History

by Mr Badger

The screams slowly faded away as the voices behind them exhausted their energy on deaf ears. The night's stillness returned, save for the lacklustre struggling of those with just enough energy to make their existence still known. The bodies were tied to the crossed boughs of a number of trees lining the river bank. The scarlet streams of blood ran no more, with only a slowly vanishing pool at the base of the forest giants to show they had ever been there.
Lapping up the still remaining blood sat a number of haggard looking figures. Each was coated with the blood of the earth as well as the blood of man. Some sat weeping quietly, running their fingers over blood red faces. Others gibbered at the rising moon in joy, biting the corpses afresh in hope of further delight. Beneath the earth others, older, wiser, waited for the coming of larger prey.

The hunters had committed no other crime than crossing an unwritten boundary. Staying across the river would have meant their survival was based upon their own talents and that of the Border guards. Crossing the river meant they faced no such equal chances. Skill and experience were naught in the eyes of Fate. They had crossed the river by their own will as one and died by the will of another as one. To those beneath the earth this mattered little. What did matter was pleasing their Leaders and not failing those along side them all. The night was broken by the remorseful howl of a wolf hunting those like themselves. Those beneath the earth felt satisfaction at a trap being sprung. The wolves had arrived quickly even for them. As if they had been forewarned?

For those sitting by the tree trunks there was only the shock of the howl than the pain of destruction. Still addled by the Creation Rites they fought as individuals and not as a group. The wolves obeyed a wiser instinct and operated as a Pack. Single wolves distracted outlining Vampires. Each was herded into a group while the larger mass of wolves disposed of a single target at a time. The number of Vampires dwindled swiftly but not without cost to the aggressors. A small cadre of young Vampires fought back to back, while not inflicting great injury upon their foes they held the tide back while those along side were destroyed without mercy. Amongst all this the earth heaved.

Fresh bodies emerged from the earth screaming with bloodlust. They tore into the wolves with practiced anger and near equal strength. The wolves were pushed back as swiftly as their forms ran like mercury in the sun. Each wolf was replaced by a cross breed between Lupus and Man. Easily taller than the tallest Vampire the Werewolves howled their anger at the trap. The remaining young Vampires, not one night suffered under the Curse, were torn limb from limb in seconds. All that remained were the fresh corpses of fallen wolves, the bloodless husks of the fallen Vampires and the Elder Bloodletters standing with fangs bared.
As quickly as they appeared the Vampires vanished in a multitude of ways. Some sank beneath the earth once more while a select few blinked out of mortal sight. Single figures ran from the scene with dizzying bursts of speed. Enraged by all of the night's events the Werewolves split into small groups and chased down all the Vampires that they could detect.

The hidden presence known to the Vampires as Obfuscate mattered not to those so in tune with nature that any aberration was to them as a bush fire is to the trees. One Vampire was closed upon by three separate Werewolves and fell without returning a blow. Those beneath the earth weren't as safe as first expected. A Werewolf snapped a leather pouch from her neck and threw it on the ground with a shriek of rage. With the touch of the pouch the earth ripped open like waves crashing. Only those with the touch of the Spirit World heard the death cry of the Vampire torn apart of the Earth's anger. The Werewolves chased those who ran into a clearing, unmindful of the slowing of pace of those they chased. From the sky came the buzzing of insects.

Their bodies were black, slick like they were covered in oil. A careful observer would note that their wings were serrated, like knives, for the same purpose. Each possessed a beak as serrated as the wings but with burrowing in mind rather than the tearing of flesh. The obsidian swarm lanced into the Werewolves as they reached the centre of the clearing.
Werewolves are renowned for their rapid ability to heal, to shrug off wounds mortal to those unblessed by the Moon like themselves. They can sustain massive injury without sign of falling. With all this they are still only flesh and blood. The swarm chewed into them without pause. Once inside a warm body, thus the Vampires were hardly troubled, the insects burrowed deep before being overcome by the Werewolves blood. Attacked by forces as magical as they were alive the insects swiftly dissolved under the torment. Underneath the organic outer shell was a core of pure sliver. The howl of the Werewolves turned to a scream of pain as the silver ate into the flesh that surrounded it. Some Werewolves tore into their own hides to remove the pain. Attacked from within and without these Werewolves fell to the ground and could only twitch as the battle went on around them. Others faced the agony but were they felled by the regrouped Pack of Vampires. With their numbers slashed in half the Werewolves seemed possessed by a greater spirit, a greater strength. They attacked with an unstoppable fury borne of the Beast itself.

