NationStates Jolt Archive

“its been banned for generations…”
Bridgette rapped her fingers on the desk “so…?”

For Christmas, Bridgette had retreated into the countryside and taken residence within ‘the devils den’…the castle of the queen of heaven…over the years Bridgette had become quite found of the ancient brickwork….
“we are a proud people with proud traditions….” She looked over the parapet , her eyes gazing into the dark surrounding forests. “its time we return to this proud heritage…”

Several of them had arrived recently from St Dominic, others had been in the cells for months after being dragged in from North Star. Several had been in the cells for years…captured during the many on and off wars between Iesus and Lavenrunz.
Now they all huddled in the damp cell, trembling with fear rather than the cold. Their stripped metahumans bodies showed the signs of their past experiences inside Iesus prisons…


Deep within the woods she addressed her small crowd of hooded compatriots. The burnings torches flickered in the night air, surrounding Bridgette with a red glow….She stroked her cermonial blade as she talked to the crowd…
“a thousand years ago, we were a proud people….we knew how to give glory to God. This tribute had many names…the run..the hunt…howling…but whatever its name it had one intent…showing the mastery of man over animal! Showing the power God gave man to use….
Like a great storm the birth of Christ came , the forces of the True God descended upon Satan’s minions. The stars trembled at his coming, and the mighty armies of Satan quaked at his coming…oh they howled at the birth of the Lord….Satan howled with horror…let that howl continue!”
The prisoners were pushed forward on command, causing the dogs and their handlers to howl in delight..
Bridgette burst out laughing when she saw their shaking forms, she screamed with glee into the night air “Run..run as fast as you can….”

Exhaustion rippled through their already abused bodies but the tiny group ran on, stumbling and falling through the black woods driven on by terror.
The dogs howled and the bugle sounded, the pursers were close behind now….their shouts and laughter was clear in the crisp cool night.

The first scream cut through the night air, followed by a roaring cheer of delight from the hunters.
Soon, other screams cried out as the dogs caught up with their prey. Swamped , the ‘prey’ still struggled, fight vainly against dog and man even as their flesh being ripped from bone.

Bridgette stood over the gurgling sobbing form, the dogs and spears from the hunters had amazingly not yet finished the thing off…the pitiful creature looked up at Bridgette with pleading eyes, a soft pained blood choked gurgle raising from its throat.
Screaming with excitement, Bridgette raised her spear over her head and plunged it into the dying metahumans stomach. The creature screamed out in pain as Bridgette twisted the spear, and then went silent…the last ounce of strength seeping from its body.
Panting and sweating, Bridgette ran her blood covered hands through her hair.
“God that was fun…I cant wait for the next round…”



My dear dear friends…
Over the years we have experienced much together…we have so much in common yet so rarely take part in each others company…
now as it nears Christmas, it would be my honour if you would visit and experience the return of Iesus Christi as it should be….the game is on!

Yours truly
Bridgette Iesus

OOC: The generic invite if for those who think they should be there, any doubt over invite…telegram please;)

ADESTO NOBIS, Domine Deus noster; et quos sanctae Crucis laetari facis honore, eius quoque perpetuis defende subsidiis. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.


Archbishop Hanson rose from the floor where he had prayed and looked out on the courtyard where one of his Inquisitors went into the "bird house". He looked at the weapons on the floor which he had previously blessed. This was a good deed. The cries of the demon spawn would rise to please the lord and before the week was over more Nephilim would have died by their hands. All to please the lord. These abominations couldn't be allowed to live in the sight of God. He wasn't sure why Iesus even had kept the abominations alive anyway, but now there was cleansing to do.

---

The man opened the cage and gently stroke the golden brown feathers of one of the giant birds, carefully avoiding getting too close the razorsharp beak that protruded from under the hood.


"Adriel and Eleazar my pretties. Soon you will feel the air under your wings again and prey in your claws God Willing." He watched them cock their heads at the sound of his voice, moving a little in the big cage as he spoke. Eleazar, the bigger of the two, weighed over 20 pounds and had a wingspan of nearly three meters. He looked so sad and so imprisoned in this small cage. The man was happy that Eleazar carried the hood and wouldn't see how small and cramped his current accomodation was. He stroke the huge bird again.

-"Soon the hunt begins Eleazar, soon you will ride the winds and rule the skies as it was meant"

The car finally stopped and Raven, pulling the hood of his arctic coat over his head, exited the vehicle, breathing in the cold, fresh air and admiring the snow covered forests. The man turned around, looking as the Archangels exited the vehicles behind him, all of their senses immediately taking in the surroundings. No, these were not immortal beings from Heaven, for they were mortal men made of flesh and bone, subject to pain and death.

Yet, these were not some mere mortals, for they were the pride and glory of the Legion. Fearless and merciless they went into fight when others fled, cold and emotionless they brought victory to the Legion and to the True Faith when all seemed lost and the darkness of heresy was on the verge of winning. It was, thus, no wonder that Raven chose to take some to the Castle of the Queen of Heaven. He never trusted Latinians, he never trusted anyone outside of a very restricted circle within the Legion, and so having some of his best warriors by his side seemed an excellent idea. They were unarmed, from respect to the hosts (whom, strangely, Raven respected), yet it did not mean they were defenceless.

One of the Archangels inclined his head slightly to Raven to signify that they were ready for further orders. Their commander and leader smiled, as his black eyes fixed on the castle and then ran over the surrounding forests. He was not sure what he came to Iesus Christi for and since he had only limited knowledge of the local customs, the message sent by his host was most intriguing. So intriguing that he, a true son of the Orthodox faith, decided to travel to a Latinian country on the eve of the Latinian Christmas.

And as he stood in the cold, he made a mental notice to address the locals as Catholics, for when in Rome, do as Romans.

Anika Zamkux looked at awe. She had no idea what she was getting into. The Native Born Kuronian girl, spending time with relatives while the government rebuilt the town that was under 12 ft of water when she left. She was looking for a little exictment. "This place, is amazing. Wonder why Grandma and Grandpa never told me of this place?" She gasped slightly, for a moment she thought she saw her Cross floating in midair. "My imagination." She said to herself. She walked on, following the other people.

Enter: Author Jay Anson, age 52. Jay was looking for some intresting and unique cultural traditions for his upcoming book "Christmas Time"
He had no idea as to what this Christmas Game was. But he would surley find out and write about it. His time working for the Kanami Times worked wonders for his various exposotory books. "What a magnificant place." He said. "Such bueaty and texture. Truly a place thousands must visit every year."

The Castle, nicknamed the devils den, was a secure facility to say the lest…The ministry of social order had taken it over and only added to its infamous legend… still Bridgette personally greeted each of the new arrivals as they arrived at the castle sometimes hours apart….


