With a disturbing swirling noise and a loud, deep humming, a green and black vortex appeared above the peak of a snow capped mountain. After a moment or two, a large, dark figure stepped through, a set of heavy boots crunching as the snow and ice cracked under the weight of armor.
"Is this world suitable, my lord?" Another figure asked as they walked through, this one cloaked in billowing robes, and standing considerably shorter than the first figure.
"Yes," The second, robed figure let out a sigh of relief they didn't know they were holding, "We shall begin immediately. Bring the workers through and instruct them to start building. I trust you still have the plans?"
"Of course, my Lord," The robed one gave a small bow, before turning to the portal, "Is there anything else you require, my Lord?"
"..." the larger figure was silent for a moment, "Yes."
"I await my command."
"Make contact with the locals," The large figure turned to walk through the portal, "It would be smart to gain some allies."
"Your wish is my command, I shall see to it immediately."
"Alright, listen up animals!" A man in a stark white coat and red bowler hat clapped his hands together, addressing a crowd before him, "We need to get this dust moving, ASAP! Got it?"
Roman Torchwick, the nefarious criminal, smirked as the White Fang grunts complied, and began to load the crates onto the bullheads.
"Ughh..." He leaned back in his chair, groaning, "I need a big break...soon."
How soon? Roman looked to the side, and saw his little friend, a small woman with a strange pink and brown hair color and a rather dainty parasol look up at him, her hands finishing up the sign language she just performed.
"How soon, Neo?" Roman twirled his cane in his hands, "A-"
"As soon as you decide whether or not to accept my offer." At the new voice, both Roman and Neo whipped around, weapons raised.
"Now now, no need for unwarranted hostilities," The figure was an inch or two taller than Roman, and cloaked in black, flowing robes and a hood that obstructed his face, "I have a preposition for you, Roman Torchwick."
"Start talking Black, and I might reconsider blowing you halfway across Vale." Roman said, a targeting reticle flipping up from the end of his cane.
"You are unhappy with your current employer," The figure continued, speaking in a fast, sharp, refined tone that wouldn't seem out of place in a politician, "You desire power, wealth, possibly more. My employer," he chose his word carefully, "would like to make an offer."
"Yeah listen buddy," a White Fang grunt spoke up in a gruff voice, "we aint working for anymore humans."
"The offer is open to you as well, and all your people," the cloaked man turned to the Fang grunts, "I can assure, no hostilities shall be borne against you, and a significant portion of our people are non-human. Rest assured, none of you will be forced into joining."
"Well, no can do pal," Roman waved his cane, "See, I'm under strict orders to-"
"Perhaps a trial by combat?" His voice spoke again from the depths of the heavy, black cloth, "A demonstration of the power you could gain?" He smiled under the hood, seeing Roman consider it.
"Neo," Roman lowered the cane and nudged the small girl forward, said girl sporting a rather psychopathic grin, "Give this man a demonstration."
Neo lunged forward, revealing a long, thin blade, aiming to pierce the man's chest, only to have the man reach under his cloak and draw a sword, knocking her blade away. He leveled the tip of a black and silver rapier, with a two foot blade that drew to a needle tip and sported a razor edge. The handle had enough space to fit the man's hand perfectly, and sported an elaborate, flowing basket guard and a pair of thin, silver quillons.
He made the next move, attacking with two lightning quick horizontal slashed, which Neo blocked with her umbrella, and a quick thrust which the ice cream themed girl backed away from. The two engaged, trading slashes and thrusts in an impressive fencing display.
However, while the cloaked man had landed several strikes on Neo, she had yet to hit him, seeing as how she was being forced on the defensive. Sensing Neo's aura was now running low, thanks to a particularly well timed stab, Roman acted, taking aim with his cane and firing.
The man turned and slashed, the blade making contact with the explosive flare Roman had launched at him. However, despite protecting him from the main force of the blast, he was still stunned, the force throwing his hood off his face.
As his eyes narrowed on Roman, he looked down to see a thin, silver blade sticking out of his chest, courtesy of a certain Neopolitan, who winked at him.
