Castlevania: Forgotten Poem

The Great Graveyard

As Marit seemed to consider her options on what to do with the agent, Mr. Johnson's eyes began to wonder towards the shadows in the fog. The two had been standing and talking here for a while now. It was likely that some abomination would eventually stumble upon them, something that the agent wanted to avoid. Thankfully the conversation was going some where and them along with it.

Mr. Johnson carefully placed the badge back into his pocket after the scholar scoffed it off. Not unexpected, and the trenchcoat man seemed unphased by it. It was a drawback for working with a secret government organisation and he had simply had to live with it. There was simply a lack of authority that people from the FBI or CIA benefited from, where mentioning the name would get people to quake. Even within the paranormal community there was generally a less-than-warm reception to the BPRD. Thankfully, it was enough for Marith to sheath her sword and Johnson could rest his trigger finger. He followed after the woman

"It is not unexpected, our organisation takes great effort to remain hidden to the public at large. As for your family, the Schylar records have proven an invaluable asset, along with those from the Belmont family and other experts. A voluntary cooperation, I assure you" Mr Johnson explained, trying to keep the volume just enough her to hear. He didn't expect the scholar to believe him but it was his answer and he was sticking to it.

"During talks, they asked for us to keep a look out for you. Although that's not our job, we obliged to strength relationships. I don't think they mentioned the scars, though" It was something that the agent had noticed, but keep silent till now. Odd scars were normal in this line of work, but Johnson gave her the benefit of the doubt. For now.

The stroll through the urban dead-land would not last. As they passed what perhaps was once a convince store, the earth around the two began move. The sound of heavy footsteps grew louder as the creature grew closer. The shadow of a giant beast appeared within the fog and soon its full form came into view. A necromancer's construct, unlikely a simply raised corpse. Bone and flesh banded and strengthened with mundane material, then animated by dark arts. It was often the pet project or personal guard of the necromancer, and this one looked to be far better armed that some graverobber's first try. At it's feet followed more of the undead. A fight was now unavoidable

With one final nod to Maith, Mr. Johnson went to work. The suitcase dropped to his feet, he needed his other hand free more than what was inside the case at the moment. His left reached into the silver flak inside a pocket of his vest, the other going for the pistol in its holster. with a flick of his thumb the cap of the flask opened, and with a flick of his wrist the content splashed towards the smaller zombies and skeletons. But once it landed on the pavement and attackers it revealed what it was: Holy water. Blue flames burst from where it stuck, the monsters unleashing an unearthly moan as the blessed water banished the magic holding them together and releasing the trapped soul.

With the path cleared, Mr. Johnson raised the pistol in his other hand, steadying the sight on the great monster's shoulder that held the mace. His eyes narrowed, slowly releasing his breath to line up the shot with precision, and with a squeeze of the trigger he fired the bullet and his target. A thunderous crack of the shot echoed along the streets and walls. He brought the gun back down from the kick of the first shot, and fired another bullet to be sure that some damage was done. He began to re-aim the pistol at the monster's head, but waited to see if the first two shots were enough

Erich

The skeletal cowboy didn't respond to Erich's last words, choosing to sit back on his gravestone and watch the interactions between the nun and the saved child. As the vampire flew, no undead disturbed him on his way to the main gate.

Gate which was completely locked. Unlike in most instances of Castlevania known to invite vampire hunters all across centuries to challenge the lord of this castle, this time it was shut down with no apparent way to reach the courtyard and castle's insides. Of course, one would think that a bat should be able to sneak by, but the black barrier stuck in the air, ideally lined up with the line of Castlevania's walls seemed to think otherwise. Erich was welcome to challenge it... if he dared.

And if he happened to convince the spectral gatekeeper to let him in. Gatekeeper who happened to rest one of its bony hands on an ominous-looking scythe◊, drilling the approaching vampire with its stare in complete silence.

"Yes, Miss." The girl nodded enthusiastically. "I'm really affectionate! Like really really!"

"It keeps me warm." Without any further word, the child bit Lilyan's hand that was out to ruffle her hair, her teeth... distressingly sharp and powerful in their press, sating itself with the blood it drew; threatening to snap the palm in two.

The skeletal cowboy watched indifferently.

