Demons in the dark

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

((OOC: Do not post unless your character has a valid and realistic reason to be marching with a military cohort, or a reason to be wandering the plains at night - which is unlikely))

Dark, heavy clouds obscured the sky, suffocating the pale glow of the moon and smothering the rolling plains of the grasslands in inky blackness. The darkness held sway at this late hour. All was plunged into total blackness, save for a tiny point of light in the distance, hovering on the horizon like a firefly.
As the light drew closer it seemed to grow and separate, until it eventually formed a circle of guttering wooden torches about several large camp fires. They burned bright in the darkness, spitting sparks and ash into the cold night air to dance gloriously through the emptiness before they faded and died even as they cast flickering orange light across the tents clustered about them. Long shadows shifted and grew, creeping across the other tents with jerky, sudden movements . . .

The darkness surrounded them, clawing at the light of the campfires like a hungry beast, ever eager to come rushing in as the fires guttered and died, bringing god only knows what horrors with it. It was thick, oppressive, ominous – almost suffocating. Nothing stirred, nothing moved.
The sounds of banter and chatter drifted out from the fires in the centre of the camp, floating out to meet the ears of the shivering sentries who stood guard outside the hastily erected wooden palisade, but the night itself was all too quiet, even the crickets were silent. It was definitely much too quiet.

Suddenly something moved, a shadow flickered between the trees out on the plains, then nothing. No movement. Perhaps it was just a trick of the li-

There it was again. And another, and again.

Now the night was filled with them, as if the darkness had come alive. The shadows twisted and twirled through the darkness, dancing with impossible grace and agility through the cold night air. The sentry shivered and cried out. It was the last thing he would ever do, but it very likely saved the lives of many of his comrades.

“STAND TO! STAND TO! TO AR- eck. . .”

Suddenly the camp burst into life, as cries of alarm began echoing throughout and heavy fisted sergeants began bringing their men into line. Those few seconds of preparation may be the difference between living and dying, and the men knew that. They were under no illusions as to their mortality and the high costs of soldiering, the sacrifice they might have to make for their kingdom, for their freedom and their families.
New sounds began to rise into the dark night air as the soldiers discovered the cause of the commotion. Black shapes were moving with unnatural speed over the wall, scaling the wooden palisade like spiders, before dropping to the floor and hastening towards the massed ranks of soldiers, and those that were still unprepared. In truth, none of them would be fully prepared for what they would face this night, but prepared or not, they would have to fight to survive. Their lives depended upon it.

There was a deafening crash as the black tide of shadowed, indistinct creatures collided with the raised wall of metal shields all throughout the encampment. Burly officers retained their calm, bellowing orders to their men, keeping formation, doing their job, staying alive. The only sign of the fear they felt being the wild fury behind their eyes.
Soon the scene had descended into chaos as groups of soldiers fought through the makeshift streets of the camp, fighting for every last blood stained inch of ground. The bloodied bodies of soldiers and beast alike, littering the floor like a gruesome tapestry of death and destruction. Black shadows darted through the firelight. Never visible for long, until it was too late.

A small group of men stood to one side of one of the roaring fires, shields raised, spears lowered, swords drawn and grim determination in their eyes as three of the creatures advanced on them. Three pairs of luminous green eyes fixed them with hungry, evil stares as they moved with unnatural grace towards the grim faced soldiers, their bloodied, clawed hands held low, ready to strike.
“Die, abominations!” A great shout rang out across the small clearing in the forest of now shredded tents, as a giant figure of a man smashed his way through the ruins, the beams splintering before him, crushed beneath his weight as he thundered implacably towards the creatures, towering and relentless hatred burning in his eyes.
With shocking speed he swung his massive broadsword towards the shadow like beasts with both hands clasped firmly about the hilt of the great weapon. The blade burned brightly with ancient runes as it hurtled through the air towards the creatures, who turned, their eyes remaining cold and emotionless as the sword sheared down through the neck of one and across the waist of another. Dark red blood flowed freely from the gruesome wounds as the bodies shrivelled and collapsed to the floor.
The third creature moved in time, darting to the side of the massive weapon as it hurtled past, just above its ear. It’s eyes narrowed and it darted forward under the blade, raising its bloodied claws to tear through the armour of this man who was fool enough to attack alone.
The beast’s claws struck the golden armour on his shoulder with a resounding crash, and the armour burst into brilliant flame, runes and marks running across the surface like liquid fire. Surprise registered briefly on the creature’s face, if it could be called that, before the armoured man’s gauntleted fist came crashing down, shattering the creatures head, splintering the bones in it’s neck and crushing it’s spine.
The armoured man stood in the dark, ringed in magical fire as runes and marks coursed across the golden coloured metal plates and down the silver blade of his massive sword. He raised his head to look at the men before him, his red plumed helm covering his face, making his features impossible to see.

