The Manor of Which We Kill

"It was a bitter day when he left me for that harlot. No, not bitter. I'm bitter now, but then, when it was fresh, it was intolerable.

"Why? After so many years, why did he decide to leave that day? Not only did he break my heart, he ruined the day claimed for me. The day for why flowers bloomed and family came. The Manor was so beautiful. The white marble and wood. The columns that framed the doorway leading to the back of the Manor. The view on that terrace overlooked the coast as the waves politely crashed upon the rocks giving their own song to my special day.

"Still, not even the Manor nor the coast could compare to me that day. And still, even as I stood there, waiting; looking like none other could, still, he left. Without a word. All were seen were the sails of the ship churning the waves on the coast. The ship ruined the coasts song, but the captain ruined the bride's wedding, when that harlot stole him!

"Now the Manor is cold and quiet. The plants grow wild and the waves no longer sing, but rather call out in pain. The Manor was to be mine that day, but without a wedding, I was not worthy of Blackstone Manor. That intolerable day... it was the end of my engagement. It was the end of my home. It was the end of my happiness."

---

"Miss?... Madam?"

Amber slowly stirred from her slumber on a table in the Port Skell tavern. Her head buried in her arms, she looked up, blinded by the light of candles. This southern belle picked herself up, and smoothed out her ruby-red hair. Her hand, in all the dignified grace she could find, wiped the saliva that had pooled while she had napped.

"Sorry, Madam," spoke a gentle looking man. She could almost see the innocence in him. "I don't mean to wake you, but you look like you'd prefer a room to a dirty tavern's table."

Amber smiled up at the man. The thoughts that came into her mind, though sinister, and malicious, were not shown by her kind eyes, and attractive smile.

"Yes, thank you. I will certainly look into that."

The boy walked away confused and a feeling he couldn't explain, but he felt like he just walked through a pride of lions and got out in one piece.

Amber looked around to see if anyone else that had watched her rest. She gazed around the room with not so kind eyes...

Vadim was covered in black wispy robes, he was an assassin. A damn good one too he was practiced in black magic and poison's and other tools an assassin would need. He sat down next to miss stone, she was beautiful, from what he knew and the way her hands slightly shook from human meet she was either a lonely cannibal or a civil agent. But it was obvious what one was more likely.

"My lady, I find your way's to be inciting if you would be so kind to educate me on them. That's if my theroy's are correct." He said with a smile that showed calm and relaxed with a hint of slit your throat.

A Black Mamba snake curled across his arm and out looking at Amber it hissed and its tongue lightly licked her hand as he snuck back in.

Vadim spoke in some unknown language as the snake ran down through his robes across his leg and down through the inn floor he snatched a set of pearl's from a woman to drunk to know, he then returned and gave them to his master.

"For you my lady," he said handing them to her.

Amber gave a soft chuckle when the man offered her the pearls.

"Giving a girl jewelry? One might think you're after something you can't have." Amber placed one hand over the other. On her finger was a rather splendid engagement ring. The ring may have brought her terrible memories, but she kept it on her finger. It was meant to repel men like this one.

However, she took the necklace anyway. It was just one more treasure to barter with. She eyed the man, but more critical and studious.

"I am not what you think I am. I gave up that life a long time ago. I am now a free woman, bound by no group or any man."

She then stood and walked past the man, tracing a finger around his shoulder. Her finger gently bumped into the snake. She immediately grabbed it behind the neck, denying it the chance to bite.

Amber then continued to walk towards a set of stairs leading up to the bedrooms. On her way, she dropped the snake into a mug of some stranger's ale.

Vadim sighed all he wanted was to be a member of Acteaus Nimius, not to lay with this women and not to join her former club. He stood as the man with the snake in his ale drew a dagger to stab it already dumping it from his cup.

Vadim shoved his face into the bar breaking his nose he let the snake run up into his sleeve as the man fell. He then seemed to his right eye pupil that of a snake's and white the other a human's and dark brown. He grinned slightly at the man and stepped into the shadow's he knew the women was of know help but he felt her rudeness was uncalled for.

He was leaning up against the corner of the wall as he walked out infront of her, a skill that took practice but he could use the shadow's to move to other shadow's, teleporting would be a easy way to describe it.

He smiled hiding his frustration as if it were beneath a mask.

"I ask for something, if you can help me. I would greatly appreciate you helping my find a member, or them finding me of Actaeus Nimius." He said still holding the smile

"I will do what you wish," He explained to her standing to the side as to let her to her room as she hopefully replied to him.

Kreave sat in the corner of the common room sipping his water. The naturalist druid didn't much care for inns, but the elements outside foretold of a coming storm. Kreave felt his vision toward the elements to be somewhat skewed though. He couldn't tell if the coming storm was something to do with weather...or something far worse. None the less he felt it best to be in doors.

