Ghost Demon walked towards the War Dog district. The gates were closed and seemed to be sealed shut. "Broken Sword! I need to speak with the Commander!" He shouted. No reply came. He then decided to let himself pass through the walls easily. He looked around and saw no one. The very district was abandoned; all things left behind were in piles of smoking fires of burnt furniture stacked upon each other.
He looked around and saw the buildings empty as well. He went to the armory and storehouse. There was left a note he picked up and read the contents. "Goodbye Dread City, Sincerely the War Dogs" Ghost stared at the words for a moment. Then crumpled up the paper and let it fall to the ground. He sighed loudly through his mask. 'Well then that seems to be a bust. Bastard went and did it. He actually saved his family and people. I hope they found their way to safety at least. That leaves the Warlock' he became instantly annoyed at this idea.
The Warlock was a cunning older man and an absolute ass of a human being. He only joined with the other brigades due to turf wars with the others. For years their gangs later turned brigades, the Ghost Hand, Hunters, and Alchemists ran this city. Till the King made alliances with the gangs and destroyed the Hunters and Ghost Hand. Thus beginning the years of torment and bloodshed.
He slumped into an empty chair struggling to gain the courage to even broach an alliance with that scumbag Warlock. His gang of psychics and Bedlam Users used to trample his neighborhood as a kid. All the gangs did but he saw the Warlock more than most. The Warlock he knew was grizzled and was a drunkard, but an extremely powerful man.
Ghost then finally left, leaving behind the War Dog district. He then travelled deeper into the city and came to the gates of the Hellhounds. It was also closed, but this time people stood at the ramparts. Seers standing guard, "What do you want?" One of the hooded men asked, their eyes hidden under their hoods. Ghost could feel them trying to read his mind. But the mask he was wearing had an enchantment to block out this sort of attempt. Thankfully the Doc helped him make the circle and he was no slouch when it came to magic circles. Which then gave him a sinking feeling when he thought of him. 'I hope he's okay. I need to go see the old man if I make it out of here' he then called out to the Seer. "Here to see your commander" he was blunt and loud.
The doors then creaked and slowly opened the big hulking doors. Exiting through the gate was Warlock and four other seers. He scowled as he walked towards Ghost. His arms crossed behind him. He then stopped feet away from Ghost, staring him down with his menacing eyes. "So I take it you must be the Ghost Demon? Hmmm…thought you would be bigger? Seems your nothing more than a short kid out here playing hero? What is it you want?" Ghost repressed his anger at the man. He wanted nothing more than to land a fist to his face and kill all the Hellhounds. But he needed their help sadly and this conversation needed diplomacy. "You lot didn't partake in the recent massacre of the people of this city? Has me curious in thinking you might be someone worth allying with against the king?" This took Warlock by surprise. He smirked and then laughed at the notion of them being allies.
"Think so huh? Well I'll educate you then. See this latest act of violence was entirely about finding you. And being that this order came from that slime Torrent. I chose to ignore it, but not because I care about the people. Because that chicken shit boot licker asked me too! And I don't take orders from him!" Ghost Demon cocked his head to the side. "So if the king had ordered you to kill innocent people to find me you would have? Is that what I'm understanding?" Warlock scoffed. "Probably yes," Ghost Demon shook his head. "Weird. Last I heard stories of the great Marcus the Warlock bending to a man's will? This cushy life you got going on here that requires you to lick the king's boots too? You are no different than Torrent!" The old man's eyes began to glow. "Speak wisely boy! You're testing my patience! I bend a knee to the king simply out of necessity and his usefulness to elevating me. Nothing more!" Ghost Demon nodded. "That your way of justifying all that blood on your hands?" Warlock shrugged, "It's a living. You realize that you're outnumbered by the army the King will be leading here right? What handful of peasants of women, children, and old. Adding me and that ass Broken Sword if he'll even fight for you. Then you add my Hellhounds doesn't look like you have much of a force. Not to mention the guards at the palace protecting that rat" he shrugged again. "Seems I have the upper hand in this negotiation doesn't it?" Ghost Demon stared at him blankly. 'Here come the demands which will be a heavy price' he then listened and let Warlock talk.
"What is it you want?" he asked with a cold tone. "Simple" he outstretched his arms wide and spun slowly around. "I want this city! I want the crown" Ghost Demon stared at him with amazement at this demand. "I have no power to grant you a crown. Nor do I have the right to give you this city. Your demand is beyond my control" Warlock smiled big. "It is outlandish, but there is one thing you can do. Step aside and I'll fight your cause. If by some miracle you pull off this coup, leave the city to me and exile yourself?" Ghost Demon seemed to weigh this decision. Yes, he could step aside and let this man rule this city. He was leaving it after killing the king anyway. But to leave the people with this man overseeing them would be even more cruel. Warlock was not someone who was just as bad as the king. Power hungry and was a cruel individual who did nothing, but stomp on others. How in good conscience could he do that to regular folk having to live here. He could do that to the Doc or anyone else for that matter. He could concede this city to Broken Sword, and know that he wasn't leaving another tyrant to rule. What choice did he have? In order to save all he had to appease one individual who didn't deserve it.
With sinking shoulders he relented and extended a hand out for an agreed upon settlement for their temporary alliance. Warlock smiled big as he shook his hand back, "You betray me in any way boy I'll burn this whole damn city down along with the people. I'll make you watch before I do the same to you" Ghost Demon's gray eyes started to glow. "Threaten me again and I'll kill you here along with your little gang of psychics. Don't presume to think you have the upper hand here. Killing you would be the highlight of my life" he turned and left the Warlock who had a stunned look on his face. He then started to laugh maniacally as he turned to Seers to head back inside. 'I think I'm starting to like this kid' , the Warlock thought.
Ghost Demon then decided before going to the gate to see his old friend the doctor and make sure he was okay. He had to at least shield him from the Warlock if he should take power here in this city. He just hoped during the battle he would be struck down and that hope he chose to hold too. If anything else the Realm would be rid of another evil man.