Without warning every muscle in Kristoff's body began to tighten as if drawn taut by the hand of God. The blood flowing through his veins normally the slow creep of magma beneath the earths core roared into a conflagration threatening to rupture forth into the outside world. Time stretched out and people became little more than embers of heat on the pale backdrop of frigid metal. Oh but there was a patch of what could only be described as negative space amid the chill a place where temperature itself had no meaning.<br/><br/>This was what those magi who dwelt in the scorched deserts of the east refereed to as subtle matter. In truth Kristoff understood it to be more akin to alien energies. In any case it was unwelcome here. There were hidden edicts that governed the way that the world worked and by breaking those the ones who commanded Kristoff's actions demanded a sacrifice in vitae.<br/><br/>The hands of the entity grasped at the girl their pallid digits digging into her supple flesh the wicked nails drawing forth sanguine rents. Kristoff being close to the waif made an almost instantaneous decision on the course of action to take. One hand reached into the folds of his coat and began to draw something from its depths.  Without shifting his gaze from the partially manifested predator Kristoff spoke with a weight of authority not present in his voice before.<br/><br/>" Everyone - it seems to be having issues in achieving a full corporeal shape. That means that unless you are packing some real specialized shit for the job you can't do sweet fuck all to harm it. I don't know the extent of the powers granted to you preacher but it might be a good idea to start using whatever you have. Soldier I suspect you have done this kind of thing before but don't shoot for it's main body or your bullets will probably just turn the poor girl to offal so if you do have some kind of magicked shots be damn careful aiming them."<br/><br/>While speaking Kristoff had produced a what appeared to be a combat knife. It was a far cry from the antique ritual blades of yore but Kristoff had etched runic symbols along the the side of the weapon making it a functional if unorthodox tool. Slashing the edge across the vein of his right arm blood began to pour from the open wound glistening the rainbow of gasoline before igniting in a violent combustion that sent waves of heat pulsing through the train. The blaze came to settle on the floor of the train eating away at the very metal that comprised the locomotives carriage. With his un-bloodied hand Kristoff plunged the stained dagger right into the heart of the flame his flesh showing no sings of burning or even irritation at the intense heat.<br/><br/>"What I am about to summon is going to be able to strike at the beings astral essence. However if you don't listen to anything else I say listen to this - it is NOT something that can be shown weakness. Do not avert your gaze from it and do not show fear. The beast coming through can tolerate weakness for it is the weak that it is coming to defend but cowardice it despises utterly."<br/><br/>Kristoff hoped that the young clerk in particular would have the sense to heed his warning but now was far too late. The summoned entity was coming through the breach. Eight inch talons scrabbled up from the burning portal before Kristoff and scaled limbs thick with wiry muscle pulled a  quadruped shape into the world from those beyond. Five feet in length from head back legs, the creatures mouth was a nightmarish expanse of fangs intended as much to maim as to kill and at the tip of its tail a wicked pendulum of sharpened bone swung back and forth. Viridian scales covered the reptilian servitors body save from a dome of bone around its head in which a single cyclopean stared out into the carriage. Hissing low in it's throat the creature began to walk forward toward the shapeless mass it's three tongues tasting the air akin to a snake.