Hellis

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

AND



IN

AVALON CALLING PART THREE: THIS HERE IS MY RIFLE

Their journey to the tower went without any more problems. On the back of Dickens, they were soon in front of two massive oak doors, fastened into a granatie portal in the side of the tower. The portals arch was about twice as tall as Johan and carved into the shape of swords nad roses. A most impressive sight. Johan looked hard at the door. "My rifle is beyond these doors. Now, the question is.. what else is behind these doors." He muttered as he pushed the heavy oakdoors open. It took some effort, in truth they were more then a little heavy and he had to put his all into it. As the doors swung open, it revealed a large circular hall, with shelves that reached to the cieling. In the middle stood a woman, hips cocked and a eyebrow raised.

"Excuse me? You could have knocked you know?" A woman who was rather on the heavy side said. She was, despite her size, gorgeous in an oldfashioned way. Her eyes sparkled in the candle light. Her lips were red, as was her dress. Her hair was the same firey color as most of her. Johan knew this woman from somewhere, he was sure of it.

"Things have been less than Stellar getting here, strange creatures, Dragons even. I kinda half expected something to kill us by now. So, terribly sorry if knocking is the last things on our minds." Eva held out her hand for a greeting with Excalibur in her off hand. "Pleasure. Pendragon."

"Pendragon?" The woman's voice dropped into a cold, standoffish tone. As she shook Evas hand, she squeezed down like a vice. "Charmed. Guinevere, you can call me Gwyn." Johan face palmed audibly.

"You're the lass that ditched Arthur in the legends...." He groaned.

"Arthur was a self absorbed asshole. I hope his heir..." She stared Eva in the eyes. "Is of more humble a mind."

Eva winced as the woman lessened her grip. "Right, you knew Arthur then. Despite the wishes of my Family yeah, I'm the Black Sheep. Arthurs' teaching me what I need to know, seems he's so self absorbed he won't die even in death."

"Ah, poor girl." Gwyn said as she looked Eva over from top to toe. "Well then, Champion of Avalon, wielder of the Sword of the Lake, Kin-I am sorry, Queen of all that was once Albion." Her voice echoed around the chamber up, making the stone seemingly vibrate in the walls. "What brings you to the Land of Mist?"

"My rifle actually" Johan interjected only to be shot a glare that could freeze fire.

"You will speak when spoken to outsider." She looked back to Eva. "Well, speak up."

Eva raised her hand to signal her question. "Uh, Yeah. Queen? I, seem to have not gotten that memo."

"What? Oh. yes. Well only the heirs to Arthurs legacy may hold that blade. Arthur was the true first king of the Britons." She clucked her tongue. "I mean, of course the mortal realm would likely object to your claim on the throne... But know, that you are of true noble blood." She said as she turned to walk back to a high backed, massive share. She sighed. "I was a librarian before i reincarnated you know. Now I sit in some moldy old tower with memories of a time long gone…"

"Right. Can we not do the royalty bit, I've had enough of that from my own Family. Please of course. So, Johan here, has a Rifle to kill a Nasty Demon. Somewhere in your, Tower Home, which considering you have Dragons for neighbors looks lovely yeah."

"Had Dragon for neighbour, judging from your friends prize. Good riddance. Made gardening a chore that great overgrown lizard did. So you seek the Witch Killer?" Gwyn eyed Johan with a keen look to her. Like she was sizing up proper for the first time.

"I... I try not to call it that." Johan said hesitantly.

"But that is its name. A weapon fashioned by mortals who wish to kill all magic things, who believe the only way to be free is by the fire of a pyre." Gwyn mused as she looked back to Eva.

"Have he told you where he first got the rifle from?"

"No. Not really, but considering Excalibur fell into my lap, I kinda assumed it worked that way." Dickens poked his head in inquisitively. "This, yeah. He's Dickens. He's with me. Well, Johan is as well, but Dickens is mine."

"Awww. He is a adorable." Gwyn smiled then her eyes turned hard and cold. "The Witch Killer is a unholy weapon, unlike that sword of yours. It is evil. It was made by the same men who would throw you onto pyre. Its handle is carved from the human bones of innocent men and women whose only fault was a talent in magic. Its metal is iron from the very same nails they crucify people with. It is an accursed and twisted thing."

"That's," Eva cringed. "Really not pleasant. So, Evil weapon, Johan, we might need to talk about where it ends up after this yeah. Back in safekeeping would be a plus."

