The Midnight Watch

so when is people coming back getting bored of making trouble with no one around.

Fiery orbs watching the house, Betrayal sat in the dark hidden from mortal eyes. Her bones creak slightly on her blood red blades, dripping with poisons. She pulls the hood over her burnt eye sockets a little more as she turns and leaves. The fire dies down leaving them as dark pits as she turns her attention to the town. Her simple mind restored, the need to kill her own version of revenge on those that did this to her. A hiss leaks from her teeth as she fades back into the night. Something told her The flesh inside the house was not worth the effort. Stalking through the tree Betrayal let her thoughts go as that's what happened more often then not, the need to kill always on her mind. To purge and clean the flesh from the lords and masters land. She moved by the lesser dead as they didn't even seem to notice the black robes move by, before coming to the forest where she stayed most of her time waiting for prey to come to her. Deer,  bears, and wolves moved through the forest around her. Betrayal stopped for a moment as she watched them, her pits turned to them. Her black leather gloved hand touched over chest catching the hole of the rib cage a little. Her eyes flare back to fire as anger took over her simple desires. Lashing out at the wolf with a pain strike and the beast howled and fell to the ground. The others ran off leaving their fallen to her. She came out then her blade drawn, she fell on the creature as she started to eat it alive tearing it's fur and skin getting at it's innards quickly as she feasts tearing flesh free and eating. Blood dripping from her jaw as she eats. Leaving very little remains she looked down before getting up pulling the hood back over her skull and continued her hunt in the dark. " Venom" a single word uttered, fading back to the dark once more for her next prey.

As night started to turn to day. Betrayal, unsuccessful at her hunt started to head back to the barracks to her coffin to rest the day. She moved by the skeleton guards who guard this area while they are resting. Entering the building she was greeted with blood and the re connection to the black stone. She moved down to the basement as she watched the area small fiery orbs scanned the dark seeing that Carnage nor Famine where moving around yet. As she turned to her own room and entered seeing her chest and coffin. Climbing into her coffin as she hissed again. Letting her simple mind go, falling 'asleep'. Her mind then wondered back to when she was alive faceless people she couldn't remember voices without words around her. Before seeing Kraven back at that night, in the inn. Mind skipping ahead to the day she died feeling the pain again in her bones and she burns. Shifting again as she comes back to the remains of her body, her finger slides into the hole in her skull as soot comes free on her gloves. Hissing once more " Richard..." a name she remembered.

Betrayal sat up in her coffin then as she held her thin bones that made up her hand over the black cloth then. Her mind still the basic need to kill but something was there now. Getting up she pulled off the Black cloth and the black cursed leather under it. Her hand going to the hole in her chest were Richards bolt shattered bone and pierced where her heart was. Feeling the pain again, her head raced again as her sockets burned again in a fiery orbs. " My lord..." she started as she moved out from her room and looked at the others doors. Before going to the stash box and picked up some nightshade and the correct tools. Moving to the other room she started to work on other poisons. She felt alone again, empty. Meriel was poking through in the black of her being. Betrayal hissed in annoyance, taking out her red blades and rest them carefully on the table beside her as she started to re coat the cursed metal. 'Rake, Craystar Rake' a name came to her head then as she stopped confused. " Betrayer" the word heavy with hate " Lucain Cain...." Name coming to her mind then as she growled " RICHARD!" she howled in pain then as she felt on fire again as her tools and blades crash to the floor. Her finger digging into the holes in her skull " My lord." her hands pulling free then as she falls back into herself. The ash clings to her gloves a little then as the names fade, faces, Merial all fade back to darkness as she recollects her things from the floor and continued her work for tonight hunt.

We're not really rping to the seasons to really start with.

Eh, Been dodging this topic for awhile due to... camera shyness and no up to date but...

Yeah...

* A neatly Written reports sits on the war table folded up*

As instructed Hemrod, I went to the west forest to start to the search and research of our enemy. it seemed quiet enough during the day light. So I found a nice clearing where the birds were feasting on seeds and worms, I started the hunt there. As night neared I expected to have some walkers around, I could hear the damn things out in the dark. Night grew more heavy and the light was gone, being to stubborn I didn't use my own light from my lantern favoring that of my shield more. That's when it started; They were coming, my guess drawn to the birds blood on me.

