Main Event Answer the Call

[Sleepwalker]

Okay, then throwing slime at a slime monster, sounded a bit silly, but oka-

Woah. Who the hell, no, what the hell. Is that. Supressing a scream in shock, Hazel hid behind Monika suddenly. She didn't know why exactly, maybe it was because she was the most normal girl here, and she reminded Hazel of someone back home. Hazel hid behind the club leader, and peeked out from behind.

Deep breath. One. Two.

Okay, maybeee the speech about gruesome deaths were a bit scary, but the man/being/whatever the hell it was? Not so much. Kinda looked like a crappy halloween outfit, actually. Still wasn't to come out though, after all, this man killed not one, but TWO people. And Hazel wasn't a fighter, heck no. Holding Monika's shoulder, she peeked out from behind, trying not to stutter. Just focus on the stupid costume...

"Right, excuse me, I know you're kinda tied up in blood knights immediately trying to kill you! And you should die anyways, but can you explain what this is for? We aren't toys you can play games with, and you might as well start giving us some answers before you get someone, probably you, killed!"

@Yazzie @Yun Lee @Everyone @Jeremi​

 

[Jeremi]

... just what even happened? Penelope couldn't wrap her head around it, but she felt an immense pit of fear growing inside her. That golem didn't do anything to this man, so that didn't give any hopes that she could even do anything here. As if to relieve her rampant stress of the situation, she clutched at her necklace's blue gem, and without really thinking...

❝ ... what exactly are you? ❞ She blurts out a question that she didn't intend on saying outright.

@Jeremi @Everyone​

"A great many things, human," The being responded to Penelope. "My name is Arioch and I am a harbinger to my master."

MHXA moved quickly once the being made itself known. Her clothes sbifted from casual winter wear to a dark black and red cloak. From thin air, she drew a sword. It glowed red with energy, and she pointed the tip of the blade at the new being.

"You must be the Lord of Chaos. Whatever you were planning for us is going to end, now."

She noticed the golem disintegrated by a single touch. She held firm, her grip tightening on her blade.

@Jeremi @Everyone​

Arioch nodded. "Yes, it will end. Because I willed it so. Did you not hear my words vibrate through the air and into your being? The games are over, now the chaos will truly begin."

Jack knew it was a threat. She looks at Serenity, nodding, before seemingly disappearing. In reality, she was utilising her Presence Concealment, the second highest possible level, and Serenity had that exact level. It seemed that she wanted Serenity to tap into it to.

Usually, an Assassin class servant with Presence Concealment on Jack and Serenity's level would be able to hide their presence until preparing for combat. However, Jack herself possessed one ability that went well with that.

Murderer of the Misty Night. While most Assassin class servants at Jack's level or below would be detected upon the first attack, this allowed for one preemptive strike before becoming easier to detect!

And so, she struck the strange man from the back with her knives.

This man might be strong, but she was confident that stealth should have some kind of advantage.

@Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Alex Azure​

Dagger in hand, Serenity took a fighting stance, pressing her finger to the tip, she intended to get some of her blood onto the blade as an added posion to the blade.

Returning Jack's nod with one of her own, Serenity tapped into Presence Concealment, and while Jack struck the man with her knives Serenity struck at the Lord of Chaos in the neck from behind with her own dagger!

@Jeremi @Alex Azure @Crow @Gummi Bunnies

One knife, two knives, three knives. One by one they struck into the flesh of the being calling itself Arioch. The man gasped in surprise and pain a his body went limp floating haplessly in the air. The being calling itself Arioch had been defeated by the combined forces of- "That's what you wanted to see yes? Your foe bested and laid bare, blood trickling from his wounds." The knives in his flesh were expelled like a bullet from his body as a torrent of blood began to leave his body. "If first blood is what you wish then first blood is what you will get!"

In moments the blood had risen to the group ankles and didn't seem to be stopping. "Praise you fools! Is this not what you wanted?!"

