Shadowhaunt: The black Crusade (Part I)

[Archdemon Stu]

The Gorger was still silent, frustrated, but putting at least some small effort toward behaving.  He listened in on the speculations going on surrounding the relic.  Who was to say it was a relic, though?  As one of them mentioned, "It" could simply be very good at hiding...

Hiding or no, it seemed highly unlikely that the evil forces in the surrounding lands would not notice it if the Crusade had found it only moments ago all the way from the castle.  Surely, they would encounter resistance before they reached their goal. 

The Gorger listened in on Sir Walter and Seth's conversations regarding strategy as he eyed the shadows of the trees, ever vigilant for something to fill his belly.

[Radobe]

Rau was marching with the rest of the group and listened in on their speculations of what they are about to face.

At the end of their conversation, Rau decided to join in as well.

“You are missing the main point. What we are about to encounter, has most likely remained in the Blacklands for years. Above all we must be vigilant!” the priest set his sight on the Nord, who was still holding his ale “And if someone would be kind enough to make sure our Nord friend doesn’t get so intoxicated that he won’t be able to lift his weapon, I will be much obliged”

[Kitharsis]

"Perhaps this holy presence is not what it seems."  Wu ponders out loud.  "Why make excuses for how it can exist?  Instead look at the things we clearly know."

"First of all, we are in the middle of the dark lands.  Second, this is a large beacon of Holiness we easily spotted on William's map.  Surely others have found this already.  Evil creatures would be drawn towards it, hoping to extinguish it.  Either this Holy object is extremely powerful, or it is a deception."

[Shadow Chorus]

"Wrynjolf fights better when he's drunk." Shani chimed in, deflecting the priest's comment off-hand.

"Anyways, the monk is right. I'm getting more suspicious the more I think about it." Axle said. Everyone's meditations were cut off when Walter and Seth stopped mid-stride, however. Walter held up  a hand and pulled out his hammer.

"Shh..Did you hear that?" Shani whispered, her ears twitching in an almost dog-like fashion. There was a slight rustling among the grass around them in the dark. They were being watched. The world stood still for a moment, the group drew weapons and took positions, watching all about them. Quick as a flash, something large bolted out of the treeline and tackled Ser Athen. The werewolf's jaws snapped inches from the Crusader's neck before the mighty blow of a greathammer sent the beast sprawling. Sir walter charged forward with the momentum of his swing, launching himself at the werewolf and wrestling it to the ground. He punched it repeatedly in the face and struck at it with the staff of his hammer as it tried to bite and claw at him.

"Not one of my men, you foul beast!" Walter roared, bringing back a plated fist. It glowed like a sun with holy power as he brought it crashing down on the werewolf's skull, crushing its head like a watermelon. As the tamer stood up from the dead werewolf, he took his hammer in both hands and stood ready.


Howling filled the air around the group. The pack had been alerted.

[Archdemon Stu]

The Gorger arose from his stupor, his tongue hanging from his mouth, saliva dripping to the ground as his form began to shift and twist into something akin to their attackers, taking the wolven transformation further than he had ever before.  White hairs protruded from his flesh, his claws and canines sharpened to points, and his snout extended to allow him to easily feed on his foes.

"My, my, my... how luxurious." The ghoul laughed as he lowered himself, and charged into the blackness of the forest, using his ability to sense a worthy meal in the darkness to sink his teeth into werewolf flesh.

Like a wolf, he was direct, and merciless; he aimed only to inflict the first wound.  To achieve the momentum, he would break their solidarity and positioning within the forest, and consume them one by one in the chaos.  It was a gamble - to break ranks with the intent of shattering theirs.  Should his bold tactic reward him with werewolf flesh, his combat strength would increase, and his regenerative abilities would come into sway, and The Gorger's massacre of the attackers would begin.

[Radobe]

"Wrynjolf fights better when he's drunk." A female voice interfered.

Rau waited a second and he could feel that, more or less, no one really cared, so he decided to have the last word and end the subject.

“But off course, he fights better when he’s drunk! What was I thinking.” said the priest with a sarcastic tone while glaring at Shani, the female werewolf who threatened the Nord’s manhood early during their stay at the tower.

The instant Rau turned his back Sir Walter signaled the group to stop and unsheathed his weapon.