The Great Shade:
I didn't see this one that much as it was hard to see it's outline in the dark night, it remained closer to the trees then I was. I could feel it watching me as I fought off basic zombies but I couldn't see it. Then it came out in front of me, bloody thing walked right out of the shadows. It started talking, something about shadows. I couldn't understand it really. The shadows start to move around it, and from it's hands crawled Shades. If I had to guess it's a shade summoner or some greater thing. Wears some sort of what looks like amour when it's in it's humanoid form, not that of the black robed ones. It turned into a Shade once when I encountered it, sadly to wrapped up in it's summoned shades it slipped away. It didn't have any direct combat with me. It's a humanoid shadow creature that can summon shades and talks.

The Shades
The shades summoned from the 'greater shade' look like shadows come to life. Ghost, spirits, magic? I don't know. They are partly see through unless you really focus on them. They look almost humanoid like with a shape of a head a torso two arms, but no legs instead a long spine. It makes ghostly like sounds, and has strong magic. Notable ones are lightning poison fireball heal and teleport. The Greater Shade summoned three of them on me, I was able to hold out against two of them before succumbing to the third. Once I was able to collect myself once more the Shades were gone.

Blood Covered Zombies
I came across two of these, blood coated zombies like they are just ate or attacked something. They are red tainted 'skin' and move and act like any other zombie would.

Rotting Zombie
A very powerful zombie that has a green tint to it's skin, I was a fool to try and go up against it in close range melee. I was badly poisoned just by it touching me. It's got something on it's skin. I would try to advice using bows and cross bows when coming across this zombie or have a lot of strong cures. With worm eaten hands so bloated with noxious gasses and scarred by decay, it causes their flesh to hang off in ragged strips. These creatures are deadly poisonous.

Strange Zombie
This 'person' I came across heading back to the fort. It.... I don't know what to say, it looked like a man. Stood like a man acted like a man, even tried to speak but it's words to rotten to fully understand. All that I was able to get was " Help me ". I didn't know what to do, it was a man Yellow tainted skin. if I had to make a guess a zombie infected victim. maybe the past victim of those bloody zombies, I warned it not to come near as it stared at me with white eyes I couldn't see a pupil or iris's. Something is very wrong with this man, it wasn't hostile. it wondered back into the forest as I warned it to keep it's distance. did I make a good choice with that action, I don't know, could he have been saved again I don't know. 

Black Robed Figure
I also came across one of those black robed zombies, wondering the forest. almost aimlessly before it caught scent of me, then it was gone. it vanished into the trees and growth. A painful stab turned me around to face it, fiery orbs for eyes as it hissed. I instantly felt sick as if poisoned, avatar help me it hurt. I took a swing at it as it hissed at me backing off for a second before killing a near by animal and said something. The fractured arm bone healed as it kept with the attack " Burn Flesssh" it screamed as it took out a black bow with black arrows. I ducked behind a near by tree about to lunch a counter attack, it was gone.

As I see these beings more and More I'll Keep my reports up to date with anything else that we could use.

500 Feathers Have also been deposited into the fort crates.

I am afraid that I need rest after these battles and will try and get a group together when I am able. We will hopefully be able to find these new strange creatures to study watch and slay to make sure that the dead stay dead. Avatar bless my Shield to protect my Brothers and Sisters.

I sit where I killed him, my mind still showing me the image. Though the blood long cleaned, I can still scent the tiny amount that soaked into the wood. I can feel it eating away inside me, the hunger pushing every thought I have away. I look at my hand now, it's sick dead skin spreading. Soon it will kill me, make me what I hate and fear the most. The regret is eating away at me, faster then this infection it. I don't want to die with this broken heart in my chest I want it gone removed, destroyed. I feel even more alone now with you gone, this should have been you here writing these in you're book that you're always writing in not me. I don't want this life anymore, there is nothing. I think about what the armored one had said A few night ago in the Tavern outside town.

