The Red Scroll [Closed] (Dated)

High atop a nearby skyscraper, Praetor August awaited his contact, the one his associates called "Leo". He wondered why, but did not press the issue.

His contacts had made him aware of the one called Leo. A mercenary for hire, with no definite loyalties, a perfect candidate for this job. He needed a competent hire who would have no qualms of killing griffins or ponies as necessary.

(((Background- our mutual contacts have contacted us, and arranged a meeting on this rooftop. I have arrived.)))

Wind passed under the large wings of the Hippogriff as he gracefully glided the skies of Manehatten. He'd been sent details of a location for a potential client that might need his skills for something, probably killing or guarding since that tended to be the usual. He flexed his wing down and pivoted as he swopped in low over the city, the Residential District East. He sighted the location and came in to land as his four paws thumped the concrete of the roof, his metal paw cuffs clanging as they struck the concrete. He hung his wings open for a moment before curling them t his sides as he walked forward, eying the Griffon in front of him. He stopped as his eyes studied the gryphon before he spoke, "Tisis Antony?" he asked, his voice low and deep.

The Praetor contemplated imitating his superior for a while, but decided that the confusion would be more trouble than the humor derived would be worth. "I am not Tisis Antony. I am the Praetor to Tisis Antony, but you may call me August."

The black griffin turned to Leo, and was startled to find that his contact was not in fact a griffin, but a Hippogriff. An unusual development- one the Prudentate would be pleased to know. "How experienced are you as a fighter?" he asked, curious to know.

The night sky was bleak with plumes of smoke. The smokestacks of Manehatten killed the stars, strangling out their shine in a wretched embrace. The raven griffin liked the darkness here. It made night operations... convenient. His contact on the other hand, was a brighter shade. Maybe he wasn't the best choice for what this mission would entail.

Leo nodded once, "Understood" was his only reply as the Griffin made it known he was not Tisis, but in fact his Praetor. It didn't much matter to Leo as long as he was paid for his services, either in bits or in favors, it didn't matter. When the Praetor asked his skill set the Hippogriff remained expressionless, but attentive, not willing to betray tone nor expression that would lead the client to believe he was boastful or over confident. "I can assure you I am quite experienced" he said before continuing, "You asked my contractors for the best they could offer, so here I am" he said evenly.

August nodded briefly, as if contemplating the response. The contacts HAD given him other names as well, but this Leo, he was the only potential hire that the Praetor could contact who didn't have any entangling loyalties. But the hippogriff, well, he was so small compared to what August was accustomed to. He was unsure if it was wise to proceed. Alas, the time frame was too urgent to seek anyone else in this hour. "You will be adequate, if our contacts prove to be honest. I have need of mercenary work. Follow me, just here- to the edge of the roof."

The Praetor walked to the edge of the roof, looking down to the empty streets below. A group of griffin roughnecks were harassing ponies by smashing in windows and lunging at whoever ran out.

"Do you see them?"

Leo said nothing as he did as the Griffon asked. His paws thumped the ground with a metallic clink as he stepped to the edge, his eyes looking down on the scene. His face remained expressionless still as he watched them. "Yes" he replied before waiting for the Griffin to elaborate on why they were watching this pitiful scene.

"Those griffins, down there, are members of an illegal smuggling ring posing as Griffin Kingdom soldiers. We have evidence to suggest that they have been smuggling weapons from the Armory here in Manehatten to whomever pays them the most." August sighed, removing a small satchel from his cloak. "But that is not why they are marked for death. Normally, we would have these traitors reported to the normal channels within the Griffin Kingdom, and they would be summarily executed."

"But it is more complicated then that. One of their ranks possesses a... scroll. A scroll that, as per the Order of our General Feliks, is Equestrian contraband. You see, the scroll contains instructions of the magical sort, which would be construed as a weapon if the normal channels were to discover it. We need that scroll, intact, delivered to us. None of those griffins must be allowed to survive who know of its existence- which, we must conservatively assume is all of them."

"In short, I need you to follow these griffins back to their hideaway, and deal with them in a way you deem appropriate. Retrieve the scroll, and meet me here at the same time tomorrow. If you do so, you will be paid in the amount our contacts have agreed upon. Is that to your liking?"

