Halls of Thor (open)

[Mathias VonTepes]

Mathias's footsteps echoed down the hall. Things moved about the rafters, cloaked in the darkness of the high ceiling. Mathias's sword was nowhere to be seen. It was just him and his guns. In the augment nodes on his guns were void augments, these extended the clip to infinity, but the bullets had to be loaded manually. Mathias had spent the entire night before this loading his clips. It was painstaking trying to empty box after box of ammuntition into his clips.

BOOM, BOOM, his feet thundered through the great marble hallways, bouncing off the walls that resembled spears set side by side. He didnt know how far down the hall went, but there were doors running the length of it. He just hoped anyone coming from one of those doors was just as lost as he was.

He came across a tablet at the entrance that said
"once these doors shut, only the blood of a warrior can free the lost"

Mathias only hoped that blood wouldnt be his...

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden was standing outside in the training ground in the rain. It was thundering and lightning baraging through the sky. Probably everyone would find that to be weird, but this demon really didn't care what others think...well atleast on this day only. Raiden was just sitting out there indian style in the rain. In occurance to the likeness of his name to thunder and lightning makes him comfortable. These are the only days Raiden feels at ease in such a different world. The feelings of tension others may share against demons and why they even exsist troubled Raiden many times. All this talk about who was at the top of the food train was annoying. It was said that demons challenged humans for that title.

All those thoughts ran through Raiden's head before he stood up and you could hear another crackle of thunder. Raiden walked down through the training ground into some sort of old complex. Raiden opened the huge doors and walked inside. As he brushed the water off his bare shoulders and clawed gauntlet he scanned the area. It was really dark, but Raiden had no problem seeing through it all. As usual his red eyes gleamed like flashlights. Someone would think they were being stalked by some red eyed cat. There was a feint pit pat of his feet as he moved about the halls. Each step was very silent as he slowly made his way down the hallway. The place was pretty old looking, but some how this lightning demon felt at ease in such a place. Lightning bolts and spears covered the wall. 'What is this place?' he said to himself. Just as Raiden said that he turned the corner to see someone standing in the darkness facing some kind of tablet. Raiden didn't hide himself or anything, but remained silent. "Hmmmm?" he said.

[Mathias VonTepes]

Mathias was reading the tablet as a small door next to him flew open. Mathias lept like a frightened cat. He looked through the door to see darkness, he dared not venture in, for even his vampire sight couldnt pierce it. He paid no mind and went back to desciphering(sp) the nordic writing. Out of the door a figure appeared, Mathias lept once more, what he wouldnt give to have his weapon in a place like this.

"I see now, thats why i couldnt see through the darkness, these doors are one way portals" He said with fascination.

"Your probably wondering where we are. We are currently standing in Valhalla, as you can see" he gave the wall of massive spears a tap. "And even though you cant see it, the ceiling is made of shields.

"I know we're in the twilight halls, a section in the Halls of Thor, but i have never been here, there are way too many halls and subhalls for a person to explore in 5 lifetimes" Mathias shared with the man the words of the inscription and followed by saying "But i wouldnt advise we do anything until we know what the hell we're doing. Besides, it is dishonerable for a man to strike an unarmed opponent, so you wouldnt get out of here. I need to find the room with my sword and guitar, but thats in the Halls of Freya"

Mathias was fully aware this person was a demon, but he sensed no immediate danger from him, and as far as Mathias is concerned, that made him a good enough man. He knew what it was like to be descriminated against as a half vampire. He couldnt fit in with the humans for his vampire blood, he couldnt fit in with the vampires for his human weaknesses, so he decided to show compassion for all those without a place to run.

"But the one thing i know about this hall is that i dont trust whatever's in the rafters"

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden tilted his head to the side like he was pondering on what to do. "Hmmm..." he said periodically. That meant he was accessing the situtation. Raiden wrinkled his nose and took a wiff of the air around him. His overly sensitive nose was like a dog's. Being alseep for so long took some getting used to the new smells. The only reconizable scent was the scent of a vampire...and then again a human. Raiden was slightly confused, but then took noticed the both scents were eminating from the guy standing infront of the huge doors.

