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Found it. :3

We already said our dramatic speech, talked with a figment of our imagination, and acquired the support of our friends; now, we wait for our moment.

go on a rampage killing everything. destroy everyone and burn the bodies.... and the museum.

>>16077586

You would, but you already swore never to kill again.

>>16077583

You all wait, and you can feel the sudden electricity in the air mere moments after Fredrick finishes transforming.

You all suddenly begin moving, no one sure who begins, but all of you follow and lead at once. You burst through the door, rushing down the hallway towards the two guards. Their eyes go wide, and they reach for their weapons, but with two pops a bullet is embedded in each of their shoulders from Godfried's guns.

You rush through the plastic curtain beyond, into the center of the larger room, the chain links giving slightly beneath your feet. The room's eyes are on you, and you can see the madame, along with a few guards, turned towards you suddenly, surprise and shock turning each of their faces into a parodic mask.

Time seems to stand still as you take each step. What's your plan of attack?

>>16077741
"Throw down your weapons! We're only here for our brothers! Return him to us!"

Tap any guards who don't drop their guns lightly on the head. Anything else, we'll just have to get into a slug-fest with.

>>16077776

"Throw down your weapons! We're only here for our brother! Return him to us!" You shout to the room.

The madame steps backwards as two of her guards step forward, each reaching for a weapon.

Godfried levels his weapons, as does Renee. Fredrick growls down at the men, and they back away slowly.

"Well, well." You hear the Don's voice ring, melodious, over the now quieting room. "Madame Guerre, I know this group. How much would you pay me to keep them from destroying this place?"

"Fifty thousand." The madame says quickly.

"Not good enough." The Don cackles, his eyes glowing.

"What did you say? Your... Brothers?" The cloaked figure asks, his voice clear above the now slowly stirring crowd.

"What're we doing, Gabe?" Rneee asks nervously.

Bumping for OP to return. :<

rolled 9 = 9

>>16078137
"Stay out of this, Don."

Return to the "madame".

"The ones you just treated like some common property." Take a step forward. "Give them back; you had no right to sell them..."

>>16078168

"Stay out of this, Don." You snap at Don Malone. He lets out a chuckle.

"Ooh, scary. Seems like your ability to see once again has made you a lot more confident." Malone's already angular face seems to harden, like a cement mold, into a grin. "Very well, I'll let you have a bit of fun with the Madame."

"Malone, tu bâtard!" The woman says, her accent suddenly more prominent.

"The ones you just treated like some common property." You say, stepping forward as you glare at the men leveling guns at you, at the madame. "Give them back; you had no right to sell them..."

"I owe you nothing! They are just corpses!" She says, her hand closing around her fan, almost as though it was a weapon. "That aside, he is the one who bought them!" She points at the cloaked figure, his body shifting slightly as she does so. You get the feeling that he is looking at you, expectantly.

rolled 3 = 3

>>16078280
"You all barter our kind like some cheap tools. Because of people like you, my brothers had to die. Because of people like you, we live in constant fear of exploitation. BECAUSE OF YOU!" Let our anger subside for a second. "I don't expect you to understand now, of all times. All I ask...is that you return our brothers, and leave us in peace..."

>>16078379

Who is this directed towards?

rolled 16 = 16

>>16078449
All of them, but mostly the madame and the Don.

>>16078379

You take a few more steps forward as the woman backs away. "You all barter our kind like some cheap tools. Because of people like you, my brothers had to die. Because of people like you, we live in constant fear of exploitation. BECAUSE OF YOU!" You glare around the room, eyes like hot coals on each of the people in the room. "I don't expect you to understand now, of all times. All I ask... Is that you return our brothers, and leave us in peace..."

Madame Guerre looks down her nose at you, coldly. "I apologize, mon bête magnifique, but your friends were rightfully claimed by Michael, up there." She snorts at the cloaked figure. "Well, one of them anyway. If you want the other, you shall have to buy it from the house, like anyone else."

"And what if we're not interested in spending money for something that's already ours?" Renee asks, keeping his gun leveled.

"Then we have a difficulty." Madame Guerre says, her fan drifting in front of her face.

>>16078616

The cloaked figure steps down from his platform, the chain link creaking underneath him as he walks over and puts a hand on the edge of the box containing Jerry's remains.

"Boy." He says, his voice ringing through the room. "Why do you want this body?"

rolled 14 = 14

>>16078616
"If you are indeed in possession of the remains like you say you are, then you us a considerable amount of currency for both /purchasing/ and /removing without our consent/. However, if you two return them, we'll..."

