Its midweek, drawing close to midnight. Shade will be here on a very hush hush assignment from Prince Carter. He has asked Shade to insure a certain refugee does -not- enter this domain.

Who he is, or how Carter knew he was coming on the midnight freight train was not explained. Shades target is kindred, and expected to have a small entourage.

Shade will of course stand ready in clear view of the platform amongst old crates, new shipping containers and other errata common to freight depot's.  Wrapped in shadow he waits (Obfuscate 2), he can hear slight rumbling on the rails as a distant train approaches.

(increased each physical stat by 1)

There is a briefcase at his side, this contains knives, ammunition, other weapons, and a few bags of blood, even though Shade plans on getting his fill another way tonight.  He has two large caliber handguns in underarm holsters strapped around his shoulders and a knife vest on that easily holds 8 razor sharp knives.

Now Shade will wait, no idea as to how many will be accompanying his target, he just knows he has a singular job to do.

The train that rolls into the station appears to be miles long. A major freight line with three engines pulling the tons and tons of cargo.

The platforms are all but deserted. Just a few late night workers waiting to unload some cargo that cant wait until morning. When the train finally comes to a stop three men exit from the negine and head right into the main offices at the junction. The rest of the train sits and settles without any signs of activity...

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Shade please roll Perception and alertness, diff 6.

Most birds are asleep at this hour. Its quite right that this one should be too, but it's not. The train rolling and rumbling across the tracks, its mile long carriages pulled through the darkness of the night had ruffled this particular birds feathers.

Quiet little claws shuffled a waddling bird from the concealed perch where it had boxed itself in, away from the whistle of wind and general disturbances, but close enough to be woken (as it was now) by general noise volume. Noise volume of interest, that was.

A train rolling in was considered under the noise interest category. Beady black eyes peered down from the office roof, where the insulation of building structure and feathers, both, had kept it warm. The occasional long blink was a rare movement, and sometimes a head cock or turn was given here and there, watching. Silent. Small and overlooked in its little home for the night.

Perhaps wondering what a train is doing sitting idle with cargo neither moving in nor out of the compartments. Maybe the workers were eating food. No, if there was food the bird wouldn't be watching on idly, and would be cawing out for some grub. Engine drivers bathroom break?

It'd wait and see.

Shade will stand motionless amongst the crates, in full view of the humans walking into the main offices, if only they had a chance in hell of seeing him.  

His target is here, along with their entourage.  Where are they....

2008-12-04 07:34:39 Shade rolls 4 dice to Perc + Alert (used willpower) 5,2,9,9 (3 successes)

Its a long drawn out moment of inactivity before Shade will hear it. The grinding and sliding of a heavy boxcar door about ten cars down the line, just off the platform.

The large side door grinds open by about six feet and stops, there is no other movement and noone exits the boxcar yet.

Quietus 1 - 1bp

Shade will move silently, as he was taught to do through the shadows towards the now open boxcar.  He will make no sound, and make no move that would reveal himself but he skirts the platform towards the end to get a full look at the now open car and who, or what may be inside it.

(Let me know if i need to make a roll)

Shade wont be able to miss the sudden headlights and sound of an engine. Lucky for him he was obfuscated, or he would be standing right in the beams of the starting vehicle.

The headlights, probably from a midsize car shine right through Shade and illuminate the entire side of the boxcar as three men jump down. All three wear very professional looking suits and one very pale man with tattoos on his face and head is flanked by what can only be described as meat shields. They walk directly towards Shade and the car at a brisk pace...

Shade, though somewhat disconcerted by the headlights, stands ready.  the "meat shields" may prove a problem later, but right now his target is walking directly towards him.

(Blow 1bp for celerity next round)

Shade will remove both of his silenced pistols from his holsters and level them both directly at the tattoo'd mans head as this man walks directly towards his imminent death.

2008-12-08 07:57:46 Shade rolls 6 dice to Dex + Melee (jab) (Diff 8) 4,1,6,1,5, 9 (failure)
2008-12-08 07:57:53 Shade rolls 5 dice to Dex + Melee (jab) (Diff 8, used willpower) 9,4,5,3,2 (2 successes)

The tattoo'd man ducks to one side to talk to one of his meat shields as one firearm goes off cleanly past his head, however, the second shot clearly does not miss...