I Think I understand what he meant now, all of it. Am I ready?, Has the time come?. More questions without answers, I feel like I am ready to do what ever his plans are for me now. I wasn't ready when he first called, my humanity was to strong to give up. My love for you kept me from hurting you then, no not for their amusement. I wanted to protect you from them. I feel that I have, I hope they can not reach you now. I hope that you are safe and without fear. But with you gone, you took something with you. My humanity, I have nothing left but a rotting husk, empty and meaningless. Now I look for something, will this gift give me this?. Have I given up my humanity to save Humanity?. More questions then answers again. I am lost, I need guidance from something. The Avatar has forsaken me. I surrender my mind now empty, my body rotting, a broken heart to this cause as the owner was killed. My soul is already claimed and not mine to give, to who ever wants to take it.

I go back to the hide out again to see how well Rake is adapting to his wild side out here. I knock on the door, as I hear movement inside before the door opens. Rake looked at me then before backing back to his desk. I enter the room and lean on the one table as I usually do now. Silence sinks around us, as he's scribbling something on the paper. I wait for him to finish as he looks up at me then. We make some small talk and he ask then how my tasks are going, my reply was that I couldn't find them just yet. Rake then asks me to go get some paper, easy enough. Knowing I could stop by the church and see if I can find the one person on the list I need to talk to.

I wish I could know if the directions that I take, and all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing

I find him in the church, just as Rake said. Thin man, black wired hair, sort of reminds me of Rake to start with. He introduced himself as Lucian Cain, I gave him my name. He asked me what he can help me with, I tell him am just looking for paper. He seemed confused, I then very carefully try and get him to see of our common friend connection between us. I think he caught on then, as he leave the church and go back to the other building where we had a talk. A trade of information and that sort that Rake likes to get his hands on. None of it very much concerned me but I listen to the details. Not till Elise's name came up did I perk up to it, odd that this name would honestly. As he had nothing more to share I turn to leave before he catches my attention again making a sign with his fingers.

I knew what he wanted, payment for the information trade. Something that Rake didn't say, nor give over to Give Mr. Cain. I told him that I would come and find him later to Pay him, he seemed to have shifted like he didn't want to see me later. Did I scare him?, I sort of hope I do. I don't trust his sort. I leave town again, the crushing walls then eating away at me or so it felt like. As I move by the body rotting on the wind flies now feeding at it. I stare at it for a second getting closer, my limb joints starts to hurt where the connect to my torso. Nothing, that empty feeling or the lack of emotion.

Will the ending be ever coming suddenly?

As I leave town I head back to where Rake would be waiting, and we exchange the information. I bring up the fact that Cain expected to be payed, Rake taking out some gold coins handing them to me then. His hand touching mine, something stirred within. I put the gold in my bag then as I turn to watch him some more. Silence, it was growing thick again. It was fine with me I liked the quiet and the dark, helped ease my mind of something else that was growing at I watched the man in front of me. He was looking back at me as if he had something else on his mind as well. Still the silence hung in the room. He makes a movement then, gesturing for me to come over. I do without much thought on it as I watched his face. Still blank, a mask. Just like my own hiding his thoughts, Rake was always so hard to read.

Another conversation strikes up, I can't recall what it was as it was reduced to a mumble to my head as I watched his chest moving slightly under the leather tunic he wears. That feeling crops up again. He gets up moving around the Desk so I can better see all of him. Every detail become more and more clear. Word became unclear to be, only the blood rushing past my eardrums, thump thud thud thump thud thud. I blinked then looking back to his face seeing that he was still talking to me, I missed everything he had just said. But, I didn't ask him to repeat and just nodded my head in agreement to what I didn't hear.

Next he hugged me, it was unexpected for someone like Rake, I stiffened quickly hand on my kyriss. He just held me then, there was that feeling again, that feeling I didn't think I would see again.  A quick arm and wrist movement and the poisoned kryiss moves quickly toward his chest piercing the leather digging for his heart as she held him trapped. Pushing him into the wall and held him here, He blinks once as he feels the dagger entering him, his body unsure to the reaction he starts to panic beneath her, his voice letting screams of pain.  Moving to the side of his head whispering in his ear " It's okay my love.. you are safe now" I say. My voice startles even me, why would I say such words.

Will I ever get to see the ending to my story?