Hugh's charm time: give him the toughest tough-guy impersonation ever.

"...eh, you know. You find a' couple'a parts here that belonged to somebody. And den, ya'know, you take them without asking. Well, we've come to collect. Normally, we'd break ya' knee-caps like I'm sure you're used ta'doin', but we're feelin' generous today, ya' know?"

"If you refuse...we will have an altercation that will end badly for the both of us."

rolled 15 = 15

>>16078740
"He is our brother. And the reason he is laying in that box right now is because of petty criminal lords like yourselves..."

>>16078742

"If you are indeed in possession of the remains like you say you are, then you owe us a considerable amount of currency for both 'purchasing' and 'removing without our consent.' However, if you two return them, we'll..."

Hugh thumbs his nose at them. "...Eh, you know. You find a' couple'a parts here that belonged to somebody. And den, you take them without asking. Well, we've come to collect. Normally, we'd break ya' knee-caps like I'm sure you're used ta'doin', but we're feelin' generous today, ya' know?" His last sentence drips with a bit of venom you didn't think Hugh had in him.

"If you refuse... We will have an altercation that will end badly for the both of us." You say to her.

She keeps steady eye contact with you, moving backwards a bit. "You think I am a woman who can be intimidated? I warn you, that one gargouille's body may not be worth the amount of death you will earn by angering me in my sanctum."

>>16078755

"He is our brother. And the reason he is laying in that box right now is because of petty criminal lords like yourselves..." You say to the robed figure, glowering.

"Really? Who was it who slew him?" Michael says, the robed head turning to look squarely at the Don, then at the Madame.

Don Malone puts one leg over the other, smiling at the scene. "Oh, is this how you want to proceed, Gabriel? I'd suggest a bit of thought on it."

rolled 2 = 2

>>16078850
"Who indeed. While the Don was not to directly to blame, his son was. And, if I missed the lesson on Don's perception of justice, family members are owed great dues in the midst of tragedy. This is no different."

If they try to threaten us again, then we'll mobilize. If not, then we'll have another talk session (ignore anything past this point if that happens).

"I am sorry, but it matters greatly to us...we'll make this quick."

Battle time! Rush the guys with the boom-sticks since those hurt the most. Once those guys are out of the way, *gently* knock-out the madame and the robed stranger (Michael Schiefer, I presume from the last thread) if they decide to oppose us. We'll save the Don for later. Now, we're operating on a "get bodies and get out" strategy.

>>16078981

"Who indeed. While the Don was not to directly to blame, his son was. And, if I missed the lesson on Don's perception of justice, family members are owed great dues in the midst of tragedy. This is no different." You say to the group.

Michael's head turns to the Don.

"Gabriel, Gabriel, nothing up there but a bunch of rocks, I see." The Don says, rising to his feet, slowly.

"Malone, how dare you lie to me." Michael's voice rings out, and you can hear the wooden box in his grip start to warp. "Now that I've seen him, I know it's certain. You've done nothing but try to take advantage of me and mine from the shadows."

"You don't have the luxury of dealing in the public eye, Schiefer." Malone responds calmly. "You never acted this way before."

"I never knew what a snake you were." The robed figure's voice lets loose in a hiss.

"I admit, I got a bit overzealous with my curiosity." The Don shrugs. "But a whole race humanity's never had contact with? Can you blame me?"

The robed figure glares at him, still as stone.

"The loss of my boy wasn't so bad, to be honest." Malone confesses, taking a puff off his cigar. "I was hoping his stupidity would get him killed before I'd have to do anything about his thoughts of succession. All in all, it was a wonderful deal for me.

"Tell you what, Gabriel, I'll be a sport." The Don says, looking over at Renee. "Just tell your buddy there not to shoot at me, and I'll make you able to see again. Then we can call fair fair."

"What, from over there?" Godfried exclaims. "I never heard of him knowing a thing about life magic."

"Hows about it?" He asks. "All I want in exchange is for you to get Mr. Schiefer to keep calm."

"You..." Michael's voice echoes low throughout the room.

>>16079147
If we had hair on our neck to raise in anger, we'd be doing it right now.

"You...you dare try to coax me? Even now?!"

Hugh chime. "No; here's the offer here, bub! You go to jail while the rest of us sit at home drinking coffee while watching some good ole' day-time TV! I'd rather deal with coffee stains than deal with the likes of you!"

>>16079229

"You...you dare try to coax me? Even now?!" You shout at him, hate piercing every syllable of your voice.

