Time Incarnate

[Eldrin/Vai]

Eldrin ran stealthily across the rooftops, leaping easily from one to the other, his feet making little to no sound. He wore a brilliant white tunic with black pants, flowing behind him was a black cape with a fancy design of gold vines growing across it. The soles of his boots were outfitted with small spikes to provide better grip. Close in front of him a hooded figure sprinted, his white robes fluttered in the strong winds. The hood of the robes was black along with a stripe down the center of its back and around the hem of the robes. Despite his hindering attire, the man was managing to barely keep ahead of Eldrin. Eldrin looked up to see that the destination of the man was obviously Clock Tower. He smiled and, rather than jumping to the next rooftop, ran straight off the side of the building and fell into the alley below.

The Father looked back and, seeing no sign of the thief, slowed his pace. "I'm getting far too old for this kind of thing," He thought as the pain in his joints became ever more prevalent. He jumped one last time, this time off of the building and onto the street in front of Clock Tower. He took a moment to catch his breath in the shadows of the building before emerging. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the thief standing between him and the tower.

Eldrin smiled, "Sorry Pops, I'm not that easy too get rid of, now give it back." He said, holding out his hand expectantly.

The Father smiled back and removed his hood, revealing his old, wrinkled face. "I'm sorry child, but the Timepiece belongs to me," He replied, his voice was hoarse and raspy. He raised his hand to reveal the golden pocketwatch, gleaming slightly in the moonlight.

Eldrin growled, "No! I stole it fair and square!" He charged at the man, flames covering his right hand as he ran.

The Father chuckled, "Fool," He muttered. He opened the pocketwatch, a blinding golden light shined from inside, drawing the thief's gaze.

Seconds later, Eldrin was on his hands and knees, the fire was extinguished and a small puddle of blood was slowly spreading from between his hands. More blood trickled down his chin from the corner of his mouth. He was unsure of what had happened or why he was coughing up blood. All he was sure of was that he felt intense pain in his stomach, and the old man was laughing grimly nearby.

The Father stood in front of Eldrin, his laughter slowly dying away. "Attacking me is futile, my child. I am protected by time incarnate." He turned to the man standing at his right, a fairly tall man wearing a black leather overcoat. One of his eyes was black as obsidian, and the other had the appearance of liquid gold. A line of the same color ran down his cheek from this eye like a golden tear. "End him, Aeon," The Father commanded. The man stepped forward, pulling two bladed poles from their place on his back and connecting them at their ends to make a long, double-bladed spear.

"Yes, Father."

[Mike/Garen]

Garen patroled the rooftops, keeping an eye out for anything bizarre. He found something, Eldrin about to be killed. Although knowing him for a short time, he jumped in to assist. Garen pulled out his axe, raised it over his head and with an overhand throw, chucked his axe with a spin. The blade dug into the handle of the spear, knocking it out of Aeon's hands. Then, quickly rushed to the scene and pulled out his short sword. He closed the gap between Eldrin and Aeon. "Now what's this all about?" He asked calmly.

[Eldrin/Vai]

Aeon caught the spear before it hit the ground, moving inhumanly fast. He was nothing but a blur moving toward the spear, then back before anyone could blink. He removed the axe from his spear, but did not return it.

Eldrin smiled and looked the Father in the eye. "Thanks, Garen..." He said, struggling to his feet, he wiped the blood from his chin, staining his sleeve with a streak of red. For a moment he stood by Garen's side, but then he was struck by another debilitating coughing fit.

The Father smiled kindly at Garen. "This brigand was attempting to mug me. My servant moved to dispatch the threat." He said in a reasonable voice. "I believe the law is on my side?"

[Argoth/Maximus]

"Then you must not know the law around here, pops." Argoth said strolling up from behind him, "Around here, we pretty much are the law. And Eldrin here, is of no threat to society. Plus, he is good friend of ours, so letting you kill him isn't going to fly." Argoth withdrew his blade from his back and rested the tip on the ground, propping his weight on it to hold himself up.

"Ditto," Valdor chimed in, landing next to Garen. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the old man.

[Eldrin/Vai]

The corner of the Father's mouth twitched, killing this many people would be messy. And would draw far too much attention. Not to mention with so many enemy combatants the chances of one of them turning to attack him would be high. But, on the other hand: The thief had acted against him. An offense that was simply unforgivable. If these men supported him, they were accomplices. In addition, if these men were truly the law in this area as the one had claimed, then they would have to be fairly powerful. Potential candidates could not be overlooked.

Eldrin recovered from his coughing fit and looked at The Father, blood once again running down his chin. "Watch this, guy. He's got some weird powers." He told the others, nodding at Aeon.

After moments of thought The Father came to a conclusion. "Aeon, kill them all, slowly." The survivors, if there were any, would be candidates. The Father replaced his hood and faded into the shadows, so that he would not be in Aeon's way.

Aeon stared at his four enemies for a moment, assessing their capabilities. Then he spoke, "I should warn you, it would be best to run now." He hurled Garen's axe, sending it whirling rapidly at Argoth's head. Before the axe had even reached Argoth, Aeon turned threw spear at Garen with all his considerable might, and ran at Valdor. Moving too fast to be fully comprehended he struck Valdor with three kicks to the abdomen, then landed a punch directly to Eldrin's face. Eldrin flew backward across the street, blood spurting from his broken nose. As his control of time faded he spun to face his other three enemies. If he was correct in assuming, about ten seconds had past from their perspective

[Azrael/Iris]

Suddenly, an invisible force had grabbed Eldrin before he hit a building or something.
"I don't think the laws of time affect the Dead.."A voice said from the shadows, the figure stepped forward and revealed his identity...Azrael.