Dressed in her fascist black dress uniform and flanked by two bulky black uniformed soldiers, Bridgette swept upon Raven. She threw her arms around him and embraced him “Heil Comrade, Its my pleasure to invite my brothers into my home….Oh its good to have you here, I’ve heard so much about you…” She smiled at the ‘Archangels’ “Rooms has been prepared….however you desire you’re sleeping arrangements, we can see to it…ask and you shall receive…”


When Anika Zamkux had arrived, Bridgette Iesus greeted her personally too…Bridgette had always commented that even considering the fact she basically ran the nation, it didn’t excuse her from being ‘a good host’ and she always could ‘find time for any of her visitors..’.
Her guards eyed the curious arrival as Bridgette greeted her “welcome welcome…”


Bridgette smirked to herself when she greeted Jay Anson. She clasped his hand warmly “Its such a Pleasure to meet you. I’m Bridgette Iesus, Minister for Social Order…I’m so glad you could make it….we get few visitors being this is secure government property…anyhow your room is ready”
She looked over the author “I’ve read you’re work. Its good….The castle itself was constructed in the middle ages, built upon seized pagan lands by the order of the ‘Good knights of Jesus the Christ'…it has a fascinating history…”

Anson looked about the large castle as she greeted him. "Pleasure's all mine. (in responsed to the castles history--->) Is that so? Castles always have such facinating histories. As i'm sure this nation all in it's self does. i would certianlly love to hear more at some point. " He parted with Ms. Iesues, to find his room.

Anika shook hands with the woman. "Thank you for having me. This will be intresting." She said politley. "will we be eating soon? I don't mean to sound rude or impatient, I'm just hungry."

To say that the behaviour of the de facto leader of Iesus Christi was surprising would be to commit the greatest of euphemisms. It was completely unexpected and for a second, Raven was stunned. Yet as he wrapped his own arms slightly around Bridgette to return the favour, his face adopted a mask of friendly joy, which was a little spoiled by the shadow that his hood threw over his features. “And it is a pleasure to meet you, sister.” He leant a little to her face and whispered softly. “I shall be grateful if you and those at your service would refer to me as honourable guest, and not by my names or titles.”

The fact that the “sister” pretended to have heard a lot of him did not surprise him, for he was sure Bridgette had the capacity to learn things that many mortals would never even suspect. Yet the fact that he was famous made him uneasy, for if “sisters” knew him, then so did his foes. The thought made him glance quickly around, his eyes resting upon the tall figures of the Archangels.

One of them gave a quick nod of the head at the other new arrivals, as if asking what to do with them. Raven made a little gesture with his hand, telling the soldiers to relax, and then reached for his forehead, where he took hold of a piece of black cloth. He pulled it down and his face was soon covered with a balaclava, the simplest and most effective means of keeping one’s face concealed from unwanted eyes. And Raven already had the impression that his balaclava and he would spend quite some time together during his stay in Iesus Christi…

Without further words he followed one of the locals to his chambers, the Archangels taking their luggage and following their leader. The leader of the White Legion, loyal to his natural secrecy, did not feel any particular desire to reveal himself to anyone until the time was right.

With a formal bow, Bridgette greeted Archbishop Hanson.
“Your grace…” She took his hand gently, and kissed the episcopal ring. “It is my humble pleasure to have you visit me in this holy season….I hope you will find us pleasant hosts.”
She continued talking in lower tones “I deeply admire your theology, your recent essay ‘ Beasts of hell’ was a inspired work. Its so wonderful to hear sound theology rather than….what our bishops preach…”


With a nod, Bridgette watched ‘raven’ disappear inside the castle, she understood his type. Back in school she and her friends had found his type tragically romantic, and even today many young women in her staff found those brooding types irresistible. Bridgette straightened her uniform and whispered to herself “Oh I hope he does make himself at home…”


“Anika isnt it?” Bridgette had a habit of locking eyes as she talked, never letting her eyes break contact, even as her leather greatcoat rippling in the gathering wind. “there is food and drink in your quarters….one of the troopers will take you there….we’re gathering latter tonight…I hope you enjoy wine…”


Bridgette slapped Anson playfully but with some force on the back as he left “there will be time enough for history…best you get settled in before tonight’s event…I want you to witness the glory that is Iesus culture…our true culture…not the slinking modern Christianity you see on TV…”



Already deep within the castle, tonights entertainment was being prepared...

Archbishop Hanson bowed for Bridgette "God is Great My Lady. Your interest Honours me, it is exciting to know that you've read the essay, but I'm but a humble servant. I have no doubts that our lord smiles at us this most holy season."

He looked around at the other people and smiled and bowed to each of them. One man wore a Balaclava. That was kind of strange and quite rude he decided. But even if you mask yourself to man, you are still naked in front of the eternal light of God

There were two other people here. One girl and one middle aged grey man with the looks of a scholar or a writer. Maybe a journalist or historian. He shook their hands and tried to get a short eye contact with them.

-"Praise God for giving us such a wonderful day to do his deeds! The fresh air in your lungs and such a wonderful host."

"It's a pleasure to meat you sir. I'm an Orthodox Catholic, so I can sense your deep faith. I don't mean to be rude and run on you, but I am rather hungry and I would like some food. So these people I guess will show me to my room."

Anika was shown to her chambers. "Thank you." She said to the escorts. "Wow what a place. You could do so much with it. A bit spookey, but oh well. " There we're an array of food items, some she never seen before. Even whine. Anika never had real wine. The only thing close was dialuted served as part of the Sunday Sacrament. "If Christ turned water to whine, surely It's all right if I have some." She sipped. "Wow, amazing. Sweet. And juice like. But it's real. She ate the varitey of new foods. "Ah I love foreign foods. People just have such diffrent ways with food." A nice bed, an amazing view made this place very worthwhile.

The day crawled along,and the castle was a buzz of activity, the activity only disturbed by a few young heads being turned by raven and his entourage.
Everything was building up for tonight’s main event…

After a short while, once Anika had made herself at home, a knock came at the door. A round faced young officer in dress uniform stood outside waiting smartly.
“I’m ordered to see if there is anything I can get you Miss. Do you require anything for tonights dinner and games?”

Bridgette had left the Archbishop. Informing Ministry personal to take care of his every need. Bridgette had many faults, but judging guests wasn’t one of them…not at the moment anyway…

Flanked by her two guards she entered the cells deep within the Castles vaults…
She looked over the cages “that one, and that one…..God this place stinks…next time I want this washed down before I visit…that one is clearly lame…I want only the best produce for tonight…those two over there as well….and make sure you clean them before you bring them anywhere near me again…savages..”

With little fuss, the yet black limousine drove up towards the castle. Dressed not in uniforms, but in formal attire the occupants stepped out of the limo.
“Wonderful. Anyone else feel like we’re heading into Bram Stoker country? humph why didn’t the commander come herself?”
“She was busy, now smile. I hear this place has a lot to promise”
The two women smiled. One was much older, and had the tinge of Sinicism. The other was young and had the fire of devotion in her eyes. Strangely enough, the younger of the two was higher rank.
“I’m Major Eve Veletich, my companion is Lesie Skiv. I hope we are not late. The Commander wanted you to have this.” she handed over a note.



Bridgette. Saddly I cannot attend in person, but these two i consider sisters. treat them as you would me.
Anne

When Jay wasn't minguling with the various characters that had come for this event he was typing his book. Since I had arrived, I had been treated with the upmost and gracious hospitality. Bridgette Iesus, who is organized the event, shows great welcome to thoes who have come. As for what this is all about, is sloweley being unraveld piece by piece, as time goes by.

