Mar 01 02:33:21 106 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Tue Mar 01 02:33:21 106 PA.

The runners will come to all of you suddenly, wherever you are and whatever you're doing. They'll have a simple message to offer. The time is come and in eight hours each is to meet in a precise place outside of the city, just within eyeshot of the place. Plenty of time to prepare. To gather gear, garb and make the body ready. Perhaps too much time to think about the near future before the gathering moment arrives. But it comes and none will have difficulties getting tot he location. Troubles continue to plague the city of Kingsdale, but the patrolled wilds just outside are of low danger.

The location will be a clearing in the woods, a low crust of snow lingering on the ground. The air is chill and the afternoon is slowly aging with each passing moment. Fittingly, the air is still, nature's breath held. The five will be there, waiting. Tamiril in his cloak and robes, though his features are veiled now by a light helmet added to his light armor. He waits quietly, hands folded together. Towering behind him is the imposing form of Raja, the wolf canid clad in heavy armor, though lacking an environmental helmet. A modified dog pack helmet takes the place of that, with a customized gas mask hanging about his neck. His big sword is on his back, a matching mate of silver in his hand. Johnny the merc is leaned against a tree nearby, smoking a cigarette quietly as he stares off into the distance. And Belinda, the flame themed female, paces back and forth nearby, her impatience almost palpable despite the obscuring presence of her red tinted goggles over her eyes. Hector, the Line Walker, lingers nearby as well, pacing the clearing slower, his helmeted head scanning back and forth as he inspects the edges of the clearing.

Caliopa keeps the final preparations down to finishing the six grenades that she could make, some rations, her armour, her weapons, and finally locking up the garage securely. She tells the AIM workers of her absence, trusting them to keep the place safe. She waits only for alistair's arrival before she turns her footsteps towards the clearing, her face pale but serious, her voice quiet as she and Alistair speak of everything but what is to come. She hesitates at the edge of the clearing, glancing between the figures there, uncertainly.

Alistair tries to stick to the different topics as best he can; he's brought some food, his rifle, pistol, a longsword, and apparently he does own armor - he's in it, helmet in hand. Just a standard crusader model, in camouflage. He tries to cheer Cali up, until they reach the clearing and things get a bit more serious. "Hi."

Having heard about the meeting and given the matter some thought, Sage had ended up feeling compelled to join the quest for the weapon after the undead menace. Once the runner had let her know about the time and place, she made sure to efficiently pack her essentials including whatever weapons she thought necessary for the journey. Worry bubbled in her emotions beneath the surface, but her expression is kept to a neutral mask. Knowing her protection resided with Tirzah, she arranged to arrive with her partner at the designated spot.

Vixen will come walking up to the clearing on foot, moving at a steady pace. Her armored coat once more covers over her heavy black combat armor, the suit unscarred as of yet. New or very well patched. She has her camera in hand, murmuring lowly towards it as she walks, a cord running from it to a small port in her helmet. The satchel at her back is packed and her coat hangs heavy. An array of toys and devices within. When she approaches the clearing itself, she orients the camera forward, catching the state of the clearing as she moves into it. A slow pan to take in every person present and arriving. And for the moment she will hang back to be the quiet, watching eye.

The soft hum of her cycle announcing their descent into the clearing Tirzah and Sage arrive, ready and able. Landing the cycle Tirzah casually sheds her helmet to shake out her hair. Placing the aquatic armor down she checks her shotgun holstered at her hip one more time before looking to her aide with is unusually visible as a misty entity, carrying a plasma thrower on its shoulder.

Leonard also arrives on foot, the walk allowing time to potential clear the head for the path ahead while not dwelling too much on unpleasant possibilities. A small pack distorts the lay of his cloak, and an array of wooden stakes adorn the belt over gray padded armor. Even a rifle dangles from its sling, unreadied and hopefully to be unneeded as he arrives just trailing Vixen on the side opposite the camera.

As people begin to arrive, the five do various things. "Finally," Belinda can be heard to state, even as Tamiril moves towards the first arriving, his arms spread in welcome. "I am glad you have all answered my summons. Come, gather." Johnny takes one more hit on his cig before he drops and grinds it below his boot. His helmet gets put on smoothly, the seals worked with a casual familiarity before he picks up the plasma ejector beside him, futzing with it as he connects the weapon to it's power pack. Raja eyes the folk arriving, but retains a stony sort of calm while Hector looks up from his inspections before drifting closer to where the elf meets the arriving individuals.

Tamiril will wait for a moment for the six to give him attention enough before he starts to speak. "The time is now, my friends. When all are prepared, I will be requesting from my Lord the means to travel to the place we must be. This is where we shall cross over. I must stress this to you all." His eyes scan them, a moment passing before he stresses. "We are not going to fight. We have but one goal, to secure the relic we need. If we must fight to do so, we shall. But if we can sneak to where we must go, we must do so. The world we go to is lost. The enemy has taken it and only has but to slowly grind those not yet fallen to dust. No matter what we may see, no matter what we might encounter, we must pass it by. This might be difficult for some of you, but we will be outnumbered there, for the enemy's army will be legion."

He glances about and says, "If any of you have questions before we begin, ask them now."

Caliopa pulls the grenades from the bag, offering it to Tamiril, the pale of her cheeks flushing slightly as she does so. "I made them. Figure you best decide who needs them the most." She keeps one for herself, the bag containing five others. She has her armour on, the two weapons strapped on her sides ready for the reluctant use. Her gaze flickers between the others, a tiny, brief smile for Sage.

Alistair looks to Cali for a few moments, waiting for the bag to be handed over, then he asks, "Is there a map of some kind? We don't really have a plan other than that general guideline" he explains, brows hiking up a touch. He discretely reaches to brush his hand against Cali, even though his at least is armored.

With the equipment she wasn't sure she'd need, Sage has put on a backpack that contains things that could be useful should something unexpected happen. She carries two pistols with her and the silver cross that Tirzah had fashioned for her, but anything else seems to be hidden away. She's opted against the laser rifle for it would likely only encumber her on this trip should a fight break out. She smiles over to Cali when they exchange a look. "Do you know what it the thing is we're looking for looks like?" She asks over to Tirzah, having not thought of that question before.

Vixen keeps back some as others gather. She keeps to where she can get good coverage and good sound on as many as possible. A close up of the elf taken as he speaks before the camera's view pans out to encompass all again. All done without a look into the viewfinder. Her lips curl into a grin as Cali presents the grenades to Tamiril. For now she holds back a little and remains silent as she records the happenings before her intently.

Tirzah shrugs, looking around as she appears curious herself on the concept of questions. She grins as Caliopa hands the elf the grenades, appreciating the effort she observes. She the nods in agreement to Alistair's question, faint surprise flickering over her face before she looks approving to the notion. She shakes her head in reply to Sage's question as the aim becomes focal. "Not a clue, I expected the elf to provide it. Though it doesn't please me that so much relies on one, he is what we have. We play the cards as their dealt, hopefully our hand is good enough." She offers to Sage with a light smile on her serious face.

"I may be able to glean more of our destination once we arrive," Leonard offers before donning his helmet, "if allowed a few moments." Latches and seals are closed. "As much as I'd prefer more knowledge and the time to put it to us, we should go sooner rather than later." Before second or third thoughts are brought around, most likely.

Tamiril meets the offer of the bag with a broad smile. He looks inside, but does not take them. Instead, he turns towards Raja. "Bring it, please," he requests. Raja responds to this by going to the small set of belongings off to the side to pull forth a rather large jug. Tamiril looks to Cali as the jug is brought forth. "I did not know how much would be needed. Perhaps we shall have extra for further use. Might you prepare them? And offer them to any who can make proper use of them." He then looks to Alistair and then Sage as she speaks, though not to him. "I was told that a map would not be needed.. which concerns me. But I will know where our goal lies once we have crossed over. It will be a beacon of light amid the dark that will tug upon me as surely as a hand." This he sounds quite confident of. He then nods once to Leo. "If you can provide us with more information when we arrive, I would be grateful." He breathes out softly. "Allow me some time, I must request our passage." He turns then and moves towards the center of the clearing, a spot picked where he settles down in a cross legged sit.

The other four of his companions go about their own preparations, though Raja seems ready despite his limited possessions, thus he lingers close to Tamiril as the elf begins to meditate.

Caliopa turns towards Raja, preparing to fill them all with the holy water. "I can do them. Folks best let me know who needs one." With that, and a glance at Alistair at his touch, she kneels down, regardless of the dirt, and begins to prime the grenades with holy water. Her face is serious, intent on her task, barely listening to the others as she works.

"Oh ... " Alistair bites his lip, after listening to Tamiril; he glances at Caliopa for a moment, then at the others - a little frown appears in his expression, his gaze lingering on Leo for a moment. Nothing more to say on his end apparently, and then he just watches the Elf do his preparations.

With the unknown quality of the weapon, Sage can only understand the connection the Elf might have with it through his higher power. She simply nods to the comment about how to find it. It seems to be good enough for her for now. She contents herself with preparing herself for the new world. Helmet setting into place and checking over her gear to make sure everything's secure once more. She reaches over to touch Tirzah, but all words have been said already.

Vixen will move towards Cali, the camera shifted to the side a bit as she states, "I've got a good throwing arm. So I could hang on to one or two of those babies. Can't want to see our design in action." There is a tangible excitement in that. She then glances around to the others. "Should spread 'em around, though. But we don't got too many and we might not get a lot of chances to stop and fill them up, so they should get saved," she opines.

Tirzah smiles as she watches the preparations, glad to see they will be well prepared. Turning to her aide she addresses it calmly. "Friend all the individuals here are important to me. I will have you protect them should you be able to intervene on their behalf during this trip." She explains and the entity gives a silent nod. Then she takes Sage's hand as it graces her, fingers knitting tightly. Woe be the dark for hope still lives.

Leonard is as prepared as he might ever be, though he still does a quick pat of himself and his gear. Compared to the more mercenary, he is travelling light, but this is the most laden he has been since his arrival. Ranging from the unstealthy firearms to the cross or stakes that would imply standing far too close, he is satisfied. Leonard then moves to Vixen and Cali as they discuss distribution. "I could easily use one..." His tone lightens as he taps the artificial redhead on the shoulder. "Don't forget the camera is the replacable part, Vix."

Things will grow very quiet over the next few moments. A hush that descends not only over the still wind, but the trees, the animals, everything save what sounds are made by the gathered eleven individuals. "It's coming," comments Johnny, he lifting his plasma ejector into an easy carry. "Couple minutes at most." His attention flitting over his own people and the others. Hector speaks a few soft words, moving his fingers over his faceplate in a smooth series of passes. Belinda grins broadly, moving a little closer to the center of the clearing, though a touch from Hector pauses her. "Relax. Quiet, remember." She almost pouts at him. Raja remains quiet and still beside Tamiril, waiting with a simple, boundless patience.

Those attuned to magic and psychic emanations may well feel that a presence touches the clearing. Something boundless and old, yet as silent as the air has become. The touch of this presence heralds the slow build of magical power. Great magical power that swells slowly, invisible to mundane senses.