"Impressive." The man spoke, legitimately sounding impressed. Suddenly, he drew a dagger with his off hand a swiped across Neo's face, breaking her aura. He reached out with his other hand, putting the tip of his rapier against the point of her throat.
Seeing the White Fang grunts raise their weapons, the man raised his palm, black, inky shadows circling in his grasp. His eyes, two bright red orbs looked into Romans green, and it was then that the room got a good look at him.
His face was very thin and gaunt, with pointy cheekbones and sunken eyes. His skin was incredibly pale, bleach white flesh stretched taut over bones and thin muscle. He sported a thin, pointed goatee of silvery grey hair, in direct contrast to the top of his head, which was entirely bald. The top his head sported a tattoo, of what looked like an ancient rune, a black, ominous symbol consisting of an upside down teardrop shape with a jagged sword pointing down to his face.
"I trust this is an apt demonstration?" The haggard man said, lowering his bony hand and removing the sword from Neo's neck.
"You think so?" Roman asked, "All I've seen is a fairly skilled swordsman, with a...oh."
He paused as the pale man removed Neo's sword from his chest, his face showing no pain, or even discomfort. Roman and the White Fang watched as the hole in his chest closed up, sealing the wound with smooth white skin.
"W-what are you?" A dog faunus asked, his ears pricking up in anxiety.
"I," the man suddenly exploded, forming into a small swarm of...bats. About three dozen bats, flapping about and around the building, before swarming together behind Roman, and reforming in a short wave of inky shadow.
"Am a vampire." The pale being said, smiling, a pair of sharp, white fangs protruding from his jaws. He looked down at Roman from his new place behind him.
"Shall we discuss the terms?"
Raven Branwen sat in her chair, mask on the armrest and a map of the area on the table before her. She and her Lieutenants were planning their next raid, targeting a small town, recently abandoned town called 'Albion'. Apparently, a grimm attack had sent the town running, and they had left and entire village worth of supplies for the taking.
"We leave at dawn." Raven spoke, standing up and taking her mask with her, "Get some rest."
Raven walked across the camp, before entering her tent. She was about to lay down for the night when a chill shot down her spine. She looked around her in a circle. Nothing seemed wrong, everything was as she left it, bed, nightstand, armor rack, smoky cloud with red eyes, sword stand.
Wait.
Her eyes focused, hands reflexively drawing a long, red blade from a sheath on her hip and splitting the thing in two. As was the plan, but when the sword passed right through it, she simply backed into a combat stance.
The smoke-thing simply observed her with its red eyes, before floating out of the tent flap. It paused just outside the tent, and waved a column of smoke in a way that seemed to beckon her. Keeping her sword drawn, Raven followed it, as it led her out of the camp and into the woods.
She had been following it for no longer than 5 minutes, when it stopped. It turned to her, and shot up, and disappeared somewhere in the tree canopy. Raven was just about to turn around and leave, when she heard something land on a branch beside her.
"Craaww..." Her head snapped to the side, and saw a large, black bird a few feet away from her, "Craaww..."
It was a raven. A very large, menacing raven, measuring at least 4 feet from beak to tail. It looked at her with a dead face, patches of white bone peaking out from under its mangy feathers, empty voids in place of eye sockets. Its jagged beak cracked open once more, producing another deep, raspy, guttural caw.
Raven could now see that the bird's rib cage was exposed, bleach white bone contrasting against its pitch colored plumage. Its legs were nothing but bones as well, only sparsely connected with thin ligaments and tendons at the joints.
"Beautiful, is it not?"
CLANG
The voice had snapped Raven out of her stupor, and she swiftly brought her sword around, aiming to silence whoever had snuck up on her, only to have her red odachi blade get blocked by a steel sword.
Gritting her teeth, Raven swung twice, vertically and then horizontally, and had her blade blocked twice more, before she leapt back, blade still held at the ready.
"Show yourself!" She barked, as the figure stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight.
The figure was tall, easily standing at 6 foot 4, and was covered from the neck down in a combination of tough steel grey chainmail, furs and plate, the solid sheets of metal ending with fluted edges and trimmed with polished silver.
