A lowly muttered string of curses escaped the roof bound man, as he pondered exactly how to get a better understanding of exactly what was below him in terms of the search party, and its exact numbers. A small mirror was pulled from his pack, as he remained careful not to rise too high, as to not attract too much attention. As it stood, they didn't seem to be taking to the roof tops just yet, so that kept him safe for the moment. But given the perimeter instructions he heard, it also didn't leave him many options in the way of escape. Especially with that two block north to south radius.

The mirror idea was quickly forgotten... The current darkness, coupled with the number of lights below would only give him away that much quicker, if he were to look from above using the mirror. One quick glance and that reflection would mean the end of his little run. Another curse escaped him, as a shake of head took form.

"This used to be a lot easier."

The words soft, but the meaning carried deeply. This indeed used to be easier, a good time ago. Back when there were no hunters, when there was no clock ticking. Back when the roles were reversed and he was the hunter, and not the hunted.

Back when his world made sense. Before what he had built had been seemingly taken from him, in a series of twisted incidents that stemmed longer than he would have honestly care to believe. He would have kept that train of memory had it not been for the clock towers toll, that snapped him back to the here, and now and more so, alerted him to a fact that just night have a bit of impact on his current situation.

"We got a half hour till the train."

The mirror was set down, as he once more checked that pack of his. The quick check revealed a coil of garrote wire, a pair of concussion grenades, some maps and that note pad of his. Very little to work with for some, and a miracle for others...

And him, well he hadn't decided yet which of the two it was.

What he did know, is what weapons he had were lost between the ruins of Public Works, and where he currently was atop the 4th precinct watch house. As it stood, he had to now double back towards the dock side to even gain some ground, in this game of cat and mouse.

He also realized how sloppy he had been when he left the ruins... His talk with the shadow it seemed didn't do much for the rest of his senses. In fact it seems lately, he was not as he should have been. But that is neither here, nor there for the moment. At present, he just needed to get the hell out of there and back to a step or two ahead.

A mental check told him three or so minutes had passed. He needed to move.

Carefully he went to his feet, and kept low as he made his way to the rear side of the building. There was a good deal to consider here. First he was severely outnumbered and secondly, if the watch were truly involved, he was very much boned. The Shadow's advice rang in his head, when she had told him to seek out the others, and get some assistance. And part of him wishes he could have done that, as it would have made things so much easier. However the reality was as much as they could not trust him, he in turn could not trust them.

It seems the enemy was right proper in their work ethic.

The back side of the building was rather dark, and that brought a faint smile, as it seems a break was finally showing itself, somehow. No lights, and no sounds from that back alleyway, made for indeed another good sign. So a quick peek was taken, over that ledge to what lay below.

And what was it he saw, you ask?

Not a damned thing...

A quick check to the left, and right and nothing, as it seems the alleyway was in fact quite cleared. A quick ponder, gave memory to what he had just heard moments before, about burning the watch house, and placing blame...

That's when he realized.

"Those bastards, cleared alright, to torch this place."

Another two minutes passed. Twenty five till the next train.

Well, there was no other thought to it.

Down the rear of the building he went, using a rather well placed pipe that ran down the back side.

It was time to change things up...

The shadowy form kept vigil at the entrance to a side road, under cover of shadow, cloak and cowl. Unlike those that searched the streets around him, he knew his quarry, had been able to keep up, had never lost him.

He had the advantage of tailing the man all over the city, had weeks to study, to watch, to learn. He had the benefit of over two thousand years of experience of hunting, of tracking and trailing many and more varied types of prey than a great majority of the people in this little town had ever even considered.

Those were not the only advantages he held, of course. But they were, perhaps, the ones that mattered most.

He did not consider himself to be a Ravenlock expert, of course. He had met the man himself perhaps a handful of times, most of those in passing. There were many who knew him better, but none of them were here to watch out for their old friend. They thought he had turned a traitor, had gone mad, perhaps.

The old demon knew better. That poser, that inferior copy, was not the man they knew. He did not pretend to know what had happened that there should be two such close copies, but he knew one of them was just that - a copy. The one he had been following - he was the real deal.

But who would listen to him? Few indeed, if any.