Caliopa completes the filling of the grenades, and turns, offering one to Vixen first. Then her gaze travels around questioningly, as she moves forward, the others in her hands, held cautiously. The emanations are sensed here and she stills, turning her face towards the elf, her body tensing. Unable to reach out, her hands full of holy water grenades, she glances at Alistair.

Alistair tenses a bit at the amount of power displayed, his face serious for a few moments - but he seems to decide it's alright, and his expression relaxes a little; he turns his gaze onto Caliopa and smiles at her reassuringly and takes a step closer to her. "I think we'll be going there soon" he offers quietly. "May I have one?"

"I can throw pretty well too, Cali." Sage mentions, relieved to finally find a use for such a skill within this dire course of events. She'll hold out her hand to take one should Cali get a chance before the build up of power carries them off somewhere. "Do you feel that?" She asks Tirzah quietly as her senses explore the sensations around her.

Vixen takes the grenade, then glances at Leo, her armored faceplate not hiding the casual amusement in her voice. "You think I don't know that?" She slips the grenade into her coat, into one of the many discreet holding places that are within. An astute eye might catch a silver glint or the shape of other grenades and other such toys within the armored garment. She seems oblivious to the sensation, until Sage speaks. She glances towards her, then towards the elf and Johnny. "Showtime.." Murmured lowly as she does one last check of her possessions, then moves a little closer to the elf, making sure the camera is trained on him.

Tirzah shakes her head as she watches the elf carefully. "No but I can see it in the others that can, the presence of a god." She smirks lightly to her aide, sharing its indifference for a moment. As has always been hinted it continues to be apparent in her expression. There is only one faith for Tirzah, the one that chose her.

The presence and building power within the clearing draws Leonard's attention even as he take on of the ingenious weapons from Cali's full hands. It is dropped into a pouch almost absently, his now-quiet study focused upon the imminent event. A potential touch of the known before the unknown, and the professional curiosity thereof is a welcome distraction.

The fruits of the presence come suddenly. A spot appearing above and behind Tamiril as he opens his eyes, the orbs overtaken with a blue white radiance. "The path opens to the world lost. Tread lightly, tread swiftly. Seek the gift of light to drive away the darkness," he states, eyes unseeing. His voice is there, but another, deeper and huskier speaks over it as the point of light blossoms out and a rift forms. Its tall and slender, like a humanoid silhouette, large enough to admit each person here comfortably. Though the portal itself is an opaque mass of swirling energy, giving no clue to what lies on the other side. "B, with me," Johnny states at that moment. He looks towards the rest. "Give us ten seconds. If we don't come back through, make your way in, one at a time, two second intervals. Move past the portal, don't clog it up." He looks towards Raja. "Tail end, big guy." The canid nods once, looking to Tamiril who remains seated, his eyes aglow.

With the general orders given, Johnny turns to approach the portal. There is a mild sense of hesitance in the pace of his step, but he never stops, moving into the portal steadily. Belinda, a noticeable bounce to her step, follows in right after. Ten seconds will pass without them emerging once more.

Caliopa puts one in Sage's hand, and offers one to Alistair, her gaze lifting to his face. "Reckon so." She replies softly, glancing at the others, still holding one of the grenades. She moves closer to Alistair, disturbed by the feelings, even as she hesitates and offers the last of them to Tirzah. Her face is serious, her mind on the job ahead, but still she jumps when the spot appears, and she takes a tiny step back. With a hesitates, she reaches for Alistair's hand, glancing at him questioningly. The ten seconds tick by and then she nods slowly, stepping forward, caution in her step as she steps forward, entering the rift.

Alistair smiles at Cali, taking the grenade and clipping it to his belt. "Thank you" he says softly, looking to the Elf suddenly as the two voices overlap and the rifts opens. His gaze returns to Cali, and he squeezes her hand; he smiles, "I'll be right with you" and starts moving up right behind her, dissapearing in the rift a couple sencods after Cali.

"Thanks." Sage replies to Cali as she secures it to one of the straps on her armor to keep it secure and relatively safe. She looks around at the other people. and files into the line for the trip through to the other world. She isn't sure what to expect, and yet she has a feeling she already knows what will lay on the other side of the rift. She'll disappear soon enough into the rift.

Vixen shifts her camera's view to Johnny when he speaks, after observing the portal opening. The movements of the camera done without much thought as she herself eyeballs the portal itself. Uncertainty flickers in her hidden expression, but as others start to go in, she squares her shoulders. "THis is it, people.. time to see what the impartial eye sees," she murmurs lowly as she moves towards the rift. The camera trained forward to catch the entry of those before her before she too steps in.

Tirzah takes the offered grenade without hesitation and smiles to Caliopa. "Thank you." Then looking to Sage she reluctantly releases her lock on her partner's hand so she can pass through the rift. "See you on the other side." She promises, indicating she is right behind. And her aide is right behind her as she takes her cycle through the portal.

Leonard has no trepidation of the portal itself, but pauses in deference to the martial organization. The brief delay allows him a final admiration of the rift and its form before he, too, steps forward after the others. A slight smile rests behind his helm, carried from one world to the next.

On the other side, a dark world awaits. What time it is one could hardly guess. but it isn't night time, the thick cloud cover cloaking the world in a perpetual twilight. But it won't be just the clouds that are thick. Anyone without environmental armor sealed will find the air itself is thick and nasty to the taste and smell. A dirty haze is visible, reducing visibility somewhat. They will appear in a clearing, not unlike the one they just left. Were you not to count that every bit of vegetation within range is either dead or dying. The trees not reduced to skeletons of dark wood holding just a few dull brown leaves. Moreover, anyone who is good with navigation would see disturbing similarities in the landscape around them, exactly the same as those of the land they just left. Only dead.

Of course, all speculation can be allowed to drop as on need only look towards where Kingsdale once stood in the distance, half obscured by the snow cloaked trees to find.. it still there. Only one can easily see that there is something wrong with it. The cityscape appearing broken, though from this distance details are hard to come by. But all of it is enough that none here could hope to deny where they are. A place not unlike their home where a dark corruption has taken hold and evil hangs in the very air. Johnny will be at the edge of the clearing, facing towards what looks like Kingsdale. Down on one knee, his weapon trained, he sweeps the area slowly by sight. Angled to the other side, Belinda peers out into the deadness, an air filter drawn up to cover the lower half of her face. Once the six newcomers have come through, Hector will step out of the portal. A soft curse spoken in spanish upon taking in the surroundings. And finally Tamiril will be brought through by Raja, the portal sealing directly after their arrival. The big canine coughs roughly the moment he comes through, but he tends to Tamiril before himself, the elf seeming a bit shaky after the summoning of the portal, slowly regaining himself and his feet.

Caliopa moves away from the rift, clearing space to avoid the others landing on her, moving towards Johnny's side, drawing her own weapon. Her mouth frames words silently, a soft intake of breath revealing that she doesn't face the city as it is easily. She kneels, holding one of her guns steadily, watching in silence.

"Wuh!" Alistair ducks his head as he moves out of the rift, following Cali. He puts the helmet on, "Smells!" he exclaims and looks around quickly. "Oooh..." he quiets down quickly and frowns. "I see" he turns his gaze to the city and nods slowly, and another look around to check and see if anything is waiting for them - even though Johhny and Belinda must have cleared the place.

Once through the rift, Sage's intuition about the world seem to come to grim reality as she senses connected to nature creep out at sense of death that surrounds them. She grimaces behind her face mask, but the smells of the outside are kept out by her environmental body armor. She fingers her weapons, but wishes for comfort against the sadness of the landscape. She finds herself to one side to allow the others to enter. She eventually decides to draw one of her pistols in case they should come under attack. She keeps silent as she grieves for the world.

Vixen hitches her step through. Only her second trip through a rift and the oddness of it causes a brief waver of her balance. In the end, she catches herself, then moves off to the side as she looks about and pans her camera. "Oh hell.." murmured as she spies.. Kingsdale? The camera shifts focus at once and she murmurs lowly, as if for the watchers of the recorded video. "That's Kingsdale.. no mistaking it." The camera angled to provide a view of the distance location. She herself keeps near to the center of everyone, crouching a little as it seems most are keeping a discreet profile.

Entering the world with her aide shortly behind her Tirzah nearly wretches at the strong smell of death. Particularly pungent to her heightened sense of perception, but probably looking like weak fortitude as she holds her breath and puts her helmet back on. Looking at the scene everyone is taking in she shakes her head lightly. "Of all the poetic choices to hold the relic." She mutters

Even sealed away from the air itself, Leonard has no trouble imagining its foulness to match their surroundings. The underlying familiarity is still present, however, and his covered gaze moves towards the city briefly as he takes several steps away from the closing rift. Leo then looks to the ground at his feet, crouching as he peers, though his senses are focused much more broadly than the spot before him. This isn't their Kingsdale, obviously, and he seeks intuition of just what realm and world they have entered.

"Something's coming.. everyone down, silent," Johnny will hiss suddenly, just loud enough to be heard by all. Belinda will drop into a low crouch where she stands, as does Hector, a hand lifted slightly as if poised to make a sign in the air. Raja will drop down low and bring Tamiril with him. THe elf fixating on the moment once more, indicated to the big canine. Raja releases the elf and lifts his gas mask, pushed on and carefully secured, his sword laid down for the few moments that takes.

Caliopa gets down, is silent. Her armor is environmental, protecting her from the stench of the planet. She watches, her face worried behind the mask, her body tensing. The drawn weapon is ready, the safety slid off. In that moment, she is in control of the fear but not easily, the situation difficult.

Alistair watches the rift for a few moments, watching the others come out, then he looks to Johnny, then around quickly, drawing his sword out of the sheath - he keeps the safety on for now though as he crouches where he'll be less visible. He tries to see what it is that's coming, without sticking out.

A couple hidden tears run down her cheeks, but Sage shakes it off and blinks away the moisture in her eyes as they are warned about something coming. She crouches down in an attempt to shrink her profile as she waits for something. Unsure of whether she should stretch out with her psychic abilities, she can't help but feel a little on her own island.

Vixen keeps low when she hears the hiss, her camera flicking towards Johnny. "Shit.." breathed as she ducks her head slightly while trying to anticipate where the thing might come from by the angle Johnny is looking. It's awkward, but she tries it nonetheless.

Tirzah keys off her cycle and slips into a crouch behind it as her aide dissolves into the fouled air. Patiently she watches and waits.

Leonard, intent as he is upon the world beyond what is seen, is slow to react to the hissed warning. At least he doesn't have far to go to lower himself the rest of the way to the ground, and perhaps his preference for dark attire will aid him. There is no chance for him to turn towards whatever sparked the warning, however.

It'll be about fifteen seconds after the warning that the something comes. Just visible through the trees and dirty air, a slender figure trudges through the trees. It seems to be moving away from Kingsdale at a slow pace. Humanoid. Painfully thin and lacking much in the way of clothes by it's silhouette, but the dimness and hazy air make it hard to make out too much more than that. The figure sways in a drunken manner as it walks, in the way one might if dazed, but the unsteady sway of it's stride doesn't end in a topple, the walker always righting itself.

Caliopa crouches lower, her heart beating fast, her gaze stuck on that creature. She swallows nervously, glancing towards Johnny for guidance, aiming her weapon just in case. Her eyes narrow on the creature, waiting for some sign of how they should react. Even so, her forehead wrinkles, aware of the drunken manner of its movements.

