TVC - Chapter 47 - The Dead Walk Fast........

[Knightofni]

“Well that was subtle.” Trinity drew and primed her pistols, whilst shaking her head in disbelief at the Blood Dragon’s evident lack of subtlety. She glanced at Saul, and from his facial expressions she could tell he was thinking along the same lines.

“He’s a Blood Dragon.. Apparently they can’t help it.” Saul chuckled and shrugged, loading his crossbow; if he was honest he hadn’t expected anything less from Banespike.. That man would use a cannon to crack a nut. He looked through the mansion’s ruined gates at the Blood Dragon charging headlong towards the increasing numbers of guards that were emerging from various places.. This place has its own small army.. Figures. Trust Lahmians to find someone else to do their fighting for them.

Ignoring the horde of ghouls that were flooding through the twisted gates, Saul and Trinity strode past them, into the enclosed area; crossbow and pistols levelled at the onrushing guards. Saul fired first, the bolt from his crossbow flew straight and true.. And a little off target as it punched through the face of one of the oncoming guards causing half of his face to disintegrate in a deluge of blood, muscle tissue and bone.

“Nice shot.”

Saul shrugged off Trinity’s compliments; already reloading the crossbow, his face brimming with an excitement that only bloodshed could bring.

“Thanks, but I was aiming for the heart.” He levelled the crossbow again and fired a second time; another guard fell as the crossbow bolt smashed a grisly hole through his ribcage. Saul rounded to face Trinity, his lips turned up in an elated grin..

"You having fun yet?"

 

[Trevy the Great]

The mansion was located in a relatively tight space, crammed between the abodes on either side. Its grounds, an expanse of space that would be substantially larger on any other residence were severely hindered by their close relation to the buildings on either side.
Despite this lack of space, the estate, like all good mansions, had a back door and Zosz surmised that it was for servants and other unsavory characters that the Lahmian sisterhood would rather not tarnish their considerable reputation by allowing in the front door as he stabbed the lone guard standing in front of it. He tried the small gate that barred his way to the main building and found it locked, enchanted against any form of magic designed to open it without the key. So Zosz set it on fire. The enchantments didn't work when the gate was reduced to molten slag.
Turning to the quartet of massive reptiles that waited impassively behind him, he gestured into the opening.
"Enemies within. Have a good time slaughtering them all." He told them, before disappearing once more.

 

[Knightofni]

Two more dead guards fell to the ground, their heads ruined and bloodied. Smiling, Trinity stopped for a moment to reload; quietly amazed at how quickly she was now able to do so... the enhanced capabilities of the vampire were still something of a wonder to her.

If she was honest with herself she was beginning to enjoy herself a little, she’d still rather be at the ball but, on balance, this wasn’t such a bad alternative. Next to her; Saul stood, crossbow hanging limp in one hand, watching Lord Banespike and the horde of ghouls overwhelm and dismember the remaining guards, with an expression of satisfaction mingled with expectation on his face.

“So what happens now?”

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Like a partly-open eye, the sliver of white upon the night sky that was Mannslieb cast its gaze upon the darkness, illuminating the wolfish set to his jaw. For a long moment Geralt simply stared back, before turning to Vrakian beside him.

"I suppose you will take charge of them." Geralt said, gesturing towards the open manhole behind them with a pack of ghouls lurking within. Without waiting for a reply Geralt picked a pair of vials from within his shirt and swallowed the contents in one gulp, before walking bold as brass towards the brothel entrance.

Under normal circumstances, Geralt's combat regalia would have drawn suspicion long before he had even gotten anywhere close to the target. Dressed plainly as he was in simple shirt and trousers, however, the bouncers outside the entrance did not stir in alarm when he approached. Eyebrows were raised at his somewhat bestial appearance, but it was nothing unusual considering the brothel's typical clientele.

"Hold it, chump." One bouncer drawled as he unfolded his thick arms, and stepped forward to perform a security check.

"Perhaps this will assure you that there is nothing of interest." Geralt said as he suddenly fished out a large purse brimming with coins that clinked slightly in his hand. This turned out to be the wrong move, as greed shone in their eyes and their faces twisted in a sneer. Their interest drawn, the rest of the thugs began to approach.

"Then perhaps this might persuade you." Geralt said, as he raised his hand and twisted his fingers into the Sign of Axii. Almost immediately the thugs started as if slapped, as the psychic wave struck their feeble minds. They stared into thin air with vacant looks, and some even had drool dribbling out of a corner of their mouth.

