Wapsi Square Forum

Nicodemus was there with Tsillah, Euryale, Bia and Amanda, putting the last bit of everything together. Tina showed up and started assembling her stand right next to the buffet- there would be no 'wet bar', as inebriation was seen as an impediment to the situation. Seating had already been assembled, as was the bandstand with full system. Then the guests started filtering in- the first being Brian Wahnee, the Father of the Bride.
Amicably, he walked up to the considerably smaller form of and extended his hand- "YOU must be this 'Nicodemus' I have heard so much about,"
"Indeed I am, Sir, indeed I am-and of course, YOU must be the Father of our beautiful bride! I should warn you ahead of time, there is a reasonable chance that things might get ugly here- if so, there is a 'safe room' established for us civilians should the police need to intervene,"
"WHAT? What sort of trouble do you anticipate?"
"There are certain elements that had a grief with Justin, that for the most part have been dissolved... but one must take precautions, no? My people did not do so at one time, and suffered horribly- the lesson is well learned," he stated with an upright finger.
"I... see... very well, I doubt that anybody would be stupid enough to battle a roomful of cops, though- but I could be wrong,"
"The time to pack a parachute is BEFORE the engine catches fire, no? One of our guests says that all the time, I am not sure who he is quoting but it sounds like good advise to me- here, allow me to introduce you to the most talented Barista in the twin Cities, Miss Tina Guzman- my child, this is Mr. Brian Wahnee, Father of the Bride,"
"Pleased to meet Sir- hmm... straight black coffee, regular drip- period. Don't see that too often..."
"How does she...?"
"Hush," Nicodemus muttered, "it's a state secrete, we are not even allowed to question it," he said as he glanced surreptitiously over both shoulders. Brian was initially shocked, then started to laugh while Tina got the drip machine working.

The bulk of the Wedding caravan began to drop off it's cargo just as the Westboro Church Congregation started picking out it's territory. Immediately there was a search among the Westboro people to find the Bride, but she had been spirited away at the last minute to a side entrance, once it was established who was at the main door. Kevin and the bulk of the 31st Precinct had no trouble with them- just held their heads high and ignored their chants of self-righteous hatred. Shortly after they made their entrance, the BLM protesters showed up... and there started a squabble over who got premier protest space. For quite while, it looked as if the two groups would fight amongst themselves and forget why they were there... but no such luck. BLM took the left side of the entrance, WBC took the right. The combined cacophony was offensive even to the most tone-deaf ears and repulsive to the most base of sensibilities... this is what greeted Greg and Annie as they pulled up in the Astin.
Finding their way to the garage, they parked the elaborate car and started their walk to the affair- looking like somebody dropped off from a Victorian Christmas Party, Greg, with Annie on his arm, walked right up to a WBC adult and commented to his wife-
"There- you can see for yourself that I am correct,"
Annie looked at the woman he had pointed out and with an astonished voice said, ""Oh my! I would not have believed it had I not seen this!"
The exchange caught the attention of the other protesters, who went silent and tried to understand what this was all about-
"Indeed my dear- it is VERY possible to have three or four generations of inbreeding without visible signs," he said before they whisked themselves into the hall.

The WBC crowd was not amused...

Sgt. Howard wrote:"Indeed my dear- it is VERY possible to have three or four generations of inbreeding without visible signs," he said before they whisked themselves into the hall.

The WBC crowd was not amused...

Rowdy pulled the Model X into the parking spot over on the south end of the A-Mill complex. Buck insisted that his brother drive the car, as much as I pouted over it.

The ride had been okay - clear, but cold, and no snow in the forecast.

Justin was assigned to come with us, precipitating the move to park on the far side of the building. Amanda was waiting for us, and she escorted us over to her studio in the main A-Mill.

"The 'werewolf repair crew' set up a covered passageway connecting the old building to the Grand Hall," she explained. "It's over the old railroad tracks that ran through the old complex."

"And the safe room?" I asked. Amanda smiled.

"Kronwulf's crew found out that there was an underground service tunnel built in the late 1960's, meant to connect the old warehouse with their new buildings. It has a connection to the old storage silos, just down the street."

"So we'll pack the norms in like flour, hey?" Rowdy commented.

