Nakmarr Party: Searching For The Mark

[Nykolas]

After about an hour of sleep, Nick wakes up and just can't stand it any longer. His shirt is in tatters and he's covered in his own blood, which is all over the bed now too, and probably on Shin. It's just too much filth. The magic and technology working within him mixed with the healing Zarvan has applied have him healthy enough that his vampire hearing should have returned and if he finds he still needs Shin's heartbeat, he can hear it across the room. He just came from the bath, and his dirty clothes are still in the floor in front of his own room. He wants very badly to go pick them up and hide them in his closet, but the manor is huge and his room is pretty far in his condition. He sits up and shrugs Shin's arm off himself. He glances back at Shin, but says nothing and just looks with an expression that is mostly stoic with a little annoyance mixed in. It's his normal look. Part of his wall, like everything is pissing him off. Makes him less easy to approach. He has a feeling Shin is one of those that will ignore the wall or see it for what it is. This doesn't set his mind at ease, but instead raises a red flag. Letting people close is dangerous, more often than not, they hurt you.

He stands, but it doesn't seem to take any effort, as he doesn't tap into his natural muscles to do so, but his supernatural vampric abilities. But that takes energy and he doesn't wish to test how much he can do without harming himself. He has to keep something in reserves for fighting in case the killer comes back. He steps to the edge of the bed, and then off it, as he does so he reaches up and rips what is left of the tattered shirt off. It's lost it's enchantment now anyway. He tosses it aside, but is disgusted with it laying there. It's out of place and dirty.

[Amaya]

The instant that Nick shifted, Shin's eyes came open. Silent, he watched the Keloshian, meeting his look with an unreadable expression. He merely watches, offering no assistance as Nick gets to his feet. Attempting to offer aid would seem almost an insult, considering what the man had survived. He worried, of course, but he wasn't about to belittle the other man's skill or stamina. Pushing himself to a sitting position, he grimaced briefly at the feeling of dried blood against his skin. One hand lifted to brush wild strands of long hair from his face, while the other reached immediately for his sword, propped against the bedside table where he could reach it easily.



Getting to his feet, he drew the blade a few inches from the scabbard, examining the pitch black blade for a moment before sheathing it fully once more. "I believe that another bath is in order," he murmured blandly. Considering the bloody state they were both in, that was something of an understatement. But he waited calmly for Nick to respond. Whether the Keloshian liked it or not, he wasn't about to let him out of sight. Not unless he was given orders to the contrary, at least.

[Nykolas]

Nick pauses to listen to Shin stir, and the sound of the sword being drawn and then sheathed. He feels a longing for his own sword and wishes he'd ignored the no weapons rule of the party and brought it anyway. But then, Wraith had things he wanted to do on the outside. Nick was already heading toward the bath but the other reason he had paused was to stare at the siren still sleeping within it and try to decide how much he cared. He cared a lot, but he was in no condition to wander around this huge manor to search out another bath that wasn't in use for the type of thing that Lola and Troy were probably doing in his room right now. And this being the master's chambers was probably the safest in the manor anyway. Too many thoughts, too many things to take into account. And then Shin suggests another bath. They both need one, but they just had one and Nick doesn't like to share. He tries to ignore the little voice in the back of his head that calculating the things he doesn't want to think about. Why can't things just be simple?

He doesn't respond. He prefers to bathe alone, but there is already another in the bath so what's the point in denying Shin one too? He finishes the walk to the bath and slides down the low sloped side and into the water. He doesn't bother to remove anything other than his tattered shirt. It all needs washing and would take too much energy to change anyway. Have to save the energy in case someone comes back to finish him off, or requires him in a magic circle.

[Shinkiro]

Whether Nick realized it or not, Shin was able to grasp his dilemma fairly easily. It's one of the things that made his so good at getting past walls. He waited to the Keloshian to move first before following after, keeping his hand on Shibien's hilt as he went. Will the hunt begin soon? A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Shin's lips at the inquiry from his blade. Soon enough, he replied.