None of that mattered to him, anyway. He had taken upon himself a mission, and he would see it through to completion, without any help from anyone else.

They would just get in the way, anyway.

It did not bother him that they searched this vicinity for their prey. The fact that they searched, the conversations he caught carried on the wind around him, indicated they were on the wrong course.

Why was it, he wondered to himself, that so few thought to look up?

What did bother him was their treatment of those they questioned, or that questioned them. People rousted from their sleep at the commotion who came to their doors were roughly shoved aside with open threats. A few who responded with anything other than meek submission in their manner and voices were quickly seen to with pummeling fists, feet, and cudgels.

It was nearly enough to bring Angelis to his hand. But doing so might have called attention to this place, brought more of the hunters, risked discovery. Besides, none of those roughed up were seriously harmed.

Still, it chafed. Had he not had his self-appointed task, none of them would have left the area near where he had secreted himself alive.

As soon as they left the area surrounding the shadows in which he stood, he moved. A silent shadow among shadows, moving so swiftly he might have been illusion, he crossed the street in the open to enter an alleyway between buildings. Walls were taken advantage of as the demon leapt up and across, pushed off to leap up and across again, and again, until he vaulted over the edge and landed silently into a crouch on a tall roof next to the watch house.

Eyes of sapphire blue found the shadow perched there easily enough. Not because it was easy to find, but because he knew what to look for.

As the shadow there looked to those below, he turned his attention to the hunters searching the streets beneath them, mindless of the eyes that watched from the shadows above them.

Fools. Searching blindly in the dark, like children sent on a snipe hunt...you make it all the easier to avoid you by letting your prey know exactly where you are.

He watched as a trio were confronted by men in Watch uniform, their conversation heard easily, the explanation they gave raising an eyebrow from the demon.

The Governor lent these men aid...?

If that were true, then things were dire indeed. The City Watch were, by and large, under-trained and under-experienced, with few enough men or women who had real capability. But with so many who could potentially aid in the search, and whatever other resources the government of this city might have at their disposal, things would be that much more difficult.

Especially if these hunters had infiltrated it.

He had been hunted before, just as he had been the hunter. Now he was neither, and the one he stood watch over was the hunted. And, just as when the demon had been the hunted, there was nowhere he could turn for help.

Save for a shadow that - for this moment - he did not know he had.

The demon watched as the Watchmen returned to their station. As soon as they were gone, the command given by the leader of the hunters drew his attention.

He watched as the hunters cleared out, returning to their search, trying to find their quarry.

And as soon as they were gone, he turned to the Watch house, only to find Ravenlock gone from his perch. Gone, but not far - the demon could still detect his scent, feel his presence.

Moving from his own position, he sprinted across the rooftop. An easy leap carried him across the alleyway between to land easily - and silently - on that of the Watch house.

Carefully, he made his way to the edge of the roof, looking down into the back alley, the only direction he could have taken, where his senses told him Ravenlock would be. Pausing at the edge, he stopped to listen.

Sharp ears, so long trained in the sounds of the night and the hunt, picked out sounds of stealthy movement below. Words being traded by the Watch officers in the lowest level, followed by the approach of others.

Those coming down the back alley he stood over made no effort at stealth, unlike the man just below him. Leaning over just a bit, he spied Ravenlock on a narrow ledge below, and two of the hunters coming down at ground level into the alley.

As the rain began to fall, as lighting flashed and thunder rolled, he looked towards the sky and the coming storm it held, a faint smile touching his features. Even the heavens, it seemed, could feel the coming conflict, and welcomed it, the gods of wind and rain lending their aid. Cool drops fell upon his upturned face for a moment before he looked back down into the alley and those within it.

The hunter's debate was ignored by the demon - he cared not for their concerns, their trivial pursuits. His attention was on the man a scant meter beneath his feet.

He could read the actions of the man. Not because he knew him well, nor from any special ability the demon possessed, but rather from long experience. He could see the doubt, the hesitation that held him back, read it in his actions, the way he held himself as lightning flashed its gift of eldritch illumination.

He himself had known many moments of doubt, and had seen it written on others. Such a thing had been the death of many.

Come on, Ravenlock. You can do this - it is in your nature, as surely as it is mine.