He decided it was time for a break and took a walk around the castle. "He looked at the many paintings, and artifiacts.

“The ladies from St Dominic, what a pleasure to have your company.” Bridgette read the short note “Please, make yourself at home….whatever I can do you make your stay pleasant…We will soon be meeting for dinner…”

Jay Anson found the castle loaded with murals and art works…the current occupant clearly had a taste for Medieval history, and much of the art work reflected this…..scenes from the Iesus Crusades were common place, but other less definable art dotted the castle…interesting and perhaps theologically dubious art featuring scenes like ‘The Fall’, ‘Eve in the garden’ and ‘Creation’….all with a slight twist on the traditional interpretation.

Knocks came on doors, and notes were slipped under them “dinner is at 6.sharp.”




Cold water shocked her naked body but she didn’t cry out….she had learnt not to do that. With flesh burning with shame she tried to cover herself as the guard hosed the icy water over her.
“Its pathetic how they think they’re people…covering herself. pathetic” The guards sniggered, even as some of them ogled the creature.
“chain her and bring her up at 6:05…the others get them warmed up for the game…” He cracked his baton over the cell bars “The animals better be lively!”

Anika showerd and quickly dressed, in some fresher cloths. She brushed her hair, and looked at the picture of her family. She was starting to feel a little home sick now. She set her brush down, and walked out the door. "Woops." she ran back into her room, and grabbed her cross. "I almost forgot." She put it around her neck, as she so proudly have worn before. She went back out the door and proceeded down to the Great Hall.

Jay proceeded into the great hall after touring the castle for some time. He was excited for what was going to happen although he didn't really know for sure. It would make for one hell of a chapter though.

The major gave the slightest curtsie. “your gracious hospitality is welcome. It’s an honor to be here for both of us” with the slightest nudge, the Major got Lesie to enter the conversation “yaa, its great to be here.”
Smiling and arm in arm, the two entered the castle and headed straight towards the great dinning room.

Hanson strode into the Great hall a minute to six with his entourage. Heartily greeting everyone he met. He stopped and smiled at the women from St. Dominic.

-"My heart is full of joy of seeing you ladies from our brethren of St. Dominic attend this meeting. God is truly great that allows us to meet here thanks to Sister Bridgette."

All the five persons of his entourage continued into the Hall with only one of the Inquisitors lingering behind, dressed in a long white and red robe, his eyes never leaving the people around the archbishop.

Raven entered the Great hall flanked by two of his Archangels, just before the clock struck six. The three were dressed into parade uniforms which looked very alike those in use with the Taraskovyan military, with the Grand Ducal flag replaced by that of the White Legion. This time, however, Raven’s face was not covered with a balaclava, but with a simple white mask that covered the upper half of his face.

He was, of course, quite aware that some might find his behaviour as offensive. Yet, Bridgette Iesus has already seen him, and that was more than enough. Already rumours had spread that the head of the renowned White Legion was in the castle. Already he received interested looks from the castle’s female inhabitants, which made him seriously think of making his Archangels dress the same way as he and also mask themselves. He enjoyed attention from women, but he felt uneasy at the idea that some of them could possibly have double allegiance... Back home, he felt at ease even with an army of foes on his back. Abroad, he was not the one in control of the situation, and this made him even more cautious than he naturally was.

But that would make him totally unrecognizable and would create confusion. So, for the time being, Raven was masked, eager to keep as much as possible of his identity secret.

-"The Mysterious man! If only I had known we were supposed to wear masks for this! " He turned towards the men who just had entered the room. "I'm Archbishop Hanson, humble guest of Bridgette Iesus, ever loyal servant of God. Sorry but I didn't catch your name at your arrival?"

Raven inclined his head politely to Archbishop Hanson. “Unfortunately, your Eminence, I have many a powerful foe, which has made me cautious in spirit.” The man smiled. “This also means I may not reveal my name, but many know me as Raven, the one who commands the White Legion. If Your Eminence heard of our activities and our struggle, then I am sure you will understand my desire to remain as hidden as possible. ”

The Archbishop nodded and shook his hand. -"I understand mr Raven. Hmmm... Raven..." Hanson rolled the word in his mouth and seemed to taste it. "Raven, its such a Black Bird isn't it? The Raven was the messenger for the old pagan gods weren't they? Often a carrier of bad omens and tidings. Sometimes even war. War is a terrible thing, everytime it happens a lot of people die, many civilians, righteous people. Must be a horrible burden to bear, being a harbinger of death. I wonder what pictures there must be in such a beings memory and mind. What search there might be for seeking the path to salvation always wondering if ever to find it." his voiced trailed off for a little bit. "But we're not here for discussing mythology are we? We're here to do our Lords deed. I'm sure salvation is nothing that would cloud the minds of you mr. Raven and if you ever need some words of Theological advice I am happy to share." The Archbishop shook his hand once more and looked into his eyes and then let go.

It was as if somebody had grabbed his insides and twisted them rigorously. But Raven did not twitch as his face remained emotionless throughout Hanson’s speech. As much as he was reluctant to admit, the Latinian was true, at least in part.

Yet, he smiled at the Archbishop. “My pseudonym has an easier explanation, Your Eminence.” Indeed, his real last name comprised the word ‘raven’ in it. Yet, he could have chosen a different one, something not related, yet he chose Raven...

“But enough of me.” Raven grinned. “I believe that such a knowledgeable person as Your Eminence would know the reason of our presence here. As such, I wondered whether Your Eminence would shed some light on what we shall be doing during our presence here, for I admit to being a little ignorant of particular Iesian customs.”

Even as Raven inquired, the soldiers dotted around the room snapped to attention and the Great dinning room doors opened.
Wearing her sleek black dress uniform and flanked by her usual two armed guards, Bridgette entered the dining room. She smiled and nodded at the guests, greeting each in turn, even the several newly arrived Ministry officials who had thus far kept to themselves.
After the light greetings, she elegantly tapped her wine glass to gain the guests attention…
“gentlefolk…Welcome to our little Christmas gathering. It is a true delight to have you within my home….I hope you have enjoyed your refreshments…Dinner will be served soon but we in Iesus Believe you need to earn your appetite for dinner…”
With a flick of her fingers, the main doors opened again….
Dragged between two guards was the chained creature. Naked as the day it was born, the young creature looked petrified with fright as it was dragged towards Bridgette. The chains cut into the petite creatures flesh, preventing her from fighting or even shielding her nakedness. With gentle care Bridgette gripped the cowering girl and softly stroked her hair.
“Metahuman…jinn as the Starians call them. This one was recently imported from North Star. You can see the Arabic blood in the creature but the evidence of racial impurity is self evident. Those ears, the bone structure, the hair colouring….the filth that is race mixing..” Bridgettes grip turned violent, she yanked the girls hair “This vermin was born into our beloved world some 19 years ago…for 19 years this creature has polluted our world and been an abomination unto God…” With a vicious backhand blow Bridgette knocked the metahuman to the ground.
“2000 years ago these ….these..things screamed in horror with all the other devils of the world as the Christ was born…they wailed in horror as the saviour was born. In ancient times we relived that delightful howling of hell by hunting these beasts…..I invite you all to partake in this glorious tradition…I invite you all to join me now in the woods for the hunt…”

Anika was petrified, total barbarcy. "I guess this is why it was banned" she said to her self. She wasn't sure what it was. Sure the species was told but what is it? Human Animal, Angel, Demon, obvisouly something not of God. She didn't ask for fear of embrassment, but now she was growing tense. Just what is going to go on tonight? she again asked in her mind. God Give me strength tonight. She formed a cross, and looked away.