Leo watched carefully as his perceptive gaze looked upon the creatures that now just became targets. He began looking at everything that made them, the way they carried themselves and what they carried on them. Even to the detail of the way they dressed. He left now particular detail out of mind as he watched before he nodded once, "It will be done" he said without looking to the Praetor. He moved back from the edge as he looked to the Griffin, almost as if looking through him to determine the creatures trust. Without another word he extended his wings and flew back the way he came, away from the Griffins bellow. If he were to fly up he would be spotted... no, he had a plan for how he would execute this contract.

The griffin rabble slowly made their way down the path. The pack was loud, and rowdy, taunting their victims and each other alike. The pecking order of the group was easy to determine. The two loudest were the highest ranking in the group, and competed for leadership. The remaining three were silent the entire time, content to loot and smash windows without any speech between themselves.

"Hurry up you dogs, the boss ain't going to like it if we're out past the curfew. These Guerillas are soldiers I hear, and I'd hate to be the one to teach them what a sorry group of soldiers they are."

"Ah, shutup you milk-brain. Talking like that's going to attract unnecessary attention. What if they REALLY showed up, huh?"

The first swung at the second in a playful show of authority, but the second took offense and soon an all out brawl broke out between the two. The other three merely looked on and wondered amongst themselves if they should separate the two, or move on.

Leo glided in the cloud layer, way up high as his gaze swept down on the Griffons. Cold night air swept between his feathers as his powerful wings beat a couple times before allowing him into a steady glide once more. He saw a fight break out and continued to watch on. He didn't need to get involved, only follow them. Once he had their location, he could begin taking them out and reducing their numbers. And once he had that scroll, he would have yet another completed contract to add to his name. As the fight continued he concentrated on their stance and the way they moved, studying them and taking notes as they fought. This would better prepare the Hippogriff for when he would take their lives.

The brawl only lasted several seconds, before one of the lesser griffins drew a sword. His two superiors, unarmed as they were, split up from their fight. Shouting, and a brief argument later, the pack had a new leader in the form of the sword-wielding griffin.

With the new pecking order established, the group moved through the residential area faster. They finally reached a large apartment block, and made their way in. The last griffin in did a rudimentary check to see if they were followed, before slamming the door behind himself.

The apartment block was a massive twelve story affair, though neglected and weathered beyond its years. A gaping hole in the left side of building revealed several dusty apartments that had been long neglected. And though the building would have been abandoned long ago, some presence inside had been making renovations- relatively new barbed wire spools lines the building like a fortress, and the windows had been sealed shut on all of the first and second story windows.

Lights were visible through tattered curtains in several windows, but beyond that, no other signs of life were visible here.

Leo landed gracefully on the roof of a building across the street ad the door slammed. His paws thumped as his weight touched down, his eyes scanning the building carefully as he noted the light in various windows and the floors themselves. At the site of the gaping hole he knew that would be his entrance, after all, who in their right mind would use the front door?

He beat his wings as he glided silently through the air, making sure to be as quiet as possible as he reached the hole, folding his wings as he touched down without so much as a tap. His padded paws only worked to aid him as he carefully moved through the apartments towards the door, placing an ear to the side of it as he listened for any hint of movement or sound. If he could take one down, he might be able to make a quick kill and use a disguise. That would make things allot easier. If not, then he would be creeping sneaking and killing his way though.

On the other side of the door was an empty hallway, dimly lit by a single candle sconce on the farthest-most side of the hallway. Periodic doorways labeled with numbers in the six-hundreds lined the hallway, and dull, rhythmic music came from several of the rooms.

The wooden paneling of the floor was missing in several places, leaving holes with which you could see into the floors above and below. But the darkness pervaded, making any form of detailed recon require a different tactic.

Leo heard nothing and gently pushed the door open as he looked down the dimply lit hall. He stepped in, gently closing the door behind him as he headed down carefully. Measuring his steps as he moves silently. He heard one of the floorboards creek, and began to shift his weight to apply less pressure to his steps. He looked through the gaps in the floor but saw nothing but darkness. He found his way to the far side of the hall where the only light source seemed to be. He blew it out, placing him in darkness as he continued, searching for some stairs he could use to slowly descend to the floors bellow.