Lesser undead proved to be no match against Skofnung's might and agent's holy water, getting bowled over left and right with no harm for the two vampire hunters. Their bigger kin however was if not more intelligent than at least a far more sturdier foe: the slash on its leg left a small dent in the bone, but failed to cut it down. Not waiting for Marit to reach her destination, it swung down its mace - now clearly identifable as a lamppost - with a powerful slam as she was in the air, intent on bringing her down to the ground level and likely smashing into paste if not blocked.

Johnson's shots managed to reel the skeletal construct a little, but otherwise did little else than annoy the monster. Without much thought the giant got a hold of a near tombstone and threw it at the agent in retaliation.

At first nothing happened. The undead kept surrounding him without a word, drilling their dead stares into him, but they didn't attack him either.

And then out of the crowd stepped a peculiar-looking zombie of what seemed like a soldier with an improbable hairstyle◊, slowly putting up dukes in complete silence. The other undead surrounded both him and Jack in a circle, clearly expecting the vampire hunter to duke it out with their "leader" like a gentleman.

BOSS NAME: William F. Guile ZOMBIE CAPTAIN

"Kuhh... Hmmmg..." Sister Natasha groans loudly as she feels the wound, the sudden bite of her hand by the little child she had just helped "Verstärkung Arme...!" She cries under breath, letting the power of her magic flood her upper torso, flow up onto her arm. Her free hand she brought onto the forehead of the child to force them down and make it crash against the floor... and then she cried out "Blitzschlag!" forcing a different kind of magic to rush up the arm the child was biting on... the energy of pure electricity flowing into her.

"Guuh... Should have guessed it... live children are snot nosed crybabies unable to survive three steps without help. No wonder I was liking you so much, you're a little monster now" says Sister Astrid, trying to keep the tiny thing pinned under her reinforced strength "Hey kiddo... how long ago since you got bit? Why did you bit the nice little nun that was helping you?" Asks Natasha, gritting her teeth against the pain. She should just blast the little monstrosity and be done with it... a true nun may have done it with a smile, claiming to be saving the little girl's soul with a prayer. Well, she wasn't the best nun around... and she wanted to know just how much of a monster this child is before doing some blasting.

Sue her, witches are softies when it comes to little children.

The Great Graveyard - Undead Strijd

"Kut!" Marit grunted with pain as she received the lamppost-turned mace, just barely managing to slide the flat side of her blade between herself and the weapon before smashing into the ground. "Hnng! Ugh... Bastaard!" She groaned, feeling a few of her ribs crack as she was forced into the ground saved from obliteration only by Skofnung and Vafthrudnir's endurance.

You expected a better outcome? Foolish. Vafthrudnir chuckled as Marit focused on her injuries and its source from the dirt, hands becoming subtly more claw-like and a tinge of frost to her labored breaths, "Kutaap! Rot op, Vafthrudnir!" She warned aloud, gripping onto the lamppost {If it was pulled away she'd just run after it} with her free hand and pulling - either the giant monster's hand would come to her or she to it and then the incensed woman brought Skofnung down upon the offending article. Marit hacked into the appendage until it would snap, yelling with each strike, "Ik ben... uw... einde!"

Ah, there are times I am in awe of your tact, little girl. The demon quipped, feeling it had gained a slightly better foothold on its host, "Kalm aan, hufter!" Marit hissed as she lunged for the nearest target albeit more cautious of the skeleton's limbs, Eloquent as always, my dear.

edited 10th Nov '14 4:32:13 PM by Lt.BGob

Barrier

Erich seemed to stop his advance, and transformed back into his human form. He eyed up and down the barrier and the gate, seeking any kind of weak point or additional entrance, but he let out a drawn out sigh. Probably there wasn't any. But they weren't attacking him yet, so there was no point to aggravate the minions of Dracula. He cleared his throat. The skeleton had said something about a big D... so that ominous figure could mean Death, Dracula's right hand. More the reason to not act rashly or suddenly.

"Lord Death, I assume?" He bowed noticeably. "I am Erich Zauber. Pardon my intrusion, but I was told you might hold some information about the whereabouts of a certain... dhampyr girl." Erich added, while unfolding a photograph of the girl in question, and held it in front of the gate guardian. "My daughter, Rosa, whom I've been looking for."