Hanson watched Bridgette Sternly. Did she have to bring it in here? He groaned internally and stood up. -"Sister Bridgette is ofcourse right.That is an abomination against God, dont let it try to make you feel guilt. Because They are sly and wicked and try to pray on our emotions. If you show weakness to this creature think of how many human children has been in the same position and hunted down without remorse. No! This is another trick from the eternal Elf! If there ever has been a sanctioned and righteous Death it is when we liberate our world from the devil spawn in whatever guise they appear. May it be this quivering being or a towering Mornahosse with a sword dripping of blood of our children! The Death of a nephilim is a soul spared. God Wills It!"

Jay looked in astounment. "Barbaric" he said to himself. Looks like their might be more to write other than a chapter on this nation's Christmas tradition. Heck this could be a book in it's own. He looked at the frightend girl Anika, and all the others. Then looked at Bridgett who seemed to be enjoying this. "I think I need to look up international law." Once again to him self What is really going to happen tonight?

The guards cheered the Archbishop. They roared with delight as he finished with the words every Iesusian loved….”God wills it!”
Bridgette lifted her hand for quiet, calming the guards in moments.
“O the archbishop speaks the truth. Christ knows the truth of his words! The worst blasphemy of these abomination is their ability to look human..to play on our emotions…these things play on our weakness with their pretence of humanity” Bridgette run her hand down the girls check, running her hand through the blood as it trickled from the girls nose. “These creatures are of Satan…of hell….their very existence is a danger to humanity!”
Bridgette forced the girl to her knees...the girls squirming struggling form bent before Bridgette “These creature are inferior..they are dogs…maggots…we are the true masters of creation. It is their position to worship us.” With a savage kick to the stomach, Bridgette floored the girl and then pressed her jackboot onto the sobbing girls face “Before the evening is over, she’ll howl and beg like the rest of them….Guards…take her back downstairs…”
Straightening her uniform and running a hand through her hair, Bridgette addressed the guests “If you’d care to accompany me….we’ll go down into the forest…They make excellent sport. Spears and dogs are the customary Iesus weapons used during the hunt…but the choice is really up to you…”

"I guess that makes sense." Anika said to her self Then she said out loud "I'll go. Ms. Iesus, I accept your invitation to the forest. I accept your statments that these people are of Satan, the Devil. God give us strength."

*bump*

Raven frowned beneath his mask as he heard the same phrase with which crusaders torched down Constantinople and attempted to enslave his kin centuries ago. “God wills it!” they said. Deus vult… But his thoughts remained his and were not expressed as Raven looked at the Archbishop.

“So are we, well trained, armed and clothed going to hunt a young, naked, cold and hungry, frail and terrified female?” Raven’s voice did not appear overly enthusiastic at the idea. He saw no thrill in the coming event, there was none of the danger which he experienced so many times back home, when many tried to kill him and the best defence was to kill them first…

If it depended on him, he would have given the girl under Bridgette’s boot a bullet into the head and been done with it. But when in Rome… amuse yourself as Romans.

[OOC: Kurona, please note that bumping serves no purpose. We remember the thread is there, worry not.]

OOC: Kurona just doesnt want this to fall off the forum. And also considering that the poster has posted a brandnew RP, it's only normal to get a little conscerned.

Jay wanted to call Bridget a madwoman, but he felt he should check things out further. He would go into the forest along with the rest, and document everything. Even if it meant they would later hunt him down and kill him, he was going to.

Bridgette grinned at Anika "excellent! I knew you'd see the sense of this...."
With a nod she then answered Raven "There are others of her kind...consider it more symbolic than anything else....we are reliving the tradition of our ancient people...the joy and thrill of battle are replaced with the joy of making the enemies of God cry in pain! Iesus has never had foxhunting but I understand its something of the same idea...God gave us these things to use...it would be a sin if we didnt take delight in his creation..."
She turned to leave "if we could meet in the woods in 5 minutes....the troopers will show you the way..."

OOC: Being christmas replying was alittle slow, but dont worry. I'm a master of multitasking. The rpg goes on! :)

Hanson noticed Ravens frown and very much agreed with it. But for different reasons.

-"The Nephilim here are pure symbols of the oppression we survived many years ago. In those times the Nephilim were at least as well armed as the brave humans who fought them in long wars. In Vegana we used to get rid of the last nephilim hundreds of years ago, praise the Benevolent One. At the end we used these hunts to flush them out of forests and mountains to kill them off until humanity had finally prevailed and rid the whole country of the pest and the land was finally safe. This is to celebrate those brave men who died fighting for humanity. This crusade is no longer faith against faith, christian brothers pitted against eachother. No, this is against something much more sinister. Something that is unable to grasp the value of human lives. Something that is older and more evil than anything in the world. Something completely inhuman that was placed on earth to defy god and everything that is holy in his creation. Sister Bridgette offers us a chance to come closer to God, to defend his creation and to defend humanity.

You're a soldier. You know what it is like to defend a nation. This is a way to defend whole humanity and in the long term this hunt is a symbol for our defense of our lord Christ and everything that is holy." The Archbishop nodded to Bridgette. " By your leave I send my men to fetch the birds. Every creature in Gods Creation deserves the right to participate in a ceremony like this."

OOC: No worries, If Iesus forgets about this I'll make sure Santa only brings hims stones and coal for his next Christmas

They gathered in the woods…


The burning torch light cast an erie glow over the gathered hunters and their hounds. The Iesusians soldiers wore hoods, giving the event a even more clandestine feeling…their great slobbering dogs howled and pulled on their chains, forcing the handlers to struggle to restrain the creatures…
With her usual two minders, Bridgette moved amongst the guests and Iesusian hunters, smiling and giggling. Whiskey was offered to all to ward off the ‘cold air’.
She gently tapped the archbishop on his shoulder “ If you would start things off with a prayer..?”

Jay bowed his head, for the prayer

The archbishop handed over the big bird that perched on his arm to one of his Inquisitors. -"You honour me My lady" He said and nodded to Bridgette.

-"Heavenly Father,
bless us as we come together in Your Name.
Send the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts
to guide us in our Hunt
for the good of all.

Father,
we ask this grace
through Christ our Lord.

Let us pray to our Father in heaven,
who has given these tools for our use.

The Archbishop paused as he motioned at the assembled people and took a rifle from one of his Inquisitors. He continued with a booming voice;

Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe:
you have made all things for your glory.
Bless these Tools of the hunt
and grant that we may use them in your service
for the good of all your people.

