Cross Effects 3.0 - November 16, 2014—April 13, 2015

[SINIB]

As Faust re-materialised and grabbed hold of Sakura, Rider also re-materialised, throwing her nail at him before dashing to also grab hold of Sakura, and prevent her enemy escaping with his captive.

"Get away from my master!" Rider shouted, angrily.

As she did so, though, the enemy turned to face Saber.

“Mordred, can you stop the enemy!? She’s trying to harm Sakura, I’ll pay you good money!” he said.

Mordred? Really? She doesn't seem like she'd fit Shirou's personality....

Rider practically growled.

"I am not! I would never harm Sakura! He's the one trying to harm her!" she shouted.

Meanwhile, she heard Sakura muttering.

“Where’s senpai, Rider? Where is he?”

"I... I don't know....

Last time I saw him, he was heading off for a holiday with you. I don't think I'm from your universe, though, you're a lot younger than the Sakura I know".

Rider’s nail slammed into an invisible shield, deflecting off it and embedding into a chair. As Rider charged at Sakura, she too slammed into the shield, bouncing off it as well. I’ll die if she gets through my shield. Faust looked over at Mordred, who was currently caught up in a fight for her life with a mad black monster. She’s not going to be able to aid me after all. Looks like I need to take matters into my own hands.

Faust raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Two black dogs materialized, fire in their eyes. Faust snapped a second time. Several magic circles appeared behind him. Faust raised his other hand, and snapped with both of them. The two dogs charged at the woman and shadowy black tendrils shot forth from the circles.

[Mooncake]

Wanderer


The girl started screaming like a banshee, enough to disturb every human within earshot. Wanderer, unlike the rest of them, had not flinched. Instead, he studied her closely. Her reactions, the way she convulsed, her face distorted and red... he had seen these traits before. She was someone who had looked too deep and not liked what she had found.

In other words, it was time to leave. Her companion, screaming only the way a human conditioned through years of inarticulate yelling could, picked her up and ran outside. Wanderer turned to PARIAH, figuring what was about to be asked.

"She isn't edible."

His message came a little late, and PARIAH's tendril was already streaking towards the pair's defenseless backs. While Wanderer wasn't always opposed to the death of the innocent - and how could he be? - there were simply too many people here for his liking.

 At this point, there was only one thing he could do. The cowboy manifested a chain, a simple, magical thing, and swung it at Donnel and Rebeca slightly faster than PARIAH's tendril. It wrapped around them, and by pivoting, pulling with superhuman strength, Wanderer flung them down an alley as PARIAH's tendril hit the wall where the two had been.

Having accomplished that, PARIAH still on his back, Wanderer sprinted away, moving out of the area in the opposite direction.

"She was not edible, PARIAH. If you had tried, your mind would have become unstable."

---------------------

A note rang out upon the roiling sea of power within the Nexus. It was a strange signature, something obscured by great magic on the level of the Gods - but for those who held that divinity within them, there was no mistaking it.

For a single instant, there had been a great cry, filled with fire and steel and pain. For an instant, something very old had been felt within the bones of the city itself.

[Umbra of Chaos]

PARIAH

"She was not edible, PARIAH. If you had tried, your mind would have become unstable."

The virus simply shrugged on Wanderer's back as he moved and withdrew the bladed tendril. It quickly fused back into PARIAH's being without a trace of its existence. He tugged on the hair of his transport and asked, "Park now?"


Ann

Ann paused as she felt something familiar. A power that reeked of blood, destruction, and death. It was a familiar energy that resonated with her being and made her smile. She was unable to track it since it had barely lasted more than a second, but it told her enough.

So, her little brother roamed these streets as well? Ann could go search for him but the city was vast and wasting her time searching for family was not a priority at the moment. All she would really need to do was wait. Her little brother's influence was something that had ravaged countries and empires. Within this boiling pot of a countless other beings it wouldn't be too long before it was felt here too. Then she could seek him out at the center of the bloodbath that was to come.

[NinjaQ]

Earleen's eyes snap open as the pain makes a resurgence through her arm now that the alcohol has left her mind clear. “... I'm not even going to question what the heck just happened to me..” With that, she slowly pushed off the ground as to not injure her arm any more than it was. After a quick once over of herself, she makes up her mind. “... Probably should go to a hospital.. if there's one around this strange world..” After a cursory search, she finds a few signs pointing to something called the Nexus Hospital.  With as much of a shrug as she can manage, she heads on for the hospital in search of aid for her arm.

