Oopsie = Evil Petting Zoo

[Pharlen]

The announcement interrupted "RhyDin's Tawdriest Soap Opera" on the TV and "Calculus With Socrates" on the radio. It repeated several times. The Governor herself was lovely in pale ivory and pink, her smile enchanting as she gave her little press conference from the governor's office.


"Greetings, Lovely Citizens, Persons of Flourishing Existence, and Naughty Wombat Noodlers!

As you know, I, your governor, am practically perfect, and I have created simply scads of new work, new jobs, new opportunities for wickedness and vice in my tenure. But, the operative word is 'practically', and I did make a tiny little oopsie."

She held up her hand, curling her fingers to indicate just how tiny the oopsie was. It was SO VERY TINY.

"In making a deal with the Theistic Association of Impiety of Sigil, I discovered that what I had assumed was a mere request for a lane for their annual cattle drive was in fact the setting up of two large infernal gates between the Marketplace and river where their animals would be driven through, because of some solemn thing with the Lady of Feasts or some crap I really wasn't paying attention, these people are just scarily boring.

So, while a running of the beasts normally wouldn't be a problem in town, the real issue is the beasts. As it turns out, they will be driving an evil petting zoo through. That is Devil Pigs, Terror Goats and Thunder Geese through town.

Yes, I did say 'Thunder Geese'."



"AS you may realize, the usual heroic sorts and people who think they may be able to cull some of the animals for later slaughter or a few laughs will be needed to make sure the animals do not go squirting off into the city.

There is already a consignment of knights promised to assist, so, get in there and give a hand!

People along the route will probably want to go visit their cousins in the country or take advantage of the city's evacuation incentives, and get a room in the newly renovated Overlook Hotel on the east side.

Will you be rewarded? Bring samples of the beasts to town hall and receive your bounty*!

The route is simple: The animals will be driven down the South Road from the South Gate to Westbridge, where they will be teleported to wherever evil petting zoo animals go.

The Run will begin about sunset on Saturday and commence until most of the animals have been driven through, around midnight. South Road will be closed at 2pm, and reopen by dawn Sunday, depending. Good luck, darlings!"










*absolutely will not be a packet of paper towels.


(Dinosaur versions of the most evil of petting zoo animals – Goose, Pig, and Goat – will be the featured monsters. They are all totally edible and marginally domesticated. Expect also actual terror birds, litoptern (giant freaking goats), and huge boars. Giant Goose will be a suchomimus; Giant Pig will be entolodonts, huge horrible giant pigs; and goats will be giant Damascus goats which are already horrible mutated demonic things.

Live free form RP! You can use dice if you like, but basically, you know what your character can do, so git'er done! Bounce off of other people, throw monsters at unsuspecting souls, have a great time! I'll be on hand to do some dungeon mastering, but anyone and everyone is welcome to wrangle monsters.

Film 'em, capture 'em, kill 'em, have great time!

The Run will be Saturday starting about 6pm PST at the Streets of RhyDin, and running till ...whenever! I can try and get in to start the run earlier if wanted, too. Just message!

Feel free to discuss the event, post your Killin' Varmints Duds, plot to divert several dozen horrible Goats...)

[Aiden Harper]

The Advent of the Gryphon

Sometime Saturday morning, well before the Gates of Sigil appeared, a long line of trucks flowed into RhyDin from the south. From South Gate to West Bridge, flatbed trailers paused at every cross-street to unload massive, canary yellow concrete barriers that were used to block the roads and the alleyways leading onto the main avenue. Here and there along the route, the barriers were strategically positioned like funnels instead of barricades, each bottleneck of space leading into huge steel cages big enough to hold an angry Hell Beast or two. The gates to the cages were open, ready to drop down once creatures were corralled into them. Dozens of Knights, wearing combat tactical gear, armed to the teeth with modern weaponry and bearing an unknown Gryphon logo on their uniforms, took up posts around the barriers and cages to help direct civilian traffic and to discourage tampering with the road blocks. Electronic drones, also bearing a Gryphon decal, buzzed through the air and some whispered about a handful of men, swift as the wind and as ephemeral as shadows, moving along the rooftops paralleling the route.

[Pharlen]

((Whew! I transcribed the log of the big drive, and added some commentators in for fun. I thought it was hilarious that so many people's ears perked up when Demonic Language was mentioned that I of course added a translation.

SOME of the lines have been changed for clarity, because there was some confusion which way the animals were running and etc, but other than fixing some spelling and grammar, didn't change anything.

There are BAD WORDS and VIOLENCE against (admittedly evil) Animals in this post, so be forewarned.

ALSO Yes, you can post in anything your char was doing if you weren't able to make the event! ))



The Simulcast!


As the Running of the Petting Zoo began to draw near, dozens of tiny drones swarmed over and around the scene, digitally recording the scene for posterity. There were three hosts, as for any good parade, discussing the pre-potential disaster set-up.

"Hello again, if you're just joining us for the televising of the Gates of Sigil on South Road. I'm Wendy Wendy, nighttime announcer at K-RDN radio, with me tonight is Oakenwar Thorchunks, warrior of legend and fitness guru, he'll be commenting on the fighting styles, and Penny Drop, editor of the RhyDin Rag, here to comment on everything else."

"We've been watching the Gryphon Knights and the RhyDin Guard get in there and put up barricades and barriers, their method of evacuation is definitely postive" Oakenwar announced.

"Dragging out screaming is a method of evacuation?" Penny sniped.

"It certainly is! We're lucky that these days, lives are worth more than lumber," Wendy burbled, "And look! Some of the city's heroes are beginning to show up..."

Anya wound her way through the streets of Old Temple. She has an arming sword at her hip and a flask in her hand. She'd remembered to bring the big one this time. Setting herself up near the Southgate, she made herself comfortable near one of the barriers. She watched the gathering knights go about their jobs, taking an occasional sip from her flask.

Sitting on a barricade, one leg dangling, the other pulled up to his chest, is a young man waiting for the run to begin. Haru wasn't alone by far, there were dozens if not hundreds of people waiting and watching from the moment that the spectral Gates had manifested.

The Gates pulsed quietly in the dimming light. Large searchlights were being erected on building roofs, and the beams aiming down on the roadway down its length. Five miles? About that. The Gryphon Knights were prepared and waiting along with the guards and other persons looking for a fight or a good giant Goose dinner.

Anya noticed someone else waiting on the run and waved to Haru from across the street. At least, given that he wasn't dressed like the nights she assumed he was also waiting for the start.
Haru returned the wave, the young wizard offering a smile, his full arsenal of weapons at the ready.

Anya made her way across the street and took a seat next to Haru.

"I'm Anya. I'm guessing you're waiting to see what this is about too?" She held a hand out to him. Haru reached out and shook her hand.

"Yea, I'm Haru," He hopped off the barricade, "It's uh... never a good sign when portals just show up."

She waved a hand to indicate the barricades, cages, and armed Knights. "This all seems to make it extra interesting."

He nodded, a concerned eye darting around, a small glow of infernal red in it, "At least we're more prepared this time than when the rifts opened up."

"The rifts?" She took another sip from her flask and held it out to him with a raised eyebrow. He seemed nervous, maybe he could use it.

"Gonna have to decline, grenades aren't a good idea drunk, as much as I may believe the opposite in the moment," The young man nodded, "Yea some rifts to hell opened up a while back, had a bunch of demons in town."

Animals of sorts? The Kennel Master and prize-winning hunter of Mystaria was absolutely going to be joining in. His lovely paladin girlfriend was up high somewhere to keep a watch, so Gideon and the black wolf, Garm came trotting up to the lone two figures in the streets. He gave them a small wave and started checking his pointy weapons.

"Huh." Anya screwed the cap back on the flask and tucked it away for the time being. "Well yes, everything is looking much more prepared."

She returned Gideon's wave and, after a pause, waved to the wolf as well. You never know.

Oh Gideon's girlfriend was hovering a ways up, full armor on, a glowing blade in her hand, her black wolf trotting happily beside the man. Demonic Animals -- hell yea the paladin was here.

This particular wolf will not wave, but he bounded over to the stranger for attention from Anya. She had waved, so it was only polite.

"Demons, huh? I have a bone to pick with a few of those." Gideon mulled.



"I love these guys. Here's a demonic portal about to open, and they're chatting and introducing themselves. Are we British or something?" Penny announced snarkily.

"Really, Penny? In battle, you want to be able to call your fellow warriors by name when needed, not be sputtering about 'you with the big tits' or something," Oakenwar snapped.

"It just seems..." Penny faltered.

"Just shut up, the portal is getting bright! Go to the portal drones!" Wendy called, excited.




