The Raven, the Wolf, and the Night

**Date Started:** May 18th, 2022
 **Date Completed**: TBA
**Previous Role-Play** None
**Next Role-Play:** TBA
**Users Involved:** User:Blackdagger01 & User:HoloArc
**Setting:** Hino
**Characters Involved:** Farkas, Brangwy Lycandra, Raphael Duskbearer.

The Night was dark as boots marched through the rugged wooded trail with little more than the light of the full moon and the distant sight of fire to light their way and mark their eventual destination. Standing, towering above the other men was a wolf man clad in dark metal armor, a cloak of fur at his back and in his hand a sword few men could possibly carry much less swing. The crisp cool fall air made the Vart'hya's breath visible in the night, silence but for the howling of wolves in the distant as if cheering their brother on toward his mission and goal. As the glow of fire came closer and closer the smell of burning wood and cooked meat permiated through the cool air, a smell that all the men approaching knew would sooner be replaced with that of iron blood and dead flesh.

The dark night left little to be seen by the ordinary human eye despite the moon. But the naked eye of a Nightkin sees substantially more than what others were capable of. A deep frustration was set within the heart of the pale entity walking through the brush and treelines. Not rage. Just a case of annoyance and frustration over the lack of sport from his latest quest, made more severe by the mercenaries who had hired him were now eluding him by constantly being on the move. No challenge. No payment. It had been a fruitless endeavor.

No more. He had found their encampment. Walking through the opening in the barricade, the men on the other side of the make-shift wall nearly had a heart attack at the sight of him. Unimpeded did he wander right up to the center of the camp, his mere presence dictating that he needed to be paid attention to without saying a single word. Sitting down by a table of maps and strategies, he tapped his finger against the table, impatiently waiting for the officers to show up. Men had drawn their weapons, feeling ready to attack despite their fears at the slightest command.

A collection of men and women stepped out from their tent and made their way up to him. "We are pleased to see you again at long last, Sire Raphael."

"I'm sure you are." He said coldly, feeling discontent already. It all felt like a waste of time. "I was quite disappointed when I found your camp uprooted and mobilized. Felt like you were trying to outrun your debt." He spoke, tone cold yet calm and calculated, blade resting on his back. Before they had the chance to reply, he continued. "I want what you owe me, added along with a bonus of Twenty percent. Fail to do so, and I will begin my next hunt for a challenge."

With those words spoken, he reached forward and snatched one of the bigger maps on was about to pocket it when everyone pulled their weapons. "You want to see fruitless attempt of a battle commence? Come then. And find yourself not even worthy of being a notch in my blade." He said as he swiftly pulled out his blade, slicing up the throats of three charging men. And as such, the battle commenced.

Where once there was simply the distant flame of campfire there was now a raging inferno like a wall of fire in the distance. The silent hum of the night replaced now not by howls or crickets but the sounds of battle. Steel against steel, cries of fury and anguish alike, and the welcoming smell of roasting meat now instead there was the smell of charred flesh and blood. The wolfman looked to the moon, the pure and perfect white of its surface now tainted with the red of bloodshed under its watchful eye. Farkas looked to his men and snarled, motioning for them to advance, no longer botheirng to quiet their approach and instead they ran through the woods.

Upon meeting with edge of the forest did they see the camp aflame, burning structures and people alike with the sounds of battle continuing further into the camp. Following the sounds, caring not for dead or injured as the group marched over them with sound of bone cracking under foot. Only upon reaching the center of camp did they see what wrought such death and destruction upon the foe that was to be theres now stolen by the creature that stood amidst the ruin and rot of its own making. The wolfman's eyes widened as he saw the creature, smaller than him and skinny, lanky as though malnourished. He wondered first if the thing was of demonic origion, pale skin, white hair, and red eyes. Sharp claws adorned its slender fingers like long shards of glass.

Farkas was the first to speak, stepping forward in front of his men and raising his sword to the demon before him. "You've stolen prey, Demon. Even those who inhabit hell should know what insult that is to us hunters. What'da'ave to say for yourself, Hellspawn? Even something like you deserves last words, even if we're just sendin ya home."

Pulling the blade out of yet another corpse, the nightkin turned to the voice of the creature that had just arrived. He felt the thumps in the ground well before he showed up, heard the clank of his armor before he had even entered camp. Turning to look at him, he held a passive gaze while a smile was upon his features. "If you intend to send me home I should hope you have good money to pay for the ferry." He nonchalantly joked. He looked at the grand wolf before him, blade outstretched towards him, and he knew quite well that what he had just said was no sufficient.

"I am no spawn of hell. I'm just as much a devil as you are mere mutt. I am just a wanderer. Searching for my next quest. Seeking adventure. My next target to be slain and challenged by. And," He trailed off as he reached into his pocket and held up the map. "Hunting for my next prey... What I see here is an opportunity to-" he cut himself off as he noticed something peculiar. A young woman of albino complexion and white hair. Nothing of greater note in and of itself. But something else was. On her attire, so well as the wolf's armor. He gleamed a grin with his teeth.

"An opportunity to do some reconciliation. And compensate you for my crimes. Against you. And her. And your band of men and women. I robbed you of the group who sought the poor Lycandran's, am I right?" He said as he took a few steps forward until the tip of Farkas' blade was only a few inches from him. That was when he held up the map towards him. "This will point us to their main hideout. All things considered..." He trailed off as he looked around himself. "We should have some time before they can pick up that they have a few people missing."

Farkas' ears raised and his head tilted, unsure and confused by the turn of events. He looked to the demon and then to the map all without lowering his sword. It made no sense to the Vart'hya, what his motives were. Was he simply trying to lower his guard? What reason would a demon have to help anyone but themselves. The wolfman snarled before repositioning the blade so that he could get closer to look at the map. "And for what reason would you seek to help us? or do you have quarrel with these folk as well?" He motioned his sword toward the dead bodies that surrounded them. "Or was this for fun and you've simply a good heart?" He continued, getting a snicker from the men behind him.

The nightkin followed the blade with his gaze, looking upon the corpses which he had only just created. "They proved little sport for me. A dull endeavour. But they have wronged me. Just as they and I have wronged you. Let me make right of this circumstance and aid you in both of our quests for revenge." he said, still holding the map in his hand in offering. "Surely we could both serve to earn something out of this little task of ours? All I would ask for in return is a cut of their resources to compensate for what they owe me. I hear their leader is supposed to be a strong warrior as well, I'd like to kill him."

Farkas looked to the much smaller human woman at his side, the two exchanging a glance and then the wolfman turned his head back toward the Demon before him. Letting out a sigh the wolf nodded his head. "Well, it doesn't appear we've any other business here so it ain't as though we've got anything holding us up at the moment. So what the hell, might as well if we're both going the same direction." Farkas agreed to the temporary alliance for now, knowing that it would do no good to fight or refuse if their goals aligned even if for different reasons. "We've our wagons abit to the East of here, terrain was too rough to bring them along the path we took. Once we retrieve them we can head out unless you've got other plans." Farkas sheathed his sword, holding out his fur covered hand to the Demon, planning to shake on their deal however trivial it might seem.