Occult Rising

They walked over to the tavern and entered through the swinging doors.

"You two find a seat. I have to go talk to the bartender." Dash said as she made her way to the bar.

She took a seat on one of the bar stools and waved the bartender over.

"What can I get ya miss?" The bartender said as he walked over.

"Let me get a couple shots of tequila." Dash replied.

"Ok. Will there be anything else?" The bartender asked as he pulled out two shot glasses and poured the drinks.

"Yea, you know anything about anyone in a blood red cloak?" Dash asked.

An eerie silence washed over the bar. The bartender pushed the shots over to her and cleared his throat.

"We, uh, don't really talk about those people around here. Bad things happen when people talk about them." The bartender said.

"Maybe I can refresh your memory." Dash said as she put a $50 bill on the counter.

The bartender took the money and slid it into his pocket.

"Ok, you've convinced me. Just not here. Meet in back, where they play poker." The bartender said as he walked out from behind the bar and headed through a door near the stairs.

Dash downed the shots and followed him. She looked over to Wind and gave her a signal that said, 'keep watch, I'll be back'. Wind nodded and turned back to Applespice. Dash headed through the door the bartender went through. She was now in a large room that had a poker table with four chairs set up around it. The bartender pulled out two of the chairs and sat in one. He motioned to the other one. Dash shook her head.

"I'll just stand. Thanks." Dash said.

"Suit yourself." The bartender said.

"So, tell me what you know." Dash said.

"Ok, all I know is that recently, these cloaked figures have been coming into town. I don't know why or what they want. But, every time they come here, the next day a citizen turns up missing. No one knows what they do with the people they take. No one knows where they come from or where they go. They just show up out of nowhere and take someone." The bartender said.

"How long has this been happening?" Dash asked.

"About a month now. About once a week, they show up and someone goes missing. There's not even any connection between the people they take. It's completely random." The bartender said.

"How many have they taken?" Dash asked.

"Hmm, I think like four. Sorry I can't be of more help." The bartender said.

"That's ok. We have one of the cloaked bastards in the jail right now. I'll make him talk and find out what the hell is going on. Thanks for your time." Dash said.

There was a huge crash from outside the door. Dash opened the door and saw that half the bar was a wreck. There were at least five of the cloaked figures scattered around the bar. One was hanging from the chandelier, two were slumped over the bar, and another had been thrown through the piano. The other one was still in a sword fight with Wind.