A brutal winter storm raged around the convoy of vehicles, snow pounding down as strong winds whipped the already deposited snow into a frenzy. Four VTOL craft whizzed past over head, their was a heavy military presence on Frehjl. Dr. Havelock clasped his walking stick with an iron grip, his knuckles turning white from the strain. His fingers slipped into the grooves on the ram's horn that made up the sticks grip, the ebony wood gnarled and twisted struck the ground with a solid thud. Ten men looked around to the cloaked figure who was stood upon an open backed military style truck, his top hat removed from his head and placed on a crate. "Gentlemen. We are here for one reason and one reason only." He was interrupted by the intrusive whirring of helicopter blades as three craft sped past over head. Havelock sighed, "As I was saying, two clicks southwest of here is Luna's Tomb. We are to excavate and retrieve what's left of him. Move out!" With that the men jumped into the truck while the engines revved, as soon as the last man threw himself aboard the convoy departed in a southwestern direction. Havelock stared out of the trucks open back, wind lashing his face. He looked out over the snowy expanse, only broken up by dull grey mountain peaks and deep green conifers laden with bluey green needles. He caught a glimps of something flying, about 800 meters north of them. Large black wings flapped methodically, almost in rhythm with the truck bouncing over uneven terrain. Havelock watched the creature for a few moments, suddenly dumbstruck as the creature's head turned to stare directly at Havelock; his mind being filled with a thousand screaming voices - men, women and children. He heard his voice, clear as day, in a rasping shuddering voice. He couldn't break eye contact with the creature. No. You can't be here! Not you. It's not my time! His own thoughts breaking the cycle of screams.
Aesthear floated above her throne, not even touching it. She was prone, as if she was sitting in the chair. Her eyes were clasped shut as skulls that decorated the throne room lifted themselves up off their positions to float around Aesthear. Candles had been placed around her in a sort of circle shape, an intricate symbol had been daubed on the inside of the circle. Her eyes shot open and she dropped into the throne with a thud, her black dress billowing as if air rushed through the room. The skulls dropped too, some shattering as the mandible bounced across the floor. The candles were blown out plunging the room into darkness. "Death? She has no place there." Then the penny dropped, Luna had survived and he was awaiting Havelock...
In the final battle of the civil war, Aesthear's flagship The Cacophony had delivered the last crushing blow to Luna's ship. It was listing with no power anywhere, gaping holes adorned the ships flank, crew floating out into space. But still Luna survived. He was found on the bridge, holding onto life. More dead crew littered the bridge as the expanse of space infiltrated through wide holes. Luna was taken to Frehjl, the remotest planet in the Prosperan System. He was locked deep in the planet's crust, an enternal tomb for the dying man. But somehow he had survived and Aesthear was going to reveal his secret...
Aesthear stormed out of the throne room into the church proper, she rushed through; knocking a service droid to the floor, they tray of tea it was carrying spilt all over the floor and the droid itself - frying it's circuits as the light of it's eyes faded. Aesthear burst out into the square, passers-by stopping what they were doing to watch as their Queen walked amognst them. She grabbed the church guard by the arm, so hard that her finger nails dug into his flesh. "Get me to Frehjl!" The Luna Guardsman looked dumbfounded, starng blankly at Aesthear. "Uh, yeah, sure." His confusion was well founded, Aesthear was never seen on the streets.
The cargo ship pushed the boundaries of impulse engine travel, full power had been diverted straight into the engines. No shields, no comms, no lighting. Aesthear sat on the dark bridge, she had placed herself directly on the floor with crossed legs. She closed her eyes and murmured under her breath. Suddenly she started floating again, the pilot taking a sneaky look. There had been rumours that she was a witch, and now it could be proven. Many had said Luna founded The Coven and searched out other witches. Currently the roster stands as just Aesthear, and Luna if he is alive. In her minds eye she could see Havelock's convoy, and had focused he vision on the flying creature following them. She could see clearly now, the Angel of Death was waiting on her prey. The Angel of Death, as legend put it, was a witch who had transcended this mortal coil. She had forged a covenant with Death himself, and she would bring him souls to consume. Aesthear had many brushes with Death, but never truely met him. Death was a triumvirate within Dead Snow legend. There was Death himself, the Angel of Death and the Boatman. Death was said to be a dark witch who transcended into a demi-god. The boatman was a tormented soul, forced into eternal damnation ferrying souls to the after life. Aesthear sent her minds eye ahead of the convoy, to Luna's Tomb. A large pyramidal structure rose up out of the snow, it's dark shape imposing on all around. A lone yew tree sat infront of the tomb. The tree itself was massive, large arching branches collecting what little sunlight reached here. There, stood in front of the tomb was Luna. His form was shrouded in a black cloak, with his distinctive ram's skull placed over his own head. Aesthear could feel his eyes watching her. Yet she was still an hour or so away. There were strong powers at play here. Aesthear gasped in shock at the sight of Luna, How could he have survived many decades in that tomb?!