The Southgate Portal increased in brilliance, a low moaning beginning to keen from it. Soon, indeed. The air turned electric, chill despite the summer warmth, the stars seeming to blot out.

It suddenly wasn't obvious whether Anya was more excited about getting a fight or getting attention from the wolf. She hopped off the barricade and set about scratching Garm behind the ears like it was the reason she'd shown up tonight.

Maggie had just left the Momus Athenaeum, AKA Tass's library, and was headed toward Southgate and its noted detours.

Haru looked up, the red in his eyes becoming more clear, "Stick around here long enough, you'll get your fill of demons." He backed away from the wolf slightly, he still wasn't a fan of dogs, though his own pair of leopards were perched behind the barricade.

Oh, happy wolf! Gideon chuckled at the silly dog. Gideon looked up at the boy, an eyebrow raised.

"Here being Rhy'din or this location?" His accent thick in the excitement of the upcoming battle. "Both seem like good answers, actually."

"Rhydin," The boy paused, Banjo hopping over beside him, sensing his nervousness, "Your accent..."

"I've known some nice Demons. They're mostly a pain though. Sorry." She straightened up and held a hand out to Gideon. "Hi, I'm Anya."

Maggie heard Haru's voice and headed that way. "Hey, is this what Des's Mom made the announcement about?"

Those who had ever had contact with the city of Sigil would feel it on the backs of their necks, taste it under their tongues, know the hell-spawn just from its presence so close to the reality of RhyDin. The moaning turned to dull roaring, and the Portal lit up. There was a creak, a strike of lightning, and the iron gates strobed negative, positive and then... Opened. A flush of wind rushed down the road, hell tainted, acrid, like a locomotive gone off the rails. It Began.

Haru waved to his swords mentor, "Yea, the portals seem to be opening up, probably begin here... well now." Haru takes a deep breath, shifting his grip on the staff to both hands.

Canting his head, Gideon appraised Haru. "Indeed, I have one. I assume you've heard it before?" A change of tactics on information gathering? Maybe. He turned to Anya, "Gideon, Gideon Convor." The portal lit up, and the Wolf Lord turned to face it. "Best of luck, kids." It was not a condescending term, he was in his 40s!

Anya stepped back towards the side of the road and drew her sword. A faint red line ran down its blade and she smiled, her eyes bright as she waited to see what popped out of the portals.

The first thing to pop out of the portal... was the unlucky Irish fellow who'd been sucked into the portal when they had first manifested earlier in the day. The poor fellow came stumbling out, and looked wildly around. Far from being relieved to be back home, he started screaming: "They're Outta Their Bloomin' Minds! They're Liars! They're Cheats! They're –AAAIIEEEEE!!"


"Ooh. Not a lucky Irishman," Oakenwar remarked.
"That's going to take a lot of therapy," Penny agreed.
"And redundant," Wendy added, "Of course they're liars and cheats. They're demons!"



And the man hot-footed it the hell out of the street just as the horrific roaring began: Squealing like giants wringing out steel, braying like screaming flames, and the hoof beats of iron hitting the ground. A hog the size of an SUV led the charge: Piggy Piggy Piggy. Squeal.


"Here comes the Pigs!" Oakenwar called, excited, "Why if I was younger..."
"You're not old, you're just a pussy," Penny scoffed. She choked a moment later.
"I'd tell you to stop choking her, but she's so annoying, it's nice that she's not blathering," Wendy announced.


Ebon had positioned himself at the edge of a roof directly overlooking the designated monster run, just in time for the start of all the fun.

"I'm Maggie," she added her name to the introductions.

"Hello, Maggie!" Gideon replied just as that giant pig came into view. "So, not quite as terrifying as Reavers. Pigs are squishy everywhere."

Doran came up beside Maggie, god-forged spear in hand. Just in case. "I'm Doran!" he added to Maggie's introduction.

Anya took a moment to nod to Maggie and Doran. "Nice to meet you. I'm Anya. So pigs for now. Big pigs."

In some places where the streets were broken, the ground shook. Pockets of dirt mounds that rose and grew swollen. Large canine beasts broke from the earth and shook cobblestones from their red, mossy-coated hides. Otherwise silent, glowing red gazes alert and intent. Ears lifted with angular heads turned toward the monstrous sounds coming from the south.

"That maybe, but some pigs have tusks," Maggie said to Gideon, "They use them better than some people wield weapons." A staff appeared in her hand. "Hi, Anya!"

Lots and lots of piggies. Boars, actually, and specifically, megafauna. Hairy, tough, razor tusks, and sharp hooves. Red eyed. Sizes varied from four foot at the shoulder to over ten foot. The beasts poured down the street squealing and screaming. Several cut off from the main and dove down the side streets. More went careening towards those waiting near the Southgate - Anya, Gideon, Maggie, Doran, Haru...

"Hey, Doran!" Maggie grinned and used her right hand to offer a high five,

"Prehistoric and/or demon boars, by the look of it," Doran replied to Anya.

Nodding to Maggie, Gideon smiled. "Indeed, boar was a tasty treat for the table at home. Reavers have one squishy spot. Otherwise they are eight foot tall insects with impenetrable armor. Be grateful those don't exist here."

Fleet-footed and eerily without sound, the Hounds broke from their alert postures and raced down side streets. They were many. A dozen or more. Skilled herders let off their leashes and goal oriented. They had pigs to chase and coax into some crates.

Not too awfully far from the rising hounds, there was another beast skulking in the shadows. Easily the size of a draft horse, or larger, the creature was somehow almost entirely silent as it paced, restless and ready to run. Round ears swiveled forward, alert and eager, when the first screams lit the air somewhere far away to the south.

A glow like shimmering moonlight surrounded Maggie. "We might need Sparks, Doran."

Anya dropped her sword to her side and held out her left hand. A ball of fire about the size of a volleyball formed in her palm and she lobbed it at the lead boar, intending to divert it in to one of the side streets and waiting cages. While it likely wouldn't damage the boar, it might sting.

"Possibly incoming boar." She smiled and used this final opportunity to take a last drag from her flask.

Maggie's head turned as she heard the hounds. She stuck a finger in either side of her mouth and whistled. Wings could be heard in the air, a young black dragon swooped into a nearby tree.

Decked out in form fitting protective leathers from neck to toe, another figure slithered down a fire escape and dropped to a crouch on the ground beside that crouching, waiting beast. A gloved hand stroked over its flank and up to scratch its toothy jaw. Salvador had arrived.

Coydog heard the chaos before she ever saw it, and amidst the fluttering nerves her cybernetic heart beat with excitement. She kept to a roof she had climbed, just to survey the fray.

The beast's pacing stilled when that familiar figure dropped down, and it went to the outstretched hand. That big body cruised up alongside the smaller, waiting form and crouched there. A rattle of pleasure thundered through the beast's chest and throat, distant thunder. All they needed now was the proverbial lightning strike.


"Nice opening moves by our heroes!" Wendy cheered, "Oh, Penny's fine, she's just puking in the bathroom. Some people just can't handle their commentary. What'er your thoughts on the Battle, Oakenwar?"

"Amazing work, Wendy. The hounds are beautifully trained, as are the Gryphon knights. They are ready for anything!"


The Honking began, squalling over the squealing porcine tide. The pigs were still coming, but among them? Terror Birds. They cannot fly well, but they certainly could fly. Over ten feet tall, these had beaks like hatchets, and legs like ostriches. They came rushing through the boars.


"WHOA Except maybe that! Geese Ahoy!" Oakenwar yelled, "Let's watch!"



One took a short flight and went careening towards Gatito. It was followed closely by two boars, confused but still swinging enormous heads to throw barriers aside.

"Are those Sal's big hounds running herd? Ha! He certainly came prepared... I wonder if he'll be able to breed them?" Doran announced. Then he blinked. "Lord and Lady, what are those?!" Clearly he had spotted the Terror Geese.

Maggie made chirping sounds and the dragon took flight. Sparks was in flight and spewed smoke at the Terror Birds. Unlike them, the dragon was a strong flyer.

More of these hatchet-beaked birds rushed out. One spotted Maggie, ooh pretty AND probably delicious! Haru's cats caught the attention of a large boar, and it came bearing down on Haru and company.

A loud line of Korean swears from Haru, oh course there were fucking hell-geese! Banjo stepped in front of Haru and the smaller hell-kitten climbed up onto his shoulders, a ball of fire forms in Haru's hand before he tossed it at the boar.

"Terror birds!" Coydog squealed and then began to hum 'Blueberry Hill' while thumbing ammo into the chambers of her revolvers from her spot on the roof. The sight of the monsters made a smile bloom behind the bandanna she wore over her mouth. 12 year old boys got less excited about dinosaurs.

