A Nighthunters Wedding ((Open RP))

"Come one people, this is Blade and Suraya's wedding, the best day of their lives" said Pious, urging the others to the dancefloor. "Forget the demon posession. The Imam is being seen to as we speak, lets not allow Lilith to ruin this da-" Pious stopped suddenly. His psychocommunication amulet was indicating to him that his wife was no longer near. And neither was the bride. "The women are missing" he muttered, his head spinning frantically. "Something's wrong, my wife is missing. Rachel?! Hazel?! Oh dear God" he yelled, running into the street and disappearing into the night.

Meanwhile in a Pocket Dimension. Lilith's Hell.

Damsel woke up a few hours later that night to find herself far far away from Paragon City. She looked around and saw nothing she recognised. It was only when she looked closer that it hit her; she was staring at a dozen unconscious bodies. Among them were Blade's family members she had met at the wedding. Her friend Altair Stevens, little David and her own four-year old daughter. It finally occured to her that there had been a Kidnapping of the Nighthunters. Especially their loved ones. "Great, frigging hate being kidnapped" she moaned. "The name Damsel was not to be taken literally!"

Opean Season: Kidnapping of the Nighthunters

The Meeting Room, Worn Cover Bookshop. Following Morning.


Blade Racer: S-AI, anything on the cameras?
S-AI: Incorrect. There are currently 195 beings registered in the threat database under the heading "Demon" Only 37 have associations with Countess Bathory
Jim Wixston: And the rest?
Blade Racer: still makes her the top suspect
Jim Wixston nods to pious
ElliangelIelli: What are you wearing Angel?
BIazing Angel: [Deep electronic voice] Well there are a lot of freelancing robots
Blade Racer: Pious....
ElliangelIelli: Hi all.
BIazing Angel: How did you reckognise me? *sounds a bit frustrated*
Blade Racer: Suraya....she never came home last night....
S-AI: Probability is thatCountess Bathory is linked, but the remaining entries are small independant bands, or solo operatives
ElliangelIelli: Your amulet Angel
S-AI makes a bleeping sound
ElliangelIelli: I know. My wife and kids were taking also.
BIazing Angel: Oh...right...
Blade Racer: and...Mary was kidnapped from her bed....my niece...
BIazing Angel: And what i am wearing is an enhancing exo-suit
ElliangelIelli: Lets head downstairs. This is officially an emergency.
S-AI: I have downloaded all CCTV footage for the last 24 hours in this vicinity. Processing will take approxomatly 1 hour, 22 minutes
Blade Racer nods "do it as fast as you can S-AI, priority one"
S-AI: Acknowledged
ElliangelIelli: Lets use the meeting room
BIazing Angel ducks to get through the door
ElliangelIelli: Exit the suit and have a seat Angel
BIazing Angel hops out again, the robot again imploding to teh tiny ball wich she stuffs into her pocket
ElliangelIelli: SAI, help yourself down near Blade please.
ElliangelIelli: Angel, sit by Jim please
Blade Racer: Pious, this is hardly the time
BIazing Angel: Right..
S-AI: I must remind you that you can only see a holographic image, and that I am incapable of siting
BIazing Angel leans her bow, and quiver with arrows on the table
