Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 21, 2014 19:06:46 GMT -5
Once the cars had arrived at the ruins of the Serapeum, Gram got out and looked around really quick. This late at night, there were hardly any people around and they entered the ruins with ease, tour signs pointing the way towards the entrance to the underground library. Everything was going relatively easy, with only a couple guards getting in their way a handful of times. The guards did not prove to be a problem; a bribe and a second later they were past them.
Stopping at the entrance to the underground library, Gram turned to Chaltah and Stormbringer. "I probably do not have to tell the two of you this, but please be on your guard." That said, he and his men entered the tunnel system, one man going ahead to scout and make sure there were no nasty surprises awaiting them. Gram still felt uneasy, that nagging feeling at the back of his mind growing stronger.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 21, 2014 19:12:58 GMT -5
Chaltah gets out of the car, followed by Storm and they make their way to the underground library. It made sense, in a way, to hide such a valued treasure somewhere that the public could see. It made it less likely that someone would notice such a rarity unless they really knew what they were looking for.
With the darkness setting in and so few people around, Chaltah and Stormchaser were both ill at ease, knowing that the darkness could harbor just about anything. It was optimum hunting for many of the supernaturals to use shadow and darkness as their cloak and dagger. She draws out one of her swords once they were past the guards and Storm turned into a large black panther, blending further into the darkness, only his eyes shone faintly in the dim light.
"We are ready Gram. Lead the way and lets get this thing while we still have time on our side" she says when Gram speaks
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 21, 2014 19:34:10 GMT -5
As they made their way through the tunnels, Gram took out the tablet and glanced down every so often to make sure they were on the right track. There were a few twists and turns, but the map proved accurate and they were soon and the symbol of Thoth that the anubis contact had described to them earlier. Unfortunately, next to it was a recently excavated room, the room that was supposed to contain the scroll they'd come for.
Gram cursed. He'd been tricked. That was what had been nagging him the entire time. Upon entering the antiquities museum of the new Alexandria library, he'd seen fliers talking about some manuscripts recently recovered from the underground library, but Nathaniel had thought nothing of it at the time.
"Drew, make some calls. I want that Anubis before we return to the states and I want him alive!" Gram was furious. The contact had sold him outdated information, and at an inflated price, no less! Such an affront was unacceptable and Gram's underworld contacts would never take him seriously again if he let the contact get away with it.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 21, 2014 19:40:37 GMT -5
Chaltah stood there looking at the empty chamber where the supposed artifact was supposed to be and then looks back to Gram "Best to get moving. Most likely, when those chasing you get here they're going to think you have it and hunt you down with that much more determination" she heads for the exit, hopping on Stormchaser back and the two of them move off for the exit once more. She still kept a watch on their path, danger still presented itself until either the supernaturals or her group were dead.
Stormchaser moved silently through the halls, giant paws padding softly along the ground. His eyes darted about, looking into each shadow as his eyes were better than his companions by a long shot. He slows down to make sure that Gram and his men were able to keep up with him, glancing back from time to time to make sure they were still there.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 21, 2014 19:48:09 GMT -5
Gram gritted his teeth at the mention of the supernatural group after them. Hopefully, they hadn't gone to the anubis for information and actually gotten the truth instead of being sent on a wild goose chase, like he'd been. They could be at the museum now, taking the scroll! He hurried along as fast as he can, retracing his steps from memory as his men followed. He was angry with himself for not realizing that he'd been tricked sooner. His mistake might have cost him the scroll.
As they made their ways out of the tunnels, Gram spoke to Chaltah. "If that room was recently excavated, then the scroll was probably taken to the museum. I remember seeing a flier saying they had acquired some new pieces and would be holding an exhibition for them soon, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Most likely we will find the scroll in the museum's vault."