Shortly after, Al and Daisy showed up and used the service entrance to avoid the noise- other guests were not so lucky. The Gadenyuvas walked right into the morass... which parted like the Red Sea before Moses when big, burly Bernard growled in a feral manner at them. The twins giggled at this as they followed their parents into the hall. Neil and Phix arrived somewhat late as well- Neil took a minor side trip for use of a bathroom and fell behind the rest of the caravan- when they walked up to the hall, Neil commented loudly enough,
"Well- see what you can do with a 5th grade education?" before entering. Phix giggled, thankful for the silencing charm that separated Dixie from the noise.

Seating commenced immediately- Bride's family and friends on the left, Groom's family and friends on the right. Nadette was surprised to see that her family was seated right behind Buck, Katherine, Castela... and Atsali! In fact, SHE was sitting directly behind Atsali! Atsali turned to see who had just taken their seat, saw Nadette and blushed, turning back to the front of the service as if she could pretend she had NOT seen Nadette.

Soon enough, the moment had arrived- Greg had been standing at the head of the ceremony, playing his guitar lightly as background music, when he received his cue- Paul Stookey had to bail as he was not feeling well that day. Greg immediately fired up 'Wedding Song', and the whole ceremony became quiet... the silencing charm evoked prevented to noise of the protesters from interfering. At the last strains, Nicodemus stood at the alter and beckoned Justin to step up to the front. Greg started a lovely bit of Baroque classical guitar as Brian Wahnee walked his daughter up the aisle. Handing the radiant Shelly to her loving husband-to-be, he lightly kissed her and took his seat, eyes fairly moist. Nicodemus started with the quote from Paul- "That a man should leave his Mother and a woman leave her home'... indeed, that is what we celebrate here. Not the separation, but the union of two families, the sacrament of marriage that is as ancient as the species itself. 'For two flesh shall become one' we are taught... but what does that mean? Science certainly has no answer, logic does not prevail... but 'the foolishness of GOD is so much greater than the wisdom of man'- so let us indulge in GOD's own foolishness, shall we?"
There was some mild chuckles from the congregation.

Outside, a young would-be gate crasher was getting desperate.
"Please- I lost the invitation- I came all the way from Vermont to see this... I'm... I'm a personal friend of Rowdy Alexander," she pulled as a last bluff.
"Miss, you're not on the list- and there are sincere issues with safety, as you can well see," the security man told her.
"Who is this?" Rowdy happened to be near the door when he heard his name- immediately he stepped over to investigate.
She was attractive on many levels... her eyes were clearly those of an equine... she was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, especially with Rowdy being right there... yet... he found her totally... enchanting...
"It has been quite a while... but I remember ... Vermont, did you say?" he played as best as he could.
"Patty Hazelton- of the Hyde Park Hazeltons ...your Father used to do business with us some time back... very sorry about his passing,"
"Yes," he faked along, "It has been a while indeed- she's OK, Don- old friend of the family... come with me, I can re-acquaint you," he said as he offered his arm.
Once out of earshot, he stated- "Alright... you're a gate-crasher... but you're a centaur... what exactly are you doing here?"
She blushed- something that no centaur could do on command- "I just... wanted to... to... meet you," she turned a violent shade of crimson.
"Well," he responded at last, "Let's catch the rest of the ceremony, shall we?" while still holding her hand on his arm.

She was ready to fall over...

Bernard had done what he always did in front of anything that resembled a sermon- he fell asleep. Softly snoring, he effectively blocked off Nadette from her Mother, while Berdine sat on her other side. Meanwhile, Atsali's tail had become aware of the fact that a 'playmate' was in close proximity. Snaking out from under her skirt, it found it's way into Nadette's eager reach... whereupon Nadette started fondling and caressing it. Atsali, fully aware of what was happening, yet unable to do anything about it, started squirming in her seat. The effect of Nadette's administrations was more that a little erotic- and Atsali had no anaphrodisic tea to counter what was going on.
The heat was building.
"Do you, Shelly Wahnee, take this Man, Justin Epimethus, to be your lawfully wedded Husband........"
The heat continued to build.
"Do you,Justin Epimethus, take this woman, Shelly Wahnee, to be your lawfully wedded Wife.... "
Berdine had been watching, fascinated, at what her sister was doing- knowing full well that no good would come of it, but even so she was hypnotized at the prospect of what MIGHT happen, rather like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
"If there is anyone here, who has just cause, why this man and this woman should not be joined in Holy Wedlock, let them speak now..."
Nadette, without warning, popped the end of the tail in her mouth and sucked on it. Atsali hit crisis.
"STOP!! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!"

one could have heard a pin drop...

