A World Beyond (IC)

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The owl spoke. Very well, what would you like to know? the owl asked lazily, which is why the post is short.

[New East Ireland]

The owl spoke. Very well, what would you like to know? the owl asked lazily, which is why the post is short.

"Like I said before," Damien began, "I'm looking for an artifact named the Coiled Viper. It belonged to a man in Las Vegas named Nicholas Carry. He sent me, and your future meal, out here to find it. Somehow, this is tied to a game administered by a man named 'Mr. G'. I want the Viper. Do you know anything about it, or Carry, or even Mr. G?"

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The owl snarled, and Damien's body racked with pain. MR. G!? the owl screamed. HIM?

A minute later, it calmed down. Yes, I am aware of Mr. G. I do not like him. As for the Coiled Viper... it chuckled. Do not worry. That is in my possession. I will give it to you after I meet your friends.

A minute after that, the friends appeared, and the owl turned Damien's head toward them.

[Nationstatelandsville]

The owl snarled, and Damien's body racked with pain. MR. G!? the owl screamed. HIM?

A minute later, it calmed down. Yes, I am aware of Mr. G. I do not like him. As for the Coiled Viper... it chuckled. Do not worry. That is in my possession. I will give it to you after I meet your friends.

A minute after that, the friends appeared, and the owl turned Damien's head toward them.

Vernon jumped backwards. Something was wrong with Damien, he could feel it in the air. The way he stared at them, he could see it in his eyes. This was not Damien, this was something else. Something worse, something evil. And when you manage to be marginally more despicable then a suspected rapist, you have yourself a regular Satan. Vernon stretched out his arms, blocking Frederick and Hailey from going closer.

"You," he spat, making sure to actually spit in Damien's face, "who and what are you?"

[Metanih]

(Post fail)

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The owl snarled, and Damien's body racked with pain. MR. G!? the owl screamed. HIM?

A minute later, it calmed down. Yes, I am aware of Mr. G. I do not like him. As for the Coiled Viper... it chuckled. Do not worry. That is in my possession. I will give it to you after I meet your friends.

A minute after that, the friends appeared, and the owl turned Damien's head toward them.

Vernon jumped backwards. Something was wrong with Damien, he could feel it in the air. The way he stared at them, he could see it in his eyes. This was not Damien, this was something else. Something worse, something evil. And when you manage to be marginally more despicable then a suspected rapist, you have yourself a regular Satan. Vernon stretched out his arms, blocking Frederick and Hailey from going closer.

"You," he spat, making sure to actually spit in Damien's face, "who and what are you?"

Spit went down Damien's face, and he grinned. He cocked his head, and chuckled. "I am a Strix, human." it spoke, in Damien's voice. "And now my meal is here."

It began walking closer to them almost leisurely, that insane grin still on it's- Damien's - face. Damien's face seemed to change slightly, the eyes growing in size.

[Metanih]

"See? Not human, and clearly more evil than me. Gun time." Hailey said, pulling her pistol, and firing it toward Damien's chest. Quick, you know supernatural, right? What is this thing? Does it have a weakness? Tell me quickly. Hailey said, firing off shots again and again, this time aiming for the fatal shots. Not a clue in the world. Recall how this is Chinatown? Chinese lore, not vampire lore. Ask something about a vampire. I know all about that. Please? I am not useless....

[Rupudska]

Plotnuked.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Vernon jumped backwards. Something was wrong with Damien, he could feel it in the air. The way he stared at them, he could see it in his eyes. This was not Damien, this was something else. Something worse, something evil. And when you manage to be marginally more despicable then a suspected rapist, you have yourself a regular Satan. Vernon stretched out his arms, blocking Frederick and Hailey from going closer.

"You," he spat, making sure to actually spit in Damien's face, "who and what are you?"

Spit went down Damien's face, and he grinned. He cocked his head, and chuckled. "I am a Strix, human." it spoke, in Damien's voice. "And now my meal is here."