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 21, 2014 21:45:49 GMT -5
Chaltah nods and looks to Gram as he spoke "A very good place for it. But I doubt a museum has the means to keep out a band of crazed supers" she looks at the cars then to Gram "I think it'd be faster to fly. And with the night Stormchaser would not be so easily seen in the night sky"
Stormchaser nods and changes back to his human form once more "She is right. We can cover much more ground if we fly there. And hopefully they wouldn't expect me to do such a thing in a populated area." he looks around, glancing at the empty streets then back to Gram "Are you willing to fly on the back of a dragon?"
Chaltah looks at the men with them a moment then to Gram "They may have to take the cars though, Stormbringer wouldn't be able to carry them all on his back."
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 21, 2014 22:04:44 GMT -5
Gram thought for a moment. "I am willing to fly on Stormbringer's back. Can he carry no others.?" If at all possible, he would rather not leave all of his men behind. While they were no magic, Gram's experiences in Ireland had proven to him that supernaturals were not completely immune to bullets, and each of his men were heavily armed and well trained.
"If he can fit one more, I would like to bring Drew." Gram gestured to the smallish man whose silence and unremarkable features made him easy to overlook. "But if you can not carry him, then we should go immediately. Every second we waste is a second longer that the relic hunters have to escape with the scroll." He had worked too hard to obtain this scroll and it's powers and Gram was not about to just give up or even slow down for a second.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 21, 2014 22:16:22 GMT -5
Chal looks over at Drew and sizes him up "we can carry him... it's going to be tricky but it can be done" she looks to her friend "Alright buddy. let's do this"
Stormchaser nods and shifts and contorts into a long, obsidian dragon with a long neck and equally long tail, wings that shadowed the whole group as they stretched to the sky. "Only two can ride on my back. I will carry Chaltah in my claws." he rumbles to Gram and drew "Stay off my wing muscles or this will be one short flight"
Chaltah makes sure everything is strapped into place and gets ready for the ride "Alright Gram, Drew, mount up and lets get moving" once the two were on, the dragon takes flight, making a pass to pick Chaltah up in his claws as he then races off toward the museum once more to get the desired scroll
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 21, 2014 23:07:35 GMT -5
Gram ordered the rest of his men to get to the new library as fast as possible, then he and Drew climbed onto Stormbringer's back, both being careful to heed the dragon's warning and stay off of his wing muscles. Drew actually looked somewhat excited which was one of the first times Gram had ever seen him express any kind of emotion, but Gram's own face was locked with determination as he thought of what he was going to do to the anubis who had betrayed him.
Once they'd arrived at the museum, Gram and Drew slid off of the dragon's back and both rushed for the entrance, Drew taking the lead. When they got inside, they could clearly see two guards, one badly burned and the other torn to pieces. "They're here." Gram remarked, gritting his teeth as he took out his pistol and flicked the safety off, Drew unslinging the AR that his coat covered. They ran deeper into the museum, headed towards the vault, passing a few more corpses along the way, the stench of burned flesh hanging in the air.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 22, 2014 10:42:22 GMT -5
Chaltah was dropped to the ground as the dragon approached his landing zone, rolling and popping back up on her feet, running to catch up with Gram and Drew raced toward the museum, the smell of burnt flesh reaching her, it almost made her sick as she went by the poor men that had been torched in such a fashion.
Stormchaser was back into the form of a large cat, able to run much faster and keep up with them as they moved through the halls. He scanned the halls and the shadows and occasionally behind them to make sure they weren't being cut off from a possible escape if they needed to beat a hasty retreat.
Chaltah pulls out her bow as they moved along the hall and pauses only long enough to get the string on before catching up with the others "you must want this pretty bad to go up against a group of who knows how many supers, Gram"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 22, 2014 12:22:44 GMT -5
Gram shook his head slightly. "It's the principle of the thing. Supernaturals bleed just like anyone else." He stopped talking just then, slowing down as they were coming up on the vault and could hear faint noises ahead. He and Drew stopped before the corner turned onto the vault and Gram peeked around.