“Hurry, come with me, time stands still for no man.”

“Yes General”

[Adara]

Out in the plains, a single creature crouched low, its eyes catching what light remained in the near total darkness of the night, flashing a silvery glow, almost liquid and then, total darkness came, as if swept in from nowhere, swallowing up every ounce of light. The wolf had smelled their coming, and her shackles rose on the scruff of her neck as she watched the shadowed creatures lurk towards the makeshift camp of the Karadorian soldiers.

The white wolf then moved on silent and most swift feet, following the creatures, her curiosity, not to mention her love of her homeland, bringing her to within borderline recollection of the shadowed beasts. She trailed them and then waited, cringed and started a slight bit as she heard the outcry of the now dead sentry. It was then, a low growl emanated from the normally docile and quite friendly Lycan.

Suddenly, there was another cry, this one nothing like the one before, it came from a massive man wielding quite a large and most devastatingly lethal broadsword. He sliced through the shadows as if they were not more than putty before him and the Lycan watched, still in her crouching position as she moved slightly forward now, to gain a better view.

When all was done, the man with the sword said a few words to another man, and they moved off quickly, the smaller of the two walking at the side of the greater man. It was then, that Adara decided to move in, a white blur in the blackness of the night, she wanted to see what manner of creatures had attacked the soldiers, as well, now threatened to gain access to Karador itself. Suddenly, something caught her eye and the Lycan twisted her head to look. Another shadowed creature had risen from the earth it had fallen on, whole again. The dark creature moved faster than the human eye could see, but Adara saw it and she saw for whom it was after and with a speed to overcome the swiftly moving shadow, the Lycan was upon it before it just as the nasty beast was preparing to strike the greater man she had seen dispatch its cohorts.

A deafening scream of pain erupted in the night just behind Cassius as the white blur of the she-wolf bit down on the Achilles tendon of the shadowed creature and drug it to the hard surface of the plain with a loud, ‘THUD” Snarls and more screams of pain ensued, a mass of twisting darkness and intense white rolled a few feet away from Cassius and his men, crimson blood flew from the mass as the two creatures battled but soon, it was the now bloodstained wolf that stood over the dead form of the shadowed creature, crimson blood dripping from its jaw, silvery, liquid eyes peering up at the humans.

Adara took a couple shaky steps back from the human soldiers, she knew their distaste for Lycans and though, she’d just killed to protect one of their own kind, she wasn’t certain how they would react to her. Shakily, obvious cuts and scrapes of her own, bleeding over the near glowing white fur of her gleaming coat, soaking it further crimson, she stepped away, her eyes still peering up at Cassius, this being the only man out on this plain, she feared more than any other.