It began walking closer to them almost leisurely, that insane grin still on it's- Damien's - face. Damien's face seemed to change slightly, the eyes growing in size.

Vernon smiled back, bulging out his eyes in a mockery of the Strix. He approached it, beaming and laughing a bit. When he finally came close enough, he uppercut it. He was confident that Mr. G wouldn't kill him off anytime soon, and was in fact, sure that he would live long enough to survive the entire story. An author such as Mr. G would never be able to resist a character so rebellious, so counter to the rest of the story. It made Vernon interesting, he supposed.

"Come on then Strixie," he barked, "come out of Damien. I'd like his help here."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The Strix grabbed Vernon by the neck, and raised him up in the air. It laughed manically, and razor-sharp shark-like teeth were seen. It extended it's neck, and Vernon was staring right at those teeth.

Then Hailey shot the Strix. It stumbled and let go of Vernon, but stepped on the detective's hand, possibly snapping a bone.

Then wings burst out of it's back, and it flew directly at Hailey, laughing all the way. "Oooh! A vampire! You hardly ever come into Chinatown...so much fun!"

[Metanih]

"So... No guns. Ok. Silver it is." Hailey said, drawing her sword, and prepared to slice at the thing when it came to range. She put the gun aside, drawing her knife in her other hand. "Anyone have Carry's magic stuff? That would be lovely!" Hailey said, not turning her eyes from the beast. She had been bit by a supernatural once, and it would never happen again. Then again, a lot of thing would never happen again according to Hailey. Some of them still happened. But this one wouldn't...

[Nationstatelandsville]

The Strix grabbed Vernon by the neck, and raised him up in the air. It laughed manically, and razor-sharp shark-like teeth were seen. It extended it's neck, and Vernon was staring right at those teeth.

Then Hailey shot the Strix. It stumbled and let go of Vernon, but stepped on the detective's hand, possibly snapping a bone.

Then wings burst out of it's back, and it flew directly at Hailey, laughing all the way. "Oooh! A vampire! You hardly ever come into Chinatown...so much fun!"

"OW! SWEET JESUS CHARLIE CHAPLIN! FUCK!"

Vernon grasped his broken right hand, rolling away from the Strix. His heart beat doubled, breath quickening, sweat accumulating on his brow, and general hatred of the Strix multiplying by a quintiliion. Seriously, fuck that owl thing. It broke his goddamn hand! Luckily, Vernon was a southpaw, so he was still somewhat competent. He hobbled to his feet, using his hands to get himself up. It was only one bone, sure, but it still hurt. His right hand was still in use, but he'd rather not try to use it now.

"Thanks Hailey," he said, panting, "let's kill this thing."

And so, he picked up the briefcase he had dropped on the ground when he ran at the Strix, and opened it. He removed a stick and lit it ablaze, raising it high in the air with his left hand.

"Hey, Strix!" he screamed, "Come and check out why humanity is on top! Get the stick!"

He tossed it far away, hoping the Strix was in the mood for fetch.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"So... No guns. Ok. Silver it is." Hailey said, drawing her sword, and prepared to slice at the thing when it came to range. She put the gun aside, drawing her knife in her other hand. "Anyone have Carry's magic stuff? That would be lovely!" Hailey said, not turning her eyes from the beast. She had been bit by a supernatural once, and it would never happen again. Then again, a lot of thing would never happen again according to Hailey. Some of them still happened. But this one wouldn't...

Damien's feet, which were now talons, managed to slam her onto the ground before she could attack, holding her down. The creature's shadow stopped the sunlight from touching Hailey's face, but that wasn't a comfort.

It's face cocked to the side, and extending right above hers. It grinned with Damien's face, opening it's mouth. The razor-sharp teeth and two tongues were not a very comforting sight. Yellow saliva dripped down it's mouth, landing on the side of Hailey's face. "Vampire food!" it exclaimed gleefully in Damien's voice, completely ignoring the stick.