Alistair watches quietly, only his head turning slowly to watch the thing. The sword's still kept safe, apparently he intends to just let it pass on. He glances about a little and leans just so slightly, but he doesn't touch Cali - things are tense after all! He glances to the others also to see what's going on - he's tempted though, tempted.

With something to distract herself away from the wailing of the dying world, Sage keeps her senses alert for signs of trouble, hoping that the familiar tingle of danger doesn't take her senses. She keeps her weapon casually ready for the time being figuring to allow things to develop for the time being. Her dislike for the unnatural mixing with the uneasiness of being in a realm of death.

Vixen peers at the silhouette, but doesn't make a move to get a real clear shot of it. Heeding the necessity of discretion over her instinct to capture the oddity in a clearer shot. But she does get what obscure view she can of the thing through the brush. The impartial eye follows the grown consensus of silence and stealth, letting it pass unmolested.

Tirzah eyes the creature carefully, recognizing it from the lessons on the creatures of the other plains back home. "Hold, don't provoke it and it should pass." She advises quietly to the others as she continues to observe the minion.

Leonard slowly slides himself around so that he is facing the proper direction, head lifting slightly to peer. If he has any advice to share, he remains quiet. Shouting a tip or three, no matter how useful, would be slightly counterproductive at the moment.

The passing figure seems intent to wander along on its way unhurriedly. Thus it will be a few minutes of silent lurking before Johnny lifts his hand in an all clear signal. Belinda snorts faintly and rises, leaning against one of the trees as she keeps a close watch on the outside. Tamiril stands and breathes out lowly. "The darkness is like a blanket here. I can feel it all around," he says lowly. "But I feel it.. it is there." He points towards the broken Kingsdale. Johnny glances that way and frowns, moving a bit closer to that edge of the clearing. Tamiril will glance about to the six and murmurs, "I understand this may be.. difficult for you all. But when you are all ready, we shall move quickly to take up what we seek." He looks to Tirzah and her vehicle. "How silent is this machine of yours? We will need to be careful. Though the city may be since destroyed, I doubt it is empty."

Caliopa rises, moving towards a tree for cover. She turns her head, listening to Tamiril, frowning in though. She gives him a silent nod, indicating her readiness, fear stealing her voice. Her fingers move slowly, sliding the safety back on once more on her weapon. For a second, her gaze goes to where the figure left them, before it returns to Tamiril, avoiding the sight of Kingsdale for a little longer.

"Phew" Alistair stands up, and glances to Tamiril for a moment. "There might be more of those or their friends there" he nods, and then he turns back to put a hand on Cali's shoulder for a moment. He looks to the city, making face, his chin dipping a little. Who knows what they might find there?

The state of the land is more of a concern to Sage than the broken shell of the city like their own Kingsdale. Of course, her view may change depending on what waits for them within the city. The shambling of the undead horror is a small relief, but it hadn't been overly taxing since it seemed rather disinterested and alone. "Then, before we go... what would be better for this... holy water or silver bullets? I don't expect a laser would be too useful here."

Vixen breathes out a held breath and looks after the wandering figure. Unseen now, but not forgotten. "Dear Diary.. this is some heavy shit," she murmurs, the camera lifted to catch the low words. She then turns to face where Tamiril speaks, making sure she gets him and the people responding with smooth camera pans. "Save teh holy, I'd say. If you mean the grenades. Though I'd say silver blades before bullets. If we have to kill something.. again, better quietly than loudly. Got an extra knife if anyone needs one."

Tirzah shrugs considering her cycle as she looks at the others. "Quieter than 10 people walking in armor." She notes as she keys it back on to let the electric hum be appraised. "Should there be need it I can be perfectly silent and unseen. But I would prefer to with hold those resources for something more than precaution." She adds, not to worried by the concern.

The shambling thing is followed is followed by Leonard's gaze as it passes, the young man then rising as the all clear is given. "If all of the denizens here are so mindful, this might be easier than we thought..." Not that his tone belies anything more than mild sarcasm at that hope. He steps back to the group proper, nods to Vixen's appraisal and then eyes Tirzah. "You still make a very obvious target with that."

Tamiril nods once to Tirzah. "Very well. Just take care as we travel. I have no wish to draw too much attention here." He is concerned, a soft strain tangible in his voice. He looks around to the rest before he speaks to Johnny. "I think we are ready to continue on. Is the way still clear. Johnny comes back after a moment with a nod. "Radios to frequency 112.3," he prompts. "I'm on point. Follow close, but not bunched. B, stick behind me with Tam. Raja, Hector, cover the rear." He looks to the others. "Pick your place and keep to it. We're going quiet and smooth. Don't engage unless you're engaged. Hide first, shoot second, we clear?" There is an audible martial note to his tone. Belinda smirks, her response muffled slightly by the air filter. "You tell it, Point Man." That earns her what may be a dirty look from Johnny.. hard to tell with the helmet and all. Hector nods his understanding and Tamiril moves closer to him as Belinda does the same.

The words of the others make Caliopa rethink, nodding slowly as she puts the weapon away, drawing her knife from her side. Gleaming silver, it has a date scribed into the blade, and she blinks quickly, turning her gaze from it, giving Alistair a quick, forced smile. Caliopa takes the orders, her face serious as she turns back towards Tamiril, her choice made to move behind Belinda and Tam, a glance at Alistair as she does so.

Alistair smiles at Cali and falls in behind her - that's just fine by him, he's where he can watch her, and whoever else is at the front. He takes a moment to adjust the radio as well, and he gives another look around the place, exhaling. Oh - did he forget to do that before?

Since she doesn't really get an answer, Sage takes a note from a movement from Cali as she sees a silver knife drawn. As the object of the game seems to be stealth, she tucks away her own pistol for the time being and takes out her silver cross instead. She figures no one answers her to discourage any thoughts of shooting first. She'll try to be somewhere in the middle of the group figuring it'll be safer than near the point or rear. She adjusts her radio as suggested. She'll be a quiet little trooper for the time being.

Vixen will eye Sage, then move up to her as the order is being hashed out. Her free hand slips into her coat, pulling out a simple, new looking silver knife. "I'm gunna want that back," she notes, giving Sage a firm look for a moment before she grins. Whether or not Sage takes it, she'll get into her own position. Again, angling for middle of the pack, her camera lifted in a comfortable position for the long haul. "I could use a smoke, she murmurs to no one in particular.

Tirzah keeps close to Sage with her altitude minimal, showing she understands the concept of low key. Considering the city ahead she stays silent a resolute, her eyes offering reassuring glances to Sage. <We're here to stop this from happening> She thinks, even though she is uncertain her partner will hear.

Leonard falls into the place of his choosing, that being at Vixen's flank. Easiest to keep one eye upon her rear that way, just in case she forgets to, as neither has a desire to see it shot, bitten or otherwise removed. A hand lifts to his helmet to make the alterations to the comms and he voices a ~Ready~ as notice and check. Perhaps the toters of large weapons are not so bad, afterall, if they can forgo blatant lightfights in favor of intelligence.

With everyone deployed, the lengthy little column gets moving. Traveling isn't too hard, with the dirty, heavy air filtered out by masks and environmental systems. Though cleaning out the filters once this is over.. that will be an adventure of its own. Fortunately for the group, the way will be mostly clear. a call to halt will come twice more, everyone directed to get down and stay down. At one point, a brace of horses come charging past, as large as a warhorse, but resembling no Earthly stallions. Coal black with smokey green eyes, they breath out clouds of vapor with each hard exhale as they race along, each ridden by a skeletal figure, clad in heavy armor. They pass without notice of the lurkers. The second time is just before nearing the walls of the city. Just why that pause is called is unknown, but after a bout two minutes, movement is called for again and the progress can continue. Soon the killzone that surrounds Kingsdale's walls is reached. A space devoid of trees or cover.. or once was. Tangles of brambles and scrub have grown in.. a twisted form of plant life that looks as corrupted as everything else.

Though perhaps more notable is the wall itself. The massive, thick and seemingly impenetrable walls are broken. To the left a few dozen yards a gaping hole exists, the area around it filled with rubble great and small. The section ahead and to the right pockmarked with small and large gashes. And amongst the brambles are bones. Hundreds of them, the precise nature of how many of any certain type unknown as they are mixed together in such a way that sorting through them all would be the work of a lifetime. But one could look in several places and see several different sizes and shapes easily.

"Gather," comes the call then, the brush at the edge of the killzone providing enough cover for them to gather unseen for now. And once all are accounted for, Johnny will look around to the other ten. "Tamril says it's not too far in at least. We're on the right side of the city. Just a matter of getting in, pinpointing and securing. Looks like the hole over there is the best way in, but we're going to have to scout it first before everyone gets out there. Options and thoughts?" He glances around to every one else as he asks that.

The brace of horses and their riders strike fear into the heart of the mechanic and her fingers tighten around the grip of her knife. She freezes in the crouch, watching them pass, her eyes wide. But the horror that was them is forgotten in the sight of the killzone and it takes the spoken command to startle her out of it. She moves into the gathering, shaking her head at the question. No options or thoughts here.

Alistair ducks his head when the skeletal riders appear. He makes a face - patrols? Soon it's time to move again and go towards the city itself, with the crunch of bones underfoot! Like a great conqueror, he - errr. Right. Alistair looks down at the bones and makes a face - again - and heads towards where the others are. "Why don't we just check what's past the wall and take it from there? There are several buildings be can move to and from, but we don't know if they're occupied anyway."

Despite how one end has the potential to be a weapon, Sage seems to decide that knife may work better for the time being. She tucks the cross back into a position that keeps its shape visible. It is also silver. The knife is taken with a nod, "Thanks." She murmurs in response, refraining from making a joking comment for the time being. She glances to Tirzah with her proximity, but seems content to keep quiet for the time being. Perhaps she is unsure whether any undead would be able to sense it if her psychic nature was made active. She contents herself with the thought of being a wolf with a long silver tooth. She follows the orders given easily enough, disliking the undead abominations that pass by but content knowing that letting them pass may well ensure the safety of those that can be saved. She keeps an eye on the others in the group should they seem overly agitated as she would be able to diffuse any panic before it erupted or soon after it did. "I could open myself to impressions around me... might help sense those undead that we would not normally see." she offers, "But, perhaps Tirzah's aide may be able to look around a little without being seen."

Vixen sneaks along, modestly trained at moving silently. The armor hampers it somewhat, but the passing riders are easy to hide from. Thus she's a little more aggressive in getting a shot of them, though she doesn't take dangerous chances with it, the recording light covered over to keep her position unobserved. "This is a scary place, boys and babes," she murmurs to the camera s they move again. "But stay with me. Aint' done yet." A bit back, she doesn't get a good look at the killzone until she's moved up to gather. But even a glimpse of it is enough to startle her, even though such a sight was inevitable. She lifts the camera to get a decent view of the area, bringing it down to flip around. "Wonder how many of those are the bad guys," she muses into the lens while all are drawn together. And once the talk starts, the camera goes outward again, documenting the talk.