Father,
we praise you through Christ our Lord.

Amen!

The scene seemed surreal, as if taken from a thriller book. The red light from the torches held by Iesians sent shadows dancing on the ground, in some sort of malefic waltz. And even if, for now, the hooded persons stood without much action as they listened to the prayer of the Archbishop, Raven was sure the situation would soon change to an outright Sabbath.

He and his men were in camouflage fatigues, their warm clothes protecting them from the cold air. If it were not for the balaclavas that covered their faces and made it impossible to see their faces, those same faces of the Taraskovyan men would have reflected a certain discomfort mixed with curiosity. Discomfort because, as true Orthodox, they had rather negative thoughts of such occult proceedings. Curiosity because none knew what awaited them amongst the dark trees.

“Do not split unless necessary. Remember that we are in Latinian territory,” Raven whispered silently to his men, in such a way that none other than them would hear him. The Archangels only nodded in return as they shifted their spears, preparing for the start of the hunt.

Bridgette crossed herself. she looked over Raven and his group. She was pleased to see they had entered the Christmas spirit. “Thank you archbishop. I feel the spirit upon us now…bring forward the…animals…”
Six beaten and bruised metas were pushed forward. All were naked and showing signs of the cold and fear…The girl from North Star was there, and several other extremely young looking metas. The metas all ranged in age, species and sex. They huddled together as the guards around the clearing started to chant. A deep rumbling guttural chant that echoed through the trees.
Bridgette raised her hand and silence feel.
Breaking the solemn silence came the cry… “Mummmmy! Mummmmmy!” Running unhindered through the gathered soldiers, two young children ran head long at Bridgette and wrapped their arms around her, burying their faces in her greatcoat as they held her tight. The Children look around 7-8 years old, both with dark brown hair and fine features.
Bridgette wrapped her arms around them “Oh my little warriors. Don’t be scared, tonight is a big night for you both…you’re going to learn the superiority of humanity” The girl lifted her head and looked around the clearing and smiled nervously at the gathered hunters. The boy apparently couldn’t bring himself to do a similar act of courage.
Bridgette spoke softly “Now Andrew, be brave like your sister Lydia. Tonight you get to hunt like the heroes of old”

With a gesture, a fresh faced guard came forward and gently took the children from their mother. He knelt down and in a quiet voice he explained what was happening. He showed the children the smaller javelin like spears they’d carry tonight on the hunt. Lydia wrapped her arms around one of the howling dogs as she listened to the soldier. Andrew was more solemn and listened intently to the words.

Bridgette loved the night air. She pulled her black coat tight around her thin body, and walked around the trembling creatures. She loved the way the pointed ears on some of them twitched….an involuntary motion betraying their terror.
In a crisp voice she spoke “Their terror gives glory to God. Let their screams echo through these woods and give glory to the masters of creation. Let the filthy give God glory! Run! Run! Run!”
With only a few sideways glances, the huddled naked group of metahumans broke ranks and ran into the woods. Survival instinct over riding any ideal of standing up to the hunters. They fled into the trees, ignoring the pain as the branches whipped and cut their naked bodies..ignoring the cold biting into their naked flesh. Only survival mattered now.

Bridgette smiled as they ran. She took a spear from one of the guards. Her voice was calm as she talked “The games on. After them in your own time”

The Archbishop looked at the people around him. Bridgette and her kids had that feverish look on their faces, the men in balaclavas, the young girl who mostly looked scared and the plushy reporter who looked like he was sweating. All this was too big of a circus he thought. Surely the Nephilim was an abomination that should be sought out and destroyed wherever it had spread its cancer but capturing these animals and then hunting them for fun? The Archbishop was not so sure. He signalled to his men to fan out in front of him with their spears. He was carrying a long bow himself, the sharp hulled arrows in a sack at his waist. He had contemplate the righteousness of this later, Satan was loose in the woods now and he had to be destroyed.

-"To kill one of those critters is not murder but an act of mercy!" He shouted as he and his men started to move towards the wood. His men running and dodging branches with the skills not suiting big men but showing experience in woodlands. He came after, a bit slower with one of the inquisitors walking beside him. He could see his men starting to take of to drive some of the critters back towards him and his adjutant. I wonder how this will differ from any other hunt? He thought.

Major Eve Veletich, and her companion Lesie Skiv had been silent during the evening. They had sipped their wine and kept to themselves, not being rude to anyone who talked to them but at the same time not going out of their way to talk to anyone.
They had followed silently the others down into the cold Forrest.

The two women now watched with morbid enthralment as the nonhumans were chased off into the woods. They exchanged words in subdued voices.
“I don’t know how to use a spear”
“And you thing I do? Hhhmmm”
“You are an Officer. You should know about antiquated things.”
“Humph. I know to bow my head when a priest gives a blessing”

With a shake of her head, Bridgette flung her current spear aside. She shivered in the cold and looked at her watch.
She slipped out her hip flask from within her greatcoat and drank with passion...She sculled the liquid back, drinking deeply from the flask, until the burning feeling was more intense than the cold......
Stuffing the flask back in her pocket, she pulled her gloves on. She grinned maniacally as she chose her new weapon from the nearest soldier. She weighed the spear in her hand and ran her leather gloved fingers down the blade…judging the weapons worthiness for the task at hand..
“Excellent…”
With unexpected military bearing she moved forward into the woods and let out a great cry of delight, her greatcoat fluttering in the breeze as she howled. Her minders advanced behind her adding their cries to hers as they began to chase their prey. Soon every soldier was howling , even the two closely guarded children clapped their hands and giggled......

Anika was shaking from pure terror, the sounds of blood curdiling howles and screams frightend her. She looked away at the horror before her eyes, she was always a humane person, this, this was in humane. She saw a strange glow in the distance. She felt compelled to go to it. But should she wander off like that? She felt she must, it was go to the light or watch the brutality. She walked on dazed to the light. White light filled her eyes. Something was happening here. The light dimmed she was still in the woods but suroundee by light. Something grabbed her leg. She screamed bloody murder, something else grabbed her arm, something or somethings? There was something that wanted her. She desperatly tried to escape. Horrofying faces stared at her, long sharp claws extended and slashed her once. She continued to fall, slowly, being pulled down. Crying out despertly for help.

Jay felt uneasy, something was wrong here. What's going on? He looked at the crowds mezmorized by the other activites, but someone was missing. "Oh my.." The Little Girl, Anika was missing, he wandered not to far into the Group when he heard her mutted screams of terror.

"Ms. Iesus! I think the Little Girl is in trouble!"

The Archbishop already was far into the woods but two inquisitors silently strode towards the scream, spears in hands, brushing away low branches from the surrounding trees as they made their way. The bird handlers also heard the screams and begun jogging towards the place with their guns pulled. Noone had seen any elves run in this direction so they didn't know what to expect but ther sure as hell didn't want any surprises. The two inquisitors were the first to reach the spot transmitting their observation over their interlinks as they approached.