In their right hand was a large bastard sword, made of a grey metal, having a blade measuring about 3 and a half feet long, and 4 inches wide. The hollow ground cutting edge glinted dangerously in the moonlight, and there were a series of circles cut out of the middle of the blade, probably to reduce weight. Near the base of the blade were to spikes, which stuck out of the sword, and seemed sharpened like the blade.
At the hilt was a wide metal crossguard, sporting quillons that had a coil twisted into it, and capped with a silver tip. The handle could just barely fit two hands, and was wrapped in a layer of black and silver leather, ending in a smooth, hexagonal pommel that was formed out of a shiny silver metal.
"My my, so fiesty..." The figure drawled, with a voice like honey, "As is expected of a human."
"I said, who are you?" Raven demanded, voice still strong and stoic.
"My name is Morrigan..." She walked into the moonlight, "And I have an offer for you, Raven Branwen."
"I-woah..." Raven faltered for a moment when she saw Morrigan. Her skin was pristine, smooth and fair, with just a hint of grey in it. Full, red lips and a slim face contained a pair of glowing, red eyes. Her hair, even from a distance, looked silky smooth and soft, forming a large flowing river of raven hair that trailed down to her mid-back. Around her neck was a thin, silver chain necklace that disappeared into the white, furred collar of her armor.
"Well aren't you something?" At this, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly into a cute smile, and her gaze focused on Raven, looking at her with slightly lidded eyes.
With a loud, throaty caw, the large, decrepit, zombie raven flew from the branch and settle on Morrigan's shoulder. Morrigan looked over at the bird, and spoke.
"What is it Edgar?" Raven gave the woman a questioning look as she conversed with the necrotic bird. Shocking Raven of them, the bird opened its beak and made a series of caws, each varying in tone, pitch and length.
"Frankly I doubt thats a coincidence," As the bird cocked its head, Morrigan scratched under its chin, eliciting a throaty rumble, "you know how he is. I bet he planned it like this, that why he sent me instead of Zalthar."
"Hold on," Raven leveled a sword at the raven, now named as Edgar, "that thing talks? And you can understand it?"
"Of course I can," She gave him another scratch, this time on his back, between his wings, "Nevermore's are very smart, Edgar especially so."
"Nevermore?" As far as Raven knew, that thing on her shoulder was no nevermore, seeing as how it lacked the eyes, masks and spikes of grimm.
"Yes." Morrigan looked back to her as Edgar shook his head, "You know, large, undead, flesh-eating ravens?" Seeing no response from her, Morrigan made a conclusion, "I suppose you must have different names for them."
"Yea, sure..." Raven said, carefully eyeing the particularly mean looking talons that were firmly clamped onto Morrigan's shoulder, "but that's not why you're here, is it?"
"How perceptive," Morrigan sheathed her bastard sword, sliding it into a scabbard on her hip, "but now, to business."
"You desire power, wealth, possible fame," The woman began, "my employer can give you that. All of it, and more."
"Who is your employer? Ozpin? Salem?" Raven asked, tightening her grip on her sword.
"Never heard of them," Morrigan gave a small shake of her head, "But, were you to accept, you would meet him, rest assured."
"You have my attention, Morrigan." Raven said, sheathing her sword and finally saying the other woman's name. It was foreign, definitely and a little unusual for her, but it seemed fitting, somehow.
"Excellent." Morrigan smiled, showing Raven a set of pearly white teeth, and sharp, curved...fangs.
At this, Raven drew her sword and jumped forward a few feet, leveling her red blade at the woman, almost pressing the point against her throat.
"I want answers, now," Ravens eyes were filled with a mixture of suspicion and determination, while Morrigan's were full of conviction and mirth, "what are you?"
"Oh my dear Raven," Morrigan gave a small chuckle, "You really didn't figure it out?"
Her eyes flashed red for a split second, one hand swiftly moving the blade from her throat while striking Raven's wrist, forcing her to release the blade. With the bandit leader disarmed, Morrigan quickly stepped in, pinning Raven's hands behind her back, stopping her from striking further.
From behind her back, there was a swoosh noise, as a pair of wings unfolded. Huge, black, feathered bird wings. The wings of a raven.
