt to avoid the knife's blade. With a sickening tearing sound, the vicious blade buried itself in her chest. Grooves in the blade, as well as the blade's shape did nothing to stop blood from flowing around it. The weapon was meant to kill, and to drain the blood of an enemy. Crimson welled around the ivory hilt of the knife, rivulets of blood draining down through her fur from around the blade. Despite the killing nature of the blow, Chimera smiled. One paw rose, brushing his, then gripped the dagger. "Very... good." She whispered softly, blood trickling from one corner of her mouth.

Damn it didn’t kill her, was the first thought in Ruben’s mind. “So now what, do you still need me to prove my intent?” Ruben asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice, but otherwise he was calm, and waiting for the bone shaman’s next instructions.

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Ruben was led from the arena cages back to his cell. The shackles had been placed on his wrists again, and his hands were behind his back, and the voice, along with two others walked him down the cement halls. “Rest up lad, you get to perform for the crowds again tomorrow,” voice said with a chuckle. Ruben grimaced, he hated fighting everyday, being treated like a slave, at least when he lived in the streets he could do what he wanted when he wanted. Voice took off the shackles once Ruben reached his cell door, his door was opened and as seemed to be the custom, he was thrown in his cell, stumbling and falling onto the hard cement floor. Before Ruben could get up and attack voice and his lackeys, the cell door was slammed shut, and another dent was added where Ruben’s fist collided with the steel. Laughter erupted from the other side, and a low growl escaped from Ruben. One day, I will rip your heart from your chest, and let you watch it beat in my hand as you die, Ruben thought as he sat down on the old foam mat that was his bed.

Vannen had told her to be quite, and so she made not even a whisper of sound. He had told her to remain unseen, so she had made herself invisible, wraping shadows around her and thoroughly hiding herself. Master Vannen... she would have died, if it made him happy. He had saved her life, two years ago. She owed him everything. Sneaking into the arena had been easy.... the defenses and security checks had never been made to anticipate someone like her, who could ghost themselves through walls and solid objects. She took her time, making sure than no one would see her. It also took her time to find her way through the massive mazelike structure, with all of the underground halls and cells. Until she slid through the back wall of one cell, coming out behind the sitting form of Ruben. This must be him, the vixen thought to herself... though for the moment, she only watched him curiously, still keeping herself hidden. No normal human or anthro could see her, or even sense her, so she didn't have her guard up as she watched him.

Ruben was filled with hate towards voice and the handlers who treated everyone here badly, and so wasn’t tired, merely restless. Instead, he watched as the cuts and scrapes of his hands and arms healed themselves. He could feel the torn flesh on his shoulders mending itself, and paid little attention to anywhere else but the door. Voice like to pay surprise visits to keep Ruben on his guard, never letting Ruben truly rest.

She knelt behind him, just beside the foamy he used as a bed. Her head was tilted to one side, as she simply watched him. His aura was so full of anger, and violence... He was a dangerous person, to be sure. Carefully, she solidified one paw, then leaned forward and gently brushed his shoulder. "Are you the one they call Ruben?" She asked, her voice a soft whisper, nearly in his ear. Not threatening... soothing, somehow, and curious.

Ruben’s eye’s widened and he sprang forward and turned around to face her in a heartbeat. How’d she get in here!? he thought frantically as he assumed a battle ready stance, One of voices tests maybe? he thought, “Who the hell are you, and how’d you get in here?” he asked in a cold tone.

She pulled her paw back, staying in her crouch and simply watching him, amused. "I was sent here. My master greaty wishes to free you from this place, if your willing to meet with him. " She fell silent, watching him still. She hadn't drawn a weapon, instead keeping herself ethreal- not solid enough for him to hit her, if he tried to attack.

Ruben’s ear twitched, “Who is your master, and what would he want with me?” Ruben asked, remaining sceptical. His guard for any more sudden movements never faltered, and his body remained tense, like a coiled spring ready to release at any second. He didn’t trust new people, never did, that was how he’d ended up in this place, once bitten…

She only smiled. "My master wached you fight today... he was impressed, and wishes that you would work for him. He will grant you your freedom, as well as pay you if you would only work for him. he can get you out of here... he will let you kill, those who truely stand in you way. Or, I suppose you could stay here... and continue with this existance."

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Ruben asked, her words had struck a nerve, making him ease up a bit.

She shrugged, still not moving. "what would make you believe me? I could kill the humans guarding your cell, and unlock your door if that would help yo believe me"

“Open the door,” Ruben said as he glared at the woman in front of him, “And get this off of me,” he said as he turned and pointed at a shock collar around his neck. It seemed for now that the only existence he had to look forward to, was to be someone else’s pawn.