Reaching the tub, he propped his sword against the side and stripped from the clothes Nick had more or less forced him to borrow after their previous bath, allowing the soiled cloth to hit the floor without a second thought. Stepping in, he took great care to ensure that his blade rested within easy distance of his hand. He wasn't fool enough to think that the danger had passed. Not by a long shot. Almost thoughtful, his left hand came up to touch his pendant, a frown crossing his face. A small emerald in a simple golden disk, it didn't seem like anything special at first glance. But those sensitive to such things would notice a powerful spell wrapped up in the trinket. A spell of suppression, though what exactly it was containing was difficult to say. I may yet need to remove it. Do so with caution. This place writhes with shadows. Trust me, I know, Shibien. Sighing, Shin let his head rest back against the side of the tub. "She may yet order it of me.."

[Nykolas]

Nick already wasn't looking at Shin as the other got up to join him. He knew Shin was only wearing a short robe and a towel, he had refused the offered pants and Nick is sure in the commotion that the towel was lostbefore Shin even got up. He is looking down and away but then Shin's words draw his attention back. He looks at Shin but is careful to only look at his face, "order what? Food? I could use some food..."

[Shinkiro]

"Order me to hunt," Shin replied. His tone was soft, almost uncertain at the thought. Not at the idea of hunting, oh no. He'd already promised that the one responsible for shooting Nick would die screaming. But the idea of hunting without Tanek's pendant to protect his mind from all of the various psyches that he would encounter along the way.. That was a daunting thought, to say the least. It would be easier if he could have seen the killer's face before he vanished--



Wait. His gaze turned suddenly to Ossires where the male siren rested still. He hadn't seen the killer's face. But perhaps Ossires had. His fingers tightened around the pendant he was wearing suddenly. Did he dare to attempt it? Uncertain, he shifted in his spot. Perhaps it would be best to wait until Amaya returns before trying.. That would be wise, Shibien agreed. "We'll leave the choice to her, then. Grandfather did place us both under her command." A sheepish look stole over his face before he glanced at Nick. "Shibien and I were discussing options," he explained lamely. It wouldn't do for the Keloshian to think that he was a blithering lunatic.

[Rex]

Rex had begun to regret accompanying his 'master' to this party. He'd spent the better part of the last month pretending to be mindless machine programmed to assist with domestic tasks for a Renald Delrigo, a well connected trader able to get his hands on rare ingredients for alchemy... and a moron even by organic standards. It hadn't taken much to be taken in. Lying and saying that his previous master had been killed by bandits played right into what Delrigo wanted to hear, the fool didn't even check the story. Why would he? A simple unthinking robot could never lie. Rex had accompanied Delrigo to the party as the man's butler, likely he'd just wanted to show off his shiny new servant to try and impress the host. Moronic worm, but not without his uses. He'd been present for every one of Delrigo's business dealings for the last month, even the illegal ones. Always watching, always learning more, and this party had seemed like a good place to learn even more... until the pairing. 


Rex had been paired with a decorative potted plant by the staff. It made sense, equal number of hearts and sapience, at least as far as they knew. The gunfire had been unexpected and worrying, but did provide him reason to move from the corner he'd been ushered into. The good servant, seeking to protect his master when an assassin was on the loose. Rex started off down the hall, noting the blood on the ground. He still carried the plant, he was unsure if the pairing rule still applied, but he preferred to err on the side of caution. He moved with precise, mechanical strides. Always the same length, always the same speed, just as an unthinking machine would.

[Arako]

Arako had decided to take the long way and walk back to his chambers with Amaya. This would give those inside the room a little more time to recover before they toss them out to use the room for magic. Or maybe recover enough to help with said magic. It's a very long corridor so the pair was already in it when the robot also decided to join them there. Without a human like face, he's very hard for most people to read and thus probably sets many of the mortals on edge, Arako imagines. Their paths cross right outside of Arako's chamber doors. Arako has no idea why the machine is there or what he's doing. He looks up at the roving red eye -which tells him nothing- and then at the plant. He does this a couple of times before he speaks. “I don't recall ordering a plant, but thank you.” He seems about to drop the topic there, but then a light comes on. “Oh, you look scary enough. We need you to help guard this room.”