Thank heavens, they were right! Grell let out a sigh of relief, glad that she wouldn't have to worry about getting murdered anytime soon. But now there was a new menace to deal with, and despite the nice hair, he wasn't all that alluring. What a nuisance.

Grell readied her death scythe, giving the newcomer a toothy grin. "I do hope this isn't your attempt at scaring us, because it simply won't work. You may as well stop threatening us and start giving me reasons not to cut you in half...and believe me, they had BETTER be good."

@Jeremi​

"The coming requires sacrifices, that is you. You are all here to be harbingers. Is that not a satisfying ending to your life? To be part of something larger than you?"

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Everybody

 

[Bark]

Eye widening, Cassata gripped his gun closer to himself. For once his arriving there, his cool composure seemed to crack and he seemed rather weary. Seeing the display they had witnessed, he suddenly didn't feeling fighting it. This was something far beyond the reach of Fallen Angels and was, quite frankly, rather frightening. "You... don't have a right to dictate people's ends based on your meaning of a satisfying end for something only you know..."
It reminded him much of the situation from which he had lost his eye and he hoped none of the others around him would act irrationally.
@Jeremi ​

 

[Jeremi]

Eye widening, Cassata gripped his gun closer to himself. For once his arriving there, his cool composure seemed to crack and he seemed rather weary. Seeing the display they had witnessed, he suddenly didn't feeling fighting it. This was something far beyond the reach of Fallen Angels and was, quite frankly, rather frightening. "You... don't have a right to dictate people's ends based on your meaning of a satisfying end for something only you know..."
It reminded him much of the situation from which he had lost his eye and he hoped none of the others around him would act irrationally.
@Jeremi ​

"Don't I? How so? Because you tell me so? What right do you have to dictate what I can and can not do?" The blood gushing out from his wounds had now stopped slightly above the ankles of the group, for some reason it didn't seem like it was ascending. "You are part of something bigger now!" As he spoke the firehouse seemed to contort and twist in different ways changing its form. "You thought this place a haven but now it is only a death trap. All of you must die to bring forth my Master to this world."

"Who is your master, demon?" Hector called out causing Arioch to burst out laughing.

"A demo?! You think me a demon?! I am more, so much more. Which you will see soon enough." His body started to float down into the blood before vanishing into it.

"This blood ain't never going out," Janine replied waddling through the blood trying to get to the exit to open the door, but for some reason despite walking towards the door she never seemed to actually reach it. The firehouse itself now looked like a jumbled mess, a darkness had enveloped it and there didn't seem to be a way to find an escape.

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Everybody

 

[Gummi Bunnies]

With Arioch disappearing, Penelope was at a loss for words on how to take in this entire situation. Was this really where they'll die? Will she be able to see... No, she shook her head, this wasn't the time to be thinking like that!

❝ W-What do we do now?! ❞ Penelope blurted out in a hurry. They didn't have much time left from the looks of it.

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Everybody​

 

[Lucky]

Theo Raeken

" You know- the more I hear him talking, this feels very familiar. Doesn't it, Grell and Ethan? It sounds very much like the last villain we faced in the dream, the Nightmare guy. It would make sense that he would need a sacrifice. Didn't he want to feed off our dream fear? This feels almost identical. So, I'm not giving into the fear or being anyone's sacrifice," he said, leaning down to smell what type of blood they were standing in and see if he could sense Arioch. He also looked around for anything else they could use to help them.

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

 

[Ver]

"What the hell...?!"

Even though he figured he should have been used to these sorts of bizarre happenings by now, Ethan couldn't help but stagger back as the entity known as Arioch made himself known before everyone. It seemed that the man's gamble had paid off in determining ZAC to be the following vessel for him. Perhaps it was fitting that he led the vote as the previous vessel, but either way, maybe it was a bit too early to be celebrating anything at the moment.

"Hell if I'm gonna be a slave to a monster again!" The man gritted his teeth angrily, trying to step out of the apparent blood crawling up everyone's ankles, to little avail. Before he could say much more though, the entity disappeared just as abruptly as he appeared, and now here they all were, stuck and without much to do, unless they could figure out how to break out.

