Find the Lycan killer
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Dangerous [๐ป๐ป]
Harm 1 | Stress 4 | Blood 3 | Focus +2
Zack leans against a wall, gritting his teeth. He pulls the knife out of his heart, feeling weak. This is bad. Capturing the killer of the lycanthrope Robert Jones has almost ended him. And he has fired his gun in this office, and that means trouble. A car is approaching to pick him up, but it might arrive too late.
Oracle
Did someone call the Police?
Likely (+25): 31
Oracle
Do the cops arrive before help does?
Likely (+25): 13
Cryptid sits near the door with her hands held by precinct behind her back, looking down and crying softly, defeated. Her restraints aren't going to be enough for her strength, probably, but if she tried to make a run for it, they might just slow her down enough that Zack will have time to do something about it.
A car screeches to a halt outside this church office, and honks. Zack can also hear, more distantly, the police sirens. With a weak frown he grabs Cryptid by the arm, his gun against the back of her head, and leads her out of the dark alley and towards the waiting car, a blue-black sedan, hurriedly. He's not just worried about being seen with the gun, but that some human might see a Horror in the open.
When he opens the back passenger door, he notices a bulletproof tinted glass keeping the driver's identity hidden from view. Whatever. Zack pushes Cryptid inside and closes the door, then raps the glass to signal the driver to hit it.
It's a quiet, unhappy ride. Cryptid eventually stops crying and just seems to resign herself to her fate, staring out the window in cool silence. Zack takes the time to summon his power to try to recover his worst wounds.
Action Roll: Healing
Force 5
2, 5 - Weak: +2H, +1F, -1B
Harm 3 | Stress 4 | Blood 2 | Focus +3
The car takes them, in the dead of night, to the top of a garage parking lot. There awaits them Penelope Black, Zack's progenitor, wrapped in a warm shawl. Not like she needs or feels heat anyways, but it seems to give her comfort anyways. Next to her is a large native-american looking, suited female with a holstered shotgun across her back.
And next to them, is simply The Queen.
The Queen, an Adamant, is raw majesty. The Queen makes you want to serve her. And The Queen must fall, one day, for driving Zack into suicide and undeath. But right now, The Queen reigns, and after Zack emerges from the car with Cryptid, he bends the knee, doing his best not to let his secret hatred show. Because all it would take for Pen to know, would be to merely focus on him a moment, right now, and open his vengeance like a bloody book.
A moment passes, and a hatefully sweet voice murmurs:
"You may rise, Umbran, that I may hear your Elegy."
Zack rises slowly; Cryptid remains where she is. Emotion weighs him down, but he does his best. With only a brief look into those powerful eyes of hers, he explains and narrates his adventure. He connects the dots and looks at Pen for corroboration every now and then. His Progenitor nods sagely here and there, expression blank otherwise. And by the end, all that is left is for the Queen's decision, and sentence.
Fulfill Your Elegy
10 Segments
1, 5: Strong, +2 XP
The Queen finally nods her assent and says quietly and breezily, "Very well. Cryptid, you have violated my laws, and are thus condemned to final death."
Cryptid looks up at last, and there's nothing but tight-chested despair in her when she says loudly:
"I'll be with Robert. I win. Nothing else matters."
The Queen giggles at this cruelly, and gestures at the car. The driver emerges from it, revealing none other than the lycan Ronan. Zack flinches in terror, but The Queen says softly:
"Did you hear our sweet Horror, Lycan? A confession from her own lips. Do with her what you will."
Ronan gives Zack a piercing glare, but then looks at Her Majesty, sniffs in, and lowers his head politely, saying in a rumble:
"Very well. Justice is served. I'll take her with me."
Zack feels a twang of pity for Cryptid, truth be told. As Ronan drags her into the car trunk and drives away, The Queen says to Zack and Pen:
"You have both served me well, and represent your Lineage loyally. You may go."
Zack begins to leave with Pen, but the Queen then adds:
"Oh, and Zachary?"
He freezes, eyes on the exit.
"Evangeline sends her regards."
Once outside, they walk together, her elderly arm around his, almost like a granma and her grandson. And after a good while of this, she murmurs:
"Your hate is your own, child. But do not taint me with it."
Zack takes a deep breath, then replies, looking ahead:
"Evangeline and the Queen drink vampire blood. Or at least Eve does and she allows it."
Pen falls into silence at this, then she murmurs very quietly:
"So it is true... very well. Thank you for telling me. We may have use of this in the future."
Zack nods. He will make sure this revelation bears fruit one day. One step at a time, he'll bring her down.
Overthrow the Queen
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Extreme [X]
I'll take a few days off to rest and recover my writing juice, and also to accumulate writing. But this has been great so far. I loved the idea of these characters making backroom deals behind Zack's back.
Tangled webs. I do not know who to trust. This is great!