Colin rolled his eyes and decided that enough was enough. He pounced upon the professor, hand on his knife but not drawing it. His forearm slammed into the older man and Colin pushed him against the cart. He felt he might have overdone it as he looked over the academic and asked, "Tell me what you know and this doesn't get any uglier."

10:23, Today: Colin Browne rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Intimidate Prof.

The professor turns his head, amused. Oh I don't think it is I who will do the talking... his eyes turn black and he grins. John, seeing this, gives a yelp of fear but to his credit stays, pulling out his gun. You obviously looked into the crate. Where are the children? Tell me and I'll kill you quickly. Trust me, that is a bigger favor than you know.

ooc: If you make an attack you know what to roll

Colin smiled and drew back, raising a hand to John. Colin kept his eyes on the demon, drawing the knife and keeping it at his guard. Colin was not going to kill the thing before getting some answers. Twirling the knife in his hand, Colin nodded back towards where they had found the shifter's mess. "You and the shifter have some sort of deal? You get the kids in return for giving the shifter money? Seems a bit low brow, even for a bloody demon."

OOC: Colin is on the full defensive, AC now 28 across the board if the demon attacks.

A hunter? Interesting... he looks surprised but not afraid. Most hunters don't carry blessed weapons so it stands to reason he would assume you harmless. The shifter works for me, keeping an eye on my shipments. The coward must have put together what you are and run off. He'll pay for that when I catch him. See how he likes it when I peel off his skin he emphasizes the word "I." As for the children, I have good reason to want them. The collecting has been going on for a while now. But that's nothing you need to concern yourself with because you are about to die. Pity you didn't unload the crate first. It really would have saved me the trouble. Unless of course, you filled it with something else? No matter, I'll find out what I want shortly

With that he raises a hand and squeezes his fist. You feel an internal tightening around your heart as you struggle to resist...

ooc: Roll a fortitude save, DC 18. If you fail you take 17 damage. If you succeed you take 8. Feel free to enter combat as well.

Colin clutched at his heart, falling to one knee. His pain was obvious in the grimace, but he struggled to his feet again. "You demons always resort to that cheap trick. Can even be bothered to fight like honest scoundrels. Ye best pray to Satan, because the good Lord above has sent upon you a reckoning," Colin stated as he made the sign of the cross and leap at the demon as fast as a gunshot.


Full Attack: Declare demon dodge target. Agile Reposte 1/turn on failed melee.
Round 1: Hits AC16 for 10dmg and AC23 for 4dmg. Agile Reposte failed melee AC19 for 3dmg.
Round 2: Hits AC24 for 10dmg and AC10 for 2dmg. Agile Reposte failed melee AC22 for 4dmg.
Round 3: Hits AC13 for 10dmg and AC11 for 3dmg. Agile Reposte failed melee AC27 for 2dmg.

22:03, Today: Colin Browne rolled 16,23,19,10,4,3 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 1, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
22:03, Today: Colin Browne rolled 24,10,22,10,2,4 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 2, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
22:03, Today: Colin Browne rolled 13,11,27,10,3,2 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 3, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
22:01, Today: Colin Browne rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Fort save.

ooc: Ha! I love it! How bad ass is that? :P

The demon is quite surprised at your reaction, not expecting you to be so tough OR so aggressive. The fight continues in a series of hits and misses. John, trying to be helpful, does his best to grapple the man to give you an advantage. It doesn't exactly work, but it does make it harder for the demon to defend himself even if just because of the distraction. He flings the man away, but John shakes himself off and just gets right back up again. Fortunately the professor stumbles a bit, giving you a chance to get some hits in, though his fist makes contact with you on a couple occasions and it hurts...ooc: Take 12 damage please. Also, for future reference his AC is 20, though it's 18 when John is flanking him, which he will be doing the next 3 rounds.

Colin nodded at John and came back at the professor with a will. His knife flashed and danced. His pain was bearable but only just so. Demons could hit like a falling pallet of bricks. Colin saw a few telling blows against the demon and felt he was getting a good handle on the fight. At least he was giving as good as he got...

OOC: Does a total 16 damage, with an additional 17 in Agile Reposte and a confirmed critical on the 2nd.

10:36, Today: Colin Browne rolled 20,12,19,7,4,4 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 4, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
10:37, Today: Colin Browne rolled 17,10,31,6,5,6 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 5, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
10:37, Today: Colin Browne rolled 18,18,30,6,3,7 using 1d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 6, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.