As Theo spoke to him and Grell, Ethan clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't know much 'bout that. I guess I... "died" before he showed up, but if you find that familiar... Guess that's another nail in the coffin that we're all connected somehow."

With a sigh, he awkwardly placed his hands on his hips while standing in place, before looking toward those he'd interacted with; Theo, Grell, Jack, Serenity, and so on. "Everyone alright? No one's hurt or shaken up?"

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Crow @Takumi @Anybody​

 

[Jeremi]

Theo Raeken

" You know- the more I hear him talking, this feels very familiar. Doesn't it, Grell and Ethan? It sounds very much like the last villain we faced in the dream, the Nightmare guy. It would make sense that he would need a sacrifice. Didn't he want to feed off our dream fear? This feels almost identical. So, I'm not giving into the fear or being anyone's sacrifice," he said, leaning down to smell what type of blood they were standing in and see if he could sense Arioch. He also looked around for anything else they could use to help them.

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

To his surprise Theo found the blood to be odorless, and whatever this Arioch was if he didn' want to be found they weren't going to.

"What the hell...?!"

Even though he figured he should have been used to these sorts of bizarre happenings by now, Ethan couldn't help but stagger back as the entity known as Arioch made himself known before everyone. It seemed that the man's gamble had paid off in determining ZAC to be the following vessel for him. Perhaps it was fitting that he led the vote as the previous vessel, but either way, maybe it was a bit too early to be celebrating anything at the moment.

"Hell if I'm gonna be a slave to a monster again!" The man gritted his teeth angrily, trying to step out of the apparent blood crawling up everyone's ankles, to little avail. Before he could say much more though, the entity disappeared just as abruptly as he appeared, and now here they all were, stuck and without much to do, unless they could figure out how to break out.

As Theo spoke to him and Grell, Ethan clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't know much 'bout that. I guess I... "died" before he showed up, but if you find that familiar... Guess that's another nail in the coffin that we're all connected somehow."

With a sigh, he awkwardly placed his hands on his hips while standing in place, before looking toward those he'd interacted with; Theo, Grell, Jack, Serenity, and so on. "Everyone alright? No one's hurt or shaken up?"

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Crow @Takumi @Anybody​

"No I think everyone's alrigh-"

*Ring*

Janine was interrupted by the phone ringing, which was odd considering not too long ago all of the power was down due to the snow storm. "..." Making her way towards the phone she slowly laid down her hand and picked up the receiver. "The Ghostbusters. Ray! We've been trying to contact you but the phone's been. Slow down, Ray. What's going on? Yeah we've got problems of our own...what? How could you have she's de- uh-huh. You think that's wise? Well yeah, we have Kylie here but Ray listen there's a-" Before she could say anything more the phone went dead.

"That was Ray, seems like the outside isn't any better then what we're dealing with." Laying down the phone she started to make her way towards the basement door. "Seems like they've figured out what's going on and now we're going to help them. By heading into the basement. So unless anyone wants to stay and hang up here we're gonna help the Ghostbusters do what needs to be done."


@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

 

[Lucky]

Theo Raeken

Theo raised an eyebrow, noting that the blood was odorless. He decided to start with the obvious elephant in the room that was bothering him though. "I'm good, not hur or shaken up. Just trying to figure everything out. I am sure that it is. If I may ask, who is back from the dead? I guess it would eventually come down to going into the basement where all the ghosts are contained. I'm up for it. How about the rest of you?"

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

 

[Macy Moretti]

"I am fine. Uninjured. This blood is nothing compared to the battles I am willing to face. If it's the basement where we should go, then go to the basement we shall."

MHXA paused for a moment before heading down the stairs. turning to Li-Ming, she said, "This demon has a master, and us Servants can be stronger with Masters ourselves. There is surely a fight ahead of us. We Servants make contracts with mages. Li-Ming, would you be willing to forge a contract and be my Master?"

