"All's Quiet On The Supernatural Front," A Dresden Files RP

Jack Clark, was pushing down his nerves. Remember your training. What Dad taught you, and you'll do fine. This was not Jack's first mission. Or even his first time in the Nevernever, But it was the first time he'd ever gone out of the country, or with complete strangers. He had only met these other Wizards right before they came in. Though their guide didn't seem to approve of them.

Jack had been scoping out the foreboding forest around them. His right hand gripped his staff, with his left unconsciously itching for the pistol on his shoulder holster. Something about this whole thing didn't feel right. But what was he expecting? Any mission in Kemmler's backyard would hardly be a cake walk. In fact, he was both surprised and relieved nothing had happened on the way here.

His introspection caused him to register the other Wizard's instructions, but he didn't really think about them deeply. Until James snapped him out of his reverie. His blue eyes blinked a few times before he quickly said, "Yeah. Sorry. I heard what he said. I'm good to go. How long now?"

edited 26th Aug '13 6:41:23 PM by Mr.Didact

Stand Fast, Stand Strong, Stand Together

Not intimidated. Or surprised. Perhaps hides it well. Either way, definitely not a factory worker. Spy or assassin.

That made it a simple decision. He had to be disabled. Killed or captured. Allies wouldn't hide, and he was too calm to be anything but a soldier of some sort. The man was clearly dangerous.

Zahir's gloved left hand whips out from behind his back, his other half lending him speed, flicking the the cross-hilted stiletto at the man's leg with an underhand throw. Still in motion, Zahir drops from the tree branch, landing in a crouch, opening the simple oilskin map case slung over his back that held his Patton Sword in a single fluid motion.

edited 26th Aug '13 6:51:08 PM by DrTentacles

Boris blinked when the knife was thrown at him. It moved to fast for him to attempt to dodge and he fell to the ground clutching his thigh around where the knife struck.

"ублюдок*

You damned fascist pig dog." with the injury inflicted a significant Russian accent slipped into the man's speech instead of the earlier near impeccable German. He gritted his teeth as he pulled the knife out of his leg and tossed it back at the half vampire with non of the finesse. If he managed to hit the vampire he would probably have done so with the hilt of the blade.

Click Click Boom Boom

Zahir picks up the sword, the wire and leather hilt fitting comfortably in his hand, an extension of his arm, not taking his eyes off the strange man for a moment. Then he started to move forward as the man drops, and rips out the knife, hurling it back at him. Zahir is forced to sidestep, his forward motion broken for the moment. He fixes the point of his blade on the not-workman, slowly circling, reaching into his jacket to grab a small throwing knife.

"Surrender."

"Ha. You do not know Russians very well." Boris forced the pain back down as he unstrapped his backpack letting it fall to the ground behind him as he got back to his feet. He barred his teeth in a fierce grin.

Said grin started expanding as the front of his face started growing forward. Hairs started sprouting all over his exposed flesh as his muscles began to bulge. The clothes he wore strained under the pressure before tearing apart as he rapidly shifted into a massive polar bear. He stood on his hind legs and stared down at the puny half vampire before roaring and attempting to maul said vampire with his front claws.

Click Click Boom Boom

Ebn El Sharmoota.

Zahir reflexively steps back, circling to the side as the man shifts. A polar bear? He'd fought strange creatures called Hexenwolves before. Men that could turn into wolves, ruled by hunger for flesh. Perhaps this was the same sort of creature. If that was the case, it had to die. It was an abomination-a monster that preyed on men. A demon in human form.

He ducked beneath the first, surprisingly fast claw strike, but the second clipped him, blunt claw tearing a through his coat, ripping flesh out of his bicep, making him stagger. He felt his other side stirring, pain staring to rise as the tattoos swam along his skin, his eyes flashing red. Need. Thirst. Emptiness. Bloodlust.

He dances back and to the side, quick, darting steps, back and to the side, trying to circle the creature. He was faster, and more agile, but one solid hit from the bear's paw could easily crush through bone and flesh. Prophet save him if it managed to get a hold of him.

He lunges out, a series of quick, darting thrusts with his sword at the bear's flank, mean to draw blood, to slow the creature down, still holding the throwing knife in his right hand loosely.

edited 26th Aug '13 8:35:05 PM by DrTentacles

The man in front of Karl nodded.