"Agreed..." Johan said, not taking his eyes from Gwyn. "I am taking it you want something in return for letting me have it back?"

"Yes, I do." Gwyn spoke "When you have taken down that demon you are hunting. YOu two will return here.... with a TV."

"....What?" Johan blinked.

"Did I stutter? A TV."

"Do you even get a network out here?"

"Magic. I got some tricks of my own.."

"Right, well I'm okay with that, anything particular in mind? Else I'm getting a 32 inch. And we need to stop a Demon with a powerful Soul Stone, who probably didn't create it for the Epic parties."

"Fair enough girl. 32 inch will do. Try not to die out there~~" Gwyn said as she got up. Now, follow me. I rather you take it yourself so I don't have to touch the damn thing myself." As she spoke, she led them up a long winding staircase that seemed to go forever. She pushed open a iron door into a large room filled with strange weapons. Swords, halberds, guns, knives and all manners of tools of destruction hung along the walls. And in the middle of the room lay their prize. The handle was smooth white bone, with intricate carvings in latin all along it. The barrel was of a reddened iron that seemed to pulse with something within it. Johan began walking up to it then hesitated.

"Cold feet, Champion?"

"No. Not cold feet. I just had to wait for the last of my sanity to leave me" He sighed, before reaching over to grab it. The second he touched it, searing pain shot up his arm and the entire gun flared with a sickly, pale purple color. He gritted his teeth as he fell to one knee, grabbing his arm by the elbow. Channeling his magic he sent a blast of arcane energy right into himself, the searing power of pure arcane force drove back the curse. He grit his teeth and waited for the pain to recede. "Alright." He gasped. "That was even worse then I remember." As he got up, he hefted the rifle over his shoulder. The glow had resided, and the gun looked its former, eerie self. But Johan could feel its evil pulsate within, it wanted to be used.

"Let’s go home." He said. "I need me some ol' fashioned New York pizza and a lot of booze"

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

Part 2 out of 3 of Avalon Calling finished. This little sidequest is a lot of fun

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

AND



Ref

IN

AVALON CALLING PART TWO: THERE BE DRAGONS.

There was a rule, unwritten but often referenced: Where there are Champions, there are dragons. There is a reason to Wyrms, Wyverns, Drakes and Dragons appear in all the sagas to fight the man with the sword. It is because Dragons are beings of not only powerful magic, but boundless greed. They hoard everything, from gold to artifacts to knowledge. They are also intelligent enough to posses arrogance and completely despise lesser creatures.

Enter the Champions, bringers of justice, warriors of virtue, the long arm of their Patrons law. And there were no bigger culprits, no worse criminals then the dragons who recognized no kings, no laws. And so, Johan swore like a sailor as he got his spear charged up. They were still drifting towards the shore like they were being towed in, but he saw that dragon take off. And he had no doubt it was going to fly their way sooner or later.

Eva stared blankly at the Dragon soaring above them and thoughts of doubt streamed through her mind No freaking way, nope, Magic, Demons, Ghosts, this is taking the biscuit out of everything I've seen

"I fucking hate Dragons..." He said as their boat reached the shore. "I am gonna lay down a tracking spell. You keep my back clear Alright. I have no idea what kind of creatures live here aside that dragon..."

"Um, I." Eva stuttered her mind struggled to snap back to whatever reality she had been dropped into. "Oh just, Sodding hell. There's a Bloody Stonking Dragon, like. Like. I don't Bloody know how I'm supposed to respond to this. But fine, Arse everything! I'll keep them off ya with my grand personality yeah!"

"You got a sword don't you?! So sword them!" Johan shouted at her as he began to lay out rune carved bones and creating runes and circles in the sand around him. All the time muttering in odors as magic coursed trough him. The runes on his hands and his entire trench coat lit up like Christmas as power fluxed and surged around his feet. Even as he worked, he could see shapes in the thick mist, moving their way.

The winged figure began to break through the fog, it's head was that of a Lion, but the body it was attached to was horrifying, bat wings and a snake tail. Eva had no idea what it was but it was making a bee line for them.

"Good Evening!" The beast shouted sounding like a proper British Gent, before it's massive claws sprung out towards the two. "Forgive my rudeness, but I'm quite famished, and you two would go lovely with a simple balsamic glaze." The beast let out a roar.

