The Cliffs near the Harbor of Weston.

>>>>>>>>>From The Gysbourne Residence>>>>>>>>>>

Victoria and Andy soon arrived at the cliffs.

"All right...paging any and all creatures of the night. Come out, come out, wherever you are."

  Andy's rumbly laugh answered her, and he said "Daylight.  They're in torpor.  Hold tight, love."  He'd appeared at the top of the cliffs, and now he spread his wings wide, wrapping one arm around her waist, and 'fell' forward, diving off the top to soar down the cliffs to see if he could spot any caves.

"not gonna scream...not gonna scream..." Victoria thought out loud as they began their descent, searching for potential caves.

  Andy rumbled softly, and she heard {{You know I'd never let you fall, Vic.  I'd teleport us to safety, or cushion the landing with my body first.  Besides, you think those big sails are just decoration?}}  That last was given in a gentle tease as he cupped his wings, which flipped them around, and then downstroked, giving it just enough force to keep them slowly descending, but probably no faster than a stiff walking speed.

Victoria smiled.

"I know you wouldn't Andy. That was just a new sensation. Let's see if we can find El Vampiro's cave.."

  His laugh rumbled against her back, and he said {{Remind me, and I'll take you flying.  It'll get you totally used to the stomach-losing sensations.  You'll think you lost it somewhere back in the first loop!}}

"Fly the friendly skies of Andy Black..I can live with that.."

  He smiled, holding her tightly against him, and continued to move slowly down the cliffs, looking for more caves.

Victoria continued to search as well, seeing there were any caves that she might be able to see.

  Andy spotted a cave, and soared over to it, sinking his talons into the rock as he offered the ledge to her to stand on it.

Victoria nodded, standing on the ledge and giving Andy enough room to come as well.

"Moment of truth...ready amor?"

  He grinned, and said "I have your back.  Let's do this."

Victoria smiled, and entered the cave. Reaching out with her eldritch senses, she began to try to "feel out" who or what might be in there, if anything.

  Andy followed her, his presence a comforting presence as he illuminated himself with crackling lightning, knowing Vic couldn't see in pitch blackness as he could.

Victoria nodded at Andy, then continued to traverse further into the cave, reaching out with her arcane senses to find if this place was occupied.

  Her senses detected a still form ahead, without heartbeat or respiration.  A torpid vampire!!

Victoria held up her hand in a stop motion to Andy.

"We have company love. One of our blood sucking friends is here, though I'm not sure if its the one that we're looking for.'

  He stopped just behind her, and replied {{We're looking for any vampire we can find.  Let's stake them.}}

Victoria nodded, a look of grim determination on her face as she followed her senses to where the "creature" was located. Pulling out a stake and readying it to do her work.

  Andy frowned as they drew up to the torpid vampire.  He waited to let Vic stake the fellow if she wanted.  He was wearing football practice clothing.

Victoria looked at the vampire briefly, not sure why he was wearing a football practice shirt. She then prepared to drive the stake into its black heart.

  Andy whispered "Strike quickly, so that he cannot hurt you love."

Victoria nodded, and with surprising speed, attempted to stake the vampire.

  The stake sank in, but a human, or vampire's rib cage was designed to protect the vulnerable and vital organs within.  So the vampire screamed, until Andy slammed his fist down on the end of the stake like a hammer, and the stake sank in with a sickening crunch of bone and cartilage.

Victoria looked on as the vampire appeared to cease to exist.

"I wonder if this one here may have had a stash around. If we find that, maybe there might be some connection to who turned him."

  Andy said dryly "Must be a young vampire, he didn't crumble to dust, he's just a messy pile of meat.  Let's take his head, so that even if the stake comes out, he can't come back."  And extended his talons to full length.

Victoria nodded as Andy was about to take the head of the young vampire.

She had killed things like Deep Ones, but the act of it was no less disconcerting.

  Andy gave her a somehow sad smile, and said softly "You get used to it.  And sometimes, you KNOW it's better than the alternative, and you still regret it."  And with a quick movement, separated the vampire's head from his body.

"Yes...but it doesn't make things any easier. All we can do is wish that their spirit finds the peace that was taken away from them," Victoria replied, somewhat sadly.

"Slaying Deep Ones is rather easy. They are mindless minions of the Old Ones that care nothing for the life of others. But this....this man...he was human once. And more than likely turned against his will. It's our job....my job...to stop things like this."

  Andy nodded, and said "Yes.  And when you can't save the ones affected, you can give them rest.  Maybe even peace.  And then you occasionally find things like me.  Human heart, but not human.  All I can do, is do my best to be true to the human soul that I was fortunate enough to be born with.  Even if it's got a lot of Demon in it too."  He moved the head to a separate spot, and called the lightning, setting it ablaze with the energy.

Victoria looked on as Andy lit the head up. Inside, she hoped that this poor fellow went on to someplace that was more peaceful than this undead existence that it had been subjected to.

  Andy then ignited the body, the lightning thick and potent, then said softly "I wish that I would never have to do this again, but I know it is a futile wish."

Victoria nodded as she watched the body burn.

"Yeah....unfortunately someone has to, otherwise these things will overrun the city...not to mention the world."

  Andy nodded, and wrapped one arm around her, holding her against him, her back to his chest as he said quietly "Yes.  But it is good to not like to kill.  If I began to enjoy the killing of what was once human, I would be losing more of the humanity I have."

Victoria sighed as she put her head on Andy's chest.

"Maybe...in saving you.....you're also saving me. My..."job"....as a Defender requires me in some cases to be meciless to my enemies, some of which are fiends from the Far Realm. Thank you for reminding me of what it is to be Victoria Castillo...not just the Black Jaguar."

  Andy kissed her on the top of her head, and said softly "Part of what I'm for.  I'm BRED to kill things that endanger humans, love.  I've spoken to my Dad.  He gave me all the dirt on that while I was in Hell."

Victoria chuckled for a moment.

"You know, you're one of the few people I can be myself around. You and Adri. I always have to portray a rough edge to whoever else is around."

  Andy chuckled, and hugged her.  "You are an amazing woman, Vic.  And I love you as you are.  You don't shudder when you see me without my 'humanskin' on."  He loved that, the way she accepted that he was a man, even if he wasn't human!

Victoria sighed happily as she put her head against Andy's broad chest.

"I wonder how the others are doing with their searches?"

  Andy said "Let me ask.  We all have at least one person with a mindworm on the team."  He sent by Mindworm How are the rest of you doing?  We put one vampire down.

Victoria nodded, and waited for Andy to get information back on the other "missions."

  Andy said "Looks like Ozzy and Meg got one, and one got away, and we got one, so we made two less vampires."

Victoria nodded at that.