"It’s a collection of stories and academic conjecture related to the Gjallarhorn. I am willing to pay you for retrieving it."

He looked at Karl with a look that seemed to be part wry amusement.

---

The Warden abruptly stopped and brought his sword up, cutting a rift in the Nevernever witj a word neither James or Jack understood. On the other side was what looked like an old abandoned lumber mill.

"We have arrived. Step through."

---

Rhian and Anton stood outside the lumber mill.

"Well, we made it without being spotted. I'm not sure whether to attribute it to dumb luck or a unique brand of German stupidity." Rhian grinned.

---

"The target is one of us. Well, one of my kind. It appears some members of the King's Court decided Kemmler was trustworthy. They must be hunted down, dissent...discouraged. The King's Knight is elsewhere, so you must be his weapon, little faeling."

---

"I did not summon you here, Voice of Hades. I merely responded to your presence."

edited 26th Aug '13 10:27:36 PM by math792d

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

Zanders tilts his head, choosing each word carefully.

"There is only one type of creature that responds to my presence."

"You are never taller then when standing up for yourself"

Karl gave the stranger a smile and steepled his fingers. He seriously doubted that this man was merely after the book for it's literary merits. There was obviously something else to it, but the man's business was his own. So long as Karl was payed, he didn't much care what magical secrets the stranger hoped to find.

"An appreciator of literature in this age of book burnings? I like you already. Give me the name of the book, it's location, and any other information pertinent to it's retrieval. I'll name you a price. Give me your word to meet it and I'll retrieve your tome."

James shrugged and walked through the rift. He looked around the area. Well I guess no one would look for a covert meeting at a lumber mill. As he looked around he had to wonder what was so important that the Council had felt it necessary to use non-Wardens in a mission.

I mean sure things are rough but still this is really something sending the two of us to assist the Warden on a mission...speaking of which Looking around the wizard saw no sign of the others. Maybe they just aren't here yet. Despite that possibility he transferred the envelope to his off-hand and readied an evocation, just to be safe.

-dramatic music ensues-

Anton simply gave Rhian a look that said "I'm not going to dignify this with an answer." and stepped up to open the doors inside.

"You can reply to this Message!"

The man gave Karl a wolfish grin. "A man who insist on my word in an age where words are wind? I knew I picked the right man."

"And you're correct. I've always had an...appreciation for stories and storytelling, and I've never taken lightly to historical revisionism. Wagner deserves a more worthy legacy than being used as propaganda. Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it, after all. And a book of this value cannot be allowed to remain in the hands of those who do not deserve to own it."

"As for the book, it's called Die Gjallarhorn - Eine Mythologische und Archäologische Studie. I cannot tell you where it is - if I could, I would retrieve it on my own - but I am willing to pay you for the inconvenience."

---

The lumber mill looked like it had been abandoned for quite some time. Most of the equipment inside was old and rusty, and the place had been gathering dust for quite some time. The air inside smelled of ill-maintained wooden walls mixed with pine, an absolutely rancid stench.

Rhian and Anton walked inside as the two other wizards exited from the Nevernever.

---

The creature in front of Zander let its hood fall down, but that did not make it any easier for Zander to determine its identity. Whatever the ghost had been in life, its identity had slowly faded away, giving the dim outline of its face an androgynous appearance.

"You are correct. I am here to guide you."

edited 27th Aug '13 2:25:49 AM by math792d

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

Zanders stands more fully, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Just a ghost, nothing to be be truly worried about.

Just as matter of caution, Zanders feels along the back of his find, resting the tips of ethereal fingers along the carved pathways, the imprinted knots there. Three in total. He drew nothing from them- not yet, just made sure they where all in order.

"To what task and who's commands?" He asked pleasantly, reaching inside his Chiton and pulling out, slowly and steadily so it could not be mistaken for a weapon- a bright blood red fruit, just rolling it over in his hand as he watched the worn down spirit. There was more here- far more. Spirits where made of their memories and emotions and thoughts, the imprints of the soul left behind, stamped on the astral plane at moment of death. The steady loss of identity was the first step in a short process that ended with the bitter rage and nihilistic fury of a Wraith- or worse a Lemure, as the Southerns called them.

Better prepared for the worst then caught off guard.

"You are never taller then when standing up for yourself"

"Gentlemen. Toke." Anton said as he saw the open rift, nodding in greeting, but keeping a hand on the pommel of his broadsword.