Before Eva could respond, tentacles shot out from Dicken's mouth wrapping around the beast and since it was swiftly coming in for the kill all; it didn't take much for Dickens to easily swallow the beast whole, even in it's diminutive state. Snapping bones and spurting blood as it was sucked down through Dicken's maws.

"You gotta be kidding me." Rune said, staring in terrified admiration. "Can I have one of those?" He said as he finished the preparation for the spell.

Eva stood just as stunned as Johan, she knew he'd eat practically anything but that; that was something else. "So. I'm gonna admit I didn't think he could do that. Good Boy?" Eva said as she rubbed the underside of his neck while Dickens stood content and happy with his meal.

"Well. The spell is ready. Stand back" Rune spoke as he stood in the middle of a very intricate circle. He raised his spears as he thundered out words of ancient Norse and a language few humans knew; the tongue of Frostelves, Feiylan. His spear lit up like a massive beacon for a second as the bones around him exploded into magic fire and the sand shifted at his feet. He kept chanting as beam cut trough the mist from the tip of his spear. Then the spell died and Rune staggered. A corridor had formed in the thick mist, and seemed to remain there.

"Trough that... path... is my rifle" Johan huffed. "Using my magic here is really hard on me apparently."

Eva beckoned and Dickens followed, as they stepped of onto the beach. "Okay," Eva said crouching. "Time to grow." Dickens stood for a moment, as his body began to change, the tentacles that created his muscles expanded as he began to tower above them becoming the giant that he really was. "Let's take the fast route, yeah. Nothing says fast travel like a giant Alien T-Rex." Eva hopped on his back and reached a hand towards Rune "You getting on?"

"uh... Yeah ok" Johan climbed up with some effort. As they set off, he marveled at the speed of the thing. "I am getting one of these" He stated. "It would make my life so much easier." Johan found that for the first time in a while, the cloud of self pity and anger was dissipating. He clung to the creatures back as they began to close on the massive tower they seen trough the mist. And that's when he saw the Dragon come swooping down at them. "Fock..."

With a sweeping force that could only be coma pared to a typhoon speeding past them; the force knocking them off Dickens and forcing him to stumble. The Dragon was something of a beast, even as massive as Dickens was it still outclassed him. It swung back around and let out a volcanic blast of fire melting the flesh right off Dickens. There was a roar of pain as it immediately began regenerating tissue wrapped around trunks of tentacles and Dickens grew even larger of all things.

"That is a goddamn dragon. Your alien pet can grow as big as it like, the magic nature of the dragon won't let it lose to it!" Rune spoke over the screeching, roaring and sound of ground scorching fire. "It is your job as a champion, to put that thing down!"

"Swell. Dickens!" Eva yelled, "Bring it down!" As Eva gripped Excalibur the Dragon came back round. "Johan! Until Dickens can bring it down, I'm pretty useless, unless you can make me fly, so if you can shoot spells or something, I'll leave ranged to you."

"What! This is your dragon dammit!" Johan yelled over the noise but none the less began to channel a spell through his spear. This one was rather straight forward as it only relied on his own innate magic and not his surroundings like before. Runes appeared like ghostly flames around the tip of his spear: Then as the beast made another sweep, he tossed the spear. The throw was half assed at best, but the spear shot off like a rocket,smashing into the Dragon. However, being innately resistant to magic, the Dragon seemed to be annoyed more then anything. It spit a single ball of magical fire at Johan who only barely managed to create a shield, throwing out a handful of stones and bones in front of him.

"Well shit. Those were all the shield runes I brought..."

"MY Dragon!" Eva shouted back. "Unless you wanna ask it, I don't think it particularly cares which one of us it munches on, I mean yeah, I'll toss the sword, sure. That'll bring it down for sure. Johan's attack did naught but piss it off, thankfully as it swooped back around again Dickens was prepared to lunge at it, leaping over the tree line and clinching it's jaws around the Dragon slamming it to the ground. Dicken's maws dug into it's flesh, through the scales. But was on a whole ineffective.

"Your blade holds unparalleled lethality in this realm! As its champion, you posses the power to put down anything native to Avalon!" Johan shouted only to add "I hope at least" He added more to himself then to her.

The Dragon struggled with Dickens, continuing to scorch his ever regenerating flesh. Eva rushed up sword at the ready for a heavy over hand swing."Shite! Blast it all!" Eva yelled out in a panic as her sword connected with it's throat cleaving a chunk away. As the Dragon began to bleed out Dickens lessened it's bite and sunk it again around it's head, ripping it from the spine, as Eva gave it one last chop to fully sever what remained.