The patrols were somewhat expected to Tirzah and she shows no reaction to them save the surprised relief of going on undetected. Frowning with the consideration of the origin of the bones she looks ahead to the elf considering the wall. "My aide is almost undetectable when it chooses not to be. Only creatures that could sense magic would even be aware of its presence, let alone its specific location. I will send it ahead for us." She offers to him confirming Sage with a warm smile.

Johnny looks to Tamiril, who nods in response to the look. Thus the merc returns his attetion to Tirzah. "Alright send your.. aide in. Best thing is to keep it completely undetected. Most important is seeing what's in the imemdiate area inside the breach, but after that, a few blocks in all directions would help for knowing what we have to avoid ahead. Hopefully that will be enough to cover the area we have to get across." He then looks towards Hector and Belinda. "Move out ten." He points in two directions to either side of the group. "Eyes and ears out." The two acknowledge the command and move outward. Then to everyone else he murmurs, "Hunker down. Rest break. If you've got quick food or drink, now is the time. Otherwise, keep ready to move. Police all trash too, we don't want to leave a trace."

Caliopa sits, a silent witness to the others skills in this area. Absently she runs a finger along the side of the blade, gently touching the metal, an odd curve to her lips. No humour in that smile. She does hunker down, pulling a water canister from her bag, taking a sip, moving the helmet to do so. She glances at Alistair, offering the canister.

Alistair looks to Johny, and then around - for a moment he watches as the team moves out, and then he looks at the rest of the team. Finally, he sits down beside Cali, and accepts the water gratefuly; he takes a sip also - being well hydrated before a fight is always a good idea. He returns the cannister to her then, and watcher her, though he occasionally looks around as well. Once it seems they'll be waiting for a bit and they've been moving along for a bit, Sage removes her helmet to smile over to Tirzah before finding herself a place to settle down near Cali and Alistair. She wants the comfort that can be offered by the closeness to people she knows and is comfortable around. She leaves a little distance between her and Cali since Tirzah will likely join her and she's noticed the rocky relations between the two woman. After that, she'll bring on her brief snack and drink. She doesn't want to smell the nasty air any longer than she has two.

Vixen is tempted to try and smoke, but the air itself prevents her from trying in the end. Better to keep the helmet on and the crud out. Breathing out a low, much suffering sigh she moves about a bit restlessly. Her camera deployed to canvas the area. With a few moments to just shoot freely, she shows off the landscape and takes a few candid moments of the others as they loiter about for this rest period. Ever looking to catch someone when they aren't conscious of the camera.

Tirzah nods and turns to the air beside her. "Hand me my weapon friend and go through the wall up head to assess any creatures beyond it. Check any areas that could see us enter the whole to determine if we will be noticed and by how many. If you are engaged, flee to indirectly return to me, don't spend any resources." She orders specifically and her plasma thrower coalesces for her to heft onto her own shoulder. Then she keys off her cycle to crouch down with Sage. Her hand seeking her partners to tightly knit again.

Leonard may have forgotten of the camera, for once, checking himself once more. As if anything would have lept free during their relatively sedate journey. After that, he looks to Tirzah and her aide as it is sent out, then the others. Vixen and the lens are turned to last, and a thumbs up offered in lieu of an unseen smile.

It will be a quiet five minutes whilst waiting for the elemental to return, but it will. The time between not entirely quiet. With stillness and lack of focus, comes the ability to hear more than one could before. Amid their wait, a far off shout and the distant crack of rapid gunfire will sound. Only briefly before all goes silent once more. The five will all glance towards the source, but not a one moves from their resting spot to investigate it. The mystery lingering until finally the elemental returns. Through Tirzah it will relate some choice bits of information. The area immediately around the breach is clear of moving beings. But the streets are not. Various things lurk about on the open streets and within the buildings, but many are the broken buildings through which one can travel to avoid the street. All gathered to listen, Johnny mulls over this for a few moments. "Alright.. this is what we're going to do." he looks around the group. "We're going to split into three groups and move in clusters. Myself, Tirzah, Tameril and Raja will be at the front." He looks to Tirzah. "We're blazing the trail." He then looks to the rest. "You, you and you.." He points at Caliopa, Vixen and Sage. "You're with Belinda." He then notes Hector, Leo and Alistair. "You three are bring in up the rear. You're watching our backs. Make sure nothing is following us. If you get wind of something following, call it in. Evade if you can." He scans the group. "An questions?"

Caliopa gathers with the others to listen, her face serious as she nods, taking her orders without a word, the obviousness of the reasoning clear to her. She slides the water canister away, arming herself once more, her hand tense around the knife's grip. She glances at Alistair, anxiety rising at the thought of a fight to come but moves to Sage's side.

Alistair waves to Sage and smiles, that fading when he listens to the gunfire, glancing at Cali for a moment - then he looks to Tirzah as she relates information. Finally, he looks to Johnny and his gaze falls on the other two he'll be bringing the rear with. Looking back to Cali he says softly, "Be careful" and then he heads off to bring up the rear guard with the boys.

Taking but a small amount of food and drink, Sage soon returns her helmet into its place to keep out the nasty air. She seems content to spend time with Tirzah on one side and Cali on the other. She offer her hand to Cali as well after waving to Alistair. Once the orders come, she stays close to Cali. "I'm glad you're on my team." She murmurs to Cali.

Vixen glances towards the sound of weapons fire. Curiosity sparking in her eyes. Yet she's not that reckless. Even so, she cocks her head, trying to catch more of the sound. When the elemental returns and the info on what will occur is given, she sakes her head slightly in response. No questions. She seems content to be in the middle again, moving towards Sage and Cali. "Looks like were the soft middle, girls," she murmurs with a light dash of carefree amusement, only partially dulled by the soft touch of tension.

Tirzah shakes her head, looking quite used to her assignment. Once more shell have to reluctantly release Sage though she's glad for the distinction in position. "Take care of yourselves." She suggests to Sage, Vixen and Caliopa quietly as she remounts her cycle and readies her weapons. Though she assumes stealth is still the mandate.

So much for watching behinds directly. At least Leonard can do so in a more indirect manner. His sigh is muffled by his helm as he rises, nodding to those to be in the forefront. "Good luck to you all."

Once everyone seems to have their assignments, Johnny explains the procedure to follow. Stealth is still king. The first group will move into new areas and secure them before moving on. THe middle group follows as directed and the third moves into those areas vacated by the middle. In the event of trouble up front, rear groups stop and wait for directions. Middle group will move towards the front or back as they can and rear group will evade if possible, fighting retreat towards the rest if required. With those basic procedures laid out, the move inward will begin. For Tirzah and the point group, things will start easy. THe breach is, as thought, clear of anything living or unliving. Of course, moving across the killzone will be wearing. Foremost for the feel of dry bone cracking and snapping underfoot, the ground unsteady and shifting with each step. So too, the exposure of it, even with the corrupted scrub and brambles. But the front group will make it to the breach. The street along the wall deserted, save for the burned out or weather worn hulks of old vehicles and the more scattered signs of the dead. Not so much a carpet as before, but the whole and piecemeal skeletons of dozens will be scattered wherever the eye might look. "This way," Tamiril points directly south from the breach when the first group reaches that point. There's a building with a largish hole blowin out of the wall, so Johnny signals a quick jog there. Once ensconced, the floor declared clear, he'll signal over radio for two to move up to the breach, three remaining at the resting point whilst the floor of the building is being checked.

Watching the others move, from her crouched position, Caliopa is tense, listening to the radio, waiting for the commands. Finally, when the orders come, she moves, the quick jog happening, as she glances towards the other women with her. Then, she takes some cover, her movements awkward as she crosses the piecemeal of bits and dead.

Alistair starts on his way towards the hole with the others, but they are slower about it apparently, taking time to cover the rear and make certain nothing is following. Alistair sniffs a little, and looks at the sword, then around again, maintaining a reasonably low profile.

"Girl power?" Sage offers simply to Vixen's comment about the soft middle, before she quiets down as the moment to move into the fray approaches. She adjusts her grip on the knife and waits for the time for the second group to move. She'll move along with Cali keeping pace with her and a comfortable spacing to avoid bumping into her by accident.

Vixen waits for her moment to move and when it comes, she moves steadily. The helmet makes for a nice cover for the distasteful expression as she walks over the bones that carpet the way to the hole in the wall. "This is so fucked up,' she murmurs to the three with her as they move. At the breach, she edges up against some of the debris at the side, wiggling her back into a little niche as she holds position, keeping her camera viewing what she sees.

Tirzah nods in silent acceptance of the plan, seeing no problem with it. Pacing her group on her cycle she's apt to help the check of the floor and insure everything is clear before they move on. She doesn't let herself look back to the group behind, trying not to think about them at all. It would not be good to be distracted after all. [Story Tellers] Tiamat says, "Tirzah wanted to change pose order"

Leonard is reminded of a previous discussion as he watches the others enter. Those in the rear may not be utterly left behind, but the concern is still there. With a shake of his head to clear it, he shifts his attention more to the surroundings, so that he can do what is expected, for everyone's benefit.

"Building clear, two move in, three move up to the wall. Cover the street and the outside," Johnny states over the radio. He then leads the first group deeper in. The remains of a store. The contents long since sold, looted or rotted away, leaving empty shelves with the occasional skeleton leering up out of the dim at the group. Tamiril whispers up a lantern light with a brief weave of his fingers to guide group one, the soft light kept low and towards the middle of them, so as to not cast light too far. A wall comes up before them, though it looks a bit weak. "Raja, make a hole. Quietly." The big canine sheathes his silver sword and will firmly start to dig his fingers into the weakened masonry. Whilst he is, Johnny will deploy to keep watch. "Hold positions, making a path," he notes.

Though whilst group two is sitting tight, some soft sounds will be heard by them. A splintery crack that a trained ear might differentiate as a bone being snapped in half. The sound returning a second time, there some distance in it.Belinda looks around, crouched just inside the building with Cali, Vix and Sage. "What's that?" she murmurs. Outside, at the breach, group three will find the street to be clear, save for the occasional brief bit of movement several blocks down. But not near enough to be of deep concern.

Caliopa is tense, uncomfortable and worried, but Vixen's soft comment gets a glance and a wry smile. She moves though, when ordered to do so, and is sitting tight when the sounds are heard. The instant spike of fear is there and she looks around, trying to spot the source of the sound, the rapid glancing towards Belinda full of fear. Alistair alistair follows along with his group, picking a side to watch; things are getting tenser, though right now it doesn't seem terribly worrisome - for now.

For her part, Sage will try to remain near the other two woman should she need to help keep the middle of the group calm should the worse start to happen. She remains tense and alert of her surroundings, hoping all the while that she doesn't feel that familiar tingle of danger.

Vixen settles towards the hole in the building, keeping an eye outside as she waits for the next move. But the sound p romots a jerk of her head upward. She cocks her head to the left as she listens for more. "Something breaking.." She frowns, peering into the gloom of the interior. "Got something.." Murmured over the radio. "A crack.." To the others she suggests, "Still and quiet. Maybe it'll pass." Her voice barely a whisper.

Tirzah looks to her aid as Raja goes to work on the rubble. "Help him quietly." She asks it and secondly later the digging is much easier going as the rubble loosen a breaks up from its efforts for Raja to clear. At the mention of 'something' she turns to Vixen following her line of vision.