Seventeen minutes till the train?

?Uhg? M?head?Body is all stiff, an what?s that smell??

?Mine too, Boss.. Smells like something got cooked. I feel like sh*t.?

?You are that smell, and you were cooked.. Actually, we are that smell and we were all cooked. Being electrocuted will do that to a person. Take a moment to regain yourselves, men. I think business is about to pick up again.?

?Wait a sec?that wench in the black! It was her wasn?t it, and her buddy too??

?It was, and there will be more soon. Sounds like they are coming bac---?

?Huh??

?Quiet down, and listen!?

The couch bound pair, slowly began to rise from said couches respectively, as the cob webs were slowly shaken from each of their rattled heads. Glancing about the room, they began to slowly recall what had happened inside their watch house, and more importantly, what had happened outside. Glancing to each other in question, the pair turned to watch the man who had hushed them walk about the house in a rather hurried fashion, cutting off any lights that were inside the house. Moving back into the lobby room with the pair, the stranger looked out the window again, making sure to use the curtains for what cover he could, as he did so. Finally, the watch captain spoke up.

?You?re him aren?t you??

?Him who?? asked the other.

?Him who they?re lookin? for lad. Ravenlock.."

?Cap, it can?t be him! Why would he come here, and hide out inside a watch house!??

?They?ve gone quiet..?

Moving from the window, he left the pair as he made for rear of the house, to check the back doors and windows.

?He?s here, cause he helped us, Jensk. He could have left us y?know and just run off. Specially after that pair laid us out, and what not. ?

?So he?s not like they say? We?ll if he isn?t the one, Cap?then who is??

?I didn?t say that,--?

?The back is clear, and to answer your question. I am Brian Ravenlock and yes they are looking for me. No, I did not do those things they say?well not that I can recall. Yes I helped you, because those people in the streets looking for me planned to blow this place up with that device we have sitting on the table in the kitchen. And they?ll have some others come back, to make sure the job is done one way or another. So let?s keep the lights out, and figure a way out of here.?

?Told you we should have called, Cap! I?m gonna get on the horn and get help.?

?That won?t work, ? said Brian as Jensk made for a nearby call box. A moment later Jensk had confirmed the man?s words. ?Cap, the line is dead. No tone, or anything.?

The watch Captain looked ever more so vexed, as he nodded to himself in the somewhat dark. ?Seige??

?That sounds about right, and given this weather we won?t have much in the way of assistance in getting out of here. However, the train should be arriving soon, if I?m not mistaken. About fifteen minutes or so, give or take. We hold out for that long and we have a good chance at getting out, as I don?t think they?ll want to risk being noticed in that manner, so we need act fast. What do we have in here in regards to weapons, and armor? Anything decent we can use??

?Not much of anythin?, this is an old house. We don?t get much action down this street, since they added the other smaller offices on the north an eastern sides. Mainly we?re here for show an what not, patrol the streets and keep the locals happy with presence. We got some parade gear an what not, a few crowd shields and some helmets, sticks an all.?

?Cap, what about the impound room? We got all that junk we confiscated from those warehouse raids they did back when, and no one came to pick it up. Maybe we can find some stuff in there? I know I saw some chain mail down there, shirts and one pieces?oh yeah, and all those fireworks we snagged from that street vendor!?

"Jensk, that's a good one. All that junk we couldn't fit in the shed. Good call, get in there and see what we got!"

Another peek outside the front was taken, ?I can see torches down the block to the west, looks like they're headed this way. Can?t get a good count. We need to barricade the doors, and ready the windows. Whatever you got around here, that can get the job done. We need to keep them out there, until we figure something out, or help arrives."

With Jensk knee deep in the impound room, Brian and the captain set about bolstering the defenses of the station house, as best as they could given the small window of opportunity they had presently. Large file cabinets were dragged and set upon the front and back doors, reinforced by way of small ones, and tables. Book shelves were placed against the windows, bolstered with couches from the waiting room. To add to the measure in a rather hasted manner, Brian took a pick axe and quickly cut several grooves into the stone flooring behind each of the barricades, as the captain look on in a rather puzzled manner.

"The hell are ya doin, lad?"