@Minerva

@Jeremi @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody​

 

[York]

Spoiler: Replies

Chapter 2 - Dial Tone

While there hadn't been many who had spoken up, Kylie decided to point the Slime Blower towards Li-Ming. "Sorry." Firing the Slime Blower it didn't take long before the sorcerer was covered head to toe in pink slime. Despite that she seemed to be in a positive mood. It seemed though that it had been a dud. Only three charges left in the tank now.

Meanwhile as this was going on Simon leaned down to investigate the book the entire room was swept into a dark veil. None of them could see anything as they struggled to try and find any sort of light source. Despite the darkness and the sudden panic some of them felt something fly past them as they heard a groan and a loud thud.

As on cue the veil lifted and everyone could see once more. And what a sight it was.

Pinned to the wall by a lead pipe was Akira Kurusu. It seemed to have pierced his heart and killed him instantly.

At the same time the group might have seen that Ethan Chandler was acting a bit confused and dazed. That could because he remembered something horrific from last night. His body had been the vessel that killed Dear Lois.

Cast list:

@Bark as Cassata
@Ver as Ethan Chandler
@Yun Lee as Grell Sutcliff
@Takumi as Hassan of Serenity
@MelodyMeister as Hazel Halfpenny
@Crow as Jack the Ripper
@dark as Lt. John Dunbar
@Minerva as Li-Ming
@Ottonomous Ghost as Lucian
@Gwazi Magnum as Marcus Cole
@Yazzie as Monika
@Alex Azure as Mysterious Heroine X Alter
@Gummi Bunnies as Penelope Dormi
@Atomic Knight as Shuichi Saihara
@Lucky as Theo Raeken
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as ZAC​

"Ghngh...!"

Ethan let out a sound as though he were gagging, hunched over. Indeed, the man was hard at work resisting the urge to vomit right there, not just at the sight of Akira's corpse but also at the grim realization that he was the one who killed Dear Lois, albeit under the influence of a malicious spirit, but it was still his hands that did the deed.

A mixture of remorse and anger clashed inside his soul, mentally incapacitating him for a moment until he was eventually able to gather his bearings, at least enough that he could speak again.

"F-Fucking hell..." He shook his head, clutching his stomach just in case he ever felt inclined to nearly vomit again, looking toward Theo as he said his name. "I... I don't remember much. Everything went black for me... and before I knew it, she was already dead. But... if it's worth anything, I can tell you at least... that fucking thing, that spirit... I think it was once a man, but... at the same time, it was never human when it was alive," he tried to recall, a furrowed expression on his face, "In fact, whatever it was, it was strong. Like some black magic type of shit..."

@Lucky @Yazzie @Jeremi @Yun Lee @Everybody​

Kylie showed the PKE meter to Grell as its lights blinked. "Honestly I say that but it's just reacting similarly to when a ghost is nearby. It feels like we're in the middle of a supernatural vortex, I'm not so sure how well I can trust these readings..."



Lord of Chaos? Now that sounded pretty bad. "...Maybe this Lord of Chaos didn't just rip the pages from the book from a master it's serving...maybe it also tried to hide its identity?"



"Is that true though?" Hector asked quizzically. "Couldn't anyone in our midst have the skill to pull it off? Or perhaps...they used a tool to do the deed?"



"Who knows?" Janine replied. "I didn't look at the clock but it definitely felt like more then a few seconds." To the question of the pipe Janine could only look over to the body. "As much as I'd like to get him down from there, we shouldn't contaminate the scene. I think that's how cops do it when they look for clues."

@Yun Lee @MelodyMeister @Yazzie @Gummi Bunnies @Ver @Everyone

"My feel like I am slightly out of my element here," Hector replied to Ethan. "I can not say for sure, it was just a hunch."

Kylie in the mean time had dropped the slime tank from her back and was flipping through the books. Something Ethan had said earlier made her curious to see if she could...oh! There it is. "Well this isn't good..." She held up the book she had been reading to reveal the contents. "If this "ghost" is really a Lord of Chaos then we're in even bigger trouble than I thought."

