Family Business

[hammerofhell]

Hans had sent the servants away, down the to village, so that they would no have to bear witness to what was to come.  His first impulse had, of course, been to send Ingrid as well, but he ultimately decided that she was likely safer with himself, Ali, and Samus there as protection.  Far better she be in their company, even with the possibility of

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[onemorebounty]

*Samus is pleased with her assessment of the castle's defenses; whoever originally built it had done so with defense in mind. She has a number of concerns, though, as defense isn't usually her game.*

We should move the claw, I think, to somewhere completely outside his reach. Ideally, someplace accessible only through the Nexus. We'll still defend this place as though it were here, but if everything goes wrong and he wins, it will at least be a hollow victory.

*It's a morbid thought, but that tends to be the way she plans--arrange things so the worst possible outcome will still give you something of a win, and build on that.*

And I'm going to need to know what kind of limit on firepower we have to work with.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali has listened to them both, looking vaguely unfocused. Her own preparations are not of the sort they can usually ken.

"I think," she answers slowly, as if moving back into the reality of the conversation was like swimming through molasses, "we should have him inside the castle before we attack. Outside, and he can flee. We can trap him in here.

"And I agree with Samus. We should move the Claw."

[hammerofhell]

"Ballistics are the order of the day, for myself as least," he says. "It is unlikely Anton will bring anything more advanced. Rifles perhaps, or bombs, but nothing much more than that.

"...It is not necessarily weapons of that nature we will have to worry about. He may well have acquired other occult devices in his time since I saw him last."

Hans nods. "You are correct. We will see to that forthwith. I placed it in the deepest, most inaccessible dungeon of the castle--long disused for any other purpose, of course--but even that runs the risk of it being taken."

[onemorebounty]

*Ballistics? Some of her enthusiasm ebbs; that leaves out most of her options, and the ones remaining would probably make too many holes in the walls to be worth it. She's going to have to restrict herself to close-in work, it seems.*

Ali's right, we should try to trap him. Where's the best place in the castle for an ambush? And where should we send the Claw?

[hammerofhell]

There were several books, one small raven statue, a black bladed dagger, a ring with a black gemstone, and a few small amulets.

Hans busies himself checking his ammunition. Even if he is not going to try and be out of the way, he would prefer that his weapons be at the ready. He hands one to Ingrid. "For your own protection. If it comes down to it."

Their father had taught her enough to protect herself, determine that his children would all be able to take care of themselves if need be.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus stalks back into the great hall from one of the adjoining corridors, dressed now in a charcoal-gray garment reminiscent of her vacsuits, a harness accentuating her hunter's physique and carrying no shortage of knives and less definable implements. Her hands are left bare, one of them wrapped around the haft of a spear she carries over her shoulder (its business end shrouded in a silk-lined sheath for the nonce), the other holding a bulky duffel. Her feet are clad in armored boots that come up to the knee, and seem perhaps to have small circular vents in their heels and the backs of the calves. Her gaze moves quickly from Hans and Ali to Ingrid, then the Clutter of Doom.*

...what did I miss?

[vicioussweetie]

Ali? Does not look like her bullet-proof suit fits so well anymore. She'll be very glad to get it off. But she can still move, which is the important part, and right now she's busy looking (and being) more worried about the pile of stuff than the way anything fits.

"It seems the family's been collecting all sorts of interesting things over the years. We're going to have to burn the books. Necronomicons are never good things, and neither is anything written by demons. Don't ask about the other one."

[hammerofhell]

Hans nods. "A few other items of interest that my sister brought to our attention as needing to be kept away from our cousin," he explains.

If Ingrid is surprised by any of these recent turns of events, she doesn't show it. "I am quite ashamed to admit that we have been collecting these things. I cannot imagine what our ancestors saw in them."