From within the hospital, Earleen hears one thing, sounds of a fight between two.. probably more people than that. Her right hand involuntarily finds a resting spot on her face. This is just her luck, a broken arm and the only known hospital is currently under some kind of siege. After a moment's rest, Earleen turns around to face the door and soon reaches into her pocket, pulling out...  Are.. you.. serious?  She questions as she stares at the empty tin can as if it has committed some horrible crime. After tossing the can away, she tries again.. and this time fishes out a cowboy hat. … Third time's the charm?  With that, Earleen tries one last time and pulls out a banana. … Fine.. Earleen relents from trying to get anything better from this admittedly strange magic and turns to face the door, shoving it open to find what she'd describe as an all out bar brawl. Without taking another second, she simply steps in and works her way over to a corner in hopes of waiting out the fight.

[Elf]

Forest

“Vampire, is Saber on the Nexus police force?”

The blond bristled at that and her indigo eyes narrowed at Calico Archer.  Then she smiled, a bit lopsided that didn't quite reach her eyes.  "My name isn't 'Vampire'. It's Forest.  For-est.  I don't go around calling you 'Cosmic Wanker' even though you are one."

Of course he's excited to see Saber.  Because Saber is wonderful and pure and bloody hell I'm being petty again, the vampire thought before sighing, her eyes closing.  She answered, "Yes, she's their 'Glowing Holy Sword Wielding Monster Killer'."

Law on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to start bashing heads in.  He said, "Well, she said Saber and 'Help with investigation' so yeah, I'd assume she's on the police force Calico. Why don't we go. Like right now. Mia will be fine inside, I'm sure there's some kindly old grandma who'll watch her for an hour or so."

The vampire sighed and said, "Even if there isn't a 'kindly grandmother' sort, we can make sure that she at least has a roof over her head and warm food to eat.  I know where Saber's located.  You said you have a car right, Law?  Do you mind ferrying Calico Archer here because I'm an evil vampire that's planning to turn him and enslave him because I'm just that evil."  She winked at Mia and did some spooky finger wiggles in a very Wynn-like fashion before turning to Calico and raising an eyebrow.

Do not let her in the compound.  Do not invite her to stay.


Saber

Saber frowned and said, "If they were eaten, surely there would be remainders.  Things like clothing and bone.  Things not easily digested."

"Maybe they were teleported elsewhere," she mused, thoughtfully munching on her doughnut.

[Cherry Lover]

To her disappointment, Rider's attack on Sakura's kidnapper failed miserably, her nail simply bouncing off the shield he had erected earlier. And, worse, her rescue attempt was equally unsuccessful, with Rider simply bouncing off the same shield.

I can't let him get away. God-knows what horrible fate awaits her if that maniac takes her. I have to break that shield.

Before she could act any further, though, all hell broke loose. First, a clearly-insane black knight came charging at Mordred, causing the girl to turn her attention from Rider to a desperate battle for survival.

Well, at least that's one enemy out of the way.

Then, suddenly, the gravity spell that had been weighing her down disappeared in a flash of flame from one of the newcomers, before the walls were set aflame, as if she was in the depths of Tartarus.

Quickly, the flames went out but, having got her attention, the man spoke up.

"Would it be too much to ask you to take this else where?!" he asked. "It's going to be enough of a pain to clean up after you already."

Then tell him to free my master!

Rider turned to the guy and spoke.

"I don't want to fight him at all, I just want him to let the girl go and leave us alone. But, as long as she is his captive, I will do whatever I must to free her. If you want us to stop fighting, help me break through that barrier and rescue her."

As she did so, Faust snapped his fingers once more, and two hellhounds appeared, followed by another snap, producing several magic circles. The dogs charged rapidly towards Rider, whilst the magic circles produced shadowy tentacles much like those her master used.

Rider jumped backwards, throwing her nails at one of the dogs. Both deep into the side of the approaching dog, which quickly disappeared. Then, as the other dog approached, Rider gave it a solid roundhouse kick, sending it flying back into the barrier.

But, the tentacles kept coming. Rider attempted to dodge them, but they seemed to move whatever direction she went in and, in this confined space, she could do nothing to avoid them.

Shit.