[Amaya]

Still mostly unclothed and her feet leaving bloody prints along the floor, Amaya followed after Arako and contemplated their next course of action. Sending Shin out to hunt wouldn't hurt, that much was for certain. But shielding his psyche during the hunt would be draining at best. So lost in her thoughts, she nearly ran into their host as the elf stopped before her. Coming up short, she shot him a disgruntled look before seeking the object which had caught his eye. She blinked as she studied the robot, her head tilting. She was no stranger to such things, but the design on this model was new to her. Biting back a brief laugh at the comment about the plant, she merely shifted her weight and waited for Arako to continue.



A dark brow lifted when he asked the machine to accompany them. "I suppose that will work well enough. He shouldn't disturb me, at the least." Still, something about that single red eye gave her a rather unpleasant feeling. Nothing she could place, just a little tingle of unease that ran the length of her spine. "I hope that my brother is free to complete the task I have in mind for him."

[Rex]

This was an interesting turn, though for the better or worse remained to be seen. On one hand there was the possibility of being exposed to something of interest, on the other hand that female organic was naked and naked organics tended to copulate and that meant lots of truly disgusting fluids. Rex shuddered internally, he found organic beings to be utterly repulsive, but the possible benefit was enticing and maintaining the illusion of merely being a robot was still useful.


"Acknowledged." Rex to one step back, turned to his right -exactly- 90 degrees, and took another step back putting himself immediately to the right of the door and stood motionless, plant still in hand.

[Nykolas]

Nick leans his head back again and everything about his mannerisms and expression says he could care less either way, though when he tries to say so, the Veritas encourages something else, “I don't want you to go.” Nick immediately frowns and glowers. He's trying to deny that to even himself, but the stupid magical affect of that drug. He knows there is an advance robot out in the hall now, but his magic doesn't see past Rex's guise of being mindless. Too many thoughts swim around in his head on too many different topics, but all he can really think about is food. He needs to replenish what he's lost in energy and nutrients.

[Shinkiro]

Shin's eyes widened briefly at Nick's words before he looked over at the Keloshian. "I would prefer to stay near your side. But Grandfather has commanded me to obey Amaya in his stead until he returns." He didn't begrudge his sister her command. Not usually, at least. A bit of freedom after this debacle of a party, however, would be more than welcome. Hm, after the party.. Turning to look at Nick, he gazed at him steadily. "I wish to see you again after this party ends." Even without Veritas to force him to speak truthfully, he would have said the same. This just made him more willing to speak the thought.

[Rex]

How fortunate to be a machine, not just because they are inherently superior, but because Rex imagined standing still as a statue was simply beyond organic capabilities. Always fidgeting and frankly he was unsure how the sound constant rushing of fluids through their bodies did not drive them all mad before adolescence. Even the fern in his hand was superior. It was not messy, it preformed its functions efficiently. None of the foolish games the sapient organics played. Always trying to gain the upper hand and outmaneuver their opponents. Unnecessary and inefficient. If you want something dead, just tear off parts until it ceases to function. Rex continued to stand motionless by the door, plant in his right hand.

So then, situation report. He was now standing still and exposed in a long hallway with at least one gunman on the loose. Could be worse, at least he was armored and was likely not the target. The two organics he encountered seemed to not suspect anything, the fern seemed to add to the deception continuing to prove the superiority of even plants over sapient organics, but should the gunman return it could be difficult to keep up the charade without needlessly suffering damage. Hmm... continue on until more data becomes available.

[Nykolas]

Nick doesn't look up, but gives a little shake of his head as if to disbelieve Shin's last sentiment. “I'm an assassin. I have no heart.” The Veritas allows it as truth because he literally has no heart at the moment. Just to make sure though, he encouraged a little of his magical power into the statement and pictured clearly in his mind the hole in his chest. He pushes himself up out of the tub, the magical waters clean quickly and he has no reason to continue laying in a tub with a siren and a naked man. He realizes he still lacks a considerable amount of strength, but he won't let that show on his face. He makes deliberate and slow movements so that he won't sway.

