Cicero runs with all his might, his eyes remaining locked on the Ravnos. The girl was supposed to have the key to saving the city. They had threatened his city, they had threatened everything, they were at the root of all evil.

His steps thunder through, dodging the remains of the army that stood against his forces, he closes with the Ravnos. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the Colonel, in his bear form now up to helping Art taking on the foe directly. He notices JTM lying lifeless, an enemy combatant feeding on him; he summons his greatest strength and pushes his power across the space between them, destroying the one attacking JTM without slowing his race to the Ravnos.

Tamas turns, blood dripping from his fangs as he rises from over the body of a fallen Gangrel, he seems to smile, welcoming the coming Prince who slams into him with a might that even one skilled in the arts of fortitude would feel shaken by. Tamas’s body breaks under the blow, the burning wrath of the Brujah increasing his damage, the body of the Ravnos starts to deteriorate under his grip, then reforms itself immediately behind it. Clearly the highest levels of fortitude are at the command of Tamas.

Tsuritsa cries out as her brother stands up to the Prince, going toe to toe, the pain and hurt on her face obvious.

“Tamas! No!” she cries out. Tamas looks at her and a grin, clearly telling her this is no problem. No words are exchanged as the two men face off, Cicero using pure strength of body, but Tamas calls on his magic and a column of flame 18’ high slams down, Cicero barely dodging out of the way in time. He goes to hit Tamas again, but the ground beneath him ripples, throwing both combatants completely off their feet.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
His target gets bigger and bigger as Janus’ speed increases. He is moving faster then he ever has before, he pushes his blood to prepare his fortitude, the impact of this one was going to hurt he knew but he only hoped it was enough to stop the madness this creature had brought forth.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Colonel had reached Art’s side, several of the Archons were down, the thing was hurting, it was obvious, but not hurting enough. They had thrown everything they had against this monster, yet it still stood fighting them, controlling friends. He heard a whistling sound and his memories flashed back to the sound of an incoming cannonball from his first days on a battlefield.

“What is this?” he thought, but unable to look around for its source.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Maddelena continued her struggle to keep the telepathic lines of communication open despite the setbacks. She surveyed the battlefield, watching all of them, then her attention was drawn to Janus’ thoughts across the web she maintained.

“This is going to hurt,” he thought just as Maddalena looked up. The ground in the center of the battlefield exploded, she lost sight of all combatants for long moments. She searched desperately in her mind for the connections, counting off each one as she made sure they were still connected, still alive.

As the dust blew in the unnatural winds, slowly clearing out the middle of the field was no longer an open prairie plain, instead a crater the edge of which came up almost to where she stood now. The monster lay on the ground, surrounded by his opponents. Maddalena breathed a sigh of relief as each of her connections came back to life and she could see them start to stir, rising up to continue the battle.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Tamas and Cicero remained locked in mortal combat. Tamas calling down pillars of flame, Cicero hitting him with the might of ages, yet so intent on each other are they, that neither of them notice Tsuritsa. She moves slowly into position, careful not to attract attention, using her powers of obfuscation to ensure such.

“Tamas, you get us into so much trouble,” she thinks to herself. “I hope you know, I’m just trying to save your soul.” Her obfuscate drops just as she slams the stake into Cicero. Cicero’s body goes rigid and the flames come slamming down on him, engulfing the Prince of Lamar.

Tsuritsa dances away from the fire, squealing.

“Tamas!” she yells moving to where she can see her brother, ready to admonish him. Over her shoulder she hears a voice call out.

“Then for as long as you walk the earth, you and your children will fear the dawn, and the suns rays will seek to burn you like fire where ever you hide always.”

Before her, Tamas his easy smile grinning at her is suddenly engulfed himself in another 18’ tall pillar of flame.

On the edge of the crater, a short distance away Pius stands next to Massimo. Massimo looks at Pius.

“Must you always say that every time you use your power? Really?” he shakes his head.

Tsuritsa screams, her heart rending. In her pocket she feels the burning sensation of the item Queen Mab gave her. She pulls it out, feeling it burn her hand, she screams. Her heart broken, her brother dead his body dancing in a pillar of flame, hatred fills her. She turns towards the monster, a renewed commitment in her eyes, fighting the pain she feels the empty loneliness of the world.

She begins running down the slope of the crater, her eyes locked on her target but she slips and falls. Sliding down she slams into James Tiberius Brown.

“What is this!” Brown cries out. “Who is there!”

“Where is my cross!” Tsuritsa screams.

“I’ve seen the dark deeds you’ve done. You don’t deserve the redemption I offered you,” the raspy whispered voice echoes through Tsuritsa’s head. Tsurtisa begins to cry. JT Brown hears it as well though.

“Who is that? I’ll help! If she can beat this thing, let me help!”

“Well enough,” the voice says. “If this one is willing to sacrifice with you, then perhaps you can be redeemed.”

James Tiberius Brown touches something metal, so cold to the touch it burns his hand. Reaching out, he grabs Tsuritsa’s hand as well.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Maddalena watches as Cicero is engulfed in flames, ripped once more out of her web. She stares in stark horror, then the Ravnos himself is also engulfed in flames. It takes every ounce of her self control to not turn and flee immediately.

Looking around, it seems as if all hope is lost. Cicero, their leader is gone. What hope have they now? She hears a scream, turning to look she sees Tsuritsa, guiding along JT Brown. The two of them race towards the monster and then her visions show her that something bad is about to happen; bad in a terrible yet wonderful way

“GET OUT OF THERE! RUN!” she screams across the web to everyone connected still, just hoping she can get them free. Slowly they start to move not fast enough. She screams at them all again, willing them to move faster. The two small figures get closer and closer to the monster.

There is a blinding flash of light as the two Kindred reach their foe and when the light fades, both those kindred and the beast itself are gone. A quiet wind blows across the prairie as silence descends upon you all.


OOC: There will be a post tomorrow of the full aftermath including injuries/death lists/etc as well as a start point for the kick off of further role play. Watch for Seal #3 - Epilogue Tomorrow!