"Two people are dead, Kylie," Janine spoke up as she looked at the corpse. "How can it get even worse?"

"Well you know how we thought this was a human with maybe magic powers? Think that but ten times worse."



The only other liquid Grell could find was the condensation coming from where the pipe had been broken off from, as well as wet foot prints coming from the door, no doubt from when Hector demonstrated his talents.

@Ver @Bark @Gwazi Magnum @MelodyMeister @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Crow @Takumi @Everybody

Chapter 3 - It's ringing

While there wasn't that many that had spoken up it was clear where the fingers were being pointed. Grabbing the Slime Blower she aimed it squarely at ZAC. "Hey if nothing else, we'll see what the reaction of two positive slimes connecting." Firing her weapon Zac was soon enveloped in the bright pink slime absorbing it into himself leaving him a similar color like the slime he had been engulfed in.

It seemed sadly that it was another bust. "Sorry about that Z-" Before suddenly the slime creature started to shake violently and fell to the floor trashing around wildly a form rising from his chest. The silhouette of a face formed clearly before the figure was evicted from inside of ZAC's body.

On instinct Kylie aimed the Slime Blower towards the being while Hector conjured the magma golem from before behind him. The creature was drenched in the pink slime but it didn't take long before it started to sizzle and burned away revealing the shape of a man floating in front of them, with a condescending sneer on his face.

"Are you expecting a congratulation? A pat on the back? Fools, if you had only allowed me to continue my game then perhaps your fates would not become as gruesome as they now will."

Despite the man's humanoid appearance it was clear that 'it' was not human. The aura emitting from him made Kylie's arms shake. Hector meanwhile was not taking any chances and sent his golem towards the being who casually deflected the blow with his hand before blowing softly at the golem causing it to vanish into ash.

What had the group unleashed unto this world?

Cast list:

@Bark as Cassata
@Ver as Ethan Chandler
@Yun Lee as Grell Sutcliff
@Takumi as Hassan of Serenity
@MelodyMeister as Hazel Halfpenny
@Crow as Jack the Ripper
@dark as Lt. John Dunbar
@Minerva as Li-Ming
@Ottonomous Ghost as Lucian
@Gwazi Magnum as Marcus Cole
@Yazzie as Monika
@Alex Azure as Mysterious Heroine X Alter
@Gummi Bunnies as Penelope Dormi
@Atomic Knight as Shuichi Saihara
@Lucky as Theo Raeken
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as ZAC​

... just what even happened? Penelope couldn't wrap her head around it, but she felt an immense pit of fear growing inside her. That golem didn't do anything to this man, so that didn't give any hopes that she could even do anything here. As if to relieve her rampant stress of the situation, she clutched at her necklace's blue gem, and without really thinking...

❝ ... what exactly are you? ❞ She blurts out a question that she didn't intend on saying outright.

@Jeremi @Everyone​

"A great many things, human," The being responded to Penelope. "My name is Arioch and I am a harbinger to my master."



Arioch nodded. "Yes, it will end. Because I willed it so. Did you not hear my words vibrate through the air and into your being? The games are over, now the chaos will truly begin."




One knife, two knives, three knives. One by one they struck into the flesh of the being calling itself Arioch. The man gasped in surprise and pain a his body went limp floating haplessly in the air. The being calling itself Arioch had been defeated by the combined forces of- "That's what you wanted to see yes? Your foe bested and laid bare, blood trickling from his wounds." The knives in his flesh were expelled like a bullet from his body as a torrent of blood began to leave his body. "If first blood is what you wish then first blood is what you will get!"

In moments the blood had risen to the group ankles and didn't seem to be stopping. "Praise you fools! Is this not what you wanted?!"



"The coming requires sacrifices, that is you. You are all here to be harbingers. Is that not a satisfying ending to your life? To be part of something larger than you?"

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Everybody

With Arioch disappearing, Penelope was at a loss for words on how to take in this entire situation. Was this really where they'll die? Will she be able to see... No, she shook her head, this wasn't the time to be thinking like that!