[Arako]

Arako opens the door to his chamber, satisfied enough with the strange plant toting machine guarding the door. He's more into magical golems than machines, but prefers living people anyway as they are the most interesting and can be made to dance. “What exactly is it you plan to do? Should we clear the room of furniture or people? You know how deliate magic can be, someone like Zarvan will throw your spell off.” He stops a few feet into the door and looks around. His smirk fades to a little disappointment. What fun is a button if it's not there to be pushed? “Where is Zarvan?”

[Shinkiro]

That wasn't a no to seeing him again. Dragons were good at parsing the truth, so it helped to understand when others were doing the same. So Shin merely smiled faintly at the words before hauling himself out of the tub to follow after Nick. A change of clothes would be welcome, if he were to be hunting any time in the near future. Snatching his sword up as he went, he tapped the sheath against his leg absently as he walked. Coming up short as Arako stepped into the room. Oh, wonderful. And here he is again. Keeping the look of irritation from his face with some difficulty, Shin halted to wait. Sure enough, there was his sister right behind him. His eyes widened a fraction of an inch at her state of dress before he looked up at the ceiling. "Please tell me the blood isn't yours."

[Amaya]

"Furniture, yes. People only if they can't stay quiet." Hearing her brother's voice, Amaya glanced over to find him staring at the ceiling. A laugh left her at the question, amusement in her face. "Dear brother, do you really think that Arako would let me come to harm when he's right there to stop it?" She half turned her head to give their host a wink and a smile before shifting her focus. "Nick, be a good boy and lay down. I need my brother, and I won't have his full attention unless you're safely tucked in."

[Rex]

Four voices, four potential targets to keep track of now, though it sounded as though one had been injured so perhaps that one was not a threat. Still not enough information, but at least he had names and the female organic seemed to be important to two of the others. That knowledge would be useful if he needed to secure his escape with a hostage. The power of each yet needed to be determined though... and that of the gunman. That was the greatest threat at present, there was no information on the target's appearance or capabilities. That was troubling. Rex began cycling his vision between normal and infrared, the 'eye' made a low hum as it cycled. Perhaps the gunman was cloaked or made invisible by magical means, Rex hoped that it only hid his appearance and not his heat signature.

[Nykolas]

Nick had just managed to get out of the tub and was standing there waiting for the room to stop swaying before he tried to move further when the others came in. He stood there just watching them. He was already mostly dry. His clothing was enchanted to dry quickly which is why he selected these clothes after his last bath. His long hair however is not enchanted and he'd forgotten the glamour had worn off. His hair now falls heavy and wet behind him, dripping a little stream of water. It's annoying. Almost as annoying as being ordered by a naked woman covered in blood. He has refused to look at her since his initial glance. Likewise he is refusing to look toward Shin. Too many places not to look and way too many people in the room for his liking. He also needs food very badly, but he keeps a little extra nutrient packed rations in the back of his closet. That is when he realizes the door to his closet is present and slightly ajar. He doesn't say anything to anyone else, just furrows his brow and heads toward the magical door standing in the room, not against any walls. It's obviously Keloshian in design and it's frame is very intricately carved. He is annoyed with all of the, but mostly the dragons right now. Well, the one who shot him is at the top of his list, and then the dragons, then their host.

His anger gives him just a little more fuel, though he has to take a deep breath to remind himself not to let his heart rate rise. He is able to make it to the door and quickly makes his way inside and shuts the door.