All eyes were riveted on Atsali- then slowly, heads turned to look at Justin. It took Justin a moment to realize why people were looking at him, whereupon he put up both hands and started shaking his head to declare his innocence...
Nicodemus was shocked, to say the least- looking at Atsali, he called out, "Young Lady- Atsali- what have you to say about this matter?"
"Huh?" she turned and realized that everybody was looking at her and/or Justin, "Uh, sorry, what do you mean?"
"I had just asked if there was any objection to this marriage, and you jumped up and ..."
"OH! Uh, NOOOOO, I HAVE NO OBJECTION!!! Uh, I... uh... please, continue..." she whispered as she sat down crimson to the roots of her hair. Katherine was mortified. So was Nadette. Bernard woke and muttered, "Huh? What?" Buck was beyond confused. Castela started to ask, "What's that sm- urf!" until Atsali's hand was over her mouth.
Nicodemus watched in fascination, looked at both Shelly and Justin (who were equally perplexed), shrugged his shoulders and stated,
"Anybody else?... INOWPRONOUNCEYOUMANANDWIFE-KISS THE BRIDE BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS!" he managed to blurt out.

(And now, ladies and gentlebeings, you have just witnessed the REAL reason why Sgt. Howard wrote this whole epic saga... )

jwhouk wrote:(And now, ladies and gentlebeings, you have just witnessed the REAL reason why Sgt. Howard wrote this whole epic saga... )

Joe knows me so well...

Sgt. Howard wrote: she whispered as she sat down crimson to the roots of her hair.

I figured she'd be closer to the infrared portion of the spectrum.

AmriloJim wrote:

Sgt. Howard wrote: she whispered as she sat down crimson to the roots of her hair.

I figured she'd be closer to the infrared portion of the spectrum.

What's the black-body temperature of a 50-kilogram mass that has voluntarily compressed itself down to a black-hole radius, in a vain attempt to become invisible?

Somehow I don't think this little incident is going to help Nadette reestablish any sort of ongoing close relationship with Atsali.

The normal reception activities ensued, the cutting of the cake, the tossing of the bouquet and garter, the Father's dance with the Bride... right on down the line. Rowdy then took Patty out onto the dance floor after making a request- the band fire up with the old Beatles hit, "And I love her,"

"So... when exactly do we make our hit?" Nodaki's second in command asked.
"Don't be so impatient- WE don't make it- our teams are probably doing so right now,"
There was a gasp and a 'poit' from one corner- Nodaki chuckled, "Yea, I THOUGHT that was some kind of elf I smelled,"

Safyr popped into the hall and found Neil immediately-
"THEY COME, SIRE!!! THEY COME NOW!!!" she yelled before she took her battlestation. Neil started the hue and cry...

The band was aware of something, but did not respond immediately... nor did Rowdy and Patty as they swayed to the Music.

"Bright are the stars that shine, dark is the sky, I know this love of mine will never die.... and I..."

BLAM!!!

Patty was shoved into Rowdy by forces unseen- she looked into his eyes with confusion, trying to talk but only able to make gurgling sounds. Slowly she started to wobble, fear now evident in her face until her eyes rolled back as she coughed up a gout of bright red foaming blood and slid out from Rowdy's grasp.
"FIRST DRAGOONS!!! ON ME!!! C'MON, LAD- THERE'S NOWT YOU CAN DO FOR HER NOW- WE HAVE A JOB TO DO," hollered Al as he grabbed him by the shoulder and steered him to the stairway