In the normal way of the man, as Coydog climbed, she found Dillon perched on the edge of the roof. Sitting there on the ledge, letting boots kick off into the air casually as he watched the happenings with a cup of coffee in his hand, taking a long swig. The mug had a very large number that ended with 'Th dad in the multiverse!'. It fit. "What's going on over here now?" Rumbled out casually. The man was just an observer, no worries.

The Hounds themselves made not a sound. They did not bray, nor bark. Even their paws were silent as they raced through the streets. They nipped at flanks with sharp, persuasive teeth, running two-by-two and concentrated only on the porcine creatures, working to herd as many as they could into the trap trailers that had been set up earlier in the day.And in a heartbeat, elsewhere,

Salvador gave a swat to the Gatito's flank to spur him out of his starting gate. That terror bird was coming in hot and the Spaniard had to alter tactics on the fly. First, dive the hell out of the way. Though he aimed to rebound off the wall and try to leap onto the back of one of those boars coming their way.

"Sal is good like that!" Maggie grinned. Maggie wasn't using her own oak staff, she had called Tass's old ironwood one to hand and held it at the ready to go at those bids.

A call to adventure or situational awareness, whichever, Xune was there, brown spell book in hand taking a look around and trying to get caught up on the action that was going on. She didn't seem rushed or hurried knowing that the heroes of Rhy'din would be well in hand but at the very least she wanted to get front row seating.

"What's all this?!" Xune screamed across the din trying to get some intel.

Anya joined in with Haru's strategy and kept up her own volley on the boar headed for them. But she did make sure to bring her weapon up just in case it got closer.

Hearing Xune's question, Maggie hollered, "Dinner on the hoof!"

Gideon was close enough to Haru to start casting as well, Garm standing beside the cats. After fire came a blast of flying sand, an attempt to deter the birds away from their location. "Are you alright , kid?"

The time for staying touches ended almost before it had begun. The great primordial cat's entire body seemed to coil in upon itself, ready to spring, as the ground beneath his wide paws began to tremble. And the moment he laid eyes upon one of those enormous, unwieldy birds, and that swat landed upon his flank, the cat sprang forward with a snarl. He bounded forward in two leaps, and with the third, he was airborne to intercept the bar.

Haru was just fine, an excited grin on his face, "Hell yea I am, looks like we're having roast pig for dinner!"

Looking over to Maggie, Xune gave a two fingered salute and a smile "Well then!" Seeing as she arrived late she was more than happy to play the perimeter. A magical dart of energy keeping things from running lose back into the city driving them back towards the combatants. While there was clearly an audible effect and impact on where ever she was targeting her magic had no visual effect save the rippling of air.


"You guys suck! I'm telling everyone that Oakenwar wears ladies underwear!" Penny shrieked before storming out.

"Of course I do, it's lucky when you wear your girlfriend's knickers," Oakenwar announced, "And have you seen these moves, ladies and gentlemen?! That big cat is amazing! We already know that if Salvador's in the mix, it's going to be bloody and lightning fast, but this cat is a superb fighting partner for him!"

"Some lovely use of castings, too! We know Maggie's always go something up her little sleeve, but it's amazing how nicely some of the younger casters are coming along. Keep on throwing spells, boys and girls!" Wendy cheered.

[Pharlen]

And then, the bleating began. Huge, demonic, some bearing six horns on their misshapen heads, some nearly six foot at the shoulder, the goats joined the fray. These were fast, nimble, and they hate you so much. They came in heads down to butt anyone in their way, or, they reared up and struck with their forehooves. And a big one went balls out towards Anya.

"Hey Dillon. You gonna kill shit?" Coydog stopped humming when she rose to find Dillon nearby. Not a lick of surprise on her face. Stepping closer to the edge of the roof, she looked down at again. "You all can do it!" She cried. "I believe in you!"

"Haru! Mix magic and weapons work as you can!" Maggie called. She raised the staff in salute to him before braining one of the critters that had headed her way.

Anya had learned about a goat's deep capacity for irrational hate as a child and she'd remembered the lesson her whole life. Seeing one of these heading towards her she muttered a few choice words and moved away from the cluster of fighters to get some room. A thin line of fire ran down her sword blade as she diverted her latest fireball from boar to goat and braced for impact.

"Nah, not tonight. I'm just observing to make sure the story goes okay." Dillon drawled. The terror birds were nothing compared to a story that was broken, especially in Rhydin. Entire realities could be unraveled by a stray thread. It rarely happened, but this town was always good at making the small statistics happen. "I mean go crazy shooting things and all that."

A motion of Dillon's hand. "Is there anything neat in Rhydin to steal? I might do that." Casual Dillon talk as he kept kicking boots back and forth in the air in front of him amid all the chaos.



"There's Dillon. He says he's just watching, but historically, he's often the cause of the ruckuses around here," Wendy announced as Dillon came into view.

"True, but on the other hand, he can always be called upon to bring much of those to a positive conclusion, and I understand he's been more concerned with damage control," Oakenwar replied, "It's always difficult to get that through a warrior's head."



Xune looked over to the voice of Coydog, who she hadn't seen in a while, and quickly gave a wave to her and Dillon in between flinging ripples of time towards some of the smaller creatures. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text before stuffing it back into her bag and tying up her silver hair.

Everyone knew that tying up your hair meant business, at least that's what it looked like in all the Terra movies she had been watching lately. Her eyes would look over in the direction of Bellamere's student and smile with appreciation they were clearly also taking care of the business.

From the air, Sparks had created a smokescreen behind the Crazy Petting Zoo refuges to discourage their retreat.

Haru raised his own staff to return the salute, "Understood!" The boy poofs above one, his misty step quick, before he brains the boar, a flip as he returns to the ground.

BUT THEN. Whoever was tied into the wireless communications field... They heard something Bad.

As in... The other gate at Westbridge: the gate that was supposed to take the rampaging animals elsewhere ... Was Closed. Had Not Opened. And in fact.... Had disappeared. Meaning that ALL of these varmints were about to go stampeding into the rest of the city.



"What?! Look at that! The Gate to take the animals back to Sigil is gone!" Wendy howled, "It just vanished!! Holy Crap!"

"Imagine that, the Demons of Sigil Double Crossed Pharlen," Oakenwar agreed, oozing sarcasm, "Let's see how the hero's deal with this blow!"



Coydog shrugged at Mr. Jones. "Suit yourself." Catching Xune's wave, she gave a cheery one back in return and then leaped down onto the street and into the path of a really pissed off proto-pig. With the precision of a sharpshooter snuffing out a candle's flame, she lobbed a bullet right into its eyes...only for a Terror Bird to leap onto her back and knock her right on her tits.

Cat and bird collided in a clash of snapping jaws, flashing claws, and screams of rage. The gatito's enormous fangs missed the creature's neck with the first go. He swung his head to the side as the huge bird brought its beak down after his face, aiming to take an eye. His claws raked the bird's breast, biting through feather and skin to bring blood to the surface.

The battle separated momentarily, only to clash again within the span of heartbeats. The bird buffeted the cat with its wings, but he ducked underneath and sank his fangs into the creature's thigh. Using his haunches as a fulcrum, he spun around to slam the bird against the side of a building in hopes to stun it.

Best way to hold onto that pig was to stick it with a knife. Salvador leaned into it and reached until he caught hold of one of those tusks so he could steer the damn beast. One sharp turn sent it skittering and body checking its fellow to skid and crash into the nearest side street.

The Spaniard swore as he got squished between piggy bodies that were suddenly fighting with each other while careening into an open-mouthed crate designed just for them. He stopped riding his rodeo at the last minute, sliding off the ass end of an enormous swine and rolled into the street.

Anya stepped out of the goat's charge as it got closer, lodging her sword in its side and planting her feet to stay grounded as it tore past her, opening a long gash down its side as it went. She looked up the street and pointed to the massive cat, shouting to the others. "The cat is on our side, yes?"

Ebon was connected, listening in on the Gryphon Knights and RhyDin Guard's emergency frequencies, and on his rooftop he stood and looked towards the Westbridge Gate.

"Oh, great!" Ebon muttered. He rose into the air and headed towards the end of the run to hopefully engage in damage control.

"Looks like the cats and the wolf are fighting with us, Anya." Gideon replied as his sword tore into the other side of the giant goat. He was more confident with weapons than he was magic, unfortunately.

Dillon's response to this was simple. "Mmm, I'm hungry." Casually on over to Coydog as the Terror bird pounced. Without looking, he picked up a brick from nearby and chucked it right at the beasts head. Then he would wave cheerfully down to Xune when he caught her own wave, don't mind him of course. Rumbling a pleased sound as his cup of coffee was replaced with a back of popcorn shrimp. Which he ate cheerfully.

