Post by vastrix on Feb 20, 2023 1:57:53 GMT -5
Generations ago, Armand von Krauss stands upon the prow of an English sailing vessel. He and Esmeralda von Krauss (they were using these names by now) had chartered a ship to follow the Koreshes to the new world to try to make peace with them and reunite them with the Krimson Kharnival. He opens a small golden box with powdered tobacco in it. He takes a pinch of it and brings it to his nose so that he can snort it. He closes the box and puts it in an inside pocket. He wears the latest expensive Prussian finery as if he were nobility in the Holy Roman Empire. Esmeralda von Krauss walks over to stand by him as they survey the distant waters as if they could see the Colonies where they will ply their trade in souls and sanity for their macabre entertainment.
There is the sound of a firearm being drawn and the hammer being drawn back into place to fire. Armand turns around to see that Captain Eugene Silas and several of his crew have weapons drawn.
Eugene Silas: We’ll take your valuables and sell you freaks off to the highest bidder. In the meantime, hand over your valuables, if you please.
Armand regards the English Captain and takes out his box of powdered tobacco. He does another pinch and holds it open so that Esmeralda can take a pinch to snort. She shivers when the nicotine hits her system and smiles.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I think my husband is searching for the right word to say in this instance. He means to say…no.
Captain Silas raises an eyebrow with the gun still pointed at Armand.
Eugene Silas: Does he know that I will kill him?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Please, there are seven of you. Only one of you is armed with a firearm and the rest with daggers. This is hardly worth the effort for my husband to slay you all when you are the ones skilled in moving this vessel to the New World. Think about this with care, dahling. Do you want to die on this day?
Eugene Silas: You do realize that I am the one holding the weapon?
Esmeralda von Krauss: We hold all of the cards, dahling. Don’t kid yourself. Surrender or die.
Eugene scratches his head with the barrel of the handgun before pointing it at Armand again.
Eugene Silas: Fuck it. We can get valuables off a dead body.
Eugene takes aim at Armand, who simply stands still to be shot. Esmeralda moves swiftly, sending an upholstery needle into the butt of the palm of his firing hand and into his wrist so that he drops the firearm to the deck. He holds his wrist and roars in pain.
Eugene Silas: Kill them both!
Armand von Krauss gets into a defensive fighting stance, but Esmeralda is already moving. She grabs the nearest Englishman by the wrist that is holding the dagger and crushes his throat with a palm strike. As he gurgles his life away, she uses the now limp arm to stab another sailor in the chin with the dagger being long enough to pierce the man’s brain. She flips over another sailor rushing at her to face another. She rings back her elbow to crack the man she jumped over in the back of the neck so hard that it breaks and then thrusts her hand through the chest of the sailor in front of her so that she can grab another sailor by the wrist and bend his arm so that he stabs himself in the heart. She rips her arm out of the sailor and looks at the final sailor who has a dagger in hand.
He drops the dagger and jumps overboard, despite the fact that they are over a hundred miles from shore. Esmeralda looks at the disarmed Captain Eugene Silas with blood covering her right side that is not her own.
Armand von Krauss: Will you surrender now? Or, will my wonderful wife continue her grisly work?
Eugene Silas looks from Armand to Esmeralda, certain of whom he should be afraid of more. He drops to his knees, letting his Captain hat fall to the deck.
Eugene Silas: We will make sure that you and your circus make it to the New World. I apologize for the attempted robbery and murder.
Armand walks over to place a hand on the shoulder of Captain Silas.
Armand von Krauss: Where is your first officer?
Eugene Silas: Kain Delgado? He’s watching this through the window in case things went sour. He could then take command.
Armand von Krauss: Have him come out.
Kain Delgado walks out from the Captain’s Quarters.He appears nervous and has his hand on his own firearm.
Armand von Krauss: I have forgiven Captain Silas. Will you be able to bring us to the New World without further incident?
Kain Delgado: I’m sure that Cap-
Armand grabs Eugene Silas by the head and snaps his neck.
Armand von Krauss: All hail Captain Kain Delgado.
Today. Armand von Krauss stands in his observation deck with an Egyptian cigarette hanging between his lips.
Armand von Krauss: What was that story? It was to show that we will take no flak. We will suffer no fool. If you seek to betray or defeat us, we will show you our true power and finish you off. I know that this match is but an appetizer. A show to see who will come out of the Elimination Chamber last. I will be that man. I will be the one who comes out through the end of all of this as a champion.