[Arako]

Arako grins back at Amaya's wink, “Only if you asked nicely.” He responds to her comment about allowing her to come to harm. He then looks toward Nick when she gives him her command. His bright blue eyes dart around toward everyone, watching what they do and how they do it and listening to how they say what they're saying. He loves watching the people dance. It's his favorite hobby. Though he is a little surprised by the Keloshian's response and lack of a verbal reply. ”He brought his own realm? I heard the Arepharis carry their own realms around with them. I should not allow that in the future.” He then glances toward Amaya, drinking in her form. He likes the splash of red on her. “You think the shooter brought his own as well?” His tone is more conversational than inquisitive, as if he's asking if she thinks it'll rain later.

[Shinkiro]

Relief at knowing the blood wasn't his sister's was short lived. Jaw tightening slightly, Shin shot her an affronted look when she ordered Nick back to bed. "He's not a child, Sister." It irked him to hear her trying to give the Keloshian orders. He wasn't sworn to serve, so it wasn't within her power to influence the other man. She really is shameless sometimes. Just walking around like this. We're not back at Grandpa Arzei's village. Dismissing the grip for now, he shifted his weight and glance to Arako at the question. His own realm.. I hadn't even considered that. It might explain how he can move so quickly. "Your orders, Sister?"

[Amaya]

Ah, and there it was. The intellect that made Arako so very interesting. Amaya smiled at him in approval, silver eyes gleaming faintly. "I believe that to be quite possible, since you can't seem to locate any disturbance within your shadows." Shin snorted quietly at that, earning himself a brief glare. One day, perhaps, he would learn tact. The odds weren't high, but it was something to hope for. Crossing her arms, she resumed her pacing along the foot of the bed as she thought. "I would have you hunt, Brother. And I would have you do so at your full potential."


Shin flinched slightly at the words, a hand coming up to grasp the pendant around his neck with a white knuckled grip. Pausing in her pacing, Amaya allowed the words to hang before finally adding, "Don't worry, I'll act as your filter. I expect our prey caught quickly. Oh, and if you manage to capture any pixies, bring those to me too. Alive." A smirk curved her lips at her brother's confused expression before she glanced at Arako and winked.

[Rex]

So much unnecessary talking and time wasting, there was a threat on the loose that already knocked one of them out of the fight. Foolish organics, even if the threat was weak it paid to stomp it out quickly and decisively. Rex considered the aerodynamics of the plant in his hands. Not ideal but it could be thrown with some degree of accuracy. Hmm. 2.5 kilograms, when thrown at 140 kilometers per hour it would deal sufficient damage to something fleshy, especially when the ceramics shattered. It would have to do. For now there was nothing to do but wait, listen, and watch. Leaving would only attract unwanted attention. He continued scanning the surroundings and switching back and forth to infrared. 

[Arako]

“So wait a minute.. your plan is to have your brother take his reptile form and run through my house sniffing people? I think that might raise an alarm or two and we were trying to prevent a panic.” He looks Shin up and down as if imagining him in this dragon form already and not approving. That form isn't nearly as fun to play with. “Maybe we can use magic and shrink him down to a dog size.”

[Amaya]

Holding up a hand imperiously to forestall her brother's indignant protest, Amaya smiled in amusement. "Oh, don't worry overmuch about that. My brother will be inconspicuous in the form he takes." The words were as much an order for him as they were an assurance for their host. Shin subsided, looking distinctly less than pleased with the entire turn of events. Resolving to do something to make it up to her twin once they left the party, Amaya turned to him, extending her hand expectantly.



Shin shifted his weight this way and that before finally gripping his pendant. Knuckles white with the force of his grip, he reluctantly lifted the chain over his head. He hesitated for several painful seconds, the indecision clear on his face, before finally allowing the trinket to fall into her waiting hand. In the next instant, he hit a knee as if he'd been struck between the eyes with a hammer. A low, pained hiss escaped him before golden scales began to flow across his skin, his form shifting. In a matter of mere moments, a golden drake the size of an eagle sprawled on the floor at his sister's feet.