"Hey, their way out just closed off. Maybe someone should think of a way to move a bunch of creatures somewhere. Like an Ark," Dillon called lazily. After a bit he snorted a laugh to his own bad humor.

The hell-goose screamed again, helpless to stop its collision with the building. Its beak snapped at the head of the cat, but he pushed in against the thing's side, protecting his eyes, even while the bird took the tip of his ear.

Gatito crowded the floundering bird against brick and bit down, using the pressure in his jaw to break the bird's bone. Then as he forced the bird down onto the cobblestones, he dug in his claws and tore that limb off with a brutal shake of his head.

Doran was dealing with some sort of huge bird-thing that was taller than him, and definitely outweighed him. "Stop... trying... to peck... my... face off!" He punctuated his instructions with a series of jabs with the spear. Eventually the bird got the point and just collapsed.

Coydog narrowly avoided the kicking feet of the dying pig thing, while bolstering herself against the Terror Bird's razor sharp claws and beak; nevermind the weight of the beast crushing her lungs. Pain was easy to swallow down- to hang out with later- and then suddenly the bird just stopped and tilted sidelong to the ground. Most things did when popped in the head with a brick.

Maggie muttered to herself and whistled again. Sparks was using smoke to confuse the critters that had come out of the first gate.

Bart knew something was wrong the moment his car radio turned to 'The Girl from Ipanema'. He was cruising along rrrrrright perpendicular to where the gate had disappeared, and directly in the path of the stampede.

"Oh boy," Bart muttered. Tires squealed as he drifted under goats and into boars, navigating through the waves like a needle through cloth in a clunky Firebird Trans Am. He pulled up next to Coydog right when the Terror Bird hit the ground, rolling down his window. "... Hey, Babe! Everything alright?"


"He is the most excellent driver ever. Just saying." Wendy announced, her voice reverent.

"Seriously! Did you see that?! While driving a notorious Brick Sled from the USA 1970s!! That was glorious!" Oakenwar hooted



People on the communications were treated to Pharlen's inventive and colorful cursing! The Governor appeared where the gate was supposed to be, and what else can ya do? She began to cast a new gateway.

Reality warped under Pharlen hands, and then, a vast amber eye opened. It was at least as big as the hell gates. Too late to catch several of the hogs, but now that the gate was open, the animals were disappearing through it.

This was good because the Big Bois were coming through the SouthGate: The ground shakes in that T-Rex coming to Eat Your Lawyers way, and the giant Suchimimus's came thundering out.

Taking a deep breath, Doran looked to Maggie, nodding towards his now-downed avian attacker.

"I'm thinking barbecue tomorrow, what about you? Hey!" This was directed to another bird that had stopped and was eyeing Doran's prize. "Get your own!" He jabbed, and the bird screeched before moving on.
The hell-goose's screams of pain were hair-raising in a way the honking and bleating had not been. This was definitely the sound of something dying. After Gatito had successfully removed one of the creature's legs, the great cat spat it out and went for the throat. Those jaws made quick work of snapping vertebrae and his claws carved into the bird's flesh like it was made of butter, spraying the sidewalk and with hot, wild gouts of blood.

The two boars he had personally wrangled crashed hard into the back of the crate and knocked themselves out. Salvador's roll ended with him in a crouch and rising to stand. Glad he had chosen to wear the full suit of leathers tonight, because it had helped him avoid a lot of road rash just then.

Running to the mouth of that side street, Salvador hurried back in time to see the enormous cat rend apart the bird. He grinned wildly and sprinted off to tackle something menacing of his own. This resulted in him skidding to an abrupt stop when he saw those enormous beasts coming through the south gate portal.

"Oh shit." Salvador muttered.

Meanwhile, the Hounds continued to race like red-coated ghosts through smoky streets. Their eyes glowed red, the only sure sign of them amongst the chaos. Still they made not a sound, but lent their aid where it might seem necessary.

Xune couldn't help but chuckle at Pharlen's inventive cursing. Glad that she had been able to get a quick wave into her friends and toss a couple spells she took out her phone as it buzzed in her pocket.



"Oh, and the Governor, Pharlen VonTombs, has been informed of the loss of the exit gate," Wendy announced, "Let's listen in..."

"—Hairy nutsack sons of--" Pharlen's voice briefly could be heard before it was cut off.

"We'll get back to the governor for her official statement later," Wendy chortled.



"Oh gateway?" Xune had been unaware how all of this had started. She looked around as if searching for something but then went back to keeping the varmint to the inside.

Coydog shuffled to her feet, her back bloody ribbons, she leveled her gun at the stunned Terror Bird. Two shots to the noggin made sure it would stay down, and the bloodied blonde smiled brightly at Bart, in spite of the crimson that streaked her face and matted down her hair.

"Yeah, I'm cool. These are mine," she pointed to the dead Terror Bird and pig monster. She shot forward, only to stop when she heard Salvador and saw what made him halt. She blinked. "Ditto."

Maggie nodded to Doran. "I think if we freeze them, they'll be good for Mama and Aunt Rhi's birthday party!" She choked up on the staff ala Maria G and her bat then swung hard at the nearest Terror Bird.

Anya looked around, assessing who might need a hand. It seemed like most of the active engagements were under control and much bigger things were coming. Tucking herself out of the main line of traffic again, she waited for most of the goat things to pass. Not in the mood for more of those.

Yeah, there it was. Something brushed over Dillon's shoulder, like a half wind playing over the back of his neck. The scent hit his nose and he salivated immediately, a pleased rumble coming from his chest. A wave on over to Bart when he showed up as well, not even noticing that his brick hit the spot. Normal stuff.

"Man, and I was enjoying my scrimps." Dillon would never be happy with anything, this is part of why he was what he was. But hands brushed off on his thigh as he brought boots up underneath him to stand up and give an old dog like stretch to the air.

"I thought of that, too! You're good with wintry spells, Maggie, will you be able to manage a quick freeze? Or do we need to call Uncle Gory?" Doran asked cheerfully.

Bones crunched and blood ran hotly across his tongue. It was tempting to take a moment and make a snack of the big goose, but awareness of his hunting partner crawled across his skin like a horde of ants. Gatito lifted his head at the sound of that 'oh shit.' Flesh and feathers stuck between his teeth, muzzle gory and red, the cat left his kill and came loping up alongside the Spaniard to see what would draw such an epithet from him.


"Uh oh, RhyDin, sounds like something worse is going down now," Wendy called.

"Let's watch," Oakenwar agreed.


Huge, as big as the giant thunder goose, a demon ducked under the SouthGate. Red skinned, with the lower parts of a goat, with horns and wings, this demon bellowed laughter, and then turned to pick out Dillon. He glared at the man, and then, howling something about his sister, the Demon went flapping towards Dillon.

Well. It's cool. All cool. The demon completely overlooked him, so Salvaador didn't have to concern himself. Sucks to be Dillon, though it was probably just a mild inconvenience for the likes of him.

"I can do it!" Maggie looked at Doran, "Can you get into their heads?" Maggie used the staff to bring forth a chill wind and is to freeze as many of the smaller creatures as she could! She was wary of Salvador's hounds and aimed away from them.

Bart leaned out of the driver's side window to wave at Dillon, then looked out toward the oncoming Terror Birds, just all furrowed brows and everything.

"... Well, looks like I got some drivin' to do, Coydog. You wanna meet up after?" Bart noted.

Yes, that was good. The Demon's threat was linked right to Dillon, like it should be. But Dillon didn't just link threat, he absorbed it, until he was a bright red dot on anyone's sight.

As the Demon insulted Dillon, he responded in low Demonic. Informing the Demon as to what he had done to the Demon's sister-kith. And the man even pulled out his smart phone to begin to flip through actual pictures of said act.

Now, the Demon couldn't see this... but Dillon lied well enough that the Demon should fully understood that Dillon was of course, telling the truth. The man wanted the focus of the Demon solely on him.

It was like trying to figure out a dialect in a language that you were familiar with but while listening underwater. The abyss and demonic planes of existence were like a second home to Xune but stuffing a pinky in her slightly curved ears it was like trying to stop being water logged.

"That was interesting." Xune said trying to recall what she couldn't recall. Seeing that Maggie was starting to freeze the smaller creatures she followed up with blasts of her own shattering the frozen things. "Nice." Thumbs up to Maggie for her great work.

Ebon landed next to Pharlen, looking away from her down the path of the run towards South Gate.

"I take it the gate here closing was not planned?" Ebon asked, gallows humor.

"No, the Fuckers lied," Pharlen replied to Ebon, but then pointed out the large 'Eye' that the beasts rushed into. More or less - they didn't like the look of it, and tried to avoid it, thus many were ending up in the river.