[Eldrin/Vai]

Eldrin lay unconscious where spirit left him. Blood flowed steadily from his nose and his breathing was ragged and forced.

Aeon calmly turned to see his newest opponent, "You are correct, they do not. The dead exist in a realm outside of time," He replied, his voice monotone. "Shall I kill this man also, Father?" Aeon asked the Father.

The Father glanced at the newcomer. Powers over the dead would be great assets in a candidate. "Yes, execute him. But to accommodate with his apparent immunity to your time manipulation, I revoke my previous command. Kill them all immediately, don't toy with them."

Aeon nodded respectfully, "Yes, Father"

[Argoth/Maximus]

The ax whipped by his head as he dodged, and just before it had fully passed him, he snatched it right from the air. Argoth reacted just in time; the ax had nearly lopped his head from his shoulders. He turned toward Aeon, who by this pont was kicking Valdor in the stomach.

Valdor took all three kicks full on. The force at which the kicks were deployed sent him speeding backward. Blood spattered from his mouth as the world around him sped by. But before Valdor had crashed through the same building Eldrin almost did, he stopped himself with his kinesis. He blocked the pain from his mind and began walking toward Aeon. He raised his left hand and released bursts of telekinetic energy straight at him. The blasts expanded on thier way down, making it harder to avoid them.

Argoth dropped the ax and withrdrew his bow. He strung up a poison arrow and released it toward The Father. Argoth aimed for his neck, but just to knick it, making it seemed like he missed so the poison would kill him.

[Mike/Garen]

Garen cought the spear by the handle, the tip an inch from his face. He twirled it and sent it flying back to its owner blade first. He picked up his axe and sheathed it on his back. With his short sword, he jumped up high and stabbed his sword downward towards Aeon's eye.

[Eldrin/Vai]

Aeon's eye and tattoo began to glow again as time slowed down again. Closing his normal eye, he walked over and grabbed his spear as it slowly flew at him. Taking his time, he examined the trajectory of Garen's attack. My eye? Does he know? Of course not, pure coincidence, He thought. Aeon jumped into the air, over Garen (who was now falling so slowly it seemed more like he was floating), and front-flipped as he passed over, bringing his foot down on the Garen's back in a heel-kick, sending him straight into the range of Valdor telekinetic blasts. Still in midair, he threw half of his spear, aiming for Argoth's neck. As soon as he landed he charged at Azrael, allowing time to return to normal, there was no need for it against this opponent. Aeon aimed a stab at Azrael's gut with the half of his spear he had retained.

The Father didn't even try to dodge, his sharp eyes predicted the destination of the arrow to be off. The arrow sank into the wall behind him, still quivering. He scoffed, it had cut him, but not even enough to draw blood.

[Azrael/Iris]

Azrael drew his blade in his right and quickly threw a couple of kunai at both The Father and Aeon and leapt above Aeon and made jumping attack motion while the Kunai were just ahead of him. "No way for him to dodge this.."He thought, smiling on the inside. Yet...he felt as though something would happen, he knew of this man's time powers. Would the power of the Dead be enough?

[Mike/Garen]

All of a sudden, Garen flew downward and pain erupted in his back. The blasts Valdor shot had impacted Garen, adding more pain, and he was sent flying into the building opposite of Eldrin. He burst through the wall, causing even more pain, with a loud crash. Dazed and confused, he pulled himself out of the rubble he created. "What the hell just happened?" Garen asked aloud angry. He thought for a few seconds then came to a conclusion. "Ah damn." He muttered. "He's using his powers of time! Don't sent out too many attacks at him all at once or he'll slow time and use them against each other. Don't fall for his tricks!" Garen called to the others. He contemplated on his next move.

[Argoth/Maximus]

Valdor's eyes widened as he saw Garen hurtling toward him. The telekinetic blasts would send Garen into the nearest building, probably breaking several bones and rendering him useless. Valdor could not react in time to save Garen from being struck. He cringed a little bit as he saw Garen get whipped into a building.

Argoth swatted the spear out of the air with the flat side of his hand. He scoffed at it as is plunged into the earth near his feet. "You call that a throw?" He mocked, shaking his head. He returned his focus to The Father. The arrow had done its job; a small fine line spread across The Father's neck. Argoth smiled, Hopefully he isn't immune to poisons. He should be dead within the next thirty seconds, he thought. Argoth kicked the spear aside and picked up his sword. Casually, Argoth began strolling over to The Father; but not without caution.

[Mike/Garen]

(Argoth, I already posted that Garen was hit by the blasts and flung into the building on the opposite side of the street. Modify your last post.)

[Eldrin/Vai]

Realization spread across The Father's face as Argoth approached. An archer closing the distance? Preposterous! There had to be a catch. Then he realized: Poison. His hand rose to the small slit across the side of his neck. In a frenzy he knocked two of Azrael's kunai out of the air and caught a third by the ring at the end. He turned and ran at Argoth at an incredible speed for his age. If he was going to die, at least he would take his killer with. He slashed viciously at Argoth's throat with the kunai just as pain exploded in his heart.

Aeon's eye glowed and the kunai stopped just short of him, then he jumped at Azrael, parrying the attack in midair. The force of the collision of their weapons caused them both to be knocked back. Aeon landed on his feet and released time again. The kunai continued flying, now heading straight at Valdor. "As soon as a weapon leaves your hand it loses the benefit of your immunity and becomes subject to the altered time." Aeon explained, watching Azrael.

Eldrin shifted with a groan. His eyes slowly cracked open, taking in the scene. He forced himself into a sitting position, then finally standing. He had to act, he couldn't do much, but it seemed like his friends could use all the help they could get.