Fiction:The Crow Calls the Raven Black

"Rage is a fire, kindled by fear. I have no rage."

- Unknown

The Crow Calls the Raven Black tells the story of three adventurers as they come to blows with an assassin, and then go on to confront a group of Corvid Vampires alongside the man. The events also marked the beginnings of a far darker plan, almost ten thousand years in the making.

Chapter I: Missteps and Misunderstandings
Summer had begun its approach in the eastern lands. Sweat had always been a common thing on the road, and travellers were expected to be very accustomed to its presence; a fact which the ever-increasing amount of sunlight was making almost unbearable. Yet life not so prone to such frivolous bodily functions was thriving in its abundance. and his compatriots could see how the massive tree towering above the town was teeming in life; its brilliant green leaves swaying in the wind, while birds of all kinds were flying to and fro between its thick branches. The town itself wasn't much to look at; a small set of walls separated the townsfolk from the dangers of the wilderness. Most houses were small things, made of stone and timber and just barely seeming to fit a family of four inside.

Most people who happened to notice the trio didn't regard them in the most pleasant light, yet such things didn't seem much when gold sang a much more soothing tune. On the onset of the vampire attacks, earlier this very same spring, the three of them had found frequent employment for their very particular specialties - that is, to kill vampires. As the more brutal attacks grew rarer and rarer, they had taken to hunting stragglers and collecting any potential bounties on the vampires from the immediate area.

But now the only thing on the trio's minds was to unwind and relax after a long trip on the road. Moving through the tightly organized streets of the town, they eventually reached a tavern. It was a homely place, filled with laughter and cheers in tongues both familiar and foreign. A warm fire was burning in the fireplace and a pleasant smell of freshly cooked pork emanated from the other side of the bar. The group went to sit at a table in the far corner of the tavern, not wishing to cause too much of a ruckus with their fellow inebriated patrons. Arzet and Durauk, being Orcish and Dwarven respectively, were quick to take advantage of the situation at the bar. Arzet ordered a typical northern ale, strong and suprisingly tasteful. Durauk, in accordance with the general behavior of his people, had ordered one of the strongest beers that he believed he could take. Kuatana did not actually order an alcoholic drink - in accordance with his people's culture, he forbade himself from drinking alcohol or using any other mind-altering substances. Instead, he ordered a simple glass of water.

Having drank his share and getting up from his seat, Arzet went, in a slighty tipsy, yet brisk manner to talk to the innkeep. In his experience taverns were the perfect place for gathering information and hearing about available jobs in the area. The man was oddly sophisticated looking for someone of his employ; his hair was combed in a manner in which there were no visible tangles in it, while his skin was as smooth as the finest silk.


 * Innkeep - How may I help you, good sir?
 * Arzet - We're...urgh...a group of vampire hunters. We're looking for some, errrrrr, 'raven-y' looking kinds of vampires. We've heard some, uhhh, reports that they're active around here.
 * Innkeep - Well, I don't know about any of that... but I've heard some guards talking about a raven.
 * Arzet - That'll probably do. Any, uh, leads?
 * Innkeep - From what I've heard, the best way to find that particular black bird is to follow the screams. But I have to warn you, my orcish friend. Everyone who has gone after him... has been left bleeding out in a gutter.

At this moment, Kuatana, who had been watching, got up.


 * Kuatana - We can handle ourselves. Thank you for giving us the information, innkeep.

Kuatana, intending to pay the innkeep for the information, reached into his coinpurse and handed him a few coins made of silver.


 * Innkeep - Oh, the Lady protect me! I won't take your coin for offering you a way to potentially kill yourselves. That would just be cruel of me!
 * Kuatana - Please, I insist. We are experienced in our line of work. Now, we will take our leave. Thanks.

Leaving the coins on the counter, Kuatana and the others made their way outside, intending to find this 'raven' they had been told about. Moving through the streets, wary of any loud sounds, the group circumvented the town at least twice in an effort to clear their heads. It had been a few hours later that they came upon a fresh trail of blood on the cobblestones, and at its end a limping man; who by all accounts was some sort of a noble. The man moved slowly to a small plaza, bleeding as he went, while the trio followed him. Reaching up to him, the man was visibly shook and absolutely terrified; cold sweat glistened on his forehead, and his eyes were open wide as he passed a frightened glance at each of the three adventurers.


 * Noble - Wha-? Who are you people? What do you want with me? Are you with him?
 * Durauk - With who?
 * Noble - That thing who did this to me. And without any warning mind you! Just jumped out of nothing and slashed at me so hard I thought for a moment that I had died right there and then.

At that moment, quick steps could be heard coming from nearby, and from around the corner a man appeared running towards the plaza. He wore a long coat and his face was obstructed by a intricately crafted wooden mask. He was clearly not human nor elf; visibly carrying himself on legs lined with apparent muscle and natural armor. The man slowed his speed as he approached the four of them, while having a shortsword tightly grasped in his left hand. The nobleman was completely frozen in fear at the sight of this odd man.