"I've got the gate open -- try and disguise it as something beside a giant disembodied eye!" Pharlen called. She was excellent at opening gateways... sadly, they usually tended to look like a giant eyeball.

Anya laughed to hear the exchange. Her Demonic was very rusty, but she caught enough to get the context.

Maggie need not concern herself too much with Salvador's hounds. Those Hounds of his were smart, and swift. Cold and freezing did concern them much either, given the particular side of the Veil they had come from. Worst case, however, they were capable of sinking into the ground and moving through the earth as easily as if they were dolphins in the water.

"Thanks!" Maggie returned the thumbs up to Xune. "Hey! Mr. Ebon! Can you convince some of them to head for the water? Some of the sewer beasts might want dinner!"

Geez, Haru had just started picking up a little demonic from his roomie. The boy sighed, throwing around fireballs from a distance at the moment.


"Miss Enid Farkerwitz will be translating the Infernal," Wendy announced. A little old lady's voice spoke as the Demon and Dillon snarled at each other.

"Revel! Foolish Naughty People. Wait. I smell a bad thing. Lo, it is Dillon. He is very bad smelling. He has done a naughty thing to my pure and innocent sister, Marsha. Dillon shall Pay."

"Is that you, Grayg? I told you not to come here again."

"Foul Dillon! My sister Marsha is sad. You failed to call her after the speed date event.

"I didn't pick her, I picked Jan."

"Foul Dillon! Jan suffers from low self esteem, we can only assume you have done this to exploit her issues."

"Jan is much more cute than Marsha, you are all holding Jan back from achieving her potential."

"...Wow, can this be any more boring?" Wendy cut in.

"I'm sure it could, I'm just not sure how," Oakenwar agree, "Send it to subtitles!"

[Pharlen]

Even though the demon did not seem to have eyes for him or his hunting partner, the great cat growled and let out a ground-shaking yowl. An errant boar chose that moment to come squealing out of an alleyway and the cat peeled away from Salvador's side once more to launch himself into the air.

Enormous paws impacted the hell-pig's side first, claws sliding into muscle and slicing across bone. Then Gatito's weight came down, slamming the beast into the asphalt. Big jaws took care of the squealing quickly, tearing out the pig's throat almost before it could do more than flounder and kick, cutting at him with its hooves and tusks.

"Illusions aren't my thing, I'm afraid, Governor... but if they're primal, animalistic, then Doran may be able to lure them into the portal," Ebon admitted, amused.

Though the Gryphon emblazoned guards are fierce, they could not watch every single of the yellow barriers. Swift figures, clad all in black from head to toe, have moved some to create new side routes for running creatures to get lost within. All several of these secret paths led conspicuously west toward Dockside.

In a fashion that was somewhat similar to Dillon, the Traveler of the Hidden Paths was observing to make certain that the story goes the way that the Fates deemed it should. Unlike that enigmatic entity, he was far more careful to keep his presence hidden by means of invisibility and go old fashioned stealth. He was a tad more squishy, all things said.

To keep himself further out of the way he had landed atop one of the buildings with his chimera mount Mesebeli Szörny, a pair of binoculars in hand as Bellemere watched under the veil of his powerful illusion.

The occasional text message was sent out to some choice individuals below, but for now he kept his distance and interference to the minimal. He seemed less focused on the strangeness coming from the portals and more on the actual Gates to Sigil themselves. Ever the scholar of the arcane and playing into the stereotype of the mysterious and aloof wizard.

Seeing that the biggest bird was occupied, Anya headed down the street, following the intended path to clean up anyone who hadn't popped in to the gates. Instead she found that the gate was gone and two people she hadn't met yet were dealing with what appeared to be a huge eyeball in its place. That was, possibly, another portal?

"Need a hand?" Anya asked, stepping up alongside Pharlen.

"Oh bother. Try that!" Pharlen nodded to Ebon, then she gave a smile to Anya, "How are you with illusions?"

Pain would find her, as it always did, and it would likely bring friends, but for now Coydog had lost her heart to the fray. Leaning against Bart's car and painting it a sickly thick red, she removed a joint that had miraculously stayed behind her ear, lit, and took a toke. "Sure I do, Mr. Fitzroy." And passing him the bloodstained joint and one revolver, she looked around.

Just as his saber-toothed companion was saving him from a hell-pig, Salvador took it upon himself to save the Gatito from a rampaging goat-beast. It came lunging and bucking out of the smog. The Spaniard's immediate reflex to dive out of the way shifted instead to ducking a horn, sticking a knife into its neck, and using it as leverage to swing himself up onto the beast's back. Time to take another rodeo ride!

A young Korean woman poofed into existence, just by coincidence, right beside her brother, Haru.

The demon, seeing as Dillon's insult had been punctuated by apparently the mortal man looking at actual pictures of said act with his sister-kith was caught in the trap. After all, like beings without fear feeling terror for the first time... beings with egos larger that the man's being actually insulted for the first time... was quite profound.


I hate you very much, you are a bad person.

I am a bad person, thank you for noticing.

I will hurt you badly because you are so naughty.

That is very rude.


Dillon did nothing as the Infernal flew closer and began to circle the building the man was standing on. Though, the man was actually doing quite a lot. There was soon nothing living within a good hundred yards of his building. No, Dillon didn't kill everything. He moved everything. Every person, every animal, every insect. They were all suddenly somewhere else, nearby, but not close enough.

This was Dillon's opening move. Leaving the spot just him and the Demon. The beast settled on the other end of the rooftop, it's form beyond simple weight in mortal terms, the building did not buckle under hooves. On the other end, the man looked almost... jokingly small compared to what stared him down. But there was of course, no bending from the man. He just grinned on over to the Demon.

Ebon looked back to Pharlen. "I contacted Doran telepathically, asking him to come, and if he can, bring Maggie. She's good with illusions, that much I know."

Anya wobbled a hand to indicate 'so so' to Pharlen's question. "Not great. But I could augment the portal and maybe make it more inviting."

"Yes, do that," Pharlen agreed with Anya, and nodded to Ebon. "They're getting into the river, too."

"Or just ....Portals that do not look like eyeballs? IF you can open a portal, then ... dump these animals where they won't do harm, I suppose." Pharlen's portal was probably open into somewhere out in the Desert. Which desert, and when, however, that was the question.

Xune's ring made it feel like her hand was being tugged in a certain direction and she used it to shield her eyes as she looked up and then waved over in the direction of Bellamere when she saw him and in-between blasts. She sent another text instead of shouting over everything before she turned her eyes back to Dillon watching from her new translocated spot.

"Isn't that kind of cheating?" Xune said sticking out her tongue. "It still only counts as one!" Apparently changing her mind about yelling.

A heavy clang echoed down one of the alleyways, the result of a cage door slamming shut. Koyan engaged the enormous locking mechanism now that the cage was full of hell-creatures. He stalked back down the alley, catching his breath as he went, and strode right out into the thick of the chaos.

Koyan was just in time to intercept a beak-nosed thing that was half again as tall as he was but much, much heavier and bulkier. A whirlwind caught the creature beneath both of its taloned feet and knocked it to the ground, giving him a moment to rush in and hog-tie the creature with magicked rope that the bird would not be able to break through.

With a mighty grunt, Koyan tugged the bird out of the path of the stampede toward another alley, intent on bagging this one as he had a few others.

"He can't hear me ... but... " Maggie was thinking on her feet as she kept freezing things.

A line of sarcasm left Haru's lips, all in Korean, as Byeol arrived, before he moves to common, "You're late."

Those creatures unfortunate enough to be ushered into these dark channels fill the shadows with their shrieks, amid the clattering of cages and traps.

Anya nodded and stepped directly behind Pharlen's portal. That way if anything charged her it would end up where they wanted anyway. Raising her hands before her, she focused on opening the portal wider. Unfortunately, she couldn't completely do away with the eye look, but she could stretch it to near transparency. A fast moving critter might never notice the portal at all but for the shimmer on the bridge.

The hell-boar was still kicking and floundering when the primordial cat released it, but it wasn't long for this world. Blood gushed out of its torn-open throat, staining the cobblestones and the cat's paws. He spun away from it and went loping after the enormous, six-horned goat beast Salvador was riding, closing the distance in bounding leaps.

"...Is.... that Salvador riding a giant goat...?" Pharlen asked slowly, wide eyed.

There were no more words, the Demon summoned pain in the form of an unholy black blade that was almost as tall as it was. It roared a roar and smashed the blade down, carving the entire roof in half. The problem was that Dillon was already in moving in a full on sprint.