Nothing is working! John shouts in frustration. His knife is of course useless against demon flesh, poor sod. Still, he tries and if nothing else draws the demon's attention, making it difficult for him to attack you without distraction. He does, however, land some significant blows on your friend and you worry for his survival at the rate he's going. At least he demon is showing signs of slowing, though he's still got some life in him yet.

ooc: Next rounds! Still being flanked.

Colin grimaced as he held his hand to his side, as if the effort would mend the broken rib he thought he had. John was fairing no better and his lack of experience would get him killed. The man had done Colin a favor by backing him and Colin could not repay that with harshness. It just wouldn't be very Christian of him. Instead, he made a swiping motion, his voice carrying. "John, get out of here. Get back to my hotel and grab my other knife. That will give us the edge here."

Colin knew, of course, that John would never be able to get back in time. Instead of press the attack, Colin made an effort to stall for time. At least it would give the demon something to focus on. "Look here, demon. I'm ready to go the distance on this, but I don't think you are. You willing to gamble your life against my blade skill? You make it worth my while and we go our separate ways. No one needs to die here tonight."

OOC: Full defensive stance for 28 AC, if he decides to press the attack.

Oh you're quite wrong. Both of you need to die, but I'll start with him The demon gestures to John, who was quite confused about getting the knife though he looked half ready to do it. Unfortunately the poor man never gets the chance as suddenly his head is twisted violently to the side as though by unseen hands, his neck breaking with a sickening snap. He falls down dead instantly, frightened eyes wide open. The demon chuckles. He wasn't a hunter was he? That was just too easy! You note his bravado but seeing his wounds, you're willing to bet he's in a pretty bad way.

Colin screamed in fury as John died. The man didn't deserve what he got. Colin should have pressed his advantage while he could.. John has died because Colin had tried to do the right thing. His anger boiled over and his glare at the demon could strip paint. "You should have taken the deal. I will find your bones, demon, and I will kill you for good. I swear to the Lord Almighty." Colin came at the demon possessed of a righteous fury.


OOC:Hits for 15 dmg, with a poss crit, and 11 more for Agile Reposte.

09:29, Today: Colin Browne rolled 23,9,32,5,5,4 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 8, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.

09:29, Today: Colin Browne rolled 16,12,22,8,5,7 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 7, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.

09:30, Today: Colin Browne rolled 13 using 1d20+12.  Agile Reposte critical confirm.

09:31, Today: Colin Browne rolled 32,6,15,10,6,2 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 9, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.

09:32, Today: Colin Browne rolled 18 using 1d20+12.  Primary Round 9 Crit Confirm.

The demon grins, completely unworried and he readies his fists, eager to kill you in a more hands on way. You manage some decent blows and he looks surprised at them, thinking you'd be long dead by now, but unfortunately he is quick to return with his own, fists hard as granite raining upon you. Weak as he is, he knows he has you. He strikes you in the stomach with rib crushing force and as you nearly pass out, sinking to your knees, he laughs, ready to finish you. Suddenly from behind you though, a familiar voice sighs. Stay behind indeed! You're lucky I'm too smart to listen to you, you Irish fool Suddenly you feel your body jerk and stiffen as a cold feeling grips you, and then your bones begin to knit back together, your vision clears and your strength starts to return. You manage to glance back to see Amelia, arms crossed and glaring at you like a schoolmistress who has caught a child cheating. The demon, so previously sure of his win, now looks uncertain. He's clearly not thinking he can take on both of you but he's loath to leave his crate of precious cargo. Well, I'm not getting my hands dirty with that thing. Finish him off Colin she makes a dismissive gesture and folds her arms again, waiting.

ooc: You went from 1 hit point back up to 22 :) Next round.

Colin wiped the blood that he had been coughing up from his punctured lung from his mouth. Amelia was as stubborn as Colin; and thank the Lord Almighty she was. The knife twisted to a reverse grip and Colin lept at the demon like a cat on a mouse. He focused on the weak parts, if there really were any to exploit. As the fight drew to a close, Colin knew that he had figured out a tell of the demon and if he could slide under its reach, he could get a clear shot at the throat.


OOC:Does 22 damage, plus a confirmed crit Agile Reposte for 14 more.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
08:07, Today: Colin Browne rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Crit damage.
08:07, Today: Colin Browne rolled 28 using 1d20+12.  Agile Reposte Crit?
08:06, Today: Colin Browne rolled 31,8,32,5,2,6 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 12, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
08:06, Today: Colin Browne rolled 20,23,17,7,6,2 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 11, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.
08:06, Today: Colin Browne rolled 23,6,26,4,3,6 using d20+12,1d20+4,1d20+12,1d6+1d4+1,1d6+1,1d6+1.  Round 10, Primary, Secondary, Agile Reposte.

