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[b]Port Town: Tagress[/b]

The Pride returned to Lafeal from the decimated Woods of Weir to find their efforts had been successful. The curse had been broken, and all of the townspeople had been transformed back to normal, including Don, Selan, the Donahues and Elaine’s husband Malik. The day had been won, but it would leave a gaping wound in the Pride that would be difficult to heal. 

They continued on to Tagress in silence, and upon arriving in the bustling port town, went their separate ways to handle and come to grips what had happened. Lucien, Moira and Syed had retired to a bar, planning to drink their frustration away, whilst the others gloomily settled in at the bar. Don, oblivious to what had really happened, went to explore Tagress along with Kapi. They stumbled upon a burgeoning gang fight between two of Tagress’ local gangs, and he meant to put a peaceful stop to it. Moira, Syed and Lucien, who followed another gang to the dock warehouses where the fight would take place, found Don’s efforts to be quickly turned down and the man knocked unconscious. The scene could have turned much, much more worse then it had, if the trio weren’t rescued, and the gangs sent packing, by one of Moira’s oldest friends:- The A Rank Tagress Guild Leader himself, Tiberius Rex. He helped escort them to the Guild, promising to catch up with Moira later. 

The next day, the Pride had managed to sleep, but the feelings of guilt and turmoil resided. Don, not wishing to see his friends be so gloomy and sad, ended up kidnapping Lucien and Dylan to take them on a bro day out. Trixie meanwhile, was exploring Tagress along with Julius, whom had promised the prankster to go shopping with her sometime. Selan and Amy remained at the Guild to talk, whilst Lisette, Syed and Moira shared a morning breakfast at a tasty café. It wasn’t long before they were interrupted by Don and his shenanigans, who forced them all to come shopping with him for some new, stylish clothes. The results were… unexpected, to say the least. 

[b]Silent goodbye[/b]

As the Pride eased their way into recovery, and weaving their lives back into normalcy, sadder developments were occurring elsewhere between Estelle and Marcus. Estelle, wracked in grief and self hatred for being a terrible leader. For someone unreliable and unable to accomplish anything, admitted to Marcus how hard the burden was, and how much easier it would be for them to go about their mission alone. She wanted to leave the Pride, and carry on with Marcus, alone. And she wanted to do so without telling anyone about it either.

Marcus however, despite wishing to agree with Estelle and her wishes no matter what, saw this as the onset of a catastrophic mistake born from grief. One that Estelle would later grow to hate herself for. After talking to Tiberius and explaining the situation, earning some advice from the Guild Leader in return, Marcus went to each member of the Pride separately, and explained the situation to them, and of how he and Estelle would depart for Vandrell in the coming days. Whether or not they wished to continue with them, would have to be a decision they would each decide. 

Three days later, Estelle and Marcus departed on a train for Vandrell.

[b][center][url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBx7EJ4YRsw]We Are Broken[/url][/center][/b]

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[b]Vandrell[/b]

All of the members of the Pride discover themselves inbound to Vandrell on the same train. The sight of everyone so far reuniting, with the exception of Amy and Trixie, helps to uplift their spirits, although they still hold worry and doubt over Estelle’s impending reaction. But like any and every other challenge they’d faced before, they resolve to face it head on.

Eventually, the train arrives at their destination: Tagress, and together they begin to explore the town in search of their companions. Things quickly grow worrying however, once they notice how empty and abandoned the streets are. There’s no Guild or Inn to relax in, and the nearest Tavern they enter only yields an unresponsive and dismissive set of patrons. The atmosphere is distorted and worrying. Something is amiss.

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But a peculiar stranger offers his assistance in leading the Pride to their missing friend’s whereabouts- he had seen them travel to the nearby Manor located on yonder hill. With no other leads, the Pride follow suit, and are glad they did when it starts to rain. Arriving at the Manor, they are greeted by the butler Jack, who diligently serves the noble Hawthorne Family. For the Hawthorne Family, they consider the Pride, plus the missing Amy, Trixie, Estelle and Marcus, as guests of their own, and invite them to dinner, rest and entertainment. The Pride gratefully accept.

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[b]The Hawthorne Family[/b]

The Hawthorne Family is composed of the head: the joyfully loud Lucius, his wife, the beautifully serene Drusilla, their children Damian- a bookworm and Alice, a child who loves her games and quickly makes friends with Trixie. Lucius’ cousin Megaera, a woman with a keen sense for refinement and is dismissive of anything less, attempts to teach Don in the art of regal manners. The maids Valentine, a violin virtuoso who greets several of the Pride whilst attending their laundry, and Circe, who serves as the Family cook and whom prepares their upcoming dinner, are also present. And rounding out the Family is Oren, an old man with a limp and gruff attitude who spends most of his time within the basement.