As the rooftop tilted, Dillon adjusted and hit the lip of it, leaping right on over to the next building staying in a run. Boots gripping rooftop gravel easily enough. And still he grinned. Hell, he grinned wider. The massive blade came across from its downward strike, sweeping from one entire building to the other that the mortal had run to.

Without even seemingly looking back, Dillon ducked in mid sprint, letting the demonic weapon pass over head by inches.

It was entirely possible that Salvador and his bucking goat-beast went racing by the alley that Koyan had just momentarily emerged from. The Spaniard was laughing maniacally as he gripped its horns and held on for dear life. He climbed halfway up its neck and dug his boots in, yanking to force it to turn and slam into a wall, face first.

"That guy fucks," Coydog muttered an aside to Bart about Delahada.

Maggie nudged Doran, she knew that look of concentration from Doran. "What'd he say?" Only a message from one of his parents would have provoked that reaction.

The answer to Pharlen's question was a thudding yes.

"Doesn't surprise me in the least, Pharlen!" Ebon noted, nodding sagely.

Bart took the joint with a sigh and took a thoughtful drag, and left the gun on the seat, nearest her reach. "You uh... got a snub nose in the dash, too." He reached into his jacket pockets, pulling out an innocuous little firecracker and a lighter. He nodded sharply with a little smile at the corner at Coydog's aside. "Sure does."

"...I think I love him again." Pharlen mulled.

"He's going to smell like hell goat. Make sure no one falls through the portal, by the way." Anya put in, amused. She looked up the street to inventory the remaining beasties.

Koyan underestimated the bird's nimble body and nearly got a large chunk of his torso taken off when it arched over to *clack-clack-clack* its beak his way. Only a last second swerve on his part saved a grievous injury. If he noted Salvador riding a beast not far away, he didn't let on. He was too busy at that moment saving his own ass!

Out came another piece of the magicky rope; Koyan spent five minutes wrangling the rope around the beak and then around the feet before dragging the feathered beast off down another alley.

Doran turned to Maggie. "Come on, they need us up at the Westbridge end!" He set off at a run, sending out to all in their path the urgent need to make a hole!

Downside to this tactic was that the goat had not come installed with seat belts, so when it slammed to a stop against the wall, so did Salvador. Flipped right over the massive beast's now stunned head and slammed up against brick and mortar back first. Not nearly as dazed and knocked out as his goat wound up being, but it knocked the wind out of him.

Aiden was out there somewhere, Koyan knew, doing some wrangling of his own.


"Some spectacular work out there, I am fanning myself in excitement! Some of these heroes are amazing! Not just hot to look at, they've got the moves!" Wendy announced, fanning herself, as she said.

"I can't deny that, these are some great fighters! But, they really are lacking in communication. They should spend a few minutes handing out ear pieces to the heroes before these events come up," Oakenwar decided.

"Oh, good idea!" Wendy approved.


Since the great cat was in pursuit of said Spaniard and giant goat, he, too, flashed by the mouth of the alley Koyan was currently working in. When Salvador sent the goat careening into the side of a building, the cat raced past them and right into a small throng of other six-horned bastards. With another bone-shaking yowl, he leapt onto the back of one, digging his claws in and raking furrows in its back with his fangs.

Fire surrounded Haru's hands as he pulled out a grenade with a smirk, eyes darting around for a group of unengaged hell-beasts... Fireball + Grenade, he'd learned last time this was an excellent combination!

"This whole place is going to smell like annoyed male goat and boar. At least only the goose poop stinks." Pharlen noted. Because oh yes. These animals? Smelled So Very Bad.

A wild Tenrowe appeared nigh the Honourable Governor Von Tombs, gesturing at her portal.

“You sendin' them Cadentia-way?” Tenrowe asked before taking a looooong pull from his blue clove.

Sparks the dragon flew over Maggie as she was running after Doran. By the time they got to Westbridge, she had a couple of ideas.

Dillon's boot slammed down, spilling gravel. Stopping his forward momentum with a harsh slide of a few inches. Revolver was drawn from his thigh against the rush. The man didn't even level it. He shot from the hip as the Demon did its best to recover from the failed swipe.

Six shots. All done so fast in succession they sounded like one large thunderous bang. Six rounds snapped through the air right at the Demon's face. They stopped in mid air, inches away from the Demon's maw. Which now turned into an arrogant smirk.

The beast did not seem to notice the bullets halted in the pattern – Of a star. And the words on the rounds hanging in mid air unraveled. Demonic runes formed in mid air as the pentagram of bullets was connected, with the six smashing in the perfect middle of all five of the points of the star and completing the binding. Around the demon by about fifty yards, in a perfect circle, runes of binding burned through asphalt, concrete, and entire buildings.

Anya laughed. "Maybe someone can summon some rain when it's done."

"...Uhm...." Pharlen didn't seem too phased to have a Wild Tenrowe at her side. She patted his hand. "...I don't know. It's an open gorge, deserts work best with what I do."

An errant goat-bastard charged her, only to be kicked full tilt boogie right between the eyes with the metal tipped toe of a modified scramble boot. There was a sick crunch and a strangled sound that ended with another bullet. Then without warning, Coydog climbed through the window and into the back of Bart's car. "That goat's mine too."

These creatures were worse when they were in throngs, unfortunately. The cat let out a shriek of pain, which was immediately followed by an angry snarl, when he took one of those sharp horns to the side. It caught him in the flank and sought to tear him open. He slapped at the head of that horn's owner, claws extended and liable to take off an ear or put out an eye.

As Ebon telekinetically nudged beasts back out of the side alleys – those that weren't being herded by Salvador's hounds – not to mention the Spaniard himself – or kept in check by armed Knights, he looked towards the South Gate. "Oh."

A small herd of what could only be described as Giant Mutant Thunder Lizard-Geese was charging through the streets towards them all.

"Oh, here comes the big bois," Pharlen noted, wide eyed.

Maggie was trying to catch her breath when she got to Westbridge. "I notified Dockside EMC. They have the hospital ships ready for any injured," she said to Ebon and Pharlen.

“Mmn,” Tenrowe nodded, seeming to understand Pharlen. “If you send some to the left, I’ve got some folks out that way ready to catch and would be grateful...”

Dirt rumbled and two mounds swelled near Salvador, growing until they birthed two more red, mossy-coated hounds. The Spaniard was hauling himself off the ground, a little bruised and battered but still capable of functioning.

Salvador tied something red and frosty around the horns of the goat he had brought down and tossed an end of the 'rope' at the Hounds. They caught that end in their silently snapping teeth and as a pair hauled the unconscious beast off to store in one of the cages that were all over the place.

Hearing the pained shriek of his own monster cat, Salvador turned then and ran headlong into the mess of horns to try break up the party a little.

Anya stepped out from behind the portal, satisfied that it was stable. With a sigh, she summoned up another fireball and wiped her sword blade on her boot.

"You realize, I do not know my left from my right," she replied to Tenrowe. "Point in the direction relative to here and now." Because that is a problem: Pharlen can send things through time and space.


"Uh oh! People of Cadentia, better prepare for a literal moveable feast!" Wendy cheered.

"A lot of people will make it through winter easily this year!" Oakenwar boomed, "We'd better make sure salt and wood for smoking meat is available to all!"

[Pharlen]

"Well, get ready..." Bart eased the big boat of a car into motion right as a lit firecracker launched from the driver's side window, exploding with a loud *Wheeee!* that set boar fighting goat fighting bird in a huge inter-species mess, giving him space to pick up some speed.

Koyan wasn't sure whether that leaping cat thing was friend or foe. He got distracted with the hell-bird and it's vicious fight to untangle its feet and beak. He dragged and dragged and dragged, winding up with a few scratches for his effort, until the bird wound up in a different enclosure altogether.

One of the Knights was there to oversee the closure of the gate until more creatures could join the last. He stalked back out to the street, weapons holstered, the black flames in his eyes flickering restlessly as he sought his next victim.

With Dillon's epic bullets of binding -- The SouthGate Portal began to unravel. Animals are still rushing through, but the gate itself is collapsing.

Maggie was leaning over, her hands on her knees. "Doran! I can amplify Sparks's voice. You think you can get their attention?"

Doran blinked at the Eyeball Gate, looked at Pharlen with a Fascinating Eyebrow, then looked at Maggie. "Now I see why Pa asked to bring you... do that with Sparks, and can you also make that," pointing to the portal, "look like... something less disturbing?"

The sudden shift of momentum was even worse than Dillon's halting slide. The beast did not attack in that moment. It seemed almost confused. And a smarter man... The old Dillon would just run outside of the circle and killed the Demon at his leisure. But this Dillon, did not. He paced across the roof top, circling the hovering Demon, now bound within the circle.