❝ W-What do we do now?! ❞ Penelope blurted out in a hurry. They didn't have much time left from the looks of it.

@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Everybody​

To his surprise Theo found the blood to be odorless, and whatever this Arioch was if he didn' want to be found they weren't going to.



"No I think everyone's alrigh-"

*Ring*

Janine was interrupted by the phone ringing, which was odd considering not too long ago all of the power was down due to the snow storm. "..." Making her way towards the phone she slowly laid down her hand and picked up the receiver. "The Ghostbusters. Ray! We've been trying to contact you but the phone's been. Slow down, Ray. What's going on? Yeah we've got problems of our own...what? How could you have she's de- uh-huh. You think that's wise? Well yeah, we have Kylie here but Ray listen there's a-" Before she could say anything more the phone went dead.

"That was Ray, seems like the outside isn't any better then what we're dealing with." Laying down the phone she started to make her way towards the basement door. "Seems like they've figured out what's going on and now we're going to help them. By heading into the basement. So unless anyone wants to stay and hang up here we're gonna help the Ghostbusters do what needs to be done."


@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

Simon Henriksson
@Alex Azure @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Jeremi @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

Simon was losing his mind again, or at least it felt like it as he stared at the body in question... He could feel his knees weakening, his head spinning. Already there was another victim, and he didn't feel any closer to finding the culprit than he did before.

However, fortunately, while there was much deliberation going on, a device was suddenly pointed and used towards one of their own. At first, he was confused, scrambling to get his bearings as he shakily drew his pistol, but after the being who had possessed Zac was revealed, he felt this sudden vengefull feeling overtake him.

"... Won't... Get away... This time!" He shouted, barely coherent as he unloaded his entire glock magazine into Arioch.

Alongside what the others did, it eventually put the creature to an end, but it was only then that Simon began to secondguess what they had done.

Was killing Arioch really the only solution?

...

It was too late anyways, by now there were more pressing issues at hand.

And thus, Simon didn't hesitate to head down to the basement, slowly trying to get a better grip on his surroundings.​

 

[Sleepwalker]

Hazel clutched her mouth tightly with one hand, and held her nose with the other. She gasped once she saw the blood rise up rapidly. This was just red paint, someone just spilt paint all over her ankles. That was what she told herself. Perhaps that was the real reason she held her nose, to stop iron smelling blood reaching her nose and tell her the truth (Ironically, the blood had no smell...). Hazel listened to the nut speak of sacrifice and death. Normally, she would just call the guy crazy and move on, but something as powerful as this...monster....

She didn't want to die. If that man wanted sacrifices, why not actually kill someone who had nothing going for them? Like someone how wanted to die? Or just...anyone...but her. She'll prefer anyone die over her.

And that's why she had to get out of here.

Trying to suppress all of her fear and most of all, the tears starting to come out of her eyes, Hazel hugged her equipment close to her, and rushed down to the basement, trying to stay as close to Janine as possible, as she seemed to know was she was doing.

@BASEMENT @Jeremi @Ver @Others​

 

[Minerva]

"I am fine. Uninjured. This blood is nothing compared to the battles I am willing to face. If it's the basement where we should go, then go to the basement we shall."

MHXA paused for a moment before heading down the stairs. turning to Li-Ming, she said, "This demon has a master, and us Servants can be stronger with Masters ourselves. There is surely a fight ahead of us. We Servants make contracts with mages. Li-Ming, would you be willing to forge a contract and be my Master?"

@Minerva

@Jeremi @Ver @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Bark @Yun Lee @Lucky @Takumi @Yazzie @Crow @MelodyMeister @Gummi Bunnies @Everybody

Was Mysterious Heroine X Alter offering Li-Ming’s familiar? Li-Ming nodded.

“I accept.” she said, regarding the forming of a contract. “May this relationship prove fruitful.”​

 

[Takumi]

"What the hell...?!"