Of course in doors would be where the storm was. Kreave saw daggers flying his way and ducked just in time.

The hellfolk jumped onto the tables and began running across them throwing more daggers.

"Ecks," Kreave muttered. He knew it wouldn't be long now.

Customers fled in the common room as the hellfolk sliced his own cheek and flung the bloody dagger at the minotaur.

Kreave ducked and began to cast an entanglement spell, but it was to late. Ecks was on him.

The halfling jumped onto Kreaves head with both feet. right on the very top. he snapped the minotaur's neck in half.

People ran in fear. Ecks didn't wait around. He knew some foolish hero would be along shortly to try to kill him. Seeing a window he dove through it making sure to let as much glass as possible slice him, so no one would touch him.


Character Sheet

Name: Ecks
Race: Hellfolk
Faction: Acaetus Nimius Assassin

Weapons: Ecks uses a variety of throwing daggers.
Armor: Ecks uses black leather armor, and wears a black denim jacket.

Description: Ecks looks like this:



History: No one knows Ecks history. Not even Ecks. He woke up one day being trained by the assassins and had no idea how he got there.

Amber thought for a moment about slapping the man, but figured he might like it too much. The sounds of glass breaking and another bar brawl starting could be heard below.

The man moved to the side to let her pass, trying to be a gentleman. As if he could. Amber almost started towards her room, until she got an idea.

"There is something I need... but I doubt you're capable of handling it yourself. If I help you find a member of that Acteus-whatever, then I need you to help me get home. Deal? Good. Let us search for more of your goons to help us!"

Amber then grabbed Vadin, and started to "escort" him back down the stairs to the main room and outside.

"I hear alleyways are good for your type to bumble about..."

Vadim was slightly surprised that she agreed to help him. Of course he wasn't going to turn her down, that would only make his job harder. down the ally almost blending in with the shadows Vadim went Amber close behind it was almost musical the way he moved.

he stopped suddenly the snake curled up through his collar resting its head on his shoulder it hissed and slithered around a corner. Vadim went into a trance like state seeing through the snake's eyes he spotted a group of 3 men.

The snake returned and slithered up his pant leg back to his shoulder. Vadim walked up to the 3 men.

"Good evening gentlemen," he stated as the smirked at him drawing there daggers.

"That is not a good idea." he said.

"very well." as he spun throwing a dagger as it stuck right in the man's jugular the blood spraying another man in the eyes blinding him.

Vadim then produced to black dagger's to avoid glinting when he preformed assassination's.

The dagger's were not curved they were skinny and about 5 inches or 6 inches long perfectible sharp.

He spun rhythmically both the dagger's quickly entering the men's chest and poking there hearts as soon as they were in they were out. He stood there slightly crouched as if he was bowing with his arm's extended and blood on the tips of his daggers.

The men still stood, all of them. He then wiped the blood from them on the mens clothes after sheathing the daggers pulling the smaller dagger that was in the mans throat wiping that off and sheathing that aswell he turned at Amber.

"Shall we go?" he said with a evil grin almost.

"Oh most forgot."

He grabbed a hidden fourth man and slammed him up against the wall as he did so the other 3 fell.

"Your going to help us, if you dont i will kill you. And dont think i wont." he said letting the man go.

Amber walked up to Vadin as he held the man prisoner. The human threatened to kill the man if he didn't help, but Amber wasn't satisfied.

She strode up, and barely missing Vadin's side, stuck one of the thugs' daggers into the man Vadin held.

"Stop showing off, and goofing around."

Amber then started down the alley without Vadin. She heard the sound of hastened running. For what they were looking for, maybe a possible lead.

"Stay quiet, and keep your ears open," whispered Amber.

Vadim was slightly offended by that, three men by himself was pretty good he thought. all the same he did what the women ordered.

He heard the footsteps too. His snake hissed also sensing the disruption.

He was waiting for further order's he technically didn't even know what he was doing.

So he waited.

Ecks stopped running and turned to make sure he wasn't being followed.

He saw Amber and Vadim.

Still covered in his own hellfolk blood he grinned and began running toward them.

Vadim and Amber didn't have much time before that Hellfolk would be on top of them and what nasty blood they had.

Vadim Drew both of his daggers he cast a black magic spell that strechted long shadow's along the side of the ally's walls allowing him to teleport through them if he needed to jump around the hellfolk quickly.

His Black mamba slithered across his shoulder down the back of his hand ready to attack if needed.

If the hellfolk truly wanted to fight, he most likely would be hurt.

"Can we talk about this?" he asked staring at the approaching Ecks.

The boots of a hellfolk, that's what she heard. And the little bugger was running at her (and that other guy).

While her temporary ally distracted that boorish hellfolk, Amber looked for a solution. She looked around the alley for something to improvise. On the body of one the thugs was a flogging whip.