Hugh crosses his arms. "No; here's the offer here, bub! You go to jail while the rest of us sit at home drinking coffee while watching some good ole' day-time TV! I'd rather deal with coffee stains than deal with the likes of you!"

"Aww, after all we've been through? You're really set on being blind?" Malone laughs, the low repetition seeming to bounce around the room like a wandering light. "Man, remind me never to give out any freebies!"

"Your name is... Gabriel?" Michael asks, his voice seeming more calm and reserved. "And you're saying that the Don has blinded you?" The new qualities in his voice seem to drop away as he finishes his sentence.

Renee looks down at you. "Doesn't seem like the Don is lying. His body's motions are all very relaxed."

"But it doesn't make sense. He can't do that, can he?" Godfried thinks aloud.

>>16079329
OP, I thought we regained our sight by the time we met Silence. If this is a ret-con, let me know.

>>16079343

You haven't regained your sight, but your augmented echolocation is just as sharp.

>>16079405
Ok; just double checking.

>>16079329
"Yes; I am Gabriel. And yes, I have no sight." Tune our ears in on the Don. "Though I may not be able to see, it doesn't take much to hear what you offer to me is an outright lie, Don! And even a blind man can see you for the evil that your are."

>>16079449

"Yes; I am Gabriel. And yes, I have no sight." You say to Michael. You turn towards the Don "Though I may not be able to see, it doesn't take much to hear what you offer to me is an outright lie, Don! And even a blind man can see you for the evil that you are."

The Don's grin becomes ever wider. "Oh? Evil is just a matter of perception. I am evil to you because I sought to make you my servant, and because I took away your sight." He gestures out towards you with an open hand. "But, what if that had never happened? Would I still be such a bad guy?"

"Yes! Yes you would!" Hugh shouts up at him. "You made Gabriel intimidate an old lady!"

"That old bitch is not at all an innocent old lady." Malone responds, the smile draining from his face like a flash flood. "Her husband did some quite unruly things. Enslaved creatures from another world. Lived for six hundred years. And she let him. She lived that long as well." He brushes off one of his coat sleeves. "Every last bit of that money, gotten through back alley blackmail and threats to make politicians in Philidelphia disappear without a trace. I'm trying to put it to some kind of constructive uses."

"You're lying, Malone." Fredrick growls.

"I could be. But then why could that old lady, who never does anything, never gets food delivered to her, how does she live for over one hundred years in that kind of condition with no nurse?" The Don says. "It's simple: She's living off the time borrowed from creatures like Gabriel, like your hawk."

"You blinded him..." Michael fumes. "Malone, I'd like to have a word with you."

>>16079542
It appears we've found a new ally in this den of thieves. Are there any other people still around short of the Don, Madame, Michael, and us?

>>16079575

There are. About maybe twenty others.

They have been staring eerily this entire time.

>>16079583
Well....screw them! We have justice to dispense!

"Mr. Michaels, I'd like to ask you one last time: may I and my brother Hugh please have the body within the box?"

>>16079652

"Mr. Michael, I'd like to ask you one last time: may I and my brother Hugh please have the body within the box?" You ask him.

Michael's voice seems more calm once again. "His name is... Hugh?" He puts his hand on the side of the box, looking into it. "Your brother... Did he have a name as well?"

"You terrible creature!" Madame Guerre shouts, pointing at you angrily. "You threaten my life, threaten to steal from me... I do not think you realize who you wish to cross."

The chain link beneath your feet seems to twist slightly as she continues to talk.

"I can assure you, I have plenty of room for more unusual displays in my museum." She waves the fan slightly, the air around it wavering as though from an intense heat. "And as those who have come here know, those who cross le Madame de Guerre will remain to amuse my other guests for all eternity."

rolled 12 = 12

>>16079779
"I have lived longer than most of your exhibits. I've heard the echoing calls of great bronze boom-barrels, a thousand church bells ring happily at matrimony, and now, the death of my brothers. Please...return them to us."

>>16079846

"I have lived longer than most of your exhibits. I've heard the echoing calls of great bronze boom-barrels, a thousand church bells ring happily at matrimony, and now, the death of my brothers. Please... return them to us." You ask her, proceeding slowly forwards.

"You... You remember all that?" Michael asks.

"You poor little maggot." The madame shouts. "What do I have to gain by giving you anything?!" The chain links begin to buckle, but you see a shot strike her square in the chest just as they split. Renee's gun smokes. The madame hits the floor. The front two guards begin backing away quickly, while the back two keep their weapons level.