The Hippogriff did not have to search far. On both ends of the hallways were stairwells, singular flights of stairs that led upwards and downwards. It was an incredible inefficient arrangement- on the side that the Hippogriff stood there was only a stairwell downwards, and on the other side would be found the one going up.

This pattern permeated the building- one side always went down, one side always went up, meaning in order to pass from the entrance to the roof, one would need to pass every single doorway in the building, and climb every stairwell. There was no central stairwell, but these facts of the architecture were unknown, and all that the Hippogriff could see was the nearby stairwell going DOWN.

The stairs themselves weren't really stairs at all. The absence of light not withstanding, the stairs had gaps and missing boards all along their entirety, making them a death trap to unsuspecting souls. Residents of the building knew better to navigate them without a light.

In that vein; a resident, upon hearing the creaks, opens her door. A medium build unicorn head peeked out the door, trying to penetrate the darkness and see what had passed.

Leo saw the stairs and began to advance before he heard the door open, a unicorn peering out. Leo froze like a statue in the dark as he watched from the darkness. As the mare would turn to look his way he would already be upon her as he slammed a paw to her maw to keep her quiet, followed by another to her horn as he prevented her magic. He twisted and pulled her back inside her own room as he quickly pushed her to the floor quietly, using his strength to prevent a noise, "Shhhh" he whispered calmly before he twisted quickly and jerked the head, a small pop confirming the snapped neck. He began to check the body for anything that might be to do with his mission.

(((I love it how you just completely merc'd an innocent mare XD.)))


The body was empty of anything what-so-ever. The mare had been nude, as most innocent mares are. The room she was in was a single room apartment, with a central living room, which Leo was currently in, and with singular bathroom and kitchen across from the entryway.

The room was surprisingly well furnished. A pull out bed-slash-sofa hugged the wall closest to the entryway, and faced the bookshelf on the opposite side. A small coffee table hugged the space between the two, and hosted a brightly burning kerosene lamp. Several other candles burned in the room, illuminating a patchwork rug and poster'd walls.

The kitchen was unassuming, with little to no dishes, and no running water. The bathroom was in a similar state, though a bucket had been filled with water and a sponge for washing.

(((I couldn't risk it. And failure is not an option)))




Leo checked the place thoroughly before he left. Once again he turned off all the lights. But before he left he picked up the mare, placing her on the bed before closing her eyelids. He gave a last look before heading back out in the doorway, closing the door neatly behind him. He headed for the stairs as he slowly descended, being careful of his steps as he made his way down to the next floor. As he maneuvered around the holes he was thankful that his father had gifted him the Griffon sight, without it he'd probably be stuck in a hole right now.

The trip down the stairs was uneventful. This hallway was the same as the last, but darker still for the lack of a candle at either side. The music was audible overhead through the wood- someone was playing the drums.

This hallway would be completely unremarkable, were it not for the gaping hole in its center. How the residents coped- well, a resident could tell you that opening one of the apartment doors would reveal a walk-around, a safe path created to cross the hallway without catastrophe. But the doors were all closed, and no one lived on this floor.

Leo looked at the problem in front of him. The hole created an issue and not one he could simply over look with a matter of flight. The corridor was too narrow for his wing span so he would have to find an alternate route and hopefully one that didn't create so much noise. He moved to the door left of the gaping hole and slowly but gently tested the handle, only to find it locked, 'Go figure' he thought as he raised a paw to the door. He flexed his paw as his claws revealed themselves. They weren't quite as useful and as long as a talon, but they were useful and deadly none the less. He stuck a claw into the hole and pressed his ear against the door as he slowly turned, eventually hearing that satisfying click of the bolt giving way. He pushed the door open gently, just in case something lived in here.

The room was not dark. A single candle burned alone on the floor, dripping wax in a ring around it.

This room was virtually identical to the one the Hippogriff had entered, sans the furniture or decoration. Like the one before, it possessed the singular living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Unlike the one before, it had a hole in the wall knocked out.

The hole led to another apartment, which was locked, but which also possessed a hole. In this fashion, a path through four apartments was made, connecting them so that a pony or griffon could walk past the hallway without issue.

A single griffin lurked in the final room, not a member of the group, though his allegiances weren't visible. He slumbered atop a heap of rags and towels, mildewed over in the damp.