A fusillade of fire came in through the main entrance, blindly striking people through the door. Atsali, Anna and Phix busily shunted as many children and civilians as they could manage into the safe room, doing everything in their power to maintain control. Meanwhile, the BLM protesters ran up the street to get away from the gunfire- leaving one Sally Laval, petrified, in the middle of the street with a few of their own dead and wounded. Justin took one look and yelled "COVER ME," to his brother officers before he raced out to grab the woman and tow her to safety. He took three wounds in the process. The CNN crew got the whole episode on tape before they shut it down. The Baptists, on the other hand, rushed the door and came into the hall for cover- once inside, one of their children pointed at Shelly and yelled, "SINNER!!!", causing the whole congregation to take up the chant. They surrounded her and she almost went full feral- as it was, she produced wings, bulked up and showed her marks before she re-gained control- but by that time, the Baptists saw her and backed off. Amanda, on wild inspiration, got the shot- Shelly, in shredded gown, sobbing while surrounded by members of the most hated church in the country.
Neil, Greg and Edward were doing their level best to return fire against the hoodlums who were using the bank of the road for cover. Emerauld popped into the mix and immediately sought cover. Suddenly, there erupted an explosive volley that shattered all the glass in the structure- the Maxi-14s were in use! From their elevated position, the thugs across the way became easy targets.
Phix saw the Brinks Truck before the men did- she called out a warning just as a heavy round knocked her ass over teakettle onto one of the people she was supposed to be guarding. The Elven armor did it's job, but Newtonian physics still held court- dazed, she was intact. Looking over, she realized she had fallen on top of Brian-
Brian, being full-blooded Comanche, had a rather sensitive nose, developed to an almost feral level- not uncommon among certain Native American tribes. Phix's exertions and fears put her musk to the forefront- and Brian caught it full force. Old memories flooded his mind as he looked at the twenty-something lady in front of him and asked,

"Mother?"

"COME ON!!!" Mayahuel shouted, "WE NEED TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE!!!"
"IT'S NOT EASY RUNNING WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT, MOTHER!!! I AM ulp!!!"
Mayahuel turned to look- a very largish man had Jin by the mouth with a knife at her throat.
"JIN!!!" she yelled- when another fellow came up behind her and stated, "Shut up or she dies,"

They had run right into an ambush.

Inside the safe room, there was a very loud confrontation between Atsali and Nadette-
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?" Atsali screamed.
"I'm... I'm sorry... it just... I don't know..." Nadette was in tears.
"OF ALL THE CRAZY, STUPID... "
Anna walked up to them and got between- facing Atsali, she stated very calmly- "Not here, not now- pull yourself together... we are still in big trouble and I need you coherent... where is your sister?"
Atsali looked around- Castela was nowhere to be seen...

The first warning was a fusillade of shots from the main entrance of the Great Hall.

Rowdy was staggered – the woman he was dancing with dying in his arms. She slipped from his grasp while Al grabbed him and shoved him along after his mother and siblings. His mien was confused, then hardened - the blood spashed on him a terrible counterpoint to his expression.

"FIRST DRAGOONS!!! ON ME!!! C'MON, LAD- THERE'S NOWT YOU CAN DO FOR HER NOW- WE HAVE A JOB TO DO."

The other centaurs, hearing the call, drew their weapons and followed Al’s orders. They sprinted for the stairs to the catwalk, keeping as low as possible. Around them, the sounds of screams, the ping of ricochets and the wet splat of rounds hitting flesh sounded nauseatingly close.

The centaurs reached the stairs, pounding up them with their pistols drawn. No enemies confronted them and the few civilians they ran across were screamed at to get OUT as they went by.

On the catwalk Al covered his snipers as they stripped, then changed to feral form. Unclipping the rifles, they lined up at the outer half-wall, facing the parking lot.

Al was incredulous – the parking lot was full of troops, all headed in this direction along with the unmistakable shape of the back end of a Brinks truck.

“DRAGOONS! ACQUIRE TARGETS! FIRE!”

Between the four centaurs they had the firepower of a P-51B fighter from World War Two. Their first salvo blew out all of the windows facing the parking lot, showering the advancing enemy troops with glass while the rounds reached out to perforate the Brinks.

Round after round went downrange from the Maxi-14s. The high angle on the Brinks was advantageous in their being able to pump rounds into the lighter armored roof and front end, but their fire rate was not enough to stop it cold though it had started to smoke and burn. On Al’s orders Daisy and Cinnamon at the center of the catwalk concentrated on trying to immobilize the Brinks, while he had Buck and Rowdy on the ends start laying down suppressive fire on the troops advancing around it.

The .50 caliber shells were deadly to ground troops – those hit simply disintegrated in part. Sadly, there was no way to simply wound – those that went down were never getting up again. They had to hit them hard as far out as they could, however – every enemy too close was someone that was going to kill those that needed protection.

Al and Chryso took the task of picking the leaders and stopping them. With his senses sharpened to nearly bleeding fineness he was able to see the advancing troops as a gestalt and pick out the leaders. Each of them was sent to his reward, round by deadly round.