"Sorry, I don't do shows." He says, pointing his gun up at the Don. "Not even for friends of employers."

"Dear me, and here I thought you had a cool head, Renee." The Don chuckles.

rolled 3 = 3

>>16079984
Wow...that was nipping it in the bud. I'm surprised that Renee had that in him.

"Renee..."

>>16080011

"Renee..." You say to him, somewhat surprised.

"Don't worry. Her heart's still beating." Renee says, looking over at Madame Guerre as she begins to get up. Despite appearing to be a costume, you can see the bullet embedded in the front of her low-cut outfit.

"Tu espèce de sale con..." She coughs, clutching at her chest. "I should have expected you brutes to strike first."

"Actually, I tipped him off." Godfried says, pointing both his guns at her. "You'd be surprised what working together for a few years can do for your communication skills."

She rises again, the chain links moving with her as Godfried's gun rings out, once, then twice. Neither bullet seems to find its mark, and then the links around you rise and wrap around your body with surprising strength and speed, pulling your arms and legs far apart into a full spread. The same occurs with each of your allies as the chain link unwraps itself like a huge metal spiral, twisting around your forms like innumerable tiny snakes.

"She's an enchantress, can give life and purpose to the lifeless." Godfried says.

"Indeed, I am." She sits upon her chain links as they mold to support her body in a kind of throne. All of the other people in the room, save the men by Michael and the Don, pull out guns in unison and point them at you. "And once my servants have dealt with you, perhaps I shall make a sculpt of you entitled, 'L'homme qui en savait trop'."

You struggle, but find that with each move you make, the strands reorient themselves to prevent your escape. You hear Fredrick growl as his muscles strain, and he rips free, powering forwards to strike the woman in one smooth motion with a huge, furred fist, and her body flies backwards through the brick wall behind her as the brick shatters like clay.

"How about, the woman who talked too much?" He snarls, as the chain comes loose.

rolled 17 = 17

>>16080171
Keep trying to break the trains. We've got to give Fredrick some support.

"Hugh! You know any ways out of this trick?"

>>16080228

Oh, it's loose.

rolled 8 = 8

>>16080252
Oh; let's kick some ass, then.

Considering that our (Hugh and us) level of durability is much, much greater than Renee or Godfried, let's bullrush the goons who took aim at us. Remember; gentle knocks is all it takes. Let Fredrick keep pounding in the madame's face since he looks like he has it covered.

And what awesome punch through the wall is complete without the necessary commentary from Hugh?

"Oh...going, going, gone!"

>>16080313

"Going, going, gone!" Hugh laughs, as he bursts free and starts towards one of the guards.

"They're wax men! Feel free to cut loose!" Renee assures you.

The one up against Hugh misses him with a shot before Hugh punches its head clean off.

You feel a nick on your shoulder as the bullet strikes you, then ricochets off as you lunge forward, kicking the guard square in the chest and scattering his parts.

"She won't be down long, I think she softened the brick to soften her landing!" Godfried says, firing off two full clips and dropping several of the men below before he reloads.

The pathway ahead is split by a broken brick wall, leading to the left, towards Michael, and to the right, towards Don Malone.

rolled 9 = 9

>>16080418
The Don, while a complete dick, can wait. We have to recover our brother. As soon as we dispatched the other manikins, let's go see this mysterious Michael. Judging by his reaction, he probably knows something about our past! As a result, Hugh should come too.

But of course, this is after the majority of the guards have been dispatched.

>>16080437

Renee looks over at you after dropping a few more of the mannequins. "Go ahead, we can cover this before she wakes up."

Silence swoops down through one of the holes in the chain to dive down into a pair of the fake figures, decapitating them as he hits with the force of a flying rock.

Fredrick stomps over to the wall shakily, leaning over the hole in the wall. "Go on, little buddy. I can handle this witch."

You and Hugh make your way up to the chain tube, over to the robed figure by your brother's remains.

"You fight well." Michael says, looking over towards you and Hugh. "My God, it is true, isn't it? It's taken a bit to sink in, and it's been so many years." He walks slowly towards you.

rolled 13 = 13

>>16080591
"Um...do we...do we know you?"

>>16080602

"Um...do we...do we know you?" You ask him.

"Know me?" The robed figure responds, looking over at you. "This isn't the first time we've met, no. But I wouldn't expect that you'd know me." He reaches up for his robe's edges as he steps over towards you. "I can remember you though. Yes, you were the last ones."

rolled 7 = 7

>>16080767
"...who are you?"

