Black Dog Finale:
For a moment, you thought it was the end. Your entire life flashed, at least for a second, before your very eyes and memories that you had long forgotten. A small memory of Grandfather, smiling at you, on his deathbed.
"Ho ho ho." He had whispered. "Remember my dear boy, a Schnee is not only brave, but they understand that it is okay to ask for help."
"Than why aren't you?" You asked.
"Because I already have. I will always be there for you when you need it."
And you fell to your knees and shouted. "Grandfather, if you can hear me! Please Help!"
"There is no help here boy!" Marcus proclaimed as he leveled his rifle. "Only death!"
"HO HO HO!" You almost collapsed in joy as you heard those very words. And you saw the Red sled, being hauled by Raindeer, just like Grandfathers stories. A white and blue cacophony of the stories you had heard from him, where he braved a blizzard to bring dust to a mining outpost that was snowed in. it was a summon. It was a beautiful summon, that you knew you did not bring up. At least knowingly.
It then flew overhead again, before you saw a red coat in the light, bells ringing as he landed into the ground.
And he was just how you remembered in your dreams. Taller, with a great white beard, and his red nose seemingly covered in Burn dust to keep him warm. He was a bit rounder than you thought he was, and he was not just carrying a sword, he was carrying a bag, a giant bag you knew from the stories.
A Bag of dust, where he used to make deliveries when the SDC could not afford dedicated delivery drivers, and airships. When it was just one man trying his best to save his legacy.
His red jacket smelled of peppermint, just like he always liked it.
"What did you do!" Marcus shouted as he aimed at you.
"Oh come you little shit, there is no way you are going to come and hurt my grandson now, not when you have some business that I need to finish with you." Nicholas Schnee hefted his bag for a moment before he came over to you. "Hello little Whitley, you've grown!"
"Uh… Did I-"
"In some sense, yes, but the weak point where this magic exists has seemed to bring a little bit more out of this summon than it might have otherwise. You would have never been able to summon me otherwise," Nick replied. "And good on you for putting the advice I gave you about making your own way in life… if not in the execution of such a thing. Why the hell would you take a mission hunting a dangerous criminal, why not do something safer, like finding a dust mine!"
A shot fired and you flinched, watching the bullet fall off his coats, and your grandfather just taking a small breath. "May I have my sword, please, I have a pest that needs dealing with. And find some cover, this may get messy."
You nodded as your grandfather held the Sword with practiced ease. "Take cover everyone!" You ordered as you all ran behind some trailer.
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Nicholas Schnee took a moment to feel a great deal of pain. Not only in his regrets, but for his Grandson needing to leave his home because he should have been…
No, no time for regrets.
This piece of coal… this trash was going to die, and then, he could make up for the lost time. If only for a moment.
He held his sword with one hand and studied the rifleman. He was not accustomed to fighting close quarters. No. He was going to need to get in close contact with him, or he might maintain the advantage.
The First strike:
D100 + 250 => 338 vs
D100 + 100 => 139
Nicholas, despite his great size, moved with grace, as he felt the man take aim, jumping from step to step as he moved, the bullets missing as he continued to bound closer.
Anger was on the man's face, and Nicholas knew he had his opening strike. The only strike that was needed for the victory to be secured.
And for a brief moment, there was silence, as Nicholas had the blade to the neck of this despicable waste of a human being, and he fell to his knees.
"Well, get on with it." Marcus black gloated. "Hurry up and kill me."
"Not even a moment to try and beg." He asked confusion marking time as he held it tighter on his neck.
"It won't be any worse than hell," Marcus stated. "And hell is a cold place."
"Not colder than life." Nicholas mused, but he granted the request anyway.
His sword, once again, ran red with blood.
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"Holy shit." Emerald proclaimed as they saw the near excellent display of combat on full display, as your Grandfather just ended an assassin with just one move. "Your grandfather's a badass."
"I know," you whispered in awe as you all walked out to reveal yourselves to him. Your grandfather for his part merely looked at you all with a happy smile.
"Good, you all took cover, I thought it was going to be worse than it was." He responded.
"Well, we thought it was going to be," Mercury stated. "You alright?"