Sister Natasha

"You have only yourself to blame, sister." The skeletal sniper resting on the gravestone chuckled at Lilyan's misfortune. "You could ignore the kid. The ruse would keep going until some other schmuck fell for it."

The little vampire didn't seem too phased by the fact its head was threatening to be popped like a balloon, smiling in her bite. "Oh, I'm shorry, Missh." She responded with a mouthful before letting go off the hand, beaming. "I like to bite things and drink blood! I think it's kinda like a sickness, because that lady who bit me was also biting everyone like crazy, I don't really know why. So I'm biting things, but if it's not warm, it's not fun and almost nobody here left is warm... and then you appeared and you saved me from those two and I thought you're gonna be not even warm, but hot and..." Oddly enough her mannerisms didn't seem to change one bit even after this "ruse" has been exposed.

"ROSA ZAUBER..." Death spoke in a long drone, resting on its scythe. Its voice was otherworldly, booming. "YES, SHE IS WITHIN THIS CASTLE'S CONFINES. LORD DRACULA EXPRESSED HIS UTMOST INTEREST IN HER."

Soma Cruz, The Great Graveyard

Well, this was just great. Sona raised his hands in the universal sign of surrender. "Hey, I'm definitely human! I didn't even know things like these existed before now."

A sharp pain in his head. Soma winced and clutched his face. That was wrong. He had faced these creatures before. Why? How? He couldn't remember. He grit his teeth. Nothing made sense anymore!

"I don't even know how I got here. I swear I don't have anything to do with Dracula or whatever..."

Dracula? Why did he say that?

At that moment, an even more intense pain struck him. And...voices?

They took her from me! She was innocent and they KILLED HER! They will all DIE!

Soma fell to his knees. "Arghh! What is this?!"

Jack grinned when the large zombie stepped up, obviously a former american soldier of some kind, and the rest of the undead formed a circle around them. "Well hell, it's like I'm right back at home" he said as he loudly cracked his knuckles and neck, slowly walking towards the soldier with no guard up. "I'mma tell you how we're doing this, how I used to do it with my boys. We're going to stand here and trade punches until the other guy can't punch no more, you got the balls for that?". Jack spread his arms wide. "And since I'm such a good sport, I'm giving you first shot. Go on soldier man, I just walked off a bike crash make it count" he said as he entered the zombie's reach, completely defenseless.

The Great Graveyard - Vs. the Bone Guard

A small frown, the first sigh of emotions since he got here, appeared on Mr. Johnson's face as he saw his attack only inconvenienced the giant skeleton. The shots striking the construct's shoulder did little to deter it from swinging its makeshift weapon at the attacker attempting to climb it. The cringe at Marith's near block was almost the agent's doom, as he saw the piece of masonry in it's other hand about to be tossed right at him. Eyeballing the trajectory as it left the bone guard's hand, the agent quickly jumped to the side and finished with a roll away, getting enough distance as the tombstone slammed into where the man was just standing. The flagstone path was obliterated and the tombstone bounced away to show the crumbled spot where it hid, and Mr. Johnson could hear it a second later as it's final destination was through the wall of some house behind him.

The trenchcoat man rose up from crouch, his eyes now tracing his next action as a plan formulated. A protracted fight with the monster would lead to grevious wounds eve if they managed to kill. He had to make a decisive move now. Putting the flask away, he aimed the pistol at the giant again, and bolted towards it. Another two shots rang out, these less precise but instead meant to stagger the beast as before. His other hands pulled out the combat knife that has been with him since the war, and he trusted it with this task.

"Marit, keep it distracted" Mr. Johnson order, rushing headlong at the giant. If the scholar succeeded, the agent passed under the monster's legs with a crouching slide, before quickly turning around to face the monster's exposed spine. Pushing with his whole body he leap into the air and drove the knife into the lower spinal column. He held on, and allowed his weight to snap it apart.

edited 10th Nov '14 10:40:13 PM by Luke_Prowler

Natasha felt the need to spit in the direction of the chuckling cowboy for his teasing, but it would take one hell of a reinforcement for her to able to actually hit him at this distance.

