Prelude to Calamity

[Loraine DeLaFontaine]

Date Stamp: August 3rd, 2010'
7:26pm

It's still slightly sunny outside the sitting room as Ailish O'Brian finishes up her correspondences for the afternoon in time for the mail to be picked up at five down the dusty drive at her sprawling house in Bothel. There's a light rap on the door before her Troll Knight opens the door.

"Lady, you have a visitor. Sir Leland is here to see you," he states. O'Brian tilts her head then nods.

"Let him in, Mr.K. probably sent him for something..." she moves a few things aside on her desk. The Troll Knight nods and goes back downstairs, leaving the sitting room door open.
A minute later, light leather boots can be heard as the Knight of House Gwydion comes to the sitting room. Sir Leland has never been an overly impressive man, but has been known through the realms for his skills in sword play and steadfastness in bad situations.

Leland looks around the sitting room a minute, having never been in the Duchess's house. He bows to her after taking a few steps into the fading amber glow of the day. O'Brian smiles and notes the small package he holds in one hand then motions to chair in front of her desk. He sits though doesn't lean back in the chair, instead almost just perching towards the front.

"Welcome Leland, what can I help you with this afternoon?"

"I.. I wanted to let you know personally that I'll be returning to my former home in California," he says looking slightly uncomfortable. The Duchess blinks then takes a deep breath.

"I take it things with the Count has not worked out?" she inquires. The Knight looks out the window for a moment then simply nods. The Duchess arches a brow at him questioningly and he sighs.

"I'm sorry your Grace, but he's insufferable. He doesn't let me do my job. I hate to speak bad of my superiors and I think he's an incredible person..." he shakes his head a moment, "But I can't find a middle ground with him. We talked and agreed, after we've tried several times to work things out, that we don't work well together."

"Well... That's a shame to hear Leland, I liked having you here," she smiles lightly to him though her eyes hold a bit of regret. He looks down to his lap, clearly unhappy.

"Thank you for your kind words and understanding, your Grace," he stands and almost as an after thought sets the box on her desk. She gets a curious expression and he smiles lightly.
"Mr.K. wanted me to deliver it to you. Have a happy Birthday."

The Duchess blinks as Sir Leland bows again and quietly exits the sitting room and then the house. She chuckles and shakes her head after a minute, picking the small wrapped package up. The wrapping comes off easily and a hard back book is revealed. Dark in color with silver writing on the front: "The Memoirs of Bindusara." She gets a pleased look and sits back in the chair after turning a lamp on. Opening the book, a small card slips out from the cover. She picks it up from her lap and reads it over:

"I couldn't help but notice that your shelves did not have this very essential piece of history and thought you might enjoy a copy. The script was copied from the original one that was found from the author. Happy b-day Ailish."

She sits back and starts reading....

[Loraine DeLaFontaine]

"In the midst of famine and plague, Man's Heart turned from us.
We became strangers to them. There was simply to much death. Their Heart turned to a new Champion. This new Champion did not approve of the Others.
Like an overbearing parent, their new shining Champion came down on all of us.

The Ones of Dream, the Animal Shifters, the Reality Benders and the Night Walkers: Children of Lilith.

Those of Dream- Light and Dark- were suddenly cast aside like old forgotten toys. Man forgot what it had birthed and who in turn, supported them. Those that would have been their best hope and light were made example of. Burned alive at stakes, pushed from their homes, dragged through the streets and stoned to death. Blood, tears and cries for help in the night were simply ignored as Man turned on his oldest friend.

Those who wear two skins fought back as is their nature. They had kin, their family, who were often targets and perhaps just different enough to be noticed. Wolves, cats, birds, so many others were cut down to myth of former days. The Wolves, who ran in packs faired better then many of the solitary creatures.

The Reality Benders, those of magick had been among man so long that when the Holy Blade came down on them, they were often not prepared and so lost many. Their libraries burned, their gardens salted. Families torn apart so that their young ones were not 'corrupted' as their parents and put with others who sent them to towering cathedrals of cold stone.

The Night Walkers... lost many. The most obvious of the Others, they were the Unholy, the Unclean and so the Champion hated them the most. Fear drove them. But the Children of the Mistress of Night have always been strong in body and mind. They turned to what they know best: Deception. It set an example to the rest of us. They went underground and let the Champion think it had won. Their pride was a small price for survival. With patience and long life came thoughts of black revenge.