"Grab those smaller end tables from the waiting room, and break those legs off. Make sure to break em from the table itself, I need the whole of each leg. We're gonna jam them in these grooves, and edge them behind these barricades to add to the resistance. Buy us a bit of time, y'know?"

"Aye, gotcha now! Hey Jensk, hurry up we're runnin outta time!"

Shaking his head at the reply of his officer, the captain went to work and in moments Brian had his table legs, and a few moments after that, the barricades were bolstered. And just in time too, as Jensk appeared once more with crates in tow. "We were off Cap! We got loads of goodies back there! Fire works, streamers, that chain mail stuff an some plate too, and three crates of 'Faux Stew', some ropes and spike strips we used for when those hot rods were zoomin up and down the road way back when, and a bunch of other junk, too."

Producing a trio of flashlights, Jensk began to sort through the crates more so, as Brian and the captain each took a flashlight, and also began to do the same. The officer worked on sorting the fireworks, as the captain checked the ropes, spike stripes and parade gear. Brian began to quickly sort the various armor pieces. Which was rather easy as hardly any of it matched to any degree.

"Alright, I got about 50 feet or so of rope, an 4 spike stripes about 10 feet each. We got 6 heavy grade parade shields too, Jensk whatcha got?"

"I got a load of bottle rockets, black cats an sparklers. Got a dozen romans too, the good kind. Came from the lotus it did! Also got a big one, says 'Dixie Cannon' on it. An of course the crates of 'Faux Stew', too."

"An you lad, Ravenlock?"

"4 plate helms, and 2 chest pieces, some pauldrons as well. 5 chain shirts, and 2 chain suits. Well make that 1 suit, I'm gonna use 1 of them. Also have a few pairs of chain gloves, and 4 hoods too. 3 satchels, and pairs of elbow and knee pads, mail and leather."

"We also got a trio of crossbows, and packs of bolts too, cap."

"Let's gear up with what we have, grab whatever armor you men have in here, and whatever you have for close quarters combat. I'll be right back."

Brian walked away towards the kitchen, to make ready as the captain and Jensk quickly set about the same course of action for themselves.

"Cap, ya think we're gonna walk away from this one?"

"Can't rightly say, lad. I figure it this way, if this Ravenlock in here wants to live that badly, we'll make it out too. He saved us before, and that's gotta count for somethin y'know? Now don't forget your bolts, yeah over there. Left of ya-- there ya go. I'd strap em in there, on the harness. Yeah there."

"Okay, so there and there. Thanks, cap. Gotta admit, this is damned strange and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I mean come on, it wasn't just those dark ones, there were two of our own too! What if they're in the right, and he's lying to us? What if this is some game, and he turns on us?"

"Point taken lad, and I'll counter while we got the time. Ya saw the device on the table-- he could have left us anytime he wanted to. Hell he could have killed us himself, while we were out cold and been long gone and no one would have known. There's no point in stayin put when you're on the run, lad. No point at all, not in a place like this--not on a night like this. No, there's something bigger here, and we're a part of it now. And---"

"And what cap?"

"I served with him before---Ravenlock, the man in there. I did, when those bastards tore up the city, an we were at town hall. Ol' Micheal O'Rourke, y'know 'Blarney'? He got us together, and we held the line back there, while the centaur--Epona, yeah her and that friend of theirs Dark, or somethin', they went out with a few squads, and met the enemy head on and we held the line while the civilians were all evacuated off. That's how I ended up with this cush'd gig."

Jensk just stood there, looking at the man...

"I was there lad, and there were a lot of others too. We saw what happened, and I saw that man in there in action too. I don't care if there's silver in the hair, and what not, I believe it's him."

"I heard he left everyone, cap. I heard he went away, while others went to fight and I also---"

"Heard I killed a woman, in the camp? Heard I ran away after that? Heard I left others to hold the bag, and be killed? Heard I left everyone, to die, was that it?"

The words from the darkness caused the pair to literally jump a tad, as Jensk was completely caught by surprise, while the captain simply shook his head.

Emerging from the darkness Brian took to a knee, as his eyes looked directly to the officer.