She daintily picked it up and swung it. The hard leather wrapped around the hellfolk's leg, and she lassoed him to the dirt. She then went and stood over the deranged man and studied him. She smiled.

"You'll do, hellfolk. Hurry and get up. It's a long ride to my Manor," she said to Ecks. She threw the whip on top of him, no longer needing it.

"Are you going to act civilized, or do I sick my dog on you?" she asked indicated that Vadim, of course, the dog.

Ecks was on the ground on his back and growled and snapped his teeth trying to bite at the woman.

"ECKS DOESN'T NEED YOU! ECKS DOESN'T NEED ANYBODY! ECKS KILL WITNESSES! ECKS KILL YOU!"

"Hush! I'm offering you employment, dumby. I don't know what hell you're in trouble for, and I don't give a damn. None of my business. However, if you can get me home to my Manor, I'll let you hide out there until whatever you've done is forgotten.

"If that's not good enough I got money and supplies of whatever you want. I've already found one moron to help me. I can get another if you wish. Your choice if you wanna throw away a fortune cause you don't wanna walk a girl home. I can get one of those Naticus Acticus or whatever they're called."

Vadim stood there wacthing as she spoke to the man, if a battle were ever fought with words, Amber would surly win.

He rolled his eye's at the word dummy. But perked up at the poorly pronounced assassin's guild.

The black mamba slithered curious as well and slithered across Ecks his tongue slightly grazing is cheek.

Vadim spoke in a unkown tongue the snake hissed and came back to him.

"Please, dont try anything funny." he asked politley to the hellfolk/

Ecks eyed the two cautiously. One could never trust potential witnesses to a job. Then again, this woman would be easier to take out if need be away from a public vicinity. And the idiot with her wouldn't two seconds in a fight with Ecks. ecks was sure. Ecks was sure he was sure. Ecks was sure he was sure that he was sure.

"ECKS TAKE YOU HOME!" he screamed and growled and stood to his feet.

"Very good..." she said, rubbing her ears.

"Well then, since it seems we've got enough people right now, I think we should start heading home!"

******

Amber, followed by the two hired thugs, bought a horse and carriage. Just outside the gates to Port Skell, an old road could be seen. The horse followed the road, winding up the coast line, getting higher in elevation, so that the beach disappeared and were replaced with cliffs.

It wasn't a long ride before they could see the white marbled building. So far the road had been clear of undead. No one used it anymore. Once they got near the house however, more of the stiffs could be seen in the distance.

"The doors to the front wont be locked. I suggest we hurry and get inside before they notice us."

The carriage road up to the steps. The undead all seemed busy with something, possibly one of the Manor's groundskeepers.

The three had no problem getting into the main room, where they saw a large staircase leading up through the victorian Manor.

"Well, get to it. I'm sure you'll find plenty of those undead roaming about the rooms and on the grounds. I want them and anything else in here dealt with."

Vadim looked at the hellfolk. And then around at the rather large Manor.

"I assume you can handle yourself, its dark enough in here shout if you need me I'll be there in a second." laughed as his form shrouded as
he appeared in the upstairs location of the manor blades extended.

Immeaditly to undead attacked he ducked shoving the dagger's into there heads as brain matter leaked from the whole.

His black mamba lunged from his sleve and landed on a zombie crawling through its open eye hole in its brain biting quickly then returning to his master.

He then turned his head as the room flashed with fire real quick, all the zombies then exploded. He then did the same to the room across from him

Livvy watched from the chapel of the Manor with Katene. Throughout the main building, flashes of light moved from room to room. She was sure it was only a matter of time that whoever or whatever this was, would be at the chapel.

She tugged at the chain attached to Katene's ankle. He groaned angrily and rushed at her. With a slap to the ear, Katene stopped instantly.

The two elves had strayed far from their land and knew little of where they were. They had only been married three years when the outbreak occurred. Katene had been on a delivery in another town and had been bitten.

In order to keep Katene alive, and the two of them together until a cure was found, Livvy had constructed a muzzle around her husband's mouth and had added a chain leash. Routinely he rushed her, absolutely mad for her blood. The only solution she had found was to slap his ear.

Also to keep the two newlyweds alive, Livvy and Katene were banished from the elvin land. And this new, strange land was very unwelcoming and overwhelming.

And now, as the flashes of light streaked in the manor, Livvy worried that whatever was happening, would make its way to the grounds' chapel. Tugging at Katene's chain leash once again, she led him out of the building and into the trees.

She directed them around the manor and down towards the shore. Surely there would be some caves or cover there.