"You will stop harassing me. You will go home and rethink your lives. You will do so now." Geralt stated to them, and waved Vrakian forward.

**********

Geralt watched as the two slender maidens with alabaster complexions cavorted before him while wearing next to nothing. One moved ever so slightly closer to him, giving him a tantalising view of her womanly 'assets', while the other did the same on Vrakian's behalf.

He raised an eyebrow ever so slightly as he looked at his companion, indicating the dancing prostitutes with a slight wave of his hand. Vrakian responded with a nearly imperceptible nod of his head that he masked with a lecherous grin at the one 'servicing' him. Within Geralt the vague embers of lust stirred fitfully, but he suppressed such misguided feelings with a clear conscience. It would have been a pity to murder them, had Vrakian not confirmed that he sensed the spoor of the Lahmian upon them. He knew who, or rather what they were and it made all the difference.

As one of the Lahmian courtesans began to give him a lap dance Geralt held onto her arm tentatively, making sure not to reveal exactly how fast his accelerated reflexes were. She purred and wriggled coyly as she gave him a coquettish look, but his grip turned to iron. He rose and with a boot kicked her onto the ground, leaping onto her to pin her down under his body weight and his grip while he drew Moonfang with a free hand. Less than a second after Geralt made his move Vrakian struck, revealing his true face as he latched onto the Lahmian before him with all his bestial might.

Being this close to them and literally within their grasps put paid to the Lahmians' natural speed and agility, and from experience Geralt knew that brute strength was not their forte. Thus Vrakian had readily agreed when Geralt explained his plan to him. As Vrakian began to slowly but surely wrench his Lahmian's head off her shoulders, Geralt decapitated the vampiress under him with one stroke moments before her flailing painted talons would have torn out his throat. He impaled the corpse with his blessed blade and soon only a pile of sanctified ashes remained. He strode over to Vrakian just as Vrakian tore the head off the Lahmian he was handling, and gave her body the same treatment as her slain sister in darkness.

"That's deadly." Vrakian said as he stared at the eldritch flames of Moonfang with an odd mix of quiet awe and disgust.

"And very convenient." He continued as he realized Lileath's blade left no evidence behind.

"Good for you that I'm on your side, then. Let's continue." Geralt replied. A chorus of distant howls erupted as the ghouls temporarily under Vrakian's control swarmed in to attack. The long night truly began now.

 

[Mr Nightwere]

As the mists blocked Ricks view and unseen stalker thrashed out towards him, her fangs as long as sowing needles as she was taken by a bestial fury to the lahmain renegade. Her nostrils caught the smell of his blood line 'Nightwere scum'. She shrieked as she dashed towards rick, grabbing hold of his throat and surprising him for a moment.
"HA, what will you do now shade spawn? You and your pathetic master do not deserve to be called vampire much less Lahmian" Rick struggled for a moment as the Lahmian squeezed his throat tighter and tighter. "You will pay for my sisters, you disgusting creature"

An arrow hissed past Ricks head, striking the lahmain in the throat casing her to convulse and drop dead to the floor. One of ricks gets stepped forward from the mist, a long bow wrapped around his shoulder as he lifted rick to his feet. He bowed to his master looking up smiling a devious grin.
"Master perhaps you could use my humble assistance?"

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

"Now you die" a voice hissed from the shadows to Saul. The vampire barely had time to register movement before a blow threw him to the ground. Whatever had hit him moved faster than anything he had ever met, and a second later Trinity's face had a dozen gashes all over it. As the young get fell back the attacker stopped for a moment, revealing the luscious shape of a Lahmian.

"You are going to regret your actions," Antoinetta snarled, eyes glowing in rage. As Saul moved she reacted, again faster than he could comprehend. Each strike how vampiric power behind it, and every second he was struck from what seemed every direction. For all his strength if he didn't work out how to defend himself soon he wouldn't last much longer.

---

Vekarin barrelled into an ornate room, blade cleaving through two swains who tried in vain to protect their undead mistress.
"Stop."
Even to someone of Vekarin's arrogance the voice had a note of command and he paused to see who this new foe was. Ahead of him a women stepped out of the shadows, and bow of unusual shape held in her hand. The aura of power that shimmered around her body marked her as one of the ancients, and this was confirmed when her eyes met his.