"Sounds good. Shall we search a bit more here? If we found one here, there might be more."

  Andy nodded, and said "Good idea.  Hang onto my back, or my wings, whichever's an easier handhold, and I'll crawl over the cliffs to the next cave.  Or I could do the 'screaming meme leaps' and fly us."

"I'll hang on to your back," Victoria said.

  Andy chuckled, and moved so she could climb on more easily.  And once she was, he demonstrated how HANDY those six inch long talons were.  They let him move across the cliff faces like they were almost flat ground!!

Victoria was amazed at the ease that Andy moved along the cliff. Clearly enjoying herself, she waited until Andy found a place to set down.

  He grinned at her, and said "I learned all sorts of dirty tricks in Hell."

"You did learn a lot there," Victoria replied. "All right...same routine as before. I'll act as the Arcane Early Warning System.."

  Andy admitted "I learned a lot there.  But some of the things I learned are more tragic than anything else."  He sniffed, and then stretched his wings, while he had the room to do so.

"I am sorry about that," Victoria said softly as they entered the next cave.

  Andy hugged her, and said softly "A decade in Hell was more than worth making certain that Ahriman was contained.  I did not want him to permanently possess my body.  And he LIKED my body."

"It doesn't make it any easier," Victoria said. "Still...I'm glad you have the heart that you do. For that is who and what I love..."

She smiled at him for a moment.

"Hold still for a moment..." she said as she weaved a protective aura around him, the aura looking like a demonic suit of golden armor.

"I have a few tricks of my own." she said, still smiling.

  Andy smiled, and hugged her again, then indicated he was ready to venture into the darkness.  He wanted her safe too.  Which was why she had some Demonskin leather armor herself!

Victoria then began to traverse into the cave with Andy, searching for any more vampiric denizens.

  He moved with her, and his warm bulk behind her was a comforting presence in the darkness.  He rumbled softly "One of them has at least BEEN here.  I smell them."

Victoria nodded back at Andy briefly, then took out a wooden stake, ready to send the next vampiric minion to the afterlife if it showed up.

  Andy lightly put a hand on her back, and then they both sensed it.  A cold, still form that lay in repose while the sun still rode the sky.

Victoria nodded, then got her stake ready to send this one to its eternal resting place.

  The person who had become a vampire was dressed in the rags of a hobo, with patches on patches and they smelled vile.  He was also curled up in a ball on a rock ledge.

Victoria hated killing someone who could be classified as an innocent. But when one was infected with vampirism, their only salvation was......death.

And so Victoria would grant that salvation. Albeit somewhat reluctantly, as she plunged the stake into the bloodsucker.

  She hit the ribs, and the hobo screamed, a shrill, high pitched sound that was pure anger.  He began to thrash.

Victoria then did what she could to plunge the stake into the heart, though her strength was nowhere near what Andy's was.

  Andy gave her a light kiss on the shoulder, and whacked the stake, driving it through the bones with a sick crunch, and through the other side.   The vampire stilled instantly.

Victoria looked down on her handiwork. The vampire was still now. Soon to be dealt with.
"I've got to get me a sword. But for now, you're my sword. Finish him.."

  Andy nodded, and his claws once more extended, then he slashed the vampire's head from it's body, and he gave her a gentle kiss before he moved her, and brought the lightning to once more incinerate first the head, then the body.  Making two piles of ash to lie in the cave.

Once the vampire's head and body were reduced to ash, Victoria then looked around, seeing if there might be any more caverns, or possibly any other bloodsuckers that might be hiding.

  Andy stood beside her, but she sensed no more of the undead in the area.  There were some more caves though.

"There might not be any more undead in here, but there is still a lot of unexplored territory. Perhaps there might be something here that will give us a clue as to who is behind this."

Victoria then reached out with her eldritch senses, trying to sense if there might be anything else in this series of caves that might be "magically inclined."

  She sensed nothing else of magical potential in the area, aside from Andy.

"There's nothing else magical in the area, Andy," Victoria replied. "Seems that we might be done here, unless you can think of anything else we haven't covered..."

  He shook his head, and said "Not off the top of my head, unless there's an entrance to the tunnels beneath Weston in these caves somewhere?"

Victoria shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I'm not even from Weston originally, but something tells me that this city has unique secrets that may end up biting us in the ass at a later time."

  Andy chuckled, and said "I'm FROM Weston, and it sounds likely to ME."

Victoria nodded, giving Andy's comment some serious thought.

"Something we'll need to investigate at a later time. You said something about tunnels, Andy? Any ideas as to what was down there?"

  Andy said dryly "Seems like everything that nobody wanted to see again got buried or sealed up underneath Weston.  So we need to find stuff out.  But we have to figure out how to navigate stuff first!"

"True...any suggestions on where to start? Or maybe you know of someone who might be able to tell us more about these tunnels? Or perhaps someone has a map of these tunnel systems?"

  Andy said "I'm thinking that either Don, who is Hunter, or maybe Ethan."

Victoria nodded.

"We'll talk with one of them then. Let's make a mental note to come back here once we have a map.'

  Andy nodded, and said "Hunter's living in town.  I don't know about Ethan, he's a mystery man."

Victoria nodded.

"Sounds like Don would be easier to get a hold of then. Do you know if we have a way of contacting either him or his friends in the Legacy?"

  Andy said "Well, yes, actually.  Since we know who Dragon Fist is, and we know who Don is, we can sorta drop in on them.  But I don't have a cell phone, so I'll use the other route."  And he reached out, tapping into the abilities he learned to use in Hell.

Victoria waited as Andy made contact. She had heard rumors of this Champion of Light, and it sounded like they might meet him in person as well.

  Andy smiled, and wrapped his arms (and wings) around her, and gave her a kiss.  And when the kiss broke, they were standing outside the Dragon and Tiger Dojo.

------------->> Dragon and Tiger!

>>>>>>>>>>From The Van Diemen household>>>>>>>>>

Victoria and Andy soon arrived back at the cliffs.

"All right...now that we have a rough map, we should be able to navigate a lot better."

  Andy looked at the map, with it spread out, and rumbled "Okay, I have it memorized now.  So you keep hold of it, and don't hesitate to look at it.  I'll add to my mental map as we discover more places."

Victoria nodded as she folded up the map, keeping it on her person. Once Andy was ready to go, it was back to the caverns!

  Andy wrapped his arms around her, then fanned his wings and lifted off, soaring out and then around to land in the mouth of the cave that the map indicated had an entrance there.

"Here we go," said Victoria as she began to make her way into the cave, reaching out with her magic to get a feel for whatever might be around.

  Andy walked beside her, one hand lightly resting around her waist, as HE could see just fine.