Instead she focused on the issue at hand... of the little vampire girl. Not turned too long ago... the curse obviously affecting her outlook and mind, for she considered biting normal and craved for blood while seemingly oblivious of the horrors around. And yet, perhaps it was the innocence on which she seemed to see the situation around her, but Natasha didn't consider the little girl as too far gone. Sue her, witches have a weak spot for small children. Some to eat them, others to take them under their wing. Seems like Lylian is of the second group.

Natasha didn't know outright the necessary spell to dispel the vampiric state... she needed a holy book and some study to even attempt to cast it. Thus, she only had one choice... and really, wasn't this why she had come in the first place? The little girl was at her mercy and while a blood sucker, she certainly was a small enough existence for her to tame. Really, if Natasha couldn't tame a snot nosed little vampire girl then what the hell was she even doing seeking to expand her repertoire in this castle.

Thus, Natasha thrust her wounded hand forward... the bite thankfully providing the requisite blood for the spell as she drew sigils in the air "I see... Well then, if you're sorry, then I'll have you make amends. I saved you, so now your life is in my hands little one... so long as you are a monster, I'll keep you as such"

Then with her bloodstained finger, Natasha touches the girl's forehead and cast her spell "Dämonische Bindung... Hexe Siegel der Knechtschaft!" she declared, releasing her sealing magic into the vampiric girl to turn her into her familiar... setting the simple terms as she speaks "From now on, I'm the boss. You'll be a good girl and do what I say and in exchange I'll put you under my protection. May this bond give your mind some clarity... and may it last so long as your curse is unbroken. By blood and magic may it be so" says Natasha, letting out a little sigh after it all is said and done.

"Now will you be good? Now tell me your name little one. You can lick on the wound but no teeth, ok?" Says Natasha sitting back and offering her wounded hand before she attempts a healing spell upon it.

Barrier

Zauber's eyes went wide for a split second, shocked by the reaper's bluntness. The vampire held his breath, trying his best to shield the horrid mental image of his dear daughter becoming a plaything of Dracula, or even worse, him becoming a father-in-law. He clenced his fists, and began speaking once again.

"...Could I have her back? She's just a scared, confused teenager. I'm not blaming her for the death of my wife...She can still choose to stay out of this." Zauber swallowed, and got to his knees, his face almost touching the dirt. "Please...I beg of you."

edited 11th Nov '14 2:43:16 AM by AtomicNut

Soma

"For someone who has no idea where he is you're not really convincing." The leader of soldiers frowned. "Get up. Some people would like to meet you." Unfortunately for Soma he wasn't even given the benefit of getting up: the leading soldier just grabbed him by the furcoat and began dragging like a sack of potatoes through the ground, not really caring about any damage sustained by the unfortunate youth. The two soldiers still kept aim on while the other two watched the perimeter for any monsters coming their way. Surprisingly no such thing happened during their journey... towards what looked like an entrance to the sewage system just outside the graveyard.

Apparently it was busted wide open.

"In there you go." The leader of the squad said, ceasing to drag Soma like a ragdoll and allowing him the dignity of finally standing up.

The soldier undead didn't seem to process Jack's words too much as he threw a punch the very moment biker dropped his guard, the knuckles making their way to his chin and threatening to turn both it and his entire neck ninety degrees left.

The lamppost couldn't stand up to a weapon such as Skofnung at all. With a loud crack it was severed in two with just one strike, leaving the giant skeleton weaponless. Not defenseless, however: making use of some more spare tombstones it began using them as some bizarre sort of brass knuckles, amplifying its monstrous strength even more. Without further ado it slammed its fist at the woman, intent on smashing her apart like she smashed its lamppost.

Distraught by this turn of events the monster paid little attention to the agent sliding behind him and therefore was left completely off-guard upon being struck in the spinal column. With a screech it dropped on one knee just short of falling face flat at Marit, now an easy target to deal damage to and hopefully dispatch.

Nothing seemed to wrong, if anything girl's smile even widened a little as she obediently licked the blood pouring from the wound, satisfied with the current meal. "Zaraza, miss!" She declared her name proudly, grinning.

"Well well, this is one finale I honestly wasn't expecting." Judging by the fact that skeletal sniper's surprise seemed genuine, that was probably the case. "That still confirms you're not really who you appear to be though, not-sister..." Once again rising from his spot he tipped his hat in reverence. "I will probably be seeing you around, if you make it inside." With that he wandered into the mist, disappearing from one's sight completely.