Turning back to Chaltah and Stormbringer, he whispered "They have two angels guarding the entrance to the vault and there are definitely more inside. I still don't see what could have torn that guard apart." Gram glanced back in the direction of the supernaturals. "I figure we could drop the two angels rather easily if we ambushed them, but it would probably be a good idea to wait for more of them to leave the vault, first. What do you two think?"
Drew and Gram both checked their weapons. Gram steadied his heart. He was an intellectual, not a warrior, but it was not in his nature to let others do the hard work for him. He was ready.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 22, 2014 14:07:35 GMT -5
Chaltah and Storm bring up the rear and peak around for a moment to assess the situation before gazing to Gram and his guard. "Alright, we will wait. But whatever tore up those men is not not be taken lightly. It could be a demon, or a hybrid lycanthrope. And if it's a hybrid... then he's not a rookie" she notches an arrow on her bow and Storm keeps the cat form, its natural weapons like lethal daggers and easier to maneuver than in any other form.
Chaltah takes a deep breath to calm her, as tensions started running high. This was it. There was not turning back at this point. She waits quietly for Gram's signal to attack since this was his mission
Stormchaser crouches down closer to the floor, muscles tense as he waited for the call to attack with fangs bared. This was just like a hunt, only in this hunt, the prey had weapons that could kill him as well
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 22, 2014 16:04:09 GMT -5
After waiting for a few moments, the rest of the supernaturals emerged from the vault. There were seven of them, total, including the tall man who'd managed to escape in Ireland that Gram was beginning to suspect was a daemon. "Well, that explains the burnt corpses." Gram muttered under his breath.
In addition to the two angels and the daemon who appeared to be in charge, there were two more minotaurs and two regular looking people, a man and a woman, who, Gram assumed, were more shapeshifters like the wolf girl he shot in the forest.
Drew opened fire, aiming for the minotaurs first. The one nearest their position went down quickly, his aim perfect, but his rifle jammed before he could kill the second. The remaining minotaur bellowed and charged, balls of fire soaring past him toward their position as the other supernaturals reacted. Gram put two bullets in it's chest but it kept coming, followed closely by what appeared to be some kind of tiger human hybrid and a bear human hybrid.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 22, 2014 18:13:11 GMT -5
Chaltah hated to be right as she saw the hybrids coming down at them with the minotaurs. Seeing the one still coming she raises her bow and fires a shot at the creatures head, in an attempt to stop it dead and then dives from the fireball volley to the other side of the hall and grabbing another arrow to fire. She peeks out to see what was going on and aims a shot at the bear. "Come on grizzly adams. Come get me" and turns to clear some space, hoping the man would follow
Stormchaser races in under the minotaur, heading for the back and lunges at one of the angels, using his claws to dig in and then leap off to the Daemon with mouth agape to try and crush the man's skull in his jaws and seeking to sink the claws into his chest before leaping back hopefully before anyone could react to his presence there, zigzaging his way back to the group, and maybe attacking one of the hybrids from behind
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 22, 2014 18:42:06 GMT -5
Even with an arrow in it, the minotaur kept coming. It was nearly on them when Drew dropped his rifle and shoved Gram out of the way. Out of the corner of his eye, Gram saw Drew go down underneath the minotaur but he had bigger problems to worry about. The werebear and weretiger were nearly on him but the bear veered away, roaring, going after Chaltah instead. Gram ducked a fireball and fired at the tiger.
Meanwhile, the angels produced swords and shields and set up a coordinated defense against Stormbringer's charge. There was a bright flash of light from the daemon and, when the after image disappeared, he was gone. Stormbringer's intended target raised his shield to block while the second angel attacked from his flank. The two were obviously used to fighting together and would be a challenge to take on alone.
None of Gram's shots were a clean hit, only grazing the weretiger and it was nearly on him when the stock of Drew's gun interfered, swung like a baseball bat.