Johan wiped some sweat from his brow. "That creature of yours sure is handy." He walked up the dragon and kicked the rather massive body. "Huh.. This must be a young dragon. I've seen one twice as big.."
"Let's not stick around then, I'd rather not run into another one of these." Eva turned to Dickens, who was more than happily munching on the carcass. "You okay, took a beating there?" Dickens turned with entrails hanging from its maws; cocked it's head and went right back to eating. As humongous as the beast was Dickens tore into it like it was an appetizer what took it seconds for the Chimera was Minutes for a Young Dragon. And if it weren't for Excalibur gaining power in Avalon, who knows how much damage it would have caused.

Although as Eva looked back on it, the Dragon probably didn't have reason to worry about visitors coming this far out.

"I guess, we're done here. Onto the tower then yeah?"

"Just a second." Rune used DIckens happy, and quite sloppily eating of the carcass to access and wrench out the dragons heart. He was elbow deep in blood as he held the bowling ball sized organ in his hands.. "Ok. Now we can go." He said, entirely unconcerned by the fact that he was soaking in dragon blood and holding a glowing, leaking heart under his arm. "What are you staring at?"

"That a thing? Ripping out Dragon hearts? What's next you gonna tell me we should bathe in it's blood?"

"No. That would only insult its cousins I bet. A heart is a powerful ingredient and often sought for by magicians. A dragons heart? I am gonna be set for a while." He hesitated for a second then said. "I'll split the profits 50/50, don't worry." He patted her shoulder, leaving a splotch of dragon blood on it. Then he strolled towards the tower, clearly in better spirits now that the dragon was dealt with and he had made some sort of real profit from the journey.

"Right, well moving on. I should bring Dickens here, more. He seems to be enjoying himself." Eva and Johan climbed onto of dickens once more. Setting of at speed towards the tower. Who knew what horrors awaited them.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

:D Just send me 10000dollar american plz. I fix I fix.

I imagine we all just drown her in money? Isn't that how this works.

Also me and Hank are working on collab. It has gotten pretty good so far.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

@gcold I personally find it helps looking at the naming conventions of each race.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

I am more then willing to pitch in :D

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

“Aida.” Kaya stared the thirty something pakistani woman in the eyes. Short, stocky and matronly, she was also deceptively strong and an ace pilot. Aida for her part, stared back with the intensity of a sun. Despite her young age, her hair was graying in places. Her hands were shaking, clutched into fists. Kaya could see a lot of very conflicting emotions. She just hopes the positive ones would win out.

“Kaya” Aida spoke, her face suddenly breaking into a smile that could rival the Sahara desert for warmth. The two women embraced, tears staining both faces.

“I am so sorry Aida.” Kaya sighed, biting back more tears. “I should have done this a lot sooner.”

“Shh Kaya. Omar always spoke the world of you. But we both knew you were never very good with people. Or emotions. “She said staring Kaya in the eyes again. Hands seizing the other womans shoulder like a gentle vice.

“You… You aren’t mad?”

“I am livid. I haven't seen you since Omars funeral. Not a blessed word from you. I only got to hear about your near death from your old nanny.” She chided her, kaya almost flinched back, despite being Aidas senior by one year. Guilt crept up on her like ivy on a old stonewall. Gripping to her. But then Aida slapped her so hard she saw double. Kaya stared back at her wide eyed. She didn’t cradle her face but it stung like a straight right to the jaw. Those were some powerful slaps. Her ear was ringing.

“You feel better now larhki?” Aida asked, hands on her hips. Eyes like steel. “Or do you want me slap that guilt out of you some more?”

“No.. No I am good Aida.” She said rubbing the cheek. “I’m good. It’s like I was hit with a frying pan.. ”

“Good. Let’s get you to Colombia.” Aida said, face softening and matronly, apologetic smile that once snared Omar appearing on her face. She turned around and began walking towards the hangar door.

“About that. Do you still have it?”

“Have it? Oh Larhki, I traded it in for a newer model.” Aida smirked as they stared at the hangar. Aida was a test pilot for some really fancy defence contractors, and worked unofficially for a branch of the American Military up until Omars death.

“Wuh? How?” Kaya asked, a bit bewildered at the information that Aida apparently had enough sway to still get new pieces of highly advanced military specs.