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

The deafening cry of pain that rose from the throat of the shadowed creature echoed about the fire lit circle of death and destruction that surrounded the flaming camp fire, falling on the ears of the soldiers nearby, the very sound causing them to wince with displeasure.
Cassius spun on his heel, raising his massive broadsword in both hands as he prepared for an attack – but none came. The sword stood stone cold and silver, now seemingly lifeless, the engravings down the length of the blade silent and still. No holy fire burned upon the mirror like surface of the metal, but markings upon the armour that the General wore glowed faintly in the flickering light of the guttering camp fire.
Something was there, a creature of darkness, but not so evil as the dark demons whom attacked the camp. No this was definitely a different beast altogether, as the sword did not alight in response to its presence. In the seconds that passed Cassius’s gaze swept across the scene before him, finding exactly what he was looking for. A lycan?
The wolf that stood before him was no natural creature. Its powerful haunches tensed as it stood tall over the fallen body of the shadow creature it had slain, blood running rivulet’s through its now matted white fur. Long, razor sharp teeth protruded from it’s gaping muzzle, but it’s gaze was all too different. There was something behind those incandescent silver orbs that Cassius had never before seen in a creature of that kind. Could that be fear? Anticipation? Uncertainty? Whatever it was, it did not seem to bear malice towards the group of well armed and armoured soldiers that now stood before it, but then one could never tell with lycans their intentions from one minute to the next.
Although the General had never before seen a white furred were-wolf, he could tell it was female. Years of violent and unpleasant contact with these beasts had taught him to recognise the curve of the haunches, and even the features of their faces, and this one was unlike any other he had seen before.
Cassius raised an arm and motioned for the soldiers to stand still and keep their eyes open. He would deal with this creature, and did not wish to be interfered with. His men needed to be on the lookout for these shadow beasts if they were to survive this night.
Slowly, Cassius sheathed his broadsword, moving towards the creature with slow, but firm steps. The General had slain such creatures with his bare hands before, but did not see the need arising now, or any time soon. Whatever else he didn’t know about this lycan, he knew she was different, and he knew she was no friend of the shadow demons that currently stalked the makeshift streets of the encampment.

“Tell me Lycan, can one speak in the language of men things whilst one is in one's current state, or like most others is one restricted to the language of the wolves?” Cassius asked in the language of the wolves. He had some limited knowledge of the language, having been taught the rudiments of the language by the old sorcerer whom had assisted him in times past, times when knowing what your enemies said to one another could give you the advantage that was needed to kill, rather than be killed.
It was a relatively simple language, and a pleasant one at that. It hardly relied upon sounds and words, but rather upon posture, facial expression and thought.
The General now stood a few metres from the creature as she still stood over the bloodied corpse of the shadow creature, its blood still running through her fur and staining her teeth red. He towered over the lycan, who crouched low on all fours in front of him, with his hands at his sides in a neutral and passive stance, his immense chest rising and falling steadily and calmly as he awaited her reply, his eyes meeting hers with no emotion, no hostility, but no friendliness either. This would prove interesting, if nothing else, to add to a veritable cornucopia of interesting events that this most unpleasant of nights was privy to.

[Adara]

Adara had not even noticed the great broadsword in the massive human males hands until she had looked up at the man. This combined with the fact that she was surrounded by its pack mates made her more than a little apprehensive, it down right frightened her and a frightened animal is not something anyone would wish to deal with, no matter who they might have been. However, as the great man sheathed his silver monstrosity, the wolf relaxed a small bit.

The pains she felt in her shoulders from the gashes left behind from the shadowed beast she’d just slain were like fire, though she ignored them for now, her full attentions being given out to Cassius. She could tell this one was the leader of the humans before her in the way he moved, the way the others seemed to do as he ordered and without question.

Now, he stepped forward and it took all her will to keep herself from backing further away. She’d have to stand her ground against this human, this much she knew, as he was a leader of force and a creature to not be handled lightly. He approached her with the posture of one not intending her harm, though she knew humans to not mean what they said, as well that they tended to deceive their enemies as well their friends in order to gain a closeness before going in for the kill. Was this the very thing this one was playing at? She wasn’t altogether certain, but she refused to back down in the face of what could possibly be her own undoing, or something altogether different.

I can speak just fine in your language human. She began, speaking in his mind, though in the language of humans, the simple fact that he had used her own language striking her as odd, she controlled the urge to wag her tail at his accomplished feat. She had never before heard it spoken outside her own kind. I also have a name, you may address me as Adara, might I inquire as to yours, human?” She asked, just as a formality than for any other good reason, well, that and she’ d like to know the name of her murderer if it came to that.

Adara was not one, who liked to fight, nor was she one who liked to kill, for any reason, but she was not opposed to it, obviously. She was quiet and docile, wanting nothing more than to live her life in play or leisure. She loved all creatures good, detested evil. She was in short, perhaps the same as Cassius when it came to loathing dark creatures, though she herself had been branded one the moment she had been turned into a Lycan.