Either Bridgette was too far off to hear or the screams of delight from the hunters drowned Jays voice….
She was in hot pursuit of her target, jumping over tree stumps and crashing through branches as she ran…the joy of the hunt swelled inside her as she glimpsed the figure disappearing through the trees ahead of her.
“Come on! Come on!” she urged her personal guards on, demanding they keep up with her frantic pace.


While Bridgette had ignored Anikas fate, several soldiers responded to the low cries. Moving past Jay, the soldiers headed to her last apparent location.. weapons at the ready..looking for Anika
The officer had his pistol out "Miss...? Miss?"

Jay ran along with the other, he just as desperatley wanted to find the young girl. He looked, and saw the clearing, and shadowy figures moving about. "This way!"

Anika was still forcefully shoved around. She was taken by force and tied to the nearest tree, with hard and hard chains . The strange and odd creatures chanted in unusual languages. Now she was more terrorfied than ever. She figured they must be doing some sort of ritual to sacrafice her, or something else. One of the creatures, which seemed to be like an older male, chanted while taking out a knife. He slashed her arm strait down. He also stroked her cheek, it made her vastly afraid of what was to come. She had long since stopped screaming since she was beaten each and everytime she opend her mouth. Finally one spoke, in a language Anika actually understood

"These filthy creatures, have tread us with such malice for centuries. They reject us, and our existance. But now they will get what is comming to them, as by the full moon, a virgan of a holy faith shall be sacraficed, by the Chirstmas Moon light.

"I guess that means us?"
Major Eve Veletichs face was creased in confusion.
"Hand me a spear Les."
Neither of the women commented on the scream, they werent sure what was going on, and felt little inclination to cause trouble.
"Best keep up with the Lady. I'd hate to think what they'd do if they thought we weren't trying hard enough"

The two jogged after Miss Iesus.

Running with all the energy she could muster, the young meta ran on, sobbing in pure terror as she heard the hunters closing in. Gasping in pain as the low branches whipped and cut her flesh as she ran blindly on….

Bridgettes eyes locked onto her target….the naked animal was so close Bridgette felt she could hear the animals heart pounding in terror…she felt she could smell the blood as it trickled down the cuts on her soft animal flesh.

The two children were half dragged, half pushed along after their mother….the twins didn’t show any of the signs of joy exhibited by the other hunters.
The Officer with them encouraged them to increase their speed. “Come on….you don’t want to disappoint your mother do you?” The officer seemed oblivious to the possibility that the screen was terrifying for the children….the masked men…the screaming in delight…the burning torches…was all now normal within the officers world.
The children had instinctively clasped desperately to the hand of their siblin as the nightmarish screen played out before the children. The waking nightmare only made bearable within their innocent fragile minds by the presence of the other sibling.


The officer knew Anika would be around somewhere. The woods he knew were perfectly face….unless you were an enemy of the state…still he felt a chill run down his spine. Everyone knew the woods and the castle had a long bloody history….

Anika was down to a whimper, she couldn't scream anymore. She was frightend, and now she was going to die. She couldn't kick them off any longer

The Officer burst through the undergrowth....
For the merest second he was sure he saw figures, ghostly pale figures wrapped and intertwined with the girl, enveloping her in grey glow. He’d brought his gun up to fire when they’d simply vanished, as if they had never been. Another shiver ran down the Officers spine.

Shaking his head and holstering his revolver, the Officer approached the apparently unharmed Anika. He lifted her gently to her feet “You seem to have got lost Miss. The hunt has started…..you should be more careful in future.”

Tracking the “prey” was not a difficult task for such trained warriors as Raven and his Archangels. A footprint in the soil here, broken branches a bit everywhere, all in all, one would have to be blind to miss the prey. Unfortunately for the one who tried to flee them, the Legionnaires were not blind.

Raven led the party, consisting of his Archangels and several locals that seemed to want to have a look at the guests. He neither ran nor walked, moving quickly, yet silently and prudently, as the party came closer to the prey. He balanced his spear in his arms, getting it out of tree’s way and always having it ready to strike, yet in his mind he had doubts about the whole venture. Taraskovyans had a tendency to hit to kill, torture was used only for information gathering purposes. As such, this whole hunt seemed absurd to him.

Yet, before he had the time to plunge into his thoughts, he saw the pale silhouette of a fleeing prey. The Taraskovyans immediately broke ranks and charged after the elf, moving to encircle the soon to be dead person and leave it no chances to escape.

Everything actually took less than a minute, with Raven catching up with the prey and, in a skillful blow, pierced the elf’s heart, ending its life immediately and quite irrevocably. It was a young, naked girl, who posed no challenge at all.

“Well, this one is as dead as dead goes,” Raven said indifferently, looking at the now assembled Archangels, before turning to look at the Iesians. “What do you do with corpses around here? Leave them to the animals?”

Bridgette didn’t see Raven's success, her prey was still giving her sport. She raised her spear and flung it at the creature as it passed through bushes only metres away….

She cursed violently as the spear missed the creature by only millimetres… She screamed her words out as she ran forward “another weapon..quickly!”
Another spear was thrust into her hands by one of her fellow running hunters, she grasped it and threw it almost immediately as the creature darted out through the bushes.

The creature screamed as the spear sunk into its naked thigh flesh, piercing right through his upper thigh. With a thud the creature fall to the earth, blood pouring from the wound. Screaming in agony and with trembling feeble hands the creature tried to pull the spear out, only to be stopped by the barrier of enormous pain.

Everything about Bridgette reeked gloating. She kicked the cringing creature, and yanked on the spear protruding from its thigh, twisting it in a deliberate attempt to induce more pain from the frantic animal…her efforts were reward with a scream of pain and a hissed word “….bitch…”

Bridgette spat at the bleeding naked metahuman, and kicked him again as steam rose from its naked male body. He was rapidly turning white, and blood was pooling around him from his leg wound….She knew he wouldn’t last long…
“Andrew…Lydia. Come here…” Bridgette spoke in a soothing firm tone, one that didn’t invite disobedience.
The two children curiously advanced from their minders, Andrew looked terrified, but Lydia looked curious “What is it mummy”
Bridgette stroked her daughters neck “It’s a metahuman baby. See the pointy ears…the miscoloured eyes…” Both children nodded in quiet fascination, as the meta cursed and tried to crawl away.
“Why did you stick him mummy? Why did you make him bleed…” Andrew looked up at his mother, hoping she could explain this nightmarish scene.
“I did it for you angels. For both of you. You know what I’ve taught you. The meta wants to kill you, kill us all. They'll rape and kill you both... You don’t want them to kill mummy and your friends do you?”
“noooo!” Both children cried out the word,
“Then, we have to kill them first” Bridgette rubbed their backs “it’s the right thing to do”

Even adrenaline couldn’t move his tired and broken body, He felt the life seep from his body as the blood pumped from his leg. He tried to crawl away as Bridgette and her two children advanced...

Jay clearly saw Anika was tramuatized, and was still deeply frightend. As she whimpered and occasionally sobbed. "This whole thing is insane. That's all this is, insane." He wasn't sure what was going on anymore, was this something supernatural, something narutal, something more potlical, not so much as a horror story. Either way the night was draggin on, it felt like the longest night ever, and he felt continues chills. He would swear that he was seeing phantoms in these woods.