“Omar and I knew many defence contractors.” Aida said as she pushed open the hangar doors. What greeted Kaya was a sleek, very cutting edge looking jet of some sort. She gave out a low whistle at the site. She had expected the old bird Aida had flown for a decade. “Some of the retired ones and I came together to start a network of sharing tech.”

“The Breakwing Z30. ” Kaya mumbled. “How are they letting you keep this again?”

“Because I am on the payroll for life.” Aida grinned. “And becouse this prototype is the baby of my little initiative”

“Right. And they won’t be upset about you taking it into colombian airspace.” Kaya raised a questioning eyebrow as a ramp unfolded let them step up inside it. Aida gave a mirthful chuckle.

“Oh no. Not at all. It is a prototype and they have all but asked me to give it a official test run. Ever since the Meta Bomb thing, they are pushing this as the next rapid response measure” She winked at Kaya. Kaya rolled her eyes softly. Always the wild spirit, Aida had not changed a bit. The two stared at the machine.

“Alright then. Let’s go pull Hernandez ass out of the fire.”

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

@Hank

Sounds like a swell idea.

The Elder Scrolls: Fruits of Contention - Chapter 1 (Completed)

Hmm. I can totally see Valen get thrown overboard...

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

"Otto." Rune said as the two magicians headed down a alley in downtown Hells Kitchen. His eyes flickered between the mouth of the alley and his friend who carried the comatose Necromancer. Their little invisibility spell would not work forever. Saying the words, Rune made the door to the Red Devil appear. The two stared at it apprehensively.

"Yes my old friend." Otto said, not looking away from the door.

"How screwed are we." Rune spoke, fidgeting with his collar.

"You seen that movie with the zombies" Otto inquired. Not taking his eyes of the door. Neither liked Puck much. The creature known as Puck was a born trickster. A deal maker. Neither of them thought they'd get out of this without paying a price.

"Which one, they make like a hundred a month now." Rune said, finally looking to his friend.

"You know. the one with the book of dead." Otto said as he took the first step towards the door.,

"Evil dead? Yeah." Rune said as he followed.
"Well I think you are gonna have to cut your hand off and replace it with a chainsaw for us to have a fighting chance." Otto said deadpannd. Rune walked past him and lifted his foot high.

"Right. Fuck that." Rune said and kicked the door open.

The two entered the Red Devil and the entire place went quiet. A sylph hid behind a chair, a nymph sunk back in her chair. Two men of middle eastern persuasion immediately cleared their cards from their table and reached into their robes. Rune stared at everyone gathered. He had a rep alright. Rune. Johan Winterchild. Lover of Elven Kings, champion of the Northern realm. A mean, angry vikin of a man with stick. It all depended on your perspective.

"Awfully busy as of late, aren't you. Puck"

Puck turned from his station afront the tavern's patrons. His gaze fluttered quickly from the large crystal mirror to the The Red Devil's newest additions.

"Ah, welcome friends!" Puck greeted them with a mixture of enthusiasm and sarcasm that made it difficult to divine his true intentions. "Yes, quite busy. The benefit of being in the business of magical contracts is that someone always wants something from you, and I see that even you, one of my more esteemed guests, is no different. So tell me, what brings you to The Red Devil?"

Of course Puck was familiar with Rune and his work. This world and the next were filled with news and gossip of the human who carried out the orders of the Elven King of the North. Puck had few dealings with the elves, preferring the company of Fey, witches, and humans, but he knew enough about the King and his servant to understand that the circumstances that would draw him here must be dire.

"Who the fuck tore up New York?" Rune began but Otto, still carrying Hildebrand nudged him. "Oh. And we need to stash a commatose Necromancer."

"Whatever do you mean?" Puck tried to play it off. He knew exactly what they were talking about, but, as with any other exchange, he loved to stretch things out and see what else he could gain.

"You know exactly what I mean you you goatfaced, slimey sucker. You better tell me, or I swear to gods, devils and the occasional snake that I will make sure not a single witch, nymph or fae will ever be able to look you in the face." People were staring, some with their mouth agape now. More then one was thinking there was serius problem brewing.

Puck didn't allow himself to be intimidated, though he knew that if he didn't comply, there would be trouble.