Victoria allowed herself a small smile as the two of them continued to traverse deeper into the caverns.

  The darkness was like velvet, and it enfolded them after the first turn in the tunnel, deep and rich, and with the feeling of almost an awareness.

Victoria could feel a presence all around, but it was strange. Like it was...alive?

"Andy...do you feel that?" she asked, continuing on.

  Andy nodded, and rumbled softly "Absolutely, Vic.  There's something aware down here."

Victoria turned back towards the darkness, and began to concentrate.

"Entity....I feel your presence all around my companion and I....we need to know your intentions..."

  To live once more . . . to find a suitable shell to wear . . .

Victoria reached out once again.

"Who am I speaking with?"

  I was . . . once . . . known as . . . .Magda . . .

Victoria arced an eyebrow, looking at Andy for a moment.

"Tell me a little about yourself Magda..."

  I was . . . a hero . . . I think . . . .long ago . . . and they entombed me . . . with the others.

"Who? Who entombed you? How many others were with you?"

They did.  I do not . . .know how long ago .  . . David  . . . escaped . . .

"Who is David? Can you show me any of the information you are trying to convey to me?"

  Without a shell . .. I am too weak.

Victoria looked at Andy for a moment.

"You caught all of that, right? She needs a host..then maybe we can find out what's going on. I'll be the host she needs."

  It takes . . . energy . . . .I cannot . .. if I take your flesh . . . it will be until the body dies again. 

"Do you know of anyone else? Maybe a blood relative? Whoever did this, things need to be set right.."

I do not . . .the blood . . . does not matter . . . flesh with life . . .but without soul . . .

"Flesh with life..but no soul?"

Victoria began to think on her knowledge of the arcane to see if she might be able to figure this puzzle out.

  Andy said quietly "When the soul leaves, so does the mind, Vic.  It wants a vegetable."

"So....someone who has just passed....near brain death.." Victoria replied. "All right....we need to find someone quickly...Magda may not be able to hold on for much longer.."

  Andy nodded, and asked softly "Want me to find one and come back?"

"If it's not too much trouble. I'll need to stay here and keep Magda company." Victoria replied, her voice showing concern for this person that they had found.

  Andy nodded, and gave Vic a fierce kiss, then teleported away.

Victoria returned the kiss, then sighed for a moment after Andy went away.

"Magda....I know you're weak...but can you tell me a little more about yourself?"

  Not much . . . it is . . . not always . . . the same . . .

"All right then, my companion is off to get the vessel you need."

  Thank you . . . has been . . .a long . . . long time . . .

"Andy and I are here to help you, Magda. With any luck, we'll be able to help each other."

Victoria looked around, anxiously waiting for Andy's return.

  Andy reappeared, wings cupped around him, parting to reveal a thin and wasted form in his arms.  That of a young man, probably sixteen to eighteen, but the shape of the back of his skull showing clearly that he'd been badly, badly injured at some time.

Victoria smiled as Andy returned, then turned to the general direction of Magda.

"My companion has arrived.."

  She could feel the darkness seem to intensify as the being drew together.  And then a rush of non-physical wind as the energies rushed into the body in Andy's arms.  A crackle of bone as the skull, badly dented in, reshaped back into a perfect dome.  The wasted muscles filled out, tissue regenerating, as the boy's face filled out from the wasted slenderness.  And his eyes opened, flaring with eldritch golden energy.

Victoria looked at this event with a sense of wonder and awe. She had seen possessions by spirits but never for a benevolent purpose.

  The young man rose to his feet, and said quietly "This is a good body.  It's soul has been missing for a while, there was much wasting."

"Good," Victoria replied softly. "If I haven't introduced myself already, I apologize. My name is Victoria and this is Andy. Tell us what we can to do help you, Magda."

  He nodded, and said "I am Magda.  Sorceror, I take a body with no soul, and give it new purpose.  Each time, it is when the world is in flux, when change is happening and magic can influence it.  For better or worse."

Victoria nodded at Magda.

"I am a student of the mage arts myself, Magda. What change is coming that we need to be aware of?"

  Magda said "The balance between good and evil is at a tipping point.  Which way it goes is critical.  We must tip it for good, or the world will be horrible."

Victoria looked perplexed at Magda. The mention of Balance...it was akin to what she had heard of the Champion of Light, Dragon Fist. That he was there to help keep the balance from tipping.

"Can you tell me anything about who or what is threatening to tip the scales to evil?"

  Magda said simply "In this level of existence, there is good, and evil.  For life to sustain, it is important to mostly keep it balanced between the two.  Otherwise life becomes intolerable, and people begin to die off."

Victoria nodded at Magda. "So...now that you have a body...what shall you do now?"

   Magda said simply "Use the rest of this shell's normal span to try and keep things balanced.  The Champion fights it directly, I try to influence things in other spheres."

Victoria looked at Magda. She had heard of Balance, and even of the Champion of Light.

"You mentioned Balance, and the Champion. I am presuming you're referring to the Champion of Light? What other spheres?"

  Magda said "I try to give the politicals reasons to keep things balanced, and not tip too far either way."

Victoria looked at Andy, slightly perplexed for a moment. It seemed her old sensei also talked in riddles sort of like this.

"All right. Have we already played our parts in helping you, or is there more to come?" she asked. "And is there anything that we can do to help set your own circumstances right?"

  Magda said simply "I am now free to try and make sure that the government does not tip the balance too far.  I normally work behind the scenes, manipulating politics to keep disastrous things from happening."

"What's the government trying to do that could potentially tip the scales? And should we make the Champion of Light aware of what's going on?"

  Magda said "I have to see what is currently in the works and get a feel for things.  I am woefully behind."

Victoria smiled at the newly reborn sorcerer (ess?).

"If you need to contact me, I'm not very hard to find. I'll be in the city for the forseeable future.."

She turned back and smiled at Andy.

"A lot longer than I originally thought I would." She then turned back to Magda.

"Have you seen or heard anything further in the tunnels? My companion and I are searching for creatures of the night...or anything else that might not belong on the surface."

  Magda chuckled, and said "You mean aside from the Demon you have lurking there with you?  Which, I should mention, it's a very strange thing to see a sorceress protector who has a Demon bound to her."

Victoria smiled for a moment. "You're referring to my companion. Though he might be a Demon in most people's eyes, he's an angel in mine. A good-hearted man who would see evil punished and humanity protected. As for these tunnels, we are searching for vampiric beings....those who prey upon humanity. We've also heard from good sources that there are other things in these tunnels. Can you tell us anything about those?"

  "I've been entombed in concrete for the past gods know how long.  I have no idea what else they sealed down here.  But I'll help you look."

