[Thread] Strike quickly, and strike true

[darkrangerqueen]

Characters: Sylvanas Windrunner (OU), Leon Kennedy (OU), OPEN to anyone who comes in response to her summons.
Where: The north wall of the church (outside).
When: Last night, concurrent and eventually melding with Harth's recent thread.
Summary: Sylvanas wishes to capture Harth for his involvement in the burials. She attempts to gather a group. She

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[jesusstick]

Mr. Eko liked to keep aware of any major activity going on near the church where he spent most of his time. The announcement that had been made about capturing a troublemaker there certainly counted as such and so he finished his prayer, got up from where he had been kneeling before the alter, picked up his stick and headed outside.

The firs things his eyes caught sight of, naturally, were the groups of skeletons gathered in the graveyard. Instead of looking terrified or confused by this seemingly impossible occurrence, the priest only looked slightly angry. Glancing around he finally caught sight of the shadowy form near the church wall and approached her, saying, "It is not right, to do this to the dead."

[darkrangerqueen]

The Banshee Queen stared at him impassively for a moment, then walked forward to meet him, stopping less than a foot away. This close proximity revealed her unnatural traits: the corpse-blue skin and ragged hair, and the scents of earth and sweet decay that clung to her clothing.

"If you knew who I was, and who I have been, you would not dare to say that." Her voice, with its unnatural echo, maintained its deadly clarity though she spoke softly, to avoid being overheard. "If you object to my methods, leave. I do not have time to discuss 'morals' with the likes of you."

[yersmalltime]

Mirroring his general's need for stealth this night, Leon had traded his usual garb for white winter combat gear. His face was impassive as the summoned skeletons fell into formation nearby. He was reminded of a stronger strain of undead he'd fought in Umbrella's labs. Ones older than the freshly dead walking the streets above, decayed nearly to the bone. This was magic however, not the work of some disease.

And it was that magic that the local church's priest wasn't comfortable with. Not that a very small part of Leon couldn't identify.

From beside Sylvanas, Leon gave Mr. Eko a look of quiet empathy and assurance. One that told him it's okay, don't worry about it. "Will you need a weapon, Father?"

[jesusstick]

Eko just leveled his impassive, unreadable stare at the woman, not blinking at her appearance or tone. It took a lot to break his composure, and if smoke monsters could not do it neither could she. In his mind it was as simple as that. If he had been easily intimidated he would not have survived very long at all.

It was so tempting to throw her own words back at her, say that she knew nothing of who and what he was, either, but he resisted. "It is more than morals." He said simply. "It is respect for the dead." He gave the skeletons another dirty look but seemed slightly willing to let the subject drop. They had more important things to worry about at the moment, after all.

He did favor the man with a small smile that grew more amused with the question. "No. I have all I need." As if to illustrate he lifted the scripture-carved stick that, as the blood on the end made quite clear, served very well as a club. "What is our plan?"

[darkrangerqueen]

The undead elf gave the man another long stare, but, like him, was willing to let the matter drop for now. She spared a glance at his staff, and the words carved there. From the language, she guessed it was religious in nature. The queen had been looking for stealthy fighters and had gotten a zealot.

"For now, we wait to see if any others show up," she answered the priest, taking command again. "Then we divide into groups and scour the park. We are seeking a two-on-one confrontation; the outnumbered one is our target." Sylvanas glanced at Leon. "Do you have anything to add?"

[yersmalltime]

Sylvanas knew the facts as well as he did, so he spoke for Mr. Eko's benefit. "The one we're after is a vampire, Harth Fray. Some of the legends are true: holy water and crucifixes will hurt him." Here it struck Leon that it was actually a good thing they had a priest on the team.

"Our objective though is to capture, not to kill." he continued, a glance Sylvanas' way as if to confirm. "He's baited at least two others to meet him head-on. We'll be there to see them through, staying out of sight unless things start looking bad. If or before that time comes, utmost stealth is a must."