"Shh..Did you hear that?” The werewolf could hear noices coming from the forest.

Before Rau could react a werewolf attacked one of the group members. Luckily Sir Walter took action on time and managed to topple the beast and afterwards, finish it off with his bare hands.

(Extreme conditioning) The priest took out his staff and began his incantation. He took a glance at the group and decided who to choose. Since he was not familiar with everyone’s fighting experience, his choice was based on who knows werewolves the best. As light gathered around him he stretched his hand towards the female werewolf and began to gather the light in his palm. A second later the light shot out and illuminated Shani. Because she is a werewolf and she already has an enhanced human body, further enchasing it makes it go far beyond its limits. When such strength is used it causes damage to the body. Thanks to her healing ability the damage will be mended quickly unless she uses her strength too much and too fast.

As soon as his spell was done casting The Gorger shot out from within their ranks and headed to confront the enemies head on. This was not a strategy Rau would approve.

“Sir Walter, your orders!” Rau shouted as he watched the ghoul leave formation.

[Kitharsis]

Wu watches as Sir Walter saves one of the group.  The monk steps back slightly as the werewolf's head smashes like a melon, not wanting to get blood on his clothing unnecessarily.

Werewolves.  Fleshier than skeletons, but quicker and almost harder to hit.  Their bite and claws are troublesome, but manageable if taken with care.

The Gorger lumbers off into the forest alone, no doubt in a frenzy over the prospect of a meal.  While Father Rau has cast a spell on the werewolf accompanying them. 

"I will not go searching for a fight, but if they come they will be dealt with."

Having said his part Wu shifts into a ready stance, preparing to counter whatever springs forth from the forest around him.

[Shadow Chorus]

"The Gorger has the right idea. Werewolves hunt best on prey that stays as one tight group. They don't like being beaten at their own game..." Walter said, turning to his men.

"Shani, Axle, go wreak chaos."

Axle grinned, Shani grunted, and both of them began to change. While Axle's transformation was similar to the Gorger's, his body twisting and turning until he had become a wolf, charging off into the forest to attack his foes,  Shani's was something different entirely. Her arms lengthened, sinewy muscles bulging against her armor. Her face began to elongate with a painful popping noise, forming a wolven snout as her legs arched like a dog's. Thick, course black fur began to sprout across her form as a tail lashed out from her armor. The armor became increasingly ill fitting as her body grew and stretched, but it remained in place, leading to the thought that it had been made for this. Her hands grew sharpened claws, and her teeth became sharp and thick. At the end of the transformation, Shani let loose a howl and charged off as well. The sounds of battle filled the forest as claw met flesh and fur. A pair of werewolves were tossed out into the clearing, no doubt a fresh kill from Shani or Axle.

"Get ready. They'll be forced into combat soon."

And no sooner had he spoke than the rest of the pack was upon them. They numbered as many as the group did without their fallen brothers, and the warriors each found their opponent and began the fight, leaving three for the wolves to take care of. Axle and Shani quickly found their opponents, leaving the Gorger to handle the last free werewolf.

The battle was underway.

[Archdemon Stu]

The Gorger could smell it... the smell of a beast that was as hungry as he was.  The Gorger was not unfamiliar with werewolves, and knew both their weaknesses, and their strengths.  Their brute strength is a powerful weapon indeed, and their regeneration far exceeded most creatures of the night.  In fact, until The Gorger landed the first bite, he would be at a disadvantage here in terms of strength - fortunately for him, that is not ever what made him truly dangerous.

As they closed in on one another, the sound of leaves bustling and dirt pounding underneath their strides seemed to fade away as The Gorger entered a battle trance, evaluating the challenge ahead.

Their weapons... the wolf had his fangs and claws.  The Gorger... the same; they would no doubt meet head on, likely with a similar tactic in mind.  The werewolf's strength would no doubt outmatch his, however, and his scraps of plating would do little.  But, The Gorger's claws carried with them terrible disease, and the chains... "Yes." he thought, "They should do nicely..."

The distance became short, and the air filled with the stench of an over-sized dog.  It was time to put his plan into action.  His arms whipped forward, lashing his chains forward - they would do little to no damage to such a creature, but it was far from the intent.  They would buy The Gorger the split second of confusion and surprise he would need to close the gap, and sink his poisoned fangs into his prey.