***************
Character Sheet:

~Livvy Bugg~
Elf Druid

Weapon: Bow and Arrow, Dagger

Physicality: Electric blue hair (illuminates in moonlight), pale skin, clear blue eyes, leather armor around body, a little extra baggage around the middle

~Katene Bugg~
Elf Warrior, Now Undead

Weapon: Mouth

Physicality: Hideous

Livvy and her beau were not alone in the chapel. Once used by members of the Stone family to impress guests, it held no real purpose. They were not a religious family. In fact, rather than seeing blessings, and worship, the chapel was a building used for acts that would curse the family.

She must not have heard the noises, but it was good she left when she did. It did not follow her. It simply retreated into the chapel, ready for the next guest...

*************

The flashes and the bangs that Vadim were not just seen by Livvy. While he cleared the first room of stiffs, he wasn't patient enough to look around more. He entered the next room to do the same. He started his flashy attacks, and killed the single zombie in that room. Before he could leave the room though, the door to the room closed. It was locked. And no spell, or physical bash would break open that door.

*************

Amber and Ecks were still at the bottom of the stairs. The flashing could be seen from the stairwell.

"Fool. There's more to the house than he expects. I can kill a few undead. What I need requires more than sharp knives or flashy magic.

"Go as you want, hellfolk, but I'd advise we stay together."

Amber stated walking down a hall past the stairwell. It opened up into a study with many books and large windows. Double doors led to a terrace overlooking the shore.

A door could be heard shutting upstairs, but she continued into the study going to the bookcase.

Ecks didn't care about zombies. Ecks didn't care about doing work for Amber. Ecks cared about only one thing...

"ECKS KILL WOMAN!" he screamed behind her and jumped on her back, wrapping his forearm around her neck, strangling her.

The two fell to the floor and Ecks climbed on top of her.

A blade seemed to come from nowhere and appeared in Ecks hand. The hellfolk was lightning fast. So fast she didn't even see him slash his own tongue soaking his blade in his poisounous blood, until the blade was already dripping.

"ECKS KILL WITNESS TO ECKS CRIME! ECKS LEAVE NO ONE ALIVE!" he screamed bringing the blade down toward her face.

Vadim pounded against the door nothing happened he slammed his blade with it and yet nothing happened.

"This door, is....odd." he said rather civilized.

He tried shadow jumping through it and he just bounced off the door. He then let his snake slither, its bones moved as it barley poked its head through the door.

Vadim went into a trance and saw threw the Black Mamba's eyes and was able to see Eck's tackle the women, he could here him yelling to.

The snake came back to him and he thought for a moment to no solution. Vadim sighed there was nothing he could do.

Livvy continued on towards the shore, leading Katene behind her. She was beginning to worry that with his slow speed, whoever was in the manor would see them.

"Hurry Katene," she hissed.

Her husband only continued moving at the same speed. He hardly recognized she was speaking to him.

"Katene," she whispered, her voice softening, "Please love, we must move."

Once again, like every other time she had tried to engage him, there was no acknowledgement from him. The only time he was anything other than...undead...was when he went mad and rushed at her.

Just as Livvy and Katene were about the leave the safety of the trees, an eerie cry was heard from the manor. Whatever, or whoever, it was, sounded as if there was something wrong.

When she looked, the flashes of light no longer illuminated the rooms. Still, there were sounds echoing into the night.

"What is happening in there?"

There was another sound...

"Stay here love," she whispered to Katene.

Wrapping the chain around a nearby tree, she kissed his forehead and dashed through the trees towards the manor.

Through one of the windows, she saw two figures: a small hellfolk attacking a woman. Without thinking, Livvy smashed through the glass.

"Get off her," Livvy yelled.

The elf crashing through the window didn't change anything. And the hellfolk, who thought he was the attacker, found himself to be the victim. "Amber" stared up at Ecks with a wicked grin. Then down the two went, through the floor. Amber held on tight, not affected by any of the blood on the dagger, or anything else he did.

Soon, the elf was there along in a room without a hellfolk, without a human woman, and without any broken windows. All she heard was the banging on a door upstairs.

Candles flickered lighting the room. There was no wind, but the room was cold.

*****

The hellfolk fell through the floor, into darkness. He felt himself drop into an open space. There was no source of light, and he could no longer feel anyone or anything holding him.

*****

Finally, after one last attempt to break the door down, it simply opened on its own, causing Vadim to run straight into a wall. He heard laughter from some unseen guest. There was a candle near the stairwell, and more leading back downstairs.

*****

Livvy stood there alone in the study of the Manor. She could hear the waves crashing on the shore outside, and she felt something fall behind her: a book.

Vadim looked around, he was stunned what was going on he had know idea, this place was more then just an old house.

"This is rather strange" he stated.

He slowly crept down the stairs one hand on his dagger the other on his throwing the knife.

The black Mamba coiled around his arm ready to attack if needed. Something was definitely wrong with this place.

very wrong indeed.