BIazing Angel nods to nightseye
Jim Wixston nods to nightseye
ElliangelIelli: Nightseye, sit by Blade please
Blade Racer gives a small nod to Nightseye "PIOUS!"
ElliangelIelli ignores him
ElliangelIelli: Remain calm everyone and keep your cool.
BIazing Angel: I can hardly stay cool..*smirks*
Blade Racer goes slightly red but holds his tongue for the moment
ElliangelIelli: This is an extremely emotional time for this family but we have to pull together and we will get through this.
Nightseye: I cannot believe some of you can joke at a time like this!
BIazing Angel: It was a fact actually
ElliangelIelli: Basically, last night after Blade and Suraya's wedding, the demon Lilith possessed the Imam, penetrated our magical defences, bypassed our technological defences and stle away our families.
Nightseye: Do you have any idea where too look Pious?
ElliangelIelli: No.
Blade Racer: so lilith did take them....
Blade Racer: then i know just where to look
ElliangelIelli: We've contacted MAGI to help us trace the teleport signatures Lilith used
Nightseye: That seems a good start
ElliangelIelli: Azuria has refered us to Infernal who has been tasked to help us track Lilith.
Blade Racer: why are we tracking lilith!? Bathory is her mistress,lets go to the source!
ElliangelIelli: We will split into two groups for that.
Nightseye: we are after youre wife Blade.. not Bathory
ElliangelIelli: Blade, Lilith may not have gone to the Castle.
Blade Racer: no, but thsa twitch will know exactly where she has taken them
ElliangelIelli: You will lead the team to track down Lilith by following her trail. I will lead the second team to find Big Game and set up a coalition. Sabrina and I will go to the Rogue Isles. I'll be in touch.
ElliangelIelli: Any questions?
Jim Wixston shakes his head
Nightseye: No.. we will do what we can....
S-AI: Negative
Blade Racer clenches his fists but shakes his head
ElliangelIelli: Meeting adjourned
Nightseye: Bast willing we will find them all alive
Nightseye: ...and well
Nightseye: Pious.. one more thing...
Blade Racer: I know their alive...
ElliangelIelli: Yes?
Nightseye: You know this is only to lure you and Blade and Big Game to her don't you?
Blade Racer: if its a trap its poorly deviced
Blade Racer: and it will be her undoing
BIazing Angel: Or made to look like it
ElliangelIelli: The we'll do exactly that.
Nightseye: I hope you are right...
ElliangelIelli: We'll bring that woman the hell she wants. One way or another, we're gonna team-up and find our families.
ElliangelIelli: Now lets go. We don't want to waste any more time.
S-AI: Mr Blade. Considering the target's use of teleportation, do you wish for me to continue reviewing CCTV data?
Jim Wixston: I need to suit up first
Blade Racer: yes, any clue is needed
ElliangelIelli: Yes. We'll need those analysis once they're ready. Anything is useable.
Blade Racer: but combat comes first
S-AI: Acknowledged
BIazing Angel sighs a little
ElliangelIelli goes off to find Sabrina
Blade Racer: guess we know what were doing, to Talos
BIazing Angel gets wraped in metal and soon stands as a big robot over 8 feet tall
Nightseye: Bast protect me!
S-AI: Switching combat protocols to primary.