Slowly the Lahmian raised her bow, pointing it Vekarin's chest. A hollow sound boomed out of his helm as the Blood Dragon laughed. Against his plate even an arrow fired at point blank range would not hurt him, however that laughter soon stopped. With a twang the arrow shot forward, puncturing through his armour and pinning him to the all behind him. Two more shots followed, each arm being pinned in turn.

"Your artefacts will not work in here," the vampiress purred dangerously, gesturing at the inert armour. In his bloodlust Vekarin had not noticed that his plate was no longer lit with its internal magical flame, no doubt the work of defensive wards. "Those arrows are also tipped with a venom that even works on our kind, and yes I do know who you are Vekarin Banespike. We make it our business to know everything. Your strength is going and shortly you will be helpless, and I assure you, you will perish. But you do have a choice before you. You can either die painfully or you can tell me what the Council is planning with the Countesses ruby and I will grant you a swift death."

 

[Simon von Carstein]

"von Carsteins regret nothing!" said Lucius emerging from the shadows seizing Antoinetta by the neck and casually snapping it. Ignoring Saul he called back into the darkness. "I hope you were watching that! Boy." Gabriel appeared "Can our kind be killed by the snapping of the neck Lucius?" he asked Lucius looked down at the moaning vampiress "Its not about killing its about suffering." Gabriel stepped up "Time this one was put out of its misery." he said producing a pistol with a flick of his wrist he pointed it down at Antoinetta's head and pulled the trigger.

 

[Trevy the Great]

Vekarin grimaced at the woman before him. Behind his mask, his eyes flared in anger. He was pinned, but far from defeated.
With a burst of energy, he tore his right arm from the wall, an audible rip sounding as he wrenched the arrow from his limb, leaving the projectile embedded, its fletching dripping red blood. He freed the other arm as well, stepping forward, drawing his bulk from the constraining arrow that lay in his chest. As he stepped away from the wall, he could feel the Lahmian's virulent poison taking effect in his body, draining the vitality from his muscles with a surprising agility. He raising his head, the balefire in his eyes meeting the cold ones of his adversary.
"Do you seriously think that I would betray anything to you?" He rasped, his vice echoing as if a chorus of one repeated every word he said to her, "I think that will be your last mistake."
He raised his shield, and the Lahmian could see her own reflection peering back at her in the mirrored surface.

 

[Evanm7]

Rick barely even managed to get his hands up in defense as the Lahmian Vampire was on him. Rick thrashed, his hands making gestures at his throat, but the superhuman strength of a elder Vampire was to much. Rick started to gather his energy, but a arrow came out of no where. Rick's eyes widened as he looked for another Lahmian, but then realised the arrow was not targeted at him.

The Lahmian saw it, too, and yelled out the spells to activate some ward, no doubt. But it was to late, and the black-fletched arrow killed the hateful she-Vampire.

Tiam, one of Rick's gets, stepped out of the shadows. Tiam was trained in Cathy, and was somewhat like a Harakhaten Vampire.
"Master, perhaps you could use my humble assistance?"
"Yes, Tiam. Thanks for killing her." Rick responded. Then he gestured towards the wall of guards.
"Come and face me, scum of the night! You shall die!" The knight yelled, raising his burning rune sword.

Rick raised his bow and took a shot at the armored figure. It was dead on mark, but when it got near a certain distance, the arrow stopped.
"See? Trust those Lahmains to get some hiding tricks. Any idea how to stop it?" Rick asked his get.
"Master, perhaps we could counter it with our own magic? If I channeled enough force in the Moon Sword, then it could dissolve the wards." Tiam replied.

At a curt nod from his sire, Tiam went to his job. While Rick bounded off, the get started to channel a ball of pure magic, not yet split into the winds, into Rick. And so Rick added it to the gathering power in his hands, summoning the blue Moon Sword.

Rick's Lahmian speed made him faster than all the swords coming at him, and the blue sword was taking down man after man. Then Rick set his eyes to Wind Sight, also known as Witchsight, and saw the shimmering ward that kept off all the attacks. Rick sped up, reaching the speed of many of the fastest horses. Then the crystal Moon Sword hit the wall, all the anti-magic of it leaching out to combat the ward.

 

[Knightofni]

If the sudden appearance and support of the other von Carsteins perturbed Saul in any way then his face didn't betray it as he moved swiftly towards the injured Trinity. He supposed that he should feel some sort of gratitude towards the von Carsteins for their assistance but he could only feel aggrieved that they had denied him the sport; his pride would win out over his sense of humility.