Leonard seems relived when the time comes to move, and does so without hesitation. He remains quiet in favor of freeing everyone's attention for the various tasks at hand, and his own senses to observe. It is apparent to those with him that he has no formal tactical training, but he does his utmost to remain alert, coordinate, and not trip over anything in the process.

Johnny puts a hand on Raja's shoulder, stilling the canine and his attempts to break through. "All stop.. all quiet," he breathes lowly over radio. Tamiril will gaze back through the building apprehensively whilst waiting. For the ladies of the middle group, something emerges from another ragged hole in the building. Though it's preceded by a few moments by the slow growth of a sour stench. Not impairing at this range, but acutely notable on the air as the owner of it stumbles into the lower floor between group one and two. More visible to group two, some shelves obscuring it from the front group. It grunts and grumbles something unintelligible under it's hoarse breath. The thing tall and humanoid. It stops, seemingly unaware of anyone nearby as he begins to viciously scratch at it's skin. The sound of it perhaps as sickening as the smell as it seems to do so with little regard for damage to self. The faint view one can get of it in the dim hinting at hideous, scabrous skin and the long nails that rake at it almost violently. A hoarse little growl comes forth as he starts to move on, crossing the room between the front groups ever so slowly, scratching at itself energetically and grumbling all the way.

Caliopa glances at Vixen when her voice comes over the radio, and she nods, freezing completely still, her grip around the knife tightening. Her gaze moves towards the sound, and as the thing comes into view, she bites her lip hard to stop from making any sound. She watches its movements with wide eyes, the stench turning her stomach, the armor giving some protection from it. The desire to close her eyes, to run from the room, is stifled with difficulty in that moment, outweighed only by the fact she is frozen in place with fear.

Alistair continues to watch the rear with the others, looking up and down the streets and going where required. He can't see what's going on up ahead from where he is, perhaps fortunately so - for now anyway. He looks at Hector and Leo quickly, then back to scanning his piece of the cabbage patch.

With one hand on her knife and the other settling on Cali, Sage keeps some of her attention on her flatmate in case she should seem about to tip over the edge. "Tall... ugly... and smelly." She itemizes quietly, "Roughly between our front groups in the room."

Vixen wrinkles her nose, the smell of the thing that enters into the room. A low, disgusted breath breathed along with a low "Ugh..". She catches her tongue before it might wag any more than that. Remaining low and still, as it seems oblivious to them she lets it go, though she does manage to turn her camera to focus on the shape of the thing, the recording light still covered.

Tirzah cant really look at the creature behind her with anything other than disgust in her expression. She'd never had something permeate into her armor's systems before and always viewed them as a safe haven for her heightened sense of contaminants. She dare not imagine how fowl this creature would be without the armor. As it was she was having trouble not imagining the creatures exuding foulness penetrating here armor's porous skin and tainting her own beyond recovery.

For better or worse, the transmitted words pull Leonard's faceplate towards the building ahead, even if there is nothing to be viewed directly. Still, his attention lingers a long moment before tentatively returning to search for trouble approaching elsewhere. Gloved hands clench as he tries to remind himself of the group arrangement, the valid reasons for such, and that there is no need to become overly concerned. Yet. The lack of stench reaching the rear guard can only be a good thing for several reasons.

Raja rumbles ever so softly, his acute nose detecting the smell through the gas mask he wears. "Wretch," he rumbles lowly, Tamiril and Johnny glancing towards him. They seem to take his word to heart. "Keep going," Tamiril murmurs to him. "Quietly." Meanwhile, Johnny speaks quietly over the com to all. "That's a Wretch. Listen close now. Let it go where it wants..just be quiet and still. When its out of sight, group two you come our way slowly. It won't pay much attention unless you bother it. We've seen these before. Group three, move up to the building, get just inside, but keep away from where the wretch is.. which side is it on?" Belinda comes in lowly, her voice composed and cool. "Right side, Point." Johnny is heard again. "Alright, stick left. Just be nice and easy. We're getting real lucky here. We move nice and smooth and it won't even care about us. Just keep the noise low and the distance high." Enough of the wall has been removed by then to admit the group. Johnny looks out into the alleyway between the buildings carefully. Raja poking his head out as well to sniff the air. He nods to the big canine. "Lets move up." He glances towards Tirzah. "Can you get your aide up there." He points towards the tops of the ruined buildings. "Want to keep a watch on things from above. High eyes would be damn good right now." As he's saying so, Raja moves out into the alleyway, Tamiril close behind as he points out the right way.

The wretch will indeed stumble out of sight, moving into a space beneath nearby stairs, out of sight in the gloom. But the smell of it will linger inside the room and the sound of it will continue to betray it's presence. The rough, scaly sound of it's scratching and the wordless grunts and growls of unfocused displeasure as it rakes at itself with its own claws.

Caliopa watches the thing, listening to the words over her radio, forcing herself to focus on those rather than the stench and the fear. Knowledge that it won't bother them if they don't bother it helps a little and she makes herself take steady breaths, her gaze flickering to the other women with her, a reassurance that nobody else is going to run screaming at this point. When it finally stumbles out of sight she releases a breath, closing her eyes for a moment in pure relief.

Alistair's brows hike up, and his head turns towards the building as he listenins to the radio. It takes a few moments for him to start looking where he's supposed to again, and after that, it isn't long before his group starts to move towards, and into that building carefully.

Keeping her attention on the being is distasteful at best, but it gives Sage another feeling to focus on besides what the stench and sight inspire. The radio chatter helps a little as well. With the assurance of what needs to be done, she edges towards the left side to keep some distance between her and the Wretch that isn't currently in sight. She moves towards the front group but will make sure to keep her movement slow and cautious and keep spacing around her to prevent bumping into people or objects along her way.

Vixen moves up towards Cali as the thing disappears. "C'mon, Cali, lets go," she murmurs, glancing towards Sage a moment as she helps to urge the other woman forward. "We're good.. we're good," she murmurs to the frightened woman. Well, a bit more frightened than herself, anyway. She'll help keep Cali on track, arcing left towards where group one is moving on.

Tirzah nods looking to her aide as the enter the alley. "Watch over us from above friend, let us know if you see anything approaching us with a number of soft whistles matching the number coming." She instructs it, figuring the whistles will be abstract enough not to gather notice.

Leonard moves forward into the building with the final group and to the side directed. He attempts to catch sight of the thing despite its having passed, even after the colorfully voiced descriptions. Perhaps Vix managed to catch it on... The thought is unfinished as he abruptly seeks the members of the other group. ~Everything alright up there?~

Progress through the building will be slow, but sure. quietness and evasion of the left leaves the loathsome creature to wallow in 'peace' and the three groups move through the building, then out into the alley. Shifting through it in fits and starts of movement. The alleyway between the buildings proves to be a fitting shortcut. The remains of long dried up and withered trash might hint at how putrid it once was, but time has made it merely foul. Fortunately armor guards against having to smell or touch. Sight is the only enemy. But its minor compared to what is out there. More than once over the next fifteen minutes of careful, quiet travel horrors will be glimpsed on the street. Familiar buildings wrecked, ruined or smashed to rubble. The long picked over remnants of the dead, skeletons, lining the streets, some naked, clothing since torn and rotted away. Others in bits and pieces of old body armor that, in the end, could not save them. Even in the alley they will be found.

Worse yet are the creatures. There will be glimpses of common undead. The simple animated skeletons standing here or there, lacking direction or purpose. Zombies that lurch about aimlessly, as if to seek another morsel from the bloody feast of years past. BUt there are worse things. The so called 'wretches'. A gaggle of the creatures are passed. Near enough that one could see them clearly, Humanoid just barely, hideous with scaly, diseased flesh, scarred and boil covered. Gaping maws, filled with snaggled teeth and dead, milky white eyes. All they seem interested in is bemoaning their horrid existence. Wordless grunts and grumbles mingling with the frantic scratching of t heir long claws, often tearing slim lacerations in their own putrid flesh. But not just those. There will be congealed masses of what seems to be blood, just glimpsed from afar. and other corpse-like beings glimpsed, yet not the same as the others. Passing too quickly to be seen. The alleys too narrow, the creatures too distant to get a close, detailed look. But the variety.. things that don't seem so common. So simple. Unknown quantities.

And they rule these familiar streets now. The living reduced to skulking in the shadows like rats. Something that gets Belinda antsy, which is easily seen by those of her group. But she keeps in line and quiet, following the stealth path. Hector will be a silent, calm element, seeming composed and focused. Efficient.

Soon enough, Tamiril will call a pause. "Here.." he points towards a door to the right. faded paint on the brick can jsut be made out by those in group one. 'Tom's Pawn' it says. "The door," Johnny indicates. before he says over the radio, "We got it. All groups move in slowly. Gather up, we're going to end this and get the hell outta here." Some relief in his voice.

Caliopa is frozen for a moment until Vixen speaks to her, and then she moves, giving Vixen a wobbly smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..." She mumbles softly, moving with the other woman, a glance towards Sage and Belinda reassuring her as they move in a group. Watching Belinda's reaction doesn't help her, but Caliopa follows her lead, tense and afraid. Tamiril's words are attended to, and she does as ordered, moving towards the others, careful of her steps. Alistair follows up, looking this way and that as the alley is crossed. "Seen this before" he murmurs, dissapearing into the next building. His sword's still in hand, and he exchanges positions with his team mates in who gets to be the last one in or out as they move about, keeping an eye out for trouble. Then, they start moving towards the place of .... something?

"If it gets too much, Cali, give me a signal." Sage murmurs quietly when she realizes the other woman froze a little from her fright. She's trying to ride a linger feeling of disgust to ward off the sharp edges of fear. She follows whatever instructions are given for avoiding notice as they go along. She'll try to stay near Cali.

"All good, man. All good," Vixen will respond to Leo as she helps Cali along as long as she needs it. Releasing the moment she doesn't. THe trek through the alleys is rough. Nerve wracking in some ways. Stop and go, stop and go. Sit and wait, look at the ruin, look at the death. See.. what the hell is that!? Towards the end, especially after the cluster of Wretches, she's leaning against a wall in a low crouch, lead back, eyes shut within her helmet. For once not filming directly, but letting her camera sit on her knee as it records. When the note of the goal rises up, she breathes out lowly and looks up. "About time," she murmurs, getting herself up to go along with the rest.

Keeping pace as they make their way through Tirzah maintains her focus for the most part. One passing moment she does pause as she glances one of the blood wraiths. Remembering their last encounter and the attack on Sage she shudders bitterly before turning away as if her gaze could draw notice. As much as she may desire to rid the planes of that one variation of undead, now was not the time.

Raja pulls out a smaller vibro-knife from hsi belt, using it to saw through the door and lock steadily. It's the work of several minutes and some noise, but not enough to carry very far and soon the door's knob and a few inches of material around it fall away, the door swinging open loosely. Raja moves in at once, blade in hand, but the interior of the building is quiet and seemingly devoid of life or unlife. The front door looks intact from the inside, the windows broken out, but covered over with MDC steel security barriers that allow a fragmented view of the street. THough that's past the back area of the pawn shop, where the proprietor works and stores materials. Johnny lingers outside, keeping watch on the alleyway as he motions the others in, out of the open. Stay behind the counter, we don't want anything from the street seeing us," he says a few times as people move up and in. He'll be the last one in. And as this is going on, Tamiril stands quietly within and closes his eyes. "Its below us," he states lowly. He motions about. "Look for.. a hatch.. a door. Something. It must be here."