Leo closed the door behind him again waiting for the soft click as his gaze swept the room before him. He looked down the long row of apartments and sighted the sleeping Griffon at the end, knowing the creatures race through she size and shape of the sleeping mound. He silently stepped to the candle and craned his neck down as he blew out the flame, allowing the darkness to consume him. He felt the darkness cloak him, hugging him like a friend as he moved horrifyingly silently towards the Griffon. He looked down at the sleeping creature before he extended a claw pressing it towards the creatures throat. He held it there as the Griffon would wake, ready to slice the throat and snap the neck within a second. His voice deep and smooth he said one word and one word only, "Scroll". If the creature dared to shout or do anything other then answer him, his life was forfeit.

A field of flowers and sunshine expanded in all direction, for miles on end. A crimson-groomed griffin led the way up the tower of aegis, pulling Amber besides him. Together their love had transcended death, addiction, and homelessness through the proxy of sleep. Amber was home for a short while, and the air wasn't the tepid garbage it was in real life.

She felt a disturbance at her throat- and raised a claw to scratch it.

He grabbed her talon softly with his other paw, holding it firmly as he leaned further over, his face expression void of emotion. He waited for her to wake entirely before repeating his question, perhaps softer but the same word none the less, "Scroll" he repeated as his eyes narrowed. His paw with his extended claws were still by her throat. Ready to move it any moment.

Amber slowly rose into consciousness. There was someone gripping her talon- why? And the word 'scroll'- what did it mean?

Her brain chemistry slowly shifted from asleep, to waking, and as it did she became more cognizant of her surroundings. "The scroll... is downstairs," she muttered, finding difficulty in grasping the world around her. Who was holding her talon? It felt like velvet. Velvet....

Leo suppressed the urge to sigh as she replied, giving him the answer he needed. It was bellow, which meant he was heading the right way. But also, she knew of the scroll and that meant she had to be killed, as per the contract he'd been given, "Thank you" he said softly. He retracted his claws and shifted the paw to the side of her neck as he pressed firmly, it would feel as though drifting off to sleep again, except it would be a long sleep she wouldn't wake from. He pressed harder as she drifted off before twisting and pushing, breaking the neck. He dropped her talon by her side and pulled one of the towels over her. She almost looked like she was still sleeping as he left her, once again picking his way out of the door and into the hallway on the other side of the hole.

(((Aww, Im going to cry THAT WAS TOO SWEET AND SAD. Seriously though- that was poignant.)))

The descent to the second story was without a hitch. No guards. No holes. These floors were much more structurally sound, and lit in a regular pattern, with a lamp every second door. The doors were locked, and the residents tucked away into the safety of their apartments; most definitely NOT being kittens or having knowledge of the scroll in any combination worth consideration, not in the least bit.

And so, it would serve that their were no obstructions, or young female-types to rasp "SCROOOO-OOLLL~~~," at and as such it would be a crawl through the next two stories.

The second story was another... well, it was another story. Instead of the repeated pattern of apartment after another, this story opened up into a cafeteria and public space. Three brutish griffins idled about on pillows and blankets, atop the tables. A single unicorn sat in front of them, playing merrily at keyboard-piano for their entertainment.

The stairwell opened up into this scene, making the group quite visible. The griffins, on the left, idly watching the unicorn on the right.

Leo looked down into the room, seeing the Griffons and the Unicorn. He watched for a moment, unsure how to act before a he came to a conclusion. For all any pony knew he was a resident. So what would it matter if he was seen, apart form the usual reaction society had to a Hippogriff. He made a check on positions as he began to move. He had full confidence that he could kill them if need be, but hopefully he could simply cross the room without issue, after all, he preferred to spare lives if he could help it.

(((I am forgoing the redshirt, since its distracting and annoying)))

The griffins ignored him in his entirety, half drowsy and lulled into complacency. Residents came and went. It wasn't as if their were a land-lord. If a pony or griffin wanted to live in this hell hole, the initiative lie with them.

The main room was hardly much to look at besides its occupants. The windows were boarded, though this was more of a formality than an actual defensive mechanism. On the right from the stairwell was a small spiral staircase to the level below. Unfortunately it crossed the field of vision. Would the hippogriff be detected? Probably not. The Griffins were dozing off. Sleepyheads.