Anika was shaking. Not so much from cold as from shock and fear. She wanted out, every where she went she still felt like thoes armes we're reaching out to get her. She always felt them on any of her exposed flesh. What if they tried again, they managed to luer her away the first time, what's to say they won't try again.

Walking silently between the trees gave an eerie feeling to the night. The archbishop wondered if this was what the Nephilim had felt like when hunting down the children of God just for fun all those years ago until they started to meet resistance?

He followed the tracks in the new snow, elves were famous for their ability to move with stealth and agility but it seemed as if the fear and the snow was getting the better of their prey. One of the inquisitor paused and gestured towards a fallen pine tree with his left hand and they spread out. As they got closer a figure sprung from the tree and darted off further into the forest.

The party followed without stressing, the abomination was due in good time. The will of the Lord would prevail.

The officer placed his hand on Anikas shoulder “I’m sure you’ll be ok miss. I’ll stick with you, perhaps you could retire back to the castle if you don’t feel well…”

A female soldier in a camo uniform stepped forward toward Raven. The soldiers eyed burned with joy, and she stared with fascination at Raven “It is custum to hang them from the castle walls. So we can all witness the triumph of man over beast!”

Bridgette run her fingers down Andrews face, he cringed back and giggled a little “it feels funny mummy!”
Bridgette ruffled his hair “but now you look like a real man”
Andrew raised his hand gently to his face, gently touching the bloody markings Bridgette had painted on with meta blood.
“You look funny” Little Lydia laughed at her brother, playfully pushing him.
“Do not! You look dumber anyhow!” Andrew poked his sister back, making her giggle even as blood dripped down her face and hair.
Bridgette smiled, the children had seemed to have passed any concern for the twitching corpse at their feet….

Raven looked at the Iesian woman and then at the body. The balaclava hid the frown that etched upon his face. Indeed, dragging the corpse back to the castle did not seem as a very thrilling option. Moreover, the girl was already dead, so why humiliate her even more? The Legion killed those of her kind, it is true, but it did not humiliate them in such a way.

“Well, consider me too lazy to drag the corpse back to the castle. You shall serve as my personal witness for my… hmmm… kill…” Raven chuckled as he looked deep into the eyes of the female soldier, his gaze piercing through her, as if searching for something deep within her soul. “And if anything, I shall refer my detractors to you. But at this, I deem we return to the rendez-vous point or to the castle, unless there are other preys roaming the woods?”

The man smiled beneath his mask as he gave a look over the rest of his party.

The girl soldier knelt by the dead meta, running her hands over the gapping wounds….the warm blood still running from the corpse..
She looked up at Raven, eyes gleaming with desire, her whole teen body radiating adoration for this foreigner “ There is much more prey in this woods for a man of your skill…” She pulled her own blade, and dipped it in the pooling blood “allow us to claim the head, so the castle birds can feast upon the unholy ones!” She licked her lips, and ran her ran through her long brown hair….waiting for ravens words like the apostles waited for Christ’s.

Raven shrugged and sighed. If the locals were really intent on amusing themselves in such a grim way, it would be on their conscience.

"Well, if you absolutely want the head, then go ahead. But I see no point in it. Wood animals shall feast upon this corpse anyway and you have all seen that she is quite dead indeed. Besides," he added in a mysterious tone, "a head weights quite a lot. Will you be as agile with additional burden as to be able to keep up with me?"

The man's eyes pierced through the girl's ones inquisitively.

Panting, Major Eve Veletichs crouched next to Lesie.
They'd both watched as the Vegana cleric had run off after his prey, they'd both watched as the young reporter had let the young girl become lost. They'd lost sight of the masked men, but they seemed more than confidant of their own skills.
Now they watched the apparant ruler of Iesus Christi painting her children with blood.

Skiv spoke in her deep whispering voice to Eve.
"Oooh charming. I hope we dont have to do that, red isnt my color."
Still out of breath, the Major growled at Lesie to be silent.
"and you need to quit smoking"
The Majors chest raised and fall as she regained her breath. She spoke through gritted teeth.
"Lets go. We're done."

[OOC: Written upon authorization from Iesus Christi, but, as always, subject to editing if any complaints arise.

Please note, for those who might be over enthusiastic, that the following scene is not witnessed by anyone.]

* * *

He could not believe his eyes when he actually saw the Iesian girl actually planting her blade into the elf’s neck and working to detach the head from the body. “Just how old is she? Looks about eighteen… What is wrong with them all and their theatrical sadism?” Such thoughts raced through his mind as he looked over the Iesians of his party. They were all young women, four counting the one with the head obsession, their eyes burning with wicked fire as they looked at their colleague busy cutting off the head.

“They are surely jealous she got to do the job… God, what am I doing here? I should have never come…” His eyes now fixed upon the triumphant face of the Iesian girl that was now standing proudly, with the head in her hand.

“Iesian soldiers cannot be slowed down by such a futile thing,” she said with a beaming smile.

“Enough is enough,” Raven thought to himself as he raised his arm into the air, making seemingly absurd gestures. He then stood up to the young Iesian woman, looking her deep into the eyes as his own ones were lit with an icy fire.

“Soldiers? I wonder what you know about war to call yourself soldier…” he said softly, almost in a hissing, yet hypnotizing voice. “Have you known the hardships of war? Did you see the suffering on the field of battle and not in the eyes of a defenseless prisoner?”

And as Raven was speaking to the woman in front of him, three of his Archangels approached the other women in a benign move, seemingly to share impressions about the hunt. Yet, when all was in place, it took a second, for all four Iesians to find themselves on their knees, their arms twisted as the Legionnaires confiscated their weapons.

“It is time for me to see what kind of soldiers you really are,” Raven said with a grin at the Iesian woman that now glared at him, hissing what appeared to be quite negative messages at the head of the White Legion.

“Podniat ih!” Raven barked in Russian and his men complied, making the teenage girls stand up. “The Legion kills heathens, yet we do not engage in theatre drama, as you lot seem to do. We do not waste time playing games with corpses for if we do so, then it shall mean the fall of our army into decay and the triumph of our enemies. It would seem that you have never had to live with the threat of being killed. Well…”

Raven’s eyes seemed to glow in the dark as he spoke, the mouth opening on his balaclava giving in on a wolfish grin. “Tonight, we shall let you experience what it is like. These are some nice woods, it shall take days for your colleagues to find your corpses…”

The Iesian women were now glaring at him and swearing threats and profanities, to which Raven seemed to pay no heed. “You shall either die here, on the spot, and I shall personally carve your hearts out and offer them as a tribute to the fallen meta…” He could see the eyes of the Iesians light up with disgust and hate at his proposed occult ritual. “Or you can run… and if you run fast enough, you shall live and tell your comrades about our behaviour, so that they may avenge your honour… But before we let you go…”

Raven gave a nod and the Archangels took the confiscated blades into their hands and quickly cut through the clothes of the four women, carefully as if not to hurt them before time. Raven’s idea now must have become apparent to them – they would suffer the same fate as the metas they hunted. They all saw Raven in action, so it did not look good for them, even if Raven found a way to reassure them.