Caliopa moves forward, looking as instructed, keeping away from the counter. Her gaze moves methodologically across the floor, seeking a hatch. Then she moves forward, pointing downwards. "Here." Below her fingers, streaks of blood linger, a path leading towards them. "Ends here." She comments softly into the radio, turning towards the others. Alistair is on the way there too, standing over the thing with her after having looked and apparently having come to the same conclusion. He sticks the tip of the sword in the seam, to see if he can widen or open the thing. "Interesting. Good eyes" he smiles momentarily, and leans in a little to examine it closer.

With the destination reached, Sage will wait until her group is motioned forward. She slips into the relative safety of the building before she begins to look around. She thinks she seems a likely area, but soon comes up empty on her search. She pauses and looks over to Cali when she seems to have found something. Rather than crowd around the area, she keeps her distance figuring if anything bad is going to happen soon that she'll feel it before it comes to pass. "Here's hoping..." She offers.

Vixen seems more inclined to look through the view of her camera, a distracting way of doing so as she doesn't see much at all when it comes to details. That is, until Cali points it out She turns, bringing the camera over, edging to the side of the room to keep out of the way while she gets her shots. "Who is going in first?" Asked with a tense little grin.

As the hatch is found Tirzah abandons her own search to join the others around it. Noting the blood train she shakes her head. "I would not recommend any of us entering or even opening that hatch. Seems too easy. My aide can enter without opening it. Let it check things out." She suggests to the group.

Leonard files in with the others, and crouches, seeking. It is only after the area is pointed out that he becomes aware of it, and the trail of blood. Hopefully it is as old as the other carnage, but it certainly doesn't inspire pleasant thoughts. "How far down?"

"We will have to enter the basement regardless," Tamiril responds. "It is down there." He looks towards Leo and says, "Close.. it isn't too far down." He then says more generally, "But if it can see first what awaits us, then perhaps that is the best course." The others give no objection to the logic of that. Thus, as every one lingers on the floor above, the elemental sinks into the basement through the thin seam of the hidden door. It won't be down long before returning. It seems something is down there. A passive corpse of some sort. Reported as moving things around slowly from one place to another. Johnny frowns faintly. "If there's just one, that shouldn't be hard to deal with."

Caliopa steps back, letting others get to the basement seam. Alistair's comments draws her attention and she gives him a small smile, even as she moves across to Sage's side, out of the way. She doesn't speak, but gives the woman a half smile, uncertain and humourless.

Alistair smiles back at Cali, stepping back to let the elemental through. After the report is delivered he says, "Perhaps it is also looking for that thing. Um ... well ... " he looks at Johnny, "Now you jinxed it - famous last words eh? I'll go" he comments, frowning faintly as he moves back near the hatch to pull it open, sword still in hand. Once the hatch is open, he'll take the grenade in his other hand.

Figuring the basement is going to be crowded if they all tried to pour in there to fight one creature, Sage seems content to stay top side unless her presence is needed or she's prompted to go. As Cali comes over, she looks over to the other woman with her helmet still on for the time being. She smiles a little behind her visor and puts her arm around the other woman's back as a gesture of comfort. "You're doing good." She confides softly.

"Moving stuff around?" Vixen frowns faintly. "That's strange." She glances towards Alistair and says, "I'll go second," she murmurs, her free hand going for her silver knife. She's got to see this thing, that's for sure. She moves closer to the hatch to peer at it as the thing gets worked open.

Tirzah considers interceding as Alistair move to open that hatch but decides not to. Watching to see if any reaction of any kind is made to the opening, alarm or otherwise.

Leonard receives the information and nods, first to Johnny, then to Alistair in reassuranceas hatch is opened and grenade readied. "The grenade is quiet enough, use it." He might underestimate Ali's abilities as he knows little of him, but there is no reason for anyone to be attempting heroism. At least Vixen isn't planning to... so much for that small concession. "Third, but we don't need all to go."

The hatch is a bit heavy, so Raja aids in pulling it open, leaving Alistair to focus on other things. "Be careful," Tamiril says softly as he watches. The opening of the hatch prompts no obvious reaction from what might be down there. Within, there is the musty remains of a storeroom. The soft bump of things being moved heard. The source of the movement and sound obvious. At the other end of the storeroom, a zombie is moving things about. Or it seems like one, anyway. Old clothing hangs in rags on it, the clothing of a common man. It's back to the opening, making open display of a dagger that protrudes from the center of it's back. The creature is stacking boxes around it into a corner, the simple, repetitive action done without much attention for anything else until someone starts to come down into the storeroom. It pauses as Alitair descends and simply looks towards him, it's rotting features set into an expression of simple sorrow.

Caliopa touches Sage lightly in return, giving her a half smile. "You ain't doin' so badly." She comments, the smile gaining a touch of wryness. She turns to watch Alistair, moving the knife to her other hand, nervously. She watches in silence, worry in her face.

Alistair pages: A type of undead I can recognize or anything of the sort? Also, intending to use empathy to gauge its reactions and see if its hostile while there's room between them

Alistair descents into the basement, grenade ready in one hand, sword in the other. He pauses at the foot of the stairs and looks back at the thing which is now looking at him. "Hello" he says, "Be at peace" - his weapons remain at the ready, and he keeps one eye on the thing. "If you take care to step aside I will be in and out of your space as soon as I can" then, to those above, "What am I looking for?" as he begins to look around.

With Alistair going down into basement, Sage slowly slips her arm around around behind Cali. She'll remain close to the woman, but offer only a light touch to reassure Cali that someone is nearby. "I don't feel any sense of danger yet..." She murmurs, but is uncertain why.

Vixen moves down into the basement slowly after Alistair, giving him a bit of a lead before she comes down. Camera lowered to lead the way. "Oh man.." Murmured as she gets a load of what's inside the basement. She'll pause halfway down and kneel a bit to the side, to clear enough room to be moved past as needed, filming intently without calling much more attention to herself. She tries to get an angle that has some of Ali in as well as the odd zombie.

Tirzah exhales a breath of relief that the lack of alarm. Smiling warmly she observes. "Maybe the wielder of swords and guns will get to prove his worth." She notes encouragingly. Liking the idea that after the encounter she had the day before Alistair would get to be more than he described.

Leonard descends after Vixen, having reacquired the duty of direct behind protection. Once down, a simple act of will opens his senses to all things arcane. If their target is such, he should be able to help answer Alistair's question. The saddened-appearing creature is regarded a studious few moments, as it seems no immediate threat. Down inside of the basement, the creature stares at Alistair for several moments before it states, This is my place." Agreeing with that part of the man's words to it. It straightens slowly and turns towards him, eyes shifting towards Leo. "Why you here?" THe words spoken simply with a subtle slur to them. Leo would get a clear hit on something powerfully magical. In one of the crates near the strange undead. It seems passive still, the palpable sense of sorrow in its expression and motions lingering on.

Waiting in silence, Caliopa is restless, anxious. She gives Sage a quick smile of appreciation at the reassurance, calmer now, seemingly trusting in her lover's skills to protect himself. She shifts, impatient to be gone from this place.

"I seek someting that is in here. I wish to take it, and leave" Alistair explains, a touch surprised that the thing responded, but reasoning is so much better than hacking and slashing. "Nothing more. Would you mind if I do so then?"

Once her flatmate is calmer, Sage turns her attention back towards the way down to the basement. She keeps the light contact with her friend for now, since she likely wouldn't be able to see or help appreciably with three people having already in or trying to move into the basement. She remains quiet, though.

Vixen is in a bit of awe that one of these things is actually talking. She recording the whole conversation with a steady hand, shifting a bit towards Alistair when he speaks, then zooming just a bit on the zombie was it speaks. Lingering on it as Alistair responds, to catch the thing's expressions. to further responses. "The thing is talking to him.. this is so weird," she narrates up towards the others.

Tirzah raises her eyebrow at the idea of the undead talking. At least for a zombie that sounded very unusual to her. "Thats interesting, perhaps the conception that nothing remains of the self into undeath is not entirely accurate." She postures quietly out loud as the wait continues.

Leonard's head turns from the unliving warehouseman to the source of power within a crate. No announcement is made as he instead awaits the results of Alistair's discourse. Leonard is well aware that most any creature might possibly be reasoned with.

Talk of the thing speaking seems to confuse the five gathered, each of them looking around to the others near them, as if to find some explanation for this. "We know little of undeath and the nature of it. Such a thing is not impossible." Tamiril muses quietly, his brow furrowed.

The creature glances between Leo and Alistair slowly before it responds, "What you want? My stuff is here." Again, simple sentence structure. The slurred voice remaining bland, almost uninterested, though some interest obviously keeps it speaking rather than simply ignoring the two.

Caliopa moves back, leaning against a wall, listening to the exchanges as best she can. In those moments, she can do little to help, but wait in silence.

Alistair mms softly, looking over the crates - he then glances back to the other two, Vixen and Leo. "What are we looking for?" he asks quietly, before looking back to the creature.

With no chaos having erupted to this point, Sage lets Cali lean against the wall as there doesn't seem to be any need for further comfort. She looks to the Elf, "You said you'd feel a pull to it... would you be able to tell what it is from sight or will it need some more refined sensing?"

Vixen is fixated on the simple little conversation. "Bet you folks never seen nothing like this.. well now you have. In high definition," she murmurs to the camera between bits of talk. Not wanting to obscure the discourse any. "Ask it what its like being dead," she prompts Ali then.

Tirzah shakes her head in response to Vixen's suggestion. "Perhaps you should arrange an interview another time dear. When we're not trespassing with intent to steal the means of salvation from the enemy." She suggests quietly with a bit of humorous sarcasm in her tone.

Leonard now lifts a hand to gesture to the crate, keying his mic as he speaks for the benefit of those upstairs. "The crate on the right, fourth from the far wall. May we pass?" He is intentionally specific as he offers some tentative confirmation of the prize's presence.

Tamiril decides to come down then, stepping down past Vixen, up to Leo and Alistair. He extends a hand to touch the shoulder of each before he gazes past them towards the unfortunate creature. When Leo speaks on precis location, Tamiril gives his shoulder a squeeze. "That is it," he agrees, looking towards the creature. "We seek a means to prevent this from happening to our world. The way is in that box."

The creature looks towards the box for a moment, then turns and walks over to it slowly. The box is hefted easily, lifted up to shoulder height to be carried towards the three. It comes within about five feet of them before the box is firmly laid down. "Take it. Go." The response as dull and ambivalent as the rest. "Go." Repeated as it turns and moves back towards the boxes it was rearranging. Seeming intent on resuming the odd task.

Tamiril will breath out softly then, looking to either side at the two men. "This is.. a wonderful thing." His mood buoying upward considerably. Let us open this.. be sure we have what we came for."

Outside, a black cat will leap up onto the outside portion of the counter, staring past the mesh covered openings at the people on the other side with eyes that glitter with intelligence beyond animal.