"For that, I am grateful," Victoria said. She then turned to Andy. "Shall we search some more?"

  Andy nodded, and said "I'll go first.  I can see in the darkness.  And anything coming at us from the front will find themselves in a very unpleasant face to face."

"Lead on," Victoria said as they prepared to continue further into the caves.

  Magda nodded, and waved for them to enter into the depths of the cave.

Victoria followed with Andy as they entered the depths of the cave.

  They moved into the stygian darkness beneath the city, and Vic could feel the age.  And when they came to a place where the stone had been shattered, it was clear that something strong and grumpy had broken loose down there.  But what had it been?

Victoria saw the large hole, and wondered who...or what...had been imprisoned down here.

"Magda...can you tell me anything about this part of the caves? Anything you might have seen or heard here?"

  Magda shook his head, and said quietly "Unfortunately, no.  I do not know what was sealed up within that vault."  Whatever it had been, it was powerful.

Victoria said to Andy "Whatever this was...it was extremely powerful. We might want to call your friends either in the Legacy or the younger group."

  Andy nodded, and said quietly "Easy enough to put out the word."

Victoria nodded, then waited for Andy to finish "calling out the dragnet." As she waited, she began to look around, reaching with her physical senses, also delving into trying to sense anything of the mystical slant also.

  Magda said quietly "Tracks in the dust go this way.  Deeper into the caverns here.  You may yet run into this thing."

Victoria sighed, then turned back to Andy.

"Well...it may be up to us if the others aren't able to make it here. Looks like it's time to prove myself worthy of the Black Jaguar mantle."

  Andy rumbled, and said "Remember, love, you're not alone.  You have me.  And I'm stronger than I look."  He moved out, following the footprints with eerie silence of his own.

Victoria smiled as Andy relayed that message to her.

"You know what I meant," she said softly to him. "You're like a second skin to me...one I most certainly welcome.."

  He shot her a grin, his eyes lambent in the darkness, and then tilted his head.  His form shifted, and he partially spread his wings, then nodded.   "Something is stirring the air ahead."

Victoria nodded, focusing her eldritch senses towards the direction that Andy indicated.

  The air stirred again, this time even Vic felt it.

"Dios Mio.....Que es esto?" Victoria whispered as she now felt the malevolence in the air.

  A low hiss, and she heard something hit flesh in front, drawing a vicious snarl from Andy.

Victoria's hands immediately became aglow with eldritch power, as she went into a defensive stance, summoning the rainment of the Black Jaguar.

"Andy...we take it him together...you take one side, I'll take the other..."

  The flickering purple of the lightning he could draw on surrounded his wings, which he'd arched up, and she saw the thing.  It was built like a massively muscled humanoid, but had six limbs, all ending in vicious taloned hands.

Victoria saw the creature, and upon seeing it, hurled several bolts of mystic energy at it, at that very moment, trying to remember if she had seen something like this before.

  As the bolts sank home, it roared, but then Andy distracted it from trying to go after her, slashing with his own talons, and adding a bolt of that purple lightning in the same swipe.

Victoria knew enough not to get close to the creature, at least for the moment. But this creature was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

She gestured, and another mystic bolt came from her fingertips as she sent it hurtling towards the monstrous creature.

  The thing howled in anger, and began to head for Vic.  Intending to put those talons to use on her.

Victoria was confident in Andy and his abilities. All the same, this thing was after here. Here sensei had trained her in the art of kenpo....and Adri had trained her as the Protector of the Realm.

And so she would.

Gracefully stepping aside, her hands once again began to glow with arcane energy as she then initiated a multiple ridge hand strike aimed at several of the creature's pressure points. Hoping that maybe the anatomy would be the same as a human's. Or close to it.

  It screamed in anger, and lunged, but Andy pulled a trick she hadn't seen him use before.   He blipped short-length, like a flicker, and raked with both claws along it's belly, then jerked his head up.  Using those long, razor-sharp-tipped horns to slash at it's chin.  Blood flowed, but Vic could SEE it healing as she watched!!

Victoria saw the creature slowly begin to regenerate. She had tangled with things LIKE this...ones that could repair themselves...but not this one specifically.

"Magda...can you tell me anything more of this creature? Do you have any insight you can offer?" she asked, placing herself in a defensive stance.

  Magda shook his head, and said "I am not sure what it is either,  but it is not mystical in origin!"

Victoria gritted her teeth. Demons..deep ones...she was familiar with. This was a new animal..literally.

"Andy..hit him high...I'll hit him low!" she said as she launched several arcane bolts at the creature.

  Andy nodded, and this time, when the thing swiped at him, he met it, roaring back at it as he sank his talons into the muscle of it's chest, and slammed it over, so that it couldn't keep advancing as he snarled at it.

Victoria smiled. Andy had hopefully provided the opening she needed. Once again chanting, she then invoked a spell which was not part of her normal repertoire, but something that might work for this situation.

"From dust we began and return to, make the ground under this monster sticky through and through."

She then raised the ground below the creature, transmuting it into muddy clay, wanting to hold the creature's "feet" down, so Andy's blow would knock it off of its feet.

  The thing roared in anger as it stuck to the floor, and slashed rabidly at what it COULD reach, which meant Andy.  He didn't seem too worried, however.

"Now, with any luck, we can hopefully contain it..."

Victoria gestured once again, causing the mud that held the creature to expand as it began to cover its lower body up to its waist.

  Andy promptly, as it began to slash wildly at him, head-butted it.  With his horns, it was especially nasty, since they were large, and very hard.  The crack of skulls meeting each other was clear, and it obviously stunned the thing for a few.

Victoria nodded, clearly impressed with Andy's strength.

"All right...now what? Banishment? Maybe this thing has an alternate form or something.."

  Andy shrugged, and said "Whatever you want to try, Vic.  Because if you can't neutralize it, I'll kill it.  Not many things do well without their souls."

Victoria considered something.

"Maybe...maybe this thing is human underneath." She then concentrated, trying to see if this creature might have been human at one time or not, or at least trying to find the human nature inside of it.

  It was, at it's very core, once a human, but was far, far from it now. . .

Victoria frowned. This wasn't a lycanthrope, or vampire, or anything else done by magical means. This person, whoever they were, had been changed by something man-made...possibly scientific.

"While I do not want to condemn this one to death, its demise may actually be a release for the person trapped inside this monstrous shell. But...we owe it to this person to find out who or what did this to him...and avenge them."

Turning to the subdued creature, she then asked "Are you capable of speech? If so, I have some questions for you.."

  He growled at her, and swiped, but his claws came short.  If she did a spell to touch his mind, it was seething rage and elemental fury, and a desire to DESTROY!!!

Victoria stood back for a moment, visibly shaken by the pure rage she had experienced from the creature.