As Saul approached, the sound of his footsteps made Trinity look up at him, her battered features contorted into a painful smile. It twisted Saul's stomach to see her injured like this, deep down he knew it was his fault that she'd gotten hurt here and found himself unable to return her smile. He just hoped that the wounds were not beyond his capabilities to heal.

Ignoring the two vampires stood in the dark behind him... he couldn’t care less whether or not they were watching... Saul sank to his knees in front of Trinity and gently placed his cold hands on either side of her face; he closed his eyes and began to mutter under his breath, the words were not at all familiar to Trinity, though Saul was speaking so quickly and quietly that she couldn’t be sure that he was speaking at all.

Saul felt his fingers become icy cold, and eventually numb, as he channelled what little necromantic he could muster through them to heal Trinity’s wounds. He wasn’t able to channel enough to heal all of the wounds completely but at least the wounds now resembled week’s old injuries instead of minutes old injuries.

He forced himself to grin at her and then kissed her forehead, “Next time, I promise we’ll go dancing instead.” Then, as if suddenly remembering the presence of the other von Carsteins, He half turned to them and pointed at the fallen Lahmian, his voice laden with hate and disgust.

“Is that thing dead?”

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

"Help! Help us!!"

The door slammed open to reveal a barrel chested man, blood dripping from his neck. Shirtless and with only his trousers on, he held a longsword in his hand limply, appearing to not know how to use it.

"Monsters!" he cried, gesturing over his shoulder, "the whores are monsters! Bloodsucking creatures!" Shrieks behind him warned Geralt and Vrakian of the man's vampiric pursuers, and they pushed past him into the balcony. Outside the room it was deserted, no sign of the supposed attackers in sight, and the two Council members slowly walked further down to where more shrieks could be heard.

Suddenly a form dropped onto Geralts shoulders, thighs gripping his head in a vice like grip, and with a roll the Lahmian flipped the man to the ground. He hit the ground with a horrendous crash, the Moonfang skittering off over the balcony edge as the vampiress swiftly flipped back up.

Moving forward to support his comrade Vrakian felt something burn into his back, causing agony to flood through his body.
"A silvered sword," the man's voice laughed behind him, twisting his blade as he drove it into the Strigoi, "I hope you like it's touch."

---

She watched and waited impassionatley as Antoinetta's skull was blown apart. The child had always been so impetuous and it had proved to be her undoing. The intruder's had proven to be more resourceful than she had expected, but still none of them had seen her or even suspected she was watching them.

Licking her lips silently her catlike eyes stared unblinkingly, all the time learning and waiting......

 

[Simon von Carstein]

"Yes." said Lucius matter of factly to Saul before talking back to Gabriel "an interesting idea Gabriel. Even I've never tried to give one of our own kind a blackpowder lobotomy." Gabriel grinned appreciatively. "We'll try and catch another one I think." said Lucius "The close range is what shattered her skull. We'll try longer range and see if we can keep her alive in a more docile state with half her brain shot out." he knelt down to examine the dead Lahmian. "The Count likes to know exactly how damage we can take."

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

In a blur she had moved to the other side of the courtyard. Lifting her nail she licked the drop of blood of it as Lucius instinctively touched the slight cut now on the back of his neck.

To fast to be seen and still hidden she savoured the blood. She had his scent now.........

 

[Gree]

Vrakian twisted away, the silvered sword sliding from his flesh with a hiss. Briefly, the ancient Strigoi vampire hissed in pain as it withdrew, silver was not very good for his healing at all.

He brought Geralt back up, the Witcher recovering quickly, he was quite tougher than the average human, Vrakian summarized.

‘’He has a silver sword, he could prove problematic if I face him, the other is quite fast, I believe I am more suited for her, I shall handle the Lahmian, and you the human?’’ Vrakian suggested.

 

[Knightofni]

Saul's head snapped round and his eyes stared questioningly into the darkness; he thought he'd heard something... a faint gust of wind or the faint scurrying of a rat perhaps... frowning slightly, he scanned the shadows for a moment longer before chuckling mutely to himself and shaking his head, bemused by his own paranoia. He got slowly to his feet pulling Trinity up with him, one hand around her waist, holding her close to him.

The Count likes to know exactly how damage we can take.