Reluctantly, Rider realised that she had to head into a less confined space, and hopefully out of the range of the tentacles. Throwing her two nails at the shield, she headed towards the door, dodging the tentacles as she did. Hopefully, the enemy would follow her, but if not, she could attack from outside. She just hoped that he wouldn't harm Sakura as long as she was nearby.

[Panda]

Under any other circumstances, Adjutor might have been angered. There were two obstinate fools who completely ignored the very air being incinerated around them in favor of some banter passed between them, followed by...shadow tentacles? No matter, those were familiar enough to Xarrest to block and/or dodge what few might have hit him.

"If that is the case," Adjutor says, focusing completely on the task at hand: protecting the patients still in this hospital, "Then explain to me why there is a connection between those two, not dissimilar to a contract? I've been here for a while, and she doesn't seem to be under duress."

Protect. Protect. Protect. Protect.

"I am truly sorry for whatever misunderstanding may have occurred, but you cannot deny that all of this happened after you came here. Regardless of who may be at fault here, my task is clear, and my task is to protect."

With that, Adjutor mutters a single word, "Moeskarne."

The Shield Concept materializes in front of Adjutor before slamming into the lavender-haired woman as if it hadn't passed through the intermediate space and shoving her out of the building altogether.

"Now then, Sorcerer," Xarrest says, taking over as Adjutor prepares another Shield still wary of the screaming, black-armored warrior and the not-human, "Explain yourself. You shall have ample time to do so. Alternatively, help me keep the peace within. Either way, I want answers, and I feel I have earned them."

[SINIB]

Under any other circumstances, Adjutor might have been angered. There were two obstinate fools who completely ignored the very air being incinerated around them in favor of some banter passed between them, followed by...shadow tentacles? No matter, those were familiar enough to Xarrest to block and/or dodge what few might have hit him.

"If that is the case," Adjutor says, focusing completely on the task at hand: protecting the patients still in this hospital, "Then explain to me why there is a connection between those two, not dissimilar to a contract? I've been here for a while, and she doesn't seem to be under duress."

Protect. Protect. Protect. Protect.

"I am truly sorry for whatever misunderstanding may have occurred, but you cannot deny that all of this happened after you came here. Regardless of who may be at fault here, my task is clear, and my task is to protect."

With that, Adjutor mutters a single word, "Moeskarne."

The Shield Concept materializes in front of Adjutor before slamming into the lavender-haired woman as if it hadn't passed through the intermediate space and shoving her out of the building altogether.

"Now then, Sorcerer," Xarrest says, taking over as Adjutor prepares another Shield still wary of the screaming, black-armored warrior and the not-human, "Explain yourself. You shall have ample time to do so. Alternatively, help me keep the peace within. Either way, I want answers, and I feel I have earned them."

Faust cleared his throat, highly on guard after the previous show of power. It’s no mean feat to force a servant to move like that. Faust cleared his throat. “This young woman and I were just leaving the hospital when I detected an enemy approaching. So I sent this woman, who happens to be my master, back inside the hospital, where I hoped that she would be safe while I dealt with the situation. Sadly, this was not the case. She summoned a brilliant winged horse, possibly a pegasus, and seemed to want to hit the building with it, presumably to kill my master. So I fired a powerful beam at it, after which she jumped off and phased through the hospital to try to, again, reach my master. So I tried to reach her to rescue her, but this magenta-haired woman blocked my path, forcing me to take drastic measures. This led to the... current situation, with her and I fighting for supremacy inside the hospital. I’m extremely sorry, and will help pay for the damages to the building.” Faust paused, waiting for his response.

[Panda]

Faust cleared his throat, highly on guard after the previous show of power. It’s no mean feat to force a servant to move like that. Faust cleared his throat. “This young woman and I were just leaving the hospital when I detected an enemy approaching. So I sent this woman, who happens to be my master, back inside the hospital, where I hoped that she would be safe while I dealt with the situation. Sadly, this was not the case. She summoned a brilliant winged horse, possibly a pegasus, and seemed to want to hit the building with it, presumably to kill my master. So I fired a powerful beam at it, after which she jumped off and phased through the hospital to try to, again, reach my master. So I tried to reach her to rescue her, but this magenta-haired woman blocked my path, forcing me to take drastic measures. This led to the... current situation, with her and I fighting for supremacy inside the hospital. I’m extremely sorry, and will help pay for the damages to the building.” Faust paused, waiting for his response.

"..." Xarrest takes all of this in as Adjutor kneels down on the floor, removing a glove to place a black-tattooed hand upon the ground, "Moeskarne," he says, firmly this time.