[Metanih]

"Do you know the best thing about daggers? Close combat effectiveness." The sword was less effective, unable to use its leverage, but Hailey drove it into the side, but the dagger was used for defense, as she used it to block any attacks from the creature. I hope the Chinese liked silver enough to make it a weakness for their supernatural creatures as well. It would suck if we had nothing we could hurt it with. Maybe simple weaponry hurts it anyway. I sure as hell hope so.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"So... No guns. Ok. Silver it is." Hailey said, drawing her sword, and prepared to slice at the thing when it came to range. She put the gun aside, drawing her knife in her other hand. "Anyone have Carry's magic stuff? That would be lovely!" Hailey said, not turning her eyes from the beast. She had been bit by a supernatural once, and it would never happen again. Then again, a lot of thing would never happen again according to Hailey. Some of them still happened. But this one wouldn't...

Damien's feet, which were now talons, managed to slam her onto the ground before she could attack, holding her down. The creature's shadow stopped the sunlight from touching Hailey's face, but that wasn't a comfort.

It's face cocked to the side, and extending right above hers. It grinned with Damien's face, opening it's mouth. The razor-sharp teeth and two tongues were not a very comforting sight. Yellow saliva dripped down it's mouth, landing on the side of Hailey's face. "Vampire food!" it exclaimed gleefully in Damien's voice, completely ignoring the stick.

"Fine then," Vernon sighed, "time for the direct approach."

He repeated the process of lighting the stick on fire and waving it in the air, but this time, he wasn't playing fetch. He was playing "hit the big evil owl with a fiery stick". He rushed at the Strix, whacking it with the stick while it was still on Hailey.

"YABBA DABBA DOO!"

Getting bored quickly, he did what any reasonable human would do. He took the stick and stuck it up the Strix's anus.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The sword stabbed into it's side, and it screamed, before turning it into a chuckle. "Oooh! A sassy one. I like that." it purred. It winced though. "This sword is certainly a nuisance though." it growled, serious again.

Then Vernon stuck a flaming stick up it's ass.

The Strix screamed, and quickly let go of Hailey, roaring in pain. "YOU!" it screeched, glaring at Vernon. "YOU DIE!" with that, it flew right at Vernon.

[Nationstatelandsville]

The dagger stabbed into it's side, and it screamed, before turning it into a chuckle. "Oooh! A sassy one. I like that." it purred. It winced though. "This dagger is certainly a nuisance though." it growled, serious again.

Then Vernon stuck a flaming stick up it's ass.

The Strix screamed, and quickly let go of Hailey, roaring in pain. "YOU!" it screeched, glaring at Vernon. "YOU DIE!" with that, it flew right at Vernon.

"NO!" Vernon yelled in a twisted mockery of Damien's voice, "YOU!"

He ripped the cross off it's chain and threw it at the Strix's face. He didn't bother looking at what the effect was, merely running off while reading from the Bible, stopping only to grab the briefcase with his left hand, causing him a considerable amount of pain and discomfort. I don't know any Bible verses, so you guys can just figure them out for yourselves. Make it a bad ass one though, like one with a war or something.

[Norvenia]

After it had been clear that Mark was recovering, Gabriel had used the hospital computer to look up some information on the Coiled Viper. He then called Vernon to tell him of the artefact's origins and probable location. When the phone wasn't answered, Gabriel headed off for Chinatown himself. There, he heard Hailey's gunshot and raced to its source, just in time to find everyone...

Attacking Damien? But he has talons! And he's attacking them!

Gabriel forced himself to calm down. At twenty-five feet from Damien, he drew Carry's pistol and took a firing stance, bracing the gun in a two-handed military grip that held it steady and on target. Gabriel sucked in his breath, and then shouted with every ounce of command that the battlefield and the pulpit had taught him: "Damien, stand down! I will fire on you!"