"Alright, alright, you've convinced me." he waved the two of them over to the bar, took a seat, and ordered a round of drinks. "I may have met with a certain embodiment of all of man's greed some months back, and he may have asked for my aid in some particularly ancient dark magic, which is, I suspect, what you're referencing?" he took a sip.

Rune made sure they gave him the good stuff. That ancient fae meed that knocked lesser alcoholics cold. He drank as he listened and only barely kept from doing a spit take. His eyes flared open like to ice blue angry beacons.

"Please tell me you didn't just tell me Broker of all things has it..." Otto said before Rune could toss Puck across the bar in rage. His wolven hand pushed a straining Rune down into the chair. "Puck." He leaned in close. Not wanting the others to overhear. "He created a soulstone the equivalent of nothing we ever seen before."

"So it would seem . . ." Puck replied, taking a moment to think. "But, despite my vague involvement with the whole thing, this really has nothing to do with me. I provided Broker with information, nothing more. I then gave a certain employee of mine a choice. What happened next was an unfortunate externality beyond my control and, quite frankly, I don't care either way. I'm a neutral third party, as you should well know. I don't bend to one side or the other, I just sit in the middle and watch."

"Yeah. You are a regular swizz bank. Complete with a stash of Nazi gold." Rune muttered as he simmered down. "So. Mr Neutral." Rune leaned in. "You could do me a favor now. I need to find people not completely mental with a eye for magic. Unless you wanna see Greed Eternal turn the world into his plaything?"

Otto chimed in. "We are gonna need all the allies we can get. Greed Eternal, Broker, whatever you wanna call him. He is a Judean Incarnation. One of THE demons. We don't have the firepower alone."

Puck smiled, "Well . . . you could always find the witch responsible for creating the Soul Stone, though I don't quite know where she's gone off to at the moment. Alternatively, there are others floating about the continent. Ancient ones like Broker with powers that rival his own, ones that deal in contracts with witches . . . ones that rule over witches."

"Rune" Otto said, carefully leaning away from Puck.

"Yeah... I think this is getting worse and worse. I don't need to make deals with ancient ones. I can't, I am beholden to my King."Rune spat the last word like it was venom. "Although if you can help us find whoever helped Broker, that'd be worth my time here make no mistake. But... If you are talking about Hecate..." He said the name very, very carefully. "I think I will pass even if I could make deals." He said, shivering slightly. Suddenly his face lit up. "Hey Puck. Do you still have that magic Winchester I pawned to you?"

Puck shuddered at the mention of that damnable rifle. He was hesitant to take it in the first place, fearing that it might cause difficulties for him and his patrons were he to keep it in the tavern. Instead, he had disposed of it almost as soon as it came to him, kept it somewhere safe where he'd hoped it would never be retrieved.

[color=CD5C5C]"Unfortunately, I am no longer in possession of said rifle, but I do know where it is hidden."[/color}

"Oh.. I see." Johan leaned back, running a hand troug his hair. "And I suppose you want something in return for telling me where it is?"

"Indeed. In exchange for this information, I ask only that you grant immunity to the one who is truly responsible for the Soul Stone's creation. Ensure that no harm comes to her through either of your hands or through your aid, and the rifle's location is yours.

"...You know. When I said you were Switzerland. I didn't consider the fact that you would actually go to swing for the Nazis. But fine. I won't cut down your pretty associate. But if she lifts a finger to keep me from the Soul Stone or try to hurt me and the deal is invalidated." Rune shot back.

"Fair enough!" Puck snapped his fingers and a thick piece of parchment appeared on the bar top, accompanied by an empty inkwell and a sharp quill. The parchment unrolled, reavealing the terms of their deal. Puck's name was already etched at the bottom of the page. "Prick your finger with the quill, sign your name, and the deal is struck. You shall have the rifle's location."

Rune sighed and grabbed the quill. He wrote down his name, staring Puck in the eyes. "Where is it?"

"Shortly after coming into contact with the rifle, I passed it on to a witch in whom I held great trust. He tasked his familiar with its desposal. As I understand it, the familiar carried the weapon across the sea to a place in the Old Country that sits between this world and the next, a rip in the Veil. The denizens of this place are strange indeed and still refer to their home as Albion. The rifle itself is buried somewhere in the remnants of old Albion in a charmed silver box. Your magic should be enough to open it, but be careful of what creatures reside between the Veil, and be sure that you have a way of tearing a hole back into this world . . ."

"Albion.. Gods above and below. Where do I find someone to help me with that..."