There were Others who suffered. We may never know of them now or again. They fled or died in droves, sealing whatever there was between the Here and the Other Side. It came to pass that the world changed for how Man chose. The Spirit world suffered, the Dreaming suffered and Man could not longer even see those He had brought into this world. It was now the Champion's world. And it would not let up."

~Bindusara



A sudden tap on the Duchess's door startles her from reading. She looks up as her Troll Knight opens the door and steps in, he's frowning.

"Mr.K. just called, somethings wrong in the city..."

[Loraine DeLaFontaine]

Date Stamp: August 3rd, 2010'
9:42pm

The sky is dark from the rain it had let down and in truth was still letting down, but for the people of Seattle it was no more than a 'drizzle'. Captain Davidson seemed to think nothing on it as they moved purposefully through the street. The first shot had been made by this point and the Vampires were on the streets with guns. An impressive figure, hair slicked back, the Captain kept his people in a tight group. Most of the citizens had already run from the area.

Down the street, a 'gang' pushes forward and opens fire on the Captain's group, forcing them to take cover.

A block down a tall female figure with a sword and long coat battles against a pale man with two short swords. Their movements almost to fast to discern. There is blood, but one could not tell whom is winning as neither slowed.

Across the street from the Captain's cover he sees one of his men get pulled suddenly up a fire escape by black tendrils of 'living' darkness. There's a scream and then nothing more. Street lights flickered and fade out, the patch of Darkness consuming them and other things as it moves like a living ink cloud.

The rain picks up.

Up above a woman watches. Dusky skinned, dark eyed. She moves to help no one and simply shakes her head at the chaos below.

Finally, a tall, lean and pale figure enters the field. Where he steps, bodies follow. His long dark hair doesn't seem to impair his vision in the dark and rain as he deals swiftly with the mortals of the Cross. Many have fallen by now and the rain washes a small crimson tide down to the sewers below.

Only one is able to stand against the pale bringer of death. An amber glow rolls off a warrior of light and dark. A man with pointed ears has arrived late to the field and seems to not care who sees him for what he is. Mortals shy away as the two face off. One pale and sinister. The other like an angry, golden star.

A small storm erupts as the two attempt to bring the fight to an end. Buildings are damaged, the street shakes. The followers of the Church are speechless in the waves of energy that ripple the air around them. There seems no end to the destruction these two generals possess.

There's a pause in the fight as the two lock their weapons and a slight girl, no older than her early twenties, runs into the street. . . Right at the two warriors. Her pleads can be heard down the now empty streets.

"Stop! Please! You must stop!"

Her bright crimson hair flowing behind her, she grabs the arms holding the weapons that could turn on her in seconds, taking her from this world. She holds no weapons, no armor, no means of defense. The two pause, perhaps from simple surprise. They regard the girl, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"There's been enough death! Please, no one wanted this!"

A certain calm comes over the two warriors, it seems the fight has gone out of them and they push off of each other, breaking the stand off. The pale man looks to be confused but bows his head to the other General and then looks to her.

"For you, I will pull my people back."

She nods some, looking confused but relieved. She then looks to the golden warrior who frowns, shakes his head some as if to clear it and turns his back on them.

[Loraine DeLaFontaine]

Date Stamp: August 3rd, 2010'
10:17pm

A group of large, unmarked black vans pull into the street and park at various intersections to close the street up.

Groups of small, very organized people in dark suits get out and start issuing orders. Bodies are recovered and put into backs of vehicles, bystanders are 'questioned' and videos are confiscated.

One man in a casual business suit and glasses steps out to survey the area. He sighs lightly and turns to a woman who rode in the same van as he.

"I want all reports on what we can find sent to my office as well as the Sheriff and our new Warlord," he turns back to the street after she nods and takes some notes.

"What happened here?" A taller man with basic street clothes and darker sunglasses comes over the the man in the suit.

"Mr.Llewellyn, we have bodies all up and down the street and we've got reports that Vice was here. We're having trouble trying to figure out who shot first and who all was here. We're hoping the videos might show us more but it might be a hit and miss in this."

Mr.Llewellyn nods, looking troubled and the man in glasses goes off again to get reports from others...

[Loraine DeLaFontaine]

Date Stamp: August 4th, 2010'
9:48am

Count Marso sits back in his chair, blinking his eyes from the strain of watching the events in his silver etched mirror. He sighs lightly and looks to the slight sidhe girl sitting in the room, hand stitching. Her blond curls bounce lightly as she looks to him.

"Well?" she inquires. He shakes his head.

"Nothing more than a confirmation that the Archbishop and Mr.K are well matched. Though it seems that the Society may have a new player in town. A red head...."