[Radobe]

Shortly after Shani and Axel rushed out, the werewolves attack began.

One of the werewolves charged directly at the priest.

From his experience Rau knew that the force of a charging werewolf was great and facing it head on could be fatal. He also knew that the charge would be the greatest opportunity he might have to wound the creature.

Rau was prepared to do it and took a stance, as the enemy approached from his left side. His stance was low, with his feet roughly a meter apart. He put his weight on his right foot and placed his staff horizontally.

(Holy light (beam)) Rau stands still and gathers his energies in his left hand, as he is holding his staff. He will release the energy when the werewolf is meters away and will target the beast’s feet. He will aim to destroy the werewolf’s balance, and rob him of his mobility at the same time. To fully stop the beast’s charge, the priest will try to intercept the werewolf by doing an arching strike with his staff, while simultaneously moving the weight from his right leg to his left leg and deliver the blow, aimed downwards in order to send the werewolf to the ground. Should he succeed, he will have enough time to move a few meters away from the wounded werewolf.

[Kitharsis]

The familiar sound of battle rings out from the forest.  But instead of swords and magic, the sounds come from claw and tooth.  Two werewolves soared through the forest and landed in a heap before the waiting warriors.  Apparently their side was fairing well in the dark forest surrounding them.

Wu's stance not only makes it easier to strike and defend from, it also makes channeling his Chi more natural as well.  He feels it flow through him, and his form becomes less rigid.  His muscles relax and his movements make him seem like he's filled with water instead of flesh and bone.

The pack arrives in a flurry.  One has its eyes set on Sun Wu.  Eyes with traces of both human and wolf mixed into a damning combination of the two.  From Wu's limited experience he knows werewolves as bestial, straightforward creatures.  He is expecting a head on attack.  But werewolves can be unpredictable at times, especially while hunting in a pack.

Not taking any chances, Wu extends his Chi outside of his body in a sphere around him (Whirlpool).  When the werewolf breaches the circle Wu quickly wrenches his body to the right.  The Chi lurches to the right with the werewolf caught up in it.  If his attack is successful the werewolf will be violently lurched to the right.  The force should be enough to lift the werewolf off of its feet and to slam it into any trees in the surrounding forest.

[Shadow Chorus]

The werewolf turned to face the Gorger as it charged, teeth snapping at the approaching enemy. The chain whips caught it off-guard, forcing it to deflect the blows, allowing the Gorger to sink its teeth into the Werewolf's flesh. But this is a werewolf, and their regeneration is supreme. The fast-healing properties of the werewolf's body would fight off the deadly effects of the gorger's rot-coated teeth, but it would not be without impairment. The werewolf howled, shoving at the Gorger to get his teeth out of his neck before he could do more damage, and attempted to strike at the enemy with its razor claws.


Rau's werewolf was caught completely off guard by the surgical strikes the priest maneuvered. Its legs buckled under the holy power, breaking with sickening cracks, and his head was slammed into the dirt by a staff. Momentarily dazed, but not dead, the enraged werewolf propped itself up on its claws and shook its head. Glaring at the priest, it began to claw itself towards the priest on its hands. Not as fast as moving at full sprint, but still surprisingly speedy. He would be on the priest in moments if something was not done.


The werewolf facing Sun Wu is hurled into a tree by the force of the monk's chi. There is a sickening pop as the werewolf's shoulders pop out of and back into their joints, adjusting to taking the brunt of the impact. The wolf hits the ground again, but is not deterred. Enraged, the wolf stands on its hindlegs and howls, moving to close the last few feet on two feet so as to better strike at the monk with his deadly claws.


All around the group the battle rages. Sir Walter duels what appears to be the head of the pack, a werewolf with the sense of mind, even in bestial form, to keep a wooden buckler strapped to his arm and a vicious looking morningstar in his other hand.  The tamer's greathammer meets the werewolf's shield with tremendous force, the defensive implement shattering under the blow, but when the werewolf attempts to bring the morningstar down on Sir Walter's head he is forced to break off his assault to use the staff of his hammer to block. Shani was viciously clawing and biting at another werewolf, the two engaged in a savage struggle for the upper hand. Akaga seemed the most collected of all the fighters. He said not a word as he easily dodged attacks, evading swipes with a calculated lean or duck, and making surgical strikes at the werewolf's weak points. Hggranath rose on his hooves and kicked at his opponent before coming down and slashing at his werewolf with vicious scimitars in both hands.