"I am a Nevermore."
She released Raven and stepped back.
"Shall we discuss the terms?"
"I've gotta say, Zalthar," Roman looked over to the haggard vampire seated across from him, "this sounds like a really good deal..."
"That's because it is, Torchwick," Adam Taurus said, having been called in at the behest of the vampire, now named as Zalthar, "Once I relay this to Sienna, I've no doubt she'll accept."
"Of course, if it sweetens the deal, this Cinder Fall will be a threat to you and your people no longer. From what information you have bestowed upon me, I feel as if I… understand the unpleasantness of her character." Zalthar said, pausing to sip some of the alcoholic beverage the humans had offered him. Being a vampire and undead, he didn't need it. Frankly, he only took it as a sign of politeness, and to set the humans and faunus at ease.
"Well, I think me and Neo accept your offer," Roman said, turning to the ice cream girl, and seeing her nod in agreement, "But I was wondering if we could meet your boss."
"I believe that can be arranged." At this, Roman whipped around, unconsciously reaching for his cane. He and Neo turned to face the source of the voice. As they watched, a large, imposing figure stepped out of the shadows, and strode toward them with large, confident steps.
"Oh, wow…" Roman had to crane his neck to focus on their face, "you're...big..."
He couldn't have been more right. The man before them was inhumanly tall, easily reaching ten feet, and clad in a set of black and green plate armor. The full body armor set was very angular, with lots of geometric shapes and harsh, imposing angles. On the faces of the plates were glowing green colorations, which seemed to be formed out of some sort of emerald like crystal.
In the joints of the armor, the only visible weak point, was a set of bright silver chainmail, filling in the gaps between his black and green plate.
On the faces of the shoulder pauldrons, were a pair of runes, formed out of a series of concentric circles, with a malformed U and N in the center, both inlaid with the same green crystal.
At the waist was a black waistcloth, which stopped at his mid calf, and flared outwards slightly as he walked, held in place by a thick, studded leather belt with a buckle shaped like a horned dragon skull.
Even with it behind him, Roman and Neo could both see the long, black cape that came down from his shoulders, and stopped just at his ankles. With a few final clangs, the heavy plated boots came to a stop a few feet in front of Roman.
His skin was not just pale, it was grey, a light shade, but grey nonetheless. When they focused on his eyes, they were discolored, being solid black orbs with two, bright emerald irises, watching the humans and faunus with a detached gaze.
His face was strong, and somewhat thin, benefitting his clearly slim build. His face bore a major scar, less of a cut and more of a huge tear wound running from just below his hairline on the right side of his face, and all the way down through his eyebrow and eye, cheek and eventually turning off and running down the side of his neck.
He was clean shaven, with smooth, but strangely grey skin and a rather impressive mane of hair. Long, raven colored hair ran down to his shoulders, parted and framing his face, tucked behind a pair of pointed ears, that stuck out the side of his head.
He seemed young, somewhere in his mid or early twenties, but no older than 32. But the biggest thing that may have revealed his age was the crown. It was black, inlaid with a series of glowing, green pentagonal emeralds, and featuring a series of five long metal spikes that shot up from the front, giving a foreboding feel to the piece.
"And who are you?" Adam Taurus asked, hand inching toward his weapon. At his comment, the mans bright green eyes shifted, locking onto his mask, seemingly boring straight through it.
"I am Dread-Lord Acererak, Ruler of the Athkand, 9th Circle Necromancer, and The Lich King of Angmar, Land of the Dead." Acererak spoke, in a tone that demanded respect, even from Adam and Roman.
"And I assume you're Zalthar's boss?" Roman asked, his grip on the cane tightening even further.
"That I am." Acererak waved his hand, and a throne formed from the ground. Clearly of volcanic origin, the obsidian like substance was a smooth as glass and polished to a near-mirror shine. From within the stone came a faint reddish-orange glow, which beat like a living heart every few seconds.
"So what do you want from us, Acererak?" Adam asked, briefly looking to the white fang grunts around him, "I assume you won't just give us what we want for free."