2008-12-08 07:59:23 Shade rolls 10 dice to Damage 9,2,6,3,7, 3,3,10,4,7 (5 successes)

His obfuscate clearly broken there he stands for all to see, an expressionless mask on his face as he stares down the barrels of his sidearms at his target.

2008-12-08 08:01:01 Shade rolls 1 die for Initiative 6 (initiative roll) + 5 + 3 = 14

[If Lilah wishes to get involved, she can roll Initiative whenever.]

2008-12-08 08:08:29 Radiation rolls 1 die for Initiative 10 (initiative roll) 10+7= 17.

2008-12-08 08:08:37 Radiation rolls 1 die for Initiative 8 (initiative roll) 8+5= 13.

2008-12-08 08:08:43 Radiation rolls 1 die for Initiative 1 (initiative roll) 1+5= 6.

2008-12-08 08:11:42 Radiation rolls 1 die for Initiative 8 (initiative roll) 8+5= 13.

Initiative Order
1) Vamp Target.
2) Shade.
3) The Ghouls.
4) The CoP (in the car).

[In Character post will follow]

2008-12-08 08:14:59 Vamp Target rolls 5 dice to Stamina and fortitude 5,2,9,2,8 (2 successes) 2/5 soaked. Target takes 3 damage and is Injured, suffering a -1 to all physical dicepools.

2008-12-08 08:17:02 Vamp Target rolls 4 dice to self control 8,8,2,6 (3 successes) No Frenzy.

The suited Vampire with the tattooed face takes a .45 slug clean through the jaw, ripping off a good portion of the side of his face. He stumbles back a step or two from the force of the shot but doesnt go to the ground. He feels the twist of rage in his gut but when he tries to yell the sound never leaves his lips.

[Willpower spent to ignore wound penalty, wp: 4/5 remaining.]
2008-12-08 08:24:02 Vamp Target rolls 5 dice to dex and brawl (disarm) (Diff 7) 10,1,7,9,7 (3 successes)
2008-12-08 08:24:18 Vamp Target rolls( 3 successes, 3 strength) 6 dice to disarm check 5,2,1,1,5, 5 (BOTCH x 2)

The vampire with the tattooed, half blown off face whips with his left arm, smashing Shades handguns to the side but utterly failing to disarm his assailant and throwing himself off balance in the process.

[Target will suffer an additional -2 dice to all actions next round.]

Feeling the blood surge through his dead veins Shade get the smallest hint of a smirk.

(Another BP for celerity)

Bringing his arms back to bear on his target from where he attempted to disarm, Shade will lower the firearm and fire directly into this mans chest.

2008-12-08 08:43:26 Shade rolls 8 dice to Dex + firearms 2,8,5,5,1, 3,6,2 (1 success)
2008-12-08 08:43:55 Shade rolls 6 dice to damage 6,7,1,3,5, 3 (1 success)

It's quite obvious to Shade that this shot is far less effective than his last, though he assumed it might be.  Surprise is a powerful tool, when used to the highest degree.

In a blur of speed Shade will level his pistols once again at the head of this now heavily disfigured man.

2008-12-08 08:47:20 Shade rolls 8 dice to Dex + melee (Diff 8) 1,1,3,5,3, 4,6,1 (BOTCH x 3)
2008-12-08 08:47:16 Shade rolls 8 dice to Dex + melee (Diff 8) 2,1,7,9,6, 6,2,4 (failure)

The Chest shot rips clean through the dead flesh of his target. To a mortal it would have been an easy kill shot. But when your organs are unneccessary and a bullet strikes nothing load bearing its of little consequence.

[1 damage, halved and rounded down to nothing.]

Shades second shot goes wide, impacting the train behind everyone. His third shot catches on a small bur in the silencer, causing a powerful blowback that not only fragments the pistol, but shoots shards of metal backwards as the slide ejects digging shrapnel into shades face. Luckily he is so badass he wears his sunglasses at night, and the little eye-gouging metal bits imbed themselves into the lenses and do no real damage to anything non-replaceable.