If Death could smile, it would probably have an condescending smirk upon its lips. "I AM NOT THE ONE YOU SHOULD BEG, ERICH ZAUBER. IF ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE TO APPEASE TO LORD DRACULA HIMSELF, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE..." The reaper gestured to the black barrier. "ADVANCING FORWARD IS IMPOSSIBLE AT THE MOMENT. THERE ARE TOO MANY HUNTERS PROWLING THIS GRAVEYARD FOR THAT TO BE... SAFE. PERHAPS IF THERE WERE LESS OF THEM I COULD LOWER IT."

Barrier.

"I refuse to believe that the great Death is just a bouncer for Dracula nowadays. I used to think you can at least relay my message to him. That way, you needn't lower the barrier." Erich glared from his begging position towards the empty stare of the reaper.

The Great Graveyard - Vs. the Bone Guard

Marit grimaced in pained satisfaction that the lamppost was useless to the giant she tried to regain some of her wits. She saw she was right about Mr. Johnson being the brave sort, almost smiling as he charged at their enemy with gun and blade. Oh good, I hope it will be a spectacular slaughter. She nodded dutifully to the agent at his 'order' to keep it distracted, she unlikely to go unnoticed after leaping head first at the bastard anyhow. However, the creature was far from disarmed and she found herself making a groan of dissatisfaction as it took up lose tomb stones like macabre knuckle dusters.

"Ga naar je moer!" Schylar cried, seeing the fist in time to make a great leap up and on to the top of its skeletal hand, gripping into the bone with icy claws. From this vantage she saw Johnson plunging his combat knife into its spine, laughing almost involuntarily as the giant came to its knees. Marit wasted no time as it presented its head, rolling from the hand as it hit the dirt and bringing Skofnung down to pierce its skull with her considerable might. She twisted and wrenched the blade to demolish as much of the cranium as possible until it would stop moving, "Krijg kanker en ga dood, hoer!" For good measure Schylar raised the sword again and struck at its neck to sever what perverse connection it still had to 'life'.

More creative than I had the bony fellow down for... But slow - disappointing like all the vampire whelp's lap dogs. Vafthrudnir sighed, louder than normal inside Marit's head but not yet at volumes that worried her. She was more concerned with a subtle physical changes her injury brought, particularly now that she had gained a companion of sorts.

edited 11th Nov '14 11:45:44 AM by Lt.BGob

Erich; Barrier

"DO NOT TEST MY PATIENCE." The threat in Death's voice was subtle, but clear enough to spot. "CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY YOU WEREN'T CUT DOWN LIKE THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE YOU. AND EVEN IF I WERE TO RELAY YOUR MESSAGE TO LORD DRACULA, WHAT WOULD I TELL HIM? THAT A LESSER VAMPIRE DEMANDS THAT HE LETS HIS SOON-TO-BE-WIFE GO?" The reaper spelled the last five words slowly and clearly so that the one before him understands the seriousness of the situation. "I AM SPARING YOU A PREMATURE EXPIRATION THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE, ERICH ZAUBER. YOU CAN ENTER THIS CASTLE ON LORD DRACULA'S TERMS AND HIS ONLY. AM I CLEAR ENOUGH?"

Barrier

"Crystally." It was Zauber's reply, as he got up and dusted himself off. "Ah well. I tried. Just like my beloved Stella asked me to do. Always offer some chance to dialogue." He took a few moments to clean the dirt out of his glasses, calmly, steadily.

   "Then all I have to do is tear apart you, the barrier and the castle."    He announced, red eyes flaring and began concentrating to transform and dissolve into mist, in anticipation of Death's scythes.

edited 11th Nov '14 4:00:14 AM by AtomicNut

Erich; Barrier

Death folded its arms as its scythe floated behind the reaper. "YOUR OPTIMISM IS NOTED, ERICH ZAUBER." It spoke, staring the dissolving vampire down. "CONSIDER ME AMUSED." Snapping the finger of its left hand, Dracula's right-hand-man almost casually sent a beam of cold blue energy coming Zauber's way coming from the tip of the scythe. Better not to get hit with it...