"Correct Mister Taurus." Acererak steepled his fingers before he continued.
"I am willing to provide you and your people what is needed. Training, supplies, weapons, assistance, and even asylum. In exchange, I ask for your cooperation, and for you to assist me in establishing footholds in this world."
"W-why?" Adam asked, almost in disbelief.
"Hmmm?" Acererak raised an eyebrow.
"Why would you do this? According to Zalthar, you've only just arrived, and you're treated us better than any human has." Adam looked to his white fang soldiers, earning a few nods of confirmation, "And why to us? You could have gone to the humans, but you didn't."
"We are all equal."
"What do you mean?"
"I am a Necromancer." Acererak straightened his posture in his obsidian throne, "I have control over life and death. In my many years I have seen things that would break a lesser being. I have seen the depths of depravity and scum the world can produce."
"I raise the corpse of a king as I would any peasant or animal," Acererak paused for a moment, "We are all equal in death. Why should life be different?"
Once he stopped speaking, he saw the white fang look at him in wonder. A few jaws were even dropped. He turned to Adam once more and spoke again.
"I understand you will need to discuss this with your leader. If you would permit it, I would like to send Zalthar with you, in case there are any problems. If this deal is not to your or her liking, I am open to negotiations." Seeing Adam nod, Acererak turned to Zalthar, "I trust you are up to the task, Zalthar?"
"Of course, my Lord," The vampire bowed, and then pulled his hood back up over his head and turning to Adam, "I will gladly accompany you, were you to allow it."
"I'll allow it. We will leave immediately." He went to leave, and walked to the door, but paused and looked back for a moment, "Thank you Acererak." He said, before leaving.
"Is that really all?" Raven asked, almost in disbelief, "You want information and an alliance, and in return we get to ask for your help if we need it."
"Yes my dear, that is truly all." Morrigan said, uncrossing her legs, before standing and stretching out in the tent Raven was staying in.
"Do we have a deal?" She asked, with an outstretched hand.
Raven hesitated, before reaching out and shaking the gauntlet.
"Deal."
The mechanical behemoth's dust engines whirred, and the vehicle took off with a slight shudder, rising into the air, carrying a pilot, Adam Taurus, Zalthar and a few White Fang guards.
Neither party really trusted each other, not yet. Zalthar could see, even now, that Adam, while dedicated to his cause and a strong character, was a loose cannon. And the White Fang, Taurus included, simply didn't trust Zalthar because he was still a bit of an unknown. While the vampires boss's message had given them hope, this gaunt, pale skinned corpse was still creeping them out.
"What do you call this contraption?" Zalthar asked, rapping a kunckle on the side of the vehicle, deciding to break the pregnant silence.
"We call them Bullheads," The pilot shouted back to him, "Use 'em to fly."
"Impressive." Zalthar remarked, being actually very impressed, "How does it function?"
"We use yellow dust to power it," The pilot spoke again, "I'm guessing you guys don't use dust?"
"We do not. My people never had access to it." The vampire responded. Backing up the faunus's statements, Zalthar couldn't detect any magic, levitation, teleportation, even continuous fire streams, that might be keeping it afloat.
'I would quite like some samples of this 'dust'.' Zalthar thought to himself, 'This technology would be very useful to us. I have no doubt our scholars would have a lot of fun with it.'
"What is our destination, Adam Taurus?" He asked, looking over to the White Fang general.
"Menagerie."
'So far so good' Roman thought, looking across the table at Acererak, 'I've met a vampire and got a new job, so it looks like I've finished my bucket list…'
Roman truly did not know what to think about Acererak. One one hand, he had an air of respect, authority and professionalism that neither Cinder nor Adam could hold a candle to, and was still down to remnant, not all high and mighty like the aforementioned terrorists.
He seemed to always get to the point when talking, and despite being obviously very intelligent, didn't color his language or over complicate his sentences as much as his vampire friend did.
"As heartwarming as your message of equality is, I'm willing to bet you want something from me too, right?" Roman said, bringin the focus of Acererak back to him.
"Correct. I do want something from you." Acererak leaned in.
"How good are you at forging transcripts?"
Roman smiled.