“Fear not, we shall not make you suffer and your death shall be quick. Now…” he grinned as he looked at the quite seducing forms of his future victims, bodies untainted by scars and marks of torture. “Run!”

He had no need to repeat twice. Giving him a last hateful look, the four quickly glanced around and vanished into the woods, splitting up as they progressed. The Legionnaires waited for a little longer before dashing after their new prey. Raven picked up the trail left by one of the women, taking an Archangel and dashing after her, through the woods, meeting broken branches on his path.

It was not long before he caught up with her, spotting the white shape of her body amongst some trees. He pushed forth a roar, enough for her to hear and look around to see the hunters on her trail. It was the one obsessed with heads, looking far less confident and arrogant now that her own body was covered in cuts and bruises and two crazy foreigners skilled in the art to kill were about to catch up with her.

And they did catch up with her. She turned around to face them, eyes wide with terror, watching as Raven jumped at her, a spear in his hands, and then she felt something hit her hard into the stomach and she fell on the ground. Instinctively, she brought her hand to where she felt the impact, yet… the little blood there was came from the cuts made by branches. Bewildered, she fought against the pain to rise and look at her belly, which was quite safe and sound.

She looked up at Raven, her eyes asking myriads of questions, yet she dared not voice any to that crazy and strange foreigner that was smiling with mischief at her.

“We would, of course, not kill you. Bad sport it is for the guests to kill their hosts, but I had to give you lot a lesson. The fight against heathens is sacred, but all you did was wasting time on needless sadism, not fighting. Disgusting. Do you understand it was disgusting?”

She blinked in reply as Raven narrowed his eyes. “I asked you a question. Do you understand it was disgusting?!!” He barked at her, brining the tip of his spear to tickle her neck. She nodded in return.

“It was… disgusting,” she whispered. As she fought against the pain and trying to stand up.

Raven grinned and took her arm, pulling her up. He then took his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. A true gentleman, it was the least he could do after what he made her live. “Now, let us go find your friends. My men must have already caught up with them. Now, you see what happens when one fights? One gets better. And when one wastes time… well… they die.”

He made her walk all the way to the other members of the party, surely wanting her to retain the lesson. This time, however, they were walking calmly (between moderate and fast speed, actually) and she had the jacket to keep her warm and protect her from the branches. It was not long before the entire joyful party was reunited yet again, the Iesian women standing next to each other, clinging to the jackets gifted by the Legionnaires to keep themselves warm. They were quite calm by now, looking at the Taraskovyans with a mixture of respect and fear, as well as curiousity.

Raven looked them over and smiled. “Now you see what physical suffering is. And next time you feel compelled to inflict some on a victim, think twice – is it really necessary? Now, let us move back to your Mistress.”

He hoped that Bridgette had a sense of humour and would not strive to hang her guests from the castle’s walls. But then again, they would not go without quite a fight and if they managed to take Bridgette hostage, then it could be their ticket out… or maybe not… And as they moved through the woods, Raven’s mind was already thinking over the many possibilities of the coming meeting.

-"GOD IS GREAT!!" The howl came over his lips as the spear pierced the torso of the Meta human. The arch bishop was not a physical fit man so he stopped and breathed heavily, watching the body on the ground as the snow started to turn red around the corpse. He kneeled down and said a quick prayer over the body.

I thank you lord for helping me doing your deed. Glory to you, in eternity

He rose again, looking around him, the silence in gods creation never ceased to stun him. He once sent thank to the creator. Now the hunt for the vermin that got away waited and that was what he had his beloved birds for.

The morning

Smells. Darkness. Movement. The bouncing feeling of riding the arm of his keeper. Cold air. He felt his feathers rise to protect against the cold air of the morning.

Light. The hood is removed. Blinding light.

...An upward throw and he was free, himself once more. To feel the below falling, the trapped coming undone.. And, again, to be in the open; the great curve of everywhere stretching endlessly into a cloud-cut seascape. It was enough, now, that feathers tingled and the wind flowed pass, carrying with it a soothing, sandy rush. On every side was a great, breathless expanse, nothing above but icy pale blue and the haze of the great light that drove the hunt. Here he would stay, forever, to turn and soar, to be light and to be air; nothing could ever stop him, nothing could ever bring him back down, it was only here he existed. To return to the below was to be nothing; to be heavy and stuck, to be...

Hunger. Something, hunger, it was always hunger that drove him back down; pushed from the high-open. There were no fleers, chased; no prey in the blue this day, only other eaters, brown wings. It was this unseeable gust that blew him downwards, and at once his world of open was gone: All around, open became closed, blue replaced by white and cold dry by cold wet. It was brief, though, as again there was the below, a marked, trapped green span; of heavy and of burden. But it was here they were, somewhere, in the green, and they could be sensed; running, food.. Through the green there was a flash, a prey-thing, and then gone, and then there, and then gone.

But it was there, again, and is stayed there; out from the tall green and into the short, a scurrying prey-thing of the ground, ripe with meat and inners. The world drew inward, and below was gone, the high-open was gone; there was nothing but prey. But hunger. The gentle stream of the wind around him became a torrent, a ripping cold hunter of itself. All became fast, and he became all; only the prey wasn't blurred now, blurred by speed and the below and the dive, the dive which always came, which was why he lived. As with the high-above, the dive is forever, with him or without him, when he entered it or no, and when he left, there would be meat.

And the prey-thing was just beneath. The points astride it, tiny fleshy wings, the mark; he knew it was prey, and only this was. A jerk back as the dive left, as all became slow once again, and the great below was frozen briefly, as was the prey-thing. Beneath and then forward; black hooks, the killers, extended, open and ready. The prey-thing halted and there was a shriek, from eater and eaten, and they were now one. The hooks seized shut, and their black became red and then hidden, locked deep inside the prey; the meat, now. It tumbled to the end of below, he followed, and the hunt was finished. Stillness and the trapped would now come, the masters and the cage.

They did. There was little for him now, the hunt was over, the prey was meat; hunger would be seized and he would be dormant. He would be nothing, again, until he hunted once more, and he would; he was the hunt, and he always would be, just as the prey always would be. To rest, and to hunt again.

(Please excuse my absence, I haven't felt much in use with my character with the developing plot in this, but I guess I'll continue posting when I feel I can come in and not disrupt the flow of the plot here. Because it's really good)

Jay had seen plenty over the night. It was amazing, horrific, and utterly frightning. He had to mutter to him self "These people are complete sadists." But he felt to keep that very quiet. As day broke over the horizon, he was looking forward to getting out of the woods, and getting out of this country. He was going to tell everything, in his new book.

"Forget the Holdiays, this is a book all it's own."

Hopefully he wouldn't have to go through Bridget Issuese, although he could likely do it behind her back and not face any criminal charges. Just in case he felt it would be best to be very carefull.

And Anikah, that would be intresting, just what did she see out in thoes woods that mader her scream in terror. She had a dazed look in her eyes, and was souble taking every five minutes.

Well one way or another he was going to write this, even if it meant he would store it in a vault and wait, or publish it under the claim a work of fiction.