The sudden attack of the zombie seagulls added to the chaos of combat, and contributed to turning it into a complete rout for the humans. The passage below decks was packed with corpses, whilst somewhere in the cavernous interior cannons thundered. The ship rocked slightly to the rhythm of the Storm Chaser's return fire, but it was clear that the ironclad had the upper hand in that particular gunnery duel.
In the meantime, Mrs. Lovette whispered to the Wind of Chamon with blatant disregard for the melee taking place not even a stone's throw away. She breathed deep, and with her exhalation released a shimmering heat haze that swathed and melted all the guns that were on deck within moments. She frowned thoughtfully at the sight of the flock of undead birds swarming away and pecking at the retreating humans, as did Todd when the red haze upon him eased somewhat when none remained within reach to kill. Their eyes met for a significant moment. The zombie gulls could have come from only one place, and if Brower had his attention on this particular ship out of the whole fleet then that indicated its importance to him.
Sweeney Todd and his companions had barely begun to venture into the depths of the steam ship when another contingent appeared and charged headlong at them. This time round it was a much more ragtag formation armed with a gamut of weapons that ran from handguns and spears to cutlasses, pitchforks and even a few odd ones out bearing full plate and huge double-handed swords. A few of them were the survivors of the initial bloodbath and were more than a little hesitant to face Todd again, but were forced along as much by the press of bodies as the urgings of their leader, a stoutly-built warrior priest bearing a massive flanged mace.
Shortly before the two sides were to crash into each other, the warrior priest pointed his mace at Todd and yelled out a challenge.
"Face me, vampire, for by the grace of Taal your existence ends tonight!"
"Can a dog have Buddha nature?" was Todd's only reply.
"BLASPHEMY!"
"Clearly you don't understand philosophy." Todd said with a faint smile, the last thing any could speak before their duel began amidst the tide of war about them. The sudden bout of calm introspection that overcame Todd melted away in the heat of battle, and the two adversaries started the dance. Todd quickly put the warrior priest on the back foot with his lightning attacks. The cleric fended blows off with shield and mace and counterattacked, but his retaliatory strikes were parried with equal ease. Before long Todd exploited a slight opening and stepped forward to ram a knee into the man's solar plexus. He staggered back with the blow and recovered quickly to attack again. It was not quick enough for Todd was already within his guard and proceeded to knee his groin, jab him in the throat and twisted slightly to deliver a kidney shot. The man reeled, but could go no more than two steps before Todd grabbed his sword arm and unceremoniously hacked it off.
Eyes widening in pain and shock, the warrior priest gritted his teeth and roared his defiance as he attempted to slam his shield into Todd's face. His razors were a motion blur at the periphery of his vision and he found himself suddenly unable to move with Todd grabbing his neck in a vice-like grip.
"I like you. You have guts." Todd breathed into his defeated foe's face. "See? Here they are." He continued and brandished a hand bearing the human's bloodied entrails, exposed for all to see. The last thing the warrior priest saw was Todd's homicidal grin as he leaned forward to sink his extended fangs into the helpless human's neck. That very same grin did not waver as he cast aside the drained corpse and joined the slaughter. It was over almost as quickly as it began and the group were free to wreak havoc amidst the engineering crews lurking within the underbelly of the vessel.
In the meantime, Mrs. Lovette whispered to the Wind of Chamon with blatant disregard for the melee taking place not even a stone's throw away. She breathed deep, and with her exhalation released a shimmering heat haze that swathed and melted all the guns that were on deck within moments. She frowned thoughtfully at the sight of the flock of undead birds swarming away and pecking at the retreating humans, as did Todd when the red haze upon him eased somewhat when none remained within reach to kill. Their eyes met for a significant moment. The zombie gulls could have come from only one place, and if Brower had his attention on this particular ship out of the whole fleet then that indicated its importance to him.
Sweeney Todd and his companions had barely begun to venture into the depths of the steam ship when another contingent appeared and charged headlong at them. This time round it was a much more ragtag formation armed with a gamut of weapons that ran from handguns and spears to cutlasses, pitchforks and even a few odd ones out bearing full plate and huge double-handed swords. A few of them were the survivors of the initial bloodbath and were more than a little hesitant to face Todd again, but were forced along as much by the press of bodies as the urgings of their leader, a stoutly-built warrior priest bearing a massive flanged mace.
Shortly before the two sides were to crash into each other, the warrior priest pointed his mace at Todd and yelled out a challenge.
"Face me, vampire, for by the grace of Taal your existence ends tonight!"
"Can a dog have Buddha nature?" was Todd's only reply.
"BLASPHEMY!"
"Clearly you don't understand philosophy." Todd said with a faint smile, the last thing any could speak before their duel began amidst the tide of war about them. The sudden bout of calm introspection that overcame Todd melted away in the heat of battle, and the two adversaries started the dance. Todd quickly put the warrior priest on the back foot with his lightning attacks. The cleric fended blows off with shield and mace and counterattacked, but his retaliatory strikes were parried with equal ease. Before long Todd exploited a slight opening and stepped forward to ram a knee into the man's solar plexus. He staggered back with the blow and recovered quickly to attack again. It was not quick enough for Todd was already within his guard and proceeded to knee his groin, jab him in the throat and twisted slightly to deliver a kidney shot. The man reeled, but could go no more than two steps before Todd grabbed his sword arm and unceremoniously hacked it off.
Eyes widening in pain and shock, the warrior priest gritted his teeth and roared his defiance as he attempted to slam his shield into Todd's face. His razors were a motion blur at the periphery of his vision and he found himself suddenly unable to move with Todd grabbing his neck in a vice-like grip.
"I like you. You have guts." Todd breathed into his defeated foe's face. "See? Here they are." He continued and brandished a hand bearing the human's bloodied entrails, exposed for all to see. The last thing the warrior priest saw was Todd's homicidal grin as he leaned forward to sink his extended fangs into the helpless human's neck. That very same grin did not waver as he cast aside the drained corpse and joined the slaughter. It was over almost as quickly as it began and the group were free to wreak havoc amidst the engineering crews lurking within the underbelly of the vessel.