"Whoa..this creature..the humanity is gone within him. I don't like it..but we may have to deal with him permanently Andy."

  Andy held up a hand, and said "Let me try something first.  Watch my shell."  And then closed his eyes.  His body slowly slumped to the floor, unmoving and unbreathing, but the creature beside him screamed and began to struggle, eyes wide in rage and panic.  Until it suddenly began to almost convulse, it's body stiffening and shuddering.  Then Andy's voice escaped it.  "It . . . was once  . . . human . . . . was named . . . Arthur Davidson . . . volunteered . . . for a super soldier program . . . in late 1920s.  He . ..  is not . . in control . . . he feels . . . only pain . . . only anger . . . only rage . . . and wants mercy . . . "

Victoria nodded, studying the words that were coming from the creature that spoke with Andy's voice.

It was a grim task, but the creature wanted mercy. "Mr. Davidson...I don't know if you understand me...but we will grant your request. Andy...come on out.."

  Andy left the creature, and his own body jerked as he 'picked up the reins' so to speak.

Victoria frowned, knowing the grim duty that lay ahead of both of them. It didn't mean she had to like it. Because she didn't.

"Andy...I think we both know what needs to be done..." she said grimly.

  Andy nodded, and said "Generally, ripping the soul out will depower the abilities.  I'll do that, and you handle the physical."

Victoria nodded, and made herself ready, having learned several killing techniques in the martial arts. But up until now, always hoping that she didn't have to use them.

  Andy said quietly "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this with any audiences for a while."  He reached down, and his talons swiped through the monstrosity's flesh effortlessly, then he pulled something that looked like a human male made of shadow out of the body, gripped in his hand.

Victoria concentrated, then used a technique which normally would be forbidden to teach in certain circles of the martial arts community.

The Din Mak.

Striking the creature with a deadly precision.

  She could see that the soul apparently powered it's regen, because it bled, then died at her strike.  Leaving the shade, the soul, free to be released now.

Victoria nodded at the soul, a look of apology on her face, but relief and hope that the nightmare for this individual was finally over.

  The soul touched her, although she didn't feel it, a gesture that was thankful for what she had done.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:25, Tue 12 Apr 2011.

Victoria looked down at her hands. Using the din mak was something she did not relish, even in the slightest. It was a forbidden technique, according to her sensei, to be used only in extreme situations.

She turned back to Andy.

"I wonder what else we will find?"

  Andy shook his head, and said "They throw down here what they're afraid to admit exists.  Gods only know."

Victoria shook her head.

"Adri told me that this place would be interesting. I had no idea just how much.."

  Andy kissed her, fangs and all, and whispered softly "As long as you consider me worth the rest of the trouble."

Victoria smiled. "You are....and it's because of you that I'm glad that I stayed. Don't worry....rest assured, we'll talk later of....um, other things.."

There was a slight blush to her cheeks.

"All right Magda....it seems as if this city is very approachable....but there are also a lot of things that are not easily seen. Is there anything in this city's past we might need to be aware of? Anything having to do with the group that was originally here, the Secret Defenders? The mage in that group held great renown in the mystical community."

  Magda said "Unfortunately, the memory of the time is blurry.  Changing hosts can be difficult, and the longer I am bodiless, the more fuzzy the memories get.  It is a bad side effect to being a force that inhabits bodies, not a soul of a proper person that is born in flesh."

Victoria nodded, then turned back to Andy.

"Well...we've found a rogue super soldier project gone bad down here. Shall we see if we can find anything else?"

  Andy said "Not to forget Magda, love."

"Not to worry, love. I won't forget.."

  The darkness of the passages beckoned to them, waiting for them to come and explore.

"Let's see what other secrets this fair city has to divulge," Victoria said, making her way further into the caverns.

  Andy wrapped an arm around her waist, his senses alert as they moved off down the hallway, finding a branching of the corridors up ahead that left them three choices.

Victoria faced three possible options. Looking towards Andy, she then pointed to the left, and started to make her way down the passage.

    The darkness was positively stygian, and she could easily imagine THINGS creeping about down there.  Creepily so!  A faint flicker of something was up ahead.

Victoria soon began to sneak forward, wondering what this new thing was that awaited them.

  A chill ran up her spine, as her senses whispered to her that this flicker was NOT something of this world.

Victoria continued to tread cautiously, especially in lieu of what her senses had picked up. She couldn't help but wonder who or what this new threat might be.

  Andy frowned, and asked her softly {{What glows sort of white and blue and gold and green in the dark, likes the underground, and doesn't belong here?}}

Victoria looked ahead, trying to figure out if this was a creature that she had encountered before, or if this was something brand new.

"Not sure love....a lot of them glow eerily. It's kind of their trademark."

  Andy nodded, although she could feel a deep rumble from his chest.  One too low for her to actually HEAR, just feel.  Whatever it was, he didn't like it.

Victoria could feel the rumble in Andy's chest. She knew him a short time, but knew enough about him to know he did NOT like whatever this was.

  The flickering light drew a bit closer, and she could see it was a being.  One that did NOT belong here.

Victoria's hands glowed with eldritch power, but she didn't cast anything. Yet.

"State your business.."

  Her words caught it's attention, and it came yet closer.  She could see strangely shaped fungi in spots on the floor and walls now.

Victoria saw the fungus growing on the cavern walls. What was this...thing..they were dealing with?

She maintained a steady stance, ready for who or whatever this was.

  It drifted yet closer.  Glowing and floating in the air.

  Andy's growl got louder, and he said to Vic "That thing doesn't belong here."

Victoria glanced over at Andy, noting his slightly aggressive demeanor, then turned her attention towards their oncoming opponent.

  It floated closer yet, and she could see the fungi nearest it actually growing.  Whatever it was, it did NOT belong in this world, and she could feel, being what she was, the warpage of reality around it.

Victoria, comfortable in the knowledge that this thing did not belong here, began to chant in an eldritch tongue. Calling forth a spell to banish this creature to the plane of Void where it wouldn't harm anyone else.

  She could feel it beginning to warp reality around her as the thing shimmered and she heard chimelike sounds.

Victoria continued to concentrate, now starting to put forth her arcane energy to stopping whatever this was. But the effort was beginning to take its toll as blood began to trickle out of her nose.

  Andy growled when the scent of her blood hit his nose.  And wrapped his wings around her, putting his hands on either side of her head as he closed his, and PUSHED.  Teeth bared (she couldn't see them) as he made his power reach to her in a way it wasn't meant, and bridging so that she tapped HIS power.  And he had a LOT of it.

  When she kept concentrating, it began to shriek, the spell she was using beginning to tear the ovid glowing thing apart as it banished it.  But the power boost helped!!