2008-12-08 08:59:13 Radiation rolls 3 dice to blowback damage 2,1,3 (BOTCH x 1) No Damage to Shade.

Confused and suprised the meatshield ghouls do exactly what they have been trained to do. Protect their domitor and exterminate the enemy with extreme prejudice.

Both of the huge men take a step back and to the side reaching into their coats where they produce flat black painted, Israeli-made Uzi sub-machineguns and open up on Shade at close range...

2008-12-08 09:04:56 Ghoul 1 rolls 15 dice to uzi full auto (Diff 8) 3,4,8,1,1, 4,1,3,1,3, 1,10,6,10,5 (failure)

2008-12-08 09:05:12 Ghoul 2 rolls 15 dice to uzi full auto (Diff 8) 9,5,2,3,8, 4,6,2,1,6, 5,7,4,3,5 (1 success)
2008-12-08 09:06:31 Ghoul 2 rolls( 1 success,+4 Lg. Submachinegun) 5 dice to uzi damage 4,10,9,6,9 (4 successes) Halved to 2 damage Shade can soak.

The silence gives the leaping flames a surreal quality as the two ghouls unload full clips into Shade. Its like a bad action movie, with flying brass and stinging lead ripping into and through the target without taking him down.

Behind Shade, just outside the area of Silence the sedan whos headlights cast the combat into a stark, white glow will throw the engine in reverse and back the hell up away from the gunfire another 20 yards or so before stopping. Inside the two men, dressed as priests will remove pistols from their coats and for now, wait.

2008-12-08 09:11:17 Vamp Target rolls 6 dice to Stamina and Survival 8,4,6,8,1, 5 (2 successes) Vamp Target is healed to Hurt -1. [12/13 BP remaining.]

Shades Target will take advatage of the strangely silent choas to try and escape. He will circle behind his meatshields as they fill Shade with lead and make a run for the waiting car that just backed fartehr away.

[Action held for Dodge if shade attacks vamp target.]

[Shades turn]  

--Last edited by Radiationjunkie on 2008-12-08 11:15:50 --

Shades amusement is completely gone as bullets go mostly around him where as others pass straight through arm and chest.  

2008-12-08 09:15:15 Shade rolls 4 dice to soak 6,6,1,3 (1 success)

One bullet seems to hit something of minor importance, but it's negligible at the very best.

(One bp for celerity again, 5BP/12BP remaining)

Shade, now standing in close proximity to the two "meat shields" fluidly draws one of the myriad knives that litter his person, his choice this time is a smaller razor edged knife.  A wicked little instrument for just such an occasion.

Once again in blurs of speed that exceed the ability to track, Shade raises his remaining firearm at the head of one Ghoul...

2008-12-08 09:28:37 Shade rolls 8 dice to Dex + Melee (Diff 8) 6,7,7,2,1, 7,4,8 (failure)

The bullet zooms past the ghouls head, the shrapnel on the lens of his (fortunately) hardy sunglasses seems to hinder his vision slightly..

Shade raises the smaller bladed knife at the other ghoul and prepares to strike...

2008-12-08 09:31:34 Shade rolls 8 dice to Dex + Melee (Diff 5) 8,10,7,5,1, 6,1,1 (2 successes)

2008-12-08 09:32:13 Shade rolls 7 dice to Dex + Melee 5,4,3,2,3, 9,1 (failure)

(fuck you diceroller)

Shade will be less than pleased that neither of his efforts yielded any success what so ever, and will turn on his heel and move with blinding speed to cut off the fleeing vampire.  

--Last edited by Shade on 2008-12-08 11:36:33 --

The Ghouls frantically flair to try and fend off Shades close attacks. The awry bullet will fly high out over the railroad junction and the small knife will find the ghouls ballistic vest much too tough to cut through.

When Shade blurs away after their Domitor the ghouls will split up since they are unable to communicate. One will drop his Uzi to the ground and draw a wicked bowie knife from his jacket and give chase to Shade.