Armand flicks ashes onto the floor.
Armand von Krauss: I would go through each of you, but why? Maybe for another day if time permits. Just know that I will crush each of you in the same way I crushed Silas.
To victory.
There is the sound of a firearm being drawn and the hammer being drawn back into place to fire. Armand turns around to see that Captain Eugene Silas and several of his crew have weapons drawn.
Eugene Silas: We’ll take your valuables and sell you freaks off to the highest bidder. In the meantime, hand over your valuables, if you please.
Armand regards the English Captain and takes out his box of powdered tobacco. He does another pinch and holds it open so that Esmeralda can take a pinch to snort. She shivers when the nicotine hits her system and smiles.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I think my husband is searching for the right word to say in this instance. He means to say…no.
Captain Silas raises an eyebrow with the gun still pointed at Armand.
Eugene Silas: Does he know that I will kill him?
Esmeralda von Krauss: Please, there are seven of you. Only one of you is armed with a firearm and the rest with daggers. This is hardly worth the effort for my husband to slay you all when you are the ones skilled in moving this vessel to the New World. Think about this with care, dahling. Do you want to die on this day?
Eugene Silas: You do realize that I am the one holding the weapon?
Esmeralda von Krauss: We hold all of the cards, dahling. Don’t kid yourself. Surrender or die.
Eugene scratches his head with the barrel of the handgun before pointing it at Armand again.
Eugene Silas: Fuck it. We can get valuables off a dead body.
Eugene takes aim at Armand, who simply stands still to be shot. Esmeralda moves swiftly, sending an upholstery needle into the butt of the palm of his firing hand and into his wrist so that he drops the firearm to the deck. He holds his wrist and roars in pain.
Eugene Silas: Kill them both!
Armand von Krauss gets into a defensive fighting stance, but Esmeralda is already moving. She grabs the nearest Englishman by the wrist that is holding the dagger and crushes his throat with a palm strike. As he gurgles his life away, she uses the now limp arm to stab another sailor in the chin with the dagger being long enough to pierce the man’s brain. She flips over another sailor rushing at her to face another. She rings back her elbow to crack the man she jumped over in the back of the neck so hard that it breaks and then thrusts her hand through the chest of the sailor in front of her so that she can grab another sailor by the wrist and bend his arm so that he stabs himself in the heart. She rips her arm out of the sailor and looks at the final sailor who has a dagger in hand.
He drops the dagger and jumps overboard, despite the fact that they are over a hundred miles from shore. Esmeralda looks at the disarmed Captain Eugene Silas with blood covering her right side that is not her own.
Armand von Krauss: Will you surrender now? Or, will my wonderful wife continue her grisly work?
Eugene Silas looks from Armand to Esmeralda, certain of whom he should be afraid of more. He drops to his knees, letting his Captain hat fall to the deck.
Eugene Silas: We will make sure that you and your circus make it to the New World. I apologize for the attempted robbery and murder.
Armand walks over to place a hand on the shoulder of Captain Silas.
Armand von Krauss: Where is your first officer?
Eugene Silas: Kain Delgado? He’s watching this through the window in case things went sour. He could then take command.
Armand von Krauss: Have him come out.
Kain Delgado walks out from the Captain’s Quarters.He appears nervous and has his hand on his own firearm.
Armand von Krauss: I have forgiven Captain Silas. Will you be able to bring us to the New World without further incident?
Kain Delgado: I’m sure that Cap-
Armand grabs Eugene Silas by the head and snaps his neck.
Armand von Krauss: All hail Captain Kain Delgado.
Today. Armand von Krauss stands in his observation deck with an Egyptian cigarette hanging between his lips.
Armand von Krauss: What was that story? It was to show that we will take no flak. We will suffer no fool. If you seek to betray or defeat us, we will show you our true power and finish you off. I know that this match is but an appetizer. A show to see who will come out of the Elimination Chamber last. I will be that man. I will be the one who comes out through the end of all of this as a champion.
Armand flicks ashes onto the floor.
Armand von Krauss: I would go through each of you, but why? Maybe for another day if time permits. Just know that I will crush each of you in the same way I crushed Silas.
To victory.