Victoria felt the power boost. But she had important things to do...which was banishing this...creature.

She could feel it start to unravel until the creature would (hopefully) be gone from their midst, then looking back to Andy with a look of smiling, sincere gratitude.

  The Tomb Herd was gone, but she heard a steady, faint sound.  Drip.  Drip.  Drip.  Her own nose was no longer bleeding at all, but something was dripping.

Victoria, hearing the dripping, then started to make her way towards the sound, trying to see what could be causing it.

  She didn't have to move.  The dripping was coming from right behind her.  Andy.

Victoria looked back to Andy.

"Are you OK love?" she asked him.

  "I'm fine.  You know I bounce back from anything but soul devouring.  Anything less is purely temporary."  One hand slid around her waist, and he hugged her.

Victoria laid her head gently on Andy's broad chest.

"You know I worry about you, love...no matter how badass you are. It's my job now...and I accept all the perks that come with it," she said chuckling.

She then looked around for a moment.

"What would a Tomb Herd be doing here?" she asked out loud, whether it be to herself or to Andy and Magda.

  Andy said softly "When I worry for you, I sometimes do things I'm not supposed to.  I have no IDEA why a Tomb Herd would be here.  But they don't BELONG here."

"Neither do I. But it appears that these catacombs hold many more secrets yet to be unearthed," Victoria said, continuing to make her way further in.

  Magda nodded, following them with a big frown on his face.

Victoria continued to traverse further into the catacombs, not knowing what she would encounter but confident she had some good backup.

  Andy moved with her, his arm around her waist, and his eyes glowing in the darkness.  He looked scary, but he was, for her, safer than anything else out there!

Victoria could feel her "demon knight" moving with her and smiled as she continued further into the catacombs.

  Andy tilted his head, and kissed Vic's temple, then said softly "I smell a Deep One."

"Damn..." Victoria said, gritting her teeth. "The Deep Ones were warded against. How can they be coming here? Doesn't matter...they will be banished once again."

  Andy said softly "That's what you have me for, Vic.  I'll get rid of it."

"And I'm glad to have you with me, Andy. This thing needs to be rid..." Victoria said solemnly. She had dealt with Deep Ones before, but having Andy along gave her a sense of peace and confidence.

  The Deep One snarled, catching the scent of a female, and turned to come and get her.

Victoria had been trained by the sorceress Adri for moments like this. And that training soon came to the forefront as the Deep One attempted to come at her.

Within moments, she gestured, and a current of air soon came at the oncoming Deep One.

  The Deep One hadn't counted on one OTHER thing.  Vic was a sorceress, who could command the winds, but she ALSO had a Demon of her own.  And THAT Demon was lethal.  His kind had been bred to kill other monsters, other Demons.  And when he unphased, he slashed six-inch talons into the Deep One, sending greenish ichor spraying like mad, and ripping downward along it's spine and severing nerves in a crippling manner.

"Dios mio.." Victoria muttered to herself as Andy laid into the Deep One. The viciousness was both aweinspiring and terrifying all at once to behold.

  It screeched, and lunged at the two of them, flailing with one arm, the other hanging limp, even as the other leg gave out, the nerves disconnected due to the deep, welling slash that Andy had put down the one side of it's spine.  Blood welling in almost arterial wells as it screeched again.

Victoria sidestepped the Deep One, striking at its other arm with a ridgehand chop .

  The thing screeched as she hit it, and then Andy pounced.  She'd not seen him hunt with the savage efficiency he'd possessed, but he was.  One hand's talons gripped the Deep One's skull, and the other hand snaked around, those onyx-colored talons flashing, and then she heard a spatter, and Andy was holding the Deep One's head, as it's body twitched and jerked in it's death throes.

Victoria was again in awe of Andy's superior hunting skills. Quickly and efficiently, he had dispensed with the Deep One.

"I'm glad you're on my side.."

  He chuckled, and said "Not precisely something I'm delighted about, but I learned to kill very well.  Hell teaches you that."

Victoria nodded at that, then looked towards the inward portions of the cave.

"The more I see it, the more it looks like someone's been bringing these things into our world.....AGAIN..."

  Andy said softly "So we hunt them down, kill them, and then find the person summoning them, and either stop them, or kill them."

Victoria nodded, accepting this grim mission of "seek and destroy." After all, her job as the Black Jaguar was to stop these things from coming over, and if they did somehow make it over, to send them back, or to destroy them.

She then motioned for them to continue further into the cave.

  Andy half smiled, and said "At least we make a perfect team for it, Vic.  I'm bred to be a guardian for mankind, and you're a sorceress who has taken up the mantle to protect other humans."

"Who else but us, Andy? Who else would have the fortitude to bear the burden that we do?" Victoria added as they worked their way in.

  Andy rumbled, and hugged her with one arm, even as he said "There are none better suited.  After all, MY family has been doing this shit since the Fall.  Long, LONG damn time."

Victoria gave Andy's arm a gentle squeeze as they continued on further into the caverns.

  The faint scent of another Deep One was carried on the air in the tunnels.  Wet and fishy!

Victoria had hunted these things before. But the fact that more had crossed over disturbed her immensely.

She began to channel arcane power into her hands and feet, ready for this "fishy foe."

  The stench of fish-men was thick as she moved deeper, Andy by her side.  It smelled like maybe more than one had died in there.

Victoria couldn't help but smell the stench of dead fish men as they continued.

Maybe there was something here besides the three of them that sought out the elimination of the Deep Ones.

  Soon, they came to a stone-walled cell that was empty, the door gaping open.  Apparently the Deep Ones were just letting whatever they found down here loose!!

"Dios Mio...we have no idea what was being held down here," Victoria said solemnly. "It appears this city has more things to unearth...some of which may not be at all pleasant."

  Andy rumbled, and said "Burying things doesn't make them go away.  Idiots."

Victoria nodded at Andy. He was certainly right. It seemed that most people were willing to do anything for "promised power."

Even at the expense of their souls.

  Andy shook his head, and said "Sometimes it isn't even power.  They just want 'it' to be someone else's problem.  Whatever 'it' might be, as long as THEY aren't bothered."  He kept moving, alert and on edge.

Moving with Andy, Victoria replied "Precisely. But then some of these things become the entire world's problem if left unchecked."

She paused for a moment. "But I don't do this for the accolades. I prefer to be on the backend of these things. Knowing that I'm making a difference. And dealing with the creatures that need to be dealt with."

  Andy chuckled, and said "Here I thought you did it because it's a dirty, nasty job and SOMEONE has to do it, and it may as well be you, since you can actually keep your brain from melting while you do it."

"That too," Victoria added. "And if I...we don't do it, then who will?"