"Let me tell you something--- since you weren't there, boy. We we're betrayed, that's the truth of it and that's exactly how that bastard managed to get a foot hold in this city back when, and it's happening again with these people tonight! Back then, it was citizens of Rhy'din. Well to dos, and some public servants. People were paid off, people looked the other way and hundreds died because of it! We had NO Governor then, and the Avengers were not around save MYSELF and one other who was stuck in Arcanum. Block by block this city was taken completely by surprise, by an enemy that had the damned keys to the house and worse off, had more firepower that any of us could have dealt with back then. I did what I could, when I could, to get as many people together, so we could save as many as we could and do what we could to hold off the enemy from completely routing this city! And I didn't do it alone, ever!"

"I had to stand in that damned command post and listen to my people-- OUR people die in scores! I had to hear their cries of pain, and utter confusion, while the enemy ran roughshod over them with ease! I had no idea where my wife was, let alone other family--- I had no other Government contacts, save the ones who were with us, which consisted of a hand full of militia and military and the rest were all civilians who never lifted a weapon in their lives--- and I militarized them all, and sent them accordingly to hold those lines, so we could get the other civilians to safety! And yes, many of them-- so many died, and it was at MY orders, and you know what--- I'd do it again, because we made that difference then, and hundreds of lives were saved, and this city was not taken!"

"Yes, I killed a girl---- who tried to kill me at the command post. I killed her openly, and it would have been worse, had it not been for Dyarhk. And the bad part was that she wore the face of my wife, when I killed her! And NO I left NO one there, to run off! I did not flee, and leave others to hold that f*cking bag! We held those lines, and we held them because of each and every person who took part, military and civilian, and when we finally pulled back from the city proper--and were safely with the dwarves, THEN I went t Public Works, where Dyarhk saved me yet again! Then someone took him, and then I---"

"I'm sorry, Ravenlock--- the lad, he didn't know. He wasn't there, but I know--- cause I saw. That tattoo of yours, on the shoulder. The Celtic cross, an sun-- the ones, that Michael O' Rourke had too, and the same ones I got when he passed away. I saw it when we woke up, an what not. I believe ya, and we'll do what we can do to get outta this, won't we lad?"

Jensk simply nodded, "Sorry, sir."

Standing once more, Brian had adjusted the straps to the newly found tactical harness of his. It was a nice fit, and accompanied the leather/chain mail suit very well. The color was a nice black which suited Brian just fine, save the red stripes that went across the chest and what looked like a faded star on the upper right chest area. The gloves were also a combination of leather and mail, as were the boots, both a faded dusk red in color. The neck of the chest piece was a solid one, and actually had a snap on hood which was a plus, since it too was mail. Thigh straps were tightened, and fitted with a pair of daggers, as a back of bolts were strapped to the harness, for measure. The cross bow shoulder, and shield recovered as well.

"Let's get to the second floor, bring the spike strips, and rope. Grab the fire works, save the 'Dixie Cannon', and the shields too. On an the crates of 'Faux Stew' too. I'll be right up."

Suddenly, a cry pierced the air! Brian could make out only a part of it, 'Bodies and Dead'. The cries however came from the main street, and not the rear where he had left the others hidden. That could only mean one thing, as he heard the clatter of armor and weapons getting nearer, despite the rain over head.

"Double time! We got company, and keep a look out! Something else is out there! We got 10 minutes or so to the train! Spike strip the windows, and two crates of that stew to the front and one to the back, roman candles to the front and back an get a hook for that rope!"

Cursing inside, Brian quickly grabbed a blade and cut open the large fire work. Gun Power-- there was a sh*t load of it! This was good--- very good! Picking up the large canister, he began to pour a trail of gun powder around the inner perimeter of the watch house, leading it up the stairs, being careful to keep it along the side of the stairs. Then he went down again, and hurriedly poured a great deal of the powder on the explosive device he took from the ebon soldiers, and then trailed the rest up the opposite side of the stairs.

Jensk and the captain were quickly working to secure their ends, as one caught site of the approaching enemy.

"Cap we got a bunch of them gathering on the road, an they sound pissed!"

"Captain, can you see to the back side? Jensk and I can take the front. Also careful on the stairs,--"

"Will do, an call me Robert. I can smell too y'know, an I'd do the same m'self. We got roof top too, if it comes to that."