 * Noble - T-that's him! You three! I'll promise to pay each of your weight in gold if you fight off this murderer!
 * Arzet - Well, perfect!
 * Kuatana - Vampire. Your days of terrorizing the night are over.

As the adventurers drew their weapons and prepared themselves for the upcoming battle, the nobleman mustered what little strength he had left and left the area with a moderately well paced jog. Meanwhile, the masked man continued his approach in nonchalant manner; not giving his three opponents too much thought, while still surveying each of them with apparent acumen. Arzet was the first to attack, taking to his role as being the damage dealer rather gleefully in his first fights. He unholstered his axe and swung towards the figure, intending to finish the fight in one blow to the neck. As if by dancing away from the blow, the figure dodged to Arzet's side while delivering a blow with his elbow to the orc's back - to not much effect other than staggering him for a bit. Arzet turned, intending to swing his axe one more time. At this moment, Kuatana drew his knives and began circling the figure, intending to strike should he dodge the attack. However, this time the man suddenly disappeared away from Arzet's blow, and once again appeared, kicking Kuatana in the chest with suprising force despite his seemingly lanky appearance. He turned to face Arzet once more immediately afterwards, moving his sword in a manner that relayed an intent for aggression. In the very next moment, the man was already moving in almost unnatural speeds towards the orc warrior.

Kuatana fell to the floor, his breath having been knocked out of his chest from the unusually powerful blow. Arzet readied himself in anticipation, and began channeling the Source through his arms - intending that, should the figure vanish and reappear behind the orc, he could just as quickly score a blow by raising the ground. Reaching his target, the masked man went to confront Arzet directly; dodging a swing and a punch from the orc before trying to slice at his calves - once more to no avail, given Arzet's magically infused skin. Seeing his contemporary attacks to be useless, and realizing the magical nature of Arzet's powers, the figure went on to quickly channel his own magical energies - while still dodging blow after blow from Arzet. Backing away, the figure left behind a magical glyph on Arzet's skin which caused a small explosion to happen upon the orc's chest; rupturing the magical stone armor, and knocking the warrior backwards.

Arzet quickly began scratching at his chest, and actually felt his fingernails scratch his skin - angered, Arzet punched the ground and sent a rippling wave towards the figure. Durauk, who had been avoiding the fight this entire time, had done something similar - throwing his hammer towards the figure - and upon impact, it also sent a radial pressure wave through the earth, both waves being made with intend to stumble the figure. Kuatana slowly got up, and attempted to jump towards the figure with his daggers. Despite the masked man's best efforts, the combined waves of earth knocked him of his balance, and the figure found himself underneath Kuatana; struggling to keep his daggers away as the human was attempting to slit his throat. Finally managing to throw the slightly smaller man out from top of him, in the scuffle, the figure's mask was knocked off; revealing an insectoid appearance, and with two dark red eyes staring at the adventurers. Arzet and Durauk quickly took their chance, restraining the figure by his arms as Kuatana got back up, grabbing his daggers. He took Earthsplitter and aimed it towards the figure's chest, intending to spear it.


 * Kuatana - Any last words, vampire?
 * ??? - Vampire? You lot are simpler than I thought.

At that moment a group of guardsmen arrived on horseback with the nobleman, now in better shape, in tow. The man who was their commander looked around at the plaza and all the carnage that had ensued before speaking up with a sharp voice.


 * Guard Commander - In the name of our Lady, you will stop this madness immediately!
 * Noble - Yes. These are the ones I told you about. The bandits who attempted to rob me, and then got into a fight over whether to just kill me outright or ask a hefty ransom for my safe return.
 * Kuatana - Aren't we stuck up.
 * Arzet - Are you kidding me? We saved your skin, scrawny!
 * Guard Commander - You will all remain silent unless asked to speak! Men, arrest these miscreants at once.

A group of five guardsmen approached the group with steel manacles at the ready. Not wishing to have to fight through the town's entire guard battalion, the adventurers went along without much objections - with slight aversion being shown when having to give in their weapons. The guards also pulled the man who had tried to kill the nobleman up from the ground and restrained him just the same. The four of them were then led to a carriage that was to take them to prison to wait until their verdict.


 * ??? - What a beautiful mess you've gone ahead and created. Had you not interfered, you all wouldn't need to spent the rest of you lives rotting in some dungeon.
 * Kuatana - You're right. We should've let you kill him and then killed you. Love it when things come together so easily.
 * ??? - For the last time, I am not a vampire! Where did you even get such an idiotic notion anyways?
 * Kuatana - We got a tip from an inkeep about a 'raven' when we asked about vampire stragglers. We all have had very, very, bad encounters with corvid vampires. And your disappearing trick practically confirmed it for us.
 * ??? - Someone mentions a raven, and you immediately jump to the impression "that of course they must be some bastard breed of a vampire". But no, I don't happen to be what you wanted me to be. I am the assassin that people call the Raven. I am .