“I HATE GODSDAMNED WEDDINGS!” CRACK. Click-click. CRACK. Click-click

One after another, the enemy went down. There were just too many of them for four centaurs and an old man with a bolt-action rifle - they couldn't keep them out of the building - and when that happened the outcome of the fight was seriously in doubt. Al realized that his initial estimation was right, and this was going to be a rum do indeed. If any of them survived this it was going to be a miracle – but if they managed to take Nodaki down it would almost be worth the butcher’s bill.

Well, it was time. She had to know how he felt, and there was not going to be a tomorrow from the look of this mess. They may never get married, but he had to ask. Breathing a silent request for forgiveness to Rowdy and the poor girl, he began to shout.

CRACK. Click-click. CRACK “WHEN WE GET MARRIED WOMAN WE ARE ELOPING! NO MORE GODSDAMNED WEDDINGS!” Click-click. CRACK.

THOOM. THOOM. THOOM. “IS THAT A PROPOSAL, YOU OLD FOOL? YOU HAD TO” THOOM. THOOM. “WAIT TILL NOW TO DO THIS?”

CRACK. Click-click. CRACK. Click-click. “SO IS THAT AN ACCEPTANCE?” CRACK. Click-click. CRACK.

“OF COURSE IT IS YOU” THOOM. THOOM.”GODSDAMNED MORON. I LOVE YOU. WE’LL TALK LATER.” THOOM. THOOM.

CRACK. Click-click. CRACK. Click-click. “LOVE YOU TOO AND ALWAYS WILL.” CRACK. Click-click. CRACK. Click-click.

With those pronouncements of love the other Alexanders erupted in shouts. When centaurs want to, they can be LOUD.

Down on the main floor, the Club Alexander troops heard the shouting, and while not slackening their fusillade for a second were heartened by the sounds of success from the high guard above. Whatever it was, it was good – and that sound stiffened spines and resolution across the floor as the battle continued.

The battle continued - the centaurs on high guard pumping round after deadly round into the armor and the crowd of attackers. Despite horrendous caualties, the attackers kept coming - using the street furniture, parked vehicles and whatever was available for the marginal cover it offered.

The Brinks, belching fire and smoke from a dozen orifices in its armored hull, continued to back in toward the building, gathering speed. It was obvious what the tactic was going to be - ram in the front of the building, opening it up for a rush from the troops. This was the only way forward for the attackers - the wall needed to be gone.

As the truck got closer, the defenders were able to pour fire down into the front end and the armored compartment containing the engine. It began to sputter and finally died, but not before it rammed through the front of the building with a resounding CRASH.

Inbstantly the attackers poured through the gap around the burning truck. Now the battle was up close and personal - a melee rather than a set-piece. Shoot, move, shoot and pray to the gods you worship that your aim is true and the enemy's faulty.

Copper scenting the air, Emerauld breathed it in, grinned...and focused.

Bow at ready, arrow nocked, target sighted, she breathed in, then released the arrow as she exhaled. Flying true, it sailed in the air, finding purchase in a shooter, who dropped his weapon swearing. Mouthing an incantation, roots burst though a nearby wall, curling around him, holding him in place, just as the darkness enveloped him.

Scrambling across the high rafters, she crept toward the doors and mouthing another incantation, threw two knives that hit two more shooters in the wrist, then entangled them in roots and darkness.

Sensing Chryso, she zeroed in on the Guardian, heard his proposal, grinned, and sent a volley of arrows at the gaping maw, which turned it into black ice. She sent another volley at the truck, trying to put out the fire.

Next, she summoned roots outside to block the swarm that hadn't gotten in, knowing once the mage arrived, they would not last long.

Drawing out and breaking a crystal wand, she felt the stored energies pour into her, and began to cast spells to slow the enemy down.

"Get everyone to safety! Those won't last long!" she cried, sending arrows into targets with every exhaled breath.

Darkness abruptly filled the rafters, hiding her from view.

"Vel'bol paken dos ji verve?"What took you so long?

"Nind orn ssrig'luin dos wun uss in'loil. Zexen'uma velkyn."They will need you in one piece. Stay hidden.

"You are no fun," she whined, hiding in a secure corner.

"We shall have much more fun later...that I promise," Safyr said, grinning as she moved into position, drawing her bow.