The sense of relief Caliopa feels as the response is obvious, in the way her shoulders slump, the tension leaving them. She turns at the sound of movement, startled, her gaze resting on the cat. The brief moment of anxiety is enough to make her speak aloud, "A cat survived this?" Her words go into the radio, as she stares at it, surprised. Alistair nods his head to Tamiril, and Leo, and he shoots a funny look at Vixen - then he looks back to the creature when it hands over the item. "Thank you" he says, sheathing the sword in order to take the crate with him. "Much appreciated" he smiles, and backs off with the crate. "Go, go up" he tells the others.

Alistair nods his head to Tamiril, and Leo, and he shoots a funny look at Vixen - then he looks back to the creature when it hands over the item. "Thank you" he says, sheathing the sword in order to take the crate with him. "Much appreciated" he smiles, and backs off with the crate; he opens it so that it can be looked into.

Just when everything seems to be nice and cozy, Sage feels that all too familiar tingle. Letting her ability to suppress fear flows through her, and she steps over to touch Cali to let it flow from her into the other woman. "This is a bad time to relax people... we're going to be in trouble real soon." She says, not knowing if she has time to reach anyone else with her ability.

Vixen frowns a little, her curiosity not sated. But it's a mild upset as she lingers on the undead thing for a few moments more before her camera pans down to consider the box. "I love opening presents," she commends idly as Alistair starts working the top open. Though she looks up, leaving the camera trained down when she hears Sage. "I don't wanna hear that.. better be quick, boys." THe last added as she looks down towards Leo, Alistair and Tamiril.

As soon as Sage's tone changes Tirzah posture stiffens in response. Moving beside Sage to protect her partner autonomically she looks about the room to see where the threat will come from and sees that cat and the recognition in its eyes. Looking gazes with it she waits, not wanting to make the first move.

The cat's amber eyes fix towards Raja, who looks at it along with several others. It's little maw opens in an oddly rhythmic warble that seems to capture the big canine's attention intensely. His wary, expression dropping to something more relaxed. Johnny stares hard at the feline critter for a moment before his eyes widen slightly. "Oh shit.. Harbinger!" His head snapping towards Raja, just as a sudden intensity of emotion sweeps over the wolfen dog boy. Anger.. great, great anger that prompts the big lupine canid to tremble bodily. His head turning, hate filled eyes sweeping across those who are still on the ground floor. Uh oh.

Meanwhile, down in the basement, the top comes off the box and Tamiril leans in to start tossing out things. He draws in a breath, lifting out a lacquered wooden box. "This is it.." Just as Johnny calls out above.

With an almost feral roar Raja snaps up from his crouch above the trapdoor. His hand snaps back and with a sweep of arm that will force anyone near to him back, he sweeps the blade out in a arc around his right side and before him. The two handed vibroblade brought up in a loose, two handed grip, his eyes darting between the myriad of targets laid out before him. For that is what his gaze will say to those who see it set on them. Target.

Alistair doesn't much mind the cat, until Leo issues the warning and other things are said - he hands the crate off to ... Vixen, because she's nearly in front of him, and then bolts upstairs, drawing his sword as he pounds the steps. Hopefuly she won't drop it - not like there was much choice.

Belinda hops back lithely away from the raging Raja, confused about him, but not what to do. If anyone is standing close, they might get a bit singed as, with a thought, she wreathes herself in a clinging nimbus of flames. "What's wrong with you, pup? Y'ain't supposed to kill us!" Snapped off as she seems unsure how to approach the situation at first beyond that defensive measure.

As for the 'Harbinger', the black cat lifts its head, that warbling sound coming from it again. This time, however, whatever magic it wields effects it as it's form flickers, then multiplies several times, there now four versions of it, every replica of the feline moving in perfect rhythm with each other.

As for the 'Harbinger', the black cat lifts its head, that warbling sound coming from it again. This time, however, whatever magic it wields effects it as it's form flickers, then multiplies several times, there now four versions of it, every replica of the feline moving in perfect rhythm with each other.

"Don't hurt Raja! Delay him, but don't hurt him, the Harbinger's got him. Kill it!" Johnny shouts before he whips around and kicks at the half broken door that leads from their side of the counter to the other side where the harbinger is. The old door snaps open noisily, allowing passage to the other side, which he takes.

Vixen almost fumbles her camera as the crate is sent in her direction. "What the.." With the supposed target of this quest in the elf's hands, she doesn't even bother with the crate, shoving it aside with a loud clatter as she orients her eyes and her camera upwards at the open trapdoor. "What's going on?" Uncertain with the noise that's going on up there. So much for stealth.

Tirzah frowns as the canid starts seinging a sword at them particularly Sage. "Bad dog." She derides in a flat dead pan as she draws on her link to force Raja up against the cieling (levitation). "Attack the feline." She orders her aide and it unleashes a blast of air at one of the images.

Hector's raspy voice rises in a firm flourish of arcane phrase, his fingers swaying in a spiral pass that creates a sudden glue-like mass upon the wall that Raja has been lifted against. Though the thrashing of the powerful canine enables him to avoid some of the sticky stuff. "It won't hold him long.. kill it," he declares, looking towards the Harbinger.

Caliopa is thrown into confusion by the sudden change of behaviour, and the reactions of those around her. The clear order from Hecter makes things obvious and she turns towards the cat, the source of the problem, her silver knife in hand as she too makes her way behind Sage.

The noise up on the ground floor vexes young Tamiril, but as it seems the struggle at the top of the stairs has ended, he comes up. "This noise.. we must leave here now. The alley.. I need to contact my Lord, open out way home before they all come down upon us." The lacquered box he keeps closely tucked under his arm , treated as if it were the most precious thing in all the lands.

And just when Leonard thought they were about to leave without incident, the commotion begins and Alistair runs past. "What in the..." He hurries to the stairs, about to scold Vixen for her filming, then stops to look to Tamiril. "I can open a portal for the trip back, now, with some aid... but it won't remain open long."

Raja rages as he's stuck against the wall, rendered helpless. He jerks and fights against the bonds that hold him, it a lucky thing he's armor clad, for such struggles might have ended with some pulled out fur, so violently he rages against his imprisonment.

Alistair looks up, emerging from the stairs, then at the cats - "Throw a grenade" he says, unable to do so himself from this place - he remains a step or two behind the others since pilingin there with them would be counter-productive. "We need to get out of here very quick now."

"Fry, fucker!" Belinda's snarl as she stares at the strange feline assailant. An instant later flames burst into being directly beneath it, flaring up in a high burst of pyrokinetic energy. Perfectly aimed, though if it has any effect on the image/or real target that it came up under, it doesn't show. Though with things going how they are, the Harbinger seems to take the better part of valor. It leaps off the counter and scrambles into a tangle of jump, squeezing into a narrow space. It may even be the way it got in, since the front door are closed, the shattered front windows shuttered with heavy mesh. "Shit.." Johnny curses, starting to move after it. Then he glances up. "They're coming.. we gotta go now!" He turns, starting to motion for the ladies to get back on the other side. "Get out to the vehicle.. get a portal open!"

Indeed. in the initial moments of the engagement, the sound rising up outside might be missed. But it becomes easier to hear as it grows louder. Either the noise of the fight or some other something has awakened the horde. The mingled sounds of monstrosities can be heard outside. Growing louder... louder as the moments tick by.

Vixen comes up from the basement, glancing at Raja with wide eyes, a few quick steps taken to the side as she pauses, head cocked. "Oh no.." She seems to agree with the sentiment when it comes to leaving, though she can't help but ask, "What about him?" Motioning towards the raging, trapped canine.

Tirzah pauses, unsure what to do now as the harbinger flees. "Hold." She orders her aide so it doesnt pursue the foe. "Now we leave." She states in reply to Vixen before walking to the door the others passed through.

With the Harbinger leaving and Johnny speaking about other things coming, Sage is quietly thankful that she has gotten into the habit of suppressing her own fear. She's collected enough to allow Cali to move towards the escape door before following close behind. "I didn't really enjoy my stay here anyway." She quips.

"The answer is simple, chica," Hector tells Vixen in his rough voice before he looks to wards Raja. He takes a moment to compose himself, then quickly rattles off handful of arcane words, the pass of his hands coming just before a twist that seems to release the carpet of adhesion, just after he unleashes a magic net. The big canid goes from pinned to bound up, dropping heavily in a struggling mass. "Now we just pull him out."

Caliopa does, as she has done, as she is told, moving towards the door, a glance over her shoulder at the canid, even as he is taken in a net. "It ain't a nice place." She agrees softly with Sage as she heads outside. Tamiril gives Hector a positively beatific smile before he motions for Leo. "Come, I will help you if you can quickly draw forth a portal to our home. Do you need power? Hector can assist as well, I am sure. And you?" He looks to Tirzah as he too moves to go outside.

Leonard nods to Tamiril, though pauses clear of the exit door to regard the snarling, bound canine. "He would slow us down to drag, but he might walk on his own quickly enough..." His words trail off into a momentary chant and a pointing motion of his hand. That is alot of rabid dog boy to try and lug around, afterall.

Whatever Leo casts on Raja doesn't seem to calm him much at all. At least, not in preventing him from moving. The rage seems to calm some, but he continues to struggle and writhe within the magic net as it continues to deny him his freedom.

Alistair heads outside also, and looks about to see what the situation is - he keeps the grenade ready. "Are we leaving straight from here?" he inquires, his brows hiking up a touch. "We could use a grenade or two to give us a little time in terms of a barrier they won't come through" he suggests.

With Raja bound up, Belinda and Johnny go to work at once, moving up to snag the magic net in their hands, dragging him towards the outside door. Not quick going, but they don't have to go too far to get him outside. He glances towards Leo. "Quick fooling around and get that portal going, we got him." And more generally, "If you aren't opening a portal or helpign with it, cover the alley. Just in case."

Vixen moves out into the alley as well, her camera sifted from right to left, opening up her throwing arm, which dips into her coat to pull out her water grenade. She shifts to the side, moving to cover one end of the alley, though for now the shamblers or whatever is coming has yet to make it this far. But its only a matter of time.

Looking to her Aide Tirzah points to Raja, not seeing time for this. "Bring him." She orders, curt but still polite in her tone. The elemental effortlessly lifts the bound canid to carry him once the others set him down. Offering her hand to Leo she nods in agreement to offering power. "Draw as much as you need." She suggests as she reaches to her aide so that she might draw more if necessary.

Briefly considering helping with the progress on the netted Raja, Sage realizes soon enough that there isn't any need to expend a significant portion of her psychic reserves for that task. Instead, she moves to help guard against the approach of what may be an enemy horde. She slips the knife away securely before pulling out the grenade.

Hector emerges out into the alley, his magic work done on the inside. "If you need power, I got plenty left," he states simply, hands extended toward Leo as well.

Caliopa turns to face the coming horde, the knife in one hand, with the grenade in the other. She turns her head, glancing at Leo and Hector, silently wishing them to hurry.

Tamiril comes to join the linking of hands, with one that isn't holding the box close to his side. "We're ready," he confirms, looking towards Leo with a slight, tense little smile.