Brian nodded, and went a front side, second floor window as a glance was taken outside, which quickly caused a somewhat frown--- well, truthfully a large one.

"Two dozen or so, I'd say... Jensk, get that stew ready and a few of the romans too."

"Huh?"

"That stuff is oil based, the kind that'll burn. It's a prank item, from back when-- but it can also be used to set a huge fire. When they get close enough, we dump the crates an light em, got it? We just need to buy some time."

Time that was sure enough, running out...

"What was that!?"

"Those cries, what the hell?"

"I dunno, cap! But look outside, it's a fire or something!"

"Looks like whatever else was out there, just made their presence known to our friends."

"I can see them, cap! It's a lot of em! We need to get down there! It's a mess and we need to help whatever that is!"

"Change of plans, I'll head out the back side and draw them off. When I clear, you both go the opposite way, coming around the other side to flank them. We'll meet in the middle somewhere!"

Leaving the pair, Brian turned quickly making for the stairs.

Several scenarios began to run through his head, each of them ending poorly in regards to the collateral damage, and loss of life. As it stood, he sincerely hoped that whatever was outside, it was on their side and not some random variant or enemy. To be truthful he had far too many of the latter for his own liking.

Quickly the steps were taken, and suddenly---

Something happened.

A eruption of light in the stairwell blinded him, as hands lifted in a rather late fitted attempt to shield him somehow, while he came to a stop. Eyes tightly clenched, as Brian tried to make sense of whatever it was that happened, while regaining his footing more so.

Something he couldn't do, despite his best efforts.

His body--- felt like lead. So sluggish were his limbs, and muddled were the thoughts. A sway to the left was felt, as he tried to shift opposite somehow hoping to keep that upright standard. A lurch forward, coupled with the feeling of being kicked hard in the gut, caused a lowly offered groan, that was eclipsed by what sounded like glass shattering loudly in front of him. Momentum was felt-- the forward kind.

Then it all went dark once more...

And down he went, rolling down those steps in a most unceremonious manner, ending up quite crumpled at the base of those steps.

Breathing, but out cold.

Something happened alright, and it seemed he was not the only one, as many of the enemy outside too were afflicted by something, as bright runes of gold appeared upon many, and just as quickly as they had arrived, they shattered violently, causing quite a bit of damage to the ebon wearers and those around them, who served.

The force outside--- the demon. He would feel it and more, so he would understand. Something afflicted them all, and it came from a most specific place, perhaps it could be followed somehow?

But we digress... Back inside.

?Ravenlock! Sir!? Come on, wake up! Damn it, you and the Captain too!? What happened to the both of you? Wake up! Cap!? Wake up, Cap! Ravenlock, come on and wake up! They're still out there!?

Slowly his eyes began to open, offering quite the blurred picture, as Brian tried desperately to shake the cobwebs that bogged him to no end. Limbs refused to yield their sluggish nature, as he still greatly struggled between the darkness of lethargy and momentum to regain himself.

?Ravenlock! Come on, and wake--- Cap?! You're awake! Good! Cap what happened!? No, take your time. It looks like something happened down there, cause they stopped for a few minutes. Huh? Here? Yeah, you and Raven-- no, I didn't see what happened to him, he was at the bottom of the stairs laid out! He's right there, against the wall there. Okay, I'll check on him, while you get it together!?

The words were heard, and yet would not register rightly. Crying out inside, he tried harder, and harder to make sense of what the hell had happened, and more so, wake the f*ck up. Slowly those eyes opened once more, as a pair of fingers-- moved?

Yes, they did.

An inward sigh of relief, as he began to finally calm more so, going the opposite direction of what he had been trying for however long.

The more he calmed, the clearer things were beginning to become.

Fingers moved more so, gently. The muddled veil began to finally let slip, as limbs began to lighten. However more importantly, he began to hear better, as well as see better.

Vision was still blurred, but that was a vast improvement over what he had moments before. So he allowed his eyes to close once more, giving them some time, as he listened carefully, trying to make more sense of what happened.