"You can reply to this Message!"

Maggie pipes up.

"An' wot d'I do, eh? I'm not exactly built for combat, y'know?"

"And it is well known I haven't had the best track record for hunting down your kind," Josiah said, slowly feeling more conversationally animated, "Unless these ones are less gifted then Dazagob."

Karl had heard the term Gjallarhorn before. Something to do with the Edda if he remembered correctly. Some research might prove to be useful in his search.

"Very well. My price is twenty-five hundred British Pounds, twenty-five hundred American Dollars, and 5 kilograms of silver, all to be paid in full when I have handed the book over to you."

Karl's hypothesis that this man was a wizard or sorcerer of some sort was ultimately just his best guess, but he decided to take a chance on it.

"I will need you to swear upon your power that you are bargaining in good faith and will pay me that amount when I give you the book. I'll also need your contact information so that I can inform you once I have Die Gjallarhorn, and any leads you have on tracking it down. Remember that the more information I have, the greater the chance you get what you want."

edited 27th Aug '13 10:19:38 AM by Millardkillmoore

There was a flash of displeasure on the man's face as Karl made his bargain, but he swiftly regained his composure and gave the shapeshifter a wolfish smile.

"I swear on my name that I am bargaining with you in good faith, and that I will meet the agreed-upon price once the book is recovered. I am afraid the best I can do for you with regards to information is this." He handed Karl an address. Looked like an antique book store of some kind, not far from here.

---

"Anton." Toke gave his fellow Warden a brisk nod.

"These two will be assisting you." Rhian looked at them skeptically.

---

"You have never hunted with me before, faeling," Doc answered, almost sounding a little insulted. "And if the Erlking has entrusted this to you, it is because you will perform adequately for these purposes. And this is also why he bargained with the Queen of Life and Light to send you some aid." He gestured at Maggie almost casually.

---

"There is one in this city who seeks power no mortal should possess. Powers that let him gain dominion over the dead. Who would seek to rip open the gates of the Underworld in his own hubristic search for power. The balance must be addressed. To that end, you are here. On whose bidding, I am forbidden to say."

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

Karl took the paper, read it, and tucked it away in a pocket. He then removed a cigarette case and motioned it to the man seated opposite him, offering the stranger a cigarette and removing one for himself.

"Deal. How should I contact you once I have what you seek?"

edited 27th Aug '13 10:05:59 AM by Millardkillmoore

The man turned Bear roared in pain as metal sunk into flesh once more. The thick hide of a polar bear and the layer of blubber beneath it made the wounds shallower then they would be normally, but not by as much as should have been the case. A combination of the half vampires strength and the fact he was using a thrusting weapon.

Red liquid stained white fur as the polar bear turned its rear towards the attacking half vampire and attempted to mule kick it with its uninjured leg. Polar bears weren't quite built for that maneuver but it would still pack quite a bit of power in it.

Click Click Boom Boom

The man grinned again. "That might be a little difficult, since you don’t know my name. At least I assume you don't, from your behavior thus far. I suppose for these purposes, you may call me Grim."

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

"Well," His face turned stony and then he bowed to Doc, "We hunt."

Grim? Karl looked at the cane the other man had brought. It suddenly occurred to him that canes were shaped vaguely like scythes. Either this man was simply attempting to deflect any queries into his identity with misinformation or Karl should be absolutely terrified at the "man" sitting across from him. Karl just wanted out of here. He wanted to wear a new guise and change his name and pretend this meeting had never happened. But backing out of a deal made with something like what he suspected Grim to be was the stupidest possible move.

If Karl hadn't spent years impersonating others and developing a flawless poker face, he'd be whimpering in fear. Instead, his expression went completely blank. He tried to tell himself that this was some sort of ruse and he had no rational reason to believe in such a hunch about the stranger's nature. But a deep feeling in his gut told him he had just involved himself in something truly horrible.

"I...see, Mister Grim. Do you need it delivered somewhere then?"

edited 27th Aug '13 10:44:34 AM by Millardkillmoore

"Well, then. I'm Warden Anton Walter, this is Wizard Rhian Weaver." Anton introduced them.

"You can reply to this Message!"

Maggie raised her hand again.

"Um, but what part do I play in this? I'm naught but a prostitute, y'see."