Leonard did not expect Raja to react quite as such, nor the aide to lift him so easily. "Or he can stay in the net..." He offers Tir zah and Hector nods at the offers. "Let's go." Taking hands, and with them the offered power, he closes his eyes and focuses. A familiar blue-white ball appears and rapidly expands into a portal large enough to allow them to pass. "It won't remain for long... " Not that anyone is really considering loitering.

Alistair makes his way up to Cali, and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Go, Cali, I'll cover here, okay?" he smiles at her and keeps an eye on the horde, occasionally glancing at the portal as well. He does keep his two weapons ready though perhaps they won't need to be used now.

Belinda and Johnny let go of Raja as the elemental lifts him. Both of them moving out with everyone else. It'll be as the portal is opening that the first creatures start to emerge to either side of the alleyway. Fodder and other things.. blood creatures.. do you really want to stand and try to identify them all? "Everybody in!" Johnny's shout as he emerges to see this. Belinda doesn't question, jumping through the portal quickly.

Vixen is tempted to hang back some to get a few more shots, but once she gets a good one of the gathering mess of undead, she rethinks that. "Go time!" With the portal open, she turns and barrels through not too far behind Belinda.

The portal open Tirzah withdraws her hand and mounts her cycle without delay. Keying it on she'll be going through the portal right after Sage does, her aide right behind.

Depending on whether the mob seem close enough to snare one of their number, Sage will make a judgement call on whether to try tossing the grenade or simply running for the portal. Johnny's call seems to help her decide as she moves for the portal.

Caliopa stares at Alistair for a moment, before nodding slowly, and turning to run into the portal, trusting to the casters luck for the location.

Hector lets go of Leo once the portal opens. "Quickly now!" His rough words before he jogs into the portal himself.

Tamiril breathes a relieved sigh as the portal opens and is quick to step through himself, both arms wrapping around the lacquered box as he does so.

Leonard maintains minor focus on the portal, glancing to the advancing horde as everyone jumps through, save himself and Alistair. "Come on. Time to go. Somebody's waiting for you on the other side." He then steps for the portal, clasping Alistair's arm en route. He'll make sure the other is in ahead of himself before making the step. There's a lady on the other end he'd like to return to, as well.

One by one, they dart through the brief portal. rapidly escaping from the dark mirror of their world. Even as the two waves of the dead encroach, crashing together as a milling mass a moment after the portal winks shut, sealing off the wailing sound of their hunger from those on the other side. And above, a black cat peers down at where once before the interlopers were, amber eyes glittering intelligently.

Meanwhile, back in Kingsdale, a portal opens for a second time at the Landing Strip. As a rift is prone to, it attracts attention and some drawn weapons as it starts to emit bodies. Thus as they emerge from the thing, they'll be confronted with a handful of weapons being pointed in their direction initially. But the place will look normal and the air will be clean, clear and bracingly cold.

The pointed weapons are a final straw, a final shock, for the petite redhead and for a moment she stands still, staring at them, and then, in true dramatic style, she faints, crumpling to the ground, exhaustion from days of grenade building, the trip through the rift and the shock becoming too much, and she hits the floor, just as the rift spills Alistair out.

Alistair manages to come back being pulled by Leo, "But I could take them all!" he jokes nervously, and just as he's about to thank him, he sees Cali fall and runs to her, stowing his weapons. "Cali!" hecomes beside her and removes her helmet if she has one on, then checks if she's breathing at least. Seeing that she is, he carefully lifts her up in his arms. "Oh ... " he looks to the others, "I am going to take her home - we'll see you all tomorrow. I guess she was too tired" he explains.

It all seems to happen so quickly. One moment, they're being cornered by undead. The next, they're in a different Kingsdale. With the weapons being pointed at them, she decidedly makes no aggressive movements. "Would saying we come in peace help?" She offers, with a weak attempt at humour.

It all seems to happen so quickly. One moment, they're being cornered by undead. The next, they're in a different Kingsdale. With the weapons being pointed at them, she decidedly makes no aggressive movements. "Would saying we come in peace help?" Sage offers, with a weak attempt at humour.

Vixen stumbles through the portal, the difference in one ground to the other, the change if the air disorienting. She wavers and stumbles a few steps before she evens out and breathes out lowly, glancing around. She drops her water grenade into her pocket and quickly draws off her helmet, her camera kept oriented with her left hand. "Nothing to see here, people," she states, giving the people pointing the guns a broad grin. Though it falters slightly as she notes Cali fallen. She comes over to her and Ali. "Guess it got too much for her.. not that I blame her," she murmurs. "That was harsh." Feeling a bit of fatigue touch her as well, the grin faded to a thin line.

Tirzah simply glowers at those pointing the weapons at her once she's through the portal. Her aide close behind with its well wrapped parcel she gives the crow a 'try me' look before lightening and moving to wait by Sage. Once all are through she looks to the elf with interest. "That went well, so what did we get?" She asks in curiosity.

Leonard emerges, his pleasure that none are worse for wear flickering slightly as Alistair runs to the collapsed Caliopa, though all appears well enough. He removes his helm to take several large breaths welcome fresh air, even as chilled as it is. "That went..." His words trail off as Tirzah beats him to the punch, and they return to a questionable reception. A shake of his head and sigh follow as he steps towards Vixen. "Did you get your story?" There is mild sarcasm in his question.

The nearby gun pointers seem convinced enough that this isn't a time to start shooting up the dumped people, so most of them holster and filter off, though a few gawkers linger about. Especially with the composition of the group. The five collect themselves after the sudden evacuation. Though Raja is still an issue as he still seems to be in a state. Tamiril goes to him, kneeling down to consider as Hector approaches to do the same. "Some sort of magical compulsion.. the Harbinger's influence should wear off in time. Just have to keep him restrained until then," Hector decides. He looks to Tamiril and touches him lightly. "Worry not, friend, he will be well." Tamiril nods and murmurs, "I hope so. Poor Raja." Belinda and Johnny both seem apt to take a breather, lingering back some as they remove helmet and air filter and generally relax from the final tense moments. Tirzahs' question draws his attention and he lifts the box, gazing at it. "We got what we need." He looks towards her and smiles. "I am not sure what it does yet, but we shall discover it. Myself and Hector, once we have returned to our lodgings, we shall study it." Regarding the box and its mysterious contents helps his mood considerably. "But here is not the place to linger on such things." Indeed, a few eyes remain on them all, people observing what goes on.

"I would not wish for this world to be turned into that, certainly" Alistair replies softly, in agreement with Vixen. "Whatever that cat was, it was ... not stupid. It is either an animal or it is smart, in which case, we will have trouble" he explains, and glances to Hector and Raja. "Not an animal" he adds, his brows hiking up. "Trouble" he looks to Leo then, "Can they tell where we came from? Can they follow?" his arms raise a bit, with that raising Cali slightly in front of him - he holds her so cutely, too. "Oh and thanks by the way."

Once the initial tension of people pointing weapons at them eases away, Sage slips the grenade into a secure spot that she can always return to Cali at her leisuer since they live in the same apartment. Then she removes her own helmet to enjoy the fresh air. She'd never realized how taken for granted clean air had been until now. She slips the silver knife that she had borrowed from Vixen and moves over to hand it over to the woman. "Thanks again." She murmurs to the woman. Finally she looks back to her lover, << I want to spend some time somewhere I can enjoy the feel of life for a little bit... >> She admits quietly into the other woman's mind. She lets the feeling of the life around her wash over her.

Vixen turns with the camera and eyes Leo. "What'd you think, man?" A slight smirk rising as she does her final duty. "After this, I 'm going to need some strong drink," she murmurs, starting to record the tail end of the quest. She takes the knife when it's returned to her, grinning casually. "No problem." The blade slid into her coat as she pans the camera from speaker to speaker with her right hand. Thoughtful on the subject of that thing that came in the end.

Tirzah smirks to Sage, feeling quite compassionate for the view. "Well I was thinking we'd spend some time 'resting' before I took you back to work at the garden, but I can cope if you insist." She replies with an air of humor. Reaching down to take Sage's hand she'll help her climb on or just wait with her, content either way.

The words of Hector and the still struggling Raja drag Leonard's attention. "Some of that may be my doing, when I attempted to make him less dangerous. Apologies." A flick of wrist and push of will remove his influence, at least. "You're welcome... and it is possible they could follow." The smile at the thanks dims at the consequences of the question. "A portal can be re-opened more easily than made, if they do so quickly enough."

"That was a Harbinger. A bound servant of evil," Johnny puts in. "Smart, with magic.. they can change shape sometimes too." He breathes out. "We've run into 'em before. Means they'll know someone was there.. if they guess it's us? Things could get hot around here." He frowns faintly. "We're going to get Raja where we can handle him and get to work." He looks towarsds Belinda then, motioning for her and Hector to help him out. Tamiril nods his head and looks to all of the gathered. "I thank you for the risks you took this night. Without you, we may not have managed this as we did. We were very lucky this day."

"It can ... ?" Alistair frowns faintly, and takes a breath. "I understand. How quick?" he inquires, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He'll wait fo rthe answer of course, but he appears to be wanting to head out now. He turns to look at Jonny as well and he frowns again. "Mmmmh.... I guess it goes witht eh territory." A soft sigh escapes from her as one of the five speak about the creature that they ran into as it makes Sage feel a little more tired. "It is always darkest before dawn." Sage says softly, finding the comment appropriate at this time. "I have a feeling the worst is yet to come..." The thought of a potential undead surge coming here makes her re-think her original idea. She walks up to her partner. "I think that I may save the communing with nature fully for later." She comments, << Perhaps resting in your arms will do for now. >> She murmuringly adds in the woman's mind.

Vixen sighs lowly. "I think that's a wrap for now," she murmurs, flipping the camera around to peer down into it. "This is your Video Vixen, signing off. Be good." The recording light goes off and she breathes out again, putting hte camera into her pocket once more. "Well, anyone who wants a stiff one, I'm going to get one. Heck, come to my place and I'll treat the lot of you to whatever I got after that mess." She smirks idly as she hooks her helmet to her belt.

Tirzah grins to Sage, deciding not to worry about the undead any more today. "Then let us not delay any longer." She suggests with a strong loving embrace before gesturing for Sage to join her. Then they can head out and rest.

"It is moot, I think," Leonard notes to Alistair. "Whatever force drives them already has a toehold here. I wouldn't worry of them using our escape route." He then nods to Tamiril and the others before grinning to Vix. "So could I. I'm buying." She gave the invitation, he'll give the rounds.

"Fare you all well. Rest, but do not let down your guard. If the enemy knows us from this, the trials may redouble," Tamiril offers in a sober tone as the other three start to carry Raja off, he following after as the five depart the Landing Strip on foot.

Alistair inclines his head to Leo and Vixen, "Enjoy..." and to the other pair, "And you as well" he then turns to carry Cali off with him - the girl needs a good rest.

As the mention of drinks are offered, Sage glances back towards Vixen. "Perhaps a little later." She offers, turning back to Tirzah and accepting the embrace. "Okay." She says softly, following the other woman's lead.

Vixen nods her head to sage, then turns towards Leo and arches a brow. "I guess you're just buying for me then. Nightingale? I think I could use a Vrooom and a smoke. Speaking of which.." He's been a little while and she hasn't had one, after all. She draws out her cig case and starts to go through that well practiced ritual.