The stairwell, if explored, would lead down to the first level.

The Hippogriff didn't even send a look their way as he crossed the room in plain sight. Although, he did look to the Unicorn giving a curt nod as he passed. Little known to most but Leo had a distinct appreciation for music. He reached the stairs and began his decent to the final flaw. 'Time to wrap this up' he thought to himself as his paws touched down off the final step.

The first floor presented itself as a hallway leading towards the front entrance of the building. On both sides of the hallways were offices- a security booth to the left, and a managers office to the right.

Lights flickered out from either room, and audible speaking could be heard from both doors.

Leo stepped forward carefully and silently. He took the initiative and took out all the lights in the hall once again, in case one of the door opened while his back was turned. That way if something were to come out the door behind him, he would have an extra second as their eyes adjusted before he could react. He moved over to the left door first, pressing his ear close to listen in.

Two voices spoke from behind the door. One, a senior, was receiving a lecture on 'tact' by the lesser of the two.

"-And what do you want us to do with him? Hmm? The rebels aren't buying as much as we need them to, and you know what that means! No bribes! No bribes, and we got nothing. The Guerrillas will be at our door in an evening, we'll be dead in a ditch somewhere, and what's worse? YOU WANT US TO KILL HIM!"

*muffled slap*

"Get out-"

"But!-"

"LEAVE."

The lesser made an scramble to leave the room.

Leo powered his legs as he pushed off the floor with all his strength. He reached near the ceiling and stuck his hind legs and forelegs out as he hid himself in the darkness. He curled his tail close, looking down as the door opened. He would wait for whoever was by the door to come out before returning to his mission. He was after the Scroll, and every creature that knew about it. As the door opened and closed, sealing them in darkness he dropped behind his prey before smashing a powerful hoof into the creatures back, right between the shoulder blades. The force broke the spine with ease, killing the creature fast and silently. He let the body fall into his arms and took it of towards the stairs before returning.

He moved back and before proceeding with his plan to take out the rest, he moved to the other door and listened. Wondering if there was anything he needed to know from this side.

(((I love how the other door becomes urgent now, forcing me to describe what's happening in both rooms at once.)))

From the other side of the door- a quaint, muffled screaming. Then, an audible voice.

"Shutup!" a hoarse griffin voice called.

*thump, thump*

More screaming still, and then the screaming becomes inexplicably louder.

*crack, crack*

The screaming stopped, followed by a loud sound of a door slamming from within.

Leo moved away and turned to the previous door, feeling it might be more promising. He balled one of his paws and knocked hard twice. He would wait for an answer before moving inside. If he was lucky the creature inside would come and open it himself. If he wasn't, then he would need to get creative, and that usually involved claws, a throat and exercising some combat skill. But if worst comes to worst, he can-... wait a minute. Leo looked back down the hall and went to retrieve the body. He brought it back to the door and knocked again.

The griffin inside stirred. "What? What is it?" he yelled to the hippogriff. The griffin stomped to the door, repeating his question louder. "What is it?!"

The door opened wide, revealing a griffin whose eyes were stunned by the difference in light. "Donni, what's wrong?"

Leo threw the body into the Griffon, allowing the weight of the body to push him off his feet as he neatly closed the door behind him. He walked over to the Griffon and looked down as he struggled under the body. He pressed a paw down on his throat as he looked down with his orange eyes, "Scroll" he said simply ans gave a firm push to exaggerate his intention for misbehavior.

The griffin was not having any of this. He pushed off against the weight with sufficient strength to lift the dead weight and heave it onto the wall.

The ashen griffin then siezed a nearby table leg, heaving the table at the griffin like a club.

(((I am imagining in the initial shove that he has pushed you off of him enough to get moving room.)))

Leo sighed to himself, 'Why do all Gryphons have to be such hard asses' he thought as the table swung towards him. He jumped forward kicking into the table and using the momentum of the kick to throw him back towards the wall next to the door. He kicked off the wall behind him as he did so and powered a paw strike straight to the chest. The hit, should it land would be staggering and would easily break the creatures ribs. Should he miss, then he would simply move close and begin with a flurry of blows. But one thing was for sure, that table wouldn't get a second chance at him.