The positions had reversed suddenly, now it was the man circling the monster. And the grin had just gotten larger. The revolver spun on a finger over and over again until it was just a blur of motion, gunsmoke swirling off of it in hypnotically chaotic patterns. The mortal man was, waiting.

And when the Demon moved to make another attack, the spinning of the weapon stopped and another round was fired off with serpent like speed. It did not hit the Demon either, some force always keeping it held back those last few inches. Resistance to non magical weapons yo. Then the round detonated in an explosion of fake, synthetic holy energy and for a few seconds a new, pure white ball of white formed in the night's sky.

The sound the Demon made was wonderful. At least to Dillon, as he had begun to laugh on the rooftop there like a madman.

Salvador was narrowly missed with that big, slapping paw when he came in too fast from the side. He probably got a severed goat ear to the face, too. The cat kicked at the goat who had gored him, raking lines into its chest and side. Then he turned his head and sank his fangs into the withers of the goat he'd been aiming for initially. Despite the thing's size, its limbs flopped helplessly when the cat gave a harsh shake of his head.

The bulk of the battle was still far enough away that Anya figured there was time for refreshment. She tucked her sword under her arm, took a drink from her flask and tucked it away again.

"Geeze.... it's like that Sauron eye thing, isn't it?" Maggie complained. She cast an illusion over the portal so it simply looked like open bridge.

Leaving the blue clove to hang in his mouth, Tenrowe needed both hands to use multiple fingers to create a spider-web triangulation of left, right now, in the desert, just 1000 yards off referential quantum center.

Ebon took to the air, heading towards the approaching Thunder Geese but rising up out of their range. Once he was above the lead one, he dropped down onto its back. The bracers he wore on his forearms shifted and extended a pair of blades, which Ebon proceeded to stab into the back of the monster's skull.

Lovely. Severed goat ear. Slapped right across his mouth and made him laugh like a madman as he swiped it away. Salvador slipped a long knife, his favored tanto, up into the throat of one of the other goats. Planting his foot, he used it as leverage, pushing one way as it choked to death on its own blood and kicking at another one to send it tumbling away.

Horns and hooves scuffed up his leathers, hiding the bruises he was suffering well. Blood rained all over him from the big cat's brutal decimation of its prey. When he found an opening, Salvador gripped the scruff of the cat's neck and swung himself up onto his back. He yelled a command in French and pointed toward Westbridge.

Doran closed his eyes and reached out with his talent. The beasts were not sapient, but he could touch what minds they had and implant the image of the illusory gate, and a compulsion to ~Go that way!~

Pharlen was worse than a Gallifreyan: she is a native Mariner and a celestial. She moved the exit point of her portal and yeah, there we go! She probably should look and see where she was dumping these animals, but she was still pretty peeved about being cheated by the Demons. How Rude.

That innovative use of a binding with bullets did not escape the notice of the Conjurer extraordinaire as he observed from a distance away that titanic battle between Dillon on that massive demon. He had been just outside the field of translocation, still a considerable distance away. Pulling his binoculars away from that clash between Dillon and demon, he focused his attention on the gateway itself.

There was a curse that escaped his lips, foul and not really in the character he was known around these parts as presenting. He saw the portal itself begin to unravel. That was going to ruin all his research. Letting the binoculars fall around his neck, he climbed back into the saddle of Mesebeli Szörny.

"Fel. Előre." Bellemere issued the command to the chimera and its feathered falcon wings began to beat, buffeting the roof top as it rushed forward and took to the skies, the crocodile head letting out a trilling hiss while the central grizzly head roared.

The illusion of invisibility around Bellemere and the chimera washed away as they coasted a good twenty to twenty five feet above the street level, heading rather quickly in the direction of the Gateway that led to Sigil. He beelined it straight at the portal to the City of Doors. Recklessly so.

"...Is Ebon riding a giant Suchigoose?" Pharlen asked, blankly.

The advantage the mortal man had was not relented. It was in fact, pressed down on until it was painfully obvious that Dillon did not believe in a fair fight. Every move the Demon made, even in response to the pain, Dillon shot. Not shot at. Shot.

Each round was aimed with an accuracy that could only really be described as bullying. The man was messing with it. In a few seconds enough shots rang out and exploded into orbs of synthetic holy energy that the force of it all forced the Demon down and back.

It smashed into the nearby building, suddenly, having full weight. It did not look like it was a pleasant experience. Especially since Dillon just kept shooting it. Again and again. A demonic hand rose up, defensively, out of reflex. The mortal man put three rounds into the arms shoulder and burned it straight off.All the while he laughed.

"I think these cats got things under control. Wanna be a sweetie to your lady love and maybe get me somewhere with bandages?" Coydog noted. She was sitting up, and a cursory probing of her hand against her back revealed a bit more blood than she was comfortable with. She looked at Bart through his rearview mirror as his windshield wipers struggled against the gore coating the windshield. "And ointments? I'll be your best friend."

Ebon was. Except it was a dead Suchigoose, but hearing Pharlen gave him an idea.

"I wonder if I can domesticate one of these!" Ebon yelled. He rose back into the air and turned to one of the others charging and snapping to either side.

Tenrowe's eyes locked to the path of monsters rushing through the portal and into the capable hands of hungry people, he extended a fresh blue clove toward the Governor, in case she partaketh.

"...I need one of those for Evelyn!" Pharlen yelled to Ebon.

Maggie's illusion was maintained at the Westbridge Gate. "It'd be like training Chocobos!" she said when she heard Ebon talking about domesticating the giant goose.

Nice and bloody goat ear, right in the kisser! The big cat bullied its chosen prey to the ground using his weight and the multitude of gouges he had already given it. It kicked and struggled as it went down, but he released its withers and bit again, higher up toward the head. With another, brutal crunch of bone, the beast's legs gave a final kick and it went limp.

Still holding it by its neck, Gatito raked his claws down the beast's throat, opening up another fountain of blood. He only dropped the beast when he felt the Spaniard scramble up onto his back. His muscles coiled again, singing with tension, and his sides vibrated with another rumble. Then he tore off in the direction he had been set like his life depended upon it. Hold on, Salvador!

Absently, Pharlen took the clove, because she used to smoke, and likely forgot that she didn't anymore. A grateful inhalation, yes yes.

"One for her, and one for me!" Ebon questioned, but Pharlen missed hearing his yell.
"Sure thing, Coydog." Bart agreed, calm as a cucumber, wiping up the Animal Stuuuuuff that had accumulated on his windshield. As he pulled out, he rolled down the windows and cranked the radio for the victors, the sounds of *Ghost Town* by The Specials echoing through the Marketplace streets.

Doran opened his eyes in shock. "Pa! No! Bad idea!"

Anya watched as beasts poured through the gate, chucking an occasional spark to deter them from veering off the path. On of the Thunder Geese in particular seemed not to want to cooperate. But with nowhere else to go, it ended up in the portal after all. She chucked a larger than average fireball in after it for the trouble.

Sparks let loose with an amplified bellow. He might not have even startled the people, but the stampeding creatures were another matter!

While Bellemere had been capable of creating and controlling the formidable chimera, riding it with grace was another thing entirely. Bellamere had intended to get close to the Gateway, but in his haste given its unraveling he had pushed the heavy flyer forward at startling speed.

Though it had the wings of a falcon, its forward facing body was more akin to that of a massive bear, with his back end taking a shape reminiscent of a crocodile. As such it was hardly nimble. Rather than being able to stop, into that portal to Sigil the wizard and the chimera plunged, even as the fabric of the magic that held it together began to unravel and strip away.

There might have been the distant echoing of the words "Shit, too fast, shit."

Oh Salvador was holding on all right! Knees pressed to ribs and leaning low over the big cat's spine, Salvador held tight to blood-slick fur. He was, it might be noted, laughing in that subdued but hysterical way people reserve for once in a life time opportunities. Riding a big ass cat like the most murderous horse in history was one of those.

"Wait wait wait. Let's do this the easy way." Pharlen called to Ebon. She turned on a pair of the big Gooses... and they froze in time. She held them there for several moments before making a pulling motion: and voila. Two Suchimuses... eggs. Two big eggs. She quickly went to gather them up before they got squished.

Meanwhile, the secret troupe dressed all in black had continued their work of wrangling, and they certainly made a healthy haul of everything come down the narrow lanes into their makeshift labyrinth.

Koyan focused all his energy on capturing another several hell-beasts. This required slitting the throat of a boar and downing a smaller creature with razor teeth and saliva dripping from its jowls. Koyan gestured for the Knights he knew were guarding the alleys to drag those to one of the waiting trailers while he lured a rather large thunder-something into an alley. A flash of fire exploded from the mouth moments later followed by sword-play and, eventually, the inevitable *clang* of a cage door.