Blade's Team: Jim Wixston; S-AI; Blade Racer; BIazing Angel; Nightseye

Founders Falls, Paragon City

Infernal was his own friendly self... obviously. That didn't help with the now on demon blood lusted Blade Balfear. But he managed to keep his cool long enough.

"Indeed I noticed some sort of Hellish gateway opening. But didn't think much of it.", Infernal explained. "That was at least in Steel Canyon I remember."

Taking the word for Blade who was getting really impatient now Nightseye went straight to the question. "Can you open a gate to the same location?"

"Yes!", Infernal said in his low creepy voice... "I can... A word of warning though. This place will be very unfriendly. Try not to get killed. The Vindicators don't like it when I send heroes to their doom!" With that he picked his axe from his back and turned it around on the ground for a few seconds. Then he picked it up, his axe attuned to the energies of yesterday evening, and hit it hard on the ground. A hole appeared that became larger... sulphuric gasses came up and in the far distance the sound of a legion of demons was heard.

Blade directly jumped in... "Stay out of this Infernal.", he said... "This is personal buisness!" Nightseye understood why Blade was like this... "Sorry Infernal... his wife of barely four hours was amoung the ones taken... He stopped thinking straight. You have our thanks." She jumped in after Blade*.

Lilith's Hell

While the party advanced the roaring of demons became stronger... Blade went in front eager for a fight. Hundreds of demons where gathered there... a small army at least. Several Pit mistresses tried to keep the demons under control. Angel noticed something colorful that shouldn't be in this fiery Hell. It was a woman's shoe... some blood was on it. That was enough for Angel to identify it... "Damsel...", she said softly.



But none of the ones taken where to be seen anywhere... And, to much releave, no dead ones either.

At the left of the big hall, around a pit of fire stood Lilith Lamashtu. The demoness was ordering her cronies around. Blade thought for a second that the attack at Moth Cathedral obviously was only a small part of the demon army that the Court of the Blood Countess was able to muster. But only for a second... Anger and concern made way.. and he jumped teh first mob. "No!", Nightseye yelled and followed him so they had a fighting chance. "Blade... they are too many! We need to retreat and slowly advance or we all die here."

Luckily the first group was not too big... although the armors where cut... And a lot of damage was taken by the team. The succubi there had some nasty mind tricks and more then once they fell to be rescued by one of the others.

After the fight they hid behind a big rock... Jim felt his hands who where already starting to hurt from the blasts he send through them. Angel looked at the two melee fighters... "Let us NOT do that again! I have a better idea."

She pulled her bow and took a stance out of sight. Her target was one of the few mistresses a bit at the side. One single shot took her out. Jim saw what she was doing... and repeated it. Now only Lilith and her trustees where left in front of them. If she could tell where the prisoners where the team wouldn't need to try and search all caves. A task which could be well impossible... if not suicide!

Nightseye tried to guess what power level they where facing... "Maybe we need a plan!", she thought out loud. But Blade was way over any plan. Screaming he attacked the demoness head-on. His sword cutting a few lackeys down on his way closer. "Where are they!? Where is my wife! I swear if..."

Lilith her eyes flamed up... "You are early...", she said without a tone of feeling. "It doesn't matter..." A flash of burning light and for a second they where disorientated. Coming around the demoness was standing ready to unleash a bolt of fire. But a second was all Nightseye needed. She ducked away from the bolt directed at her and jumped up. Holding Lilith her wings she forced the demoness to come to the ground where her team mates attacked with full force.

"Tell me where they are...!", Blade yelled again. Lilith merely laughed... "I became sick of their whining!" She extended heat to the floor around her. Now even standing close burned the heroes. "So Bathory has them now..."

This only infuriated Blade more... and all together they forced Lilith back. "No...", she attempted to shoot a warning flare and get her army to her, but Jim stopped her in time. Then there was an opening... and Blade ran her through with his sword. The fire in her eyes weakened... "I hope for you the countess kills them... if not... hehehe-he-... *cough*"

A last explosion of fire and she pulled herself free of Blade's sword... then she jumped in the burning lava. obviously bleeding from what would be for most beings a mortal wound. "This will not stop me long! I will return... I will...", then she sank away in the fire. Blade looked down... "But not soon. And not in time to stop me!", he said in a soft voice. Then looked back to his team. "We where too late. They are not here anymore. We will have to go get them from Bathory afterall!"

Nightseye nodded softly... but in her memory she saw images of the first time she tried to rescue girls from the dungeons of the Countess Bathory. And how they found some dead drained of blood... and others tortured or insane. For now it would be better not to share this though.

* Those who want to jump in and help out the Nighthunters can still do that using Arc #416244

Flashback: Lilith's Hell, a few hours after the abduction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damsel_EU "The name Damsel was not to be taken literally!"

Lilith laughed out loud. "But I gathered that was the reason of the name..." Next to her where several Pit Mistresses hording demons around. One was standing in-between the unconcious group.

The demoness raised a finger to Damsel. "I know you have powers reverent's wife... try to use them and the little one dies." She pointed out at the demon next to Hazel who held his giant claw ready to strike. "Do you like my little welcoming committee?" She spread her arms showing her the mayhem and chaos of hundreds of demons being horded... succubi preparing for war and more.