After the stranged had reconized Raiden's eerie exsistence behind him, Raiden listen to the stranger describing the inscriptions on the walls. Of course Raiden didn't understand any of it. The only language Raiden spoke well was japanese. It was a lucky thing that when Keiko became his girlfriend that she was luckily japanese as well and understood him. Raiden nodded at the man, that was all he could do...

"But--------- i know --------- is that i dont trust ---------- in --- rafters"

That was all Raiden had caught by ear.... Raiden wasn't sure if the guy was talking about him, or something else lurking about which Raiden himself couldn't establish at that time. Once again Raiden nodded at the man agreeing with whatever the stranger had said.

[Mathias VonTepes]

Mathias saw the slight confusion on the mans face and was wondering how to explain it. The faint sound of whistling came from down the hall as a viking warrior came through. He saw the two oddly dressed characters (Mathias and Raiden) and drew his sword. Mathias grinned, moved in back of the man and tore his head to the side, snapping his neck as he bit in and drank deep, forming a perfect seal with his lips so as to keep no blood from escaping... he had a theory to test.

Leaving a little blood he threw the man a good distance down the hall as the blood came from his wound. The creatures in the rafters came down in a massive black pillar and swarmed the dead body like flies on shit, devouring him. Mathias drew one of his guns and aimed for one of the demons who was dancing around the edged of the swarm, looking for an open spot to jump through. He fired a shot which struck the shadowy feind in the head. It didnt seem to phase it as they all got freaked out and rushed back to their hiding spot in the rafters.

"just as i thought... shades. Sigurd told me about the hall where they live... we're close to my room... close to my sword"

There was a black pool where the shade "bled" on to the floor. A black sword hilt was beginning to rise from the pool. Mathias stared in wonder before a blade completely erupted from the "blood"... it ws a dark replica of clair, the iris was red instead of brownish-yellow, the skin was black instead of tan, and the blade was colored a deep purple as if poorly tempered. Mathias picked it up and got the message.



"I'm sorry, friend" he said as he took the blade up and held it out in challenge, Raiden could accept or decline without concequence, that much was obviouse from the sympathetic look in Mathias' eyes and the distance at which he stood from Raiden when he held up his sword.

"do you accept?"

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden's attention then turned. He caught scent of someone else approaching from way down the hall. The person came into eyesight range. Raiden at first tilted his head to the side as he looked at the person. A...viking warrior? he said to himself. Just then the warrior drew his sword and pointing towards Raiden and the half vampire guy. That's when suddenly the vampire guy attacked the warrior in a brutal way, and then drank the warrior's blood. Raiden's glance went back over to the vampire. It was for sure that Raiden did not like seeing that one bit. Strange as it is...Raiden let that go...for a strange reason...it was kind of funny seeing that human die.

After that the guy tossed the corpse of the man down the hallway into the darkness. Raiden's nocturnal eyes pierced the darkness to see demons of a different caliber than Raiden jump down and start feasting on the dead corpse of the viking warrior. Suddenly a huge urge to go join those demons in that grand feast rose inside of Raiden. Raiden took a few steps back covering one of his red eyes. The one that was visible was trying to change the circular appearance of Raiden pupil into inhuman slits. N-no... he said to himself as he supressed the hungry thoughts.

To Raiden dismay...the vampire then went over and slain one of the small demons. The others scattered to flee the danger. Raiden snapped out of his thoughts to see the vampire now pointing his sword at Raiden. A frown went over Raiden face at such a gesture. Raiden knew exactly what was going on. Is it because I'm a demon? he said to himself. Raiden took a few steps back, but didn't return a response.