Protect (this hospital). Protect (this man). Protect (his master). Protect (Every last patient within).

With each iteration, a haze starts to build up around the building, the amount of mana, while significant, not betraying even a close estimate of how powerful the shield was.

Strange. It isn't that powerful normally...Eh, why am I complaining?!

His work completed, with the Concept Applied to the building, Adjutor stands up and turns to face the sorcerer. Considering the information passed to him by Xarrest, he nods, "That would explain that massive flash of mana from earlier, the impacts, the shouting...You seem to be a fairly powerful...And yet..." Adjutor considers this for a moment, "A Familiar...no, that would be an insult. A Spirit?"

Adjutor shakes his head, "No matter. Considering the current situation, I feel it would be best to hear every side of this story. Your master, next, when she can. I'm not in any hurry right now. Regardless, don't apologize. Help me figure this out so we can all be on our way and not fighting near this hospital."

After a short moment, Adjutor offers the Spirit a slight bow, "My gratitude for your offer. We'll need it," he then takes another look at the walls, "Repainting the walls is going to be a bitch, though..."

[SINIB]

"..." Xarrest takes all of this in as Adjutor kneels down on the floor, removing a glove to place a black-tattooed hand upon the ground, "Moeskarne," he says, firmly this time.

Protect (this hospital). Protect (this man). Protect (his master). Protect (Every last patient within).

With each iteration, a haze starts to build up around the building, the amount of mana, while significant, not betraying even a close estimate of how powerful the shield was.

Strange. It isn't that powerful normally...Eh, why am I complaining?!

His work completed, with the Concept Applied to the building, Adjutor stands up and turns to face the sorcerer. Considering the information passed to him by Xarrest, he nods, "That would explain that massive flash of mana from earlier, the impacts, the shouting...You seem to be a fairly powerful...And yet..." Adjutor considers this for a moment, "A Familiar...no, that would be an insult. A Spirit?"

Adjutor shakes his head, "No matter. Considering the current situation, I feel it would be best to hear every side of this story. Your master, next, when she can. I'm not in any hurry right now. Regardless, don't apologize. Help me figure this out so we can all be on our way and not fighting near this hospital."

After a short moment, Adjutor offers the Spirit a slight bow, "My gratitude for your offer. We'll need it," he then takes another look at the walls, "Repainting the walls is going to be a bitch, though..."

Faust returned his bow. “It’s the very least I can do after causing all this trouble.” Faust placed Sakura on one of the few remaining chairs, and looked closely at her. “Sakura.”

“Where’s senpai?” Sakura asked with a blank expression.

“I don’t know where Shirou is, but he’s not here right now.”

“Caster? Shirou isn’t here?” A look of deep sadness crossed her face, but was quickly replaced with panic. “ What about Rider? I know I saw her! Faustus, where is she!”

“Rider? I’m not sure I know who you’re talking about, Sakura. The only other servant here is the enemy who tried to kidnap you...”

“No! That was Rider!” A look of fear crossed her face. “You didn’t kill her, did you?”

Faust shook his head. “No, I didn’t kill her. This man pushed her outside so he could figure out what was going on.” Faust gestured at Adjutor.

Sakura turned to look at Adjutor. “You didn’t hurt her, did you?”

[Panda]

Faust returned his bow. “It’s the very least I can do after causing all this trouble.” Faust placed Sakura on one of the few remaining chairs, and looked closely at her. “Sakura.”

“Where’s senpai?” Sakura asked with a blank expression.

“I don’t know where Shirou is, but he’s not here right now.”

“Caster? Shirou isn’t here?” A look of deep sadness crossed her face, but was quickly replaced with panic. “ What about Rider? I know I saw her! Faustus, where is she!”

“Rider? I’m not sure I know who you’re talking about, Sakura. The only other servant here is the enemy who tried to kidnap you...”

“No! That was Rider!” A look of fear crossed her face. “You didn’t kill her, did you?”

Faust shook his head. “No, I didn’t kill her. This man pushed her outside so he could figure out what was going on.” Faust gestured at Adjutor.

Sakura turned to look at Adjutor. “You didn’t hurt her, did you?”

Adjutor winces slightly upon hearing that the lavender-haired woman was another servant of the girl's.

Ah...

Shit.