He nears you, the hood catching on something pointed beneath it as clawed hands draw it off of a stony neck. Four horns spring from the skull, two longer and curled towards the top and two angular and short ones near the back of the head. A slender scar marks the edge of the short muzzled face, along with many other small scrapes. The gargoyle's face looks old and weathered, with eyes somewhat sunk in, but otherwise much like the one who you saw in your dream, months ago, but older somehow, if stone could age.

The gargoyle smiles, laughing with a pure joy, and throws his arms around you and Hugh, hugging you tightly. He holds you both close to him, with strength that you think is greater than your own. He draws back, looking at you each in the face with a warm smile as you hear gunshots finally stop ringing around you.

"It's hard to explain, terribly hard." He says, choking a bit as you see tears start to well up in his eyes. "I suppose the closest approximation that you could understand is... Is that I'm your father."

rolled 7 = 7

>>16080986
WAAAAAH~

That reaction is probably also appropriate for Hugh and Gab.

"...w-...what?"

"Dad? We have parents?"

"...W-...What?" You gasp, your jaw dropping open.

"Dad? We have parents?" Hugh asks in surprise.

"Well," Michael says, sniffling a bit. "I suppose if you think in the conventional sense, we were made from stone and magic. But I knew the woman who made you, and I sculpted you." He pats you each on the head, gently. "I never thought there'd be another like me, let alone two!"

"So, you're sort of... our creator then?" Hugh asks hesitantly.

"Yes, that I am. And I consider you my children, by that." He laughs, hugging you both tightly. "I... I'm sorry. This must all be so strange for you."

rolled 7 = 7

>>16081115
"From what I remember...it seems so far away." Turn to Hugh. "I always remembered this woman and other gargoyle in a big field, but it was always so...distant."

Turn to Michael.

"I...I-...w-...I don't even know where to start."

>>16081179

"From what I remember... it seems so far away." You look over at Hugh. "I always remembered this woman and another gargoyle in a big field, but it was always so... distant."

"That is her." Michael says, softly. "That was her. That was the day..."

You turn to Michael. "I...I-...w-...I don't even know where to start."

"A truly touching reunion." Malone says, walking from side to side with his hands behind the small of his back. "I mean, good luck to you. I hope they turn out better than my kid."

Michael's face loses the joy in it, his features wrinkling to become like those of a demon. "Malone." He strides around you and Hugh, pointing at Malone with a curved claw. "You stole my son's sight. You kept them secret from me! Six hundred years I've been looking for any sign!"

"Hey, he made the bargain with me." Malone points to his chest with his hand, tipping his head towards you. "Besides, I never did anything of the sort."

"He's lying- uh... Michael? Dad?" Hugh responds, hesitantly. "I had to lead Gabriel around for a few days until he learned to see like the bats do."

"You lie to my face, Antonio!" Michael shouts, his voice echoing through the room.

"Not at all." The Don says, bowing slightly.

You suddenly notice the brownish red of the brick, and the gray of the chain links. The cool gray stone that makes up Hugh, contrasting the darker, almost bluish stone that you now see makes up your form. You can see the blues in Michael's robes, the deep gray of his skin, and the warm, orange glow in Malone's eyes.

Your vision has returned.

rolled 4 = 4

>>16081219
"What is this, Don? What did you do?"

>>16081272

"What is this, Don? What did you do?" You say, almost angry that you can see normally again.

"Ah," The Don throws his head back, grinning. "Now that would be telling. And a true magician never reveals his secrets."

"What? Can you really see, Gabe?" Hugh asks, this seeming to throw him a loop moreso than your having a father. He takes one look at you, and sees it immediately. "Your eyes, they're moving..."

"Do not play games with my family!" Michael shouts, making a stabbing motion at the Don with his finger.

"Please. They weren't your family until just recently. They could've been any other statue on a church three months ago, and you wouldn't have cared any less if they'd all smashed on the ground that night!" The Don shouts back, his head low and his arms out wide at the last exclamation. "Neither would they have, for that matter! It was all because of me, I sent my son there that night, he lured one away, hell, the boy even died so that yours might have a modicum of morality." He straightens up, looking at you, Hugh, and Michael spitefully. "I even taught him how harsh the world could be, so that no one would take advantage of him. And the only thing you can see is that you didn't find them sooner."

rolled 19 = 19

>>16081365
OP, this is really awesome, but I'm beat. I'm down for picking this up in the morning, but I'm heading to bed now. Thanks for the quest. :3

>>16081395

Ah, as am I. We'll pick this up next week then. I have work tomorrow.

(Pic is Mrs. McGregor)