[Mathias VonTepes]

"I know your a demon, i smell it on you, but i assure you, that's not why i'm doing this... I know what its like being rejected, us half vampires have nowhere to go. I hope the next time we meet, it'll be on better circumstances. For us to escape, one of us needs to have our blood spilled in the midst of combat." He said this in the best japanese he could muster, which actually would have been quite accurate. He knew conversational japanese.

The blood of the viking flowed through him like regular blood, and it would react with adrenaline like anyone elses. And demon blood had the traits of a warriors.

By now the shades would be back, feasting on the soldier and the blood of the previously fallen shade.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden now was able to understand a bit better to what the guy was trying to squeak out. Raiden still had no intentions of fighting...he just didn't care much for fighting period. Exploring his strenghts wasn't something Raiden wasn't interested in...well at least it wasn't always like that. Back in the past Raiden was the complete opposite of what he was today, but that's another story. Well, to Raiden it seemed the guy wasn't going to let up, so simply Raiden would comply and let him do whatever he wants to. With a simple gesture Raiden shook his he notifying the guy that he would fight him.

[Mathias VonTepes]

Once the agreement was made, it was as if something heard them agree to the fight. The halls faded out and an arena faded in. The circular room slanted slightly towards the center where there was an alter for that blood to go to. Right above the alter a katana was floating in mid-air. Mathias tried to touch it, but a powerful force flung his hand away.

Mathias seemed confused as he thought out loud "a relic?"

Mathias sensed there was something more than just getting out of here. Why did blood have to be spilled to an alter with an enchanted weapon over it... mathias guessed he would see soon enough.

What really made him uneasy was the shades that clustered the insanely high roof.

Mathias took note of the fact that there were four steel ropes that connected the floor and ceiling... He walked over to one and tapped it with his sword. It was obviouse his weapon couldnt cut through it.

Mathias studied his opponent with both his magick and his vampire sences. He knew his strategy now and prepared himself for his opponent; this was no longer about getting them both out of here... It was about getting that relic into his possesion so it wouldnt fall into the wrong hands.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden's ears twitched as he felt something was about to happen. Raiden picked up the distinct rumbling slowly growing louder. Raiden could tell which direct it was coming from so his head was going every which way. Suddenly everything shook and the surroundings changed into a arean type setting. An alter sat in the middle of the ring with some sort of weapon hanging over it luminously.

Raiden watched as the stranger walked over to the alter that had the supsended sword on it. Is that his motive? Gaining so sword, by spilling blood? Raiden said to himself as he was alittle troubled by that fact. Well, Raiden once again inhaled lightly and exhaled lightly to get rid of any recurring thoughts so he could focus on the current situtation. Raiden's attention grafted over to the stranger. Raiden couldn't help, but wonder what was he going to do next? Raiden just stood there at a stand still with his opponent.

[Mathias VonTepes]

Mathias, too was troubled at this site... the blood, the alter, the weapon... and the demons... they would only make it harder for the fight as they would swarm the one who spills blood first. Mathias was glad his oponent was agile, that would make it easier for him to fight off multiple opponents.

He saw the look in the mans eyes and said "Would you stop thinking the worst of me!?" But raiden only knew the thoughts in his own head, mathias didnt have any idea he came off that... evil to his opponent. Probably for the best, knowing that would only impare his actions with a twisted guilt.

One of the creatures took the chance while mathias was studying his opponent to swoop down. The red eye of his sword looked up to see this and let out a shrill, peircing screech which stumbled the shade. Mathias turned around and struck the shade in the side of its skull with the flat side of his sword, sending the entity across the room, sprawled out until it recovered and retreated back to its bretheren. Mathias muttered to himself "My, these creatures have some balls-" But mathias was keeled somewhat by a pulse through the sword. It was evil energy from the demons energy going through the blade. Mathias took a bottle of holy water out and set a drop in the eye of his sword, hoping to make it pure enough for him to wield more effectively when something amazing happened. The black, crusted blood lifted from the sword and the eye returned to normal.

"CLAIR!" he squeed happily at seeing his faithful blade.