?Cap? He seems okay, just out of it still. Outside? There were these bright lights, and it sounded like glass shattering. Then you went down, and I guess he did too, and the others outside. No idea, why it was just you two. Hmm? Yeah, I'll help you up! Careful now... Yeah, to the window? Sure, just be careful. Okay, you see down ther-- Cap!? Cap, what are-- NO! Cap! NO, stop it!?

Eyes of blue opened quickly, panning the room as the sounds of struggling were heard. Vague shapes were made out near the window, and it looked as if one were pushing the other out the window. The verbal exchange more than affirmed what was happened, as Brian began to panic on the inside.

Suddenly, something happened...

A sound heard, quick was it. Then other sounds were heard. Wet sounds... Gurgling, and scraping. Shuffling of feet, coupled with the rattling of a window frame. A lowly given growl, and---

His eyes opened once more, to see what else it had been.

It had been the Captain tossing his man, out the window. The sound of Jensk's body hitting the street below told more than Brian needed to know.

The Captain murdered his own man.

?You had to come here, din'cha!? Had to walk into 'this' district!? MY district? Bringin' those boot licking arses into MY house!? Like the Lord didn't trust us to handle things or something, he sends THEM here!? They didn't even know what I was! Pathetic! That's okay, lad... I got you now, and this can end here. Then we can take out that Governing b*tch and her little group of friends too. First though, let's take care o' you.?

Brian remained silent, leaving just a slit of eye to see with, as he stay leaned against the wall, sitting.

?You were hit too? Heh, that says a lot lad, means you got what we got. Also means someone messed with the forge, under yer little clubhouse. Looks like I was able to shake it off before you and those arses did. Don't worry, it won't matter, soon enough. Cause this place is going up, and yer going with it!?

A light was seen, lowly lit.

The Captain moved from the window a bit, and knelt down. Suddenly, a sound was heard.

A faint hissing.

Standing again, steps were taken towards Brian who remained as he had been.

The steps stopped right in front of him, as the voice was heard much closer.

?That girl? Dockside? That old church? The neck you snapped? She was one of our own, an this is for h--?

Brian's eyes snapped opened, as a hand shot upwards!

A knuckle shot to the exposed throat of the Captain caused him to recoil in a violent fit, as his own hands scrambled, gripping the throat, as words tried to come out, yet only were a garbled mess.

A quick glance told Brian what he needed, as the fuse light had been well on its way, and had just left the room they were in for the stair well. Once down the steps, that was it.

The whole damned place would be a memory.

To his right, he grabbed the shield and sprang to his feet, taking the attack to the hindered Captain, who still was struggling to breathe, and speak. The shield was slid on, and quickly was reared back, as Brian rushed the gargling man, who's eyes widened upon seeing what had happened.

Hands lifted defensively, as runes of blood erupted around the man. Nearly instantly they shattered violently, as Brian struck with all everything he had, letting fly with a strike of that shield, that crashed through those hands, shattering several bones in the process.

The Captain cried out with whatever he could, as runes once more appeared and vanished just as quickly. That's when Brian realized, how weakened his enemy was, and wasting no time, Brian once more went on the offensive, delivering a solid front kick to the man's gut, as hard as he could, and as he doubled over in pain, Brian reared back once more, and struck again with the shield across the forehead, sending the Captain straight out the window to the street below.

Glancing back to the doorway of the room, Brian wasted no time, as he used the shield to break the rest of the window, and shatter the frame. He then backed away from the window to the doorway, and then took off at full speed right out the window, using the window sill to vault him further into the air.

Right into the gathered enemy no less.

Well, it had to be better than landing on the street, right?

Course, doing so without an imminently exploding building would have been preferable, truth be told.

Everything seemed to slow to a snail's pace, as he fought in such earnest to regain himself enough to truly function once more, as the pounding inside his head, coupled with the ringing in his ears refused to relent their grip on him, one bit.

Not to even mention, the aches and pains that riddled his body.

In hindsight, leaping from the window might not have been the best of plans. But on the other hand, it was the quickest way out. And thankfully he he had some assistance in regards to his landing, courtesy of the ebon soldiers, he laid out.

Now if he could just get it together...

The shield all but forgotten, as he slowly shifted himself. The ringing of ears, giving way to the sound of aching joints flexing with soft 'pops' that could be heard as loudly from within, making it that much harder to truly grasp what the hell was happening around him.