Even though he figured he should have been used to these sorts of bizarre happenings by now, Ethan couldn't help but stagger back as the entity known as Arioch made himself known before everyone. It seemed that the man's gamble had paid off in determining ZAC to be the following vessel for him. Perhaps it was fitting that he led the vote as the previous vessel, but either way, maybe it was a bit too early to be celebrating anything at the moment.

"Hell if I'm gonna be a slave to a monster again!" The man gritted his teeth angrily, trying to step out of the apparent blood crawling up everyone's ankles, to little avail. Before he could say much more though, the entity disappeared just as abruptly as he appeared, and now here they all were, stuck and without much to do, unless they could figure out how to break out.

As Theo spoke to him and Grell, Ethan clicked his tongue and shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't know much 'bout that. I guess I... "died" before he showed up, but if you find that familiar... Guess that's another nail in the coffin that we're all connected somehow."

With a sigh, he awkwardly placed his hands on his hips while standing in place, before looking toward those he'd interacted with; Theo, Grell, Jack, Serenity, and so on. "Everyone alright? No one's hurt or shaken up?"

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Crow @Takumi @Anybody​

"Fine, but that Arioch is an odd one. All living things that come in contact with me die, but if he can't be killed then it will be annoying to face him again." Serenity sighed.

"Are you alright?" She asked then.

To his surprise Theo found the blood to be odorless, and whatever this Arioch was if he didn' want to be found they weren't going to.



"No I think everyone's alrigh-"

*Ring*

Janine was interrupted by the phone ringing, which was odd considering not too long ago all of the power was down due to the snow storm. "..." Making her way towards the phone she slowly laid down her hand and picked up the receiver. "The Ghostbusters. Ray! We've been trying to contact you but the phone's been. Slow down, Ray. What's going on? Yeah we've got problems of our own...what? How could you have she's de- uh-huh. You think that's wise? Well yeah, we have Kylie here but Ray listen there's a-" Before she could say anything more the phone went dead.

"That was Ray, seems like the outside isn't any better then what we're dealing with." Laying down the phone she started to make her way towards the basement door. "Seems like they've figured out what's going on and now we're going to help them. By heading into the basement. So unless anyone wants to stay and hang up here we're gonna help the Ghostbusters do what needs to be done."


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"If it can put an end to that being, then lead the way." Serenity responded, following after the others as they headed down to the basement. Hearing Alter and Li-Ming form a contract, the Assassin felt and odd feeling stir. Was it sadness? Or loneliness? Maybe something else? She wasn't sure, but considered whatever feeling she felt foolish at the moment. She needed to focus.

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[Ver]

"..."

Ethan wasn't quite sure what was in the basement that would be able to help their current predicament, but then again, these Ghostbuster fellows were a bit beyond what Ethan was familiar with. Who knows what kind of bizarre contraptions they had just lying around? All these machines... He really couldn't help but think of the young doctor back home. Victor had always been the impressionable young man, and perhaps it was a bit of a leap to think of him when he specialized in the capabilities of the human body rather than technology like this, but... Perhaps he was just feeling a bit nostalgic, for better or for worse.

"Better times," as they said. Yeah, right.

As Serenity returned his own question to him, Ethan nodded. "Yeah... Yeah, I'm fine. Now that we nailed that rat bastard, hopefully he won't be using any of us to murder each other from the inside now that we're aware of him at least," he went on. The jaded man felt a bit foolish to "hope" as he did, but then, being around little girls like her and Jack, for some reason he didn't quite feel as inclined to be so pessimistic, at least so openly.

... And he probably ought to stop cursing as well while he was at it.

@Takumi @Yun Lee @Lucky @Jeremi @Crow @Everybody​

 

[Yun Lee]

"Well, I'm all right, save for the blood possibly ruining my shoes..." She'd been soaked in blood before, but never had to walk around in it. Kinda ruined the fun. Really, she didn't seem afraid at all, but rather annoyed by thrir entire situation. It really was amazing how well her death scythe kept her feeling confident, unlike in that horrid dream.