The second will drop to a knee, ejecting the magazine from his Uzi and slamming a fresh one into the submachine-gun. He will take careful aim to avoid hitting his friend and Domitor and fire at Shade again.

2008-12-08 09:43:05 Ghoul 2 rolls 3 dice [split action to reload] to Dex and Firearms [+1 diff, shooting into melee](Diff 7) 1,4,8 (failure)

The silent shot goes wide and high, blasting a small hole from the roof overhang a dozen feet away from the watching Crow.

The men in the Car, seeing the inhuman speed of Shade know exactly what they are up against and if their contract is to be fullfilled, they will need to assist. The driver revs the engine and peels out, aiming not to hit, but to come real close to the group...

2008-12-08 09:48:22 CoP Driver rolls 5 dice to Dex and Drive (Diff 7) 4,2,9,5,5 (1 success)
2008-12-08 09:48:53 CoP Driver rolls( 1 success, +4 for distance to speed up) 5 dice to Dex and Drive DMG! 3,5,4,10,4 (1 success)1 damage shade can soak.

As the car passes Shade and his target the passenger will kick his door open so it nails shade in the back as they pass. The car will silently grind to a halt a short distance away, the driver and passenger both exiting the vehicle with pistols drawn. Of particular interest to Lilah might be what the two men dressed as Priests are wearing around their necks. Large, Shiny pendants with the symbol of the Church of Paradise...

2008-12-08 09:56:49 Vamp Target rolls 6 dice to Dread Gaze (Diff 8) 9,10,3,1,3, 4 (1 success) [Shade loses one die from all dicepools and is terrified of the dread gazer.]

Even in the area of silence the Vamp Target will become a fearsome thing. His eyes shift stark white and his fangs jut from his gums, Shade will swear he can hear the feral hissing of the demon before him even though he really cant hear a thing...  

--Last edited by Radiationjunkie on 2008-12-08 12:08:52 --

Shade's confidence is shattered.  What his mind once saw as a target and perhaps dinner is now a fearsome thing beyond which his present state of mind can comprehend.  

2008-12-08 09:51:52 Shade rolls 4 dice to Soak 10,4,2,1 (failure)

Shade will turn heel at a 90 degree angle and in a blur of movement will be darting through the crates and across the platform and gone before anyone can say otherwise.

Swearing as he grabs the briefcase Shade will return to his haven to deal with the happenings of the night, but first, he needs to feed.

(Shade is terrified, and will burn all 3 celerity actions running)

With Shade gone the aura of silence is lifted and everyone can once again hear the sounds of the night.

Shade will not be persued. This is the worst thing that could have happened, being found out and intercepted. That only means he will be back, with reinforcements. The Priests will open the car doors for the Vampire with the tattooed head and face and his two meatshield ghouls.

The sedan will move out quickly, not wasting any time.

[Lilah would have no problem following them via air, connect to 'Chasing the Devil @ the Church of Paradise area if interested.]  

--Last edited by Radiationjunkie on 2008-12-09 12:48:35 --

Patience won out. The little bird had been rewarded for staying still, for keeping a beady eye out and soaking in some necessary details. Later, when adrenalin wasn't surging through hollowed bones and tiny veins, the bird of black feathers and acute attention would be whooping about with delight. That would be then, and this was now.

Little things are overlooked. It was a surprise then, the curse of luck, that the stray bullet hit nearby. Close enough to give the bird a little startle, to have it puff feathers and cause claws to skitter a few to one side. But it wasn't deterred and stuck its head further out to watch the soundless fight happen over yonder and just below.

Shade vanished, but it was interested in those attacked. The group. The car. Priests! Briefly it wondered if it was the same sort that ran her out of the Church a bit back. It could be. Might be. Might not. But there was only one way to find out.

The moment the last sedan door closed the bird pushed off the perch and took flight. A swoop took it just beyond the roof before wings beat and pushed the medium sized bird into the darkness of night, where it would hover and follow a particular car throughout the town, keeping it in sight.