The dagger sliding deeper it's ridges cutting meat as poisons soak into his blood stream numbing him " No one can hurt you anymore... no reason to be afraid". Was this me The real me that was just unmasked or the feeling that were caged set free. The hunger peaked at the small of fresh blood. I need more fresh blood, Give me more blood. His eyes go wide as he gasps for breath, his body slowly being paralyzed, his last words uttered softly.."My.. love...?". I Hear his words, he seemed just as startled by my own voice as I was. His body starts to shake uncontrollably as the poison grabs him, his eyes wide in fear and panic as he stares at at me. I could see him dyeing, why was he dyeing. Had I not done enough to see him alive, what changed. Something happened, is this real?.

Letting the dagger go pushing it more with my chest as I reaches for him lifting his upper body up then holding him to my chest tightly like a lovers embrace " you are safe now my love... they can not take you from me now" holding him as I brush his hair from his face " I  will save you from you're fear... I will save you from them" *kissing the top of his forehead " I will save you from you're self" tightening my hold on his neck now with my arms. Only then did I see see the sickening dead flesh of the palm that Hew had feed from. Was it the infection doing this, yes it had to be. This isn't me is it?. " Soon we will be together for ever."His movements stop as his eyes remain open, staring at me... his whole body stops suddenly.. no breath or movement nothing at all.

So when and how will I know?

I feel the stillness as I loosen my grip slightly* "They will not have you" * reaching between them pulling out the Kryss, a quick motion to the neck slicing the skin open as I kissed the wound lips and tongue brushing the skin " you are only mine" lowering him down to the floor then, using my fingers closing his eye then " we will be together soon my love, wait only a little longer for me". Craystar Rake was dead, his blood pooling the wood boarding that. I lick my lips of the fresh blood, I need more. I look at the body then curling into it then as I did in life. Tucking in as far as I could laying there, with him " I love you". I sit there for awhile letting the blood soak into my leather, the blood turns cold as it wakes be up. I stand looking at the corpse beside me, Like I had just awoken from a bad dream.

No this was real, he was dead. Rake was dead, my eyes well up with tears then. I look at my hands covered in blood. " I did this" I said then as I look at Rake, he was dead. After everything I did to try and protect him, I killed him. "Oh Avatar am so Sorry Rake, Please please forgive me I..." no there was no point wasting what little left of me there was. Getting up I look at him before going through his bags, finding the twin black bow to my own. Slinging it over my shoulder. And the black key, the only thing he gave me. Picking up the key I hold it close to my chest then, it hurt so much. Why does a broken heart hurt so much, no it wasn't broken it was empty. The rot of betrayal growing and feeding on me.

How much further do I have to go?

I get up putting the key in my bag and pick up his body in a fireman like posture and leave the building. Going out to a clearing, I get some wood and place it around his body. "No They will not have you Rake" opening my lantern I pour some of the oil out and over his body and the wood. Lighting the oil as I step back. The fire starting to feed on flesh and oil bone and organ. The flames dancing in the night, the heat offers me very little comfort. I was more cold, alone, empty now then ever before. The skin peals away from bone and bone turns to ash. The fire dies down before flickering out. I hold the black keep in my bag tightly, " I am sorry my Love for my Betrayal" I leave then back to my dark empty room then. Covered in his Blood, the key close to what little of my heart beats.

How much longer until I finally know?

I got a interesting suggestion regarding the 'smart' undead and this bounty thing that Tom has going.

Have a bounty on the undead as well as they have been causing just as much trouble for the town as the rest of these bounties. Make it like a 150g per kill. It encourage a greater risk reward between the two factions. As this will effect both parties, the humans having to weight the chance of getting hurt or killed by the undead for a nice amount of gold that can they can use to better arm themselves at the union prices and helps circulate gold a little better. While The undead, maybe not seeming to care about it will have maybe a little more interaction with people then just solo playing to the point they might have to better organised themselves into groups.

Now, with the undead if they are killed. What can the human's take as proof, people think their weapons that they use. Well with the last rp I saw, no one wants to touch their cursed gear. Now as I was thinking other then that is try and have the undead 'spawn' in with a stone or a bone or something that the human's can collect as the proof of the 'kill'.

this being said I would hope this would encourage;

more a risk reward system
more interaction and rp between the two factions, then just the undead hunting us
more gold being used and spent (with the union prices from the trades men) to better hunt the undead with
and of course the town getting better set for the coming doom, now that they have proved them selfs (or not) against the undead force.

Had a blast with great rp, and expecting events that played out.