Well that's just plain stupid. Saul turned to face Lucius with a sarcastic grin across his face.

"Why? Is Simon planning on getting shot in the face anytime soon?"

 

[Simon von Carstein]

"You will address the count by his rightful title at all times." said Lucius straightening up. But to answer your question "The Count has already had his head blown off his neck and survived. But that was an isolated event under special circumstances. He simply wishes to know the effects of a bullet through the head in ordinary circumstances. Among other things." he added "There was this one time I dissected one of our own while it was still alive to see what would happen. I spent some fifty three hours going through it, probing its organs and all that time it was screaming." Lucius looked over to Saul "It wasn't until I attacked the heart that it finally died completely."

 

[Knightofni]

Saul glared at Lucius for a moment, it was a look of obvious distaste at the other vampire's account of his pursuit of science; it seemed to Saul that all of the von Carstein family were deranged lunatics in some way or another. He also noted the spark of irritation from Lucius at his use of Simon's name, though he couldn't tell whether that was just some sort of fanatical idolism on Lucius' part or whether Simon's ego just reveled in the gratuitous recognition... not that Saul cared either way.

"So if Simon, sorry the 'Count'," Saul put as much sarcasm into the pronunciation of 'Count' as he could, "has already had his head blown off, why is he still alive.."

 

[Mr Nightwere]

As the ward broke Taim felt more at ease he cocked his head to one side and stared directly at one of the lahmians they here simply standing n a group of about 7 looking menacingly at the pair.
Taim whistled and 6 more gets entered the window their bows at the ready as the looked into the eyes of every lahmian there, it was a stand off between two lahmian fractions thirsty for revenge.

A slender Lahmian walked forward flicking her hair behind her as she walked in high healed boots to the front of the group a sympathetic smile on her lips as she spoke to all of them.
"Well, well well! what is all this fighting about? Come now this not our, war gentlemen. This is the war of our sires"
Rick moved in front of her grasping tightly at his moon bow
"And we no better than to trust your kind" He said with conviction as he stared into the lahmians
The woman's smile turned to a feral grin as she let out an angry hiss
"Then Die like dogs!" she yelled as the lahmians ran towards the four archers leaping to walls as they surrounded them letting out shrieks of hate and rage.

 

[Simon von Carstein]

Lucius seemed genuinely surprised by the question. "Why by the blessings of Vashanesh of course" he said "Until the great divine plan is fulfilled my master and grandsire Simon is completely invulnerable to physical harm and unkillable by any means. Surely you must have known." Seeing that Saul was still completely clueless Lucius continued "It was just before the great battle of Sylvania. My master Simon traveled to a dwarven ruin deep in the badlands to find the tomb of Jerek von Carstein. My master was crippled at the time as he had suffered terrible wounds in the battle of Ikaana and the siege of Nexeternus. He broke through the stone and the dwarven enchantments and entered at the same time fighting off witchhunter mercenaries and Jerek who had awoken in a semi vargulf state. During the fight the master was shot in the head and the tomb collapsed on top of him and Jerek. He was thought dead by Marshal Mircea who witnessed his death." Lucius looked deep into Saul's eyes "But he wasn't! He was reborn! He grew his head back dug his way out of the rubble and then dragged the remains of Jerek back to Nexeternus on foot. He continued the charade of being dead and during the battle of Nexeternus singlehandedly attacked Drakenhof and slaughtered all of Mannfred's court. Since then he has suffered all sorts of wounds which should have finished him but he has just shrugged them off. Nothing must stand in the way of the divine plan."

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Struggling as he was with a pair of legs constricting his head, Geralt did not answer Vrakian directly. Thinking quickly, he concentrated as much as he could and raised a hand towards the vampire on his shoulder as he twisted his fingers into the Sign of Aard. The telekinetic surge bowled him over but it sent the Lahmian flying in Vrakian's general direction.

"Be my guest." Geralt gasped as he rose to his feet. He flexed his empty fists and cursed his losing Moonfang as he moved to 'greet' the man with the silver sword. Geralt skirted about the glittering web of blows the swordsman presented as he awaited an opening to use.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

The Lahmian stared at the mirrored shield, puzzled as to what the Blood Dragon was trying to do.
"If you think showing me your pretty trinket will-" A deafening roar caused both vampires to glance to a nearby door as it slammed open, a young vampiress staggering through, her arm and shoulder missing, seemingly torn from it's body. As the two lizardmen entered two bolts slammed into their chests before the Lahmian seemed to think twice. She was outnumbered and outclassed, and her own skin was more important than that of this house.