"I'm dead boy, I've very much alright. Especially getting to see my grandson again." He whispered. "Ho ho ho."
"How is this possible?" Adam asked as Pyrrha looked at the disappearing caravan and camp.
"Uh guys, the place is disappearing!" She shouted.
Grandfather nodded. "Onto the Sleigh quickly! Rudolph!"
The head reindeer made a noise and the other reindeer prepared, as you all clambered aboard the Sleigh.
And you began flying. "Flying reindeer?" Adam sounded gobsmacked.
"Oh, my old friends are a bit more magical than they appear. All reindeer are if you know where to look." Grandfather shouted. "Now hold on, it's about to get bumpy!"
And with the sound of bells and reindeer, you began flying.
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You were on the outskirts of Argus when you landed, and Your Grandfather began to fade away. "Ah… it seems my time back is coming to an end." He stated. "I hope you have had a magical evening."
"Thank you for saving us." Pyrrha stated as she climbed off.
"Oh, it is nothing, my dear. I remember an old celebration of the winter solstice when I was a boy that my mother used to celebrate with me. Yuletide, and the coming of the Solstice." He replied. "She always told stories of great and powerful magics that still exist in the world today, where one must look beyond is possible. HO ho ho!"
Grandfather then smiled. "And it always came with the bearing of gifts.
He looked to Mercury. "My boy, I cannot give you back the use of your legs, but I can give you this." He held out a small… glowing piece, that seemed to be a part of Mercury, that had been torn away. "I hope you remember what it feels like. To be whole again."
Mercury took a deep breath and glowed quicksilver and gold. Before he just… smiled. "I… never thought-"
"You have, and you shall." He said, before turning to Emerald. "My dear, you seem suspicious of why I give a gift expecting nothing in return?"
"You're dead, why would you care?" She asked.
"Ho ho ho!" He then tapped her shoulder, before revealing… a sandwich from his sack? "Honey mustard, beef, turkey, and Salami, with melted cheese and toasted bread."
"Wait he gets his semblance back and I get a sandwich, that seems unfair!" Emerald protested.
Grandfather laughed. "Perhaps you should realize it's not the sandwich that you have, but of good friends that will help you, no matter what the obstacle is? And the greatest gift one can have is Friendship."
Emerald huffed. "I wanted something cool."
You patted her back. "I'll get you something nice."
Emerald didn't seem much better, but you knew that there was something you could do for her eventually.
Pyrrha was next, and for a moment you thought he was going to be cryptic. Instead, he handed over a shirt of… Chainmail?
"Not all enemies will fight with metal, and you must be prepared for any eventuality. Where your powers will not be a help." He stated.
"Thank you." She replied, accepting the gift with grace.
Adam looked at your grandfather. "Life has not been kind to you my boy." it was a statement of fact.
"It hasn't," Adam stated.
"You have every right to hate me, and mine for my son in laws actions. But you don't."
Adam nodded. "Whitley is not like his father. He's more like you."
"Ho ho ho. A complement for the ages. Thank you for those words." Grandfather then pulled out a banner. The old white Fang Banner. "Never forget what you are fighting for. And always remember their others who will help you not lose your way.
Finally, he turned to you. "Tell me, Whitley, the sword has chosen you?"
"I don't know." You asked.
"Than it has, it will always help the wielder that is worthy of it. If you were not, it would not have helped you so far." He then held out the sword, and Winters Fulch… became lighter. You could hold it in one hand, without even breaking a sweat. No effort.
"How?"
"An old man's tricks." He stated. "Be well my boy, and give your mother my love." There were tears in his eyes. "And if you can, celebrate life and each other, for you are all comrades who are more alike than you dare know. You all deserve so much."
And then he flew, rising above the sky, and vanishing into the night.
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Adventure Successful!
Reward: Marcus Black has been dealt with, Gain 200,000 Lien due to a lack of a body to give to authorities.
Santa has bore gifts for the crew.
Mercury Black has joined Frostbite Solutions.
New Actions are available.
Winters Fulch can now be used by Whitley with no penalty.
AN: Enjoy.