It happened again and again. Without reloading. Without a pause of any kind. Again and again and again he fired into the Demon's form. Pieces came off, slowly. The whole beast was forced down floor by floor until it hit the basement and smashed into rock. Every time it tried to get some sort of balance, Dillon shot out of whatever limb was bracing it.

Soon, it didn't have any limbs left. Soon it just got shot in the face again and again. Soon it was nothing, then even beyond that. The mortal man took the long road to make sure the thing wouldn't be spawning, at home or otherwise. Dillon shot it until it was erased from all existences.

Anya started wandering back up the street, looking for any beasts that may have gotten distracted on their way to the end portal. Unfortunately, the Knights seemed to have upstream well in hand, as did Dillon with his grudge match.

Spotting some rope looped on a hook by a riverside dock, Ebon snagged it and crafted a pair of Terror Goose-sized halters. They were crude, but they would do. Finding two of the beasts nearby, he used his psionic skill to clamp their snouts shut long enough to slip the halters on.

"Whoa, there!" Ebon settled onto the back of the nearer one. "Doran, a bit of help?"

The blood slicking his fur made the ride that much more precarious. Like any other cat, Gatito didn't see obstacles as things to run around. No, he went up and over most things. Like an empty, parked car that had been stupidly left out in front of one of the businesses lining the streets in this part of town.

Metal shrieked and glass shattered as he dug his claws in and put dents in the body of the car, but he went over it without trouble. He launched himself up and against building walls at times, too, using their faces as ramps and launch pads. Parkour masters had nothing on him!

The number of Hounds on the streets was beginning to dwindle. Fewer and fewer of them loping along in silent, red-eyed pairs. They had done their job of herding and corralling beasts into any of the other cages reserved for such purposes. Now they sat and guarded those trailers, nipping at the heels of anything trying to escape.

"Oh, great..." Maggie could only chuckle as she went over to help Ebon with his prizes.


"Ohh check that out! Demon is Done For! Nice!" Wendy announced.

"Not bad at all – oh but what's that? There goes some sort of chimera into the portal!" Oakenwar called.


With a loud, echoing THOOOOMMM -- The Southgate Portal collapsed entirely. Wherever Bellemere ended up, he wasn't getting back that way.


"Oooh. Whoever that was, they're not coming back the same way!" Wendy chortled.

"No doubt!" Oakenwar laughed.


"This is a bad idea... I am not cleaning up after that thing!" Doran complained. Nonetheless, he did his best to calm the two Suchomimuses, much as he had often calmed bucking broncos in the past.

"Come into my backyard..." Rumbling a murmur as Dillon spun the weapon once, then it was holstered back on his thigh smoothly. And like nothing happened, the man just left the... now crater of a building and walked away on what was left on the rooftop he was perched on.

See, Dillon was already prowling off to find something else to kill. But there was nothing, of course. This was just the natural reaction of the man, find the next thing to hunt. He turned back to the city proper just as the portal closed. Wasn't there someone that went through that?

"Huh." Well, that was not something you see everyday, Rhydin invading something.

Anya did manage to find a boar that was feasting on the remains of some companions. It was quickly dispatched with good old fashioned swordsmanship and a well placed punch in the eye. Looking around again she found there wasn't much to do but wait to see who managed to get themselves a new pet. She gave a swift kick to the goat she'd killed earlier and seated herself on the barricade where she'd started the fight

The saber-tooth cat was lucky that Salvador liked him, else he would have got knives stuck in his flanks to use as handles! Salvador improvised. A frosty red mist circled the animal as he lunged and rebounded, leaped and dashed his way toward Westbridge.

In essence, the Spaniard used his own blood and magic to freeze and stick himself to the cat's fur. Yet not so thick that it made movement difficult and did not sink into the cat's bones.

Maggie murmured something to Doran that amounted to a lullaby for geese. "Try it. Works on Aunt Ari's birds."

Of course, when he heard the giant thoom that sounded like a portal collapsing, he tugged hard on the scruff of the cat's neck and, again in French, commanded he stop.

“Woo—!” Tenrowe cried, clapping!

Maggie gritted her teeth as the sound of the portal collapsing finally got to her.

So, the remaining beasts had only to be herded through the portal, or swept off into sidelines, and possibly end up as Chili and Menudo and ... yeah, all the yummy foods! Oh, man. These beasties gon' be soo tastee. Pharlen made a note about hiring Cain to pitmaster for a citywide BBQ next weekend.

This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. The cat rumbled a deep growl and shuddered hard when he felt Salvador's magic encircle his body and clench in toward his skin like the belly-band of a saddle. His footsteps did not falter, however. Not until he heard that command to stop. He didn't bother trying to transition down out of his gallop, just dug in and let himself go sliding across the ground, claws scoring stone as he came to a stop.

When the portal collapsed, Maggie's dragon let his hold loose on the illusion at Westbridge and headed her way. He settled on Maggie's shoulder.

Anya exhaled as the portal collapsed. The group seemed to have a plan, and she hadn't had that much action in a while. Now that it likely wouldn't get worse, she was on her way to find something to eat. She looked at the beasts one last time before deciding no, she definitely did not want to eat that, and disappeared unceremoniously.

Really good damn thing Salvador had affixed himself rather literally to the cat's fur. This time, Salvador did not lose his seat and go flying into any walls! There was a lurch, though, and he pushed up from his belly to sit up and look back toward Southgate.

Yep. Salvador could see that the portal was no longer there, which meant they could resume their slaughter. He murmured as much to the cat, reached out into the nothing at his sides, and withdrew a pair of hook swords, one for either hand. Time to mow down whatever was left, while riding his new trusty steed.

"Time to go walk The Stew!" Maggie might have been joking as she had winked at Doran.

The primordial cat quivered as he came to a stop, body still brimming with adrenaline and the desire—and need—to kill. Gatito grumbled at the Spaniard, flanks heaving hard, but held his ground until the man decided where they were going next. And as soon as he had new directives, he took off again.

This time, Gatito's lope was a lot slower and smoother, and was thus an easier ride for Salvador. Well, at least until he got close enough to catch something else to bite!

There were still two Thunder Geese present, but they seemed to be under control. "I'll have to find a place to board him. Maybe Evelyn can offer a suggestion, or Eregor."

Maggie chittered and chirped at Sparks. The little dragon grabbed one of the dead birds and flew off toward the Red Dragon.

"Mm.... you could ask Aja if there's a place at Arcadia Zoo." Maggie looked to Ebon as she spoke.

Everything seemed to be calming down in the way that could happen only in Rhydin. Dillon rumbled a pleased sound in his throat as he stood on the edge of whatever roof was left. Except soon, the building was repaired. Just like that.

In fact, the entire battle between the man and Demon was erased in a few moments as well, the runes of binding broke and disappeared into nothingness, and the small part of the city was perhaps at the moment, the cleanest part of it.

"Nah, I think I'll let Azure keep it... my sister, not my daughter. She bought a house on the outskirts of Cadentia, but she does travel a lot, so it'll be good to have a guardian for the place," Ebon decided.

Right, right... Pharlen shook herself and gathered up the eggs she'd collected.

"Thank you everyone! I need to make sure the sanitation workers are getting in here to hose down the road." Pharlen called, and waved before she turned and vanished. Portals! Gotta love 'em!

"Watchbirds instead of Watchdogs." Maggie nodded.

Salvador did not stick to the giant cat's back the entire time. At some point he hooked a ride on another passing beast. What few stragglers remained were either eaten or caught.

Interestingly, come morning people would discover that there was no evidence of there having *been* a slaughter on the street from Southgate to Westbridge. No obvious clean-up crews had come through, but the blood and gore was nowhere to be seen.

"I better get moving. Sparks is carrying that bird over to give to The Stew." She offered hugs to her BFF before heading off.

Ebon was still mounted, but he gave Maggie a grin and a wink.

The influx of creatures might have stopped, but the night's work had truly just begun. With bodies, limbs, and offal lining the streets, and a generous handful of creatures still running loose, the Spaniard and his *gatito* had just clocked in for the night shift.



"And that's the show for tonight, ladies and gentlemen! What a spectacular battle!" Wendy gushed, "You cannot find more creative and inventive heroes as the sort we have in RhyDin!"

"That's the truth, Wendy! And if you'd like to improve your skills in the arts of warfare and battle, then go to Oakenwar dot com, and make an appointment to make you into the best you possible! The drones always focus on the most epic of warriors, so don't hesitate!"

"The road will reopen by eight o'clock. Evacuated persons will be allowed to return to their homes by then. Have a Magical Night! This is Wendy Wendy, signing off!"