[Archdemon Stu]

Having already taken his prize, The Gorger pushed off as the werewolf shoved him away, creating a distance between them that would be short-lived.  The scales had now begun to balance against his wounded foe. The smell of blood filled the air, causing The Gorger's senses to go wild.  Meat filled his belly, granting him unholy strength, and regeneration that subtly began to heal the scar tissue on his face from a night not long ago.

The words of Sun Wu came to mind, "If we do not feel hunger, then how can we fully appreciate our next meal?"  How appropriate his words were for such an occasion.  Until now, he had only the opportunity for small samples... now, his feast awaited.  It simply needed preparation.

In the instant that the two monsters closed in on one another, The Gorger's bandages began to snap, and his chains rattled as he grew in dark might.  His wolf-like fur became thick, his claws and fangs became jagged and razor-sharp, beyond anything he had attempted before.  The bones and muscles in his hind legs shifted and twisted into those of a wolf, giving him the speed he needed to have his fangs bypass the werewolf's claws, and land his fangs into his foe's throat.  His snout extended further with a sickening snap as he closed in on his prey... he was an abomination of claws and fur.

Should he succeed in landing this decisive blow, his foe would last only as long as the bones and cartilage in his neck.

[Radobe]

Everything went according to plan and the werewolf was robbed of his terrifying speed. Despite that he continued to claw his way towards the priest. Rau begins to retreat, since a physical confrontation with the werewolf won’t end in his favor.

(Holy light (beam)) Rau doesn’t have the time to fully cast his spell, so instead he will use a lesser variation as he retreats. The aim is simple, the werewolf’s eyes. If the spell is successful the top layer of the beasts face will begin to boil and his eyes will be severely damaged.

[Kitharsis]

The remnants of the Whirlpool dissipate through the air like a fine mist.  The werewolf rises to its hind legs and howls, enraged.  Its anger will cause it to be more dangerous, but also more reckless.  Wu begins gathering Chi in his palms.

The beast charges straight at Sun Wu once more, claws poised to strike.  It will not go down easily, and close quarters fighting is still undesirable at this point.  Things tend to get... messy... in close quarters with a werewolf.

Wu presses his palms together in front of his chest.  He lunges forward and extends his arms with his palms spread apart, performing his Geyser attack.  He aims at the werewolves chest.  The blow should be quite powerful, like a super powered fire hose. 

The heels of Wu's shoes dig into the ground as the force of the Geyser erupts from his hands.  His features are calm, his face barely exposing the amount of effort he is putting into his attacks.

[Shadow Chorus]

The Gorger faced a werewolf who knew brute force, and would not be killed as easily as one would think. The werewolf's hands twitched, and a clawed hand shot up in a bladed uppercut as the Gorger approached, using the ghoul's momentum to add force to the blow. The werewolf would not refuse to take the initiative, and no matter the effectiveness of his strike, would move forward, harassing the ghoul with  rapid claw strikes as its body fought back the rot of the ghoul's fangs. The werewolf's judgement was getting hazier, and it was committing more heavily to the offensive.


Werewolves are no fools, and the same tactic will not work twice. Using its impressive upper body strength, the werewolf Rau attempted to sear thrust itself to the side, narrowly avoiding the beam, escaping with singed fur and little more. It continued to claw its way towards the priest, this time practically throw itself hand over hand at the retreating figure, jaws snapping at the priest's heels.


The werewolf approaching Wu was struck by the Geyser, but its clawed feet dug into the dirt and it attempted to press on. The force of the geyser slowed him to a crawl, but he slowly made a step. And then another. Slowly but surely, he was pushing his way through the force, pushing back against the geyser. Its nose was inches away from Wu's hands, buffeted by the force of the monk's chi.


In the fray there was a death howl as Shani felled her opponent, but at the same moment a cry of pain echoed out as Wrynjolf felt a werewolf's teeth sink into his shoulder. As he fell, writhing in pain, Shani roared in outrage, tackling Wrynjolf's former opponent and proceeding to claw at it in fury, ravaging the werewolf with her claws. The other werewolf attempted to defend itself, and soon the two were on their feet, dueling ferociously.