"Don't answer that.. I see you do!", she gleed.

Flashback: Lilith's Hell, a few hours after the abduction.

Mary began to wake, feeling heat on her face. Looking around her expression was one of confusion, turning to fear. "mom? MOM?" she called out and, realising her mother was nowhere to be seen, began crying, loud. Her voice reached a high pitch, but it was the darkness seeping from her that was hurting the demons around her. a Gargoyle demon that had approached the poor girl jumped back as the tendrils of dark energy snap at it. "I WANT MY MOMMY!" she yelled.

Flashback: Lilith's Hell, a few hours after the abduction.

Lilith smiled at the outcry and adressed one of her luitenants... "I see more here have powers... Lucifer take this City of Heroes! Round them up and seperate the adults from the children. The mistress expects them soon."

A woman in white slowly opened her eyes... It was Suraya, the Desert Princess... Her wedding dress was burned at some places and torn in others. She was still a bit dizzy from the gass but immediatly realised that this was not a good position to be in. She summoned all her willpower to conjure an army of light and heat... but then a massive headache made her stop!

Two succubi with obviously strong psychic powers held her mind. Suraya tried to hit them but was still way too weak and she fell down again. The demonic laughter of her foes made her angry and desperate... She looked around instead and saw Damsel her horror struck face looking at... Hazel!? The children where here?! Then she saw the others...

"No! No! You will not get me...", again she tried and for a second broke the hold the psychics had on her. The efford placed such a strain on her that some blood came from her nose but she managed to turn herself invisible.

Lilith's voice sounded... deadly calm... "My dear arab... You cannot escape from me like that. You should know that." She nodded to the demon master next to her and he cracked his whip. Several demons closed in on the invisible woman... untill she couldn't even move... let alone escape. "Now be a good girl and stay visible... there are children present."

Suraya looked at Mary who was panicking and Hazel who was still unconcious... a demon standing guard next to her... Then at Damsel again... "Ok, you have me.", she said in a defeated tone.

Silvatian Guest Rooms, Silvatian Palace, Silvatian Universe

Blade opened thedoor, his face sour and slightly pale as he looked at his Sister and her Husband. "its what we feared Laya, Elizabeth has them." he says in a hurt, almost unhearable voice.
John slumped into the chair behind him, a shocked yet angered look on his face.
Laya had tears in her eyes as she looked at her brother, anger coursing through her viens "where is dad?" she asks, her fury evident in her voice, but quiet like her Blade's own.
"he's preparing back on Earth, his new apprentice...but he'll be ready when we are" he answered her. "the question now is, how long do i wait before going in there".
Laya looked at her brother, straight in the eye "dont you mean We wait? or do you think im gonna leave my daughter in the hands of that woman with the power and training i have?".
Blade answered quickly, a little smile moving across his lips at the thought of what his sister would do to the countess "No, infact i hoped you wouldnt. but we cant let the Silvatian army go in too. It would cause a war that we dont want."
"that your too afraid to fight you mean" stated John, coming out of his daze and looking angrily at Blade. "if you and your 'hero' friends had just taken the Rogue Isles long ago, we wouldnt have this problem, and my child would be safe. So tell me, why cant you fight huh? you heores too cowardly to take the fight to them? even to save lives?!"
Blade and Laya both looked taken a back, it was the first time they had seen John act like this. "your right, we dont want to take them out, cause the resulting fight would decimate both worlds". Blade's tone was serious "we hae to organise, get a plan together. Mary's a Balfear, and she can hold out, so can my wife. I have faith in them both John, dont worry, We wont let them get away with it, So lets go talk to the Council, and start preparations." With that, Blade and Laya and John got up, and headed off to the Silvatian Council Chambers.

((From this post on we can resume the kidnapping in the 'Open Season' and close this sub-plot!))

(( http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=224123 ))