The evening starts fresh and joyful, with the Pride being given new clothes to wear as their soaked wet ones are taken to dry, and they begin to explore the Manor and interact with the Family. Trixie and Alice’s games end up involving many members of the Pride, whilst Lucius leads several to look over Megaera’s art gallery and the Manor’s stunning Ballroom, which they have the chance for a quick dance. Damian greets several more of the Pride in their expansive Library, until his mother Drusilla also appears to offer some assistance. As the Pride look over the Manor with wonder, they also endeavour to search for Estelle and Marcus, however time quickly runs out. Trixie and Don discover them, but the time for dinner had arrived.

Setting down at the table, the Pride enjoy a wonderful three course meal prepared by Circe to the background music of Valentine and Jack. Estelle and Don arrive late, to awkward tensions amongst their friends, which only heighten until Lucius snaps at his guests for their ill considered, rudeness towards their surroundings and his family. After this, however, the mood cools considerably, and once dinner has been completed, he leads his guests to the Ballroom for further revelry and delight. Everything is turning out splendid, even Estelle is starting to lighten up and have fun. But all of that comes to a crashing halt when one by one, the Pride collapse unconscious.

[b]The Ascension[/b]

They had been tricked by the Family, their food drugged during dinner. As they later discover upon awakening and through the help of another trapped prisoner, Billy, the Family are not the quaint, courteous nobles they present themselves as. Instead, they are a band of psychotic villains, aiming to bring about the resurrection of a fell, dreaded demon known as Abraxis through a ritual known as the Ascension. 

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With no way of knowing how much time is remaining, all the Pride do know is that they have their backs against the wall, with no help incoming. In a situation more dangerous then ever, the only option they have is to fight, and to win… or else the whole world could be doomed. They had to find the eight artefacts needed to prevent the Ascension’s completion. They had to stop the Family.

With Trixie’s help in freeing them, the Pride quickly escape and are reunited with their weapons and gear. Splitting up, the Pride search the Manor as quickly as they could for the Artefacts they need, as well as the members of the Family in order to put an end to their nefarious schemes. All around the Manor, the Pride become more and more split up, and embroiled in their most dangerous battles yet. Dylan and Lucien fight Damian and Alice in the Library. Lisette and Amy encounter Jack and Valentine in the Ballroom. Moira and Syed struggle against Frank, the demonic man machine juggernaut jailer, in the Courtyard. Celeste fights to rescue Julius from Megaera’s clutches in her Gallery. Selan finds Don in the second floor Guest Room corridor, trapped and bewitched by Drusilla’s charms. And Marcus and Trixie intrude upon Oren and Circe in the midst of performing an operation in the alchemist’s Basement/Laboratory. And so it begins.

[center][b][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=450rHBPBNOU]We’re in this Together[/url][/b][/center]

Through much trial, hardship and adversary, the Pride fight, and eventually, they succeed. Against all odds, the Pride manage to overcome their opponents, and claim 6 of the 8 keys they so far needed. But there is little time for rest or respite, as the ground beneath them surges and breaks. In the underground basement, a terrifying transformation occurs for both Marcus and Oren, as the latter injects himself with sinister concoction after another, transforming him into a giant, mutated monsters that rips itself free and onto solid ground. Marcus and Trixie, along with Trent and Nikki, former companions whom were similarly captured and drugged before their arrival, retreat into the courtyard, where they are joined by the rest of their companions in one united front against the horror that is the monstrous Oren. Together, they wage a deadly battle against an impossibly powerful being, who can withstand numerous amounts of pain, and who, even after being injured by the Pride, brought to his knees and blinded, is able to recover himself against.

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Things grow desperate and bleak.

On the Manor’s fourth floor, in the Master bedroom, Estelle encounters the Family’s leader, the dreaded Lucifer. After revealing how much time is left before the Ascension begins, Estelle wastes no time in attacking Lucifer, preferring not to listen to the maniac’s monologuing madness. Through fiery determination, Estelle breaks through his attacks and brings him down. But the victory is short-lived, the undead Lucifer, transforming into his true form, stabs Estelle in the back, leaving her to lie broken and dying behind.

As the battle rages outside, Oren, in all his madness, suddenly stops. A new presence appears above him and the Pride, silhouetted against the full moon. A vile and unspeakable, evil being.

And now…