It was in her silvery eyes that showed him just how frightened she was, but in her stance just how determined she was to stand her ground all the same. Proud she was, proud and unwilling to go down without a fight, if that was the case. What manner of foul creatures are these? She then asked, very uncertain of what it was she had just fought and killed.

[Cassius Ado Virtus]

The General's expression did not change as the she wolf spoke, though she spoke without words. It was an interesting combination of wolf and human, resulting in a form of the human language that was not spoken, but was certainly heard well enough by those that the speaker desired.
Slowly, Cassius lowered himself to the floor, his ornate armour moving fluidly and silently about his joints as he knelt, coming down to the head height of the female lycan. What had she called herself? Adara, yes that was it.
With even slower, more gentle movements Cassius reached out one hand to her, his palm upturned and open in a gesture of goodwill and friendship.
"My name, Adara" He began, speaking audibly in his own language, "Is Cassius, Cassius Ado Virtus. This is my encampment, my army and my men. You need not fear me, nor those under my command. We are here for the defence of Karador and her citizens, one of which I believe you are." The general said quietly, his expression less serious, but not straying far from his usual frown.
Cassius paused as he considered her final question - 'What manner of foul creatures are these?'. Truthfully, he did not know the answer. All that he did know was that they were almost invisible, incredibly fast and just as deadly, and adverse to holy magic. He would be sure to ask Kalista when they returned to the city, but until then his first concern was saving the lives of as many of his men as possible.
"I do not know what creatures these are, nor what brings them here. All I know is that they are no friend of yours, nor mine. Let us do our best to survive this night, together." He said in earnest, his eyes conveying trust and honesty in their solid, blue gaze.
Cassius wondered what was happening here, and why. He was leading only a small detachment of his men to investigate reports of necromantic activities within the small town of Verkat on the borders of the Kingdom, and now this? What manner of creatures stalked the streets, indeed? As good a question as any. They seemed to be as alive as any other beast and showed no sign of any connection with the necromancer that plagued the kingdom, and did not carry the mark of that foul magicians work. No these were altogether different monstrosities, but why were they attacking now? They came in relatively small numbers against a much larger force of his men, but this seemed to make little difference. Their teeth and claws shredded armour like paper, and their incredible speed almost made them impossible to see and strike. In fact, had Cassius not carried his armour and the sword of Karador he might have doubted whether or not he himself would survive this night.

[Adara]

Adara watched as Cassius took a seat on the ground in front of her, bringing himself to her level so to speak. At his first movement towards her, she tensed, but then tentively reached toward his outstretched hand and licked his fingers slightly in response, to show she as well, meant him no harm and accepted his friendship. Her tail may have even given a slight wag, as she was pleased as to the direction this was going. Suddenly, the gashes in her shoulder gave her a most harsh sting and she yelped slightly as any wolf would do and turned her head to gaze at the wounds. Most interesting. She commented and then sat on her haunches and looked back over at Cassius, once again ignoring her wounds and the fact that they didn’t seem to be healing as would be the normal case with any Lycan.

Yes I am a citizen of Karador you make no mistake in your words Cassius. She replied to his comment, her voice coming to him in the same manner as before. I would gladly remain here with you, and seek to keep all safe through the darkness of the night and against this unknown foe, or like you have stated... survive this night together. She then stated with something bordering on conviction in her tone.

She quietly continued to gaze at him through her silvery liquid orbs, what was once great mistrust seemed to disappear to be replaced with friendship and, as well respect for the human male now kneeling before her. In her eyes, as with any pack animal, the leader of another pack deserved all the respect they showed to one and Cassius had shown her respect, first in speaking to her in her own language and then in his every move thereafter. Adara would turn to human form but thought it best to stay where she was, giving her best attack as well as defense was in her wolf form, besides the fact that when one changes to human form, they have no clothing.

Is there a place that is not perhaps so open that we might bring your pack to? She then asked, her eyes moving around and about them now, her nose turned to the air about them. These are not the only ones of their kind out there Cassius, there are more. She then stated, her head turning again to gaze up at him.