Barrier

Erich Zauber did not have an eyebrow to raise, right now it was a cloud of mist that easily passed through the beam, dodging it. That was close, enough. The disadvantadge of this form is zero offensive capability, but hey, i get to survive. The mist cloud then began advance towards Death in a thin line, minimizing the profile, towards its chest.

edited 11th Nov '14 4:45:18 AM by AtomicNut

Erich; Barrier

The beam apparently was amused as well as it took a sharp u-turn and sped back at Zauber's "back". This time however alongside it came the chilling cold, enough to start turning the Erich Mist into liquid via something as prosaic as condensation... and likely incapacitating him if he didn't happen to revert back to his physical form.

Death itself lazily floated back to avoid the incoming attack, not bothering with a follow-up.

Barrier

Wha? Beams don't go that way! Zauber thought, his head racing on what to do. He quickly assumed physical form, and let frost cover its corpse, absorbing the full impact. However he was smiling. "You think i'll be running from this? You think I'm lesser? I'm just getting started"

A couple of magical circles appeared in one of his arms, and began to compress the air around it at high speed. Faster. Harder. Until it was merely a pinpoint in his palm.

edited 11th Nov '14 5:06:31 AM by AtomicNut

Erich; Barrier

Death didn't bother to respond, calmly observing the incoming attack. It really didn't seem to take the whole matter seriously, lazily floating in the air alongside its scythe.

edited 11th Nov '14 5:14:39 AM by FergardStratoavis

Barrier

Erich smiled. And then laughed."Refrigeration! how kind of you!"

And then, in a split second, the Antares Flare came to life. The power of a sun in the palm of the hand, turning everything surrounding it quickly into ash. Metal, earth, vapor, flesh. It didn't matter. Had Zauber not been half frozen, he would have sustained a superior damage to his arm. Which, given the situation prompted him to gamble on a victory or death scenario, as with his remaining arm charged up yet another flare, just as the first flare was sent towards death, the corresponding arm turning to ash.

I'd rather burn myself trying to wipe you guys off than grovel again! Erich thought, as he launched the second attack in quick succession. Meet Death, Destroyer of worlds, you fuckin' hack reaper.

edited 11th Nov '14 5:48:57 AM by AtomicNut

Soma

"Oy, what?!" Soma's screams of protest went unheard as the youth found himself being unceremoniously dragged, his knees scraping his knees. On top of that, his head still hurt like a bitch.

When they had arrived at tgeir destination, Soma quickly readjusted his coat and dusted his knees.

"Is this how you treat foreigners? Really hospitable." ge spat out sarcastically, glancing at the men with guns.

"No need to point those things at me, I'm going in." Heaving a sigh, Soma entered, still wincing at the pangs of his headaches.

Well, Zaraza's feeding was doing a nice job of cleaning the wound a bit, though after the little vampire finished her meal Natasha used water to clean herself and then wrapped some fabric around the hand... murmuring a little spell to close the wound and help around the healing. Letting out a little sigh of relief she looks with some delight at the surprise of the cowboy skeleton. And at that moment, as she smiled towards the empty mist, she decided something internally regarding the skeleton.

She then looked down at Zaraza, feeling the bond they now shared and feeling satisfied with it. With a nod she moved her hand to once again pet her hair "There we go, much better. Now, ground rules Zaraza... no biting me. Or anyone else without me saying so first. If you go hungry you tell me and I'll see what I can arrange, ok?"

Then, Natasha started to walk... picking up her staff and looking at the castle "If anyone asks, I used the prayers of the Lord to save your soul and we're looking for a way to heal you, alright? If we meet people I'll protect you from them. Now... how does it feel? Like, after you got bitten... how do you feel now? And what was the lady that bit you first like?"

Though he could've blocked or dodged the punch, Jack had decided that he was going to show this brainless shit how to be a man. So, instead of shying away or even going with the flow of the punch, he grit his teeth, ducked and, tensing his freakish muscles from the neck down as much as he could, stepped right into that fist, forehead-first. It hurt, obviously, but by stepping in he'd messed up the distance and timing from the punch, reducing its force, and by having the hand slam right into his concrete slab of a forehead he could've potentially shattered the whole thing. And he could still go strong. Clenching his right hand, he straightened himself up and threw his own monster right straight, aiming to put his fist right through the creature's face.