[Raiden Matsutani]

"Would you stop thinking the worst of me!?"

Raiden whinced when the guy shouted that out. It was strange because Raiden didn't say his thought out loud. Was this guy reading Raiden's face? Well, if so, Raiden still didn't give a reply or change the expression on his face. He just sood their taking in the surrounding peice by peice. Raiden didn't want to see anything Mathais was doing to the other demons. Raiden simply just wanted to get this over with.

[Mathias VonTepes]

The swords eye focused on the man. It shot small spines into mathias' hand, connecting to his nerves and using that to access his brain as it said "If i can hold that squeel long enough, it should disable him and open him up for a strike, demons have hightened hearing... i just hope he doesnt have alot of endurance"

"I can sence it" He communicated back to clair "His endurance is only twice that of your average man"

"Mathias... sometimes you just creep me out, how'd you sence it?"

"Its obviouse, by my vampric nature i can see his nerves and blood vessels through his flesh and its obviouse that his nerves arent hardened to too much pain. By the same token, i can see his ears are still in top condition. Besides, even he was partially def, your screech even makes me cringe sometimes, it wouldnt fail to put merpeople and demons in immence pain... but I won't do it, Clair! Theres no honor in you plan!"

"GODDAMIT MATHIAS! Theres a relic at stake and your worried about honor? THIS IS NO TIME FOR HONOR!"

This exchange all happened in a moments notice. Mathias' eyes shot open as he said "Fine... i'm sorry, friend." He shot forward, disapearing in a cloud of black fog. In an instant he would materialize behind the demon, his eyes fixed right on him. His sword began screaming the moment Mathias skimmed the Transrealm so he would enter with the sword screaming. The suddenness and shrillness of the screach would catch the demon off guard with a tremendouse pain in his ears. Mathias would take the opprotunity to cut the backs of Raidens ankels at the Akeles(sp) Tendon. This would keep him from walking and it would spill a massive amount of blood. If this all worked accordingly, Mathias would draw his guns, ready to defend his opponent from the shades that would no doubt come down to feast.

Mathias would reatreat a considerable distance. If all else failed, he would fall back to his original plan, chances are he would have to... he knows how much of a bitch demonic self-healing could be in a fight. But atleast some blood would be spilled.

[Raiden Matsutani]

Raiden stood in silence, eyes peeled on the strange. Suddenly the guy went into action as he suddenly disappeared from eye sight. Suddenly Raiden could hear faint screaming reeching into a high pitch that only those with heightened hearing abilities could hear, like Raiden. Raiden quickly cover his ears, but it was to no avail that he could deter the annoying sound. Raiden unable to hear anything, but the screech could only stand there and watch. Suddenly Raiden felt someone presence from behind. Raiden by smell already knew who it was.

Without wasting another second Raiden got out of the way. Lucky as it is the guy wasn't as fast as Raiden was. Raiden though but alot of speed into dodging that underhanded attack so he slid back and few feet just to get distance. Raiden again looked at the stranger. Still Raiden really wasn't in the mood to fight, so this was all Raiden was going to do at the moment.

[Mathias VonTepes]

"he's not even fighting back, god i feel so filthy"

He held a hand into the air and decided to use his one prevailing stat, magic! He used aeroscribe to carve a seal of solomon into the floor around Raiden wide enough to where he wouldnt be able to jump out too fast. This was a holy seal that would suck him into the center of it and bind his feet in place. If this succeeded he would make another seal directly around raiden; this would be the seal of Michael, one that didnt allow anything ethereal in or out.

If all went as planned he would follow up by throwing one of his metal flasks of holy water above raiden (after pouring some of it on his blade to increase its power to immobilize raiden) and shooting it which would pour the entire thing over him. Unless he found away around it, the holy water would leave raiden near death and, with any luck, unconciouse.

Mathias felt like scum. He truely was sorry for his cruelty. His guilt was to the point that a tear dribble down his cheek.