[Radobe]

The werewolf tossed itself to the side and escaped the beam easily, but that was still within the priest’s expectations. The beam was meant to slow down the werewolf, so that Rau may have a few seconds to harness more potent energies.
 
As the battle progresses, Rau hears the scream of one of the fighters. Knowing he is needed else where the priest will aim to end his fight as soon as possible.

With the energy he managed to accumulated, channeled into his hands, Rau continues to retreat and tries to grasp the werewolf’s pace as it approaches. The moment the werewolf comes upon him, the priest will thrust his staff into the ground and release all his energies into it, this will crack the ground around the staff, within a circle with a one meter radius, and it will illuminate everything on top of it through the cracks.

[Archdemon Stu]

The Gorger reeled backward as the werewolf's blow splattered his blood against the nearby trees, the bones in his jaw fracturing with a dull crack.  He had gambled too hastily, and his body - though it would quickly mend - paid the price.  But, now, his frenzy strengthened even at the smell of his own spilled sanguine.

"This feeling..." he thought to himself as the world around him seemed to slow down, "...battle... struggle... why is it so familiar?"  He regained his footing, once again mere paces from his enemy.  The blow loosened some bandages that held bits of his armor together, small pieces falling to the ground... but one piece in particular stayed steadfast on his body - his right pauldron, with the seal of a crusader.  "Ah, yes... that's right... I was a warrior, once.  So what am I now?" The werewolf began his infuriated assault.  "Am I not the same as this werewolf?" The Gorger's teeth clenched as he crouched down, and cocked his arm backward, his abominable mutations focusing on the claws and legs alone, the hair shedding from his body. "No... I am not like them.  I am no beast!"

With a vicious roar that rattled the leaves from the forest's branches and pierced the air.  "No.  I am a warrior!"

With all the might of the men he had devoured, his waist pivoted with seemingly impossible velocity, his arm tearing through the air around him toward the werewolf's ribcage.  Once more, The Gorger challenged the beast head-on, and this time, he would use his foe's own forward momentum, and his own insatiable wrath to crush his enemy's ribs, and destroy anything that lay within with his own plagued hands.

"Lie still, beast.  Your strength will be mine!"

[Kitharsis]

A miscalculation in the werewolf's assessment.  You can walk upstream for a time, that is certain, but only the foolish do so for long.

Wu meets the eyes of the werewolf with his own as it pushes against his Geyser attack.  He sees the intent of the beast.  It plans to overtake him, assuming that this is the extent of Wu's power.

The beast's nose is inches from his hands, and it is time.  With a shout Wu's muscles bulge from the sudden surge of Chi escaping from his hands.  His Geyser attack intensifies into his Frozen Geyser attack.  The force of the Chi amplifies tenfold.  The blunt force pressing onto the werewolf turns sharp and rigid.  The Chi plows forward like a thick spear attempting to do more than merely push back the werewolf.  The spearhead of Chi aims to to pierce through its thick hide and skewer the beast through the chest.

[Shadow Chorus]

The werewolf's form is caught in an onslaught of holy light from below, and its flesh began to burn until it ignited, leaving the dying werewolf in a burning husk. The priest's battle was done. However, a cry reached his ears.

"Priest!" Shani shouted, once again in human form and holding Wrynjolf's head in her hands as she tried to keep him from bleeding out. She pressed her right palm on the bite wound while she held up the berserker's head with her left. "Priest! We need aid!" The defeated werewolf lay split in two beside them, and shani's hands were stained with blood not belonging to either of the two.

The Gorger's fist punched through the werewolf's torso, rending through the creature's guts and leaving it dying, unable to fight back even should the gorger begin to devour it. This portion of the fight was over.

The final werewolf dug its claws into the dirt, but the force of the geyser made his knees break and buckle under him, and he was shot back like a cannon, the chi piercing his chest and ramming him into a tree with enough force to leave him its surface, as if he'd been nailed to the tree and the impaling object had vanished, but the body remained, stuck to its surface.

All around the battle concluded itself, and werewolves either fell or retreated back into the night. There were scratches and wounds here an there, but the bite to Wrynjolf was by far the most severe injury of the bunch. Sir Walter was chasing the pack back into the forest, and would ensure they were gone before he returned, leaving only the priest to care for Wrynjolf.