Aesthear's eyes snapped open, taking a minute to focus; a sharp fuzzy blue light hogged her view. She then realized where she was, face down on the cold metallic floor. The blue light turned out to be a foot lockers activation light. She pushed herself up, just as the locker sprung up revealing an array of boots. The pilot turned around slightly, "Ten minutes til we enter Frehjl's atmosphere."
Havelock watched from his open back truck the Tomb come into view, growing larger and larger; towering above the convoy. His neck started to ache from looking up. Instead he drew his eye line down to the grand ornate entrance. Obsidian pillars rose up to be met by marble skulls, human. Years had gone into the carving of the marble skulls let alone the entire tomb. Great oak doors, flanked by the pillars, seemed to creak under their own weight. Wrought iron decorations adorned the doors. Gargoyles peeked out from stone alcoves along the river stone wall. Their eyes seemed to follow you, peering into your soul. The convoy screeched to a halt about 200 meters from the pillars, men piling out. Havelock stepped off the trucks steps and surveyed the tomb. There was a burst of light, soldiers covering their eyes. Havelock, shading his eyes to look up saw Aesthear's shuttle burn into the atmosphere. What the fuck? He turned to one truck, pointed up at the burning shuttle, "Follow that shuttle!"
Havelock pulled the giant oak doors open, an all mighty creak escaped the century old hinges. A gust of air rushed out to greet the men, stood peering into the darkness, it brought with it the smell of Death. A few men recoiled in horror, grasping for their mouths and noses. Some even vomited. "Come on you sad fucks. Never smelt decomposition before?" He breathed in deeply, "That'll put hairs on your chest. Now let's go!" Havelock entered the Tomb, closely followed by the squad of men. A few stayed behind, to keep a watch out they said, although Havelock knew these green soldiers couldn't hack it. If they knew what was coming, more would have bottled it.
The doors gave way to a grand entrance hall, a square-ish room flanked by two grand stair cases elevating up a few floors before leveling out. But they weren't interested in upstairs, no, their prize was deep in the bellows. The squad sweeped through the hall, shouts of 'clear' rang through the building. Havelock pointed with his walking stick towards a bolted door, years of neglect had ruined a once fine door. Paint peeled off, leaving the mural in taters. It was here the smell of death increased and suffocated. "Down here. But steady as she goes." A click of rifles being armed and loaded signalled the acceptance of orders. Havelock shuffled over to the door, resting his hand on it. He stood there for a few moments before opening the bolt and pushing the door in. The sound of a thousand dying souls screamed out of the door, rattling around inside their heads. One mans eye's started to bleed before his head exploded in a mess of red. "Fuck! The hell is in there?" One man said while wiping blood from his face. Havelock slammed his stick down on the ground, an unearthly knock echoed out around the room, the soldier's attention snapped back to Havelock. He could feel all eyes on him. "You all know full well what's going on here. There are events that are out of our control. And Aesthear's. This is one. She wants to bring the Coven out of hiding. And He," Havelock pointed back towards the bolted door, "Is key. You think Luna just developed his powers over a long drink? You've all heard the rumours. Now for some truths. Luna is no mortal. He is death. He is the one to reunite any surviving witches. They don't just appear. Most are long dead. As far as we know Aesthear is the only witch left. Now, we will drag his corpse kicking and screaming back to Aesthear." A subdued 'yes sir' followed. "You have such a flair for the dramatic Havelock. I've always liked that about you." Aesthear had suddenly appeared behind the men, her long black dress billowed in the gust. She rearranged her shawl while speaking, "There will be no corpse. Luna is still very much alive. Well, as alive as he can be." She chuckled, flicked a lock of lose hair out her face, "There is much you don't understand, and never will. Me and him. We are the same. You think I developed these powers? Oh please, don't be so stupid. I made a deal with him. A long time ago. Before your family even existed Havelock. There is much to learn about The Coven. Now, bring me Luna."
There he hung in what looked like stasis. There was no movement from the naked, chained figure. His reddish skin had fissures all over it, you could see the white flash of bone in some of them. His face hung down, his chin on his chest. He was bald. Then suddenly his head flung up, deep red eyes stared out at the soldiers. Then his piercing eyes fell on Havelock, a smile crossed his face. His eyes traversed onto Aesthear, his smile widening to a grin. He bared yellow, sharp teeth before speaking, "Ever heard of a door bell Aesthear? It has been a while. Too long. You left me here without even saying goodbye. That's rude." Aesthear looked up at Luna, holding her middle finger up. "Oh please, when was I ever nice to you. Now are you going to stand for me?" "With these enchanted chains? I'd have better luck getting a desk job." Aesthear waved her hand over Luna and he dropped to the floor, the sound of breaking bones filled the room. Some soldiers moved to lift the naked man up. As they grabbed his arms Luna exploded in light, black lighting arcing around the room. The crackle was unbearable. The bolts reached out like tendrils, slamming into the remaining soldiers. Their life force sucked back into Luna. Skeletal figures dropped to the floor, leaving Luna, Aesthear and Havelock standing. Havelock had shielded his eyes from the bolts. Aesthear simply looked on, watching Luna's rather drab light show. Luna stood, his body still smoking from the heat. "Shall we?"
by Dead Snow » Mon Oct 06, 2014 12:47 pm