Kneeling, Amaya lifted him into her arms, running a hand lightly down his back between his wings. "Shh, Shin. Give it a moment." Her eyes glowed with that odd blue light as she worked her spell over him, creating a filter that would protect his psyche from the shadows while still allowing him access to his own power. His head lifted as she worked until he finally shifted to free himself. Allowing him to take flight, she smiled thinly up at him. "Now. Hunt your prey, Brother. And do not return to me until it has been caught." With a high pitched screech, the drake took wing from the room.

[Rex]

Reptile form? His question was shortly answered by the appearance of the small drake exiting the room. It took all of Rex's willpower not to clench his fist in rage and shatter the pot. Dragons. Of course two of them had to be dragons. Rex was a fully realized AI, he could feel emotion, understand emotion, but only when reviewing memories from before his consciousness was awakened did he ever feel hate. One hundred years of war against dragons filled him with hate. Odd, it shouldn't. He was only a machine then, he had no reason to feel emotional attachment but yet the hatred remained. Perhaps it was some sense of kinship with the other models? Illogical, but facts were facts and the feeling of hate was real. The eye briefly stopped it's normal traverse to follow the drake before returning to normal. 


The gunman was still the pressing concern, but perhaps he could see dragon blood spilled. It had been decades since he'd killed one.

[Arako]

Arako was joking about being dog size but he doesn't point this out now. It really is better as to not raise an alarm. He has to resist the urge to cry fetch after the little winged dragon flying out of the room. He watches Shin fly out. Then glances back to the magical door that shouldn't be in his room, just standing there free in the middle of things. He then glances at the sleeping siren in his bath.

"Well it's just you, me, and a siren. What ever shall we do to pass the time?" He doesn't mention Rex as furniture doesn't need a mention.

[Amaya]

As her brother flitted out the door, Amaya moved to the bed slowly and seated herself on the edge. "I have to make sure that my brother can hunt." Which meant that she had to see to it that his thoughts were focused and not muddled by the shadows around them. Resting her hands on her knees, a frown crossed her face. A more daunting task than she'd initially anticipated. Drawing in a slow breath, she exhaled before lifting a hand. "Pray don't be alarmed." That was all the warning she gave before she lifted her right hand and pressed her fingers to her chest just above her heart. They sank into her skin a moment later, a faint hiss of discomfort managing to leave her despite her best efforts. Grasping her grandfather's fang, she pulled it from where it rested in her heart. As it slipped free of her chest, the long fang transformed into a dagger, the hilt made of smooth ivory and inlaid with a draconic rune in gold. Breathing a sigh of relief, she glanced at Arako. "It seems that I've given away my weapon's hiding place. How tragic."

[Rex]

So the woman was also a dragon too, good to know, and her brother required her assistance while in his current form to track the assailant. Better to know. What would happen to him if she became distracted? Rex imagined that a plant to the face would be a sufficient distraction, and it was a tempting thought, but that would make himself many enemies in a place where he had no friends or a detailed knowledge of the layout. Pity, perhaps if circumstances change he would revisit the experiment. 

[Arako]

The pocket realm the manor sits in is full of shadows, shadows that move, shadows that hide, shadows that live. Most go unseen by normal people doing normal things. The influence of The Shadow Incarnate is heavy and tinged with madness. It is thick, like a weight in the shadows. The shadows whisper and gossip. They are curious and their gaze follows Shin. Something in the manor goes unnoticed by them, and can cut through them, but not even they know what it is.

Arako watches in amusement as Amaya pulls out her dagger. He'd never have thought to consider that was an option. “And I was so looking forward to hunting it too.” he replies with a little lament to his tone. He followed her to the edge of the bed and watches her sit, but doesn't join her there. He's not sure what type of magic she'll be employing and if his movement will distract her. He has a sudden urge to test her combat casting skills with his tongue to her skin, but will wait. That is when he noticed Nick's glasses in the bed where they'd fallen off. He reaches over, a little curious. Vampires don't need glasses. He puts them up to his face to see what they do. At first he frowns a little and breaths out a disapproving sound. Then he chuckles lightly and pockets the glasses in a breast pocket.

“You want the machine golem to remain on the outside of the door, or should he come in to guard?”