---

ooc: Hahaha! Wow, I rolled really crappy all three rounds.

You are able to dodge the demon easily, though he certainly tries hard to end the fight quick, but then he doesn't have a witch handy to ease his wounds like you do. You shift this way and that, moving fluidly and using his missed attacks against him. Before long he is covered in slashes, finally ending with your blade plunged into his throat. Gurgling, the demon sinks to his knees and lands face first, still at last. Should you examine him you'll find he's still alive but only just. You have the option of finishing him or keeping him alive for questioning.

Amelia watches with mild irritation. I took on a demon single handed she mimics your Irish accent surprisingly well, rolling her eyes, a mockery of your previous words to her before you left. Pah! You're lucky I'm too smart to stay in one place. If I'd been any later you would be dead that's what! I'm going to have to keep a better eye on you Mr. Browne. Now, mind telling me what I've missed? Who's this poor devil? she looks down at John's body grimly.

Colin ignored Amelia for a moment and bent down to check the demon. Finding it still alive, he turned to Amelia. "It's alive. We need a devil's trap and quick. We can still save the professor if we do this right," he ordered and began to move.

Well let's get him out of sight first. This fellow too she gestures to John's body. The last thing we need is to try to explain any of this. Help me. She starts to drag John towards the wagon. Before long both men are loaded and you drive the wagon a little ways to what appears to be a small storage building. You find breaking in to be easy enough and soon Amelia is expertly drawing a devil's trap on the stone floor with a piece of chalk. You can tell she's done it many times and under the circumstances it is relieving to leave it up to her since a single error will render it useless. She questions you as she works, not glancing up much, completely focused. So I don't suppose you figured out what was in the shipment? Any information for me?

ooc: Go ahead and answer her, even if it's just a skim and then move on to the questioning of the demon via devil's trap. Be sure to roll intimidate and such if you're interested in that route.

Colin helps as much as he can and seems to be in a simmering rage as he does so. When Amelia asked questions about the situation, Colin gave short, terse responses that relayed the discovery of the children after the fight with Jake, the strange shifter skin that he found and that Drake was likely the one that it had belonged to, as well as the fate of poor John during the fight with the demon. Once everything was set, Colin looked to Amelia and pointed at the demon, speaking in an uncharacteristic tone. "Heal him. I want to make sure that the bastard knows that we are going to draw the answers out of him."

In any case, when the demon wakes up, Colin is squatting next to him, an evil tone in his voice. "This will hurt, a lot. I'm a hunter and she," he said pointing to Amelia, "...is one of the Men of Letters. Between the two of us, we have enough experience to inflict a level of pain that the Dark Prince himself could relate to. I don't tell you this to scare you or to try an intimidate you. I tell you this because I want you to know what is coming and that if you had not killed John, we might have been fine with just the answers of what is going on here. Instead, you get pain. Pain for as long as I can inflict it, and then she will take over. Do you understand?"

Amelia listens with surprise and then sudden understanding, realizing that John was some kind of ally and not just some ragged henchmen. She puts a hand on your shoulder for a moment but says nothing; merely nodding as she wakes the man up wordlessly.

The demon professor listens to you with a mixture of rage and concern. He struggles, trying to force his way out of the circle, but Amelia's work is flawless. She watches blankly, just awaiting your need of her. Don't you want answers? Surely some kind of bargain can be made! he pants, exhausted from his efforts. Or are you really so upset over that measly man's life that you'd throw away your chance to barter? he arches a brow. Kill me and all this will be for nothing, and I'll not talk for no reason. You can torture me if you want, but only freedom will loosen this tongue.

Colin nods and looks back at Amelia. "Your shifter friend is still out there. We will find him, interrogate him, and then kill him. I can get the answers I need from him. You should have talked before we fought. Then you would not have to be dealing with me. I don't want answers. I want you to suffer," Colin said with a dangerous menace to his voice. The menace of a man that is going down a path that is not unfamiliar to him. The path of damnation for a God-fearing man. Worse yet, Colin seemed to know it and still didn't care.

OOC: Colin is starting to snap. His mind is starting to wander back to the darker road before he met Amelia. As a character, he is honestly not looking for answers, just to inflict pain.

You notice Amelia look at you with a mixture of concern and grimness. She seems to realize just how bad things are and decides to get involved.