Chanting softly, Safyr threw a handful of bone chips forward, a good distance away from her location, and all gathered below saw a cloaked spectre float down, tossing aside a mask that covered its skeletal features. Cackling madly, it brandishing a metal staff, motioning for them to come at it.

"YOU KNOW, YOU AREN'T EARNING ANY BROWNIE POINTS WITH HADES WITH THIS!"
THOOM THOOM THOOM
"ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU WANT TO PISS THAT KIND OF GUY OFF?"
THOOM THOOM THOOM clack click click clack
"ARRIGHT... SUIT YOURSELF!"
Ka-tchack... THOOM THOOM THOOM

John roared over the constant blasts of gunpowder between his own thunderous shots... He wasn't able to shoot to disable with his gun... If he hit a shoulder, he amputated the arm... If he hit a knee, he severed the leg... Not that he was concerned with that sort of thing. He did, however, make sure every shot he took had a backstop... It was usually the floor, due to John's towering height.
If they came here, they're here to kill... They deserve no such mercy from me... Nor will they get it from me.
He whirled through the kill box, taking out whichever enemy was closest, turning chicken-sized chunks of flesh into fine pink mist with every shot, his cloak streaming behind him, slowly growing more tattered as bullets continued to punch holes in it.

Suddenly, the Brinks truck was enveloped in dark ice... John instinctively backed away, ratcheting up his heat to counter any lingering ice magic. Damn elves... Couldn't they have used stone or something... Did it have to be ice?

A bullet tore off John's left ear. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD! THAT HURT!"
THOOM THOOM... THOOM
John shot off both of the offender's legs at the hip, walked forward, pressed the gun against the trembling shooter's forehead, and pulled a trigger again, vaporizing everything down to his lower jaw.
"JOHN! CUT LOOSE!"
Aha... All the innocents are gone...
"NOW Y'ALL HAVE DONE GOOFED RIGHT THE FUCK UP..." John unloaded the last of his ammo into the nearest group of enemies, cleared the massive revolver, and quickly hid it in an adjacent room under a pile of rubble. "Wouldn't want you getting burnt, now do we?"
The revolver taken care of, John returned to the battle. First, he threw fireballs to clear the immediate area, blasting and incinerating groups of enemies... Then, he breathed deep and gathered energy in both hands before letting it fly as a stream of pyroclastic ash that remained hot long after it was created, sticking to and continuing to burn the enemies who were still streaming into the hall... When they began to take too long to die, John swirled the ash, charging it before letting the Lightning arc madly, writhing, thick as a Python and brighter than the sun. Soon, nearly the entire room was filled with hot ash and smoke, fire, and lightning.
The flash was blinding... And the resulting thunderous crash blew out windows for several blocks.
Many protestors and criminals alike suddenly tottered and fell, clutching at their bleeding ears and chipped teeth.
Still more came in... And many were unaffected
"Now come the bishops and Knights..." Glytch's voice sounded behind him. "Thank goodness Greg and Al gave everyone earplugs..." Glytch was gone in a blink of an eye, firing his arrows faster than John thought possible for a human...
Well... He was trained by elves...
John nodded and snorted, jets of fire leaping from his nostrils as his eyes and skin came alight... The suit was quickly incinerated... The cloak barely hid John, as tattered and torn as it was. He raised his arms high, clenched his fists, and brought them down hard against the ground, roaring a defiant challenge at the enemy forces. "COME GET AN EARLY TASTE OF WHAT AWAITS YOU!"
Several enemies turned and grinned at John, taking up his challenge with glee. They all advanced at once, not knowing what they were up against.
"RRRRAAAGH!" John charged, wrapped himself in dense energy, and entered a furious melee with all of them at once. Every blow struck against him resulted in whatever touching him being cremated... And every blow he struck against them burnt deep before exploding inside their bodies, blowing them apart mercilessly.
Any who were stupid enough to turn their backs were tackled from behind and blown apart.
Then... John felt a tugging sensation in his gut.

...