The pack leader of the griffin defectors was no push over in a brawl. He took the blow to his chest, but he was easily several times as heavy as the hippogriff and merely had his breath taken from him. The griffin shoved the hippogriff and backed to the corner.

In the same maneuver, he began to spin, revealing tiny blades tucked away and secured within the feathers of his wings. As he performed his spin, the blades projected outwards and performed a raking motion at the hippogriff.

Leo mentally sighed again. Of course.. of course he had to be the most annoying, biggest, toughest-... oh look, blades in the wings.

Leo might have been lighter and for once, less strong then his opponent, but goddesses help him if he wasn't faster. He ducked dodged and slammed away the blades with his paw cuffs as he waited, simply allowing the brute to tire himself out enough to make an opening. When he would find one, he would leap and began smashing blows directly for the Griffons head, once he moved to stop him, he'd move back and repeat. Again and again until this Griffon couldn't stand. 'Time to go down big guy' he mentally thought as he rose and slammed his paw right into the beak with as much force as he could generate.

The blow struck true, sending the griffin reeling back, face bloodied. All this did was enrage him further, having cracked the bony plate of his beak. "FUUUU-UUCK YOU!-" the griffin shrieked, again grabbing a nearby piece of furniture in both talons, swinging it like a mad berserker.

The door flew open, revealing the griffin from across the hall who had heard the commotion. He took one look inside and turned about to race upstairs.

Leo blocked the first hit with a tensed arm and immediately regretted it as pain shot through his side from the impact. Since then he did his best to keep away from it, ducking, diving and rolling as best he could. He saw the Griffon enter and leave out of his peripheral vision and silently cursed, things were starting to get loud. He concentrated on his opponent as he once again went in on the offensive. He would wait for the brute to throw another blow towards him before stepping forth and back inside the range of the instrument he wielded. He began throwing another flurry of blows towards the face and head. If he could dig himself an opening, he would deliver a final slash to the throat. From there he would then need to chase down that other Griffin... but first thing first.

Leo ducked under a blow before he stepped forth, throwing five staggeringly fast blows towards the brutes face.

One of the blows struck the damaged beak of the alpha griffin, smashing it and shoving it into his braincase. The griffin staggered backwards, crashing into the wall and toppling onto the floor. Blood seeped from his head profusely, forming a large ring of crimson in moments.

The room was a mess of completely destroyed furniture, and a hole had literally been torn into the wall from the carnage. A red streak painted the walls where the griffin had collapsed.

From above, several rowdy griffins rose up, and began preparations.

He held his stance for a few moments longer as he watched the Griffon fall. He sighed as he stood straight once more, hearing the commotion upstairs but not caring for it at that moment. He checked the body for the Scroll, patting down his armor as he searched. He picked up a few of his blades too, knowing they'd be useful when the others arrived.

The other griffons had anticipated the attack to a degree, and began systematically closing off the stair well. Shoving massive tables and couches in annoying places proved an effective barrier to ascent. The griffins weren't done though. They had seized up arms, and made makeshift barricades out of the tables. Some of them drew bows, anticipating anything at this point.

From the room across the hall from the hippogriff, a muffled scream was heard.

Leo's ear flickered that the muffle cry across the hall. He stood up from searching the body and looked across into the second room. Not chancing getting spears thrown at him, he took a run up before he jumped across the hall and into the next room, smashing through the door and taking it off it's hinges as he arrived on the other side.

The room was a massive arsenal of armor, spears and blades. Lying along the wall like stripes stood forty or so fifteen-foot long pikes, placed horizontally along improvised brackets. Shields lined the base-boards, forming overlapping scales. And bundled in the corner was a large roll of blades- both Griffin Kingdom and improvised. In the center of the room, a long table had been made from two square ones, and held atop it seven bows, and thirteen quivers full of arrows. Lining the legs of the table were heavy metal cuirasses, though only about four- they had been clearly made with griffin anatomy in mind, and probably served these defectors.

Beyond the weapons, nothing and no one was in the room, save for a closet door in the corner. Another muffled cry came from the door.

Leo stared at the weaponry before him. 'Must be my birthday' he thought to himself as he picked up a Crossbow and slung the strap around his arm. He picked up a quiver of bolts to go with it before he made his way to the closet, where the sound was coming from. He aimed the Crossbow as he pulled the door back, ready to shoot if he had to.