The taste of blood finally registering in the most delayed of ways, as his mouth opened enough to take a deep breath, which ended up hurting more than enough to surprise him, as a somewhat groan slowly slipped from him.

Eyes opened a bit revealing little more than a blurred visage of light, and gods know what else. Still it did help somewhat, as it told him he was still upon his back, and that was no place to be given what he had landed in the middle of.

So it was time to do something about it.

A glance to his side revealed a form, somewhat blurred still, but reachable. A hand lifted and traced said form, as a slow nod took hold. "Body... Good."

Gloved fingers, took hold of a gap in the armor of the body, as he anchored himself, using its weight to allow his other arm to reach around, and also take hold. A grunt escaped him, as bones creaked coupled with more 'pops' from those joints, which was now getting softer by the moment, as that damned pounding in his head finally began to also recede.

"Come on, old man... That's what Dyarhk would say, right? So come on, we got work to do... Get up..."

Using that body, he soon made it to a knee, as a breath was taken once more, he fire in his lungs telling him, that this was by no means over.

An elbow assisted him to another knee, as clenched eyes opened more so, allowing the view of the cobblestone, and body beneath him to come into focus.

"Damned ringing..."

The coat pulled off, and tossed aside, as he could hear quite the commotion all around them, more so. Still it was hard to pin point everything, as it stood. So a moment longer was taken, as the cobwebs were still being shaken. The shield was seen once more, as a hand lifted to it, only to leave him unbalanced enough to leave the shield be, as he stabilized himself enough to lift himself to one knee, and soon he was lifting himself to that proverbial vertical base, he was ever so fond of.

The ringing began to lessen, as he looked around once more, trying to get a better lay of the field so to speak. As he did so, he forgot one age old lessen.

Always watch your six...

He never saw the man, and more importantly the hammer he planned to use on him. He never saw anything at all, save the flash of silver which caused him to pull back in recoil, as his eyes followed the light, landing upon the result of its work.

"Son of a b*tch!"

Quite the wake up call, no?

His eyes went back to where it had come from, as he saw the bodies, and flames... The building, and chaos as citizens began to pour out of their homes, and dash up and down the road, to get away from the area.

He also saw someone run towards him, which caused him to tense, as he reached for the shield, and then--- he eased a bit. There was something familiar about whoever that was, he felt that much. Quickly he rose to his feet, feeling that this person was someone, or something he knew. Not to mention he felt a similar presence, when he was at the 'Blue' earlier in the eve.

Eyes widened upon taking in the features of his savior, coupled with that voice of his. A voice he had not heard in years, in fact... Not to mention a face he had not seen in nearly as long. The shield was lifted and hefted a bit, as blood was spat from his mouth, while he adjusted the chain mail shift a bit.

"Lupinius?? Is that really you? But how--- why here? Does anyone else know?"

Oh so many were the questions that Brian Ravenlock had for the man, that was more than a mere man, yet as Lupinius stated, there were more dire things afoot and it would be a most opportune time to make that exit.

Made more so evident, but the forces that had shifted a bit, placing the pair of Brian and Lupinius between themselves, and the burning building that was set to go off at any moment.

"This isn't gonna work, it's set to go any moment an we need to get to the market!"

Almost instantly, he looked to Lupinius in a bit of shock, as he wondered where the hell that train of thought came from. As it stood, Brian was headed towards town hall, not the market and yet----

And it seemed others had that thought as well, as a good measure of what was left of the ebon forces pulled from the mass of darkness, and took to bolting down the road towards the main drag of the city, eastward.

They still left a good portion behind, however.

"Lupinius, I know they're headed for the market! He's going to end it there! And others are on the way! We need to get there! We need--"

Brian's words were cut short by a violent tremor behind them.

Some of the ebon forces back away, yelling something Brian did not recognize, as he turned to see what had happened.

Part of him, which he hadn't...

What he saw, was something. That was the best way to describe it. A mixture of cobblestone, and bodies... Blood, and ebon, bearing claws of bone, and oozing a sickening ichor of darkness. And it had heads... Heads of the fallen, that cried out so loudly in sheer agony despite their misshapen forms..

And it was headed right for them!