"You" Twang! "Will" Twang! "NOT" Twang! "KILL" Twang! "MY FRIENDS!"
Twang twang twang twang...
"EVERYONE GET IN HERE!" Glytch bellowed as he stood on a table near the exit to the tunnel, firing as fast as he could while still keeping his aim precise. He shot any enemy who appeared to be aiming a gun before any other, making sure none were able to get a shot off. Soon, he was overwhelmed in this task - several bullets whizzed by his ear and impacted the wall behind him. "SONOVABITCH!" Glytch leapt from the table, rolled, and slammed through a door into an adjacent room for cover. He took the opportunity to put on Safyr's scale armor cloak. The moment bullets stopped trying to chase him, he crept out and, crouching low, snuck behind a stream of enemies as they entered the hall.
Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!
Shoulders and hips sprouted arrow shafts, one after another. Glytch had already moved past the now much smaller group of criminals when they looked back.
Twangtwangtwangtwangtwang
"WHAT THE HELL IS-"
Twang!
Glytch's arrow shot off the loudmouth's lower jaw, leaving two stumps and a shattered shard of bone peeking out from both sides of his face... His tongue was torn to shreds.
twangtwangtwangtwangtwang
"AAARLFTH!" The loud man howled in frustration as the rest of his cronies dropped and began to fire his gun wildly, sweeping in a circle.
"Tch. So uncivilized." Glytch ran up against a wall, planted his feet hard against it and leapt backwards, high over the berserk gunman, flipping and slinging his bow across his chest midair before driving both of his feet down onto his prey's shoulders, dislocating and shattering both with a wet crunch. The sheet impact of Glytch's full weight falling on top of him bent one of his knees backwards, snapping bones and ligaments as the unfortunate man collapsed under Glytch.
"Learned your lesson yet?"
The man simply whimpered as Glytch bounded out of sight, firing arrows from seemingly every direction.
Then, someone ordered John to cut loose. The air was already humming with the amount of magic flying around... John took it over the brink.
The ground shook and the air screamed as fireballs and streams of ash filled the room... Then, a twisting, writhing, three-dimensional forest of lightning erupted all throughout the room, attempting to electrocute every enemy inside. Glytch was momentarily blinded by the flash... His earplugs kept his eardrums safe from the thunder that followed. Glytch rolled and sprinted around the edge of the room and found himself standing behind the brightly burning salamander. Few had survived John's initial onslaught, but more came in... And those who managed to withstand The heat and the lightning were obviously stronger than any human. "Now come the bishops and Knights... Thank goodness Greg and Al gave everyone earplugs."
John than end back, nodded, and refocused... Every snorting breath sent a stream of fire from his mouth and nose. Glytch prudently decided to keep moving, still firing arrows from seemingly every direction, moving too fast for anyone to get a bead on him...until he heard Castela shouting.
Glytch stopped dead in his tracks. "Pickle!" He gasped.
"MOMMY!"
Last chance...
"Rrrrgh... NO!" Glytch was on the wrong side of the room... Growling, he slung his bow across his chest again, reached into his bag, and pulled out the Puke Ray.
"HEY EVERYONE! LOOK AT THE SHINY LIGHT!" Glytch screamed as loud as he could... Everyone who knew what was about to happen looked away and shielded their eyes. Everyone else looked directly at Glytch.
Click.
The hall immediately stank of vomit as Glytch charged headlong into the room, holding the Puke Ray aloft to get as many enemies as he could. Enemies cried out and began to shield their eyes and turn away, retching and gagging as Glytch sprinted past, bowling several over on his way to Pickle. As soon as he saw the diminutive girl, he bent down and scooped her up, spinning and running backwards now, holding his light on the crowd.
The moment he was out of range, he turned off the Ray and spun again, sprinting as fast as he could to the door into the tunnels. "Do you know how to get to your Mom?"
"I can smell her! She's this w-"
No stutter... Whatever. Later. Glytch set the whatsit down and got his bow off of his shoulder. "Follow her! Don't stop! Run! GO!"

The moment he turned around, a titanic explosion rocked the building.

jwhouk wrote:...Yes, he was invited. Why would you think otherwise?

Bold move, that is... does he know?

Sgt. Howard wrote:"Anybody else?... INOWPRONOUNCEYOUMANANDWIFE-KISS THE BRIDE BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS!" he managed to blurt out.

You guys have me on the edge of my seat! I have been waiting for this for some time, now... The tension is palpable!

lake_wrangler wrote:You guys have me on the edge of my seat! I have been waiting for this for some time, now... The tension is palpable!

GET DOWN BEFORE YOU GET YOUR ARSE SHOT! SAFE ROOM, NOW!

{grumble} civilians...{grumble}