The shadowy fox girl nodded. "Very well then... hold still a moment." She reached forward, slowly as to not startle him. Very gently, she touched the collar on either side of his neck, very careful not to press against his neck since that could well have triggered a violent reflex from him. Her torso and face became sharper, focused as she used her unique ability to ghost her hands into the collar, then bringing the collar into that same shadowy ethereal place not quite in the physical world. Pulling it away, she frowned for a moment, then murmered something under her breath, to low for even his sharp hearing. Blackness appeared in tiny tendrils, like hair or wire and swarmed around the collar in her hands, before it fell away to dust, blackness and collar together. There was nothing left to even hit the floor. Then the strange vixen brushed two fingers against her forehead, and faded out. Out of sight, she passed unseen through the wall, and a moment later he could hear the heavy metal panels and hydrolics in the door lock releasing. She returned, fully physical now on the other side of the door as it quietly swung open and revealed not only her, but the dimly lit hallway.

Ruben was waiting just on the other side of the door, waiting for a chance. She hadn’t told him everything, and he planned on getting all the information he could before he would agree to going anywhere with anyone. Moving with lightening fast reflexes he grabbed onto her collar and pushed her up against the adjacent wall. “Now, answer my question! Who’s your master and why is he so interested in me?” Ruben demanded. He reached down to her belt and pulled out one of the knives he’d seen attached there. Holding the knife to within inches of her throat, he was confident that he could cut her before she could turn completely ghost like.

She danced away half a step, almost as fast. Almost. His paw slipped in behind her metal and leather collar, and he used it to throw her off balance. His thoughts proved to be correct, that she wasn't able to phase out when he held her so close, pinning her against the wall. The fox girl may have been fast, but the knife that close to her slender throat was faster. She winced, pressed against the rough concrete wall. "I serve master Vannen Delnorai... He offers protection to... to those like us, with special abilities. He is very powerful. He can protect you, and give you freedom."

“Freedom?” Ruben scoffed, “Freedom is going where you want when you want, not being on the other end of the phone at someone else’s beck and call!” The locked door clanged open at the end of the corridor, “HEY, HALT, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?” Came the guards voice from down the hall. Ruben’s attention was suddenly diverted and he threw the knife that had been in his hand at the man. A solid thunk noise could be heard as the knife buried itself hilt deep into the man’s skull. Then it dawned on him, if he stayed in this place, now they’d likely kill him for this, if he got away and tried to hide from them, they’d hunt him down and kill him. Ruben suddenly let go of the fox girl, and let his back face her, but his ears were still listening for any movement she made, “You win, I’ll go, but I need to take care of someone first,” Rube said, more out of frustration than simple willingness.

The vixen pulled herself away from the wall behind him, even while the guard he had hit crumpled and slid partway down the stairs. The man's heavy pistol, shock baton and armor clattered a bit on the metal stairs, but as least the girl didn't seem bothered by it. Only happy to be released. She gave an elegant bow, before slipping past him. Murmering under her breath, she carefully grabbed the fallen man by his shoulders and dragged him the rest of the way down the stairs, laying him almost ceremoniously at the bottom. Retreiving his weapons, she slipped them into her own cloak and the satchel pack she wore at her back. Then she carefully retreived her own knife from his skull, cleaned it and sheathed it at her belt again. Another murmer, and she gently slid the man's eyelids down, closing his eyes before rising and turning back to Ruben. "We probably do not have much time. My master wishes to meet you soon, so do not waste your time."

“Don’t worry,” Rube said, “I can take care of this very, very quickly,”

He sat contently eating a late night dinner, oblivious to the events of the past few minutes. A sudden commotion, however, quickly drew his attention to the door of his room. As he approached, he could hear choked off screams, a gun shot echoed and made him recoil away from the door, and drawing his pistol. Waiting, Voice pointed his gun at the door, planning on blowing away anyone who came through, friend or foe. But nothing came through the door. Slowly, carefully he started edging his way up to the door, and opened it. A slaughter house greeted him, one of the guards lay relatively intact, although the odd angle of his neck suggested it had been broken. Two others had their throats ripped out, and the fourth’s eyes were gouged out and his intestines were strewn down the hall, “What the he-” Voice was suddenly caught off guard as he suddenly felt someone choking him from behind, “Hey there Voice,” came Ruben’s voice. He had a tie of one of the men he’d killed, and was now choking voice to death. Voice involuntarily dropped his gun to the floor in an attempt to get the tie from around his neck. “This is payback for everything you’ve ever done to me!” Ruben said, as the tie tightened. Voice tried desperately to escape, but Ruben was to strong, and there was no escape. Slowly the world turned dark, and Voice fell to his knees, and then finally fell, dead.

Ruben tossed the tie into the corner of the room, and regarded his kill for a moment. Ruben calmly knelt down beside the body of Voice, and using his claw, he began cutting. With precision Ruben began skinning the corpse.

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