As you can see, my friend here is a bit...unhinged. You'll not get freedom so forget it. But I will offer you exorcism. You'll hate it and wish you were dead but you will live. Maybe you'll even crawl your way out of the pit to bother us again someday. It's the best I can offer. If you take it you'll tell me everything. I'll know if you lie and if you do I'll set him on you and watch with a smile on my face. Otherwise, well I'll just do that right now she shrugs. You know by now we have ways to hurt you. It will be just like being human again, pain and all.

The demon listens, then looks at you and back at her, weighing his options. He seems to want to try to barter, to resist, but seeing your face, realizing just how snapped you really are, he starts to rethink her offer.

Alright. I'll do it. But keep him off me he points at you.

Colin looked at Amelia with a fierce look he had not taken before. He made a snarl, not liking the deal that had just been made. He ran the knife over the cheek of the demon, whispering as he did, "Pity."

He looked at Amelia. "Do what you have to," he said as he back away from the situation.

Amelia gives you a long look and then with a nod turns to the task at hand. The demon, looking relieved, proceeds to explain himself. I suppose you're wanting to know what the children are for. She nods and he continues. Human souls have a great deal of power. There are ways of harvesting and using them for our own gains. What most don't know is that children's souls, being pure, are leaps and bounds more powerful than adults are. A vastly untapped resource and so easily obtained. Unfortunately, they are also more firmly rooted and are difficult to dig out. We're gathering donors for the coming battle. Belial has a way of ripping the soul out that even children can't resist. We're just keeping them asleep, getting his stock ready for him.

Amelia listens, completely horrified. Her nurturing female instinct no doubt scandalized by such actions. Indeed she pales and looks unsteady for a moment before steeling herself to continue.
How many? How many does he have now?

Oh I'd say a thousand or so. Not sure where though, but they're safe enough for now. Souls are best used fresh, he wants to be ready for the apocalypse. No sense opening the tin before you're ready to eat eh? He has other collectors, like me, all through the country. It's a bigger operation than you'd think. He sounds proud.

I see she says simply. Any idea where the others are?

Nah, he likes to keep us independent of each other, in case something like this happens. Belial hates a tattler, so he takes precautions. I did hear rumor of one in Virginia though. Alexandria I believe. Don't know if they've moved on or not. It's the best I can give. Now, that's about all the information I have for you. I wasn't given much myself. I don't much like the looks he's giving me so I think I'm ready to go before he changes his mind. he adds with an uncertain look at you.

Amelia, face as cold and calm as ice, gives a single nod. She makes the slightest gesture with her head and he's suddenly pinned in place, much to his consternation.
I am a woman of my word demon. I take my promises seriously. But someone who would harm a child, even just one, well...I don't exactly feel bound to do right by such a monster. Colin- she turns to you, deep blue eyes hard as steel. He's all yours.

Colin gave an evil grin as Amelia granted him permission to lay into the demon. Colin made a single step forward before he paused. Colin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Several deep breaths, in fact. He looked to Amelia, his eyes hard and set. "Fulfill your promise. You made it in good faith and I won't let you be damned for my sake."

She looks startled by your words, and a moment later regret flashes across her face, clearly feeling censored. She says nothing to you, merely faces the demon and with the most perfect and quick Latin you've ever heard, exorcises the demon so fast even he looks surprised as he spews forth his black smoke, which sinks into the ground, disappearing. The man's host falls down dead, leaving you both silently staring at the corpse in the devil's trap. After a long moment she speaks. Well, who would have thought you'd have had a more level head than I? she murmurs. Thank you Colin. Though under the circumstances I hope God would forgive me for my withdrawal of my promise. I'm normally quite calm under duress but when it comes to children...I can't seem to stop myself. Perhaps you'd be better off with another partner You can tell she's upset with herself though her face is smooth. Someone with better control.

Colin continued to look down at the corpse as he spoke. "I stopped you because I do not want you to walk my path. As much good as I might do in the world, I know I still have to face judgement in the end. I have done things, horrible things. All in the name of protecting people. But it doesn't make up for the wrong that I've done. I won't let you walk that path, but I need you to continue helping me find the right one. I have been a better person since we were placed together. I hope that can continue."

He looked over at her with a frightened countenance. "I don't want to go back in the darkness. Not when I've seen the light again. I almost did. I wanted to. I wanted to make it hurt, to let it feel the pain that it has suffered on others. But in the end, it was your permission, your acceptance of it, that I knew it was wrong and had to stop. I don't want to version of myself to emerge again. Not ever."

Colin looked back the corpse and knelt beside it, taking the old man's hand. "I am sorry that you came to suffer. I hope you find peace," he said as he made a sign of the Cross.