"She might be a bit dizzy," Adjutor says, "Sorry about that. Everything was fine when I went into that broom closet, and when I come out...I suppose it couldn't be helped given what I knew at the time, but I still messed up, and for that I am truly sorry," he says, offering another bow to Sakura.

Adjutor considers the situation for a moment more, then walks up to the edge of the barrier, "Rider. If you're still willing to talk at this point, then can you come in and share your side of the story?"

He prepares to open up the shield in case she accepts, keeping an eye on the black-armored screamer and the not-human in case one of them makes a break for the hospital for whatever reason.

"Okay, I'm getting outta here. Go home if you guys want to, but I need some Hennessy and pussy right now, on the fuckin' rocks." Neo threw his hands up as he began walk away from them. "Don't got fuckin' lookin' for me, and I don't wanna see yo' nasty-ass faces. See y'all later, bitches."

Rattus and Yukina just looked at Neo as he walked away to get himself some private recreation. Rattus then looked back at Yukina and said, "Just give me the keys to the car, Schwesterchen. I think I'm at optimal condition to drive now."

"Are you sure, onii-chan?" Yukina asked, even as she handed the keys to him.

"Yes." he replied. "Don't worry anymore, alright?"

"Alright." she nodded cheerfully.

"We will head off the Manor, Mister Henderson." The German said to the old man. "Please join us and follow our vehicle, so you will know where to go if you need us."

Then the two of them headed off to the Kubelwagen, in order to ride it and lead Henderson to the Manor.

Henderson evaluates his current situation and decides that he can afford to spend the night in someone else's place if it comes down to it.

"Sure," he says from inside his Buick before getting into gear and following the strange, boat-shaped car to a strange building of red brick.

Henderson takes a look with a low whistle, "That seems like a pretty nice place, eh Rupes?"

The parrot, of course, doesn't respond. Henderson figures that Rupert is simply too excited.

"Yeah, this is a new experience for me too..." he says, continuing to follow the Kubelwagen.

[Kaze]

LANCELOT

The mad warrior crashed into the changeling with all the power of a speeding locomotive. He slashed at her with his makeshift weapons, two mundane glass shards turned supernatural by his Noble Phantasm, the Knight of Honor. However, even with this empowerment the shards were little better than knives, far from ideal weapons for a knight. The reach was too small, and their miniscule weight did nothing to assist the berserker’s blows, powered by animalistic fury.

BLOOD DIE MURDER VIOLENCE KILL HER MALIGNANCE

He slashed at the woman once, twice, thrice… 12 times in the time span of a second, such was the monstrous speed of the former Servant. Yet it was not enough, the strikes were failing to deal his target any truly significant damage. Lancelot was incapable of strategy, of thinking two steps ahead, while under the influence of the Mad Enhancement, but with his skill in the art of combat so thoroughly ingrained, even pure instinct could avail him. Making a sudden pivot, he whirled around behind Mordred to slash at her from the back in a motion so fast that a bystander would have thought him capable of teleportation.

KILL HER HATRED CRIMES KILL HER TREASON SELFISH CORRUPTION

Even as the battle between two Servants raged just behind him, Lancelot focused only his chosen enemy, pushing her back, closer and closer to the street just outside with a constant barrage of slashes and stabs when he felt a sudden heat at his back. He didn’t know what it was, but he could sense the danger.

DANGER KILL HER HOT DIE DANGER SUFFER HOT DANGER

Using both super empowered glass shards to push the blond woman’s spear, the dark knight launched into her without even taking the time to bring his arms back for a stab. His shoulder plate caught her in the chest, and the mad warrior charged out of the hospital, just in time to avoid immolation as the the air itself in the lobby was suddenly set ablaze. His crazed blitz carried both himself and his opponent out into the street before skidding to a halt, the changeling’s momentum carrying her a few meters further before she crashed to the ground in a heap.

MALIGNANCE BLOOD CORRUPTION HATRED DIE KILL HER

Lancelot discarded his current weapons, tossing the shards to the side in favor of a nearby triangular crosswalk sign. With a swift tug, he pulled the sign out of its emplacement and held it aloft as though it were a battle-axe, red lines of prana invading the object and providing it the same magical power that had been granted to the glass that preceded it.

KILL HER TRAITOR VICTIM ATONEMENT DEATH KILL HER ACCIDENT

He was about to advance on the girl again when one of the Servants flew from the hospital, landing close to his position. The mad warrior turned to her, the distorted red glow of his visor staring straight at the woman. He gave a low growl in her direction, she was not his target, but as a former Servant, and having been attacked from the rear, the berserker was ready to attack at the slightest perceived provocation.