In a blur she ran for her life, but not before unleashing one last bolt aimed at Vekarin's head........

---

Gutheart cursed inwardly as the cowardly vampire moved away, only to be replaced by the strange man. He didn't move like one of the dead, but there was something about him that was not entirely natural. But then he was going to find out the hard way that neither was Gutheart.

Moving surprisingly swiftly for one of his stature, he swung his sword over his opponents head. As anticipated the man expertly dodged the blow, half ducking, half leaning backwards to avoid the blow. Letting the sword's weight carry his left hand around, Gutheart flexed his right, causing a needle to spring out which he lunged with towards Geralt's exposed neck.

---

The new Count sounded most interesting she thought, listening to Lucius as he rambled on. Of course the minion would no doubt be exaggerating but from what she had learned elsewhere it was plain that the Count was in possession of the ring. As for the Divine Plan.......well she had an inkling of what that might be, and in truth she was not sure how she felt about it. After all it had been so long......

For now she would continue to watch and wait. It was mildly amusing to watch them scurry about anyway, and for now she was content to see what other nuggets of information could be uncovered.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

"My my, you're a big boy aren't you?" The vampiress smiled at Vrakian, appearing to be nothing more than an innocent sixteen year old. This guise was broken slightly by the thin shift she was wearing, showing off her lithe naked form underneath. As Vrakian moved to grab her she twisted easily evading him. Again and again he tried, yet every grasp she twisted and turned out of, appearing to be doubled jointed as she contorted her body into ways he never thought would be possible.

"You'll have to move faster than that of you want to lay your hands on this," she purred, stripping off the shift and running her hand down her body. As much as he tried to ignore it, the Strigoi could not help but flicker his eyes downwards, and in that instant a gash sliced across his face.

"Mmm," the moaned as she suggestively sucked her fingers, "if your blood tastes this good, I bet the rest of you tastes even better."

 

[Knightofni]

"I'll assume that this 'Divine' plan is approaching fruition then, given the urgency of this venture and Sim..The Count's reaction to the thievery of that piece of jewelery. Tell me, are the Council as aware of the nature of the Count's designs as yourself? Or are they languishing in the darkness of ignorance as well?"

Saul was intrigued by Lucius' tale of Simon's resurrection. It was a purely academical interest of course, he had no intention of ever finding out how much damage he could take himself, but it would be of interest to know how much others could take should the need arise for Saul to dispose of them. He also knew that the answer to his latter question would be 'No', there was no way that Simon would share the details of his so called 'Divine' plan with any of the Council, save perhaps that bitchy Lahmian.

Trinity fidgeted uncomfortably next to him; drawing his attention away from the von Carstein, he shot her a brief grin... she didn't like being kept in the dark anymore than he did, though he managed to hide his irritation better than her.

Now that he was distracted from his conversation with Lucius, Saul couldn't help but shake the feeling that they were being watched and he tried to put his discomfort down to being in prolonged company with the von Carstein's, which had made him more inclined to watch his own back but he still couldn't help but feel like there was someone else in the courtyard with them.

Unwilling to share his paranoia with the other von Carstein's, he turned his head and whispered into Trinity's ear, quietly enough that only she was able to hear.

"Keep your hands on your pistols, and watch the shadows. I don't think we're alone."

 

[Gree]

‘’I see you posses immense speed, especially for your age’’ Vrakian began, removing his coat from his upper body. He carefully folded it aside.

‘’That’s impressive to be honest’’

‘’But can you take a hit?’’ he asked, lunging forward, fist raised to strike the ground she leapt up, as he expected, but from his back burst a single talon-tipped limb that struck out just as she leapt up. While in the air she had no way to avoid the attack.

The talon took her in the side, driving her back through a wall tearing through the stone and wood as Vrakian’s wing unfolded itself.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

The man lunged at his neck with surprising speed, but Geralt too was faster than he seemed. His two hands clapped about the needle and snapped it centimeters away from his skin. He followed up by stepping within his guard before the man could bring his sword around, and buried a knee in his groin and a fist in his jaw. Geralt's victim reeled but he was not quite done yet. He threw his entire body weight behind a right hook that sent him to the floor. Whilst prone, Geralt proceeded to heed the old adage about kicking a man while he was down.