[jesusstick]

Eko chuckled softly at the description of the vampire. "We have picked a good place to confront him, then. There are plenty of both inside the church." Like the skeletons he did not seem too concerned by the fact that they were facing a vampire. He was good at taking things in stride.

He glanced around, looking to see if anyone else would be joining them and spotting no one. "Perhaps we should begin to search. I do not think anyone else will be coming. And if they do, we will see them."

[darkrangerqueen]

Most vampires were repelled by holy water and crucifixes? She had wondered why Leon had been wearing that pendant lately. The ranger had noticed the same symbol carved into the other man's staff as well. "Fetch what you can easily carry, priest. Then we move out." Behind her, the skeletons began to arrange themselves in groups of three again according to Sylvanas' silent command: one from each of her summons. She would issue her final orders when he returned.

(OOC: If you think it within Eko's capability at any point to either a.) shove a crucifix in Sylv's face, b.) splash her with holy water, or c.) try either of those on her minions, go ahead. You don't have to reign in the muse. I will adapt accordingly.)

[yersmalltime]

However Mr. Eko responded, Leon thumbed the pendant once as if for luck before concealing it beneath his shirt. Heard bone skitter on earth as the undead squad moved to obey the Forsaken Queen. Mindless brutes completely subject to her will.

His service was voluntary. That was what separated Leon from them. And he wasn't proud of only that; Sylvanas Windrunner was worth the lives of a thousand bodyguards. That was why he'd never stopped watching over her, even after she'd explicitly requested him to do so only once (and that time, as a favor

[jesusstick]

Eko nodded, vanishing into the church where he moved with the swift efficiency of someone far more used to war than life as a priest. Within moments he had returned with a two small bottles of holy water which he offered to his strange companions. If asked why he had not brought one for himself he would have said he did not need one; Yemi's cross hung from his neck, his club was carved with scriptures, and he had his faith. He had faced down monsters before with nothing more.

"If he has help we will deal with it." He said simply. "Keep alert." His own eyes constantly flitted through the shadows around them, watching for the slightest movement. It was a habit he had picked up on the island, running from Them.

((If you want the holy water to splash her when he hands it or whatever feel free. As is he's a little not thrilled with her but has decided to shut up and deal with it. :p))

[darkrangerqueen]

Sylvanas could not read Leon's mind, but when he spoke her eyes shifted to regard him, though she did not turn her head. However before she could speak the priest returned with his small arsenal. The undead elf accepted the bottle cautiously. Careful to keep it level, she unscrewed the lid and lifted the vessel under her nose. The unfamiliar holy power tingled in her sinuses with a smell like acid. Not lethal, but still unpleasant. With a frown Sylvanas passed the item to Leon. "I do not need any myself, priest." She deliberately allowed a hint of cocksureness to steal over her features. "I do not intend to get that close." The dark ranger raised her bow into easy view and touched the string meaningfully

[yersmalltime]

(*flush* I love those two as much I love him and Mel, so I had to let that out before his disappearance. ^^ And I'm cool with it if Em is!)

He pocketed Eko's vials as the skeletal minions started their march. Then Leon was a crouched white shadow merging with snow drifts and dead trees, keeping a radius of a few yards from Sylvanas' constantly mobile position (death hadn't affected her ranger skills; he nearly lost all signs of her a few times). Any attacks on her would find retaliation in rifle shots.

The agent glanced over his shoulder a few times to check on Mr. Eko. Only to find the priest seemed to be doing very well for himself. He wondered if there was really more to religious-types than most people thought. Leon also figured (assuming Eko was from Africa, Earth) living in a violent corner of the world had forced the priest to adapt and survive.

He continued to cover them as they moved stealthily along.

[jesusstick]

((I"m down with it, dogs!))Stick in hand, Mr. Eko followed the other two, melting into the shadows of the tress and practically vanishing among them. He'd learned violence and war from childhood, but stealth was a new trait he had picked up and had good reason to learn quickly. Stranded on a jungle island and facing constant attack from a mysterious group who could appear seemingly anywhere was a good motivation. He'd spent two months moving through that same jungle, staying hidden and striking back at them. It was no different here and now