Again the Vampires took a number of casualties before withdrawing. The chase began again but this time toward the river banks instead of away. The slow were overtaken and dispatched. Soon only a handful of Vampires remained. Such is the way when you give ground without inflicting delaying tactics upon your chasers. Reaching the river banks the Vampires leapt over rocks to escape the Werewolves. As one they reached a line drawn by two fallen logs. Together they dived into the earth. Something glistened in the light just ahead of them.

The Werewolves were only one pace behind when this occurred. The howl of triumph turned to a cry of pain as the sliver wire, invisible except when close sliced through already torn skin. Those wolves that remained after this assault faced off against the ever present Vampire assailants.
Numbers fell from both sides till only five remained standing. A Werewolf, red fur bristling with fury, walked forward. His claws slashed to and fro towards the remaining two Vampires. With all his attention focused on his target the only warning of betrayal was the pain as the claws ripped his head from his shoulders. The smaller remaining Vampire grinned with bloodlust as the Werewolf fell to the earth, life pouring from the raw stump of his neck. He managed to rein back the Beast but was unprepared for the blow from behind. His neck broken by the blow he was senseless to his own death as the two Werewolves tore him apart. "It's over," said Mr Badger to the Garou.

The Leader of the Traitor Wolves stepped forward. His form flickered as he removed a talisman from his belt. The Man Wolf that remained held no resemblance to the form before. His fur continually fell rotted in lumps from his body to the ground but to regrow in seconds to continue the cycle. The second wolf looked normal apart from the twisting shades of his fur as the patterns ran from one part of his body to the other. His mouth was filled with teeth that pointed in all directions, piercing his mouth in places and jutting from the raw jawbone in others.
"Your Master was correct leech, they suspected nothing. Our scent was hidden amongst your own." Lisped the second Garou.

"My Sire is often correct in these matters," replied Mr Badger with a stress on the title. He had come a long way since the solider he once was. With the years had come strength as well as wisdom. "Both threats have been removed. I hope the reward I offer is enough for you. Otherwise the consequences could be, how should I say it, abrupt?" Mr Badger grinned and the shadows on either side of the Garou lengthened towards their standing figures. The claws on the Vampire's hands lengthened until they were easily the match of the Garou and more. The tips turned slightly inwards as these were designed to tear rather than slice.

The Black Spirals nodded. "The Caern of the fallen ones is enough. We will not meet again on these terms Leech. A partnership of convenience is not a contract made," whispered the Black Spiral as he and his companion vanished into the night. Mr Badger laughed into the silence and made his way back to his Sire's Manse.

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Lord Tyger smiled at the crowd seated at his Table. They had come in meeting at their own request. Each was a Bishop in their own right, but he was their Archbishop, their Overlord. Once Lord Tyger's spies had reported their plans he eagerly admitted them entrance to his lands. The Council didn't meet easily and had never before on non-neutral grounds.
"This is preposterous! What is the delay?" Cried a hooded figure.

Lord Tyger stared at the Council member until he was silent. "As the undisputed master of the Arts is it such a trial on your abilities to look for yourself?" Whispered Tyger, taking satisfaction in the Tremere representatives rage that the Scrying shields in the Manse had defeated him as they planned to. "Then silence, as we are all here as equals. If you desire your hand held at this meetings I could summon a wet nurse for you?"
The Tremere representative nodded his acknowledgment of the lost face. One does not challenge your Host without good reason.