  Andy nodded, and said "That's sort of what I was getting at.  You and I are GOOD at it.  We can survive it.  I lived for a decade in Hell, which is no small feat.  I'm SURE I can kick ass here on earth now.  If nobody minds things carved into small gobbets, anyway."

"Small price to pay for peace, security and long life, right?" Victoria said as they continued on. "There are those who will never know what kind of price you and I pay for keeping them safe. And perhaps it's better that way."

  Andy said softly "Of course it is better that way.  You think people want to accept the fact that some of the Damned are what keeps them from the jaws of things far worse?"

"No...most people....with the exception of a few...would never accept that..or us."

She seemed to ponder something for a moment.

"Perhaps...when this is over...we may have to put together a small strike force. One that makes preemptive measure against trouble before it happens."

  Andy said "The New Age Defenders would be happy to help with that, I think.  Since they are willing to help defend Weston, and all the world."

"Then we must talk with them after this is over," Victoria said. It seemed that there were plans for the future. Plans to hopefully stop trouble before it started. With her mystic insight, Andy's strength and demeanor, and the right mix of people, it could be a venture that would keep Weston and the world safe.

But that would have to wait. At least for now.

  Andy held her close for a moment, and gave her a loving kiss as he said "Just think, Meg's an Immortal, like her mother, and you've met her Mom now . . ."

Victoria returned the kiss lovingly to Andy. She looked into his eyes.

"All right...here's my thinking...we've got you and I...I'm magic and fisticuffs....you're brawn and badassness...we could probably use a tactician, a sharpshooter, and perhaps a stealth specialist."

  Andy smiled, and said "Meg does magnetics and gravity.  Icepick does ice.  Bill is the Guardian of the planet, and Darren's sorta a water expert."  He kissed her again, and said "Ozzy does magic too."

"So...we'd have a reunion of the New Age Defenders...only a more covert, preemptive approach? I'd be all right with that, as long as they are."

  Andy nodded, and said "Some of the team are more into covert than overt anyway."

"That may suit our overall purpose then," Victoria said as they moved along. "We'll work on a proposal and present it to them."

  Andy nodded, then frowned as he asked "Know anything that leeches the color from basalt?"

"Not sure. But based off of what I've seen here so far, it probably isn't good."

  Andy nodded, and pointed to the wall, then touched it.  The basalt crumbled easily.

Victoria frowned at that, as she wondered what could have caused the basalt to crumble.

  He had her touch the stone, feeling it's weak crumblyness.

Victoria felt the basalt. It crumbled with little effort.

"All right...the creature's probably close. I know we've faced things like this before..just be careful.." Victoria said to Andy and Magda as they continued on.

  Andy nodded, and said softly "Certainly isn't an encouraging thing."

"No it's not...what is encouraging is that you're here with me..."

  He flashed her a smile, and said "You're so sweet to me, Vic."

She flashed him a smile, then returned to the task at hand in tracking the creature down.

  The walls looked like the color shifted strangely, no color and every color and it made Vic realize what it was.  A horror!

Victoria instantly jumped back, telling Andy "Don't let it touch you! It blights everything it touches!"

She then let loose a blast of arcane energy at the horror.

  The color shifted and swirled in the stone, approaching them.

  Andy smiled, and threw a lightning bolt at it, backing up a bit as he did.  The vivid purple energies the same shade as his eyes.

Victoria threw another arcane bolt at it, backing up as Andy did.

  The thing screamed, a thing more felt than heard, and the world twitched.

Victoria could feel the world warp around them. It was a trademark of these creatures. But she pressed her attack, as she launched another arcane bolt at it.

  It screamed again, making the wold twitch again.

Victoria scowled at the creature.

"You will leave now! I banish you!"

She then began to chant in an ancient tongue, a spell taught to her by Adri. Meant to banish the creature back to where it came from.

  Andy used it's distraction to call up a tremendous lightning bolt.   Making it writhe and screech, unable to fight back for a few.

You will leave this place..now!" Victoria yelled as she continued to attempt to banish this creature.

  With a last scream, it went, but the world felt like it wrenched when it did.  Frighteningly so.

Victoria felt the dizzying sensation and she went to her knees, trying to get her bearings.

  Andy snagged both her shoulders, his hands wrapping over them and giving her the anchor of his presence.

Victoria felt Andy supporting her, and she began to lean on him as she got her bearings back.

"Damn..that one was tougher than I remember."

  He said softly "I'm sure they don't NORMALLY stack up this way."

Victoria nodded and added "I hope these things aren't being augmented somehow."

  Andy said darkly "Maybe they've just been accumulating down here."

"Wouldn't be the first time an area or place has been forgotten. I just wish it wouldn't happen so often."

  Andy sighed, and said "All too accurate."

Victoria seemed to get her senses back. She turned to face Andy.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

"We might be down here for a long time."

  Andy said gently "I can blink us out of here any time you need a breather, Vic."

Victoria looked at Andy. She was determined, but only human, and she looked visibly tired.

"You know...maybe that blinking thing may not be a bad idea."

  Andy picked her up effortlessly, and a heartbeat later, he was laying her gently on the bed they shared.

------------>> Vic's Place

--->from Sutra Apartments

Victoria soon emerged with Andy in the caverns where they had left off with their monster hunt.

"All right, let's see what else is down here."

  Andy furled his wings, and began to move, slowly, down the hallway, growling faintly.

Victoria continued to traverse the cavern when she noticed Andy's growl. She squeezed his hand gently as she continued onward.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Sun 22 May 2011.

  Andy wrapped his tail around her wrist, even as he shifted on over, his smooth skin shifting to leathery-scaly, and his horns were in full evidence.  He said softly in her head {{Stay behind me, Vic.  I don't want you in the line of fire.}}  He moved with a smooth, inhuman motion, like a great predatory cat or something, and suddenly his tail whipped away as he LEAPED, snarling, at something she couldn't see.  The sound of tearing flesh, and snapping bone was clear in the darkness, and the inhuman growl that went with it, just before she heard a THING scream in agony.

Victoria saw Andy go "demonic" and her hands glowed with eldritch power, wondering if he had already finished their "guest" or if the combat was soon to begin.

  She heard a CRUNCH, and a ripping sound, even as Andy still growled, and an answering growl came from further down the hallway.  He didn't lunge forward, rather, she could feel him, crouched over his kill.  {{Sorry.  There's three more down the hall, but they're purebreds, not partbloods.  No human in them.  I can tell . . . }}  He didn't say how, but she heard the sound of more flesh tearing.  And more crunching.

Victoria observed Andy as he did his thing.

"Sounds like we have a breach of dimensions in this place. With any luck and good fortune we can find out who..or what...is doing this, and shut them down."