"If us going into that basement gets that cretin dealt with, I'm not waiting around up here!" Grell started for the basement, noting how sad Serenity seemed. Probably because the coat was getting soaked. "Don't worry, darling. That coat has had plenty of blood on it and still looks brand new!"

@Jeremi @Ver @Takumi @Lucky @Everyone​

 

[Jeremi]

Theo Raeken

Theo raised an eyebrow, noting that the blood was odorless. He decided to start with the obvious elephant in the room that was bothering him though. "I'm good, not hur or shaken up. Just trying to figure everything out. I am sure that it is. If I may ask, who is back from the dead? I guess it would eventually come down to going into the basement where all the ghosts are contained. I'm up for it. How about the rest of you?"

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"Well no one...probably." Janine was flipping through her keys to find the right one from the door. "Ray just said that he had...heard Lois' voice inside his head and that's why he called. So don't really know what that's about." Finally finding the right key she put it into the look and pushed the door open. The excess blood instantly flowing down the spiral staircase into the basement. Wait, spiral staircase?

The path down had been stretched and twisted beyond recognition and what had once been a few easy steps down to a new floor seemed to have transformed to a trek into the abyss. "Kylie, get the proton packs and a trap, just in case." Before they went further both Janine and Kylie had suited up and equipped themselves with similar looking weapons they had seen the Ghostbusters wearing earlier. "If this Arioch guy thinks he can mess with us then he's got another thing coming."

The path down was now wide enough for three people to walk side by side down the steps. They had practically stepped into a M.C. Escher painting come to life. "Watch your steps," Kylie told the others. "Whatever this Arioch is it's clear that he's powerful. Just warping reality like this so casually...that's massive."

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[Lucky]

Theo Raeken

" This kind of feels like something out of a nightmare. The way that he was just manipulating the things and knowing he can die and kill us. Ethan, I believe you mentioned that people in dreams could just wake up..... and that seems almost like what the woman is saying happen. So, who else would like to go down with me?" He asked.

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[Macy Moretti]

Was Mysterious Heroine X Alter offering Li-Ming’s familiar? Li-Ming nodded.

“I accept.” she said, regarding the forming of a contract. “May this relationship prove fruitful.”​

Li-Ming would find three marks appearing somewhere on her body: the Command Spells that gave her control as Master over Alter.
​

"Well no one...probably." Janine was flipping through her keys to find the right one from the door. "Ray just said that he had...heard Lois' voice inside his head and that's why he called. So don't really know what that's about." Finally finding the right key she put it into the look and pushed the door open. The excess blood instantly flowing down the spiral staircase into the basement. Wait, spiral staircase?

The path down had been stretched and twisted beyond recognition and what had once been a few easy steps down to a new floor seemed to have transformed to a trek into the abyss. "Kylie, get the proton packs and a trap, just in case." Before they went further both Janine and Kylie had suited up and equipped themselves with similar looking weapons they had seen the Ghostbusters wearing earlier. "If this Arioch guy thinks he can mess with us then he's got another thing coming."

The path down was now wide enough for three people to walk side by side down the steps. They had practically stepped into a M.C. Escher painting come to life. "Watch your steps," Kylie told the others. "Whatever this Arioch is it's clear that he's powerful. Just warping reality like this so casually...that's massive."

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Sword at the ready, MHXA walked side by side with Li-Ming down the spiral staircase. She attempted to bolster the group's resolve.

"Even the strongest of magic can be countered. If need be, Arioch will have to face three Servants's Noble Phantasms. Surely that could end him."

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[Yun Lee]

"How could he have possibly heard Lois if she's dead?" Grell raised an eyebrow, confused. "Even if I didn't take her cinematic record, the flames should have done the job of ending her life...maybe?" Who knew, honestly. It was clear the laws of her own world didn't matter in this little funhouse. "Ugh! Either way, I'm not going to let this fool terrorize us any longer! I've been dying to use my death scythe after getting it back, and he makes a lovely target!"

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