[Metanih]

The sword came out of Hailey's hand as the creature leapt away suddenly. She hadn't expected that. At all. "Give me my sword back you demonic chicken!" Hailey yelled, grabbing for it. Upon wrapping her hand around it, she twisted it, as she ripped it free. Twisting a sword sucks. It makes the wound more of a circle than the normal line. And it hurts. Like hell. This time, she held the sword out, pointed at the creature. If it went at her again, it would impale itself on the sword.
And Hailey still had the dagger.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The creature cocked it's head. "Really?" It laughed. "Well, this body bores me." it said conversationally, utterly uncaring of Vernon throwing the cross at it.

Then black smoke burst out of Damien's mouth, and headed toward the building with the corpses. Damien, now fully human, dropped to the ground, out cold.

Something was off though. In his back, there were small wings jetting out...

[Norvenia]

Gabriel moved rapidly forward, gun still braced. "Get Damien. I don't care who does it, but someone needs to do it right now. We need to get out of here yesterday!" Gabriel wasn't sure what he had just seen, but it looked amazingly like an instance of bona fide demonic possession. And if Luke 8:30 had taught the priest anything, it was that demons could switch between physical forms with ease. Whatever it had abandoned Damien to inhabit, it seemed like a good idea to be well away before the switch was complete. Gabriel kept his gun trained on the building, switching rapidly to cover various exit points. "Let's go, let's go!"

[Nationstatelandsville]

The creature cocked it's head. "Really?" It laughed. "Well, this body bores me." it said conversationally, utterly uncaring of Vernon throwing the cross at it.

Then black smoke burst out of Damien's mouth, and headed toward the building with the corpses. Damien, now fully human, dropped to the ground, out cold.

Something was off though. In his back, there were small wings jetting out...

Vernon was prepared to attack the Strix again, but saw it leave Damien's body. Damien's... body... shit. He'd forgotten it was Damien in the spur of the moment! Not only had Damien had been stabbed once or twice, but he'd had... a stick... rammed up his ass... a flaming stick. This would be tough to explain to the doctors, but he was sure to Damien, it would seem like a perfectly rational and normal response. He probably shoved burning wood up his secretary's butt every morning as a hello. Vernon didn't usually do insane shit like that.

"Damien!" he yelled, running to the man's side, "you alright?"

He smacked Damien across the cheek, hoping to wake him.

[New East Ireland]

Damien moved his head from side to side, in a drunken fashion. "V- Vernon," he mumbled. "Please, good Vernon... Sweet... Caring... Vernon... Come close," he said, in a quiet-sounding voice. He grabbed the back of Vernon's neck with his hand, and felt pain in his whole body. "Please, come close. I must... I must say... Something..."

As he did this, the pain began to slowly feel better.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

The bizarre and disturbing Ho Yay moment was disrupted when the door to the building opened. All the corpses in the building that Damien had seen earlier came slowly walking out, all wearing an insane grin. The smell of rotting flesh came from them, and if they looked, they'd see bits of flesh fall off as the corpses walked forward.

They spoke in unison. "This is going to be so. much. fun.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Damien moved his head from side to side, in a drunken fashion. "V- Vernon," he mumbled. "Please, good Vernon... Sweet... Caring... Vernon... Come close," he said, in a quiet-sounding voice. He grabbed the back of Vernon's neck with his hand, and felt pain in his whole body. "Please, come close. I must... I must say... Something..."

As he did this, the pain began to slowly feel better.

Vernon was thoroughly freaked out. Damien was weird enough as is, he'd hate to see a loopy Damien. Next thing you know, he'd be confessing his love to him, proposing, humping his leg, turning into an owl and flying away, ANYTHING! He didn't understand Damien yet, he was the only member of the group he hadn't figured out yet. This worried him. He could read anyone, even Mr. G who he'd only seen for a grand total of ten minutes, the fact that he hadn't figured out Damien was not a good sign for his sanity. Then again, nothing Damien did was a good sign for his sanity.

"Um..." Vernon said, switching to a mockery of Gabriel's voice, "I'm not Vernon. She's Vernon!"

He pointed at Hailey. Then he saw the army of corpses.

"Shit," he said, still in Gabriel's voice.