  {{Yah, since you got pureblooded Deep Ones here.  And yes, I've tasted them before, I know.}}  He sounded very apologetic that she had to see . . . this . . . although he had mentioned before that due to his true-nature, sometimes he had to do what was horrible-seeming.

"It's OK...I can handle it Andy," Victoria replied back to him. "No one said this would be easy...otherwise everyone would be doing this."

  {{Doesn't mean  you want to SEE the man you share your bed with looking . .. well . . .like he's murdered someone and is eating the corpse.  Green blood or not, it's not neat eating.  I don't think I should take the time to carve them into neat little filets.}}  Another crunch, and he folded his wings.  She could see he was chewing on something, and the forearm in his left hand was missing two fingers and a thumb.  In neat, rounded bites like a small shark had taken them right off.

"I understood that things will be difficult. But that's why I'm here to face those things."

Victoria was determined to stand by Andy's side..no matter what. The look on her face evidenced that.

  He nodded, and after swallowing the bite he was eating, he switched the forearm he held into his other hand, and gave her arm a caress.  He dipped his head to take another bite, even as he added {{The other three are, I think, frozen in horror that someone's EATING one of them.  That just isn't DONE outside of Hell normally, so they're in shock.  If you think you can take all three, do it, I'll back you up.  I can always finish my meal when the other three are dead too.}}

Victoria nodded, and replied "I can take them."

She uttered a mystical incantation, and her eyes began to glow as she looked towards the other creatures.

  They were still staring at Andy in horror, eyes wide and froggish mouths agape.  That . . . that thing was eating their compatriot!!

Taking advantage of the distraction provided by Andy, Victoria then combined her knowledge of the martial arts with the magical prowess that Adri had taught her into a graceful symphony of lethal combat. Tearing into her enemies' vital spots, intending to kill them as quickly as possible.

  She could easily take one, and she got one down rapidly.  The second was going down, but the third had enough time to react, and it slashed at her with claws.  Slicing a line along her cheek, a superficial wound, but it bled.  And pissed off HER Demon.

  When the Deep One drew her blood, Andy exploded into motion, his tail snicking open to reveal a trident-like arrangement of blades that snaked around, spinning fast enough to be a blender-blade that sank into the Deep One's belly, as his jaws sank into it's shoulder, shearing through muscle, cartilage and bone to make that arm unusable, the CRUNCH of his wicked, sharklike teeth slamming together through the bones of the shoulder socket crystal clear.  Oh yeah, don't let HIM bite you!

Victoria was in a zone, both physically and mentally. She would certainly feel the slash later. Right now, there was a job to do. She then executed a cartwheel kick on one of the other Deep Ones with the same lethal prowess she showed to the other Deep One she had felled.

  With Andy tackling the last one, she had taken both of the others down.  And the screeches of the one Andy was savaging  . . .. told her that it was mortally wounded.

Victoria waited silently until Andy finished his savaging of the last Deep One before moving further in.

  He whispered to her {{There will be more.  Let me wolf down a bit more, although I can eat quite a bit more than one would think, and then I won't have to have a 'solid' meal for a while.  Damned physiology takes some adapting, but I managed it.}}

"Let me know when you're ready, Andy," Victoria said, now watching the area around them.

  She felt his tail snake around her wrist, the bits of fish-meat on it from buzz-sawing the Deep one clear.  He ate quickly, trying to get enough down him to not need to eat more for a week.  Skin, bones, everything.  Like a shark, he could eat it all, not even chewing really, just biting it off and swallowing, although it sometimes hurt a touch going down.

Victoria managed a small smile as Andy finished eating, then looked ahead to the further reaches of the cavern, knowing with a grim sense that this was only the beginning of their journey in these caverns.

  Andy padded close, lightning crawling over his form to clean away the blood and bits then disappearing.

Victoria continued to traverse the cavern, her eyes searching and looking for anything that might be out of place.

  Vic felt the edge of a warble in reality.  Small, she almost missed it, and in a pool of water, but real.

Victoria held up her hand to Andy, then began to look upon this warp in the water, to see what she could ascertain of it.

  The warble was there, and as she looked, she got a sense of an enormous EYE looking BACK at her.

"Know this creature...whereever you are...we are coming for you. And know that you are NOT safe..."

  Andy said softly "Some Things can only be Sealed away.  I think that may be one of them."

Victoria nodded and narrowed her eyes under her mask. Beginning an incantation, she began to speak towards the distortion. Invoking a seal that Adri had taught her.

  Andy nodded, and stayed where he could guard her back.

"Kraatu.....monve....orto.....FEEN!"

Victoria pressed herself, reinforcing the seal. She knew that she could do this. She had been taught one of the best magic users in the world. And that teaching was coming to the forefront.

  Andy stayed behind her, but clearly gave her his complete support.

It was certainly taking a lot of effort. But Victoria....The Black Jaguar...would not be denied. And this creature would not prevail. Not if she still had strength.

And so she pressed her advantage, the seal beginning to become more prevalent.

She could sense rage as the eye of Glaaki was being sealed away.  But it was NOT happy!!

Victoria didn't care if it wasn't happy or not. The Eye connected to Glaaki, an ancient and monstrous foe. She certainly didn't let up, as she poured strength into the seal, doing what she could to complete her task and seal the Eye.

  Andy placed his hands on her shoulders, and closed his eyes.  Pouring his own power into her, making the sigil burn with purple flame, as a horrible screech echoed.  The Seal making that warble inaccessible.

Victoria could feel the influx of Andy's power as it flowed through and out from her, sealing the warble.

"Thank you....that's one less freak that we have to deal with."

  Andy kissed her temple, and said "Glad to give you what you need.  Just . . . I have to replace the energy somehow.  Which means more munching."

"I understand," Victoria said as they made ready to move on once more.

  Andy kissed her temple, and said softly "I am so lucky, I have the most understanding woman in the universe for my Lady."  He moved back to the Deep Ones long enough to snag a big enough hunk of meat to replenish the energy spent, and wrapped his tail around her wrist.

"I'm not the only one who's understanding," Victoria said with a smile. "You understand what needs to be done to protect this plane from those who would try to take it over or destroy it. And you understand me....that's a plus.."

  Andy smiled, and said "Same purpose my bloodline was bred to fulfill.  Whic is part of what makes us a perfect match."

Victoria smiled at Andy.

"Yes..that is one thing among many. And we're doing this..together. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

She sighed for a moment, then looked further inward into the caverns.

"Onward and in?"

  He nodded, and padded forward, his movements stealthy and quiet, even as he kept wolfing down the meat he'd snagged.

Victoria continued onward into the caverns, wary of what they might find.