[Ivan The Mouse]

Henderson evaluates his current situation and decides that he can afford to spend the night in someone else's place if it comes down to it.

"Sure," he says from inside his Buick before getting into gear and following the strange, boat-shaped car to a strange building of red brick.

Henderson takes a look with a low whistle, "That seems like a pretty nice place, eh Rupes?"

The parrot, of course, doesn't respond. Henderson figures that Rupert is simply too excited.

"Yeah, this is a new experience for me too..." he says, continuing to follow the Kubelwagen.

"We humbly welcome you to the von Engels Manor, oji-san." Yukina bowed down. "Please take a seat, I will get tea." She then headed off to the kitchen.

"Mister Henderson, please take a seat and feel at home." Rattus presented him to the leather couch. "By the way, this room is strictly a non-smoking area, so please refrain from doing such."

Aside from the leather couch, there were two leather chairs flanking it, and in front of it was a dark wooden coffee table, which was fronted in turn by a entertainment set comprising of a large flat screen television, two large speaker, various audio-video playing devices and game consoles, sound components and racks of media CDs. This whole living room set is resting on top of a black carpet, and overhanging it is a large chandelier made from wrought iron and incandescent light bulbs.

"So," Rattus began to speak as he sit on a chair beside the couch. "You say that you are looking for your stolen lawn ornaments. Can you tell the exact reasons for doing such?" He asked to the old man.

[Kat]

The mad warrior crashed into the changeling with all the power of a speeding locomotive. He slashed at her with his makeshift weapons, two mundane glass shards turned supernatural by his Noble Phantasm, the Knight of Honor. However, even with this empowerment the shards were little better than knives, far from ideal weapons for a knight. The reach was too small, and their miniscule weight did nothing to assist the berserker’s blows, powered by animalistic fury.

BLOOD DIE MURDER VIOLENCE KILL HER MALIGNANCE

He slashed at the woman once, twice, thrice… 12 times in the time span of a second, such was the monstrous speed of the former Servant. Yet it was not enough, the strikes were failing to deal his target any truly significant damage. Lancelot was incapable of strategy, of thinking two steps ahead, while under the influence of the Mad Enhancement, but with his skill in the art of combat so thoroughly ingrained, even pure instinct could avail him. Making a sudden pivot, he whirled around behind Mordred to slash at her from the back in a motion so fast that a bystander would have thought him capable of teleportation.

Truly the speed at which the mad warrior attacked Mordred was beyond realms of what mortals were capable, but her cursed spear granted her speed to parry his attacks, even if it was a defensive battle and she could not find an opening, being pushed back instead. She turned as fast she could, barely blocking Lancelot's slash.

KILL HER HATRED CRIMES KILL HER TREASON SELFISH CORRUPTION

Even as the battle between two Servants raged just behind him, Lancelot focused only his chosen enemy, pushing her back, closer and closer to the street just outside with a constant barrage of slashes and stabs when he felt a sudden heat at his back. He didn’t know what it was, but he could sense the danger.

DANGER KILL HER HOT DIE DANGER SUFFER HOT DANGER

Using both super empowered glass shards to push the blond woman’s spear, the dark knight launched into her without even taking the time to bring his arms back for a stab. His shoulder plate caught her in the chest, and the mad warrior charged out of the hospital, just in time to avoid immolation as the the air itself in the lobby was suddenly set ablaze. His crazed blitz carried both himself and his opponent out into the street before skidding to a halt, the changeling’s momentum carrying her a few meters further before she crashed to the ground in a heap.

MALIGNANCE BLOOD CORRUPTION HATRED DIE KILL HER

Lancelot discarded his current weapons, tossing the shards to the side in favor of a nearby triangular crosswalk sign. With a swift tug, he pulled the sign out of its emplacement and held it aloft as though it were a battle-axe, red lines of prana invading the object and providing it the same magical power that had been granted to the glass that preceded it.

KILL HER TRAITOR VICTIM ATONEMENT DEATH KILL HER ACCIDENT

He was about to advance on the girl again when one of the Servants flew from the hospital, landing close to his position. The mad warrior turned to her, the distorted red glow of his visor staring straight at the woman. He gave a low growl in her direction, she was not his target, but as a former Servant, and having been attacked from the rear, the berserker was ready to attack at the slightest perceived provocation.