"Our misguided Sorcerer meant no disrespect Lord Tyger. He was only as concerned as are we all at the silence from our Armsmen. We all sent our best Servants on this Hunt. The lack of news is not a good omen on the events. The threat was real as we all know. All our lands have been invaded by beasts as these. This was the first real counter attack with equal forces." Purred a figure on the other side of the Tremere. She was as beautiful as legend and equally as deadly to the ignorant.

Lord Tyger raised his hand in interruption as a pale servant padded to his side. After a hushed conversation that evaded even the Auspex of the gathered he spoke once more. "Our Hunters have returned victorious." A pale smile lit the face of the Lord as he continued. "Unfortunately there were a few disappointments along the way."

Mr Badger entered the room at that moment. He had taken time to dress for the occasion and was representing his Lord in an outfit of Black and White armour. The armour was made of interlocking plates that draped over his upper thighs like an oversize jacket. Each plate was as supple as skin and hissed slightly as they rubbed together.
"Where are the others!" Cried a dishevelled form wrapped in rags. The Brujah accented his point by slamming his fist upon the table in fury. "Where are our Servants? Why do I only see your puppet, Tyger?!"

Mr Badger cleared his throat and the Brujah Bishop fell silent under his gaze. Their eyes locked briefly before the Brujah swore and conceded.
"If you doubt my word so easily perhaps we should adjourn for some exercise? The others can elect a new Bishop for your area while we're occupied." Mr Badger waited for a reply. Once none was forecoming he continued with the report. "The battle was met but the troops proved to be substandard for the cause. They fell easily, like cattle before the slaughter. Those weren't Armsmen but servants dressed with claws! The proof can easily be seen. The Wolves still run and they drip with the blood of innocent cattle supposably under your protection this eve. The Wolves were ready for us and our tactics. That could only have happened with knowledge from this room. " Accused Mr Badger, his eyes glinting with mirth.

"So, you think to weaken my Manse while you plot amongst your petty selves? Do you think me immune to your schemes?" As Tyger phrased each syllable carefully a number of new Vampires came out from hiding in the 'stone' walls. "Your 'trusted' lieutenants have told me much about your activities. Take them away for questioning," ordered Lord Tyger.
Each of the former Bishops were lead away by guards dressed in the same organic armour as Badger. Tyger waited till they were alone once more before addressing the new crowd. "I hope you've all learnt the lesson shown tonight. None of you are irreplaceable. Once each Domain represented here tonight sees the 'evidence' they will accept my decree. They will put up no dispute and you may rule as you wish, as long as your rule matches my own occasional suggestions of course. Now go, before I find you as accomplices in this torrid affair."

The cowed newly found Bishops filed out of the room. Each knew that discussing the events of this night would not be beneficial to a long existence. Tales were still told of the suffering of another who had betrayed Lord Tyger after supping from his Table. This mortal still lives after all the years, as a living part of the same Table. Those with senses more than mortal can hear his sobs still to this day.
"I trust matters are to your liking Sire?" Asked Mr Badger.

Lord Tyger nodded slowly as he considered his Childe. "The Wyrmlings will bother us not?"

"With so many creatures living as companions in their fur they hardly noticed a few more. By now your little pets would have made sure the last of the Hunt stay quiet with our secrets," said Mr Badger with a slow grin.

"The surviving villagers? Can they identify you as part of the attacking band?" Asked Lord Tyger.

"The village was seen to already by your guards. It fell beneath a retributive attack of one of the fallen Bishops. We will have no option but to occupy his Manse to retain control. The lieutenant responsible did not survive the assault. He does not know of his demise yet but I'm sure your border patrol will convince him before he manages to leave your Land." Replied Mr Badger, the grin gone from his face, the tone deadly serious.

"So be it Badger, leave me and attend to our 'guests.' I'm afraid they may suddenly become unwell and it's their mental welfare I fear for the most. Play quietly Paladin." With that Lord Tyger dismissed Mr Badger. 

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