Lying on the ground, she grasped her spear tightly, bracing herself for the black monster's charge. However, she noticed finally an opening, the mad warrior distracted by the spirit that pursued Faustus and Sakura. Taste this, you wanker

Dawnspear's tip glowed with the blinding light, and a concentrated beam of sunlight discharged at distracted Lancelot.

(OOC: Used Lord's Dread Gaze, invested part of her willpower to make it more potent. It can harm Lancelot somewhat)

***

“Vampire, is Saber on the Nexus police force?”

The blond bristled at that and her indigo eyes narrowed at Calico Archer.  Then she smiled, a bit lopsided that didn't quite reach her eyes.  "My name isn't 'Vampire'. It's Forest.  For-est.  I don't go around calling you 'Cosmic Wanker' even though you are one."

Of course he's excited to see Saber.  Because Saber is wonderful and pure and bloody hell I'm being petty again, the vampire thought before sighing, her eyes closing.  She answered, "Yes, she's their 'Glowing Holy Sword Wielding Monster Killer'."

Law on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to start bashing heads in.  He said, "Well, she said Saber and 'Help with investigation' so yeah, I'd assume she's on the police force Calico. Why don't we go. Like right now. Mia will be fine inside, I'm sure there's some kindly old grandma who'll watch her for an hour or so."

The vampire sighed and said, "Even if there isn't a 'kindly grandmother' sort, we can make sure that she at least has a roof over her head and warm food to eat.  I know where Saber's located.  You said you have a car right, Law?  Do you mind ferrying Calico Archer here because I'm an evil vampire that's planning to turn him and enslave him because I'm just that evil."  She winked at Mia and did some spooky finger wiggles in a very Wynn-like fashion before turning to Calico and raising an eyebrow.

Do not let her in the compound.  Do not invite her to stay.

Deborah continued spying on the group. Tch... She clenched her fists when she realized the vampire that was among the group openly fraternized with non-vampires, not even bothering to hide her nature. Social contact with humans had its use provided Kindred did their best to not reveal their true colors so casually. But treating humans on the same level was an affront to the doctrine her Covenant espoused. God ordained vampires to prey on humans as a part of his divine plan after all.

Truly, there was lot of work to be done in this God forsaken city.

[Panda]

Grendel waits for a few moments, watching the strangely dressed people stare back at him, dumbstruck.

Strange, Grendel notes, Those uniforms are strangely reminiscent of a trend from the Age of Terra.

Shaking his head, Grendel starts to make his way to the cordoned off area when one of the officers makes as if to impede his progress.

"Think, Arbites, before you do this," he says, "No matter what happens, I will accomplish what I was sent here to do. It would be to your benefit not to impede me."

Not giving the man time to respond, Grendel continues in, examining the grisly scene before him. Though he was of Ordo Malleus, he had worked with Ordo Xenos in the past, and he'd encountered his fair share of Xenos of most races.

Walls carved into as if by some barbed weapon. Blood everywhere, likely from the wounds suffered by the victims. No, he reconsiders upon noting the lack of bodies, There should be more bodies. Possibly the work of some Chaos creatures, though this may also be the work of Tyranids...

Continuing through the shop, footsteps silenced by soft-leather boots, Grendel notes the lack of any other evidence of violence within. Then he sees two more people, likely Arbites, looking over the only body in the building.

More important is the body itself. A child, broken and bloodied, with a gaping, ragged hole in his midsection.

Tyranids, then, Grendel decides, The forces of Chaos would not have left this building standing. In fact, this may very well be the work of a Genestealer Cult. By the grace of the Emperor, this filth may be eradicated before it can take hold and call a Hive Fleet to this world.

The man and the girl, likely Arbites as well, are talking amongst themselves, and the girl seems to be...eating? At a crime scene?

Sloppy, unprofessional, and potentially damaging evidence, Grendel sighs to himself as he approaches the two, clearing his throat if he needs to get their attention.

"Inquisitor Adept Grendel," he introduces himself, producing his Rosarius before continuing, "I am here under orders from Ordo Malleus, but it seems that this was caused by the foes of Ordo Xenos. Going off the evidence present," he indicates the store around them, "The reason that the only bloodstains remain are likely because the bodies were consumed for the biomass. From my current perspective, this seems to be the work of a Genestealer cult."